Construction complete on Parkes to Narromine

Construction on the first section of Inland Rail, Parkes to Narromine (P2N), wrapped up this morning with an event in Peak Hill, NSW.

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development and local Member for Riverina Michael McCormack was on hand to insert the final golden clip into the track, marking the completion of construction. Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government and Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton was also in attendance, thanking the community for their contributions and looking ahead to the next project for construction, Narrabri to North Star.

Parkes to Narromine is one of the thirteen projects that make up Inland Rail.

Since construction commenced on 13 December 2018, 98 kilometres of existing track has been upgraded and an additional 5.3 kilometres of new track laid.  

Construction has supported the community in a number of ways, 1,862 people have worked on the project, of which 762 are local residents. Almost $110 million has been spent with local businesses throughout construction with 99 local businesses supplying to the project.

Peak Hill marked completion of the track, and was also the location of the first shipment of steel including 14,000 tonnes from Whyalla, South Australia.

A number of Australian businesses have benefited from Inland Rail stimulus with contracts to supply:  

• $25 million in ballast and capping (800,000 tonnes) from Parkes-based companies Calvani Crushing and Ausrock Quarries.
• $20 million in steel rail (14,000 tonnes) supplied by Liberty OneSteel Whyalla, South Australia.
• $20 million awarded to Rocla, Mittagong for 200,000 concrete sleepers.
• $13 million worth of culverts weighing 26,625 tonnes from Holcim, Tamworth.
• 365,000 rail clips from Pandrol, Blacktown.

Read more about long term economic opportunities for local and small business and the ministerial announcement.