Parkes to Narromine construction boosting local and regional communities

Since the first sod was turned on 13 December 2018, construction of the 98km Parkes to Narromine section has seen more than 66 local businesses in the area supply goods and services to Inland Rail, boosting local spending in our regional towns. More than 600 people have worked on this section to date.

Together with boosting towns along the alignment, Inland Rail is also benefitting regional communities as far away as South Australia. An innovative rail steel, designed and manufactured in Whyalla specifically for Inland Rail demonstrates the far-reaching opportunities being generated by this large scale infrastructure project.

Over the course of the project, steel equivalent to around five Sydney Harbour Bridges will be used to build Inland Rail. Manufacturing is the predominant industry in Whyalla and more than 23,000 people in the town and its surrounds are reliant on the iron and steel industry.

Inland Rail contracts are making a real difference in the lives of Parkes and Whyalla locals alike. For more information on this innovative steel see the Deputy Prime Ministers’ media release, Innovative Australian Steel used for Inland Rail Track.