INLink has been declared the preferred construction contractor for the Inland Rail project’s Parkes to Narromine section, where major works are to begin later this year.
When signed, the contract with INLink, a joint venture between BMD Constructions and Fulton Hogan, will be the first for construction on the project.
Inland Rail CEO Richard Wankmuller said there would be further opportunities for regional companies and businesses to work on the Parkes-Narromine section, with INLink now looking towards finding suppliers.
“With early works on Inland Rail now well under way, residents and local businesses will increasingly see the flow-on benefits, including jobs and new investment opportunities,” Wankmuller said.
“INLink will be putting together their environmental management plans and applying for their Environmental Protection Licence to lay the foundations for major construction.”
The 106-kilometre Parkes to Narromine section is to utilise existing ARTC operated track. It will undergo extensive upgrades, including the replacement of bridges and culverts, enhanced level-crossings and three new crossing loops at Goonumbla, Peak Hill, and Timjelly. A new 5-kilometre long connection to the Broken Hill line west of Parkes is also to be constructed.
There are also to be ancillary works for the flood immunity of the line, along with improvements to stormwater and drainage, and upgrades to existing fencing of the rail corridor.
The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) will be awarding further contracts for the project over the coming months in the lead-up to construction on the section.
Regular delivery of concrete sleepers to Peak Hill from Braema, Mittagong, has been under way for some time. 200,000 will eventually be produced by local business Rocla.
“Construction materials have already started being delivered with materials arriving from all over Australia and NSW,” Wankmuller said.
“6534 tonnes of Whyalla steel rail have already been delivered and the first of 200,000 concrete sleepers have arrived in Parkes from Mittagong in the Southern Highlands.”
Community sessions are to be held in the Parkes region over the coming months, where landowners, business owners and local residents will be able to receive information about the project and provide their input to the ARTC.
“We’re operating in and are a part of these communities,” Wankmuller said.
“ARTC has long held a provisioning office in Parkes to maintain the interstate rail network and we’re to open our Inland Rail shopfront there soon.”