At the official opening of the Parkes to Narromine Inland Rail track in Peak Hill on Tuesday were Parkes Shire Mayor Ken Keith OAM, Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack MP and Member for Parkes and Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government Mark Coulton MP.
The final golden clip was hammered into place to signify the completion of the very first section of Inland Rail at Peak Hill on Tuesday.
“What a significant and momentous day,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Michael McCormack. “Inland Rail is nation-building and today recognises a great milestone in this transformational infrastructure.”
Peak Hill was an appropriate location for the historic achievement as the first shipment of Australian made steel was delivered to Peak Hill on 15th January 2018 to begin the project.
“This is real progress, and our Government has already delivered more than 1,800 jobs and $100 million in local stimulus through Inland Rail.”
“We have invested $25 million in ballast and capping (800,000 tonnes) from Parkes-based companies Calvani Crushing and Ausrock Quarries – a great example of how local procurement is at the heart of Inland Rail.”
Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government and Federal Member for Parkes, Mark Coulton said Inland Rail would present new growth opportunities for farmers, producers and manufacturers in the regional areas of NSW, Queensland and Victoria.
“We’re now looking ahead to the Narrabri to North Star project, scheduled to commence construction later this year, where we will see similar local benefits as Inland Rail provides a must needed catalyst for stimulus in our regions.”
The Parkes to Narromine project included upgrades to 98km of existing corridor and 5.3km of new rail; 1,862 people worked on the project; 762 of these were residents from the Parkes area; 302 Indigenous people worked on the project; 197 of whom are local Indigenous workers; 99 local businesses supplied to the project, nine of which are Indigenous businesses; the total spend was $109.7 million with local businesses; $14.1 million of which has been spent with Indigenous businesses.