New rail link to boost freight productivity and improve vehicular access
Wagga Wagga is a little closer to getting a new freight and logistics hub, with construction works expected to begin soon.
The Riverina Intermodal Freight and Logistics (RiFL) Hub project aims to provide rail transport services for businesses throughout New South Wales’ Riverina and Murray regions.
It is also expected to improve road safety in the area, address existing productivity constraints, and better link the industrial precinct with the Olympic and Sturt highways.
While the initial phase of the project involves the construction of an underpass to improve vehicle access around the Bomen industrial precinct, the next phase will focus on developing a new grain terminal facility, a container terminal and rail infrastructure.
Upon completion of the project, the region will have:
- A 900m long rail loading area with room to store over 1,000 containers;
- A 5.8km new rail track, which will run parallel to the main track line, to allow trains to quickly exit and enter the main line with minimal interruptions;
- Improved road connectivity between existing sites within Bomen’s industrial park, the new RiFl hub and future infrastructure developments.
The estimated $50-$70 million project is a joint venture between the federal government, the News South Wales government, Wagga Wagga Council and private sector partners.
The federal government’s Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development has committed to invest $14.5 million, while the state government will spend $8.3 million and the local council will add $12.3 million to the project, with the remaining funds to come from the Council’s private sector partners.
Regional development minister Fiona Nash says local farmers and producers, who depend on goods transport, will benefit from the development of a new freight and supply chain hub.
“In addition to the productivity gains, this project will help boost jobs in the region by creating 50 jobs during the construction of this project, as well as ongoing jobs on completion of the freight and logistics hub,” Nash says.
The Bomen Enabling Roads project, which is the first leg of the Riverina freight hub project, is expected to commence soon and due to finish by mid-2017.
It will see the closure of the Dampier Street level crossing, building an underpass, and constructing link roads to Bomen Road and Byrnes Road.
Small business minister Michael McCormack says with the transport of goods and stock moving onto the rail network, there will be improvement in freight productivity and vehicular access.
“Road safety and traffic congestion will improve, while deterioration of roads will slow,” McCormack says.
“It is estimated around 4,000 vehicles a day travel this section of road, with 20 per cent being heavy vehicles.
“This project will not only improve the region’s global competitiveness it will help save lives.”
City of Wagga Wagga acting GM Janice Summerhayes says the Bomen Enabling Roads project will become “a transformative piece of infrastructure that will have a significant and and long-lasting benefit for current and future businesses and the community”.
The contract for the construction of the Bomen Enabling Roads project has been awarded to BMD Group.