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Excitement is in the air about the Inland Rail which is due to start construction this year and will travel through Narromine.
At an announcement in Narromine on Friday morning, transport minister Darren Chester said the project will make a difference in people’s lives.
Mr Chester headed out West to discuss the $8.4 billion allocated in this week’s Federal Budget.
“We’re very proud to announce the $8.4 billion...now it’s a question of working closely with communities and working very closely with mayors like Craig [Davies]. It’s about maximising growth in regional areas. Get benefits flowing throughout throughout the route,” he said.
Mayor of Narromine Shire, Craig Davies said the local government is excited about the possibilities for the Shire.
“The possibilities are endless and really only limited by our imagination out here. We will do anything we can to help with this project,” he said.
Cr Davies confirmed the local government would look at privately investing along the route to make the most of opportunities along the route.
The Transport Minister said there is a chance for private investors to build inter-modal hubs, which Cr Davies said the council would explore.
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Mr Chester confirmed local community growth is an added benefit to the project.
“My commitment is to make sure the benefits locally are as big as they can possibly be,” he said.
“We want to see local people employed in the community consultation engagement phase, I want to be working with local business and industry to find places for small and medium sized enterprises along the route to get a bit of the action to share in the benefits of the construction phase.”
My commitment is to make sure the benefits locally are as big as they can possibly be,
- Darren Chester.
Both Mr Chester and Member for Parkes Mark Coulton said the exact route of the Inland is yet to be determined.
“We need to work with the local community to finalise the alignment, we need to maximise our benefits to the local community,” he said.