The crossing at Kingsvale will come alive after an announcement today of 56 kilometres of line re-opening from Maimuru to Demondrille.
The announcement made by Minister for Freight, Duncan Gay includes funding for six regional rail projects and planning for a further four rail improvements. Gay said “56 kilometres of rail will be opened between Maimuru and Demondrille with $5 million allocated to the project. 400,000 tonnes of freight off the road and on to rail. It may be the first time in 20 years that a country branch line has been reopened.”
The move comes after the full Blayney to Demodrille reopening fell short of a reopening and funding allocation last year.
NSW Farmers has welcomed the NSW Government’s announcement of a $15 million investment in the regional rail freight network as part of its Fixing Country Rail Pilot Program.
The announcement made by Minister for Freight, Duncan Gay includes funding for six regional rail projects and planning for a further four rail improvements.
NSW Farmers President, Derek Schoen says the funding is recognition of the importance of regional freight to the NSW economy.
“The NSW Government has walked the walk in facilitating regional development in New South Wales,” Mr Schoen said.
“Importantly these six projects are a just a taste of things to come and will build on the Government’s $400 million commitment to fund the full Fixing Country Rail program.
‘Presently farmers across NSW see almost a third of the value of their produce eaten up in direct freight costs before even factoring the additional cost freight adds to the cost of important inputs like fertiliser and chemicals.
‘The Government’s investment in regional rail networks will result in lower transport costs and more money in farmers’ pockets and our regional towns.
‘This frees up farmers to further invest in their on-farm productivity, driving growth in their regions and across the state,” said Mr Schoen.
NSW Farmers encourages the Government to expedite the full Fixing Country Rail program to bring forward the full benefits that it will bring to regional NSW.
The pilot program includes investments in rail sidings at Barellan, Burren Junction and Hillston that will partner with GrainCorp’s Project Regeneration.
As part of these projects GrainCorp has given assurances to the NSW Government and NSW Farmers that it will reduce freight rates and to drop its $2.50 third party export rail outload fee from these sites. NSW Farmers will work with GrainCorp to see the removal of the outload fee from across its sites in NSW and improve transparency in the NSW freight market to ensure these benefits are distributed to farmers.
Reopening 2.8 kilometers of rail east of Moree will also enable Broadbent Grain’s receival facility to access rail efficiently, providing enhanced competition with existing grain receival sites which will drive farm gate returns.
Likewise, enabling short haul rail into Young by re-opening the Demondrille branchline into Maimuru will provide access to producers and manufacturers in Young to rail services lowering their costs.
Fixing Country Rail is part of the NSW Liberals and Nationals’ Memorandum of Understanding commitment to NSW Farmers to invest a minimum of $6 billion of infrastructure and regional transport in electorates that support agricultural production.
