Moree Plains Shire Councillor Sue Price has been elected as Deputy Chair for the Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail Alliance (MBIRA) and joins other Local Government representatives on the Executive Committee including Parkes Shire Council Mayor Councillor Ken Keith and General Manager Kent Boyd, the Mayor of Toowoomba Councillor Paul Antonio and Reid Mather representing Victorian local governments.
Local Government representatives from NSW, Victoria and Queensland recently met in Sydney to discuss Local Government’s involvement in advocating and assisting the development of the MBIR.
Cr Price said the MBIRA has been actively promoting the nation-building project.
“It was a very productive meeting and with so many Council representatives advocating for the Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail there’s a real opportunity to push for economic development for the regions along the line to ensure commercial viability of the inland rail.”
The Australian Government has given priority to the Inland Rail project by appointing an Inland Rail Implementation Group to fast track the project.
The Implementation Group has identified the section between Narrabri and North Star as one of three initial priority stages for preconstruction, early start works and track upgrades.
“Identifying the need for rail track upgrades between Narrabri and North Star will provide benefits to the existing rail network and generate early economic benefit and return, which are essential elements for the Inland Rail link.”
The Australian Rail Track Corporation has appointed an Executive General Manager to oversee the delivery of the construction elements of the Inland Rail project and assist the Inland Rail Implementation Group to identify the preferred corridor from Moree to the Port of Brisbane.
