Dr Joe McGirr has called on the Wagga community to take part in a survey to provide feedback on Inland Rail before construction starts in September. Photo: Chris Roe.
Member for Wagga Wagga Joe McGirr is calling on Wagga residents to take part in a community survey on Inland Rail and express any concerns they may have before works begin.
Dr McGirr wants to hear feedback on how the planned 18 months of construction will affect Wagga’s transport and liveability.
“I’m asking people to share their thoughts on how they think road closures, detours and construction activity will affect their ability to travel through the construction zone,” Dr McGirr said.
“With works to start in September and continue for a year-and-a-half, longer than first expected, it’s important that our community has a say about what areas they think will be most affected and how they expect to be impacted.
“I’m very concerned that the developers still have not provided the community with a traffic management plan showing how traffic will move between north and south, especially with the long-term closure of the Edmondson Street bridge likely to cause heavy congestion on alternative routes.”
Dr McGirr has urged the State Government not to approve the works until plans are in place to show how the effects will be mitigated.
“I have met with the Minister for Regional Transport, Jenny Aitchison and Transport for NSW to share my concerns and I thank them for taking those concerns seriously,” he said.
“Feedback from the community will be very helpful in gauging the impact of the work and developing solutions to mitigate the disruption, so I hope community members will tell me of their concerns, if any, so that we can work together to manage the planning and delivery of this very significant project.”
Inland Rail’s Delivery Director Albury to Parkes James Kennedy said Inland Rail had been working with Wagga Wagga City Council and Transport for NSW to deliver an effective traffic plan.
An artist’s impression of the Edmondson Street Bridge. The Inland Rail construction work will result in Edmondson Street being closed for at least 18 months. Image: Inland Rail.
“Inland Rail has been developing the Traffic Management Plan for the closure of Edmondson Street bridge since State Planning approval was received in October 2024,” he said.
“After close collaboration with Wagga Wagga City Council and Transport for NSW, we are confident that the proposed mitigation measures will be effective.
“The Traffic Management Plan is currently in a collaborative review with Wagga Wagga City Council and Transport for NSW.
“Following endorsement, the plan will be submitted to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure for approval. Following this approval, Inland Rail will be able to share the plan with the community.
“We understand there is high community interest ahead of the release of the plan and we are working to share this with the wider community as soon as this review period and approval process is completed.”
One of the major concerns expressed about the project prior to the survey going live was the lack of an elevator in the plans for the Mother’s Bridge reconstruction.
Unlike Victorian stations, which will be receiving elevators as part of the project, Mother’s Bridge is owned by Wagga Wagga City Council.
In the case of Victorian stations, bridges that are receiving elevators as part of the new plans are not owned by their respective councils but instead by VicTrack, the Victorian Government’s rail body.
Dr McGirr said if that was the reason Wagga and Albury were missing out on elevators, it was a “cop out” from Inland Rail.
“If Wagga Wagga City Council are forced to pay for it, we (ratepayers) are paying for it,” he said.
“I think there’s an obligation on them. We’re just saying, ‘look, you’re missing one element here with the disability access’.
“If the reason Victoria has it and we don’t because of someone specific owning it and someone not owning it, it sounds like a cop out or an excuse to me.”
The survey is open until 4 August.
