Work is ramping up on the Albury to Illabo section of the Inland Rail megaproject with construction work on a site compound about to begin. Photo: Chris Roe.
It’s full steam ahead for the controversial Inland Rail route through the middle of Wagga Wagga with works beginning in the city this week.
A site compound will be established near the Edmondson Street Bridge at the intersection of Macleay and Railway streets as work ramps up on the Albury to Illabo section of the 1600-km freight railway.
It is one of seven sections in NSW and work will include upgrades to rail tracks, footbridges and road bridges, overhead structures, signal structures and level crossings on agricultural land and through Albury, Culcairn, Henty, Yerong Creek, The Rock, Uranquinty, Wagga Wagga and Junee.
Inland Rail’s construction contractor, Martinus Rail will begin work on the site compound this week to establish office space, laydown areas, staff amenities and vehicle parking.
“This is the first step on the journey to enhance the rail line through Wagga Wagga to enable the use of double-stacked freight trains,” said Inland Rail Project Director Malcolm Clark.
“The establishment of the site compound will enable contractor Martinus Rail to carry out some important early works, ahead of more significant work later in the year.
“We will do our best to minimise disruption for residents in this area and we thank residents for their patience and understanding.”
The project will take up to eight weeks to complete and residents can expect to see light and heavy vehicles coming and going and some construction noise between 7 am and 6 pm from Monday to Saturday over the next two months.
A site compound for Inland Rail upgrades in Wagga will be established at the intersection of Macleay and Railway streets. Photo: Inland Rail.
The commencement of work would appear to signal the end of the grassroots campaign calling for a bypass around Wagga Wagga.
There has been widespread support for the Inland Rail megaproject and the economic benefits it will bring to the region, however, community groups and Wagga City Council raised concerns over the potential impact of dividing the city and increasing noise and vibration.
Local councillor and Australian Citizens Party candidate for the federal seat of Riverina, Richard Foley has been an outspoken advocate for a bypass.
“Like most people, we’re very concerned about the disruption to the city, and I personally believe the disruption is going to be very bad,” he said.
“This issue of the bypass is not going away, and I think it needs to become a major political hot potato.”
Cr Foley conceded that it may be too late to stall the current upgrades but hopes that a long-term compromise will be reached in the decades ahead.
“In terms of things like raising the bridges, it is indeed imminent and unstoppable, unless there’s something miraculous that changes the course, but we have to look at the wider picture as this thing ramps up,” he said.
“My job as a local politician is to ensure that the future generations are not left with a burden and something that destroys the amenity of the city.”
For more information on the upcoming work on the site compound, you can visit Inland Rail’s works notification.
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