MINISTER for roads and freight, Duncan Gay, is making movement on his promise to improve Country Rail, announcing an additional $15 million of funding today in Moree.
Along with NSW member for the Northern Tablelands, Adam Marshall and federal member for Parkes, Mark Coulton, Mr Gay announced a department funded $15 million Fixing Country Rail pilot program, with expressions of interest opening Monday.
Mr Gay said the pilot would help determine how best to approach spending the $400 million Fixing Country Rail initiative, which is set to deliver rail upgrades such as rail sidings, passing loops and track upgrades.
He said the aim of the pilot was to gather ideas on how to improve the rail line from the public and then using the additional funding to get them started.
“That way, when we can access the $400 million, we can hit the ground running,” he said.
Mr Gay said members of the North West knew what they were doing and he suspected switched on farmers and local businesses wouldn’t let this opportunity pass.
Currently, Mr Gay said the Country Rail line was under utilised and under maintained and with relatively small amounts of money, the line could be improved dramatically.
He said the reason they have been able to approve NSW roads so much is they’ve looked at supply chain issues and developed ideas to fix them and it would be stupid not to do the same thing with the rail.
“”It has to happen,” he said.
“Under this initiative, everyone will be a winner,” he said.
“Whether you’re a farmer, a council or a local business, you are set to benefit from fixing Country Rail.”
