The NSW Government’s draft 20-year transport plan for the New England North West has been released, but key parts of the document are already rendered useless after the Federal Government’s shock decision to terminate Inland Rail north of Parkes.
The Draft New England North West Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plan sets out proposed short, medium and long-term priorities for roads, rail, freight, buses, active transport and regional connectivity across 12 local government areas.
The New England North West plan identifies the need for improved public transport between towns, upgraded freight routes, support for Moree, Narrabri and Tamworth employment precincts, better east-west links, and improved local bus and “active transport” (walking and cycling) options in towns including Armidale, Guyra, Uralla, Walcha, Tamworth, Quirindi, Manilla, Gunnedah, Inverell, Glen Innes, Narrabri, Wee Waa and Moree.
The document clearly concedes the current public transport network in the New England is limited, and identifies to the need for improved bus services, better daily trip options within towns, stronger regional connections to Coffs Harbour, Newcastle, Sydney, Brisbane and Queensland centres, and more reliable rail and coach services.
However, the plan repeatedly relies on Inland Rail as a central plank of future freight and economic development.
It describes Inland Rail as “the largest infrastructure project in the region”, says it will transform export access for producers, and assumes completion by 2030-31 will drive new investment in agriculture, food processing, manufacturing and packing.
It emphasises the Moree Special Activation Precinct being directly associated with Inland Rail, with the precinct expected to capitalise on a direct interface with Inland Rail, as well as the Newell, Gwydir and Carnarvon highways and rail access to Newcastle and Botany ports.
The plan’s economic growth direction also says the region should “leverage investment in Inland Rail” to enhance access to intermodal facilities in Gunnedah, Moree, Werris Creek, Wee Waa, Tamworth and Narrabri.
All of which now needs to be revisited by the NSW Government, as their federal Labor colleagues have pulled the plug on Inland Rail despite being already well into construction.
The Federal Government’s decision likely means several parts of the draft plan will need significant re-evaluation, including freight forecasts, the role of the Moree SAP, the viability and priority of intermodal hubs, road freight pressure on the Newell, Kamilaroi, Gwydir and New England highways that are already serially underfunded and in need of major repairs.
Key sections of the document that assert the current position of the federal and state governments that they are “not planning to progress reinstatement of the former Main North Line north of Armidale” justify that position because of the decision to progress the construction of Inland Rail further west. Both advocates for the return of rail transport north of Armidale and the New England Rail Trail proposal have seized on the language in the document as supportive of their position, breaking out a fresh wave of heated debate.
Trains North said the decision to abandon Inland Rail north of Parkes should force a fresh look at rail freight investment through the Tablelands.
“It’s a pity that Inland Rail will not run to Queensland, but it comes as little surprise,” Trains North President Matthew Tierney said.
“The old Main North Line must be looked at again, from Werris Creek to Queensland via Tamworth, Armidale and Glen Innes.
“The federal Government want to invest in existing rail freight infrastructure rather than face the huge challenges of greenfield construction.”
Trains North Vice-President Margaret O’Connor said the Ardglen Tunnel bottleneck also needed attention.
“We must free up the movement of trains into the Hunter Valley if the investment in Inland Rail north of Narrabri is not to be wasted, leaving that asset stranded,” she said.
On this second point Trains North may get their wish, with the federal government’s consolation of a $1.75 billion investment to improve the productivity, resilience and reliability of the ARTC Network, which includes the freight transport from Moree, Narrabri and Gunnedah to Werris Creek and on to Newcastle, via the Ardglen Tunnel. The Government specifically stated this investment in the ARTC’s existing network will enable more freight to move via rail, with important upgrades to be delivered where they are needed most.
Welcoming the input, Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said the plan was intended to put local voices at the centre of long-term planning.
“People in the New England and North West know better than anyone what works on their roads, on their rail lines and in their towns.
“This Draft Plan is about listening to those voices and putting them at the centre of how we plan for the future,” Ms Aitchison said.
“We are setting a clear direction for the next 20 years, but just as importantly, we are asking communities to test it, challenge it and help us get it right.”
Other criticisms that have already emerged from those engaged with the consultation include that much of the draft plan is focused on further investigations, reviews, assessments and planning exercises, rather than concrete delivery commitments.
Of the roughly 34 short and medium-term initiatives listed in the draft, the vast majority involve language such as “investigate”, “review”, “plan”, “collaborate”, “consider” or “support”, with fewer than 10 items being direct commitments to build infrastructure or introduce services. While there are some more tangible proposals, including extending Moree and Inverell on-demand transport hours and improving public transport links between regional centres, the document reads more like a framework for future planning than a plan.
There are also concerns being raised about how much responsibility for implementation is being shifted onto local councils. A significant number of initiatives rely on councils to develop plans, collaborate on transport strategies, deliver local infrastructure improvements or partner with Transport for NSW on future investigations. This comes at a time when many regional councils are already struggling with road maintenance backlogs, disaster recovery costs, workforce shortages and financial pressures, and cost-shifting from state to local government is an ongoing pain point for all councils in the region.
There are also broader concerns about the data underpinning the plan. The draft relies on the NSW Government’s 2024 common planning assumptions for population and employment projections, forecasting the region’s population will grow by just 11,000 people to 198,000 by 2041, and employment will grow from 87,000 jobs in 2021 to 97,000 by 2041. These, and many other numbers in the document, are significantly different than Australian Bureau of Statistics figures and other independent sources, and it is understood the figures have not been adjusted to account for the multiple waves of migration of city people to the region since the Covid pandemic.
Transport for NSW said the draft plan was evidence-based and used the NSW Government’s agreed forecasts for strategic planning, and emphasised the New England North West SRITP was still a draft.
“The New England North West SRITP is a Draft Plan only,” the spokesperson said.
“Our transport vision for the New England North West region is one where all communities are well connected via high quality infrastructure and services to allow locals and visitors to walk, ride, catch public transport or use their private vehicle safely.
“The Draft Plan will be reviewed after the exhibition period. This will include consideration of feedback received from stakeholders and any other relevant considerations before the final plan is in place.”
Feedback on the draft plan is open until Sunday, June 14.
Like what you’re reading? Support New England Times by making a small contribution today and help us keep delivering local news paywall-free. Donate now