Agribusiness & Food, Logistics, Ports & Terminals, Mining and Heavy Industries

Registrations open for Inland Rail PPP

Businesses are invited to take part in building 130 kilometres of new dual gauge track, 11 passing loops and three rail tunnels for the Gowrie to Kagaru Public Private Partnership (PPP).

The Australian Rail Track Corporation released the Registration of Interest document for the Gowrie to Kagaru section of Inland Rail on Thursday.

The PPP will cover:

  • approximately 130 kilometres of new dual gauge rail track including 11 passing loops to cater to 1,800-metre trains
  • three tunnels:
    • at Toowoomba Range (approximately 6.4 kilometres)
    • at Little Liverpool Range (approximately 1.1 kilometres)
    • at the Scenic Rim (approximately 1 kilometre)
  • a number of viaducts and bridges totalling around 12 kilometres
  • approximately 10 million cubic metres of cut to fill in earthworks
  • a number of road-over-rail grade separations and level crossings
  • new roads and realignment of local roads
  • performance of maintenance services over a maintenance phase of 15 to 30 years

Inland Rail chief executive Richard Wankmuller called the PPP a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity.

“This is a program of national significance and ARTC is seeking a partner to deliver the most technically-challenging section,” Wankmuller said.

ARTC modelling suggests the PPP will add $7.3 billion to Queensland’s Gross State Product during construction and the first 50 years of operation.

It will employ an estimated 7,000 people during peak construction.

Wankmuller said a PPP model would give the ARTC access to major Australian and multi-national builders and engineers, who will harness innovative design solutions and more efficient construction methods.

“Private sector involvement in the design, build, finance and maintenance of the PPP section of the Inland Rail programme is critical,” Wankmuller said.

“There is leadership in the private sector that will deliver innovation and results. There is much we can learn from industry and the PPP will allow us to harness their energy, drive and excellence.”

Wankmuller said the RoI process would allow the ARTC to determine “the likely bidding field” while also indicating to the market the progress being made ahead of the formal Expressions of Interest opening early in 2019.

“This will allow those companies interested in the project to progress discussions with contractors, financiers and advisers,” he said.

Federal infrastructure minister and deputy PM Michael McCormack was on hand in Toowoomba to promote the benefits of the project to regions all along the Inland Rail route.

“I know in the Parkes to Narromine section, in New South Wales, that there’s a lot of small businesses which are now taking part in providing ballast, in providing dirt for the cut and fill,” McCormack told a press conference.

“We heard [about] 10 million cubic metres of cut and fill here in the Gowrie to Kagaru section.

“Back in my Riverina electorate, I know there’s a lot of small businesses which are tapping in, subcontracting to big business, which have put registrations of interest in and got the work.”

Logistics Council welcomes private sector invite

The Australian Logistics Council said the decision to deliver the project via a PPP supports a significant private sector appetite for the work involved, with interim chief executive Lachlan Benson on October 4 welcoming the news.

“The Gowrie to Kagaru section of the route will be an especially intricate aspect of the Inland Rail, involving 8.9 kilometres of major tunnelling, which will see the largest diameter diesel freight tunnel in the Southern Hemisphere constructed through the Toowoomba Ranges,” Benson said.

“ALC has consistently supported the use of PPPs in the delivery of major infrastructure projects, and the involvement of the private sector together with the Federal Government and the Australian Rail Track Corporation in the construction of Inland Rail is especially welcome.”

Benson said a recent conference hosted by the ALC and the Australasian Railway Association in Parkes showed an enormous appetite among private companies and investors to be a part of the project.

“Partnering with the private sector will help to drive innovations in terms of project delivery, and support further investment in other much-needed freight infrastructure along the route,” he said.

“This includes investment in intermodal terminals, as well as the ultimate delivery of a dedicated freight rail connection from the Inland Rail route right through to the Port of Brisbane.”

The ALC says Inland Rail will be critical to help Australia meet its growing freight task, by alleviating congestion on road transport.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Send this to a friend