Works begin on $9 million Riverina upgrade

Works have begun on the $9 million The Rock to Boree Creek grain rail line upgrade south of Wagga Wagga.

Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Duncan Gay, said the project was part of the government’s continual upgrade on grain lines across the state.

“In fact, since 2011 the NSW Liberals & Nationals government  has invested more than $246 million to upgrade and repair grain rail lines in regional NSW,” Gay said.

“By upgrading grain lines, we are creating more reliable travel times, cutting costs for freight operators and farmers and are continuing to maximise the value of the NSW grain harvest.”

The project is expected to be completed by the end of the year, extending the Emerald loading point at The Rock to Boree Creek.

30,160 new steel sleepers and fastenings on the main line will be installed, with 56 kilometres of track to be resurfaced.

Minister for Primary Industries, Lands and Water, Niall Blair, said the crop season can see in excess of 100,000 tonnes of grain transported on the line.

“This state produces 36 per cent of Australia’s wheat, worth $2.5 billion to our economy each year that’s why we need to make sure that we support getting produce from paddock to port efficiently,” Blair said.

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