The first Inland Rail Regional Liaison Officer has been assigned to the lead the Moree Inland Rail regional office.
The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development appointed the position to long-time local resident Angela Doering.
Doering will work with communities and local businesses based from Narrabri in New South Wales to the Queensland border to help people benefit from Inland Rail.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Michael McCormack said it’s vital that we have specialist expertise working with businesses and local communities.
“Inland Rail is expected to support 5,000 jobs in New South Wales and provide a boost of more than $2.5 billion to the state economy,” McCormack said.
“This office will provide the opportunity for Moree and surrounding communities to talk directly to Government about regional development outcomes and economic opportunities available ahead of the construction of the next section of Inland Rail – the Narrabri to North Star (N2NS).”
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said the opening of the Moree office will help build economic resilience in regional Australia.
“Investing in our national freight network will improve connections between our regional communities and important domestic and international markets, ensuring our producers and manufacturers remain globally competitive,” Cormann said.
Member for Parkes and Minister for Regional Services, Decentralisation and Local Government, Mark Coulton said Moree is one of the highest producing agricultural shires in Australia and the region is positioned to drive future freight productivity through road and rail connections to Inland Rail.
“Our investment through Inland Rail builds the essential connections that this region needs to further grow and strengthen their markets,” Coulton said.
He said he is thrilled Doering has been appointed to the Moree office.
“No one knows regional towns like the people who live there,” Coulton said.
Doering will support the implementation of Australian Government programs, including the Inland Rail Interface Improvement Program and expansion of the CSIRO’s Inland Rail TraNSIT study to model potential Inland Rail cost savings.
“The programs we’re delivering will better connect the region to far-reaching ports through an enhanced national network, creating new supply chains that build prosperity in the region – moving the wheat, barley and produce the region is famous for,” Coulton said.
She will also work with industry and community during Inland Rail’s planning and design for projects such as the Macintyre River crossing.
The Moree Office has joined a broader network of Inland Rail Regional Offices that will assist regional activities of Australian Government staff already established in Wodonga, Dubbo and Toowoomba offices.