The NSW-Queensland Border to Gowrie (B2G) section of the Inland Rail Freight Corridor involves the construction and upgrading of approximately 216 kilometres of single-track railway from the New South Wales-Queensland border, near Yelarbon, to Gowrie Junction, north west of Toowoomba in Queensland.
According to summary findings of the Environmental Impact Assessment, the project comprises:
- circa 138 kilometres of new dual gauge track
- upgrading over 71 kilometres of existing track
- 43 public level crossings
- signalling infrastructure
- five crossing loops
- support infrastructure able to accomodate 1,800 metre double-stacked trains
- over 30 bridges
- three road over rail bridges, and
- 12 stock route interfaces.
The Queensland Department of State Development indicates the B2G section will require an investment of $1.4 billion.
Key Dates
| Sep 2021 | Preferred Bidder Selection |
| Jun 2022 | Expected Construction Commencement |
| Dec 2024 | Expected Construction Completion |
Procurement
| Procuring Agency: | Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) |
| Successful Tenderer: | A consortium comprising Laing O’Rourke and FKG Group were awarded the civil works from NSW-Queensland Border to Whetstone in Queensland. A joint venture comprising Bielby Holdings, JF Hull Holdings, and QH&M Birt were awarded the work from Whetstone to Gowrie. |
| Related contracts: |
PROJECT HISTORY
| Mar 2018 | The Queensland Coordinator General declared the B2G section a 'Coordinated Project', triggering the requirement for an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to be prepared. The project will now progress to the design phase including the development of the EIS. |
| May 2018 | The draft Terms of Reference (ToR) for the EIS were issued by the Queensland Coordinator General in May 2018, with public consultation open until 18 June. The final ToR was released on 16 November 2018. |
| Jun 2018 | The Future Freight Joint Venture comprising AECOM and Aurecon was awarded the contract for the design work on the Border to Gowrie section of the project. |
| Nov 2018 | A preliminary Condamine floodplain crossing solution was released by ARTC for public consultation. The preliminary solution proposed the use of raised embankments and bridges to cross the floodplain east of the Gore Highway. |
| Sep 2019 | The proposed alignment within the corridor was released for public consultation. |
| Sep 2020 | The ARTC opened Registrations of Interest (ROIs) for the Rail Corridor Package, closing on 13 October 2020. ARTC sought a single contractor to undertake works across 561 kilometres of the corridor, across the Narromine to Narrabri, North Star to NSW-Queensland Border, and NSW-Queensland Border to Gowrie sections. Two Request for Proposal (RFP) rounds are to follow the ROI process, with the award of a ‘Collaborative Framework Agreement' to be finalised in the second quarter of 2021. |
| Sep 2021 | The ARTC announced it has entered into a collaborative framework agreement with the BHQ Joint Venture, comprising Bielby, JF Hull, and QH&M Birt, for the 'Northern Civil Works Program', that comprised 162 kilometres of civil works on the section, including 24 kilometres of existing track. Contract close was expected in 2022, following planning and environmental approvals. |
| Sep 2021 | The ARTC appointed a consortium comprising Laing O’Rourke and FKG Group for the 'Central Civil Works Package', covering the Narrabri to North Star Phase Two section, North Star to NSW-Queensland Border section, and a 47 kilometre span from NSW-Queensland Border to Whetstone within the NSW-Queensland Border to Gowrie section. Total package was estimated to be $1.2 billion. Contract close was expected in 2022, following planning and environmental approvals. |
| Jan 2022 | The Queensland Coordinator-General evaluated the draft Environmental Impact Statement and has requested additional information. The revised draft EIS and additional information is due 1 February 2023. |
Sector
Rail
Procurement approach
Traditional Procurement |
Location
Queensland |
National |
Resources
Media releases
2018/06/152018/11/07
2019/11/29
2021/09/03
2021/09/03
2021/09/20
2021/09/21
2022/01/31
