Narrabri Shire projects have won significant ranking on a priority list for regional infrastructure funding.
The mayor, Councillor Conrad Bolton, and general manager Pat White, successfully argued the shire’s case for priority at the recent Namoi Councils meeting in Tamworth.
The group of Namoi Councils had agreed to establish a Minerals and Energy Working Group Regional Infrastructure Priority List for input to the New England North West Regional Infrastructure Plan.
The councils each submitted their case to be prioritised for their major infrastructure projects in the Plan.
Narrabri Shire won the highest A-1 priority for several important projects including Narrabri and Wee Waa flood mitigation works and water and sewerage upgrades to support residential development in Narrabri.
The time frame for A priority ranked projects is one to five years.
“It was good to get the support for our projects from the regional mayors,” said Cr Bolton.
“They have their own projects but agreed on A-1 priority for many in Narrabri Shire.”
The endorsement of Narrabri Shire projects by the regional councils also strengthens the case for funding from the $160 million state government’s Resources for Regions money.
Among the projects supported as a priority, investment by State and Federal governments to augment water and sewer utility upgrades for Narrabri was given an A-1 ranking.
“The shire needs to accommodate a predicted 1500 new homes in the next seven years,” said Cr Bolton.
“Someone has to come up with the funds to put the sewerage system in place, and that’s what we say to the state government.
“The mines are driving this development, so the Resources for Regions money has to come into the equation.
“Local councils are maxed out financially, so why should we put the impost on the historic community to pay for the mining driven infrastructure?
“It may be long term, no interest loans, or other mechanisms, but the government has to come up with some resource money to help us facilitate this growth.
“It is important for them to do that because we can’t handle it financially.”
Flood mitigation is a source of community concern.
“I argued that new infrastructure is fine, but where existing infrastructure is in place, like the Newell Highway just north of Narrabri and at Narrabri West, they didn’t do the flood studies correctly,” said Cr Bolton.
“I argued for planning and investment to fix what has happened rather than for what we need to happen from now on.
“We are asking the assessors to come and see how the highway causes a barrier to stop flood water getting away to the west, specifically the highway section north of town back from the Wheat Research Institute.
“A gravel road bypass was built for use while the highway upgrade was done, and it is still there, effectively a dam wall.
“Namoi Councils also indicated it will get behind solutions to the Narrabri West railway culvert problems which cause flood issues for people living in the area,” said Cr Bolton.
“Glencoe Channel work also was given an A-1 ranking. Glencoe Channel needs to be raised at least 300mm over a distance of about 1.5 km.”
Baan Baa’s water supply received a 3-A priority, but that ranking puts it on the regional planning agenda.
“One of the mayors sitting next to me, looking at the Baan Baa water supply issue, commented ‘that’s a long bow, to try and get that one up!’” said Cr Bolton. “But we did.
“Affordable housing, a big picture issue for the region, won an A-1 ranking.
“And the Baan Baa water and sewerage proposal fits the affordable housing criteria,” said Cr Bolton.
“Affordable housing is all about providing access to blocks of land which are affordable. If we get water and sewerage into Baan Baa, more blocks of land will start selling.
“Baan Baa is in the centre of the mines area, it is a good accommodation area for mine employees, but also young people can afford to buy there.
Upgrade of the Old Gunnedah road from Narrabri to the Kamilaroi Highway won an A-1 ranking with the priority on that road being the replacement of the Tarriaro Bridge.
“This is fast becoming a major thoroughfare for access to the mines,” Cr Bolton said.
Other ‘big ticket’ items which were agreed to be A-1 priorities included the Liverpool Range tunnel and an upgrade of the north west rail line.
Rail traffic through Gunnedah will increase significantly and a second rail overpass will be needed.
“There will be about one train every 17 minutes going through Gunnedah,” said Cr Bolton.
“It takes four or five minutes for each train to go past a crossing, so it will equate to a train about every 12 minutes.
“And the planned Olam commodities handling complex near Baan Baa site will be also be handling a huge amount of grain which will be going by rail to Newcastle.”