Connecting Melbourne and Brisbane via Parkes, this 1500km rail project will complete our national freight network.
Newly released figures from Inland Rail reveal the project has now spent close to $500 million with nearly 750 local companies on the Inland Rail alignment since construction on the project started in 2018, delivering a major boost to regional communities.
At end-September, Inland Rail had spent $496 million with local companies, with around $100 million spent with local companies over the last 12 months alone.
From the $496 million spent so far, around $46.5 million has been spent with thirty-six First Nations businesses in regional Australia, with $7.5 million spent in the last year.
Inland Rail has also continued to be a major jobs provider in regional Australia, with the project providing nearly 6,300 jobs at end-September, with just over half of these jobs being filled by local residents and nearly 480 First Nations workers employed.
Local businesses in New South Wales and Victoria can learn how to supply to Inland Rail by visiting: inlandrail.com.au/opportunities/suppliers/For construction job opportunities, visit Inland Rail’s construction contractors’ websites at: www.martinusrail.com.au/careers/Stephen Jones, Inland Rail Executive Director Program Health, Safety, Environment and Sustainability, said “Inland Rail has worked extremely hard to engage with local businesses and help to bring them on board as suppliers, and.to build skills in communities along the alignment, so local communities can participate and benefit from in this once-in-a-generation project and others in the future.”