The North Star to the NSW/QLD border section of the Inland Rail project consists of the construction and operation of a 30 km rail corridor between North Star and the NSW/Queensland border, including a new rail track following the existing non-operational Boggabilla rail corridor for approximately 25 km between North Star and Whalan Creek and 5 km of new track running from Whalan Creek to the NSW/Queensland border.
The proposal
The land requirement for the proposal would comprise the existing corridor with an average width of approximately 40 m with variation for local topography. The width was chosen to accommodate the infrastructure currently proposed for construction, as well as future expansion.
The key features of the proposal are:
- a new rail track following the existing non-operational Boggabilla rail corridor for 25 km towards Whalan Creek
- 5 km of new rail track in a greenfield rail corridor to the NSW/QLD border
- a crossing loop, new bridges and level crossing works
- establishment and use of off-site borrow sites for construction materials
- a workers' accommodation camp in North Star
- ancillary infrastructure and associated earthworks, drainage and road works.
Consultation and feedback
The Environmental Impact Statement was on public exhibition from 26 August 2020 until 6 October 2020.
The department welcomed feedback from the community, government agencies and other stakeholders during public exhibition. Your feedback helped us better understand the opinions and concerns of the community, which informed our assessment of the project.
ARTC responded to submissions received in a Response to Submissions Report and prepared a Preferred Infrastructure Report.
The Minister for Planning approved the North Star to NSW/Qld border project in February 2023.
What happens next
The Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water has determined the North Star to the NSW/QLD border project to be a controlled action under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The project is being assessed by the federal government under an accredited assessment process.
For more information on the North Star to the NSW/QLD Border section of the Inland Rail project go to:
To download a map which provides an overview of each section of the project between Melbourne and Brisbane, go to Inland Rail.