Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall has taken to the floor of State Parliament to condemn the Commonwealth Government for scrapping the $44 million Moree Intermodal Overpass and call on the NSW Government to come to the table to salvage the critical project.
Mr Marshall said the decision last week failed to appreciate the importance of the overpass, a key plank of the $224.8 million Moree Special Activation Precinct (SAP), the value of the agricultural sector in the Moree Plains and the impact on the SAP.
“This is a callous and misinformed decision by the Federal Government which could have massive consequences,” Mr Marshall told Parliament.
“This overpass was to carry all the road trains and heavy vehicles coming from the west of Moree, from the Newell Highway, over the inland rail and into the Special Activation Precinct and rail intermodal.
“By axing the overpass and ripping away the road train access from the west, the Commonwealth could has derailed the viability and attractiveness of the Moree Special Activation Precinct, putting thousands of new jobs and millions of dollars of capital investment at risk.”
Mr Marshall said the business case underpinning the Special Activation Precinct, wholly-funded by the State Government, was based upon the Intermodal Overpass being constructed to facilitate the new East-West heavy vehicle connector road.
“The overpass and associated connector road was all about ensuring the safest and most efficient road train and heavy vehicle access to the SAP and new intermodal,” he said.
“This would remove those vehicles from residential areas and urban streets of Moree, which were not designed to take that volume and of heavy vehicle traffic.
“All of this has been ripped away by the Commonwealth and left our community and the future of the SAP up in the air.
“I fully support the calls from Moree Plains Shire Council and Member for Parkes Mark Coulton for the Commonwealth to urgently review this disgraceful decision.
“Given the importance of the Moree SAP to the economy and its impact on a significant NSW project, the State Government must also lean in and request their mates in Canberra to reverse this cut.
“Failing that, we request the State Government come to the table and pony up the required cash to deliver the overpass and ensure the full potential of the Moree SAP is delivered, as committed.
“I’m utterly appalled by this political-driven decision by the Commonwealth and will everything I possibly can to have wrong righted.”