For more than four years, ICN consultants in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland have been working with ARTC Inland Rail and their delivery partners to prepare and promote local and First Nations businesses for supply opportunities during the delivery of Inland Rail, Australia’s largest rail infrastructure project.
During this time more than a billion dollars’ worth of subcontract and supply opportunities have been communicated on ICN Gateway by Inland Rail’s construction contractors with more than $300 million in contracts awarded to businesses registered on the platform. Of the 550+contracts awarded, almost 50% have been awarded to local and first nations businesses.
Recognising the value of ICN’s contribution to regional industry participation and economic growth, ARTC Inland Rail and its delivery partners have collaborated with ICN to:
- prepare three comprehensive supply market analyses which identify businesses with capability and capacity to supply to Inland Rail and other large infrastructure projects;
- facilitate 28 supplier briefings throughout regional Victoria, New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland;
- communicate more than 350 work packages on 13 ICN Gateway project pages resulting in the submission of more than 7,500 expressions of interest;
- conduct more than 50 targeted business matching searches using ICN Gateway, and
- host 19 business capability workshops attracting attendance from more than 150 regional businesses.
Inland Rail Supply Chain Manager, Jason Manttan, said ARTC Inland Rail is very committed to maximising opportunities for Australian businesses, particularly those who are local to our project sites.
“Through our collaboration with ICN and their national network of consultants, we’re enabling our delivery partners to engage with, and maximise use of, local and First Nations businesses and social enterprises wherever possible in the delivery of Inland Rail,” Mr Manttan said.
“ICN’s service offering is much broader than ICN Gateway – including advocacy for Australian industry participation in
major projects with Government, their regional consultant network, market engagement and research services, events management, capability building initiatives and more.”
Construction of Inland Rail started in 2018 and completed projects, like the 103km Parkes to Narromine section in NSW, are already benefiting Australia’s freight network and supply chain.
The approximately 170km Narrabri to North Star section is nearing completion and construction in Victoria kicked off earlier this year.
Work in southern NSW will commence in late 2023, in line with the Australian Government’s focus on prioritising construction between Beveridge in Victoria and Parkes in NSW.
ARTC Inland Rail is working to gain all state and Australian Government approvals, secure the proposed alignment, acquire properties and gain greater certainty on costs along the northern NSW and QLD sections of the alignment before starting construction.
To view the list of Inland Rail projects and upcoming supply opportunities, search for “Inland Rail” on the ICN Gateway or find out more about Inland Rail via the project’s website.
