Inland Rail accommodation camp underway at Stockinbingal

WORK has officially begun on a new accommodation camp in Stockinbingal to house hundreds of workers tasked with building the Illabo to Stockinbingal (I2S) section of Inland Rail.

The 7.7-hectare site, located on Grogan Road between Racecourse Lane and McLaughlins Lane, will be transformed into a temporary home for up to 350 workers over the next two years, as crews construct 39 kilometres of new track through greenfield terrain.

The facility will feature an array of modern amenities including ensuited rooms, a central dining hall, recreation room, gym, laundry, car parking and landscaped grounds.

Early works are now underway to prepare the site, with crews establishing fencing, environmental controls, water run-off basins, access roads and earthworks ahead of major construction on the camp itself, which is expected to begin within the month.

Conrad Strachan, Inland Rail Project Director for the Illabo to Stockinbingal segment, said the scale and remoteness of the project required a dedicated and self-contained workforce.

“The construction of Illabo to Stockinbingal is a major challenge, with 39 kilometres of new rail being built in green field sites,” Mr Strachan said.

“This will require a dedicated and efficient team who are able to give their best and help Inland Rail deliver on its undertaking to complete construction south of Parkes by the end of 2027.”

Mr Strachan said the camp would also reduce strain on existing accommodation in the region, ensuring local providers could continue to meet the needs of visitors and tourism operators.

“Given the location of I2S and the size of the workforce, accommodation will be created on site so that we can prioritise health and safety, maximise efficiency and not hinder local accommodation providers’ ability to meet the needs of visitors to the area,” he said.

“We are looking forward to being part of the Stockinbingal community as we work towards delivery of I2S.”

The Illabo to Stockinbingal section is one of 13 projects that make up the broader Inland Rail network — a transformative freight infrastructure program connecting Melbourne and Brisbane via regional New South Wales and Queensland.

Junee awaits final bridge design as works near

Meanwhile, major Inland Rail works are also preparing to ramp up in Junee and Wagga Wagga, where key bridge replacements are scheduled to begin in September.

In Junee, the 80-year-old Kemp Street bridge will be demolished to make way for a taller, wider overpass, accommodating double-stacked freight trains.

However, final bridge designs and transport plans are yet to be released, leaving residents awaiting further detail as the September start date approaches.

In contrast, Wagga Wagga residents have already been given their first look at designs for three new bridges, including the replacement of Edmondson Street bridge, also set to begin in September.

Visualisations were released back in May, offering the community a clearer sense of what to expect during the 18-month construction period. See them here.