North Star to the NSW/QLD border

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.

This includes 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 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.

View the approval

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.

Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) must now prepare a number of environmental management plans before they start construction.