If approved, it could create up to 50 jobs in the construction period.

Many more could be created as the development grows over time.

Ettamogah Rail Hub has submitted a development application to Griffith City Council for the facility.

Rob Perkins, strategy and business development manager for Ettamogah Rail Hub, said the purpose built facility would offer a competitive alternative for freight haulage to and from the region.

The hub would be similar to the Ettamogah Rail Hub near Albury, which has been operating for five years.

“We always felt there was an opportunity to grow beyond Albury,” Mr Perkins said.

“We’ve been looking at the Riverina for some time. In that area there is a tremendous amount of freight that could be competitively carried by rail.”

He said there was traditional freight including grains, wine and citrus as well as cotton, meat, walnuts and other produce.

He said many of these businesses were expanding and needed competitive pricing and warehouse options – the development of a freight hub would certainly open the door to these businesses. 

Mr Perkins said the high volume of freight moved by trucks put pressure on the district’s “fragile country roads”.

“The region has an opportunity to make more use of the rail lines,” he said.

“We decided the only way to do this properly was to build a new modern terminal outside of town.”

Mr Perkins said the Widgelli site was a good fit for the plan.

He said the hub would be a common user hub and there was a plan for a business park to be built at the site as well.

Mr Perkins said the business park could require a substantial investment of tens of millions of dollars in the future

Mayor John Dal Broi said it was great news for the district. 

The site was chosen for its access to significant quantities of electricity, gas, water and telecommunications which are already accessible at the site. The Widgelli Rail Hub would operate five days a week from 6am to 5pm.

The development application, which sets out plans for a warehouse and office building, a weighbridge and separate truck and car acccess, can be viewed at council’s customer service centre in Benerembah Street.

Submissions regarding the proposal close on May 25 at 4pm.