Griffith is set to be the winner from a wildly ambitious collaboration between federal, state, and local governments to turn the area into a bustling export hub.
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Politicians from all levels of government came to Wumbulgal near Griffith on Tuesday to launch plans for the far-reaching WRConnect project.
It's a major upgrade that will use the proposed Inland Rail network at Junee to connect Western Riverina producers to eager international markets.
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said WRConnect would bring much-needed jobs into the region and give a lasting boost to the economy.
"It's about growing your local economies and providing employment into the region for many, many years to come," Mr Toole said.
"It will allow our regions and our communities to grow to their full potential."
Griffith City Council mayor John Dal Broi said the plan would go a long way to get freight trucks off the road and ease congestion in Griffith's CBD.
"Council gets continual complains from residents about the traffic, the dust, and the noise," Cr Dal Broi said.
"WRConnect is a much more suitable location for a freight and logistics centre."
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The shift from road to rail is expected to cut costs by $22 million per year in efficiency savings alone, as well as ease pressure on the region's roads and highways.
The project itself is estimated to cost upwards of $60 million, but there still remains a significant shortfall to cover the costs of road upgrades, new drainage systems, and proper signage.
Where that money will come from is still up in the air, especially with the Federal election looming on the horizon.
Member for Farrer Sussan Ley promised to "knock on the door of every minister" to get government funding for WRConnect if re-elected come May 18.
The plan's scope is massive and still has a long way to go before being realised, but it has so far won the support of all five councils in the Western Riverina region.
The plan will be delivered in three stages as the final link in the supply chain connecting Australia's food bowl to the rest of the world.
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Kenji Sato
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
