- ARTC has responded to submissions on the Southern Highlands Overtaking Opportunities project
- ARTC’s Response to Submissions Report for the project is now available to view online
- The project can now proceed, subject to mitigation measures set out in the Review of Environmental Factors (REF).
The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has responded to community feedback on the fully Australian Government funded $41 million Southern Highlands Overtaking Opportunities project, that will deliver overtaking opportunities for trains at Werai in the Southern Highlands, and Joppa Junction near Goulburn.
When completed, the Southern Highlands Overtaking Opportunities project will allow for more efficient movement of freight and passenger rail services. This will increase flexibility and reduce delays and congestion on the ARTC network, particularly for freight and passenger services on the crucial Sydney to Melbourne rail line.
ARTC received five submissions on the project and has responded to community feedback with the Response to Submissions Report, now available to view online. The REF reports identify and assess the environmental impacts of the project at the Werai and the Joppa Junction sites respectively, and recommend mitigation measures to manage impacts.
Following a review of the REF and consideration of the submissions received from the community and stakeholders, ARTC has determined that the project can proceed, subject to the recommended mitigation measures.
Project construction is expected to start in early 2023 and be completed by late 2024.
ARTC Group Executive Major Construction Projects Mike Zambelli said:
“The two locations will each provide two ‘double crossovers’ approximately 2km apart, to allow trains of up to 1800m in length to be overtaken by faster services”.
“ARTC thanks the community for coming forward to have their say on this project. We have reviewed all feedback and invite the community to view the Response to Submissions Report, which considers and responds to comments.”
