Glen Innes Severn Mayor Margot Davis has called for significant changes to the draft New England North West Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plan (SRITP), arguing that transport investment must be used to create economic opportunity and regional growth, rather than simply responding to existing population trends.
Councillor Davis said Council’s submission to Transport for NSW highlighted a number of gaps in the draft strategy, particularly the underrepresentation of Glen Innes as a regional centre and the lack of focus on northern transport corridors and cross-border connections.
“Glen Innes is far more than a stop on the highway. We are a regional service centre, a gateway to Queensland, home to the Glen Innes Highlands GeoRegion, recognised as Australia’s third pilot GeoRegion, an emerging renewable energy hub, a critical minerals opportunity area, and a key part of the future economic growth story of northern New South Wales,” Cr Davis said.
“One of our key concerns is that the draft strategy is heavily weighted towards the southern transport corridors of the region and does not adequately recognise the importance of northern transport corridors and cross-border connections.”
The future prosperity of the New England North West cannot be viewed solely through a south-facing lens. Strategic corridors linking Glen Innes, Inverell, Tenterfield and surrounding communities to Queensland, the coast and emerging industry opportunities must be given greater prominence,” she said.
The submission calls for improved transport links to Toowoomba and Brisbane, greater recognition of cross-border travel patterns, and stronger support for community transport services.
“Transport planning needs to reflect how people actually live their lives. For many residents in northern communities, Queensland is closer and more accessible than Sydney or Newcastle. Whether it is health care, education, employment or other essential services, the transport network should support those real-world travel patterns,” Cr Davis said.
Council has also called for significantly greater investment in community transport services, noting that transport disadvantage extends well beyond those currently eligible for support programs and aged care packages.
“Community transport should not be viewed solely as a service for people on support packages. There are many residents, families, students and older community members who fall outside those programs but still face real barriers to accessing essential services. We need better support for community transport providers, improved coach services and more innovative transport solutions that connect people with the services they rely on,” she said.
The Mayor said the submission also advocates for a stronger commitment to activating suitable sections of the Great Northern Line corridor through rail trails while preserving the corridor for future generations.
“We have consistently argued that rail trails and future transport opportunities are not competing ideas. Rail trails can deliver economic benefits now through tourism, visitation and local business growth, while preserving the corridor for any future opportunities that may emerge over the longer term,” she said.
The submission calls for Transport for NSW to streamline rail trail approval processes and accelerate activation of suitable sections of the Great Northern Line corridor.
Council has also called on the State and Federal Governments to support completion of the missing 23-kilometre Moree section of Inland Rail, recognising its strategic importance in enabling freight movements from North Star through to Narrabri and ultimately the Port of Newcastle.
“This relatively short section remains one of the most important missing links in the freight network. Completing it would strengthen freight efficiency across northern New South Wales and support agricultural, industrial and export opportunities across the broader region,” Cr Davis said.
“Over the longer term, the NSW Government should work collaboratively with business and industry to identify opportunities to build a sustainable freight task aligned to the region’s natural endowments, including agriculture, renewable energy, critical minerals and future industrial development.
“Any future consideration of reactivating the preserved Great Northern Line corridor would require a coordinated long-term commitment from government, supported by industry demand, economic development and a viable freight business case. This is a multi-decade proposition, not a short-term transport project, but preserving the corridor today ensures future generations retain that option,” she said.
The submission also identifies opportunities for Glen Innes to play a larger role in the future transport network, including as a freight and logistics hub, a location for heavy vehicle and bus EV charging infrastructure, a vehicle maintenance and servicing centre, and a support hub for renewable energy and critical minerals industries.
“The strategy should recognise not only where growth exists today, but where growth can occur tomorrow,” Cr Davis said.
“Glen Innes has the land, infrastructure, strategic location and natural advantages to support future investment, jobs and industry development, but transport planning needs to actively enable those opportunities.”
Key recommendations contained in the submission include:
- Improved transport connections to Toowoomba and Brisbane.
- Increased support and funding for community transport services for all residents.
- Recognition of education access as a transport planning outcome.
- Upgrades to key freight routes including the Gwydir Highway.
- Recognition of the Glen Innes–Grafton–Coffs Harbour corridor as a strategic east-west link.
- Completion of the Moree Inland Rail section.
- Accelerated activation of suitable sections of the Great Northern Line corridor for rail trails.
- Better planning for renewable energy, critical minerals and oversized freight movements.
- Future-focused investment in EV charging, freight and logistics infrastructure.
- A place-based planning framework that integrates transport, economic development and land-use planning.
“This submission is ultimately about ensuring that northern communities are not overlooked and that transport investment is used to unlock future opportunities, support population growth and strengthen regional economies,” Cr Davis said.
“Transport investment should not simply follow growth, it should help create it.”
Council’s submission has now been provided to Transport for NSW for consideration as part of the finalisation of the Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plan.
Media Release: Glen Innes Severn Council
