The upgrades to the Burren Junction facility will reduce rail loads by 70 per cent, which will deliver faster cycle times to port with a freight saving of over $6 per tonne. 

GrainCorp’s Group General Manager of Storage and Logistics, Neil Johns, said Burren Junction was a strategically important for both grain growers and grain exporters, due to its size and proximity to the Newcastle Port. 

“By partnering with the NSW Government through its Fixing Country Rail program, the rail siding has been upgraded as well as the above rail loading equipment,” Johns said.

“This combination cuts the train loading time from 13 hours to under four hours, greatly reducing rail freight cost and heavy vehicle movements through local communities,” he said.

“In fact, for every train we use to send grain to port we are removing up to 70 trucks from local roads. 

“For growers, these improvements will result in higher grain prices and better access to export markets.”

The opening of the upgraded facility is coming at a perfect time for growers, as northern NSW is enjoying a large harvest. 

“We look forward to working with the NSW Government, as part of the Fixing Country Rail program, to upgrade regional rail capability across NSW. Having this high-capacity, efficient infrastructure will help us deliver NSW grain to both local and international markets,” Johns said.

The investment is part of a total $200 million to be spent under GrainCorp’s Project Regeneration initiative, which involves developing a network of high-capacity grain receival sites to support an efficient rail network.