SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — Australia’s National Stronger Regions Fund will help pay for an A$8.1- million project to upgrade GrainCorp’s grain storage and handling site at Cunningar New South Wales. 

The commonwealth has approved funding of A$2.5 million. The joint proposal is backed by GrainCorp, local grain growers and the Harden Shire Council.

GrainCorp said the upgrades will deliver a 24-hour rail loading cycle to the nearby port terminal at Port Kembla, removing an estimated 4,000 truck movements per year from local roads

“We are delighted with the decision as it demonstrates the potential for success when grain growers, business, the community and government work together,” Mark Palmquist
GrainCorp chief executive officer (CEO) said. The Harden area is a consistent grain growing region and this project is about making the grain even more competitive and attractive to exporters.”

“I would also like to thank the Federal Member for Hume, Angus Taylor, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Warren Truss, for their support,” he said.

The Cunningar upgrade forms part of Project Regeneration, GrainCorp’s A$200-million program of rail infrastructure investment across the company’s country grain network.

The National Stronger Regions Fund is providing funding of A$1 billion over five years, starting in 2015-16, to fund priority infrastructure in regional communities.