Special Activation Precinct
A major regional development just 20 kilometres from Alectown.
The Parkes Special Activation Precinct
The New South Wales Government’s Special Activation Precinct at Parkes is a major regional development located just 20 kilometres from Alectown. Covering approximately 4,800 hectares (11,861 acres), the precinct was announced in 2018 as the NSW Government’s first Special Activation Precinct and represents a 20-year vision for regional economic development.
Parkes was selected for its strategic position within Australia’s national transport network, sitting at the junction of the Inland Rail connection between Melbourne and Brisbane and the Trans-Australian Railway. The precinct’s Structure Plan provides a framework for future land use, infrastructure and investment, supporting industries such as logistics, manufacturing, agribusiness and other regional businesses.
A Strategic Location for Industry
Parkes’ location provides a significant advantage for businesses involved in freight, logistics, manufacturing, agriculture and distribution. The combination of major rail connections and the Newell Highway provides efficient access to markets across Australia.
The National Logistics Hub is designed to give businesses access to up to 80 per cent of Australia’s population within approximately 12 hours by road or rail. This connectivity creates opportunities for regional producers and manufacturers to distribute goods throughout Australia and access international markets.
The precinct also provides opportunities for large-scale industrial development, with land costs positioned significantly below those of major metropolitan industrial areas.
Economic Growth & Sustainability
The Special Activation Precinct is designed to attract investment across high-value agribusiness, manufacturing, freight and logistics, warehousing and other industries. The development has the potential to create up to 3,000 jobs, supporting employment and economic activity throughout the wider region.
Sustainability is also an important part of the precinct’s development. Parkes is home to Australia’s first UNIDO Eco-Industrial Park, which promotes efficient use of resources through initiatives such as waste and water reuse, energy efficiency, energy generation and circular economy practices.
The combination of new industry, infrastructure and sustainable development is expected to strengthen Parkes as an important regional economic centre.
National Logistics Hub
Located within the Special Activation Precinct, the National Logistics Hub is a major multimodal transport and logistics development supporting freight, warehousing, manufacturing and distribution.
The hub is strategically positioned between the East-West rail connection, the Newell Highway and the developing Melbourne-to-Brisbane Inland Rail. It has been planned to support 24-hour, seven-day-a-week operations, allowing freight to move efficiently between road and rail.
Approximately 516 hectares of agricultural and industrial land on the western edge of Parkes was rezoned for development of the National Logistics Hub, with additional land reserved for future expansion.
Major freight and logistics operators have already established facilities in the area. Pacific National has opened the first stage of its intermodal hub, while FCL operates an intermodal facility at Goobang Junction. A specialised container transport terminal also operates in the region, with approximately 5 kilometres of rail sidings and a 7,400-square-metre warehouse.
What It Means for Alectown
The continued development of the Special Activation Precinct is expected to strengthen the wider Parkes region through increased employment, investment and demand for local services.
With Alectown located only around 20 kilometres away, the development provides an important connection to the region’s growing economy. Local businesses, workers, producers and service providers can benefit from increased economic activity and new opportunities created by the expansion of logistics, manufacturing, agriculture and other industries.
The Special Activation Precinct is therefore not only a major development for Parkes, but an important part of the future economic landscape surrounding Alectown.
