Pacific National, one of Australia’s largest private rail freight businesses, is set to invest more than $150 million into regional Queensland with the construction of four new train maintenance and provisioning facilities at Nebo, Waitara, Dysart and Callemondah.
At a joint launch with the Isaac Regional Council and the Pacific National Infrastructure Alliance, Pacific National said construction of the new facilities will create 322 jobs in regional Queensland.
The venture will provide 220 full time jobs during peak construction and a further 102 ongoing positions including 65 trainee and qualified train drivers and 37 maintenance and operational staff.
Pacific National currently transports export coal to the Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal and the Port of Gladstone under contracts with Xstrata, Rio Tinto, Macarthur Coal, Anglo American and Bowen Central Coal.
Haulage operations to the Port of Abbot Point will also commence upon the completion of the Northern Missing Link track infrastructure in 2012.
The new state of the art train provisioning facilities will support Pacific National’s coal haulage operations and further increase the efficiency of Pacific National’s coal haulage services in the Goonyella, Blackwater and Newlands rail systems.
It will enable the provisioning and maintenance of Pacific National trains to ensure their reliable and efficient operation with a range of functions performed, including the refuelling of trains, routine train inspections and wagon and locomotive maintenance work.
Pacific National Coal Director, David Irwin said:
“The construction of the new train maintenance and provisioning facilities at Nebo is a significant milestone in Pacific National’s investment in Queensland’s coal haulage market.
“With Queensland coal exports expected to grow strongly, Pacific National’s investment is critical to delivering efficient, effective and sustainable coal haulage services.
“Importantly, we will also create up to 322 full time jobs, including 220 throughout the construction period and a further 65 new trainee train driver and fully qualified train driver positions. We invite anyone who is looking for a career with great prospects to come and speak to us,” he concluded.
Planning for the four new train provisioning and maintenance facilities at Nebo, Waitara, Dysart and Callemondah has been underway since early 2010 and has included consultation with key stakeholders and community members to ensure minimisation of potential environmental, noise and land impacts.
The facilities are designed to interface with QR National’s rail network and a Connection Agreement has been negotiated with QR National to ensure the efficient integration of the facility with the existing network.
Pacific National has selected Abigroup to deliver the civil infrastructure and manage the scope of project works, including co-ordinating the design and construction.
