Pacific National is set to invest more than $110 million into the Hunter Valley (New South Wales) economy and create up to 550 full time jobs during the 12 month construction of its new Train Support Facility at Greta, following approval from the NSW Department of Planning.
As an integral part of the Hunter Valley Coal Chain, Pacific National is responsible for hauling approximately 80 per cent of all Hunter Valley railed coal and is committed to ongoing investment in the local region.
The state of the art Greta facility will support Pacific National’s coal haulage operations and will see a range of functions performed, including the refuelling of trains, routine train inspections and wagon maintenance work. The facility will further increase the efficiency of Pacific National’s coal haulage services in the Hunter Valley region and provide significant capacity benefits to the broader Hunter Valley Coal Chain.
Pacific National Coal Director, David Irwin said, “The approval of Greta Train Support Facility is a significant milestone in ensuring the continued growth and liberation of growth capacity in the Hunter Valley Coal Chain.
“With coal exports through the Port of Newcastle forecast to double over the next five years, this investment is critical to delivering efficient, effective and sustainable coal haulage services.
“Importantly, we will also create up to 550 new full time jobs throughout the 12 months of construction and at least 38 new local jobs once the site is operational, adding further economic stimulus to the region,” he concluded.
Based on national benchmarks, the construction cost of $110 million project will generate a further $99 million of economic activity and $106 million in consumption induced effects. This brings the total activity generated by the construction of the Greta Train Support Facility to approximately $315 million.
With construction scheduled to commence in June 2011, the Greta Train Support Facility will be built between the existing railway line and the Hunter Valley expressway (F3 to Branxton extension), with facilities to include:
- Five new rail tracks – including three provisioning tracks and two maintenance tracks;
- A provisioning facility – providing crew change, refuelling and re-sanding activities;
- Wagon maintenance facilities – including a wagon maintenance hard stand area, maintenance workshop, truck and vehicle storage, store room, office space, amenities and lunch room
- Ancilliary facilities – including fuel storage, water storage, fencing, car parking and access roadways, lighting and landscaping.
The total area of the site will be 49.3 hectares and over half will be preserved for native flora and fauna rehabilitation and conservation.
Planning for the Greta project has been underway since 2008, and has included extensive consultation with key stakeholders and community members to ensure minimisation of potential environmental, noise and land impact.
