Intermodal facility in Queensland gets go ahead in second round of federal funding
A new intermodal facility will be built in south-east Queensland after the federal government announced a $9.6 million investment in the Bromelton Intermodal Rail Freight Precinct project.
Sitting 6km west of Beaudesert and on the interstate rail line between ports in Melbourne and Brisbane, the new intermodal facility will create 500 medium-term jobs and 1,000 in the longer term, local federal member Scott Buchholz says.
“Works will include constructing six kilometres of new rail track and developing civil infrastructure at the site, all of which will encourage future rail development in the industrial precinct,” Buchholz says.
“Once complete, the new intermodal facility will support the transfer of up to 795,000 tonnes of freight annually from 2020–21 and will improve south east Queensland’s economy by increasing efficiencies in rail freight transport and providing better access for industry to markets.”
One of 111 projects to gain a share of $293 million in funding under round two of the National Stronger Regions Fund, the facility will form part of the 15,00ha Bromelton State Development Area created in 2008.
Federal infrastructure minister Warren Truss notes the fund, which will dish out $1 billion over five years, requires communities to make a case for their community development.
“Funding is supporting investment in a diverse range of infrastructure nationwide, from transport infrastructure to tourism, cultural, sporting and healthcare facilities,” Truss says.
“These projects are identified as priority infrastructure by local communities, and the Fund particularly encourages communities to form partnerships between not-for-profit organisations, local, state and territory governments as well as the private sector.”
The government’s $9.6 million investment in the Bromelton facility will form part of its $30 million construction price tag.