Pacific National will inject $150 million into new coal train provisioning facilities in regional Queensland
May 31, 2011
Pacific National is set to invest more than $150 million into the construction of four new train maintenance and provisioning facilities at Nebo, Waitara, Dysart and Callemondah in Queensland.
At a joint launch at the company’s Nebo site today, Pacific National said the new state of the art train provisioning facilities will increase the efficiency of Pacific National’s coal haulage services in the Goonyella, Blackwater and Newlands rail systems.
Pacific National Coal Director David Irwin says the facilities will perform a range of functions such as the refuelling of trains, routine train inspections and wagon and locomotive maintenance work.
“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,” Irwin says.
“With Queensland coal exports expected to grow strongly, Pacific National’s investment is critical to delivering efficient, effective and sustainable coal haulage services.”
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 on the completion of the Northern Missing Link track infrastructure in 2012.
Planning for the four new train provisioning and maintenance facilities at Nebo, Waitara, Dysart and Callemondah has been underway since early 2010.
“We’ve undertaken consultation with key stakeholders and community members to ensure minimisation of potential environmental, noise and land impacts,” Irwin says.
“The facilities are designed to interface with QR National’s rail network and an 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.
Isaac Regional Council Mayor Cr. Cedric Marshall says the region is thrilled to officially launch the construction of Pacific National’s Nebo facilities and welcomes the economic stimulus and job growth it will bring.
“The construction of the new facilities will create 322 jobs including 220 full time jobs during peak construction,” Marshall says.
“A further 102 ongoing positions will be created comprising 65 trainee and qualified train drivers and 37 maintenance and operational staff.”
Construction of the four new train provisioning and maintenance facilities at Nebo, Waitara, Dysart and Callemondah will be completed in early 2012.