NSW Department of Planning approves Pacific National’s new $110 million train servicing facility at Greta
March 28, 2011
NSW’s Department of Planning has approved Pacific National’s new $110 million train servicing facility at Greta.
The Greta Train Support Facility will be built between the existing railway line and the Hunter Valley expressway (F3 to Branxton extension).
Pacific National Coal Director David Irwin says the state of the art facility will support Pacific National’s coal haulage operations which make up approximately 80 per cent of all coal railed in the Hunter Valley region.
“The
facility will perform a range of functions, including the refuelling of trains, routine train inspections and wagon maintenance work,” Irwin says.
“It will
significantly contribute to further
increasing the efficiency of Pacific National’s coal haulage services in the Hunter Valley and provide significant capacity benefits to the broader coal chain in the region.
“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, Irwin says the company’s
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 economic stimulus to the Hunter Valley,” he says.
“As an integral part of the Hunter Valley Coal Chain, Pacific National is committed to ongoing investment in the region.”
Based on national benchmarks, the $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.
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 environmental impact is minimised.
Construction is scheduled to commence in June 2011.
Facilities 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; and
•Ancilliary facilities – including fuel storage, water storage, fencing, car parking and
access roadways, lighting and landscaping.