Torbanlea set to receive train-building factory

A jobs-rich factory in a tiny town on Queensland‘s Fraser Coast is the latest project fuelling the revival of the state’s former manufacturing heartland.

A $.7.1 billion train-building project is coming to the Fraser Coast country town of Torbanlea.

That will include building a $239 million dollar to produce the trains in the township.

The major announcement, which will bring 800 jobs to the region, was made on Wednesday at City Hall in Maryborough by Premier Anastacia Palaszczuk and Maryborough MP Bruce Saunders.

In Maryborough on Wednesday, the Premier described the train facility as the government’s first major investment in infrastructure ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.

She said 65 trains would be built on the Fraser Coast in coming years.

“We’re investing in manufacturing to create jobs in regional Queensland,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“At the election, we pledged $600 million to build 20 new trains in Maryborough with an option for a further 45.

“It’s now clear we’ll need a full complement of trains to cater for growth in years to come.
“I want Queensland to benefit from this $7.1 billion investment. That means jobs for workers throughout our state.”

Today the @AnnastaciaMP Labor Government more than tripled our election commitment on building trains in Queensland because we believe in long term quality manufacturing jobs for Qld workers

Congrats Assistant Minister for Train Manufacturing @Putmaryborough1 on massive annct! pic.twitter.com/knZPqJ4zhM

— Mark Bailey MP (@MarkBaileyMP) October 20, 2021

Mr Saunders described the announcement as a “great day for Maryborough” and the wider region.

“Torbanlea is a great community, it was a mining community, Torbanlea and Howard.

“It’s a great block of land that the government has purchases there.

“Maryborough is back - Maryborough is the number one train building facility in the Southern Hemisphere.”

Mr Saunders said the city had the skill base to get the work done.

“This is huge investment, we’re talking about billions of dollars invested in our region and 800 fulltime jobs in our region.”

The historic riverside city, which was once a manufacturing hub, has recently reclaimed its reputation as the train-building capital, welcoming an expansion of the local Hyne Timber mill, completion of a $60 million munitions factory and the promise of battery and medical device production.

Torbanlea is 26km north of Maryborough and has a population of 800.

Not since the closure of the Burgowan Mine in the 1960s has the Burrum District had its own major industry.

Outside the agricultural sector, the majority of local workers have had to travel to the nearby Maryborough jail or other jobs in Hervey Bay and Maryborough.