Queensland Government buys Rockhampton Railyards from Aurizon

The Rockhampton Railyards will be brought back to life with the Queensland Government announcing it has completed the purchase of the site from Aurizon, creating hundreds of rail supply chain manufacturing jobs in Central Queensland. Full details.

The Rockhampton Railyards will be brought back to life with the Queensland Government announcing it has completed the purchase of the site from Aurizon, creating hundreds of rail supply chain manufacturing jobs in Central Queensland.

The 21 hectare site had been vacant since June 2018 after Aurizon closed the facility, leaving 181 people out of work.

It is understood the site was purchased for $21 million.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk travelled to Rockhampton to make the announcement on Monday and was joined by Transport Minister Mark Bailey, Assistant Train Manufacturing Minister Bruce Saunders, Member for Rockhampton Barry O’Rourke, Member for Keppel Brittany Lauga and Rockhampton region Mayor Tony Williams.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk with Transport Minister Mark Bailey, Assistant Train Manufacturing Minister Bruce Saunders, Member for Rockhampton Barry O’Rourke, Member for Keppel Brittany Lauga and Rockhampton Region Mayor Tony Williams at the Rockhampton Railyards on May 30, 2022. Picture: Aden Stokes

In October 2020, Ms Palaszczuk made a commitment if re-elected the Queensland Government would buy back the site, a commitment she said had been delivered.

She said planning had begun to determine the best use of the railyards for the Rockhampton community, industry and Queensland Rail.

“The Rockhampton railyards are an icon,” she said.

“Rail supply chain manufacturing is part of the history of this city. We want to bring it back.

“That’s why we’ve bought this site – to create more rail supply chain manufacturing jobs here in Rockhampton to support train manufacturing in Maryborough.

“There is going to be hundreds (of jobs). We want to see as many local jobs as possible.

“The railyards have been relatively unused for years. It’s time to get the area back in action, and back to generating blue collar jobs for Queenslanders.”

She said work could start at the end of this year.

“A lot of work is going to happen now until then,” she said.

“We are very pleased we have been able to secure this site.

“It is going to be jobs, jobs and more jobs for this region.

“We said we were going to do it and we have delivered on our election commitment.”

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the final uses of the site would be determined after consultation with industry.

“We’re already looking at some exciting possibilities for the site, including as a centre of research into hydrogen-powered rail locos and as a major rail supply chain hub,” Mr Bailey said.

“The research into hydrogen-powered trains is particularly exciting. Hydrogen is a clean, green power source and it makes sense to look at it as a potential fuel for our future train fleets.

“TMR is working with partners in the tertiary sector to potentially locate a hydrogen research initiative at the railyards.

“The precinct will also be a major rail supply chain hub for Australia, with an expression of interest to launch in the coming weeks, inviting businesses with a unique opportunity to establish themselves at the railyards.

“We will be expecting people to be moving in to start late this year, early next year.

“In addition to the commercial use, later this year we will talk to the local community about how they’d like the site to be activated.

“Any revitalisation work done in the precinct will be done with full respect to the history of this area, including the Heritage Listed sections.”

Assistant Train Manufacturing Minister Bruce Saunders praised the announcement.

“This Queensland Government is bringing manufacturing back to Queensland and building trains in Maryborough,” Mr Saunders said.

“The Rocky Railyards have an important role in that delivery.”

Member for Rockhampton Barry O’Rourke said he was pleased to be part of a government that was reinvesting into rail structure and manufacturing.

Member for Rockhampton Barry O’Rourke at the Rockhampton Railyards on May 30, 2022. Picture: Aden Stokes

“We’re working hard to create good, honest rail jobs here in Rockhampton,” Mr O’Rourke said.

“Rail supply chain manufacturing is part of our history. It’s in our DNA in Rocky.

“By investing in this facility, we’re not just creating jobs, we’re creating opportunities for local businesses in the supply chain.

“There are so many opportunities, particularly with our young people with apprenticeships and things like that into the future.

“The railyards will be a supply chain source for the government’s Queensland Train Manufacturing Program.

“This program is a $7.1 billion investment in Queensland rail manufacturing and Queensland jobs.

“It’s going to create hundreds of jobs all over Queensland, but particularly here in Rocky.”

Member for Keppel Brittany Lauga said it was a “sad day for Rockhampton” when Aurizon announced the closure of the workshops.

“But the Queensland Government stood here at the 2020 election and made the commitment to bring these sites back to life and here we are delivering that,” Ms Lauga said.

“It’s a great day for Rockhampton and a great day for rail manufacturing.”

She said more jobs meant more opportunity in Central Queensland.

“Already we are seeing more than $1.475 billion delivered in the Fitzroy district alone and this commitment builds on that,” she said.

“The Queensland Government is giving CQ its fair share and I can’t wait to see what else is in store.”

Mayor Tony Williams thanked Ms Palaszczuk for delivering on her commitment to bring life back into the railyards.

“It’s something our town really suffered from with the closure of the yards,” Mr Williams said.

“It’s just going to mean so much for our community.”

Information on the Rockhampton Railyard Expression of Interest will be released in the coming weeks.