Inland Rail creates new manufacturing jobs at Austrak in Rockhampton

New jobs will be created in Rockhampton with more than 1.3 million concrete sleepers needed to build Inland Rail to be manufactured in regional Queensland and New South Wales. Full details here.

New jobs will be created in Rockhampton with more than 1.3 million concrete sleepers needed to build Inland Rail to be manufactured in regional Queensland and New South Wales.

The Australian Rail Track Corporation has signed contracts worth $143 million with Austrak, one of Australia’s largest manufacturers of railway sleepers, to supply sleepers for the Inland Rail project.

Inland Rail is a 1700 km freight rail line that will connect Melbourne and Brisbane via regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.

The 1.3 million sleepers, which will be manufactured at Austrak’s sites in Rockhampton and Wagga Wagga, will be used to upgrade existing track and complete new sections of rail from Albury in New South Wales through to the Inland Rail end point in Queensland.

Managing director of Austrak Murray Adams said the project would deliver 50 jobs at Austrak, either at Rockhampton or in Wagga Wagga.

“We currently have 65 people working here (in Rockhampton) and around 15 of those roles will be dedicated to Inland Rail,” Mr Adams said.

“We are going to make 1.3 million sleepers over five years. That’s 50 jobs for five years, plus all the other jobs that are going to be created in the industries that supply us.”

Federal Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry said the announcement, which was made at Austrak’s site in Parkhurst on Thursday, was a substantial boost to Rockhampton’s manufacturing sector.

The Australian Rail Track Corporation has signed contracts worth $143 million with Austrak to supply sleepers for the Inland Rail project. Picture: Aden Stokes

“This is great news for Rockhampton and what it ultimately means is more local jobs and investment into our local economy,” Ms Landry said.

“The Inland Rail will create new and significant opportunities for the freight industry and people and businesses in regional Queensland and beyond.”

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said Inland Rail was helping drive the growth of regional Australia, on and off the track.

“Australia’s largest transport infrastructure project is creating big opportunities for our manufacturers, helping these businesses to grow and hire more Australians,” Mr Joyce said.

Deputy Prime Minister of Australia Barnaby Joyce speaking at Austrak in Parkhurst on February 3, 2022 with Interim Chief Executive at Inland Rail Rebecca Pickering, Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry, LNP candidate for Flynn Colin Boyce and Senator Matthew Canavan. Picture: Aden Stokes

“More than 400 Australian businesses, including many in regional areas, have already shared in the billions of dollars we’re investing in Inland Rail.

“The project is not just breathing new life into regional economies along the route but all over Australia, including in Rockhampton which is north of where we expect the eventual route to end in Gladstone.

“We are making sure people have jobs, we are making sure people believe in the future, and we are making sure Australia exists away from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.”

Finance Minister Simon Birmingham said the $143 million contract would continue to create significant employment and economic opportunities for regional Australia and across the board.

Austrak’s site in Parkhurst, which will manufacture the sleepers for the Inland Rail project. Picture: Aden Stokes

“The design and construction of Inland Rail has already seen ARTC commit to contracts worth more than $2.2 billion,” Minister Birmingham said.

“This level of investment is having positive flow on for local communities with Inland Rail expected to deliver a boost of more than $18 billion to Australia’s Gross Domestic Product during construction and through the first 50 years of operation.

“Australia’s supply chains are already benefiting from Inland Rail, with the completed and operational Parkes to Narromine section servicing freight trains.”

Interim chief executive at Inland Rail Rebecca Pickering said it was a great sign that Inland Rail continued to make “fantastic” progress.

“It’s a project we all feel proud to be part of,” Ms Pickering said.

“It’s going to change the way we move freight around the country and connect so many regional areas.

“I am delighted to see Rockhampton getting in on it as well, winning such a great contract and delivering those jobs to the regions.

“We couldn’t be more proud of the way the project is coming together and making progress.”