Rockhampton Railyards Workshops: Expression of interest open for commercial tenants in site buildings

An industry briefing was held this week to discuss the future of the historic site which could see various businesses lease buildings at the former railyards workshops. Here’s the latest.

Businesses could have the chance to call Rockhampton Railyards home as expressions of interest have now opened for commercial tenancies at the historic site.

An industry briefing was hosted by the Department of Transport and Main Roads this week at the Rockhampton Leagues Club.

About 75 people attended, with the only politician in attendance being Rockhampton Region Mayor Tony Williams.

A number of business professionals made the trip from Brisbane to attend the meeting.

A presentation was given by various government departments and stakeholders involved in the project and the floor was opened to questions at the end.

The project has been dubbed the Rockhampton Railyards Rejuvenation and would ultimately see various businesses lease the numerous buildings at the former railyards workshops site.

Rockhampton Railyards expressions of interest industry briefing at the Rockhampton Leagues Club on July 20, 2022.

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

Expressions of interest are now open for commercial tenants to lease the Roundhouse Heritage Precinct and the Industrial Precinct.

The Rockhampton Railyards Workshop site in Depot Hill sits on 5.7 hectares, has more than 16,000 sqm of existing floor space and 100 carparking spaces.

The site is an industrial hub in itself, made up of 10 buildings, two of which are leased and there are up to eight buildings that will potentially be available for public leasing.

Most of the buildings have a lot of lifting capabilities with overhead cranes and would be suitable for manufacturing.

Other potential industries touted included hydrogen research, stabling, education and community.

It was asked at the industry briefing what the leasing terms and costs would be and it was answered this was yet to be finalised and the expressions of interest would be used to determine this.

It is also yet to be determined if the buildings would be leased out fitted out, or not fitted out.

Rockhampton MP Barry O’Rourke in a media statement this month said the unique structure of the iconic heritage-listed Roundhouse could be suited to hospitality and tourism offerings.

“We also want to hear from or restaurant or micro brewing entrepreneurs who can help to activate the site and show off what Rocky has to offer,” he said.

Consultation is expected to occur in 2023 on how parts of the precinct can be used for broader public use.

The expressions of interest will close on August 5, 2022.

Building A: Painting workshop with spray booth. Size: 1, 152 sqm

Building C: Former wagon overhaul workshop, has railway roads into it, lifting equipment, suited for manufacturing. Size: 1, 119 sqm. *May be committed to an alternative energy project.

Building D: Former cross shop: 10 railway roads into it, lots of lifting equipment, three pits, sandblasting equipment. Size: 3, 929 sqm.

Building E: Offices, amenities, some lifting equipment. Size: 1,118 sqm west, 1, 107 sqm east.

Building G: Longest building on the site, almost 100 metres long, lots of lifting, was used for fabrication. Size: 3, 015 sqm.

Building H: Former main store. May be subject to short lease terms. Size: 712 sqm.

Building I: Former wheel and bogie shop. Largest shed on site, numerous cranes, high clearance. Size: 3, 631 sqm.

Building J: Smaller shed, suitable for smaller scale manufacturing. Size: 706 sqm.

Buildings B and F: are currently leased.

Watch the video for a fly-through of the buildings.

GOVERNMENT SELLS ROCKY RAIL WORKSHOPS, BUYS IT BACK 12 YEARS LATER

The heritage-listed Rockhampton railway workshops in Bolsover Street in Depot Hill date back to 1915.

The new railway workshops in Bolsover Street during the 1918 floods in Rockhampton. Photo courtesy State Library of Queensland.

In 2010, then Queensland Premier Anna Bligh split Queensland Rail into two companies, privatising QR National (now Aurizon).

The Bligh Government then sold all of the public assets which included the Rockhampton railway workshops.

At the time, Ms Bligh pushed for the massive $15 billion assets sale in an effort to reduce the state’s debt level and restore its AAA credit rating.

Aurizon took over the site, who then closed it down in 2018, axing 181 jobs in the process.

The site has been predominantly vacant since and was listed for sale briefly, but rumours started to swirl that the government was going to buy it back.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in October 2020 announced plans to buy back the Rockhampton workshops as part of her election commitment.

Ms Palaszczuk was elected in 2006 and became premier from 2015.

She was a cabinet minister in 2010 with the Bligh Government when the site was sold off.

In the 2020 pitch, Ms Palaszczuk, along with a swag of politicians visited the site and spruiked to media their plans to bring back rail manufacturing at the Rockhampton site.

She said at the time up to 550 additional jobs could be created.

The Palaszczuk Government finalised the sale of the site in April this year, 18 months on from the October 2020 announcement.

It is understood the sale price was $21 million.

Ms Palaszczuk came to Rockhampton in May this year to visit the workshops and announce the sale had been finalised.

“The rejuvenation of the Rockhampton railyards will generate significant local opportunities, driving business growth and jobs,” she said in a July media statement.

“Critically, we want the railyards to become part of the supply chain for the Queensland Government‘s $7.1 billion Queensland made Train Manufacturing Program.”

It is unclear if the 550 jobs from the October 2020 election commitment would still be created.

This publication requested a comment from Ms Palaszczuk if the 550 additional jobs still stand from the 2020 election commitment.

A statement from Minister for Transport and Main Road Mark Bailey was received instead.

No final figure on the amount of additional jobs was stated.

“Supporting projects like the Rockhampton Rail yards rejuvenation is about supporting more local jobs, in growing local industries,” he said.

“Places like Rockhampton need to be able to benefit from jobs in our traditional and emerging industries as we deliver better services right across Queensland.

“There is no doubt the purchase of the Rockhampton Rail Yards by the Palaszczuk Government will revitalise this important 21-hectare asset in the heart of Rockhampton and has the potential to support hundreds of jobs on site depending on the nature of proposals proposed by industry.

“In some cases, we expect firms will establish themselves in Rockhampton for the first time to participate in the supply chain for the Queensland made Train Manufacturing Program.”