Friendly rivals in Enterprise Hub gear up for inland rail

THREE major companies involved in the Toowoomba Enterprise Hub are gearing up for inland rail.

THREE major companies involved in the Toowoomba Enterprise Hub are gearing up for inland rail.

Representatives from Toowoomba's trifecta of transport - road, rail and air - spoke at the Transport and Logistics Symposium yesterday.

They outlined the current position of their businesses and how they could benefit from an inland rail line.

The friendly rivals include FKG Witmack Industry Park's Freight Terminals' Michelle Reynolds and Wagners Global Services' John Wagner.

The hub they represent is one of the most significant transport, logistics and business hubs in Australia.

Mr Hunter said the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing, the duplication of the Warrego Hwy and Toowoomba Regional Council's upgrade of the "spine of the enterprise hub" - O'Mara Rd - would reap benefits for the area.

Freight Terminals is developing Interlink SQ in the hub and Ms Reynolds said the rail terminal needed a workable rail line.

In friendly competition are (from left) Wagners Global Services chairman John Wagner, Interlink SQ Freight Terminals CEO Michelle Reynolds and FKG Witmack Industry Park development manager Dallas Hunter. Photo Andrew Backhouse / The Chronicle. Picture: Andrew Backhouse

"We're working hard with Queensland Rail and government departments to try and get a rail freight industry up and running in the Toowoomba region," she said.

Mr Wagner said Wellcamp Business Park had secured its first major tenant, international oil and gas services company Schlumberger.

The trio's confidence was backed up by an independent report which has further fuelled the bid to establish the Toowoomba region as one of the world's logistics powerhouses.

The report shows that Toowoomba has a significant cost advantage over Brisbane in its bid to become a substantial transport and logistics hub.

Toowoomba region Mayor Paul Antonio said the region was ready now to capitalise on the growing demand from Asia.

Originally published as Friendly rivals in Enterprise Hub gear up for inland rail