- Historic Rockhampton Railyards bolstered with $23.7 million Miles Government investment, over the next four years
- The transformation of the Railyards for community, recreational and commercial use will bring significant benefits to Rocky
The rejuvenation of the Rockhampton Railyards is picking up steam with funding in the Miles Government's 2024-25 Budget of $23.7 million over the next four years to provide a massive boost towards the project.
The funds will be invested into high priority remediation works and capital upgrades to continue transformation of the old railyards into a commercial hub with community and recreational spaces.
The rejuvenation of the historic Rocky Railyards will create more local jobs for Central Queensland, supporting Queensland's rollingstock supply chain capabilities and commercial growth in the manufacturing and maintenance industries.
Planning for the rejuvenation of the site's two precincts, the Heritage Precinct and Industrial Precinct, has commenced.
Transformation of the historic Roundhouse – the only full circle roundhouse constructed in Queensland and one of only two still intact in the Southern Hemisphere – into a commercial hub with community and recreational spaces will breathe new life into the Heritage precinct. This funding will assure the finalisation of the Heritage Precinct planning.
Draft plans for the Heritage Precinct include a Heritage Centre with space for rail heritage exhibits, displays and artefacts, a family-centric play area, and multi-use hospitality and events spaces.
Feedback from stakeholder and local community consultation undertaken in February 2024 is being incorporated into the final Master Plan anticipated to be released late 2024.
The Industrial Precinct, which is designated for commercial purposes, will offer significant opportunities for a variety of industries, including rail, manufacturing, heavy industry and rollingstock maintenance.
The Railyards will support Queensland's manufacturing and maintenance industries, bringing skilled jobs to the region.
Three tenants – CQ Fibreglass Direct, Queensland Rail, and Occupational Skills Centre Australia – have been confirmed, with further tenancies to be secured through a staged activation approach.
This investment builds on Labor's strong commitment to local train manufacturing opportunities including the $9.5 billion investment in the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program which will support 1,300 jobs throughout the life of the project.
As stated by Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing, Glenn Butcher:
"We are now one step closer towards opening the doors of the Roundhouse up to community for the first time in the site's 100-year history.
"The Miles Government is proud to deliver Rockhampton Railyards and QTMP, programs that are bringing train manufacturing back to Queensland.
"This is in stark contrast to the LNP, who sent train manufacturing and job opportunities overseas and cut industry support programs, which resulted in thousands of job losses."
As stated by Assistant Minister for Train Manufacturing, Regional Development and Jobs and Maryborough MP, Bruce Saunders:
"These are good, secure jobs which support families and provide opportunities on the ground in regional Queensland, like Rockhampton and Maryborough.
"The LNP does not back the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program and they don't back local jobs.
"Under Campbell Newman and David Crisafulli, Maryborough's manufacturing heartland was gutted, and hundreds of jobs were lost."
As stated by Rockhampton MP, Barry O'Rourke:
"Only this Miles Labor Government is prepared to invest in this job generating industry, and the rail workers of this state couldn't be happier.
"There is a pipeline of rail infrastructure projects, and we want to make sure that our local subbies, such as boiler makers, fitters, electricians and fabricators are ready to take advantage of these opportunities."
As stated by Keppel MP, Brittany Lauga:
"I have fought hard over many years for these railway workshops to be brought back to life.
I'm proud that the Miles Government is delivering on this election commitment by investing in train manufacturing jobs in Central Queensland again."
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