Ministerial Statement: 800 more jobs as QR calls for workers for Northern ...

[ozbob]

Treasurer and Minister for Employment and Economic Development
The Honourable Andrew Fraser
23/03/2010

800 more jobs as QR calls for workers for Northern Missing Link

Treasurer Andrew Fraser says QR is on the hunt for 800 more workers in the Mackay/Bowen/Townsville region to help build the $1.1 billion Goonyella to Abbot Point Expansion Project (GAP).

In State Parliament today, Mr Fraser said the project, which is set to start on site near Glenden and Bowen in early May, would provide plenty of opportunities for skilled workers in the region.

"Queensland's coal exports are forecast to double by 2030, meaning more jobs for QR and the new QR National, not less," Mr Fraser said.

"The GAP project, which includes the Northern Missing Link, is great for the coal industry, great for QR and also great for the local communities - it will deliver employment and business opportunities in these regions and also inject money into local economies."

Mr Fraser said the project includes the 69-kilometre Northern Missing Link, which will connect the Goonyella coal rail system to the Newlands rail system, as well as upgrades t o the Newlands system.

"The GAP project will increase rail capacity and is planned to enable our customers with mines along the Newlands and Goonyella rail systems to export up to 50 million tonnes of coal per annum via the Abbot Point Coal Terminal.

"These 800 jobs are additional to the 600 job vacancies across all QR businesses at the moment.

"To the naysayers who cast doubt over QR National's future, here are 1400 reasons why this is a company that is only going to get bigger and better."

Michael Carter, QR Network Executive General Manager, said the GAP project is one of QR's largest-ever infrastructure projects.

"To deliver this project by early-2012 we need workers with a wide variety of skills ranging from labourers, concreters, surveyors and plant operators to engineering and administrative staff.

"In addition to those roles directly involved in delivering the project, we estimate that approximately 2,750 indirect local jobs will be created in industries such as hospitality, manufacturing and equipment and material supplies.

"We are committed to supporting the communities where we operate. Wherever possible, we will source construction materials and other goods and services from businesses from those local communities."

Mr Carter said local people interested in finding out about employment or business opportunities on the GAP project could attend upcoming information sessions in Bowen or Mackay.

QR and alliance representatives will be available at these sessions to provide information and answer questions.

Bowen information session
Wednesday, 24 March
4.00pm - 8.00pm
Queensland Beach Motor Hotel

Mackay information session
Thursday, 25 March
4.00pm - 8.00pm
Windmill Motel and Reception Centre

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[mufreight]

Another reason for the government not to sell off the assets, how much return on investment will there be from the rail freight of 50 million tonnes of coal per annum, and by providing the infrastructure to move this coal the government will receive the royalties from the extraction of the coal and payments from the leases that the mines occupy.  This money all goes where?