Statement: $8.8 million for Central West rail bridge upgrades

[ozbob]

Media Release
JOINT STATEMENT

Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games
The Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe

Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries
The Honourable Leanne Donaldson

$8.8 million for Central West rail bridge upgrades

Rail infrastructure in the Central West is set for an $8.8 million overhaul, with the Palaszczuk Government embarking on the third stage of a program to replace, repair and upgrade ageing timber rail bridges on the Central West line.

Minister for Transport Stirling Hinchliffe said tenders for the project were released this month to replace up to 18 bridges and 69 bridge piers with more durable structures to increase reliability of the line.

"The Palaszczuk Government is committed to upgrading rail infrastructure across regional Queensland to continue to provide a safe and reliable network," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"Investing in our state's rail network is critical to jobs and our state's economy.

"Some of these timber bridges are more than 100 years of age and they have passed their design life and are in need of replacement or upgrade.

"By replacing or upgrading the bridges with steel and concrete structures, we will not only improve their reliability but also minimise the time and cost spent on maintenance."

Minister for Agriculture Leanne Donaldson said the project, which was expected to be completed by June 2018, was part of an ongoing initiative to improve rail bridges in the Central West region and would support the state's economy and industries like the agriculture sector.

"In 2013, we embarked on stage one of the Central West Bridge Replacement program, which saw 49 timber bridges either replaced or repaired," Ms Donaldson said.

"Stage two, which was completed last year, saw a further 23 bridges replaced or upgraded between Clermont, Emerald and Winton.

"Upon completion of stage three, the State Government will have invested more than $47 million in upgrading Central West line bridges.

"Each year approximately 600 trains travel on the Central West line, including both passenger and freight services, which also support the local tourism economy and agriculture and resource sectors.

"The upgrade works will ensure that we continue to support these industries with a reliable rail network for years to come."

Tenders for the project close on 12 September 2016.

-- Minister Donaldson also confirmed a separate tender had been called to upgrade the home economics kitchen at Winton State School.

"The project is part of the Palaszczuk Government's $667 million School Infrastructure Enhancement program to upgrade school facilities for modern learning announced in the State Budget in June," she said.