A $4.1 million upgrade to a vital rail link to the JBS meatworks at Rockhampton will be completed by June next year.
The project to upgrade a 1.9km section of the Yeppon line to the abattoir at Nerimbera was an election commitment made in the lead up to last year’s state election.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk today said the government was following through on their commitment and the upgrade would commence in the next six months.
“I'm very pleased to be here at JBS … to announce the $4.1 million and it's great news for the local region,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“It’s that connectivity that is needed to once again make sure we have the connections between the export markets that we need to move the cattle around.”
Ms Palaszczuk said the upgrade would help ensure the livelihoods of the 500 workers at JBS, while another 70 jobs would be created during construction.
The project is expected to commence in the next six months and be completed by June next year.
Agriculture Minister Mark Furner said the rail link was an important commitment to the region.
“This is a game changer for JBS out here, for a long time I've been listening to producers in this industry and they've been calling on this to occur,” Mr Furner said.
“We're delivering on our election commitment, we're delivering and supporting the 500 jobs here with the extension of that 1.9km train line to make sure there's options for people to bring the cattle in to JBS.”
Keppel MP Brittany Lauga said the upgrade would help to support jobs in the region.
“This commitment by the Palaszczuk Labor Government will help support jobs here in Rockhampton, to get beef to market faster and get to JBS with much more efficiency,” Ms Lauga said.
She said the rail link would enable the facility to better operate during the wet.
“Particularly in times when we have wet weather and trucks can't get in and out of properties, it means that beef will still be able to get to the meat processing facility here at JBS,” she said.
“So it's a great investment supporting local jobs and it's supporting jobs here that are already existing here at JBS.”
