The Maryborough Sun, Thursday 4th November 2021
7
800 new jobs at Torbanlea CRAIG WINTER 65 TRAINS will be built at a new facility in Torbanlea at cost of over $7 billion, generating 800 new jobs for the district. Local MP Bruce Saunders accompanied Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Treasurer Cameron Dick at the announcement in front of the Maryborough City Hall last week. Mr Saunders said that the new $7 billion project was part of Labor’s original election commitment to the region, but that it tripled the promised investment. “Instead of the promised 20 trains, we’ll be contracting 65 trains which will include carriages for the
cross-river project, and the increased transport system required for the Brisbane Olympics.” he said. The now sleepy hamlet of Torbanlea in the late 1800s was a coal mining town, thriving with the endeavours of miners and their families. Now there are just 880 residents according to the latest census. The Torbanlea State School was opened in 1878 and the mine closed in 1960. It is now set to become a thriving industrial hub once again with the building of the $239 million factory which will make our region the largest train building
facility in the southern hemisphere according to Mr Saunders. “This is a great day for us”. he said.
Premier Palaszczuk stated that “It’s now clear we’ll need a full complement of trains to cater for growth in years to come. “I want Queensland to benefit from this $7.1 billion investment. That means jobs for workers throughout our state.” Along with the expansion of Hyne Timber, a new battery factory and the completion of the Rheinmetal munitions factory, locals are now hoping that the future growth of the region is assured.
Local MP Bruce Saunders and Premier Palaszczuk outside City Hall for the announcement. (Craig Winter)
Dominion Mill sold again Dhaki Kundu protesters
try to derail train presser CRAIG WINTER
A LOCAL man and woman claiming that Kabi land is being unlawfully developed stood with banners in the background as the new Torbanlea train factory was being announced last week.
JAY FIELDING BRISBANE buyers have snapped up a prime development site in Maryborough. The sale of the Dominion Flour Mill site, on Kent Street opposite the Elizabeth Park Rose Gardens, will become effective in the middle of this month after the contract went unconditional last month. The parcel of land was the home of the flour mill, which opened in 1892, and later a
sawmill before finally becoming the Bowerbird House second-hand goods dealership, which opened in the 1990s.
with plans to build an apartment complex after the remains of the mill were demolished in 2019.
It was the most northerly flour mill in Australia.
However, the development hit a snag over the heritagelisted archway, which Mr Moore said was unsafe and should be demolished as the engineering required to stabilise it was prohibitively expensive.
The property’s distinct main entrance archway, the centre of recent controversy, was built in 1915. The mill, famous for its Silver Spray brand of flour, stopped operating in 1977. Developer Chris Moore bought the property
Mr Moore told the Sun he hoped the site would be developed to its full potential by the new owners.
The protester’s GetUp petition website states that “Djaki Kundu (Rocky Ridge in English), also referred to as ‘the Gympie Pyramid’ is being destroyed as we speak, for a highway upgrade carried out by the Department of Transport and Main roads Queensland.” “Kabi tribal Elders are distressed that Queensland government authorities are destroying the site and it’s ancient sacred relics in order to upgrade a highway, despite the fact Australian Laws make it illegal to destroy ‘Aboriginal cultural heritage’ or ‘Aboriginal relics’.” Kabis claim Djaki Kundu
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as an ancient and sacred healing site, connected to the Seven Sisters dreaming song-lines and stories, and a place to commune with the Star Ancestors. Djaki Kundu is situated in Bunya Country near Gympie, part of the area being developed for the Gympie bypass. Despite the petition and continuing organised protests, the Queensland State Government says that the traditional
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Protesters took advantage of Premier Palaszczuk’s visit to make their point. (Craig Winter)
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owners have been included in discussions and that there are no roadblocks to the bypass. First Nations protesters have continued to occupy the site for several weeks despite police orders to move on. Several members have been detained by Gympie police for refusing to obey directions. Their Facebook page ‘Kabi Dreaming’ explains the protests in depth.
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