800 jobs for 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.