Media Releases
Wiggins Rail Line Good Industry
3rd April, 2007
Wiggins Rail Line Good for Industry
The communities of Gladstone City and Calliope Shire would not be the only winners from the alternative route for the proposed Wiggins Island rail line that was announced last week by Deputy Premier Anna Bligh. According to Randall Byram, Chief Executive of the Gladstone Economic and Industry Development Board (GEIDB), industry in Gladstone would also benefit.
“The proposed alternative alignment and marshalling yards through the Gladstone State Development Area (GSDA) would provide an important extra item of transport infrastructure. This infrastructure would help to attract more major industrial projects as well as boost the transport efficiency of rail to the Port of Gladstone” he said.
According to Mr Byram the alternative route for the rail line is the outcome of two “significant” planning exercises.
“While the investigation of a different Wiggins Island route was being done, a number of Queensland Government agencies were also doing a major land use and freight study for Gladstone. The proposed outcome brings the findings of these two studies together. It not only looks after the community’s quality of life. It helps map out where future jobs will be located and how freight may move for years to come.”
Mr Byram explained that the section of the line that would be built adjacent to the Bruce Highway would help open up the western side of the GSDA for major industrial projects. The proposed new alignment would provide opportunities for a wider class of industry including road to rail transfer logistics centres.
“In the longer term, we could see an area on the western side of the GSDA become an inland port with an important intermodal transport role. The strategic potential could be even greater if the proposed Dawson Valley Rail project results in a standard gauge rail connection between Gladstone and Southern capitals.”
