The Palaszczuk Government is injecting a further $946,000 into the Yeppoon branch line project, which will reinstate a disused section of rail line and connect it to the Rockhampton JBS Abattoir.
Member for Rockhampton Barry O'Rourke said the project would deliver important supply chain improvements for the Central Queensland beef industry by doubling the size of the rail siding at the abattoir.
"By restoring this 1.9-kilometre section of the Yeppoon branch line, we're providing the local beef industry with a direct rail connection to the JBS Abattoir, which is safer, more efficient and more reliable than road-freight options that can wear down local roads," Mr O'Rourke said.
"As Queensland's largest manufacturing industry – employing an estimated 118,000 workers across the state and generating just under $5 billion annually – it's vital we continue to invest in the beef processing sector and infrastructure to support it.
"We're backing beef and ensuring Australia's beef capital, Rockhampton, continues to prosper, supporting the region's economy and local jobs well into the future.
"When this project is complete, it will help support more than 530 local jobs at the JBS Abattoir, as well as in the beef agriculture, processing and export industries."
Minister Bailey said the project was on track to be commissioned in July this year.
"Queensland Rail's team has already completed remediation of two of the four timber rail bridges on this section of the line – a huge task that involved significant piling works to provide solid foundations for the bridges, and the replacement of 16 steel girders and bridge piers," Mr Bailey said.
"The third and fourth timber bridges on the disused section line have been demolished and removed, to be replaced with more durable concrete culverts sourced locally from Rockhampton.
"Installation of the culverts will happen in May, after which track work along the 1.9-kilometre section of the line can begin.
"This will include replacing and resurfacing the full length of track, which will take more than 2,700 sleepers and 700 square metres of ballast.
"Finally, the rail siding at the abattoir will be reinstated.
"The further investment announced today brings the total project value to $5 million and will mean the project team can double the length of the existing rail siding to allow a full train of cattle to offload at the abattoir.
"This is a significant improvement from the previous challenges of only being able to offload half a train at a time, which was costly and time consuming."
Mr Bailey said the Palaszczuk Government was committed to connecting communities and providing local businesses with sustainable employment solutions across industries, including in agriculture, construction and transport.
Jobs are the number one priority of the Palaszczuk Government.
More than 180,000 jobs have been created since we were elected in 2015, including 3,500 full time jobs in January this year.
