Galilee rail construction to generate hundreds of jobs

The Queensland Government has this week approved the construction of a $2 billion rail corridor to open up mining projects in the Galilee Basin.

With a number of major projects in planning stages, including Hancock Coal’s Alpha Mine (generating 2,500 jobs at peak of construction and 1,500 during operation), Warratah Coal (creating 6,000 construction jobs and 1,500 permanent jobs), Galilee Coal Project (expected to employ 1,500), and BMA Coal’s projects (expected to employ more than 1,000 during operation), the new Hancock Rail Corridor has been approved as infrastructure of significance.

The infrastructure will consist of a 494 kilometre standard gauge rail line from Hancock Coal’s Alpha Mine to the Abbot Point Coal Terminal.

Whilst the rail project still needs to conduct environmental impact statements (EIS) and has to consult with landowners in the corridor, construction is expected to create hundreds of new jobs within the region.