ROCKHAMPTON has won the recruitment jackpot with giant Adani announcing both a new rail contract and regional employment hub for the town on the same day.

The new Rockhampton Business Centre will provide a base for the recruitment and contracting of local businesses for the company’s Carmichael Project mine, rail construction and operations.

To date, more than $450m worth of contracts have already been awarded for the project, with much of the work under undertaken by companies based in regional Queensland areas, according to Adani Mining chief executive officer Lucas Dow – who said that the business centre would help Adani deliver on its commitment to ensuring Rockhampton, along with Townsville, were the primary employment hubs for the project.

“This business centre will be a great base for our contractors to work from and for us to recruit local people to fill our jobs now that construction of the Carmichael mine and rail project is underway,” Mr Dow said.

“We are also pleased to announce that we have signed a $100 million construction contract for the Carmichael Rail Network with Australian rail experts Martinus Rail,” he said.

Australian-founded and operated Martinus Rail will deliver the contract out of Rockhampton, which Mr Dow said would ensure Rockhampton business and people will be in a prime position to participate.

“We have always promised Queenslanders that we will deliver jobs and economic benefits for the regions, and it’s a great feeling that we are now able to convert the promises into actions that are producing outcomes for regional communities,” Mr Dow said.

“We now have our mining services contractor and one of our earthworks contractors for the rail project in place based in Rockhampton.

“Martinus Rail will be our rail laying construction contractor also in based in Rockhampton, initial rail camp provision will be based in Collinsville, earthworks and civil works is coming from Townsville, fuel supply is from Townsville, telecommunications is from Mackay, and many other regional businesses across regional Queensland also have a piece of the pie.

“The fact that work will be delivered from our new Rockhampton office is a big win for the region and testament to the enthusiasm the people of the region have shown to getting our project off the ground.”

Martinus Rail managing director Treaven Martinus said the company was keen to ensure regional communities saw the benefits of the significant contract.

“We are a proud Australian-founded and operated company and we’ve always been highly focused on ensuring the work we deliver is resourced through regional areas that need it most, and are also often highly-skilled to deliver it,” Mr Martinus said.

“Adani’s commitments to regional jobs for Rockhampton and other parts of Queensland is a good fit for our business, and we’re pleased to partner with a company like Adani that understands the importance of supporting regional communities, while also upholding the highest standards of project delivery across environmental and safety conditions.

“We’re keen to now get started and looking forward to partnering with numerous local Rockhampton businesses and people to get our part of the project underway.”

Resources Minister Matt Canavan also heaped praise on the announcements.

“I spent years fighting for the Adani project because it means delivering jobs and economic activity for regional Queensland,” Mr Canavan said.

Mr Canavan said approval of the project was the start of a realisation of an enormous economic opportunity for the communities of Central Queensland, and that the new business centre opening and rail contract would only lead to more economic activity and job opportunities in the region.

“Around 150 people are already employed at the Carmichael site while more are employed at the company’s headquarters in Townsville,” he said.

“Now there will be more direct jobs and contractor jobs.”

The business centre will be used for training sessions, meet-the-buyer sessions, recruitment interviews, staff induction programs, and will act as a base for some of our contractors and more.

Mr Dow encouraged jobseekers and suppliers from Rockhampton to register their details via Adani’s website.

 

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