Federal Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey said the Federal Government investment in the Adelaide-Tarcoola rail upgrade is having a positive spin-off for the Spencer Gulf city of Port Augusta.
Mr Ramsey said 38 staff members had already been directly employed by Australian Rail Track Corporation to support rail welding at its Port Augusta flashbutt welding facility and it’s hoped at the peak of the project up to 130 jobs will be created.
“So far more than 3,700 welds have been completed at the local depot at Port Augusta and more than 4,500 tonnes of steel rail have made their way to sections of the Trans Australian Railway near Pimba ready for the track upgrades to begin,” he said.
“The Australian Government’s commitment to invest in Whyalla made steel for the rail upgrade is not only benefiting Arrium in Whyalla, but it’s also providing employment opportunities in Port Augusta.”
The announcement that the Government would order up to 72,000 tonnes of locally made steel in preparation for the ARTC’s rail upgrade acceleration project was made by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in March while he was at Whyalla visiting the steelworks with Mr Ramsey.
Mr Ramsey said the first delivery of 466 lengths of rail, 165 metre long and weighing 60 kilograms per metre recently arrived at work sites along the track.
“The investment by the Turnbull Government in bringing forward the upgrading of over 600 kilometres of track not only increases the axel weights on the lines and provides jobs for Arrium workers, but it’s evident it is also creating jobs in Port Augusta,” Mr Ramsey said.
“The upgrade will allow the track to carry heavier, more efficient freight trains at faster speeds to operate on the crucial link between Adelaide and Tarcoola, which will provide wider economic benefits.”
Media Contact: Justine Pelle (08) 8645 4255