Torbanlea manufacturing facility

A new facility is being constructed in the Maryborough region, to manufacture the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program fleet. 

The Torbanlea manufacturing facility will strengthen the region's historical link to train manufacturing and create local employment, training, and supply chain opportunities.

Benefits

  • Increases capacity
  • Improves network efficiency
  • Contributes to economy
  • Contributes to regional growth

Key features

The Torbanlea train manufacturing facility will include:

  • workshop and sheds
  • train tracks within the facility site
  • offices
  • car parks for workers and visitors
  • site access from the Bruce Highway
  • a secondary access from Ritchie Road.

Download the Torbanlea train manufacturing facility concept design newsletter for more information about the facility and how the project will manage operational impacts.

Current status

Construction activities will continue throughout 2024.

We are seeking approval to undertake construction works on Sundays under a Ministerial Infrastructure Designation (MID) amendment process. We are working through any potential impacts and are committed to managing impacts on the local community. Once approved, we will provide advanced notice prior to Sunday works commencing. We are committed to working with local residents and businesses during construction and operation of the manufacturing facility.

Works to install internal haul roads to connect to the Bruce Highway entrance are expected to be completed in May 2024. Once works on the haul roads are complete, the Bruce Highway will become the main site access for heavy vehicles.

Torbanlea train manufacturing facility site layout map

Torbanlea manufacturing facility location map
Map of Torbanlea, located 25km north of Maryborough. The map displays the Torbanlea train manufacturing facility site and layout. The site footprint's most northern point begins at the end of Ritchie Road and extends west to the Bruce Highway. The North Coast rail line runs along the eastern border of the site.

The layout plan calls out to the manufacturing facility, office space, car parking, a commissioning track and future rail line tracks which connect to the North Coast rail line. The main access to the site is off the Bruce Highway, and there is a secondary access for light vehicles at the end of Ritchie Road, both access points connect to the manufacturing facility main building with internal roads.

The site layout plan design is concept only and is not to scale. Vegetation is only removed within this boundary, where required and as approved under the Environment and Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

Community engagement

Feedback on the Torbanlea train manufacturing facility concept design was undertaken between 4 December 2023 and 2 March 2024.

This feedback is now being reviewed and considered as part of the design development process.

Information about key feedback themes will be provided in mid-2024, with information about the final design to be provided by late 2024.

Community pop-up information sessions

You can drop in any time to talk to the project team about the project, provide feedback on the Torbanlea train manufacturing facility concept design and upcoming works at a pop-up information session.

Date Location
Wednesday 3 April 2024
8am to 11am
 Billy Beans Coffee
Corner of Burgowan Road and Gympie Street
TORBANLEA QLD 4662
Thursday 4 April 2024
7am to 12pm		 Maryborough City Markets
Adelaide Street
MARYBOROUGH QLD 4650
Saturday 6 April 2024
7am to 12pm
 
 Howards Markets
Steley Street
HOWARD QLD 4659
Wednesday 10 April 2024
9am to 12pm		 Childers Woolworths Shopping Centre
111–115 Churchill Street
CHILDERS QLD 4660
Wednesday 17 April 2024
10am to 1pm		 Burgowan Bowls Club
4 George Street
TORBANLEA QLD 4662
Wednesday 24 April 2024
9am to 12pm		 Stocklands Shopping Centre
6 Central Ave
PIALBA QLD 4655

Works scheduled

Construction works are underway with work taking place from Monday to Saturday, between 6:30am to 6:30pm.

Office staff and ecologists may be required to access the site on Sundays between 9am and 5pm. Workers will enter site via Ritchie Road. There will be no noise impacts associated with these any site activities  undertaken on a Sunday.

During the works you may experience construction noise, low levels of dust and vibration, and notice an increase of heavy vehicle movements. We are committed to minimising these impacts where possible and all works will be undertaken in accordance with environmental approvals.

From April, works will include:

Train manufacturing facility site works

We will:

  • continue bulk earthworks and ground improvement works including the removal of unusable materials. While we complete these works there will be a significant increase in heavy vehicles traveling through Torbanlea.
  • continue construction of the internal haul road that will connect the site to the Bruce Highway. We anticipate these works will be complete in May
  • deliver quarry materials and concrete to create a level and stable work area
  • undertake works to install drainage and sediment control throughout the site
  • clear vegetation, where required
  • commence foundation works on the facility warehouse
  • deliver over-sized equipment to site at night via Ritchie Road
  • undertake fauna surveys at night
  • connect essential services to the rail facility site, including the main water supply
  • undertake geotechnical investigations and surveys in the rail corridor, including drilling boreholes and digging test pits
  • install handrails at sections of the shared user path at Ritchie Road.

These works are weather permitting.

During the works, there will be an increase in heavy and light vehicle traffic on Ritchie Road.

Deliveries to the worksite

Oversized equipment will be delivered to site outside of peak times to minimise the impact on traffic and for the safety of road users. Deliveries will arrive to site between 1am and 5am.

Further information will be provided to the community ahead of these deliveries being made.

Fauna surveys

Fauna surveys will be carried out throughout April. The surveys will occur at night with minimal noise associated with these works. Surveyors will leave site by 10pm each night. 

Bruce Highway site entry works

The Bruce Highway site access works were completed in November. Heavy vehicles will begin using the Bruce Highway main site access once the internal haul roads are completed. It is anticipated that the Bruce Highway access will be open in May 2024.

Works map

Manufacturing facility site works will be undertaken on a section of the site along the south-eastern border. Within the works area on site, a temporary car park will be located in the north-eastern corner and site offices will be located behind them. Fencing will be installed around the perimeter of the site. Vegetation clearing works will be undertaken from the site entrance at Ritchie Road along the South Eastern boarder of the site. The Bruce Highway works will be located at the eastern border of the manufacturing facility site which adjoins the Bruce Highway.

Manufacturing facility site works will be undertaken on a section of the site along the south-eastern border. Within the works area on site, a temporary car park will be located in the north-eastern corner and site offices will be located behind them. Fencing will be installed around the perimeter of the site. Vegetation clearing works will be undertaken from the site entrance at Ritchie Road along the south eastern border of the site. The Bruce Highway site entrance will be at the eastern border of the manufacturing facility site which adjoins the Bruce Highway. An internal road will be constructed from the site entrance, connecting to the site office and carparking area at the north eastern point of the vegetation clearing works area.

Susan River workforce accommodation

Temporary accommodation will be made available for the workers involved in the construction of the Torbanlea train manufacturing facility. The village will be built and operated by a private developer, with Downer leasing space to support construction of the facility.

The Susan River workforce accommodation village will be situated on the 9ha Susan River Homestead site on Noble Road, Susan River, 33km from Torbanlea.

The construction of the Susan River workforce accommodation village is nearing completion. We expect the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program workers to start moving into the village shortly after construction is completed. The village will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Noise will be managed in accordance with local council laws.

Noble Road upgrade works

Noble Road between Maryborough-Hervey Bay Road and the Susan River workforce accommodation village entry will be upgraded to create safe access to the workforce accommodation village. The upgrade will involve widening, sealing and line-marking approximately 600m of road.

The road upgrade is currently being designed and is expected to be compete in May 2024. Some low-impact on-foot investigations may be undertaken to inform the design during this time.

We will provide further notice about the final design and schedule ahead of the upgrade work commencing.

Environmental report available to view

From 13 to 27 March 2023, we invited the community and stakeholders to have their say on an environmental report relating to the manufacturing facility site for assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwlth) (EPBC Act).

On 2 June 2023, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water granted approval under the Act, with conditions, for the construction of the facility to proceed.

This environmental approval allowed us to commence construction of the Torbanlea manufacturing facility in late 2023.

Download and read the final report: