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 under a Ministerial Infrastructure Designation (MID) amendment process, to undertake construction activities on Sundays. As part of this amendment process, we will work through potential impacts and are committed to managing these with the local community.

In parallel, some regulated construction activities on the QTMP Torbanlea train manufacturing facility are already taking place on Sundays between 6:30am and 6:30pm, in compliance with current MID approvals. The additional shifts will ensure that the facility is operational and that the 65 six-car train sets are manufacturing on time. Higher-impact noise activities will be scheduled on days other than Sundays to lessen potential impacts, where possible. 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 by mid-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 Commonwealth Environment and Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

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

The QTMP Project Information Centre is now open at 229 Adelaide Street, Maryborough. Opening hours are Monday through Friday from 10am – 2pm and the first Saturday of the month from 9am – 12pm.

As the Project Information Centre is now open – pop-up community information sessions will now be held fortnightly at various locations:

Date Location
Saturday 6 July 2024
9am to 12pm		 Project Information Centre
229 Adelaide Street
MARYBOROUGH QLD 4650
Saturday 13 July 2024
9am to 3pm
 
 CoalFest
Bellert Park and Howard Community Centre
William Street
HOWARD QLD 4659
Tuesday 23 July 2024
7.30am to 9.30am
 
 Near Billy Beans Coffee cart
Corner of Burgowan Road and Gympie Street
TORBANLEA QLD 4662

Works scheduled

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

Light and heavy vehicles will use Ritchie Road to access the site during Sunday shifts until access from the Bruce Highway is completed in mid-2024.

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 July, works will include:

Train manufacturing facility site works

We will:

  • continue installation of site drainage, sediment controls and haul roads
  • continue bulk earthworks, ground improvement works and removal of excess fill materials from site
  • continue works on the Bruce Highway site access, which is scheduled to open mid-2024  
  • continue works on the new site compound, including connecting the site to underground utilities
  • commence structural works, detailed excavation and pad footings
  • create stable lay down areas for equipment and materials to be stored safely
  • commence detailed excavations works and concrete pours for the facility foundation
  • deliver oversized equipment to site at night via Ritchie Road.

These works are weather permitting.

There will be an increase in heavy vehicles travelling through Torbanlea during July.

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.

Bruce Highway speed limit reduction

For the safety of all road users, the speed limit on the Bruce Highway adjacent to the train manufacturing facility site will be reduced to 80km/hr between 6am and 6pm Monday to Sunday (and at night, as required) for approximately 18 months during the construction period. The speed limit will be 100km/hr outside of work times. 

Bruce Highway site entry works

The Bruce Highway access will be completed in mid-2024. Light and heavy vehicles will continue to enter and exit site via Ritchie Road, until works are completed on the Bruce Highway access. Light vehicles will use the Ritchie Road access for the duration of the project.

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 80km/h speed limit reduction is in place at the Bruce Highway site entrance. 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 was recently completed, and workers have begun moving in. There will be an increase in light vehicles moving between the village and the Torbanlea train manufacturing facility site.

The village will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a 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 design is expected to be completed in mid-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: