THE Queensland Government has approved a $113 million investment from Queensland Rail to purchase 510 new coal wagons.
The move follows the recent O’Donnell review into the Goonyella coal supply chain.
QR is investing $1.4 billion in additional coal rollingstock with construction and delivery of over 800 new coal wagons by early 2008.
The $113 million to purchase new wagons is on top of 370 wagons already under purchase by QR.
The Ports Corporation of Queensland has commenced preliminary work for the Abbot Point Coal Terminal Stage Three expansion, expected to increase terminal capacity to 50 Mtpa.
Queensland Rail and the Central Queensland Ports Authority (CQPA) have commenced feasibility investigations into a new coal terminal at Wiggins Island located within the Port of Gladstone and are currently discussing demand requirements with potential users.
The Wiggins Island Coal Terminal project was declared by the Coordinator-General as a “significant project” and the CQPA, in conjunction with QR, have commissioned the preparation of a draft Environmental Impact Statement.