THE Queensland Resouces Council (QRC) has welcomed announcement by the Chair of Queensland Rail (QR), John Prescott AC, of a new structure for the state-owned corporation.
Queensland’s $25 billion a year resources sector is QR’s largest customer, with some 165 million tonnes of coal alone moved through the Bowen and Surat Basins to export ports in 2006-07.
John Prescott’s review of QR’s structure was a key outcome of the industry-initiated review of the performance of the Goonyella supply chain by senior industry executive, Stephen O’Donnell.
Since the O’Donnell review in July, QR management has embarked on an aggressive business improvement program and today’s announcement complements the effort to date.
Acting Chief Executive of the QRC Greg Lane said greater delineation between QR’s ‘above and below-rail’ business entities were important economic factors in a context where the coal industry has directly underwritten more than $2.9 billion investment in the state’s coal rail infrastructure over the past five years.
“The message Queensland’s resource industries will take from today’s announcement is that we are witnessing the start of a greater focus on customer expectations in an environment where regulated monopoly track and competitive freight entities co-exist under the one Board and the same shareholders,” he said.
