- Cross River Rail has benefitted more than 1500 Queensland businesses so far, and about 90 per cent of the project’s total spend has been with Queensland companies.
- List of Queensland subcontractors includes Yatala-based Formcon, which has worked on various aspects of the project, including concreting at Exhibition station.
- Latest milestone comes as year-round Exhibition station takes shape.
Cross River Rail is providing a significant boost to the state’s economy, with more than 1500 Queensland subcontractors and suppliers benefitting from the transformational project so far.
Cross River Rail injects around $70 million per month into the economy, around 90 per cent of which going to Queensland based suppliers.
So far more than1500 Queensland-based companies have been used to build Cross River Rail.
Civil construction company Formcon is just one example of the many Queensland subcontractors and suppliers to benefit so far.
The Yatala-based company, whose previous work on the project has included the tunnel portals – where trains enter and exit the twin tunnels – and station upgrades, is currently completing the concrete and reinforcement works on the new Exhibition station.
So far, the Formcon team – consisting of about 30 crew members, including one apprentice and three trainees – has completed about 3,700m3 of the roughly 5700m3 of concrete for the new station, as well as 1000 tonnes of approximately 1350 tonnes of steel reinforcement.
Formcon’s significant contribution has meant Exhibition station is really taking shape, coming on the back of even more progress on site with the new 150-metre-long station canopy installed earlier this month.
When complete, Exhibition station will operate daily – not just for events – providing new rail services to the growing Brisbane Showgrounds precinct and the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.
Quotes attributed to Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey:
“Not only will Cross River Rail transform travel across South East Queensland in the future, but this megaproject is providing real economic benefits to the state now.
“More than 1500 businesses right here in Queensland have benefitted from Cross River Rail, with about 90 per cent of the project’s total spend to date with them.
“Wherever possible, we’ve looked to use local subbies and suppliers to build Cross River Rail, only looking further afield when specialised equipment or skills makes it necessary.
“It’s meant great local businesses like Formcon have been able to benefit from the project, helping them to expand and put on more staff.
“Seeing the incredible progress across the sites, including at Exhibition station, is even more exciting when you realise this is a megaproject made for Queenslanders by Queenslanders.
“Thank you to Formcon and all of our suppliers, subcontractors and workforce who are helping to make this transformational project a reality.”
Quotes attributed to Formcon Managing Director Steve Pamenter:
“Formcon is incredibly proud to be contributing to a game-changing project the size and scale of Cross River Rail.
“On Exhibition station alone, our crew is undertaking all the form, reinforcement and concrete pouring works, which includes the two rail bridges, station foundations, lift wells, slab on the ground and precast shear walls.
“But we’ve had opportunities right across the project, including Albert Street early works, the northern and southern portals, Mayne Yard and Fairfield, Rocklea, Dutton Park, Yeerongpilly and Salisbury stations.
“Our work on Cross River Rail has meant we’ve been able to expand our operations and at the same time reinvest in local resources, materials, plant and equipment.
“We’ve been able to put on apprentices and trainees to help skill the next generation of workers, and our crew is able to work locally without being away from their families and mates.”
