As the sixth largest country in the world, Australian companies can find it a challenge to link its resources with the wider business economy.
Queensland in particular, as the second largest state, can find its resources in the west secluded from the enterprising metropolitan areas on the east coast. This divide can be disruptive for business, particularly as waiting times for important resources can be long.
This is one reason why the Queensland Government is increasing funding for a number of transport projects, to allow communities and freight to flow quicker and therefore increase the speed at which local businesses can perform.
This brings great news for apprenticeships and traineeships in Queensland, as businesses find it necessary to take on new workers and train them in valuable skills. This improved infrastructure is also great for entry-level jobs during the construction and maintenance stages.
It was earlier this month when services firm Deloitte called for better infrastructure development in Queensland, and it seems the state is coming closer to answering that call with a new rail project in Ipswich chugging along nicely.
Ipswich rail project steams ahead
The Queensland government announced this week that 350 people are now employed in developing a new rail network for the south-east region of the state.
A new maintenance centre at Wulkuraka, West Ipswich, is being constructed to improve transport and freight links around the capital area, with more work also on track for the coming months.
Transport Minister Scott Emerson said the workforce will then increase to 514 workers as the development moves into the next stage. Soon after that, permanent employees and apprentices recruitment alike will fill a number of roles.
“We are working hard every day to create jobs [and] give Ipswich a brighter future,” Mr Emerson explained in a press release this month.
“This project is now employing hundreds of people and, once complete, will provide 150 full-time ongoing positions.”
Construction on the project is almost halfway complete, with 300 tonnes of steel and 5 kilometres of pipework laid down. This means employment for many tradespeople, and better prospects for apprentices in jobs like welding, pipelaying, concreting, metal work and a number of other civil construction roles.
Mechanics will also be needed in the long term to maintain 75 new six-carriage trains, which, the government says, will be in operation for at least 30 years.
The transport minister continued: “The project will also provide more than 1,500 indirect opportunities for contractors and other businesses, creating even more jobs for the Ipswich region.”
As the development nears completion, the door will be open for local businesses to hire apprentices in Ipswich, Brisbane and other surrounding areas.
With a number of retail, manufacturing and services employers able to benefit from better transport routes, the employment possibilities are excitingly high.
By Leanne de Toerkenczy, Public Relations Coordinator.
