Manufacturing jobs boost in QLD with $133.8m new buses investment

The Queensland Government is committed to boosting manufacturing in the State as it invests $133.8 million towards locally made rail replacement buses. 

Preferred manufacturers have also been announced. Scania Australia Pty Ltd and Volvo Group Australia Pty Ltd are appointed to build the 200 new buses following a rigorous independent procurement process. 

Volgren will be building 165 Euro 6 buses on Volvo chassis and BusTech will build 35 Euro 6 diesel buses on Scania chassis. 

“This project is a game-changer for Volgren’s Eagle Farm production facility. It will support hundreds og current and new jobs in Brisbane and create and retain essential skills for the upcoming Zero Emission Bus transition from 2025. Volgren is pleased to have been trusted with such an amazing project. 

“This project is critical and vital for local businesses to remain viable and investing in the state. It represents a significant stride towards Queensland’s sustainable transportation future, fostering economic growth, job creation, and skills development within the region. Volgren looks forward to the successful delivery of this project and the continued collaboration with the Queensland Government to enhance the state’s public transportation network,” Volgren CEO Thiago Deiro said. 

“BusTech is delighted to have been awarded buses in partnership with Scania as part of the rail replacement program. 

“BusTech welcomes the investment in local bus manufacturing and looks forward to this continuing over the next decade as Queensland transitions to zero-emission buses for public fleets and in the lead up to the Brisbane Olympics,” BusTech CEO Dan Marks said. 

The initial funding will ensure the bus fleet is built in Queensland, supporting local manufacturing jobs, skills and training. 

All 200 buses are expected to be delivered by the end of 2024, with the first bus to be completed in March. 

The new locally manufactured buses will be used to ensure commuters in South East Queensland can still travel across the public transport network during train track closures. 

“We are a government that backs Queensland manufacturers and today’s announcement is more evident of that. 

“This is an investment in Queenslanders and the future of our skilled manufacturing sector. 

“We know that when we build here in Queensland, we are supporting local workers, local suppliers and the next generation of skilled bus builders. 

“Whether it’s trains, or buses, Queensland is the place to build and invest. I look forward to seeing these new vehicles out on the road,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said. 

Currently, the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) is working with its contracted bus operators to source replacement buses during track closures. With the new bus fleet, TMR will own the buses and can deploy them more flexibly across the region when track closures are observed on the train network. 

Rolling track closures will be carried out in 2024 to enable critical works to be undertaken for Cross River Rail and the new buses will make sure that impacts to commuters are minimised. 

“These buses will play an important role in keeping South East Queenslanders moving during the next few years while major projects such as Cross River Rail and Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail are integrated into the existing train network. 

“Forward planning and anticipating the needs of our travelling public with minimal disruption is at the heart of this huge and significant undertaking by the Queensland Government. 

“With the procurement process over, it is now time to get on with the job and deliver for Queensland,” Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said. 

The buses are going to be built with Queenslanders and visitors to the State in mind, ensuring everyone has access to public transport including people in wheelchairs as well as those travelling with luggage or prams. 

TMR is prioritising delivering infrastructure that will support charging capabilities for zero-emission buses at depots across South East Queensland while also remaining committed to all new Translink-contracted buses in the region being a zero-emission vehicle from 2025. 

Once the supporting infrastructure has been completed, the contract allows flexibility to proceed to procuring electric buses under this contract. 

“From trains to buses, the AMWU (Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union) has campaigned for many years to not only bring manufacturing back home but to also secure a pipeline of work, ensuring good, local jobs for many years to come. 

“Australian manufacturing workers are some of the best in the world. This announcement is a huge vote of confidence in our local vehicle manufacturing sector and a testament to the Palaszczuk Government’s dedication to harnessing the expertise of Australian manufacturing workers. 

“This step will not only support approximately 1,000 jobs across the vehicle build and the supply chain, but will also enhance our sovereign capability, ensuring that Queenslanders have access to top-quality buses built in Queensland by Queenslanders for Queenslanders,” State Secretary of the Queensland and Northern Territory Branch of the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union Rohan Webb said. 

Source: Queensland Government – Media Statements; Australian Manufacturing