To match the forecast tonnage demands of mines and ports, QR developed the Jilalan Rail Yard Upgrade project. The Jilalan Rail Yard, located three kilometres south of Sarina near Mackay, is an important link in the Goonyella coal supply chain that moves coal from Central Queensland mines to the Port of Hay Point.  The Yard is used by QR to maintain and service coal trains.

In July 2007, QR Network signed up its first coal design and civil construction Alliance to deliver the project. The Coal Stream Alliance (CSA), combined the skills of QR, Aurecon, Hatch, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Macmahon Holdings Limited and MVM Rail to construct Central Queensland’s largest coal rail infrastructure upgrade.

QR Network also partnered with Westinghouse Rail Systems Australia – the Aspect3 Alliance - to undertake the signalling works and contracted Laing O’Rourke to complete the overhead electrical works.

The project will saw the installation of 42km of new rail (with 22km electrified); the construction of new wagon maintenance and provisioning facilities; and new administration buildings.  The below rail works (QR Network) are valued at $190 million.

The yard investments at Jilalan will ensure the system has the ability to cater for the expected increased number of trains and capacity demands at the ports, improve operational efficiency within the system's operations, and better allow for the staged presentation of trains to Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal and Hay Point Coal Terminal.

The final component of the Jilalan Rail Yard project was completed on schedule in December 2009.  Overall, key milestones were achieved ahead of schedule and the project came in under budget.

Environmental Impact

In 2007 the Coordinator-General declared the Jilalan Rail Yard Upgrade project a State Significant Project requiring an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 (QLD).  Overall the assessment concluded that the project’s potential land use benefits will outweigh the direct property impacts and other potential land use impacts.

The EIS (and Supplementary EIS) is available for viewing or downloading from the Department of Infrastructure and Planning.

As part of the Coordinator-General's conditions, the Coal Stream Alliance also undertook monthly enviromental management reports for the Jilalan Rail Yard Upgrade project. Dust, water and noise levels and conditions were monitored to ensure the environmental status of the site was managed in accordance with EPA guidelines and procedures.

The following documents contain data and reports dating from the inception of monitoring on the Jilalan Rail Yard Upgrade project.

Project Update Archive