Latest news with #DownerGroup
Sky News AU
01-05-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
Manufacturing company Downer Group warns staff of potential job cuts as it prepares to build trains for Brisbane Olympics
A New Zealand owned company set to build trains for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics has warned staff of possible job cuts. Downer Group is contracted to build 65 passenger trains for Queensland Rail ahead of the games. The Courier Mail, citing unnamed sources, reported Downer was seeking to cut 35 jobs from its Maryborough site by June, with another 86 set to be axed by the end of the year. However, on Thursday a spokesperson for the company maintained 'no final decision' had been reached over whether it would move to lay off staff. 'Our work on the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program is continuing as expected and we look forward to working with the Queensland government on potential future opportunities,' the spokesperson said. 'The consultation we have commenced with our workforce specifically relates to the cessation of a contract with a private freight operator. 'We want to confirm no final decision has been made and we continue to explore opportunities to fill the gap in work in order to ease any impact on our people.' Maryborough has supported train manufacturing in Queensland for a number of years, with Downer employing as many as 525 people on site in the town. The company signed a $4.6 billion deal with the former Palaszczuk Government in 2023 which aimed to support 800 jobs in manufacturing and construction. Manufacturing Minister Dale Last told Queensland parliament on Thursday he had regularly met with construction contractors within Downer and has visited the Maryborough site. 'The jobs that are being created at the new train manufacturing facility at Torbanlea are secure,' he said. 'They will be secure for the construction of those 65 trains and ongoing under this government.' Mr Last added the state government had awarded a new $120 million contract to Gold Coast company ADCO to build a new rail maintenance facility to maintain passenger trains built under the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program. 'ADCO will build a 20,000 sqm rail maintenance facility that will service and maintain the expanded fleet of 65 new six-car passenger trains being built in Maryborough to service the South-East Queensland rail network,' he said. The 20,000sqm rail maintenance building will support over 100 jobs during construction and around 140 jobs when operational. Billions of dollars are expected to be poured into the Sunshine State ahead of the Olympic Games in 2032. According to the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority, the Crisafulli government has accepted estimates the new 63,000-seat Brisbane Victoria Park stadium will cost $3.785 billion. The federal government is also investing upwards of $3.435 billion in key venue infrastructure.
Sky News AU
01-05-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
Downer Group warn staff about potential job cuts
A Queensland manufacturing company building trains for the Brisbane Olympics has warned staff of potential job cuts due to reduced workload. Downer Group employs more than 250 people at its Maryborough rail facility, which has operated for more than 150-years in the regional town about 3.5 hours north of Brisbane. A Downer spokesman said on Thursday said 'no final decision' had been made about the potential redundancies. 'Our work on the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program is continuing as expected and we look forward to working with the Queensland government on potential future opportunities,' a spokesman said. 'The consultation we have commenced with our workforce specifically relates to the cessation of a contract with a private freight operator. 'We want to confirm no final decision has been made and we continue to explore opportunities to fill the gap in work in order to ease any impact on our people.' The company signed a $4.6b deal with the Palaszczuk Government in 2023 to build 65 passenger trains for the South East Queensland rail network supporting 800 jobs in construction and manufacturing ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games. Former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk made a commitment to Queenslanders that rail manufacturing jobs would be returned to Maryborough when the deal was announced. Manufacturing Minister Dale Last said in parliament on Thursday he recently visited the Maryborough facility and met regularly with the construction contractor Downer. 'The jobs that are being created at the new train manufacturing facility at Torbanlea are secure,' he said. 'They will be secure for the construction of those 65 trains and ongoing under this government.' Minister Last told parliament the government had awarded a new $120m contract to Gold Coast company ADCO to build a new rail maintenance building to maintain passenger trains built under the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program. 'ADCO will build a 20,000 sqm rail maintenance facility that will service and maintain the expanded fleet of 65 new six-car passenger trains being built in Maryborough to service the South-East Queensland rail network,' he said. 'The new contract on the Gold Coast will keep the maintenance of Queensland built trains right here in Queensland, supporting more than 100 jobs during construction and, importantly, around 140 jobs once operational. 'It will play a key role in supporting the growth and maintenance of our public transport network in the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.' Originally published as Manufacturer Downer EDI warns staff of potential job cuts
News.com.au
01-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Manufacturer Downer EDI warns staff of potential job cuts
A Queensland manufacturing company building trains for the Brisbane Olympics has warned staff of potential job cuts due to reduced workload. Downer Group employs more than 250 people at its Maryborough rail facility, which has operated for more than 150-years in the regional town about 3.5 hours north of Brisbane. A Downer spokesman said on Thursday said 'no final decision' had been made about the potential redundancies. 'Our work on the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program is continuing as expected and we look forward to working with the Queensland government on potential future opportunities,' a spokesman said. 'The consultation we have commenced with our workforce specifically relates to the cessation of a contract with a private freight operator. 'We want to confirm no final decision has been made and we continue to explore opportunities to fill the gap in work in order to ease any impact on our people.' The company signed a $4.6b deal with the Palaszczuk Government in 2023 to build 65 passenger trains for the South East Queensland rail network supporting 800 jobs in construction and manufacturing ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games. Former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk made a commitment to Queenslanders that rail manufacturing jobs would be returned to Maryborough when the deal was announced. Manufacturing Minister Dale Last said in parliament on Thursday he recently visited the Maryborough facility and met regularly with the construction contractor Downer. 'The jobs that are being created at the new train manufacturing facility at Torbanlea are secure,' he said. 'They will be secure for the construction of those 65 trains and ongoing under this government.' Minister Last told parliament the government had awarded a new $120m contract to Gold Coast company ADCO to build a new rail maintenance building to maintain passenger trains built under the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program. 'ADCO will build a 20,000 sqm rail maintenance facility that will service and maintain the expanded fleet of 65 new six-car passenger trains being built in Maryborough to service the South-East Queensland rail network,' he said. 'The new contract on the Gold Coast will keep the maintenance of Queensland built trains right here in Queensland, supporting more than 100 jobs during construction and, importantly, around 140 jobs once operational. 'It will play a key role in supporting the growth and maintenance of our public transport network in the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.'
ABC News
01-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Maryborough manufacturer Downer considers job cuts
A manufacturing company building trains for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games says it is discussing "potential redundancies" with employees due to its reduced workload. Downer Group in the heritage city of Maryborough, three hours north of Brisbane, released a statement on Thursday saying it was in talks with its employees following a dip in the organisation's workload. "Due to a reduction in the expected volume of work at our Maryborough facility, Downer commenced consultation with our workforce regarding potential redundancies," a Downer spokesperson said. "No final decision has been made, and we continue to explore opportunities to fill the gap in work, in order to ease any impact with our people." The company has more than 250 employees at the Maryborough site but it has not confirmed how many jobs are at risk. In 2023, Downer signed a $4.6 billion contract to deliver the then Palaszczuk government's Queensland Train Manufacturing Program, which included 65 passenger trains to be built in time for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. ABC Wide Bay — local news in your inbox Get our local newsletter, delivered free each Thursday Your information is being handled in accordance with the Email address Subscribe
