The Queensland Government has awarded a local business two subcontracts worth approximately $6 million to deliver piling works on Cross River Rail.
Redcliffe Peninsula business Avopiling was awarded the two subcontracts.
At Woolloongabba, more than 300 piles have been driven into the earth to support a brand new underground station as part of Queensland’s largest infrastructure project. At Albert Street, piling is still underway with almost 100 piles already used.
Queensland Development Minister, Kate Jones, said the Avopiling was a great demonstration of how the $5.4 billion project was providing positive opportunities for local Queensland businesses.
The subcontracts provide job security to Avopiling’s 38 workers, supporting them through the COVID recovery.
“Major State Government-funded infrastructure projects are crucial to Queensland’s economic recovery,” Ms Jones said.
“Right now, Cross River Rail is already supporting more than 2,000 jobs. At the height of construction, that number will be more like 3,000.
“But it’s the flow-on effects to local businesses like Avopiling that will help to stimulate our economy when we need it most.”
More than 90 per cent of Cross River Rail contracts have gone to Queensland-based companies. Avopiling is one of more than 400 local businesses that have already benefited from the project.
“Local contracts mean local jobs – that’s what this project is all about,” Ms Jones said.
A small business working on a megaproject
Avopiling has been operating out of their Clontarf facility for more than 15 years. The company has been working on Cross River Rail since November 2019.
Avopiling’s two piling rigs and eleven workers installed over 300 piles at Woolloongabba. It now has one rig with eight workers at the Albert Street station.
Ms Jones visited the Clontarf workshop and met with young female Graduate Engineer, Thenuja Srikanthan.
“It was great to meet Thenuja, who’s following in her father’s footsteps in the construction and working on the Cross River Rail Woolloongabba work site while she completes her Geotechnical Engineering degree,” Ms Jones said.
Ms Srikanthan said the experience working on the Cross River Rail megaproject was a great step forward for her career.
“My dad used to work at Avopiling, and when I had the chance to enter the construction industry and work with them on Cross River Rail I jumped at it,” Ms Srikanthan said.
“I’ve had the opportunity to get practical, on-the-job experience and learn a lot while working at Cross River Rail’s Woolloongabba site.”
Ms Jones said the increased work for the Clontarf business not only meant more jobs at the worksite but also meant more investment in equipment and maintenance.
“We’re seeing local subbies, hiring local workers and investing in new machinery,” Ms Jones said.
“This is putting Queensland companies in a better position to win even more contracts in the future.”
View more information and apply for contracts here.
