Up To 60 New Jobs At Walkers Foundry

The relocation of a foundry from Adelaide to Maryborough will create up to 60 new jobs and save the jobs of 45 local workers, Premier Peter Beattie announced today.

Mr Beattie said the Government had reached an agreement which allowed expansion of the operations of the Walkers Ltd Foundry.

"The Mackay-based owner of the foundry, Central Queensland Mining Supplies, expects to create a minimum of 45 new positions, and up to more than 60, over the next few years," Mr Beattie said.

"In addition to relocation and business purchase costs associated with this project, the company is also investing more than $1.5 million this financial year on systems and equipment upgrades.

"We are working to make Maryborough a magnet for industry and jobs."

Central Queensland Mining Supplies (CQMS) is one of Australia's biggest mining supply groups.

CQMS recently acquired the former Walkers foundry in Maryborough as a going concern from the current owner, EDI Rail.

"Had the sale not gone ahead, it is probable the facility would have ceased operating and the plant and equipment sold off. The purchase saved the jobs of 45 workers at the Maryborough foundry," Mr Beattie said.

"The attraction of the EDI Rail foundry for CQMS was the expertise and skills of the workers, the operational productivity of the facility and its capability of being one of the only foundries in Australia with an over nine tonne casting capacity.

"This allows the company to position itself in a niche market position for product development and design.

"Most of the products manufactured in Maryborough will initially be sold within Australia, although the company is expanding its sales offshore, particularly the United States."

Mr Beattie said the decision by the company to locate the expansion project in Queensland represented a significant endorsement of the Government's Manufacturing Strategy - Making Queensland Future.

"As part of the Manufacturing Strategy, the Department of State Development is seeking to attract new investment and reinvestment and expansion by major manufacturing companies," he said.

"The attraction of CQMS to retain and expand the Maryborough foundry, as well as to relocate its operation from South Australia, is a significant demonstration of the advantages of a regional Queensland location for major manufacturing companies."

Media contact: Steve Bishop 0419 779 518 February 4, 2004