newy.com.au – Lake Macquarie City Council has welcomed the NSW Government’s decision to nominate Teralba as the preferred site for a Future Fleet train manufacturing facility, saying it could bring jobs, supplier businesses and training opportunities to former mining land.
The proposed facility would form part of the $12 billion Future Fleet program, intended to support locally based passenger train manufacturing and fleet replacement over the next 30 years, beginning with Sydney’s ageing Tangara fleet.
Lake Macquarie Mayor Adam Shultz said the opportunity at Teralba extended beyond building trains.
“This site provides the space and flexibility needed not only for manufacturing, but also for suppliers, research, education, training and future industrial expansion.
“Importantly, moving ahead with Teralba as the preferred site will support the transition of former mining land into productive employment land and help create long-term economic opportunities for communities across the Hunter.”
Council said it had advocated for Teralba since the NSW Government announced its Future Fleet commitment to the Hunter. That work involved government representatives, industry, education providers, unions and economic development organisations.
It pointed to existing road and rail connections, proximity to the earmarked high speed rail route and land available for industrial redevelopment as advantages of the site.
Mayor Shultz said bringing manufacturers and suppliers together in one location offered an opportunity to develop the region’s industrial skills and capacity.
Council chief executive David Hughes said the investment had the potential to support local jobs and strengthen supply chains. He also identified education and workforce development as opportunities arising from the proposed facility.
“It also creates an opportunity to establish a significant education and training hub, supporting vocational pathways, apprenticeships and professional development to ensure the workforce of the future has the skills needed to drive the next generation of advanced manufacturing.”
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