Hunter puts hand up to make NSW trains

Manufacturers from the Hunter, Central and North Coast regions of New South Wales are lining up to meet the challenge of a new state government which is to reverse the recently defeated government’s policy of buying railcars from overseas suppliers.

Before the recent NSW election incoming Premier Chris Minns said: “The Liberals have always said that New South Wales is not good at building trains – they are wrong.

“…I am determined to bring back rail manufacturing to New South Wales after a decade of the Liberals sending thousands of jobs offshore and buying trains, trams and ferries filled with defects, faults and failures.”

Recently appointed Chair of the Hunter Manufacturing Awards Jacqui Daley said the region’s manufacturing sector had grown past its old image of just steelmaking and was now diverse and technically advanced.

Daley said: “The newly elected NSW Government have committed to building new trains in NSW, and we are suggesting that they look no further than the Hunter.

“We have a strong pedigree in building rolling stock with Cardiff-based Downer building the high-performing Waratah Trains fleet.

“It has also recently been announced they will be building 65 new six-car trains for the Queensland government.”

In addition, the federal government is set to establish the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund focussed on supporting Australian innovation and industry, providing finance options for projects in transport among others, defence and resources.

“Newcastle based energy technology company SwitchDin are building southern hemisphere’s largest test lab for energy products like solar inverters, batteries and EV chargers.

“We have solvable auto cleaning tablets being made at Caves Beach, hydrogen battery storage at Tomago, and electric boats at Port Macquarie – manufacturers across the region are developing innovative products at a rate of knots.”

The federal government has also established the Office of National Rail Industry Coordination (ONRIC)which will deliver a $14.2 million National Rail Manufacturing Plan.

The Hunter is well known as a leading regional manufacturing hub, represented by bodies such as Hunternet, as well as the Hunter Manufacturing Awards group.

Daley said: “Collaboration is at the heart of the industry here, with many businesses – big and small – working together, sharing knowledge and resources.

“This is when innovation happens and it’s great news for expanding our sovereign capability in manufacturing across industries – we can absolutely make things here in Australia.”

Picture: rail car manufacture in the Hunter region