On track to a better future

Bowen Rail Company is revving up as the new Naming Rights sponsor of the Whitsunday’s favourite event, the 2024 Don River Dash offroad race. The Don River Dash 300 is a two-day offroad race that sees motorbikes, buggies and trophy trucks tackle a rugged “desert style” course through the dry riverbed of Bowen’s famous Don River. The event injects more than $4 million into the local economy as thousands of competitors and motorsport enthusiasts from across Australia descend on Bowen and the Whitsundays each September. Bowen Rail Company General Manager Brendan Lane said the company was delighted to partner with an event that showcased Bowen and the Whitsundays to the world. “This is the sixth year of the Don River Dash and to be able to partner with an event that showcases Bowen and the Whitsundays to the world is something we’re passionate about as a local business, but also as members of this community,” Mr Lane said. “The Dash is an event our team members are keen to participate in and keen to support and we strive to get behind the events and causes that are important to our people and their families. “It’s also another way we can add to the vibrancy of Bowen and the greater Whitsunday region on top of the economic value of the local jobs we support and the opportunities we create for local businesses. “We’re a business that appreciates horsepower, too. I doubt many competitors will match the 4,300 horsepower of one of our locomotives, but we can’t wait to see the action on the Don in September.” Bowen Rail Company rollingstock maintainer Trent Williams said he was hoping to better his ninth place in his motorbike class last year – as well as his brother and fellow BRC employee, Byron. “I’m not sure what Byron is going to ride yet, there might be a bit of a secret coming up, but it’s going to be on this year and you’re going to be seeing who’s the better brother,” Trent laughed. “I didn't really do much practice last year, just jumped on and rode. So hopefully with a bit more practice and time put into it this year I can do a bit better and maybe get a podium. “It’s always nice to see your employer putting back into the community and supporting local events that bring a lot of people and a lot of money into the town. Bowen Rail Company does a great job at that.”   Don River Dash secretary Wanita Sparr said Bowen Rail Company’s support elevated both the social and economic value of the event. “Tourism Whitsundays and Whitsunday Regional Council tell us the Don River Dash’s local economic contribution is well over $4 million a year, and you only have to look at the local hoteliers and retailers who are overflowing with customers during and after the race and to understand why,” Ms Sparr said. “We had more than a thousand people camped at the showgrounds last year. “But we simply couldn’t put on the same quality of event without the support of a major corporate sponsor like Bowen Rail Company. “We’re incredibly excited to have Brendan and the team on board and working with us to get the most out of the Dash for competitors, spectators, and the local community alike.” Competitor nominations open in June. For more information about the Don River Dash, head to www.donriverdash.com.au ENDS Download PDF

Collinsville will be “pumping” thanks to Bowen Rail Company and construction of a new $300,000 bike track for local bike riders, scooter enthusiasts, and skateboarders. Whitsunday Regional Council has announced works on the Darcy Munro Park Pump Track will begin on 2 April, with stage one of the four-stage circuit expected to be ready for locals young and old to showcase their riding, cornering, and jumping skills by early May. Bowen Rail Company has fully-funded the first stage of the bike track, which is a circuit designed for users to apply a push-and-pull technique rather than pedalling to make their way over a series of rollers, jumps, and berms. Council will manage the construction works. Bowen Rail Company General Manager Brendan Lane said the business was excited to see such a safe, active, fun, and social community asset built for the people of Collinsville. The funding for the project is part of a 2019 Infrastructure Access Agreement signed with Council for the construction of the Carmichael Rail Network (CRN). The CRN entered operation in early 2022 and connects the Carmichael mine to Aurizon’s Newlands System about 70km south of Collinsville. “We wanted the construction of the Carmichael Rail Network to leave a positive legacy in Collinsville beyond the significant economic benefits of employing locals and awarding contracts to local businesses, or having rail workers spend their wage in local hotels, stores, and pubs,” Mr Lane said. “Better playground equipment and new and more diverse activities for older kids were two things that resonated loudly in the 2021 Collinsville Masterplan, and the Pump Track is a perfect fit. “The beauty of this new addition to Darcy Munro Park is it will be accessible to everyone, young or young at heart, and a toddler on a balance bike will benefit as much as an X-Games superstar. “We’re deeply grateful for the incredible support we’ve received from Collinsville and the greater Whitsunday region as we’ve built our railway and grown from a startup to a thriving rail operator. “Our team can’t wait to see their friends and family out there shredding around enjoying the Pump Track - and having a crack on it themselves.” Whitsunday Regional Council Capital Program and Network Planning Director Adam Hagy said detailed design of all four stages had been completed, with each adding new levels of challenge. “We have the full picture of what the finished product looks like and we’re confident the design will provide fun, challenge, and learning for years to come,” he said. “Naturally, stage one is most suitable for beginners and intermediates to get a foothold as stages two through four come online. “The timing of stages two through four will be subject to future budgets, and incremental development will ensure the facility grows with the community.” ENDS Download PDF

Photo caption: Bowen Rail Company General Manager Brendan Lane speaking at the celebration. Regional Queensland communities have joined Bowen Rail Company (BRC) to celebrate its new rail freight performance record and the 180 local jobs created in the process. Local business and community leaders gathered at the Grand View Hotel in Bowen recently to mark the first 10 million tonnes of high-quality Queensland coal BRC has safely transported from its customer Bravus Mining and Resources’ Carmichael mine to the North Queensland Export Terminal. BRC General Manager Brendan Lane told the crowd the achievement was testament to the dedication and hard work of all who had supported the business since it set up shop in Bowen in 2020. “In just three years we’ve gone from a team of 10 people working on William Street to a thriving group of about 180 employees working across our rail operations, network control, health and safety, maintenance, environment, and professional functions,” he said. Mr Lane said BRC had focused on creating a culture that has a positive local impact and reinforces the business’ ASPIRE values of accountability, safety, people, integrity, respect, and excellence. “Every single person in our organisation – from the seasoned hands who relocated from across the country to join our business right through to the locals we have brought into the rail industry through our train driver traineeship program - has helped shape or drive our ASPIRE values,” he said. “That’s also seen our people and their families become a part of this town. Some are long-standing locals and others have moved here from as far away as Western Australia and New South Wales. “All of them are contributing to the sense of community that makes the Whitsundays such a wonderful place to live and work in. “We’re deeply grateful for the incredible support we’ve received as we've grown from a startup to a thriving rail operator. “While this celebration is about one record, the good news for Bowen is this is only the latest in many to come for our business.” Bowen Rail Company is a next-generation rail business and Australia’s first greenfield railway in more than a decade. In doing so, BRC was the first rail services operator in Queensland to be accredited under the Office of National Rail Safety Regulator regime for the provision of bulk coal services. Contact: [email protected] +61 438031780 ENDS  Download PDF  

Queens Beach State School’s kitchen garden program is blooming thanks to a new grant from Bowen Rail Company (BRC) to support the region’s littlest green thumbs. The Bowen state school was one of four recipients of the latest round of funding from BRC’s Community Partnership Program, which is designed to assist not-for-profit organisations and community groups with the purchase of small assets that can make a big difference. Queens Beach is part of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program and teacher Bec Trask said the children learned about food through hands-on gardening, harvesting, and cooking. “Thanks to the grant we’ve been able to expand the garden and have a bigger variety of fruit and vegetables for the kids to cook with,’’ Ms Trask said. “That’s been a huge benefit to the students and the program, and it wouldn’t have been able to happen without Bowen Rail Company’s support.” BRC General Manager Brendan Lane said the Community Partnership Program was one of the ways the organisation gave back to the community, which had so strongly supported the company as it established itself in Bowen. “We’ve gone from having five or six staff in town in 2020 to well over 150 today as we safely run our rail operation from right here in Bowen,” Mr Lane said. “As we have grown, so too has our connection to our community. We now have kids who go to school here, we have elderly parents who live here, and all of that drives the desire our people have to give back to Bowen. “That’s why we’re so excited to see our Community Partnership Program used to support the delivery of activities and services that make a tangible contribution to this place we’re so lucky to live and work in.” Bowen Rail Company’s Community Partnership Program was launched in 2022 and is awarded bi-annually in November and May. In addition to the Queens Beach State School, other recipients from the May 2023 round included the Bowen Neighbourhood Centre, which BRC assisted to fit out its large meeting room with audio visual equipment to support community groups and small businesses to hold meetings and conferences. Mr Lane said the Bowen Cricket club also received a grant to install lighting around the cricket nets so play can continue safely into the evening and Bowen Flexi Care used its grant to purchase new power tools including a leaf blower, lawn mower and whipper snipper for clients to use on gardening days. For more information about Bowen Rail Company’s Community Partnership Program, or to apply, head to www.bowenrail.com.au/sustainability/community/ For more information about the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program visit www.kitchengardenfoundation.org.au ENDS Download PDF