Media Releases

Bowen Rail Company has appointed Rockhampton’s THEE Group as the new track and civil maintenance contractor for the billion-dollar Carmichael Rail Network in central Queensland. Bowen Rail Company General Manager Brendan Lane said THEE Group was chosen following an exhaustive, months-long process, as the scope of works to be delivered is so fundamental to the safety and performance of the railway and the coal trains that run on it. “THEE Group’s a local Indigenous-owned track and civil maintenance contractor with great capability across both plant and people and a growing reputation in Queensland and New South Wales as a partner to industry and a provider of very high-quality services,” Mr Lane said. “Finding regional suppliers with complementary skillsets can feel like a challenge at times but THEE Group goes to show the kind of expertise that is on offer. “This is a major contract worth more than $10 million over its five-year term and will see THEE workers based in Rockhampton and Bowen perform both preventative and corrective maintenance along the 200 kilometres of railway that connects Bravus Mining and Resources’ Carmichael mine near Clermont to Aurizon’s Newlands Rail System south of Collinsville. “The Carmichael Rail Network is a world-class asset and with the support of the THEE Group team we have the skills and knowledge to keep it in world-class condition for the next five years.” THEE Group Queensland Delivery Manager, Rail Sector, Doug James said the business was excited to bring its expertise to the Carmichael Rail Network and continue to grow its regional footprint.  “We’re a 100 per cent Indigenous-owned business providing multidisciplined rail services from our Gracemere office near Rockhampton as well as our other offices in southeast Queensland and the Hunter region in New South Wales,” Mr James said. “This contract will see us establish a core team based in Bowen that will be backed by our Rockhampton workforce for when we need to flex up to 30 or 40 staff working on the network for strategic packages of work.” Mr Lane said supporting local businesses and suppliers had been part of Bowen Rail Company’s DNA since the business was established in Bowen in 2020. “As we’ve grown from a handful of people to more than 200 direct employees, we’ve seen how local spend and local employment can make a positive impact right across the community,” he said. “Those economic and social benefits might be most obvious as we all gather at the Grand View in our hi vis after a long week, but they reach beyond hospitality to everything from the local tyre shop and the hardware store who support contractors like THEE Group deliver these core services for us. “It’s something we’re really proud of and we look forward to continuing to provide opportunities that help make Bowen and the Whitsundays an even better and more prosperous place to live.” ENDS Download PDF

Bowen Tennis Association has scored big with a Bowen Rail Company (BRC) grant to support the development of the region’s next generation of tennis stars. The 95-year-old club was one of four recent grant recipients of Bowen Rail Company’s Community Partnership Program, which supports local not-for-profit organisations and community groups with the purchase of small assets that can make a big difference. Bowen Tennis Association President Walter Morris said Bowen Rail Company’s support was significant to seeing the club deliver on its commitment to develop local talent and grow the sport. “We’ve used the grant to create a dedicated equipment storage area for our coaches, which allows us to better support our members and programs,” Mr Morris said. “With more than 100 members, half of whom are juniors, having proper coaching facilities is important, especially as we expand to include junior pickleball coaching and other opportunities for young players. “We’re also fortunate to have a talented and hardworking committee of volunteers who make every dollar count and, thanks to their efforts, we were able to use the $1,500 from Bowen Rail Company to create both an equipment storage and a servery/counter area.” Bowen Rail Company General Manager Brendan Lane said the Community Partnership Program was one of the ways the company added to the vibrancy and prosperity of Bowen, on top of the economic value of the local jobs and business opportunities its rail operations created. “As our business has grown from a handful of people in 2020 to more than 200 direct employees today, so too has our connection to the community,” Mr Lane said. “Many of our team members now have kids in local schools or are members of local clubs and organisations like Bowen Tennis, and being able to use the Community Partnership Program to give back to and support the things that make Bowen such a special place is something we’re really proud to do.” Other 2024 recipients of the Bowen Rail Company Community Partnership Program include: Bowen Delta Rural Fire Brigade, whose grant funded a cell tower repeater to improve mobile service reliability Bowen Rugby Union, awarded funding to upgrade fridges in their canteen, and Girudala Community Co-operative Society, which used its grant to replace a defibrillator. Bowen Rail Company’s Community Partnership Program is awarded bi-annually in May and November. To learn more about the Community Partnership Program or to apply, visit www.bowenrail.com.au/sustainability/community. ENDS Download PDF

Coal from Bravus Mining and Resources’ Carmichael mine near Clermont in central Queensland is making its way to port on a rail line where cutting edge freight technologies are rivalled by the sophistication of fauna-friendly crossings. Bravus Mining and Resources Chief Operating Officer Mick Crowe said the 200-kilometre Carmichael Rail Network included hundreds of design features to support local biodiversity on a line also setting new standards for freight transport. “The design means not only does our coal get to port using safe and efficient rail operations, but it also allows local fauna to thrive,” Mr Crowe said. “Coal is hauled by Bowen Rail Company trains on the Carmichael Rail Network through an area of central Queensland that is home to about 250 species including more than 180 native bird species, as well as mammals, snakes, lizards and frogs. “The rail line’s special features include fencing and land bridges to protect koalas and underground tunnels that allow the Ornamental snake to cross safely beneath the tracks.” Bowen Rail Company General Manager Brendan Lane said the greenfield railway was designed using detailed independent scientific field work in partnership with EcoLogical Australia that tracked activities through 622 fauna and flora surveys.  The surveys covered a linear distance of 749 kilometres, or about the same as the straight-line distance between Brisbane and Sydney. “In total there are 389 fauna-friendly crossings along the Carmichael Rail Network,” Mr Lane said. “There are 187 reptile crossing pipes with surrounding landscaping built every 100 metres within the Ornamental snake habitat. “Speed limits, weed management and reporting of pest sightings also support local fauna management.” Scientists continue to monitor movements of fauna using the network’s special features. The active approach to conservation has created an expanding knowledge base about biodiversity in the remote region. ENDS Download PDF

Bowen Rail Company’s tech developed in partnership with Brisbane-based software developer, Polymathian, to better manage rail traffic in Central Queensland will be showcased as an example of excellence in innovation at the 2024 Australasian Rail Industry Awards. RACE Live is a unique data-driven freight rail management program that uses real-time intelligence from across the Carmichael Rail Network and Aurizon’s Newlands Rail System to achieve safety and productivity benefits when railing coal from the Carmichael mine to port for export. BRC General Manager Brendan Lane said RACE Live’s shortlisting as a finalist in the Freight Rail Excellence category at the rail industry’s national awards reflected the company’s commitment to continuous innovation and improvement. Mr Lane said RACE Live incorporated data from dozens of points in the supply chain, including other rail network managers, coal loading facilities, port operators, and planned maintenance works. This data can include information such as the agreed train schedule, the live location of trains, and live loading and unloading information. “Our aim since establishing our business in Bowen in North Queensland in 2020 has been to do things a little differently to advance the safety, environmental, and economic standards of the rail industry,” Mr Lane said. “We’ve focused on creating a culture that has a positive local impact and reinforces our ASPIRE values of accountability, safety, people, integrity, respect, and excellence. “And we’ve invested in the best available technology like our next generation rail fleet. RACE Live is another step on this path to create clever solutions by harnessing the skills and knowledge available right here in Queensland. “RACE Live’s real-time visibility means our schedulers can anticipate potential disruptions or changes in the supply chain before they occur, allowing them  to work with train crews and other internal and external stakeholders to make proactive decisions to mitigate risks, adjust train schedules, or allocate resources accordingly.” “The benefit is best demonstrated by the industry-leading 98 per cent service reliability we achieved on more than 1,600 train services in our last financial year, all of which means lower costs per tonne hauled for our customer, Bravus Mining and Resources.” “We started work on RACE Live in 2020 and have continued to enhance it as the business has grown so to see it completed and performing is great reward for the team, and to be recognised in the Australasian Rail Industry Awards is the icing on the cake.” The Australasian Rail Industry Awards will be presented in Sydney on 7 August. ENDS Download PDF

Bowen’s Cyclones netballers have swapped their bibs for aprons thanks to a Bowen Rail Company community grant to refurbish their canteen kitchen and keep their club on track. Bowen Netball Association was one of four grant recipients in the latest round of Bowen Rail Company’s Community Partnership Program, which supports local not-for-profit organisations and community groups with the purchase of small assets that can make a big difference. Bowen Netball Secretary Michelle Bosson said modern canteen facilities were vital to the club’s 250 local netballers and its army of volunteers – both in keeping them fed and watered and on the court. “We don't make much money from registrations alone and it’s the income from the canteen that helps us fund things for our club,” Ms Bosson said. “Unfortunately, our canteen kitchen needed some significant repairs and when we organised the quotes for the work, we found the job was beyond our budget. As luck would have it, we saw the Bowen Rail Company grant, applied, and were fortunate to be successful. “We’re enormously grateful to have a company in town like BRC that supports their local community and we’re reminded of their generosity every time the players grab a snack or a drink between games.” Bowen Rail Company Health, Safety and Community Manager Marty Trask said the Community Partnership Program was just one of the ways the business gave back to its community which had strongly supported the company since it set up shop in 2020. “We’re proud to be based in Bowen and with an office in Rockhampton and we always seek to back our local communities and the things that are important to our 180 workers,” he said. “Our Community Partnership Program is one of the ways we add to the vibrancy of Bowen, on top of the economic value of the jobs we support and the opportunities we create for businesses here. “The grants are up to $2000 and are in place to fund equipment or items that make a difference to community or not-for-profit groups. “For example, we’ve been able to help Bowen Netball refurbish their kitchen, which not only allows them to feed hungry players and spectators but helps to get their canteen up and running again.”   Mr Trask urged local community groups to apply for the annual program, which is awarded six monthly, with applications for the November round now open. “If your local group has a great community initiative, we encourage you to jump onto our website and put in an application,” he said. “We’re now in our third year of operations moving Queensland coal from pit to port to meet growing international demand. That means we’ll be able to keep providing jobs, business opportunities, and social investment for north and central Queensland for decades to come.” For more information about Bowen Rail Company’s Community Partnership Program, or to apply, head to www.bowenrail.com.au/sustainability/community/ Download PDF

There were plenty of thrills and a couple of spills as Bowen Rail Company and Collinsville residents celebrated the official opening of the town’s eagerly anticipated $300,000 ‘pump’ bike track. Located in Darcy Munro Park, the Collinsville pump track is designed for bike and scooter riders and skateboarders to make their way over a thrilling series of rollers, jumps, and berms by generating momentum through up and down body movements, instead of pedalling or pushing. Bowen Rail Company fully-funded the $300,000 cost for the first stage of the circuit as part of a 2019 Infrastructure Access Agreement signed with Whitsunday Regional Council for the construction of the Carmichael Rail Network. The Carmichael Rail Network entered operation in 2022 and connects the Carmichael mine near Clermont to Aurizon’s Newlands System about 70 kilometres south of Collinsville. Bowen Rail Company General Manager Brendan Lane said it was terrific to see Collinsville’s young and young at heart embrace their new community asset with fearless enthusiasm. “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,” Mr Lane said. “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. “As we have grown, so too has our connection to our local region. 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 make sure we’re helping to build the community that we want to live in. “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. “So while this $300,000 investment in stage one of the pump track is a considerable one for our business, we’re proud to have worked in partnership with Council to deliver a lasting community asset and it’s terrific to see the kids get out there and put it to such good use already.” Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Ry Collins said the pump track was an exemplar of Council working with local businesses to provide investments that add to community vibrancy and sense of belonging. “As a Council we spend a lot of our time upgrading existing assets and legacy assets,” Mr Collins said. “So when we’ve got the opportunity to put something new into the community it’s really valued, and that’s shown by the turnout we’ve had for the official opening of stage one of Collinsville’s pump track. “What Bowen Rail Company has done here is incredibly important and we thank them so much for being good corporate citizens for our community – not just in terms of the jobs and economic benefits they create, but for investing in bringing people together, which is at the heart of our regional towns.” ENDS DOWNLOAD PDF 

Bravus is building on its record of creating secure jobs for regional Queenslanders through a new internal team of projects professionals supercharging their careers at its mine and rail operations. Bravus has advertised the first of the roles for its new Central Projects function that will deliver facilities, infrastructure, processing, rail systems, and technology works across the Group’s Carmichael Rail Network, Bowen Rail Company, and Bravus Mining and Resources businesses. Bravus Mining and Resources owns the Carmichael mine which is a 10 million tonne per annum open cut thermal coal mine approximately 160 kilometres northwest of the town of Clermont. The Carmichael Rail Network is a 200-kilometre narrow gauge railway that connects the Carmichael mine to Aurizon’s Newlands Rail System through to the North Queensland Export Terminal, north of Bowen. Bowen Rail Company both rails the coal from Carmichael to the North Queensland Export Terminal and manages the maintenance and safe operation of the Carmichael Rail Network. Bowen Rail Company General Manager Brendan Lane described the opportunity to work on hundreds of millions of dollars of mining and rail projects at the same time as “career defining”. “Bravus’ mining, rail network, and freight rail businesses are billion-dollar enterprises with decades-long operational horizons,” Mr Lane said. “That means two things for prospective members of our new Central Projects function. “One is long-term, secure employment via a consistent pipeline of largescale sustaining capital projects in a Group with a proven track record for delivering major projects in regional areas. “And two, it’s that you don’t have to choose between working on mining projects or on rail projects. With us you can do both, and that’s how you supercharge your career and get ahead in this industry.” Bravus Mining and Resources Chief Operating Officer Mick Crowe said the advertised roles offered a mix of site and office-based working arrangements in Townsville, Rockhampton, and Bowen. “We’re a proud Group of regional Queensland businesses with Bravus Mining and Resources headquartered in Townsville, Bowen Rail Company in Bowen, and the Carmichael Rail Network run out of Rockhampton,” Mr Crowe said. “That provides a range of benefits to our operations, but also to our people who enjoy the social and economic advantages that come with living and working in central and north Queensland. “We’ve made sure to provide a lifestyle roster with these capital projects roles so the successful applicants can make the most of the perks life in the regions offers as well.” To view available Bravus Central Projects function positions, head to https://bravusmining.applynow.net.au/ Bravus’ Australian businesses include Bravus Mining and Resources, Bowen Rail Company, Carmichael Rail Network, Rugby Run solar farm, North Queensland Export Terminal, and Abbot Point Operations. Bravus is an Adani Group business and together its Australian operations play a leading role in the future of the global sustainable energy mix by producing and transporting high quality Australian coal, and renewable energy. ENDS Download PDF

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