Contracts awarded to local foundation business for Cross River Rail

Two Cross River Rail subcontracts worth close to $6 million have been awarded to a Queensland foundation business.

Minister for State Development Kate Jones has visited Redcliffe Peninsula business Avopiling at Clontarf, which was awarded the contracts.

Ms. Jones said the Clontarf business was a great example of the role the Queensland Government is playing in supporting Queensland businesses through the COVID recovery.

“Right now, Cross River Rail is already supporting more than 2,000 jobs. At the height of construction, that number will be more like 3,000,” she said.

“But it’s the flow-on effects to local businesses like Avopiling that will help to stimulate our economy when we need it most.”

Avopiling supports 38 workers, who have had job security during the pandemic.

Ms. Jones said this is one of more than 400 businesses that have so far benefited from the $5.4 million Cross River Rail investment.

“More than 90 per cent of contracts have gone to Queensland-based businesses,” she said.

Around 300 piles have already been placed to support a brand new underground station and at Albert Street piling is still underway with 100 piles in the ground.

“Avopiling has been operating out of their Clontarf facility for more than 15 years. And they’ve been working on Cross River Rail since November last year,” Ms. Jones said.

“They had two piling rigs and 11 workers putting in over 300 piles at Woolloongabba and now have one rig with eight workers at the Albert Street station.”

While visiting the Clontarf workshop, the Minister also met with young female Graduate Engineer Thenuja Srikanthan.

“It was great to meet Thenuja who’s following in her father’s footsteps in the construction and working on the Cross River Rail Woolloongabba work site while she completes her Geotechnical Engineering degree,” Ms. Jones said.

Ms. Srikanthan said the experience working on this mega-project was a great step forward for her career.

“My dad used to work at Avopiling, and when I had the chance to enter the construction industry and work with them on Cross River Rail I jumped at it,” she said.

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