Scenic Rim council budget 2016: Council boosts towns as rail freight depot opens

South-east Queensland's new $30 million interstate rail freight centre begins to unload trains in January 2017, courtesy of a $9.6 million state government grant in Thursday's Scenic Rim Regional Council budget.

Now is a good time to invest in the Scenic Rim <<<

That grant allows the much talked-about Bromelton interstate rail freight rail depot to begin unloading rail freight near Beaudesert.

Scenic Rim's new mayor Greg Christensen (pictured) said the council hoped to design "signature town centres" as part of the master planning of Boonah, Beaudesert and Tamborine Village, as part of the $96 million budget.

Cr Christensen said the Bromelton rail freight developers had already told him they need 100 new employees to begin operating on January 17.
"I believe we are on the threshold of a period of great opportunity," Cr Christensen said.
"The Bromelton development is just the start. There are many other things that are coming up behind it."

Key budget facts

•$3.5 million for new town squares for Boonah, Beaudesert and Tamborine Mountain

•$31.4 million on roads and bridges; a 38 per cent increase on 2015-16

•$2.15 million to rebuild Munbilla Road, a connection to Logan City

Other road projects

•Veresdale Scrub Road Stage 3 upgrade at Veresdale ($450,000)

•Barney View Road at Barney View ($630,000)

•Kooralbyn Road at Kooralbyn ($285,000)

Bridge replacements

•$6 million to replace Churchbank Bridge at Mutdapilly and Adams Bridge at Rosevale

•$780,000 for major rehabilitation work to Retschlag Bridge (Mt Barney)

•Tait Bridge (Maroon), Newman Bridge (Maroon), Johnson Bridge (Rathdowney), Mollenhagen Bridge (Illinbah) and Josephville Bridge (Josephville)

Other projects

•$2.5 million over 10 years for new park equipment, with $250,000 this year

•$285,000 to promote the local tourism industry which draws $150 million to the region each year

•The July 2 "Eat Local" Festival drew 23,000 visitors and generated $1.2 million in one weekend

Picture Credit: Camerone Atfield & the Bromelton State Development Area promotional video, original story by Brisbane Times here.

Find out more on the $30 m Bromelton freight terminal here.