The new agreement started in December and runs to November 2019.
The agreement provides for haulage of up to 1 million tonnes per year from key grain growing regions of Queensland.
This includes haulage from the Roma, Thallon and Goondiwindi regions in Southern Queensland into the Fisherman Islands and Pinkenba port terminals in Brisbane, and from the Emerald, Capella and Mt. McLaren regions in Central Queensland into the Mackay and Gladstone port terminals.
Under the agreement, current grain wagons will be modified to a fully automatic unloading system with Kwik Drop Doors (presently partial automatic unloading system) improving both productivity and safety for Aurizon and GrainCorp.
GrainCorp Group General Manager, storage & logistics, Nigel Hart said that, combined with the long term agreements that will soon be available at GrainCorp’s Queensland ports, GrainCorp and other exporters would have greater certainty and improved ability to plan their export programs.
“This agreement is good for GrainCorp and good for the growers who use our network. It provides GrainCorp and Aurizon the certainty we need to explore productivity improvements and how to get more grain onto each train,” Hart said. “Rail is the most cost?efficient means of getting grain to port, so this will ultimately make Queensland grain more internationally competitive. We are very pleased to continue our positive partnership with Aurizon.”
Aurizon Commercial and Marketing Executive Vice-President Paul Scurrah said Aurizon was pleased to continue its long?term relationship with a new performance?based agreement.
“Over many years Aurizon has worked closely with GrainCorp to develop a strong commercial relationship,” Scurrah said. “We recognize the need for a flexible agreement that allows both parties to scale up services in response to seasonal demand, and this was instrumental in both parties signing this contract.”
