A major redevelopment of KiwiRail’s Hillside Workshops will begin this year, following significant investment from the Government, KiwiRail Group Chief Executive Greg Miller says.
In last week’s Budget the Government announced $85 million to build a new wagon assembly facility, following a near $20 million allocated previously through the Provincial Growth Fund to re-make the adjacent mechanical workshop at Hillside.
“These Government investments, together with funding from KiwiRail, will see Hillside revitalised over the next few years – creating jobs, new skills, and guaranteeing the future of the historic Dunedin site,” Mr Miller says.
“The investment is supporting the local economy with 250 construction jobs needed for the rebuild. Wagon assembly itself means KiwiRail will take on 45 staff for new roles in producing wagons, instead of importing them fully assembled.
“KiwiRail is also committed to ensuring at least 10 per cent of our new intake to our workforce are apprentices or trainees. Bringing them together in our new facilities at Hillside will create a strong culture of learning and wider opportunities for development.
“Having mechanical and wagon assembly together also creates synergies by being able to share some infrastructure and to grow skills. Once we’re producing wagons here, it will be a strength to the company to have the very people who assembled them, still here to service and maintain them.
“This investment will truly modernise Hillside. It won’t be a 19th Century rail plant any longer – it will be a 21st Century one with new equipment, layout and improved work processes that will make Hillside a safer, more efficient and hospitable work environment for our people.”
The redevelopment of Hillside includes: