News & Project Updates

Avopiling at Clontarf, is just one of a growing number of Queensland businesses benefitting from the delivery of the Cross River Rail project, having been awarded two subcontracts worth close to $6 million.

Major infrastructure projects are crucial to Queensland’s economic recovery and the Clontarf business is a great example of the role the Cross River Rail project is playing in supporting Queensland businesses.

This Project is already supporting more than 2,000 jobs. At the height of construction, that number will be more like 3,000.

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 is one of hundreds of local businesses who have already benefitted with contracts on the Project, and more than 90 per cent of these contracts have gone to Queensland-based companies.

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.

Their crews have already completed work at the Cross River Rail Woolloongabba site where more than 300 piles have been driven into the earth to support a brand new underground station. At Albert Street, they are at work with almost 100 piles already used.

Another benefit of the Cross River Rail project is the opportunity it is providing to trainees, apprentices and graduates like young female Graduate Engineer Thenuja Srikanthan, to get their start working on the biggest infrastructure project in the State.

Thenuja is following in her father’s footsteps to work in construction and is working on the Cross River Rail Albert Street site while she completes her Geotechnical Engineering degree through University of Queensland.

Ms Srikanthan said the experience working on this megaproject 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.

When asked if she had advice for women interested in working construction on projects like Cross River Rail, Thenuja said they should definitely ‘go for it’.

“It gives you confidence and an ability to handle tough situations. Don’t let people talk you out of it.”

“I’ve had the opportunity get practical on the job experience and learn a lot while working at Cross River Rail’s Woolloongabba and Albert sites.”