TRADESMEN WILL get the opportunity to work in Australia later this year when Galway-born, Sydney-based civil contractor Christy Kennedy’s firm, Hibernian Group, intends to fly up to 100 Irish men to work on a major gas project in Queensland.

Mr Kennedy’s firm says it will provide free accommodation for those they employ in Queensland.

Mr Kennedy (35), who emigrated to Australia from Caherlistrane, Co Galway, 15 years ago, has expanded his company from a three-man operation seven years ago to one currently employing 48.

His firm has secured a contract to construct gas pumping stations along the pipeline route from the interior of Queensland to the coast.

“The work in Queensland involves tapping into huge reserves of coal seam gas and the overall contract involves 800 workers. Our part of it will require up to 100 doing all the concrete and civil engineering work.

“In Queensland, and all over Australia, there is a big shortage of skilled trades people. My idea is to get workers out from Ireland,” Mr Kennedy said.

The jobs are in excavation, engineering, concrete and carpentry work. The workers the firm are seeking include roofing carpenters, form-workers, steel-fixers, excavator operators and engineers.

The gas, which is to be pumped to the coastal towns, forms underground on top of coal seams. It is in liquid form under the ground and it is highly pressurised.

But when it comes in contact with the atmosphere it becomes vaporised, and as it not viable to pump vapour to the port, it has to be repressurised.

This requires powerful compressors being installed at a number of major compressing plants along the gas route to the coast.

Those interested in the Australian jobs can send a CV to info@hiberniangroup.com