13 November 2007 - Australia’s top construction firms today attended an industry update briefing on how to frame their tenders for the $1.6 billion Traveston Crossing Dam and $333 million Wyaralong Dam Projects. Queensland Water Infrastructure Pty Ltd (QWI), the company established by the Queensland Government to deliver several major water infrastructure projects including the Traveston Crossing Dam on the Mary River and the Wyaralong Dam on Teviot Brook in the Logan River catchment, held the briefing to inform industry about potential opportunities associated with the Projects. QWI CEO Graeme Newton said now that the Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) for both Projects had been released, it was vital businesses were able to start planning. More than 140 representatives from more than 70 companies, including construction giants Abigroup, ARUP, John Holland, Leighton Contractors, McMahon and Thiess attended the Brisbane briefing along with Japan’s Taisei Corp. An initial industry briefing was held in July this year. “Over the past 18 months QWI has consulted across the construction industry to inform decisions on how to package and procure QWI’s major projects should these projects gain environmental approval,” Mr Newton said. “Now the EISs have been released for both Projects, there is more information available for the market to consider. The update briefing expanded on the earlier briefing to provide information on the likely timing, packaging, delivery and procurement methods to be adopted for QWI’s major dam and road works should these Projects be approved. “It is essential that companies start planning now to ensure they are ready to take up any potential procurement opportunities.” Mr Newton said the Traveston Crossing Dam, near Gympie, and the Wyaralong Dam, outside Beaudesert, had sparked strong interest across the board. More than 540 smaller companies, primarily from the Sunshine Coast through to Wide Bay, had registered their interest in taking up potential opportunities associated with the Traveston Crossing Dam. The Project is expected to have a direct workforce of more than 500 and opportunities for at least 600 suppliers, more than 40 percent of them sourced locally. Over 250 suppliers, mainly from the local Beaudesert and Boonah region, had also registered for opportunities linked to the Logan Catchment Works, which includes the Wyaralong Dam, Cedar Grove Weir and Bromelton Offstream Storage. At least 400 suppliers are expected to be needed for the dam, with about 40 percent sourced locally. “The Projects wouldn’t just benefit the big end of town. In the Gympie and Beaudesert areas, suppliers in fields of bulk cement supply, earthmoving, metal fabrication, pumps and pipework through to stationery supply, accommodation and hardware would also be needed for the dams,” he said. |