Construction, tunnelling and rail experts compete for $580million works on Perth-to-Mandurah section of New MetroRail project

15/5/03
Local, national and international experts are vying for $580million worth of construction and tunnelling works along the Perth-to-Mandurah railway.
Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan today said 11 contenders were competing for three separate packages of works.

• Package A for $280million worth of rail infrastructure and associated works from the Narrows Bridge to Mandurah;

• Package E, $100million design and construction of the structural and bridge works for the railway from Narrows Bridge to Glen Iris; and

• Package F, $200million worth of construction of the city part of the project.

"The Government is extremely pleased at the calibre of bidders and is confident that the successful consortia will demonstrate quality on-time performance," Ms MacTiernan said.
"At 40 per cent of the $1.4billion New MetroRail budget, the three packages of works represent a tangible milestone in delivering a fast, direct rail service to communities in the south-west corridor.
"It shows we are on target to ensure that services are operational from William Street in the city through to Rockingham and Waikiki by the end of 2006 and to Mandurah late in 2007.
"This project will not only deliver a world-class public transport system, but will also stimulate 6,000 direct and indirect jobs and inject $700million into the State's economy."
Construction works for the three packages are due to start early next year.
Package A
The four consortia who have pre-qualified to tender for Package A (Narrows Bridge to Mandurah) are:

• ConnectWest, consisting of Queensland Rail and BGC Contracting Pty Ltd;
• Leighton Downer MVM - Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd, Works Infrastructure Pty Ltd and MVM Rail Pty Ltd;
• Rail Link JV - John Holland Pty Ltd, MacMahon Contractors Pty Ltd and Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd; and
• Thiess Barclay Mowlem - Thiess Pty Ltd and Barclay Mowlem Construction Ltd.

Package A works include civil works, drainage and trackworks and overhead traction wiring system - Mandurah to Narrows Bridge; bulk earthworks to stations at Thomsons Lake, Thomas Road, Leda, Rockingham, Waikiki and Mandurah.
The request for tender period for Package A will commence today (May 15) and will close on September 4. The contract will be awarded in January next year.
Package E
In Package E, two consortia - Thiess Barclay Mowlem Joint Venture and Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - are submitting detailed proposals for work to alter the Kwinana Freeway to accommodate the new railway.
The package will be managed by Main Roads with works to include:

• strengthening the existing Narrows Bridge and constructing a new southbound rail bridge; realigning carriageways and building railway formation;

• widening and strengthening Mount Henry Bridge; and

• constructing railway station earthworks at Leach Highway and South Street and

• realigning and reconstructing the ramps and intersections at Leach Highway and South Street.

The Package E contract will be awarded in November this year.
Package F
Ms MacTiernan said five consortia had submitted expressions of interest for the construction of the city part (Package F) of the Perth-to-Mandurah project from the Narrows to Perth Central Station.
"This visionary project will not only deliver a first-class public transport system to the people of Perth, particularly those living in Rockingham and Mandurah, but will also provide a unique opportunity to enliven the whole city," she said.
"It is not just about building a railway - it is about transforming the city area so that all parts are accessible, attractive, vibrant and well-utilised."
The five consortia are:

• City Connect (Clough-McConnell Dowell-Obayashi JV) - McConnell Dowell is a large multinational with extensive project experience, including underground works; Obayashi is a major Japanese underground construction specialist with extensive tunnelling experience, especially in Asia;

• Bilfinger Berger-Baulderstone Hornibrook - Bilfinger is Baulderstone's German parent company, a major company with extensive tunnelling experience worldwide;

• Leighton-Kumagai Gumi Team - Kumagai Gumi is another major Japanese underground construction specialist with extensive Asian tunnelling experience;

• Multiplex-John Holland-Tyco Group - John Holland includes John Holland Underground, which has incorporated Transfield tunnelling. Tyco is a large international electrical and mechanical engineering specialist; and

• Henry Walker Eltin-Bouygues JV - Bouygues is a major French construction company with extensive tunnelling experience in Europe and Asia.

The works include 600m of cut-and-cover and 700m of twin bored tunnel structures, underground stations at the Esplanade and William Street, drainage, service relocations, roadworks, pedestrian/cycle links, railway track and overheads, landscaping and associated urban improvement works.
Expressions of interest for the city package closed last month. A short-listing process is under way, with the successful consortium to be chosen later this year.
"The five consortia are supported by a wealth of subcontractors and consultants, representing a huge range of national and international expertise, especially in underground design and construction," Ms MacTiernan said.
"I am confident that a rigorous selection process will result in an excellent outcome for our project."
Minister's office: 9213 6400