NEWS
SEQ CITY DEAL TO DELIVER $1.8 BILLION IN INFRASTRUCTURE Details of the South East Queensland (SEQ) City Deal have finally been agreed upon between the Federal and the Queensland Governments and the Council of Mayors SEQ making a joint commitment to deliver infrastructure that will transform the region. The commitment will fund a suite of 31 projects across the South East Queensland region. It encompasses 11 local governments represented by the Council of Mayors, populated by 3.8 million people and which collectively boast a GDP of $170 billion. The SEQ City Deal will be funded through $667.77 million from the Commonwealth, $618.78 million from the Queensland Government and $501.62 million from the Council of Mayors SEQ, representing the region’s council, plus $75 million from industry. Signed on March 21, the SEQ City Deal is more than just a financial commitment. It’s a statement of intent around priorities in the region over the next few decades. It strongly focuses on transport, jobs and liveability and also underpins the Federal Government’s financial commitment to the Olympic Games 2032. Importantly, the deal doesn’t just favour
The commitment will fund a suite of 31 projects across the South East Queensland region.
the big cities, with outlying centres such as Caboolture, Lockyer Valley and Toowoomba included. In the SEQ City Deal there is $500,000 dedicated to a regional waste management strategy and $105 million for resource recovery infrastructure. Within Brisbane, the biggest beneficiary will be Brisbane City Council’s Woolloongabba Metro station, which will link with Cross River Rail and be a vital connection during the Olympics, with $450 million allocated to the project. The nearby Gabba stadium has been proposed as
Brisbane’s main Olympic stadium. The SEQ Liveability Fund is another key beneficiary, with $285 million earmarked for the Fund to deliver projects of social and economic priority for the councils. Other key projects under the deal include $150 million for the SEQ Innovation Economy Fund to support capital projects that promote and grow the region’s innovation economy and $70 million for digital connectivity projects to support place-based telecommunications infrastructure and improved digital connectivity.
SHORTLISTED COMPANIES TO TENDER FOR M1 EXTENSION The Federal Government has announced a shortlist of companies invited to tender for construction of the M1 Pacific Motorway Extension to Raymond Terrace in New South Wales’ Hunter Region. The project aims to improve the connection between Newcastle and the New England Highway, M1 Motorway and the Pacific Highway, benefitting nearly 50,000 motorists who travel the route every day. The M1 Pacific Motorway Extension project is being built under two collaborative design and construction contracts. For the southern, 10-kilometre Black Hill to Tomago section, CPB Contractors, Acciona Infrastructure Australia, and the John Holland/ Gamuda (Australia) Branch Joint Venture have been selected to take part in the tender process.
For the northern, five-kilometre Heatherbrae Bypass section, Seymour Whyte Constructions and BMD Constructions have been selected to take part in the tender process. Both contracts are expected to be awarded by the end of 2022. Registrations of Interest are also being called from pre-qualified contractors to widen Hexham Straight as part of M1 extension. Transport for NSW will deliver the project through an alliance contract. Transport for NSW will develop a shortlist of tenderers through the Registrations of Interest, and work with these parties to consider proposals by industry. Successful contractors are expected to be announced later this year. The 15-kilometre M1 Pacific Motorway Extension includes a four-lane divided
motorway with two lanes in each direction and new interchanges at Black Hill, Tarro, Tomago and Raymond Terrace. It will improve the connection between Newcastle and the New England Highway, M1 Motorway and the Pacific Highway, enhancing safety and traffic flow for the 50,000 motorists who travel the route every day. The Federal Government has committed $1.68 billion towards the extension of the M1 Pacific Motorway to Raymond Terrace and the Hexham Straight Widening, following the announcement of additional funding ($80 million) in January this year. The New South Wales Government has committed the remaining $420 million to the $2.1 billion project. The project is expected to support around 2700 jobs during construction. roadsonline.com.au
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