The McGowan Government's record number of infrastructure projects will play a major role in kick-starting the State's post-pandemic economic recovery, as more local companies win work on major projects.
Premier Mark McGowan and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti today toured Eilbeck Cranes, a local Bassendean company currently designing and fabricating four overhead gantry cranes that will be used in the METRONET Bellevue railcar manufacturing facility.
Two of the cranes, weighing 25 tonnes each, will span the main railcar assembly area over 26 metres and be used for lifting railcar bodies around the production line.
Work on the railcar facility and six other major METRONET projects, will go a long way in supporting and creating new WA jobs as we recover from COVID-19.
Work on the Railcar manufacturing facility alone has delivered $64 million worth of construction work for local companies, including:
- FIRM Construction, in Perth - $46 million to build the facility;
- Eilbeck Cranes, in Bassendean - $850,000 to fabricate and supply four cranes;
- Vector Lifting, in Cockburn - $3.8 million to deliver bogie turntables and lifting jacks; and
- Vossloh, in Kewdale - $12 million to design and manufacture turnouts.
Another major infrastructure project took a significant step forward today, with the Tonkin Gap Alliance - comprised of several local companies - today named as the preferred proponent to deliver the Tonkin Gap project.
This major road project will create 3,000 WA jobs and will also deliver important enabling works for the METRONET Morley-Ellenbrook Line along a key section of Tonkin Highway.
The McGowan Government's Local Capability Fund is continuing to support local businesses to tender for work on major government contracts.
Five local South-West businesses, Common Ground Trails, Country Landscaping, CD Drilling, Jetline Corporation and South Side Contracting, have recently received grants of up to $20,000 to support them to tender for work on the $852 million Bunbury Outer Ring Road project.
The McGowan Government has also recently approved new measures to streamline the process for the awarding of contracts for transport construction projects up to a value of $20 million, creating more opportunities for local businesses and protecting local jobs.
More than $140 million of transport projects expedited under the panel, saving jobs and protecting the future contracting capacity of local WA businesses, with more than 1,000 local jobs across the 24 projects will be brought forward.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
"It's never been more important to build local and buy local.
"Our economic recovery post-COVID will include a number of elements, with our major infrastructure projects featuring heavily.
"We have a record number of projects in the pipeline, and we want to see local construction companies leading the way in tendering and delivering these works.
"Western Australians are capable of anything and I'm proud to see our local businesses delivering this work and continuing to employ West Australians."
As stated by Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
"We are working hard to fast-track major infrastructure projects across Western Australia to help create local jobs and support local businesses.
"The Tonkin Gap Project is a great example of this, providing work for local companies and creating 3,000 jobs - we expect to have workers onsite in a matter of months.
"Our METRONET projects will play an important part in the post-pandemic economic recovery effort which is why it's important we provide support and opportunities for Western Australian businesses."
