Premier announces Regional Rail Link contractors

TRANSCRIPT:

I have got to say the Regional Rail Project is one that we have always supported.

When we came to government we looked at it further with a view to supporting it.

The scope has changed a little – we have had to add to the scope and I think that has been an important step.

And we are very pleased the progress is underway.

The first package is already out there and that work is being done.

And today there are three new packages being announced

They are significant packages – more than $1.5 billion in total and as Brendan said some 32 kilometres plus new track, new stations, upgrades to stations and other works as well including some level-crossing upgrades and a number of road bridges.

The packages are being awarded to a number of contract. The first one from Footscray to Deer Park – more than $800 million package – and that is going to Thiess, Balfour Beatty, Parsons Brinckerhoff and SKM and a combination of Metro, V/Line and the Regional Rail Authority itself.

And the Deer Park to West Werribee Junction package is going to Baulderstone and Leighton.

And the third package – the train control systems – is going to UGL, Manidis Roberts, Metro, V/Line and the Regional Rail Authority itself.

All strong bids in a very competitive process and the government was at pains to break this project up so we could maximise competition, maximise the involvement of the industry.

We are pleased with the outcomes and we do look forward to this project delivering in the years ahead.

The Regional Rail Project is set to separate regional rail from Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo from the metro system, and in the process free up the metro system – particularly around North Melbourne, around Footscray and through Southern Cross.

That is going to be to the mutual advantage of all of those commuting in and out of the city and I believe it is going to be a very significant benefit to the rail system, it is going to be a great benefit to regional passengers.

It will be a great benefit to the west and I look forward to it providing not only jobs through the work program itself, but it will be a great benefit to Victoria's economy because this is key essential infrastructure.

We are very grateful to be working in partnership with the Commonwealth – the partnership has been a productive one.

There is nothing like the start of a construction project to get the juices flowing and what we are doing today is marking up more territory in probably the most important construction project, in terms of infrastructure, throughout Australia at the moment.

Thank you very much.

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