Industry briefing underway for recovery works

Road and transport infrastructure costing $1.1 billion will form a pipeline of flood recovery work released to market over the next five months.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said more than 80 representatives from the construction and contracting industry were briefed yesterday about upcoming road and transport infrastructure works.

“I’ve made it clear to industry that we want innovation to deliver more resilient infrastructure as we begin the repair process,” Mr Emerson said.

“We’ve already let five repair contracts within three weeks of the floodwaters receding and within the next five months there is about $1.1 billion of works to be released to the market.

“Assessments are also underway on a further $1.5 billion of infrastructure, but I want all contracts for works from the events of early 2013 to market by the end of this year.”

Further industry briefings will be held throughout Queensland in the coming months as the repair task begins.

The letting of contracts will support the work of Main Roads, including the rebuilding of two major bridges – Neerkol Creek Bridge west of Rockhampton and the Don Tallon Bridge in Bundaberg.

“The Newman Government is working hard get Queensland back on track after the recent devastation,” Mr Emerson said.

“Communities want their repair works underway faster and they want their infrastructure more resilient, and this is what we are preparing to deliver.”

[ENDS] 13 February 2013

Media contact: Andrew Berkman 0429 128 637