Published Thursday, 28 February, 2008 at 05:48 PM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
Committee findings vindicate Tugun Bypass project management
The $543 million Tugun Bypass is necessary, cost-efficient and will have a positive impact on the Gold Coast community and economy, an all-party Parliamentary Public Works Committee inquiry has found.
In tabling a response to the inquiry report today in Parliament, Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said the findings showed the State Government had been right to build the 7km road linking Currumbin on the Gold Coast with Tweed Heads in northern New South Wales.
"Since committing to building the Tugun Bypass, Main Roads has been intent on delivering the project the right way – and these findings reflect that," Mr Pitt said.
"When we started construction of the bypass, the government was confident that we had selected the best route, engaged extensively with the local community, worked collaboratively with the appropriate approval bodies and put in place processes to minimise and mitigate environmental and social impacts.
"This confidence is vindicated by the fact the committee made just two recommendations in a 77-page report about a project of this scope and complexity.
"The report also shows Main Roads undertook a thorough tender selection process and chose the best alliance to deliver the project in an innovative, timely and cost-efficient manner.
"This will be further borne out when the delivery organisation, PacificLink Alliance, completes construction of the bypass in time for a mid-2008 opening – six months ahead of the original schedule and on budget."
In his response to the Clerk of Parliament, Mr Pitt said Main Roads would adopt both recommendations made by the committee, including exploring the broader use of alliance contracting.
"Alliance contracting has worked successfully for the Tugun Bypass and is also being employed to good effect on other Main Roads projects around the state," Mr Pitt said.
"Main Roads has previously declared it will use the alliance model where it is seen as capable of providing the best results.
"While Main Roads realises the alliance model will not suit all projects, it is keen to continue exploring future opportunities to use the model where appropriate.
Mr Pitt also welcomed a recommendation to include more detailed groundwater and soil test results within six-monthly construction compliance reports.
He said the Tugun Bypass had some of the strictest environmental controls of any project ever undertaken by Main Roads.
"The committee recommended more detailed reporting to counter what it called 'uninformed speculation'," Mr Pitt said.
"Main Roads has full confidence in the environmental measures PacificLink Alliance has in place and is happily meeting the requirements of this recommendation.
“In addition, the reports will continue to be available for general public viewing at the Alliance’s community information centre in Tugun.”
Mr Pitt said the committee findings, which were tabled last December, vindicated the Queensland Government's decision to shoulder the responsibility of building a road of national importance.
"Travel times between Currumbin and Tweed Heads are expected to be cut to five minutes as a result of the bypass, while an estimated $1.9 billion in time savings and vehicle operating costs will be made during the next 30 years," he said.
The Tugun Bypass is expected to carry between 35,000 and 40,000 vehicles a day when it opens mid year, with daily traffic set to rise to 60,000 vehicles by 2017.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819
In tabling a response to the inquiry report today in Parliament, Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said the findings showed the State Government had been right to build the 7km road linking Currumbin on the Gold Coast with Tweed Heads in northern New South Wales.
"Since committing to building the Tugun Bypass, Main Roads has been intent on delivering the project the right way – and these findings reflect that," Mr Pitt said.
"When we started construction of the bypass, the government was confident that we had selected the best route, engaged extensively with the local community, worked collaboratively with the appropriate approval bodies and put in place processes to minimise and mitigate environmental and social impacts.
"This confidence is vindicated by the fact the committee made just two recommendations in a 77-page report about a project of this scope and complexity.
"The report also shows Main Roads undertook a thorough tender selection process and chose the best alliance to deliver the project in an innovative, timely and cost-efficient manner.
"This will be further borne out when the delivery organisation, PacificLink Alliance, completes construction of the bypass in time for a mid-2008 opening – six months ahead of the original schedule and on budget."
In his response to the Clerk of Parliament, Mr Pitt said Main Roads would adopt both recommendations made by the committee, including exploring the broader use of alliance contracting.
"Alliance contracting has worked successfully for the Tugun Bypass and is also being employed to good effect on other Main Roads projects around the state," Mr Pitt said.
"Main Roads has previously declared it will use the alliance model where it is seen as capable of providing the best results.
"While Main Roads realises the alliance model will not suit all projects, it is keen to continue exploring future opportunities to use the model where appropriate.
Mr Pitt also welcomed a recommendation to include more detailed groundwater and soil test results within six-monthly construction compliance reports.
He said the Tugun Bypass had some of the strictest environmental controls of any project ever undertaken by Main Roads.
"The committee recommended more detailed reporting to counter what it called 'uninformed speculation'," Mr Pitt said.
"Main Roads has full confidence in the environmental measures PacificLink Alliance has in place and is happily meeting the requirements of this recommendation.
“In addition, the reports will continue to be available for general public viewing at the Alliance’s community information centre in Tugun.”
Mr Pitt said the committee findings, which were tabled last December, vindicated the Queensland Government's decision to shoulder the responsibility of building a road of national importance.
"Travel times between Currumbin and Tweed Heads are expected to be cut to five minutes as a result of the bypass, while an estimated $1.9 billion in time savings and vehicle operating costs will be made during the next 30 years," he said.
The Tugun Bypass is expected to carry between 35,000 and 40,000 vehicles a day when it opens mid year, with daily traffic set to rise to 60,000 vehicles by 2017.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819