The Queensland  Government is about to tender for a broad range of road-repair projects in Far North Queensland, including major contracts worth around $80 million to be tendered in the next three weeks.

 

Local councils will also be awarded nine work packages, ranging in value from $900,000 to $6.9 million.

 

In all there is an estimated $400 million worth of flood-damage reconstruction work to be done in Far North Queensland over the next 2 to 3 years.

 

Infrastructure Minister, Craig Wallace said there will be more than enough work for companies in Far North Queensland.

 

“We can’t do this without local companies and workers – local workers will play a major part in rebuilding Queensland,” he said.

 

Mr Wallace said local Cairns road-building companies were already doing around $17 million worth of work on behalf of Transport and Main Roads.

 

These companies include, CEC, FGF, NQCEC and LDI Constructions and they employ local subcontractors and source workers and materials locally.

 

Also on March 15 in Cairns, Transport and Main Roads held a road show attended by 200 people to advise them on upcoming road-repair work and how they could apply for it.

 

The department told the meeting it would focus on providing work to local councils, local companies and the department’s RoadTek workforce. Even with all these groups fully occupied, other road and civil constructing organisations will be needed to complete the task.

 

Details of the new upcoming work are:

  • There are a number of smaller road works packages between $1m and $7.5m to be tendered shortly.
  • Local councils in the department’s FNQ region are soon to be awarded nine packages ranging in value from $900,000 to $6.9m.
  • In the next three weeks, Transport and Main Roads will tender multiple major contracts valued at around $80m.

 

The contracts have a local industry policy which requires that:

  • In so far as it is economically and technically reasonable and practicable to do so, the Contractor shall give, and shall ensure that its subcontractors give, local subcontractors, vendors and suppliers a full, fair and reasonable opportunity to supply labour, services, materials, plant, machinery, equipment and other items for the works.
  • Not later than 28 days after the Date of Contract, the Contractor must prepare and submit a local industry participation plan to the Principal's Representative for approval. The plan must detail the actions to be taken and the reporting to be provided by the Contractor to fulfil the Principal's commitment to provide full, fair and reasonable opportunity for Queensland and Australian industry to participate in the provision of goods, equipment, services and technology to the Works.
  • The Contractor must implement and comply with, and must ensure that all subcontractors implement and comply with, the Contractor's approved local industry participation plan and provide reporting to the Principal as required by the plan.

 

Under changes passed by the Queensland Parliament this week, Queensland Government agencies must register Local Industry Participation Policy Plans for all eligible projects.