Another major milestone has been marked on the Western Sydney Airport project, with companies now being invited to bid for the first major earthworks contract for the massive $5.3 billion project.
According to WSA Co Chief Executive Graham Millett, an extensive market study resulted to the major earthworks and airside civil works being split into three packages - airside earthworks, pavement and runway construction packages.
“We’ve been delighted by the market interest in the project and the eagerness to be part of this history-making project. By splitting the major earthworks into three contracts we’re able to broaden the number of eligible tendering parties and drive greater value for the community.
“We anticipate the award of the contract to be completed mid-2019 and we expect to see major earthworks commencing by late 2019, while the recently awarded early earthworks package is scheduled to commence in coming weeks,” Mr Millett said.
The Western Sydney Airport is projected to be almost double the size of the Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport, which means sizable amount of works required to transform the 1,780-hectare site at Badgerys Creek.
With a difference equivalent to a 12-storey building from the lowest to the highest point of the site, approximately 22 million cubic metres of soil is required to be removed to level and make the it flat.
Interested parties are encouraged to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to tenders@wsaco.com.au or check out their business opportunities and procurement web page for more information.
Last month, request for tenders to build the Western Sydney Airport visitor centre was released. The visitor centre - set to open in mid-2019 - is expected to provide a ‘first-class ticket’ to see the development of the new airport as well as become an important facility that will attract global and Australian businesses to locate in western Sydney to take advantage of the upcoming opportunities the new airport will deliver to the region.
Western Sydney Airport is expected to support up to 11,000 direct and indirect jobs throughout construction and a further 27,000 once it is operational. WSA Co is targeting local employment of approximately 30 per cent during construction and 50 per cent for operations, ensuring that Western Sydney residents receive jobs from the project.
Western Sydney Airport is projected to open in 2026, running international and domestic passenger and freight services as well as generating up to 28,000 jobs across the region during its first five years in operation.
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Source: WSA Co; Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities