The Surat Basin Rail Joint Venture is endeavouring to commence construction in 2012, pending commercial agreements with foundation customers. Construction will take approximately two and a half years and depend on the weather.
Its construction and operation will support significant employment opportunities, skills development and localised population growth; increasing the demand for housing and infrastructure in the region, while boosting Queensland’s economy.
Scope of work
The project will involve:
- 214 kilometres of single track with up to 7 passing loops
- 48 major road and rail bridges including a 415 metre long, 50 metre high bridge crossing Downfall Creek
- associated landowner accommodation works
- numerous large and small culverts
- a signalling and telecommunications system to support rail operations
- associated roadworks
- landowner accommodation works
- public and private railway crossings and declared Stock Route crossings.
Getting a contractor on board
Construction will be managed through a Design and Construct (D&C) Contract. The Surat Basin Rail Joint Venture has selected the competitive early contractor involvement (ECI) procurement process which aims to gain innovative solutions upfront, where the most savings can be made, and will provide greater certainty on price and risk outcomes for the project.
Two world-class consortiums were shortlisted in November 2011 to participate in the ECI process:
- Abigroup & Lang O’Rourke Joint Venture (Access Surat)
- Thiess-John Holland Joint Venture.
An Independent Verifier will be appointed prior to the execution of the D&C contract to audit, review and ensure
compliance with the standards.
