Page 54 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 9 February 2016
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The projects that the consortium members have participated in previously include the construction of Sydney’s inner west light rail extension, Adelaide’s coast-to-coast light rail project and Melbourne’s regional rail link project. The rolling stock provider, CAF, has successfully delivered light rail vehicles across the globe, including in Germany, Brazil, the US, France, the UK, Australia, Hungary, Serbia, Sweden and Taiwan. For the first time we see the entry into the Australian market of the German rail operations provider, Deutsche Bahn, who are bringing more than 175 years experience in transport modelling, integration and world-class excellence in light rail operations.
This is a great outcome for our city. It follows a very rigorous assessment process. The two short-listed consortia submitted their proposals for stage 1, Gungahlin to the city, on 4 September last year. Since then the Capital Metro Agency’s technical, operational and legal and financial specialist staff and advisers have reviewed two very substantial and high-quality proposals. The evaluation process has involved input from across government and the result is that an experienced consortium will deliver one of the biggest infrastructure projects our city has ever seen.
Once contract negotiations have been finalised, which is expected to be by June this year, construction will commence. Canberra Metro has indicated that the first stage, Gungahlin to the city, will be completed in late 2018, sooner than expected, with operations to commence in early 2019. The partnership with Canberra Metro will allow the government to draw upon significant expertise and technical infrastructure knowledge from a world-class consortium and it will support Canberra’s trade, investment and local business opportunities.
This is a really important outcome for our city. After years of debate, after years of umming and ahhing and after it being on and off the political agenda, this government is getting on with an important piece of infrastructure, infrastructure that will lay the foundation for future high-quality public transport services in our city and which will deliver jobs, investment and urban renewal for the Canberra of the 21st century. (Time expired.)
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Ms Burch.
MS BURCH: Can the minister let us know the capital cost for the first stage and is it affordable?
MR CORBELL: I thank Ms Burch for her supplementary. Subject to final negotiations, we anticipate that the capital expenditure cost for the project is $698 million subject to a five per cent variance. This is cheaper than the government anticipated in its business case released last year. When we released the business case last year, those opposite said, “This is a ridiculous cost assumption. It is far too low. You won’t be able to deliver light rail for under $1 billion.” They have been proven wrong, Madam Speaker. Wrong, Madam Speaker!
Opposition members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Order, members!
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