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Contracts & Tenders

Parramatta Light Rail contracts to be announced within weeks

Contracts to build and operate the long promised light rail in Parramatta will soon be awarded, with the NSW state government saying they don’t want to repeat the mistakes seen with the CBD project, according to a report on Ten Daily.

The state government insists it has learnt its lessons, following the over-time and over-budget nightmare in the city construction, although small businesses are still worried about the impact of the development.

“We’ve structured this one a little bit differently in so far as there will be multiple contracts and of course the government will deal directly with utility companies in this instance,” transport minister Andrew Constance told Ten Daily.

Early works on the project are already underway at the stabling yards to decontaminate the site.

While construction on stage one connecting Westmead to Carlingford will start next year, businesses have been promised that work along Church Street won’t start until 2020. This will give businesses enough time to prepare for construction, but also gives the government time to work with these businesses properly.

The winning contractors to build and operate Stage 1 of the project is expected to be announced in the next fortnight. It comes as the government remains confident that its current legal dispute with the builder of the CBD light rail, will not be repeated in Parramatta.

According to member for Parramatta Geoff Lee, who also spoke to Ten Daily, the government was managing the project very differently this time around.

“I can guarantee people this project’s going to run on time and to budget, because the last thing this government needs is another bungled light rail project,” Lee concluded.

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