METRONET is continuing to deliver opportunities for local businesses and local workers, with millions of dollars of significant contracts awarded across multiple projects.
Australian company InfraBuild, is currently manufacturing steel reinforcing cages for piling on the Thornlie-Cockburn Link and Yanchep Rail Extension at their new Forrestfield facility.
Close to 8,500 tonnes of steel will be used for steel reinforcement, with a further contract worth $11.8 million which has now been awarded by NEWest Alliance, builder of the Thornlie Cockburn Link and Yanchep Rail Extension, to InfraBuild.
About 70 people are currently employed at the Forrestfield facility. Works associated with METRONET have enabled InfraBuild to employ 13 additional staff since November 2020.
On top of the long-term jobs created by bringing railcar manufacturing back to Western Australia, a number of local suppliers have been awarded contracts in the project stage, supporting jobs during WA’s COVID-19 economic recovery including:
- Australian company McConnell, who will establish a dedicated facility in WA to manufacture railcar passenger seats ($15.3 million contract);
- Aerison, a WA company with fabrication facilities at Bentley and Henderson, to provide cab structures ($1.9 million contract) and battery boxes ($1.1 million contract);
- Knorr-Bremse, air-conditioning and air supply equipment ($18.7 million contract) and brake components ($27 million contract); and
- Pyrotech, will be supplying floor panels ($5.3 million contract) Austbreck, will be supplying pantographs ($2 million contract).
This is in addition to contracts already awarded on the project, including:
- Hofmann Engineering delivering bogie frames ($18 million contract)
- Four cranes supplied by Bassendean-based Eilbeck Cranes ($850,000 contract);
- Vossloh manufacturing rail switches for the Bellevue rail yard at their Kewdale facility ($12 million contract); and
- Vector Lifting, based in Cockburn delivering bogie turntables and lifting jacks ($3.8 million contract)
So far 27 trainees have been offered employment opportunities on civil construction projects, including METRONET, since completing the ‘Infrastructure Ready’ TAFE course introduced by the McGowan Government.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
“METRONET is the biggest ever investment in our public transport network – it will connect our suburbs and create thousands of local jobs.
“With nine METRONET projects now under construction, and several more in the procurement phase, we are making sure there are opportunities for local businesses, while we build the public transport infrastructure for tomorrow across Western Australia.
“Our new $46 million METRONET Bellevue Railcar Manufacturing Facility continues to progress rapidly, with Alstom to begin the final fit out in coming weeks.
“As our economy continues to emerge from COVID-19, it is more important than ever we continue to deliver local content on our major projects.”
As stated by Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
“Scores of railcar manufacturing jobs were lost when the then Liberal State Government closed the Midland Workshops in 1994, sending work to build our own railcars interstate and marking the beginning of a decline in manufacturing overall in WA.
“Through METRONET, we are not just bringing manufacturing and fabrication jobs back to WA. Our procurement strategy is also attracting east coast businesses to move work to WA.
“We are making sure our own workers have the skills needed to deliver this work by investing in training courses such as the Infrastructure Ready TAFE course.
“We’ve made a commitment to maximise the amount of local businesses who can to build both METRONET railcars and the other major projects taking place all across WA, and we’re delivering on that promise.”
