Sparks fly over Rockhampton Ring Road steel supplies

The State Government says it is committed to maximising opportunities for local suppliers on the $1.065 billion Rockhampton Ring Road project after an LNP challenge over sourcing steel. Nationals Senator Matthew Canavan and Federal MPs Michelle Landry and Colin Boyce called for Australian made-steel to be used for the project to support Australian manufacturing. “With high energy prices and global insecurity now is the time to start ensuring that the government can do what they can to keep critical manufacturing here in Australia," Senator Canavan said. “This can easily be achieved by putting Australian manufacturing first in government projects, and what better place to start than as part of one of the major projects in Central Queensland?" As Opposition spokesperson for manufacturing, Ms Landry said she believed it was important that Australian steel was used as much as possible in local construction projects, especially when government funding helped bring them to fruition. State Member for Rockhampton Barry O'Rourke said the Palaszczuk Government’s record spoke for itself when it came to backing local suppliers during construction. Senator Matthew Canavan and Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry. “On the Cross River Rail project and the broader Queensland Rail network, the rail steel is sourced from Australian steel makers in South Australia," he said. “To call for the State Government to back local manufacturing and local steel when we already do that just shows the hypocrisy of the Queensland LNP." Mr O'Rourke said the Rockhampton Ring Road project was in the construction tendering phase - a commercial-in-confidence process. Two contractors were shortlisted earlier this year to progress through the development phase of the Collaborative Project Agreement, tendering for the construction of the Rockhampton Ring Road project. The two shortlisted contractors are the Acciona/Fulton Hogan Joint Venture and the Bielby/BMD Joint Venture. Mr O'Rourke said construction tendering for Rockhampton Ring Road would be in line with the Queensland Procurement Policy 2017. All submitted offers will be subject to the local benefits test as part of the evaluation criteria. To facilitate the engagement of local suppliers, TMR partnered with the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning to establish an Industry Capability Network (ICN) platform for suppliers and sub-contractors to express interest in working on the project. (Visit HERE)

Sparks fly over Rockhampton Ring Road steel supplies

Industry Queensland

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