Gateway Infrastructure Contract and Finance Approved

Moree Plains Shire Council has awarded the construction contract for the Moree Gateway infrastructure, which includes roads and services, to Robson Civil Projects and has determined that funding for the project will be financed through the Commonwealth Bank.

>These decisions were made unanimously at an extraordinary meeting of Council on 21 November 2013.

Robson Civil had previously been announced as the preferred contractor for the Gateway infrastructure works.

Moree Plains Shire Council General Manager David Aber said that Robson had the expertise, and the technical and resource strength to deliver the outcomes required.

>“Robson has been operating in the construction industry for more than 50 years and they have an excellent track record in delivering infrastructure works of a similar scale and complexity,” he said.

span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">Mr Aber said that while Robson Civil Projects will be the major contractor, subcontracting work will flow through to local contractors.

>“There will be plenty of work for locals; that’s what the Gateway Project is all about,” he said.

Commenting on the decision to work with the Commonwealth Bank, Mr Aber said that the Commonwealth had performed strongly on the basis of a competitive expression of interest process.

The interest rates offered by the Commonwealth are highly competitive, which means that the Gateway Project will have no financial impact on the general public,” he said.

Rates will not need to be increased in order to fund the Gateway.”

The recent announcement that the second stage of the Moree Bypass is to go ahead and news that works could commence as early as May 2014 gives added impetus to the Gateway Project.

Located as it is on the Newell Highway at the southern entrance to Moree, the Gateway is uniquely placed to benefit from the Bypass completion,” Mr Aber said.

A number of businesses who have expressed strong interest in the Gateway have just been waiting for this announcement before making a final commitment; the timing is exceptional.”

Moree Plains Shire Council has embarked on the Gateway project in order to deliver a number of benefits to Moree and the Shire, with the key benefits being stimulation of economic activity and creation of short- and long-term employment.

The Gateway, which will be an iconic new entry point into Moree and the Shire, is also intended to open up strategic commercial and light industrial land – which is otherwise in short supply – and deliver additional complimentary services to Moree by redirecting travel and expenditure into the town centre.

Work on the Gateway infrastructure works will now commence early in the New Year; the first developments sponsored by private developers will soon follow.