Statement: It’s kick off for the North Queensland Stadium

[ozbob]

Media Statements
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk

Minister for State Development and Minister for Natural Resources and Mines
The Honourable Anthony Lynham

Minister for Disability Services, Minister for Seniors and Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland
The Honourable Coralee O'Rourke

Sunday, August 28, 2016

It's kick off for the North Queensland Stadium

Expressions of interest (EOI) will be called tomorrow for principal consultants to put forward design teams to kick off work on the $250 million North Queensland Stadium.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Minister for State Development Dr Anthony Lynham said the project's first tender marked an important milestone for the project.

"I want to pay tribute to the people of Townsville and north Queensland for working with my Government to push this project forward," the Premier said.

"In addition to the $140 million my Government confirmed in the State Budget in June, together we were able to convince the Turnbull Government to match Federal Labor's commitment of $100 million during the election campaign."

"The North Queensland Stadium will create hundreds of jobs in the construction phase alone and provide a vital boost to the local economy and community."

Dr Lynham said as well as the first tender, local contractors would also be able to register their interest online from Monday to work on the project.

"The whistle's blown and we're underway on the biggest job-creating project in North Queensland in decades," he said.

"This project will create 750 construction jobs and the over-riding theme is local – local jobs, local businesses, local alliances.

"From the initial EOIs we'll select a shortlist of consortia to submit a concept design for the new stadium as part of a design tender.

"We want consortia that use local businesses, form local alliances and identify opportunities for local industry innovation.

"That means opportunity for local consultants to team up with leading sports designers to be part of this exciting project ---- and a concept design for the people of North Queensland before Christmas."

Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland and stadium champion Coralee O'Rourke welcomed the call for tenders, which follows key discussion in Townsville last week on the Federal Government's City Deal.

"The Townsville Stadium is an absolute game changer for the entire North Queensland region and for the past 18 months, we have been working incredibly hard to make it a reality," Mrs O'Rourke said.

"I know Townsville needs jobs and as part of our tender process, bidders will need to detail opportunities for local industry and business, to keep jobs local and help bring confidence back to our region.

"This crucial piece of infrastructure is a priority in my Advancing North Queensland strategy to grow and diversify the northern economy, and I am pleased we are now one step closer.

"This will mean important work for North Queensland's building and construction industry, but in the longer term it's also about diversifying our economy.

"In the future, footy fans will come to a North Queensland Cowboys game and stay for a holiday and the North will be able to attract a variety of events that will attract new visitors and investment to the region."

Member for Townsville Scott Stewart urged local suppliers to get online now and register their interest in being part of the project.

"Townsville needs these jobs and local businesses need these opportunities to supply their products and services," he said.

"My message to local contractors is to be the early bird and register now to be part of a very exciting time for Townsville.

"I'd also encourage people to get along to the Department of State Development's next quarterly industry breakfast on September 6 to find out more."

The EOI opens Monday, 29 August at hpw.qld.gov.au/qtenders/ and is open until 19 September. Following an assessment of the EOIs, tenders will be invited from shortlisted consortia, with the consultancy design consortia and concept design confirmed by the end of the year.

The project is on schedule for construction early works to start on site in mid- 2017 and the project will be completed in time for the 2020 NRL season.

[ozbob]

[#Metro]

"The North Queensland Stadium will create hundreds of jobs in the construction phase alone and provide a vital boost to the local economy and community."

Even more jobs would be created if all machinery were banned from the worksite, and shovels were banned too.

If the BCR is negative, then on net the project is destroying value in society.

[ozbob]

The State of ' capricorn dancer ' must be sustained ... 

[ozbob]

Tenders open today for principal contractors and design teams for #NQStadium #Jobs4NQ - https://t.co/k5YodG5VY1 pic.twitter.com/RnU8sY9KZ1

— Dr Anthony Lynham (@DrAnthonyLynham) August 29, 2016

[ozbob]

JOINT STATEMENT
Minister for State Development and Minister for Natural Resources and Mines
The Honourable Anthony Lynham

Minister for Disability Services, Minister for Seniors and Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland
The Honourable Coralee O'Rourke

Businesses flock to work on NQ stadium

Dozens of businesses have already put their hands up to be part of the $250 million North Queensland Stadium project now that the first tender has opened.

Minister for State Development Dr Anthony Lynham told Parliament today that more than 200 businesses had sought information online about working on the project and the design tender.

"As of 9am today, 212 suppliers and companies have sought out information online about working on the North Queensland Stadium project," Dr Lynham said.

"Of those, 54 companies have lodged 97 expressions of interest on the work packages for the stadium and 158 suppliers have the downloaded the expression of interest documentation."

Dr Lynham announced the first tender in Townsville at the weekend, as well as opportunity for local contractors to register online their interest in future work.

Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland Coralee O'Rourke said opening of EOI submissions for the project was great for local businesses in Townsville and the surrounding regions.

"This is a project that is all about local opportunities here in North Queensland," Mrs O'Rourke said.

"The stadium project will create 750 construction jobs and tender assessments will emphasise opportunity for local businesses and local alliances.

"This project is so important for our region and that's why it is included as one of my priority areas for Advancing North Queensland."

Member for Townsville Scott Stewart, who asked the Minister a question on the project during Question Time today, said he was encouraged to see the response from businesses.

"We want to keep jobs local, and help bring the confidence that was lost under the LNP back to the city and the region," Mr Stewart said.

Member for Thuringowa Aaron Harper said this project was the jump start the North Queensland economy needs.

"The North Queensland Stadium project will deliver a world-class facility for the city, and be a welcome new home for the North Queensland Cowboys." he said.

"The stadium will be completed in time for the 2020 rugby league season, and will provide opportunity for local jobs for years to come."

From the initial EOIs the government will select a shortlist of consortia to submit a concept design for the new stadium as part of a design tender.

Dr Lynham encouraged locals to attend the Department of State Development's next quarterly industry breakfast on September 6 where departmental executives will outline tendering timelines and type of work that will be on offer.

Registrations for the next Townsville quarterly industry breakfast are now open at http://townsvilletickets.com.au/event/townsville-industry-breakfast-6-september-2016-3279

The EOI is open at hpw.qld.gov.au/qtenders/ until 19 September. Following an assessment of the EOIs, tenders will be invited from shortlisted consortia, with the consultancy design consortia and concept design confirmed by the end of the year.

The project is on schedule for construction early works to start on site in mid- 2017 and the project will be completed in time for the 2020 NRL season.

ENDS                         30 August, 2016

[Stillwater]

It is interesting to note that when your back is to the wall and you need to win over influence in North Queensland, where some of your biggest parliamentary troublemakers are located -- and demand evidence that a Brisbane-centric Labor Government loves them, heaven and earth are moved as quick as you like to build a stadium that most probably will be known as the Thurston Stadium (or the Wheetbix Stadium, depending on whether a sponsor with deep pockets comes on board).  If the government wanted to be seen to be doing something, without actually doing something, that Townsville Stadium would be subject to numerous business case reviews, just like the SCL duplication.  Business case?  What's that when you are on a wafer thin margin.  Perhaps it is time for Peter Wellington to start throwing his weight around on behalf of his electorate of Nicklin (based on Nambour).

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast is probably the most neglected populated region in Queensland I reckon.

At the whim of politics constantly.  It is not working out well at all.