Media release
22 March 2022
Construction contractors shortlisted for the Fitzroy to Gladstone Pipeline
Gladstone Area Water Board (GAWB) has announced two shortlisted parties who will participate in an Early Contractor Involvement process to identify a preferred contractor to construct the Fitzroy to Gladstone Pipeline.
McConnell Dowell and CPB Contractors have successfully been shortlisted following a competitive procurement process, which was facilitated by GAWB as the Delivery Management Proponent for pre-construction activities.
GAWB Chief Executive Officer Darren Barlow said there had been strong market interest in the project, allowing there to be confidence in the procurement process and outcome.
“We weren’t surprised to see the volume of responses from the construction industry, as the Fitzroy to Gladstone Pipeline is a pivotal water project for the region and one which many people want to be a part of,” Mr Barlow said.
“The range of submissions allowed us to undertake a very competitive procurement process meaning we’re confident we have selected the two parties who are best positioned to move forward to the Early Contractor Involvement process, which will allow us to select the preferred construction contractor.
“Our project team looks forward to working with McConnell Dowell and CPB Contractors over the coming months as we move towards a construction decision from the Queensland Government.”
Mr Barlow said a core focus for GAWB as part of the Fitzroy to Gladstone Pipeline project is ensuring local suppliers and services are provided with opportunities.
“We’re committed to providing project opportunities to local suppliers and obtaining local services where practicable,” Mr Barlow said.
“A core component of our procurement process is local content, which we hope will deliver tangible benefits to the Gladstone region such as jobs, supply contracts and local capability raising.
“We’ll be working closely with McConnell Dowell and CPB Contractors over the coming months to ensure local content strategies are implemented, and I also strongly encourage local suppliers interested in the project to contact these two shortlisted contractors now to explore what the potential opportunities will be during the construction phase.”
The Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water appointed GAWB as the Delivery Management Proponent for pre-construction activities for the Fitzroy to Gladstone Pipeline project in August 2021.
The Fitzroy to Gladstone Pipeline is a proposed option to address the single-source water supply risk from Awoonga Dam, enabling long-term water security for urban and industrial customers of GAWB and providing water to Gladstone’s emerging hydrogen industry.
The project is currently progressing through a pre-construction phase. Following completion of this work, a decision is expected to be made by Queensland Government by the middle of 2022 on whether to proceed to construction of the pipeline.
ENDS
For project enquiries, contact Hugh Barbour on fgpenquiries@gawb.qld.gov.au or 07 3020 8015
For media enquiries, contact Helen Hutchings on 0407 016 311
