Government shortlists bids for the Perth City Link Rail project

The State Government is one step closer to beginning rail works on the $600million Perth City Link Project with the short-listing of the final two proponents for the next assessment phase.

City Rail Joint Venture (Brookfield Multiplex and Laing O’Rourke) and Perth City Link (John Holland and GHD) are bidding for the rail works component.

Transport Minister Simon O’Brien said the Perth City Link project would completely transform the way many people used and interacted with public amenities and public spaces in the centre of Perth.

“Sinking the railway literally underpins the vision to redevelop 14ha between Perth and Northbridge - something which has been talked about for more than 100 years,” Mr O’Brien said.

“It will ultimately reunite the retail district of Perth’s CBD with the Northbridge entertainment precinct, opening up expanses of public and commercial space.

“More than that, the project will support jobs at this time of economic recovery.”

The Minister said the next assessment stage was crucial to robustly define the project’s scope and competitively assess the two proponents.

“In late December, the two proponent groups will provide the Public Transport Authority with their detailed documentation for the major works to sink the Fremantle line between William Street, and Lake and King streets,” he said.

The alliance contract will be awarded in March 2011. The rail project is scheduled for completion in 2014. The sinking of the Wellington Street Bus Station is due for completion in 2016.

The Federal Government has committed $236million towards the cost of the project.