BCG Contracting P/L wins major road maintenance contract

13/6/96

Transport Minister Eric Charlton today announced the second in a series of packaged, long-term road maintenance contracts for Western Australia valued at more than $40 million.

One contract for $21.7 million has been awarded to WA company BGC Contracting Pty Ltd. BGC Contracting will maintain and improve 1,500 km of Albany Highway, Bunbury Highway and other State roads in the South-West, Wheatbelt South and Great Southern regions over the next three years.

"BGC Contracting has decided to establish its main office and workforce in its existing depot in Capel, which will provide a big boost for this town and the City of Bunbury," Mr Charlton said.

"In addition, the company appointed to manage the term road maintenance contract - Gutteridge Haskins & Davey Pty Ltd - will establish a joint office in Capel with BGC Contracting and will maintain its presence for at least three and a half years.

"BGC Contracting intends to locate its key manager and his family at Capel, offer its part-time receptionist full-time work and employ an additional part-time clerical assistant. The company has said that it will recruit local people, use local subcontractors and local Government agencies and will use the contract as a training ground for its graduate engineers.

"Gutteridge Haskins & Davy already employ 20 staff at its Bunbury office, and expects to engage several more staff locally in response to the increased workload."

The Gutteridge Haskins & Davey contract, worth $3.8 million, is for the management of the BGC contract and a second complementary road maintenance contract for the maintenance and improvement of a further 850 km of roads in the South-West region.

The second contract for $15.9 million has been awarded to the Main Roads South West Region on a sole bid/agreed price basis.

Over the three-year life of the contracts, information about road standards and maintenance costs on each road network will be closely monitored. This information will enable Main Roads to manage the delivery of road maintenance services in the future in the most appropriate manner.

"Further contracts of this nature are being developed for the metropolitan road network," Mr Charlton said.

Media contact: Sally Squires 321 7333