Transport Minister Andrew Constance slams Sydney light rail contractor over further delays
THERE is less than 600m of track to be laid on the Sydney light rail project — a figure Transport Minister Andrew Constance seized upon as he unleashed on the Spanish contractor steering the troubled project.
NSW
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THERE is less than 600m of track left to be laid on the troubled Sydney light rail project — a figure Transport Minister Andrew Constance seized upon as he unleashed on the Spanish contractor steering the troubled project.
Mr Constance accused Acciona of understaffing the project as he revealed details of the construction work remaining while arguing this meant it should be completed early next year.
Once construction is completed the disruption in the city will cease with street barriers removed as testing of the light rail begins.
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Testing is expected to take as little as four months in each zone meaning the entire project could be open by the end of 2019.
“Despite ALTRAC - the lead contractor on Light Rail - saying just last week there was no ‘go-slow’ on this project, I’m still not seeing enough crews working to finish the project,” Mr Constance told a transport business lunch.
“There should be hundreds of people working on this site and there isn’t.”
The project is being delivered by ALTRAC and their contractor Acciona, a Spanish building company.
Mr Constance’s spray comes in the wake of Acciona Australia managing director Bede Noonan telling a parliamentary inquiry last week he expects the project won’t be completed until May 2020.
“For starters that is not his date to announce – it’s ALTRAC’s program and that’s not the date when ALTRAC expects Acciona’s civil construction works to be finished. It is now time to question this claim properly,” Mr Constance said.
Mr Constance said information on outstanding civil construction work, provided to him by Transport for NSW, showed there was “not actually too much left to do”.
“For example - Acciona has less than 600 metres of track to lay and the track slab is done. Last year Acciona delivered 600 metres of track in a week. So there is no reason this can’t be completed in a month,” he said.
“Of the 817 pole foundations – 481 have been completed and if delivering 100 a month – again - this work could be completed by the first quarter of next year.”
“Acciona need to complete five of 10 substation buildings to hand over to Alstom to install systems and energise. Again that work is scheduled to be completed within three months.”
“Acciona has 19 largely prefabricated stop structures to install – these are similar to bus stops. So far 5 have substantially been done.”
He also said the remaining paving can be completed within months.
“I’m not a builder or engineer but I think – as I am sure many of you do too – that it shouldn’t take as long as they’re saying. I was advised by transport for NSW yesterday that it should be done by the first quarter of next year.”
“Claims by Acciona Australia’s managing director that it will take until May 2020 to deliver this project is laughable, put out to anger the community unnecessarily.”
Mr Constance said all utility work in the track area was complete as is underground drainage.
“In my view any serious construction company that’s not playing games could have this work done by the first quarter of next year.”
The government is currently locked in a legal battle with Acciona over the light rail project.