The NSW government has awarded three significant contracts for major infrastructure works including the Western Sydney Airport, the new Powerhouse Museum and the proposed Blue Mountains tunnel.

A joint venture between CPB Contractors and global conglomerate ACCIONA will deliver pavement works at the Western Sydney International Airport including the runway and taxiways.

The scope of works includes airside services and utilities, an aircraft isolation pad, airside roads, landscaping the aeronautical ground lighting system and other specialist systems. 

It’s the third project awarded by Western Sydney Airport to the joint venture, following an earlier award of two earthworks packages. 

Construction will take two years and CPB contractors says the design and construct contract will generate the company around $265 million in revenue. 

Urban infrastructure, minister Paul Fletcher said the contract award was an important step in the development of the new airport.

“Today’s announcement is yet another major milestone in the delivery of one of the most significant infrastructure projects in Australia,” he said in a statement.

“We’ve spent several years preparing the airport site, including moving 18 million cubic metres of earth to date, and the awarding of this contract means that from next year construction on the new airport runway and taxiways can begin.”

Finance minister Simon Birmingham says the government is also on track to begin building the integrated passenger terminal at the end of this year, which will have the capacity to handle up to 10 million passengers a year.

Construction of the 3.7-kilometre runway and rapid-exit taxiways will commence in 2022 and is expected to support more than 1,200 direct jobs.

Western Sydney International Airport is due to open in late 2026.  

The Commonwealth has committed $5.3 billion to the delivery of Western Sydney International Airport and $9 billion for rail and road links including the first stage of the Sydney Metro Western Sydney Airport rail link.

‘Biggest cultural investment since the Opera House’

The state government has also awarded property group Lendlease the main works contract to deliver the new Powerhouse Museum in Parramatta, a project described by arts minister Don Harwin on Friday as “the biggest cultural investment since the Opera House”.

Lendlease Managing Director David Paterson says sustainability will be at heart of the building, one of the largest structural engineering and architecturally complex projects in the country.

It will also be Parramatta’s first public building to achieve a 6 star Green Star rating from the Green Building Council, he said.

“We already have partnerships with four Western Sydney based steel fabrication companies and look forward to signing up many more local suppliers across Greater Sydney,” Mr Paterson said.

Powerhouse Chief Executive Lisa Havilah said the Powerhouse will partner with Western Sydney University and Infrastructure NSW during construction of the building, which features more than 18,000 square metres of exhibition and public space.

It’s slated for completition in late 2024

Blue Mountains Tunnel

Last Tuesday the government announced a contract had been awarded for the environmental assessment for the planned tunnel through the Blue Mountains.

The 11-kilometre tunnel will be built between Blackheath and Little Hartley as component of the $4.5 billion Great Western Highway upgrade beween Katoomba and Lithgow which is set to begin late next year.

Engineering consultants AECOM will continue environmental investigations to confirm the feasibility of the tunnel and provide a basis for an EIS which will go out for community consultation next year.

“We’re confident that the assessment will show the feasibility of this ambitious project and that we can build an Australian first right here in the Blue Mountains,” roads minister Paul Toole said.

AECOM, which previously worked on the NorthConnex and M6 Stage I, demonstrated “a comprehensive understanding of the unique and sensitive Blue Mountains environment and will be working to develop rigorous measures to avoid and mitigate impacts from the tunnel work,” deputy Premier John Barilaro said.

Construction of the tunnel is scheduled to begin in 2024.

Remaining stakes in WestConnex sold

Meanwhile, Treasurer Dominic Perrottet announced on Monday that the remaining 49 per cent stake in WestConnex has been sold off, putting full ownership in the hands of the Sydney Transport Partners consortium.

STP put in a bid for $11.1 billion for the remaining two stakes in the massive road infrastructure project.

The consortium, led by Transurban, purchased a 51 per cent stake for $9.26 billion in 2018.

Mr Perrottet said the sale continues the state’s asset recycling strategy and is part of a long term plan to bolster NSW’s finances.

The government, which launched the sale process for its remaining 49 per cent stake in the project last November, has now netted $20.4 billion from the sale of the entire project.

Proceeds from the sale will be invested in the NSW Generation Fund and used to retire debt.