A sod-turning ceremony has officially launched construction on the $250 million North Queensland Stadium.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said breaking ground was an exciting time for the Townsville community as it would unlock hundreds of jobs and flow-on benefits to the region.
“The managing contractor Watpac has worked hard to reach this significant milestone to ensure the project remains on track to deliver the stadium on time for the 2020 NRL season,” she said.
“Best of all, today we are seeing a further boost to local jobs with the award of the civil earthworks and roadworks trade package being award to local Townsville company Mendi Constructions.”
Trade packages awarded to local companies to date include temporary fencing (TFH Hire Services), shade cloth provision (Advantage Signs), project surveying (Brazier Motti), dilapidation surveying (Brazier Motti) and demolition (Markwell Demolitions).
Ms Palaszczuk said one of the government’s key objectives had been to ensure the project delivers real benefits to local business and created local jobs.
“Supporting our objective is Watpac’s plan to ensure at least 80 percent of the hours spent building the stadium will be done by locals, and at least 80 per cent of the project’s value being spent on local subcontractors and suppliers,” she said.
“With the civil earthworks and roadworks trade package being the biggest of the early works trade packages, it is great to see this work going to a local Townsville-owned and operated business.”
The North Queensland Stadium is a joint project of the Queensland Government ($140 million), the Australian Government ($100 million), and Townsville City Council and is supported by both the National Rugby League and the North Queensland Cowboys ($10 million). The North Queensland Stadium forms part of the Townsville City Deal signed in 2016.
Image: Townsville MP Scott Stewart, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Thurigowa MP Aaron Harper and
Mundingburra MP Coralee O’Rourke (Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland) at the site today.
