Overseas steel last resort for stadium

THE managing contractor to Townsville’s $ 250 million stadium is aiming to maximise local value and content amid suggestions some steel for the project may have to come from overseas.

It is believed this could include the stadium’s roof trusses.

Watpac was approached for comment after industry sources claimed there were plans for heavy steel to be sourced via Brisbane, while light steel would be sourced locally.

In a statement, a spokesman for Watpac said the company was committed to working with local and regional businesses to deliver as many of the project trade packages as possible.

“We will be encouraging local fabricators to become involved in the project and, where supply of a suitable nature is available, this will be sourced from local or regional distributors,” the spokesman said.

The spokesman said there was no reason steel treatments could not be done in Townsville.

“We have two galvanising plants and a number of protective coating applicators and opportunities will be available should there be industry capability and capacity,” the spokesman said.

“Where this may not be the case, there have been discussions around the businesses working together to meet project demand.”

Asked if roof trusses would have to come from offshore, the spokesman said the stadium design was still in progress.

“Part of their design review would be to ensure the project incorporated as much material sourced from Australia as possible,” the spokesman said.

“Where direct supply is not available due to structural capacity requirements, there will be a need to supplement supplies from overseas mill distributors who have alliances with local/ regional suppliers.”

Townsville builder Adrian Gabrielli said he understood Watpac had been talking to local contractors on the basis that the complete structural steel package could be procured from North Queensland.

Watpac is expected to engage more than 2000 people from the Townsville region in the delivery of the 25,000 seat stadium and is aiming for 6.6 per cent of the construction workforce to be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Watpac will use the ICN Gateway ( www. northqueenslandstadium. i cn . org. au) as a source for tender registrations.