LOCALS CASH IN ON BYPASS

NEXUS SURPASSES TARGET FOR LOCAL PROCUREMENT

NEXUS has surpassed its initial target for local procurement on the Second Range Crossing, with 79 per cent local industry participation in the $1.6 billion project.

When coupled with the economic benefits of a workforce of which almost 90% live in Toowoomba or the surrounding areas including the Lockyer Valley, the bypass’s boost to the region will continue to be calculated for decades.

Toowoomba Acting Mayor Carol Taylor said with the Range Crossing on track for completion next year, the region’s share of the $8.6 billion Inland Rail project would ensure economic growth in the Darling Downs over the next decade.

“One dollar goes around 10 times in the community which is a very big boost for the economy,” Cr Taylor said.

“We’re going to have the Inland Rail in the region so this community will have the benefit of that for the next five or six years.”

She said the council would seek similar commitments from the Australian Rail Track Corporation in terms of local workforce and industry participation.

Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce CEO Jo Sheppard, speaking after a business breakfast yesterday, said Nexus’ commitment to local industry and businesses would boost small, medium and larger enterprises across the region.

“I think to come out and announce a percentage of high 70s in terms of local procurement is pretty good and hearing from the chairman of Nexus Infrastructure, I think, there is a genuine intent to grow the social procurement component of major projects,” Ms Sheppard said.

“The flow-on effects will be continued to be measured for many years to come and often it’s hard to put a figure on how businesses are benefiting.

“In our region and over the past five to 10 years with coal seam gas, I think that introduced a lot of businesses to the social procurement process.

“I think the communication is what is important between the community and the businesses and the proponent so we can see the most social procurement as possible, but also the success or delivery of the project.”

Ms Sheppard said the challenge was for businesses to ensure they sought out the right opportunities to secure their share of work on the multi-billion dollar project spend for the region.