September 15 2009
Laing O’Rourke has been awarded the contract to refurbish, upgrade and construct school buildings within Queensland’s Darling Downs region as part of the Federal Government’s Building the Education Revolution initiative.
Laing O’Rourke’s Area Manager (Regional) Glenn Rashleigh said the area for the works extended west from Toowoomba to the Northern Territory and South Australian borders and south to the New South Wales border.
“There are 52 individual projects within 31 schools and there is the likelihood that more schools will be added to the works in the future,’ Glenn said.
“We will be mainly constructing libraries, multi-purpose halls and covered areas, as well as refurbishing existing facilities as required.
“It is a coup for the company to be involved in this project. It will not be without its challenges, but Laing O’Rourke specialises in delivering projects in regional and remote areas and our team is certainly up to the task.”
Project Manager Nicholle Sparkes said the project was already underway, with two design teams working on the project.
“We have already inspected 16 of our 31 schools and all schools are in varying stages of the design process,” Nicholle said.
“We anticipate our first Project Development Plans will be submitted to the Department of Public Works and Project Services for approval in early October 2009.
“From there, we envision that construction will commence in the new year.
“We are also already calling for local contractors and small businesses in the region to register their interest in the project, so that when design and approvals have been completed, they are ready to start work.”
Nicholle said the Darling Downs region had been split into four sub-regions including Toowoomba, Roma, Warwick and the Downs to ensure that project delivery was tailored to each separate area.
“For example, schools in Warwick and Stanthorpe need heating provisions that may not be required in other schools,” she said.
“With this project, it is useful that we have an existing Laing O’Rourke office in Toowoomba as our local knowledge has given us an understanding of the region and its people.”
