John Holland preferred tenderer for new Southern Suburbs rail line

Issue Date:  10 December 2003
Issued By:  Leighton Holdings Limited

Company Announcements Office
The Australian Stock Exchange Limited
Level 4
20 Bridge Street
Sydney NSW 2000

Re: John Holland preferred tenderer for new Southern Suburbs rail line

Dear Sir,

Please find attached a copy of a media release issued by the Western Australian Minister for Planning and Infrastructure advising that a consortium including John Holland Group Pty Ltd, a 70% owned subsidiary of Leighton Holdings Limited, has been appointed as the preferred proponent for the new Southern Suburbs rail line.

Yours sincerely,


A.J. MOIR
Company Secretary

Preferred tenderer selected for Southern Suburbs rail line

Issue Date: 10 December 2003
Issued by: The Hon. Alannah MacTiernan MLA, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, Government of Western Australia

RailLink Joint Venture has been named as the preferred tenderer for the biggest contract of the new, 70km Southern Suburbs railway.

Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said today the consortium had been selected over two other tenderers for the work, worth over $300million.

"New MetroRail will now finalise negotiations with the consortium, which consists of John Holland Pty Ltd, MacMahon Contractors Pty Ltd and Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd - all of them Australian companies," Ms MacTiernan said.

"This is a significant milestone in the overall project.

"It marks the successful culmination of 18 months of detailed design and tendering work, including extensive consultation with all stakeholders, including the local communities.

"The work it generates will create significant local employment during the three-year contract period.

"The contractor will be responsible for the delivery of the double rail line and the traction power, signalling and communications systems between Perth and Mandurah.

"The work also includes the earthworks, drainage, fencing and the design and construction of about 16 road, rail and pedestrian bridges and underpasses between Glen Iris and Mandurah."

Ms MacTiernan said the works would be delivered partly as design and construct and partly as a conventional construct-only contract.

She said there had been an initial field of four consortia, comprised of the pre-qualified tenderers at the Expressions of Interest phase, reducing to three when Connect Rail West withdrew during the tender period.

The remaining tenderers prepared detailed submissions during the tender period, which ended on October 16.

"After thorough consideration of all the technical and commercial aspects of the bids, RailLink was selected as the preferred tenderer on the basis of value for money," the Minister said.

"We are confident of a positive outcome of negotiations with RailLink, details of which must remain confidential throughout this phase.

"Successful negotiations will lead to the contract being awarded by the end of March, 2004.

"Thiess Barclay Mowlem Joint Venture has been selected as the reserve preferred tenderer."

Ms MacTiernan said it was expected that site works would start about mid-2004 and continue through to project completion by the end of 2007.

Minister's office: 9213 6500