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

Re: Leighton Contractors preferred tenderer for Metrorail Project

Dear Sir,

Please find attached a copy of a media release to be issued today by Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Leighton Holdings Limited.

Yours sincerely,


A.J. MOIR
Company Secretary

Leighton Contractors preferred tenderer for Metrorail Project

Issue Date: 14 October 2003
Issued by: Leighton Contractors Pty Limited

Leighton Contractors has become the preferred tenderer for works to alter the Kwinana Freeway as part of the Perth MetroRail project.  

The works, known as 'Package E', includes the design and construction of the civil, structural and drainage required to accommodate the railway from the Narrows Bridge to Glen Iris. The contract should be formally signed by December.

Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan announced the decision today, "Leighton Contractors was selected for its competitive proposal and its ability to deliver a quality product through a highly skilled and motivated project team.

"Leighton Contractors also demonstrated its awareness of the key project issues and the need to minimise impacts on the community, environment and traffic during the project."

 Managing Director, Bob Merkenhof said he was pleased that Leighton Contractors had been chosen as the preferred tenderer.

“I’m sure that our experience, skills and track record, most recently with the Roe Highway Stages 4 and 5, played a part in Leighton Contractors being awarded preferred status.”

“I am confident that Leighton Contractors will deliver a top quality piece of infrastructure to Western Australia.”

Package E includes work to alter and strengthen the Narrows and Mount Henry bridges, realign the freeway carriageways, construct railway formation and replace the on-ramp bus bridge at Canning Highway. Other works include undertaking railway station earthworks and the realignment of on and off-ramps at Leach Highway and South Street.

Work will begin on the site in early 2004 with the project scheduled for completion by December 2005.  

Leighton Contractors is an Australian market leader in the delivery of complex infrastructure, project development, contract mining and construction. The company has in excess of $2 billion worth of work in hand and employs approximately 2,000 people.

-end-

For further information, please contact:    
Simone Holzapfel
Manager, Corporate Affairs
Leighton Contractors