Thiess secures $173m contract in Bowen Basin

Issue Date:  08 May 2003
Issued By:  Leighton Holdings Limited

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

Re: Thiess secures $173m contract in Bowen Basin

Dear Sir,

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

Yours sincerely,


A.J. MOIR
Company Secretary

Thiess secures $173m contract in Bowen Basin

Issue Date: 8 May 2003
Issued by: Thiess Pty Ltd

Thiess and BHP Mitsui Coal (BHPM) yesterday signed a $173M contract for Thiess to operate BHPM’s South Walker Creek Open Cut Coal Mine in central Queensland, through to June 2006.

The contract will see Thiess responsible for overburden removal (including operation of BHPM’s Marion 8050 dragline), coal processing and train loadout.

Executive General Manager, Qld/NT/Pacific Mr Murray Fox said he was looking forward to continuing Thiess’ long-term partnerships with BHPM and local communities.

“Thiess was involved in the project’s initial construction in 1996 and has been operating the mine ever since.  We are therefore very proud to be part of the South Walker Creek team seven years on,” he said.

“The project is very important to us, as is our relationship with BHP Billiton and its partner Mitsui, so we will be highly focused on introducing further efficiencies and productivity gains to ensure South Walker Creek remains a leading edge mine for our client.

“We are also looking forward to further developing our relationships with Nebo and Mackay communities and to continuing to develop initiatives that will have tangible, long-term benefits for these important stakeholders.”

Located some 40 kilometres west of Nebo, South Walker Creek is supported by a workforce of 109.  The mine annually produces 4.3 million tonnes of semi soft coking coal for export.

Ends.    

Thiess Pty Ltd - ABN 87 010 221 486

For further information contact:
Mr Murray Fox
Executive General Manager, Qld/NT/Pacific
Thiess Pty Ltd
Tel: 07 3368 0206
Email: mfox@thiess.com.au

Ms Fiona Murcott
Public Affairs Manager
Thiess Pty Ltd
Tel: 0419 758 196
Email: fmurcott@thiess.com.au