<span class="" id="parent-fieldname-description"> There has been strong domestic and international interest in Queenslandâs $1.7bn Gold Coast rapid transit project, with six consortiums coming forward to bid for the for the projectâs first stage. </span> <p>By Jennifer Perry</p><p>“The submissions are from a range of international light-rail operators, Australian and international financiers, vehicle builders and construction companies,” transport minister Rachel Nolan said.<br />Noland said the government is looking for a long term partner “with the right mix” of experience, vision and innovation to operate, maintain and construct the high capacity light rail system.<br />Construction of the 13 kilometre, Stage One corridor from Griffith University/the new Gold Coast University Hospital to Broadbeach is scheduled to begin operations in 2014. When completed, the 40 km light rail project will link the Gold Coast to Coolangatta on the Queensland-News south Wales border.<br />The project has received $1bn in public funding including $464 from the state government and $120m from the Gold Coast City Council. One of Infrastructure Australia’s (IA) nine ‘priority’ projects announced in 2009, the project also received $365 million in federal funding from the Building Australia Fund (BAF).<br />The public private partnership has been touted as a “test case” for Federal Government funding for other infrastructure projects across Australia as the commonwealth reportedly seeks a return on its investment.<br />The expressions of interest for the project’s First Stage will be evaluated by the project team in the coming months before the Queensland Government announces a shortlist of companies that will progress to the detailed bid phase.<br />The six consortia for the Operator Franchise PPP are:<br />.gcSMaRTmove: Ansaldo STS Australia, SMRT International, Thiess, Mitsui & Co, Royal Bank of Canada.<br />.GC Connect: MTR Corporation, John Holland, ITOCHU Corporation, Royal bank of Scotland.<br />.MoveGC: Veolia Transport Australasia, Alstom Australia Holdings and ALSTOM Transport SA, Leighton Contractors, Macquarie Capital Group.<br />.GoldlinQ: Keolis SA, Downer EDI, Bombardier Transportation Australia, McConnell Dowell Constructors (Aust), Plenary Group<br />.KirraKink: TransdevTSL, Acciona SA, CAF, Mitsubishi Corporation, Seymour Whyte, Capella Capital.<br />.SNC-Lavalin Australia: SNC Lavalin Australia, BMD, Thales, Verhehrs Consult Dresden-Berlin GmbH.</p><p> </p>
