Spanish company leads consortium to build Brisbane tunnel 6 October 2010 Major Spanish corporation ACCIONA* is leading the consortium chosen by the Brisbane City Council to build the Northern Link Tunnel in Brisbane, Queensland. The Italian construction giant Ghella**, and Brisbane-based BMD Constructions, make up the other companies in the Transcity consortium which will design, construct, operate and maintain the project on a concession basis for ten years. The US$1.44 billion Northern Link Tunnel –two parallel tunnels, four kilometres long – will improve traffic and connections within the Brisbane metropolitan area. The Northern Tunnel Link project marks the first contract for ACCIONA in the infrastructure area, although the company already owns and operates Waubra Wind Farm, the largest operating wind farm in the Southern hemisphere. “Austrade Madrid has worked closely with ACCIONA’s Infrastructure division since it began scoping the Australian market for projects,” said Michelle Wade, Australia’s Trade Commissioner to Spain. Austrade Milan has similarly worked to promote Australian infrastructure opportunities to Italian industry. An Austrade-supported Italian Investment Mission to Australia earlier this year focused on infrastructure and included Ghella’s Chairman, Giandomenico Ghella. Promoting investment in Australian infrastructure “It’s good to see that Austrade's work to target a range of Western European companies and markets promoting investment in Australian infrastructure has paid off,” said Nicola Watkinson, Austrade’s Senior Trade Commissioner, Western Europe. “Austrade works co-operatively with Infrastructure Australia, as well as state and regional development organisations – in this case, Brisbane Marketing – to promote infrastructure opportunities for large scale, complex engineering projects,” said Ms Watkinson. “The move towards international companies establishing consortia with Australian companies for Australian infrastructure tenders enables emerging medium-sized Australian contractors to participate in large scale infrastructure, and enhances competitiveness by exposing the Australian market to international expertise and technological skills.” * Established for over a hundred years and one of Spain’s largest companies, ACCIONA currently operates in more than thirty countries and is a world leader in the development, production and management of infrastructures, renewable energy and water. ** Founded in 1894, Ghella Costruzioni is engaged in civil and industrial construction around the world – from subways and railways to hydroelectric plants, water treatment plants, aqueducts, and roads. The company has particular expertise in underground work.
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