BIG contract wins are continuing to roll in for Leighton, with the construction major announcing today its Southern Gateway Alliance has been selected as the preferred bidder for the $290 million Mandurah Entrance Road in Western Australia.

The alliance, which comprises Leighton Contractors, WA Limestone and GHD, was selected by Main Roads WA for the project, which will be jointly funded by the federal and WA governments.

LAST night’s national budget promises to be a bonanza for the construction industry, with Treasurer Wayne Swan declaring the budget “has at its core the biggest plan for nation-building investment in infrastructure since the Snowy Mountains scheme”.

With $8.5 billion promised for “nationally significant” rail, road and port infrastructure, and construction components of $3.2 billion for hospitals and health services, and $2.6 billion for education and research institute spending, there’s no doubt the government is planning a construction-led recovery from the current  

THE federal budget has been strongly backed by the Australian construction industry, which has welcomed plans for increased spending on infrastructure, home buyers grants as well as new and upgraded schools, hospitals and public housing.

The budget was mostly approved by construction industry groups including the Civil Contractors Federation (CCF), the Australian Constructors Association (ACA), the Master Builders Association (MBA), the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) and the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU).