NORTHERN Territory Treasurer and Infrastructure Minister Delia Lawrie says a record $1.3 billion infrastructure spend in 2009-10 will create 2500 jobs in the territory.

The infrastructure allocation announced in yesterday’s NT budget is nearly 50% up on last year and more than double the spend two years ago.

PARIS in the spring, and a young man’s fancy turns to construction equipment. Yes, Intermat 2009 is underway and, despite the economic gloom, thousands have made their way to the Parc des Expositions de Paris-Nord-Villepinte for France’s big triennial expo.

In the months leading up to Intermat most of the news was about the growing list of high-profile withdrawals – Atlas Copco/Dynapac, JLG, Manitou, Metso, Sandvik, Terex/Genie, Wacker-Neuson – but now the focus has rightly turned to what’s new and exciting at the show.

LEND Lease has won two contracts totalling $675 million for the construction or upgrade of 380 government schools in New South Wales as part of the federal government’s economic stimulus plan.

One of the contracts is worth $275 million and applies to 130 schools. This work will see Lend Lease – through its subsidiary Bovis Lend Lease – design and construct new facilities and carry out school refurbishments in the Northern Sydney region.