Tecnicas Reunidas

Three consortia comprising local and international design firms will compete for the design and construction contract for the new $430 million WA Museum, set to be built at the Perth Cultural Centre.

Despite the economic slowdown, Perth’s public infrastructure program is providing an opportunity for newcomers in the market to gain a beachhead.

Construction is nearing completion on the $800 million Yara International-led explosives plant on the Burrup Peninsula.

Downer has terminated its contract with Spanish construction company Tecnicas Reunidas on the Burrup ammonium nitrate project, joining a string of contractors to be hit by contractual disputes on big projects over the past year.

The legal fallout from big resources and infrastructure projects continued to mount this week, when Downer terminated its contract on a $1 billion-plus ammonium nitrate plant in the Pilbara.

Perth-based Southern Cross Electrical Engineering has been hired to finish off work at Yara International’s $US800 million Burrup ammonium nitrate project in the Pilbara, after Downer walked off the job last week.

SPECIAL REPORT: Growing infrastructure needs and a diminishing capacity to fund them is a major challenge for WA, according to key players who attended a recent Business News forum.