The Albion Park Rail Bypass and Berry to Bomaderry Princes Highway upgrade will have to adhere to the state government’s new steel procurement.
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Expressions of interest for both projects have been called for.
When the tenders for the projects are released, they will be among the first to include the new steel standard for all NSW government infrastructure purchases.
The standard raises the quality of steel that will be accepted in taxpayer-funded contracts.
The government has said it would also allow for fairer competition between Australian and overseas suppliers.
“The new standards that I fought for will be a feature of the tender for both of these projects,” Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra Gareth Ward said.
There is a possibility the new standard could raise construction costs, as companies would not be able to opt for cheaper, lower-quality steel.
If that was the case, Mr Ward said it was about more than just the bottom lie.
“I make no apology for having the best quality steel used in government infrastructure projects because it means they last longer,” he said.
“That’s good value for money, that’s sensible - and there is a standard there to ensure that we deliver on it.”