Firm Construction wins $47m Metronet project

Subiaco-based Firm Construction has secured a $47 million contract with the state government to build an assembly and high-voltage testing facilities at the new Bellevue railcar depot.

The project forms part of the Western Australian government’s $1.2 billion Metronet railcar program, announced in 2017.

The secured works follow a 10-year contract awarded to global manufacturer Alstom in December last year to deliver 246 new railcars.

Alstom will also carry out maintenance works over the next 30 years.

The Bellevue depot will include an assembly facility, high voltage testing facility and various maintenance facilities.

Under the latest contract, awarded by the Public Transport Authority of WA, FIRM has been tasked with building a heavy maintenance road (dual gauge) and two assembly roads (narrow gauge), as well as a railcar assembly area, bogie assembly and workshop, store and office.

The high-voltage testing facility, located west of the assembly facility, will enable the formed railcar sets to be tested under 25 kilovolts AC electrical load.

FIRM beat six other submissions for the works, which are scheduled for completion at the end of June next year.

FIRM Construction co-founder Mark O'Gorman told Business News it was a significant project for the company.

"In the last two and three years, things have been tight in the construction industry as a whole," he said.

"The project is a positive step in the right direction for the industry, and it's creating more jobs... it's creating new positions and putting a lot more work out there for our sub-contract groups.

"I think it's a positive project for all involved."

Established in 2003, FIRM Construction has several major ongoing projects including construction of the Baptistcare aged care facility in Karrinyup and Quest apartment development in Midland.