VDM secures $32m Cocos Island contract

VDM Group has been awarded a $32 million contract by the Attorney-Generals Department to develop new freight handling and passenger transport facilities on the Cocos Islands.

The contract was secured by VDM subsidiary Wylie and Skene.

The development which will accommodate the medium and long term passenger and freight demands of the Cocos Islands is to be located at Rumah Baru on the West Island.

Construction on site will begin early 2009 and will be completed by March 2010.

The development comprises:

- an Offshore Island approximately 200m from the shoreline with an area of approximately 2,800m2;
- a mooring basin in the lee of the island;
- a 210m long approach bridge;
- 400m long dredged channel to deeper water in the lagoon;
- provision of services - water, power, lighting, communications, drainage and fuel;
- quarantine wash down facilities;
- storage facility for containers and other cargo on the main land at Rumah Baru;
- construction of a raised sealed car park and boat trailer park area surrounding the onshore facilities and the upgrading and partial realignment of the existing Rumah Baru access road.

Mark Nagle, Chief Operating Officer for VDM Construction said: "the project continued VDM Groups' philosophy of involving a number of the Groups' Business Units to further enhance our reputation as a market leader in the design and construction fields in North West Australia and further afield to the remote areas such as the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.

"The contract award takes the VDM Construction order book to over $220 million and is testament to our reputation for delivering quality construction and infrastructure projects in a commercially competitive, timely, safe and environmentally conscious manner."