Novo consortium appointed to five-year infrastructure project in New South Wales

Laing O'Rourke has won an A$1bn (£420m) contract to help deliver a five-year project for signalling, track and railway infrastructure in New South Wales, Australia.

The UK-based construction firm plays a leading role in the Novo consortium, which also includes O'Donnell Griffin and Connell Wagner. It was appointed by the New South Wales government through RailCorp to create new infrastructure links within the state. Construction work is expected to begin in late 2009.

The new contract is the latest addition to Laing O'Rourke's growing portfolio of rail projects, which in the UK includes the St Pancras redevelopment scheme in London, the Manchester Metrolink extension project and London' Cannon Place redevelopment.

Laing O'Rourke also commenced work in 2007 on the North-South Railway project in Saudi Arabia - an 800km new line across a remote desert area. In Australia, the company has completed the Chatswood Transport Interchange project in Sydney.

Ron Mason, chief executive of RailCorp, said, “The partners have pooled their specialist resources to offer a 'whole of project' capability including industry leading programme management, rail system design and rail infrastructure delivery.

“These are all attributes which will help us to deliver the significant signalling, electrical and track works projects required to meet the demands created by growing rail patronage.”