The Andrews Labor Government is ‘putting local jobs first’ with the $131 million Yan Yean Road Upgrade Project being delivered by local workers and businesses using local materials.
Minister for Industry and Employment Ben Carroll met with workers involved in the construction of the upgrade works of Yan Yean Road last Wednesday, October 17.
“We’re building the vital infrastructure our state needs like roads, rail lines, hospitals and schools, and making sure local businesses get their fair share of the work – creating jobs and apprenticeships,” Carroll said.
The project applies the Local Jobs First – Victorian Industry Participation Policy and has a requirement for a minimum of 95 per cent local content – ensuring Victorian businesses get their fair share of work.
The project also applies the Major Project Skills Guarantee to ensure apprentices, trainees and cadets carryout at least 10 per cent of total labour hours.
It is one of 100 major Local Jobs First projects with minimum local content requirements set by the Labor Government since November 2014 – totalling $58 billion and supporting almost tens-of-thousands of jobs.
The Yan Yean Road Upgrade Stage 1 will deliver a safer, less congested road with improved traffic flow from Diamond Creek Road to Kurrak Road and is expected to be completed by mid-2019.
Works include a continuous centre median to prevent head-on crashes, straightening the road to improve driver visibility and new off-road cycling and pedestrian paths along the upgraded road.
The Labor Government is also delivering the Yan Yean Road Stage 2 duplication between Kurrak Road and Bridge Inn Road, together with the duplication of Bridge Inn Road between Plenty Road and Yan Yean Road, as part of the Northern Roads Package – which will also be subject the local content requirement.
In August this year the Local Jobs First – VIPP legislation was strengthened, ensuring that Victorian businesses, workers, apprentices, trainees and cadets continue to benefit from government procurement.
All Victorian government departments and agencies must apply Local Jobs First for contracts valued at $1 million or more in regional Victoria, or $3 million or more in Melbourne.
