Leighton rolls out map of Tassie for NBN Co

Leighton Contractors has taken out the AUD$300 million tender for the NBN Co rollout in Tasmania, covering around 200,000 homes.

The four year project – with a two year extension option-will be deployed by Leighton subsidiary, Visionstream, in three tranches including Passive Fibre Network Construction, Field Services Delivery and Network Augmentation and Restoration.

The extensive contract will result in the creation of up to 800 new jobs at the peak of the rollout with a permanent workforce in expected to undertake the ongoing maintenance of the fibre network, including future upgrades.

The Tasmanian state government will assist with accredited training which will be offered by training providers in Launceston, Burnie and Hobart to prepare jobseekers for many of the semi-skilled positions that are required for the project. Around 70-100 Tasmanians will be conscripted into traineeships.

Visionstream’s project construction for NBN Tasmania is set to commence within the next few months with the team currently mobilising and undertaking design and surveying.

NBN Co’s COO, Ralph Steffens, said “it’s appropriate that the state that was the first to be connected to the NBN will be the first where the rollout will be complete. It will give Tasmania a head start to be able to take advantage of this transformative infrastructure for the nation’s future.”

Since July 2011, Visionstream has secured more than $750 million of telecommunications work including NBN contracts