Andrews Govt Vic.

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   Surprisingly to me we don't appear to already have a thread but if we do, sorry, I can't find it 

Metro Tunnel machines grind to halt in dispute over billions in cost blowouts
The tunnel-boring machines excavating the Metro Tunnel have been 
halted in their tracks, as the consortium argues with the government 
over who will cover the cost of the project's multi-billion dollar 
blowout.
Sources familiar with the negotiations say the Cross 
Yarra Partnership consortium building the $11 billion rail project 
beneath Melbourne's CBD has threatened to quit the project entirely 
unless the government agrees to help pay for up to $3 billion in blown 
out costs.
Tunnelling 
crews were told by the consortium's upper management on Monday morning 
that workers would not operate the tunnel boring machines and would 
instead receive two weeks of training.
The crews will continue to be paid despite not doing any work until Christmas, sources in the construction industry said.
"A construction job doesn't just stop like this unless it's got no money," a source said.

A
 mediator has been called in to handle the dispute, with the consortium,
 comprising Lendlease Engineering, John Holland, Bouygues Construction 
and Capella Capital, understood to be seeking about $200 million in 
extra costs.On Monday, a government spokeswoman did not deny that
 the machines had been stopped, stating that builders were expected to 
finish works by the end of 2025, which they were contracted for.
"Operational
 matters on the Metro Tunnel Project are a decision for Cross Yarra 
Partnerships and Rail Projects Victoria," the spokeswoman said.
"There is a contract in place to build the Metro Tunnel by 2025 - and we expect them to deliver that."
The consortium would not provide comment for the story.
The Age revealed earlier this 
year that the project faced billions of dollars in cost blowouts, amid 
claims that contractors encountered unexpected problems including 
geological challenges.
The costs were expected to be worn by the 
consortium, with Treasurer Tim Pallas insisting in June that taxpayers 
would not cover any of the extra costs.
Mr Pallas said the project's price was "fixed" and the state would not be forced to pay extra cash.
The
 state had entered a contract with the consortium and “the state’s 
interests have been well protected in the contract," he said.
A Rail Projects Victoria spokesman said it had not been informed by the consortium about any changes to tunnelling.
"To date, CYP has not provided RPV with any specific detail of proposed changes to its tunnelling program.
"Rail
 Projects Victoria (RPV) is in ongoing discussions with Cross Yarra 
Partnership (CYP) on all aspects of the project and is focused on 
achieving the best outcomes as works progress."
So far the first 
tunnel-boring machine, named Joan, has travelled 540 metres underground,
 and the second, named Meg, has moved 281 metres.
The Victorian 
Auditor-General found that the early stages of the rail project has 
exceeded the original approved budget by 30 per cent, which was covered 
by contingency funds.
The financial watchdog warned that this was 
an "early warning flag" of a project cost blowout, with the government 
relying too heavily on rapidly decreasing back-up funds.
The Age
 also revealed that tunnelling for the project was at least four months 
late, raising fears that the government's 2025 completion date may not 
be achieved.
The first tunnel boring machine was supposed to arrive in December last year, but started tunnelling from North Melbourne to Kensington in May.
Tunnelling
 on the $6.7 billion West Gate Tunnel is also facing delays, due to the 
discovery of soil contaminated with a chemical that shut down the 
Fiskville CFA training college.
Chemicals including asbestos and 
PFAS were detected in the ground, prompting urgent discussions with 
Environment Protection Authority, the builders and landfill operators in
 recent weeks to try to find a solution to the problem.

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Gay3 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 19 Feb 2007 Location: Miners Rest Status: Offline Points: 51987	Post Options Post Reply Quote Gay3 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Andrews Govt Vic. Posted: 10 Dec 2019 at 6:51pm
	Surprisingly to me we don't appear to already have a thread but if we do, sorry, I can't find it Metro Tunnel machines grind to halt in dispute over billions in cost blowouts The tunnel-boring machines excavating the Metro Tunnel have been halted in their tracks, as the consortium argues with the government over who will cover the cost of the project's multi-billion dollar blowout. Sources familiar with the negotiations say the Cross Yarra Partnership consortium building the $11 billion rail project beneath Melbourne's CBD has threatened to quit the project entirely unless the government agrees to help pay for up to $3 billion in blown out costs. Tunnelling crews were told by the consortium's upper management on Monday morning that workers would not operate the tunnel boring machines and would instead receive two weeks of training. The crews will continue to be paid despite not doing any work until Christmas, sources in the construction industry said. "A construction job doesn't just stop like this unless it's got no money," a source said. A mediator has been called in to handle the dispute, with the consortium, comprising Lendlease Engineering, John Holland, Bouygues Construction and Capella Capital, understood to be seeking about $200 million in extra costs. On Monday, a government spokeswoman did not deny that the machines had been stopped, stating that builders were expected to finish works by the end of 2025, which they were contracted for. "Operational matters on the Metro Tunnel Project are a decision for Cross Yarra Partnerships and Rail Projects Victoria," the spokeswoman said. "There is a contract in place to build the Metro Tunnel by 2025 - and we expect them to deliver that." The consortium would not provide comment for the story. The Age revealed earlier this year that the project faced billions of dollars in cost blowouts, amid claims that contractors encountered unexpected problems including geological challenges. The costs were expected to be worn by the consortium, with Treasurer Tim Pallas insisting in June that taxpayers would not cover any of the extra costs. Mr Pallas said the project's price was "fixed" and the state would not be forced to pay extra cash. The state had entered a contract with the consortium and “the state’s interests have been well protected in the contract," he said. A Rail Projects Victoria spokesman said it had not been informed by the consortium about any changes to tunnelling. "To date, CYP has not provided RPV with any specific detail of proposed changes to its tunnelling program. "Rail Projects Victoria (RPV) is in ongoing discussions with Cross Yarra Partnership (CYP) on all aspects of the project and is focused on achieving the best outcomes as works progress." So far the first tunnel-boring machine, named Joan, has travelled 540 metres underground, and the second, named Meg, has moved 281 metres. The Victorian Auditor-General found that the early stages of the rail project has exceeded the original approved budget by 30 per cent, which was covered by contingency funds. The financial watchdog warned that this was an "early warning flag" of a project cost blowout, with the government relying too heavily on rapidly decreasing back-up funds. The Age also revealed that tunnelling for the project was at least four months late, raising fears that the government's 2025 completion date may not be achieved. The first tunnel boring machine was supposed to arrive in December last year, but started tunnelling from North Melbourne to Kensington in May. Tunnelling on the $6.7 billion West Gate Tunnel is also facing delays, due to the discovery of soil contaminated with a chemical that shut down the Fiskville CFA training college. Chemicals including asbestos and PFAS were detected in the ground, prompting urgent discussions with Environment Protection Authority, the builders and landfill operators in recent weeks to try to find a solution to the problem.
	Wisdom has been chasing me but I've always outrun it!

Passing Through Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Champion Joined: 09 Jan 2013 Location: At home Status: Offline Points: 79532	Post Options Post Reply Quote Passing Through Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 Dec 2019 at 7:00pm
	I thought there was one with an unkind heading.


Baghdad Bob Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Champion Joined: 10 Feb 2010 Location: Victoria Status: Online Points: 13651	Post Options Post Reply Quote Baghdad Bob Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 Dec 2019 at 7:22pm
	Gay3 ,Do not get me going about Dopey Dan Andrews and his inept state ALP government.Only in the past week or so he has been caught out on having "dumplings with a developer" at the swanky Flower Drum restaurant in Melbourne. Back when Matthew Guy was leader of the Liberals, Andrews made a big song and dance about a dinner function Guy had with a so called person of a dubious background and played up on the "Lobster with the Mobster " theme to successfully discredit Guy. Guy was belted at the election soon after. Well that has come back to bite Andrews on the bum. At the IBAC ( Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission ) it has been revealed that Dopey Dan not only dined over a period with a dubious property developer at a the up-market Flower Drum Chinese restaurant, but that same developer donated to Dan's 2002 Election campaign and funded the 2017 Premier's Charity Golf Day. It seems apt that the moniker of "Dumplings with the Developer" could rightfully be given to Andrews as he as certainly had a double bogey.

Dr E Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Champion Joined: 05 Feb 2013 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 28563	Post Options Post Reply Quote Dr E Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 Dec 2019 at 7:48pm
	Just wait until THEIR bushfires start ... he's allowed their State and National Parks to be locked up too ... it's gonna be "UNPRECEDENTED"
	In reference to every post in the Trump thread ... "There may have been a tiny bit of license taken there" ... Ok, Thanks for the "heads up" PT!

Andrews Govt Vic.

Metro Tunnel machines grind to halt in dispute over billions in cost blowouts

A mediator has been called in to handle the dispute, with the consortium, comprising Lendlease Engineering, John Holland, Bouygues Construction and Capella Capital, understood to be seeking about $200 million in extra costs.

The state had entered a contract with the consortium and “the state’s interests have been well protected in the contract," he said.