Victoria’s Big Build is helping to support thousands of jobs across the state while delivering vital road and rail upgrades.
For every 100 jobs created during construction, around 206 indirect jobs are also supported. These indirect jobs are in sectors including manufacturing, health services, education, finance, accommodation and food supply and are all playing an essential role in helping the Victorian economy recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
This year, our construction projects will support 50,000 indirect jobs in Victorian businesses.
Creating jobs at Westkon
One business we work with is the Melton-based concrete manufacturer Westkon. Westkon supplies pre-made bridge beams to the Level Crossing Removal Project, Major Road Projects Victoria and Regional Rail Revival. They employed an additional 30 staff members to keep up with demand.
Major Road Projects Victoria
Over the past 12 months, Major Road Projects Victoria has utilised Westkon’s services across 4 of its projects, with nearly 450 beams commissioned across the:
- M80 Upgrade
- Monash Freeway Upgrade
- South Gippsland Highway Realignment
- Mordialloc Freeway.
Over the next 2 months, 140 beams are being installed for the twin bridges of the Mordialloc Freeway. The beams measure up to nearly 39m in length and weigh up to 80 tonnes.
A total of 112 beams are being installed as part of the Monash Freeway Upgrade, the largest of which weighs 93 tonnes.
Regional Rail Revival
Westkon has been instrumental in servicing the $4 billion Regional Rail Revival program, including construction of the new Avon River Bridge in Stratford. The company was engaged to supply 36 beams for the superstructure of the new bridge, with each 28m-long beam weighing 60 tonnes.
Westkon provided pre-cast concrete for the Ballarat Line Upgrade, including the platform, stairs and walls of the new station at Cobblebank – located near Westkon’s plant – as well as beams for the rail bridge over Toolern Creek.
Level Crossing Removal Project
Westkon have also been a major supplier for level crossing removals across Melbourne, providing massive concrete beams and panels for new road and rail bridges in:
- Werribee
- Coburg
- Toorak
- Frankston
- Dandenong.
Want to work on Victoria’s Big Build?
As more projects like Melbourne Airport Rail and Suburban Rail Loop are added to Victoria’s pipeline of infrastructure works, more jobs will be created, helping boost the Victorian economy for years to come.
Check the Victoria’s Big Build job portal to stay up to date with job opportunities and learning pathways.