A representative of Canberra's construction industry has welcomed new measures designed to stimulate activity and reduce bureaucratic requirements for new capital works projects.
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Chief Minister Katy Gallagher will announce plans on Wednesday to award $10 million of construction contracts ready for development and changes to the way capital works are procured.
The 20 projects included in the announcement span the government's capital works plans, ranging from a $100,000 project at Canberra Institute of Technology in Bruce to a $2.3 million package to improve footpaths and cycling infrastructure.
Works will take place at the National Arboretum, Woden and Duffy primary schools, various institute of technology campuses, the Tidbinbilla Visitors Centre and on stormwater systems and roadways.
The Territory and Municipal Services Directorate and Roads ACT will accelerate the release of tenders for planned construction work and the Education and Training Directorate will undertake about $3.5 million of construction planning and activity.
The changes are designed to streamline development processes, eliminate unnecessary duplication and provide more opportunities for local businesses, as Canberra experiences reduced federal government employment and spending.
Ms Gallagher said the package includes new online tendering systems, the introduction of procurement thresholds to benefit small and medium businesses and an up-to-date call for tender schedule.
New pre-qualification categories will be established, as well as assessments against annual project costs to provide smaller local businesses more opportunity to take part in government tenders.
The package was designed after a series of meetings with industry leaders following the bringing down of the federal budget.
It also includes an enhanced database of contractor performance and expedited tender evaluation through the use of preferred contractor systems.
"The ACT government is working closely with the construction industry to come up with ways that will stimulate construction activity in the ACT and in turn will help to support the ACT economy through what is expected to be a tough few years," Ms Gallagher said.
''The government has listened to the concerns of the construction industry and has developed a range of reforms that will keep construction of new projects turning over and at the same time providing a buffer to the local economy through construction stimulus."
Master Builders Association ACT executive director John Miller said on Tuesday the announcement would help spur construction activity and job creation.
''The measures will deliver an immediate stimulus and help unleash significant economic growth as the government's substantial infrastructure investments come on stream,'' Mr Miller said in a statement.
''Master Builders welcomes the Gallagher government's commitment to accelerate projects already in the pipeline, launch new red tape slashing measures to streamline processes to support more opportunities for local businesses, and introduce reforms to government procurement that will ensure economic benefits from infrastructure investment flow to the local community.''