Overview
It seems we can definitely forget about the promised 2019 completion date for Sydney's new southeast light rail system, with the consortium behind the project advising the New South Wales Government that it'll take an extra year.
March 2020 is now the projected completion date for the project, which will run from Circular Quay to Randwick and Kingsford.
As reported by the ABC, the news comes just a week after the NSW Government first found itself embroiled in a legal battle with the Spanish subcontractor heading up the build, slowing down progress considerably. At the time, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian declined to share details about the delays, though said the state would "not be held to ransom" by builder Acciona, which is taking Transport for NSW to court for the tidy sum of $1.2 billion.
The company is demanding the extra money because it claims it was misled about the complexity of utility work involved in the project. The two have lodged documents with the NSW Supreme Court, highlighting a particular issue with underground electricity infrastructure, which they contend pose a "critical part and key delivery risk."
Acciona is proceeding with a go-slow on work at present, though Transport Minister Andrew Constance told parliament "we are not going to tolerate a go-slow so that we write a cheque to hit the accelerator".
Testing on a stretch of the new 12.7-kilometre route began in February.
Via the ABC.
By Libby Curran and Sarah Ward.