The Western Australian government has unveiled a new initiative aimed at attracting major investment in state infrastructure projects across the state.
The Bid Contribution Policy for Non-Residential Major Projects, developed in collaboration with the Master Builders Association (MBA) and leading contractors, seeks to increase market capacity and competition for critical infrastructure developments.
The new policy, administered by the Department of Finance, targets projects with construction costs exceeding $100 million, as well as high-risk or complex builds, including strategic regional projects.
Under this initiative, eligible contractors invited to the second stage of procurement processes can apply for financial contributions of up to $750,000 towards their bid costs.
In exchange for this support, the state will receive unencumbered use of the intellectual property associated with each bid.
This approach aims to encourage high-quality bids while providing valuable information and intellectual property to the state.
Finance Minister Sue Ellery emphasised the policy’s importance in expanding Western Australia’s building and construction sector.
She stated: “This is an important initiative developed by the Cook government following consultation with MBA and top Tier 1 and 2 builders on how to increase market capacity in Western Australia’s building and construction sector.”
Matthew Pollock, CEO of Master Builders Association WA, welcomed the initiative, noting its potential to enhance competition and value for taxpayers.
He commented: “Offsetting bid costs for large or complex projects will encourage more contractors to bid. Greater competition will mean better bids and better value for money for taxpayers.”
The policy is expected to incentivise contractors to invest in Western Australia, potentially creating local jobs and improving the quality of bids for major projects.
By partially offsetting the expenses incurred by proponents, the government aims to ensure that bids are developed to a high standard, supporting the industry while reducing risk to the state.
This initiative forms part of a broader strategy to deliver a record pipeline of major projects in Western Australia, fostering collaboration between industry and government to enhance infrastructure development across the state.
