Downer wins first Britomart contract

Nine years of political gamesmanship, planning and delays for the Britomart project are about to end with the announcement that Downer Construction has won a contract to build stage one of the $211 million transport terminal.

The Auckland City Council will meet on Monday - five days before the local body elections - to confirm Downer's tender is within a budget of $98 million to build the underground train station behind the old Chief Post Office.

Further contracts to renovate the Chief Post Office, spruce up local streets and build a subway that could include a shopping centre will be let next year.

Downer beat two local companies, Fletcher Construction and Mainzeal Property & Construction, and two Australian-based firms, Walter Construction and Multiplex Constructions, for the lucrative Britomart contract.

The project is expected to create 1400 jobs during the 18 months of construction, and 40 full-time jobs when the station is running.

By Christmas, excavation work should have started on a 12-metre deep trench stretching 150 metres from the back of the Chief Post Office to Britomart Place. The underground train station will have four commuter tracks and one intercity track, with provision for two light-rail tracks in future.

Businesses and motorists face months of disruption as contractors cart fill from the site - possibly to be used for the expansion of nearby Fergusson Wharf.

Auckland mayoral candidate John Banks said rubber-stamping Britomart in the dying days of the council was a kneejerk reaction from Mayor Christine Fletcher to get re-elected.