Construction of Melbourne’s A$2.2bn City Link freeway project, including the 3.4km central tunnel, is one of several schemes being probed by an Australian Royal Commission into the Building and Construction Industry.
But contractors have been left in the dark about the nature of the investigation.
Construction firms Baulderstone Hornibrook and Transfield that built the freeway, together with two other contractors, Grocon and Multiplex, have been ordered to hand over thousands of confidential files relating to a raft of projects.
Asked what information the Commission is seeking, one contractor said: “They won’t tell us.”
The City Link scheme, including the tunnel, was bedevilled with delays. The tunnel alone was completed 12 months behind schedule.
Industry insiders speculated that, while problem sites are being investigated, the Commission is also demanding information about other relatively trouble free sites.
While Baulderstone Hornibrook and Transfield are being told to supply documents about the City Link, Multiplex has been told to provide information about the Federation Square project which more than doubled in cost from A$128M to A$262M, and Grocon has been ordered to provide documentation on part of its trouble free Queen Victoria development.
The only common thread to the investigation is that all the schemes are in Melbourne. Sources said the Royal Commission is seeking information in seven key areas:
The Commission has refused to comment on its inquiries, although it is due to report to the Federal Government by the end of next year.
