THE state government has sounded a call to arms to job-seeking mainlanders and expatriate Tasmanians looking to return to their home state on the back of what is being labelled a construction boom. State Growth Minister Matthew Groom and Treasurer Peter Gutwein yesterday donned hard hats and high-visibility vests to mark the start of construction at Parliament Square. Work at the $100 million development site began in August last year, with a lengthy demolition process now complete. The project has been plagued by delays, with several incidents of asbestos exposure halting work at the Hobart site. But with a two-year construction phase now under way, the state government is looking to fill some of the 400 jobs on offer, as well as other opportunities across the state. "Together with other developments happening around the state like the Brooke Street Pier, Myer redevelopment and Silos redevelopment in Launceston, Tasmania is seeing a boom in construction activity," Mr Groom said. "We'd say to people in other parts of the country, if you've been thinking about Tasmania as an option or if you're an expat Tasmanian looking for an opportunity to come home, there are jobs on offer in construction in Tasmania." The state government has sold the site to developers Citta for $8 million, and taken up a 20-year lease on some of the floor space. All negotiations were undertaken by the former state government. Hansen Yuncken and Vos Constructions will undertake the first stage of building works, which are expected to be finished by late 2016. The full project is expected to be completed in 2018. Hansen Yuncken spokesman Bruce Maher is confident the company will find the required labour. "We find ourselves at the front end of the wave, which is always a good place to be when you're delivering a new major project," he said.
THE state government has sounded a call to arms to job-seeking mainlanders and expatriate Tasmanians looking to return to their home state on the back of what is being labelled a construction boom.
State Growth Minister Matthew Groom and Treasurer Peter Gutwein yesterday donned hard hats and high-visibility vests to mark the start of construction at Parliament Square.
Work at the $100 million development site began in August last year, with a lengthy demolition process now complete.
The project has been plagued by delays, with several incidents of asbestos exposure halting work at the Hobart site.
But with a two-year construction phase now under way, the state government is looking to fill some of the 400 jobs on offer, as well as other opportunities across the state.
"Together with other developments happening around the state like the Brooke Street Pier, Myer redevelopment and Silos redevelopment in Launceston, Tasmania is seeing a boom in construction activity," Mr Groom said.
"We'd say to people in other parts of the country, if you've been thinking about Tasmania as an option or if you're an expat Tasmanian looking for an opportunity to come home, there are jobs on offer in construction in Tasmania."
The state government has sold the site to developers Citta for $8 million, and taken up a 20-year lease on some of the floor space.
All negotiations were undertaken by the former state government.
Hansen Yuncken and Vos Constructions will undertake the first stage of building works, which are expected to be finished by late 2016.
The full project is expected to be completed in 2018.
Hansen Yuncken spokesman Bruce Maher is confident the company will find the required labour.
"We find ourselves at the front end of the wave, which is always a good place to be when you're delivering a new major project," he said.
