A new contract has been awarded for construction on the new tram maintenance and stabling facility in Maidstone.
On Tuesday, May 6, Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll announced the contract to deliver the project has been awarded to a construction alliance led by John Holland Group.
The facility, located on the corner of Williamson and Hampstead roads, will be home to the new fleet of modern and accessible Next Generation Trams.
Footscray MP Katie Hall said the new trams will roll out in the western suburbs first from 2025 , and the new facility will be used to maintain, clean and store the low-floor trams.
“Residents of Melbourne’s inner west will benefit from next generation, low-floor trams at around the same time as the new Footscray Hospital and Metro Tunnel opens – transforming the way people get around our growing community,” she said.
Designs for the facility were released last month to give locals a glimpse of what it will look like once complete.
The designs were informed by community feedback and include modern and sustainable infrastructure, with energy efficient LED lights, recycled plastic materials and rainwater tanks which will harvest 80 megalitres annually to wash the trams.
The 2021-22 budget included funding to deliver the 100 Next Generation Trams and the facility to deliver more comfortable, accessible, and energy-efficient journeys for passengers.
Early works are now underway, with crews to spend the next few months preparing the site for major works to begin later this year.
The project will create around 280 local jobs in construction, ongoing maintenance and the supply of materials and services.
The project is included in the $100 billion investment in transport infrastructure projects, designed to provide a better system that provides more connected and more accessible services for Victorians.
Jennifer Pittorino
