Businesses and workers in the local area are set to reap the benefits from the start today of major construction works on the $985 million Northern Connector project.

Federal Urban Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher and South Australian Premier Jay Wetherill were on hand to turn the first sod at the southern interchange site.

The Southern Interchange is a key component of the Northern Connector project which will link the Northern Expressway with the South Road Superway and Port River Expressway.

Local member of Parliament, Mr Tony Piccolo who attended the ceremony, said the $985 million project would help drive economic growth with substantial benefits for freight and farming transport operators. Premier Jay Weatherill said Lendlease had formed a partnership with a number of local South Australian contractors to deliver the Northern Connector project, including Catcon, McMahon Services, Roseworthy based LR&M Constructions, SEM Civil (Salisbury Earthmovers) and Intract Australia.

“These partnerships demonstrate a new standard in leveraging local industry and employment benefits as part of this almost one-billion-dollar investment by the South Australian and Australian Governments,” Mr Weatherill said.

“Within the southern interchange, several local northern Adelaide based sub-contractors have already been engaged by Lendlease to deliver plant equipment and labour hire services.

Mr Piccolo said that he was aware that already eight former auto industry workers are among the 81 people who have gained work through the on-site NorthHub employment and training centre. As construction ramps up, the Northern Connector project is expected to support 480 jobs a year with a commitment that at least 50 percent of all jobs will be filled by northern suburbs residents.

“This ensures that local people and businesses stand to gain most from the job opportunities created by this massive infrastructure investment,” said Mr Piccolo.

“Long-term unemployed people, trainees and other workers who face considerable barriers are among some of the people who’ve already benefitted from preliminary works including trial embankments, a realignment of the Kings and Bolivar roads intersection and an upgrade at the St Kilda and Robinson roads intersection.”

Lendlease have also created a one-stop on-site jobs, education and training hub, the NorthHub designed to maximise local participation in the project.

People seeking work or small business looking for contacts should approach NorthHub and register their interest.

The project is scheduled for completion in December 2019 and more information is available at http://www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au/nsc/northern_connector or for work and contract opportunities at http://northhub.sa.gov.au/