Pacific Complete has been selected as the preferred delivery partner for the 155km Woolgoolga to Ballina section of the Pacific Highway upgrade in the Australia.

Acting prime minister and minister for infrastructure and regional development Warren Truss said that for the first time the delivery partner model had been used for the country’s infrastructure project.

Truss said: "Using a delivery partner is globally recognised as an innovative and effective way to get the best results for major infrastructure projects and has been used on large-scale projects such as the 2012 London Olympic Games."

Using a delivery partner is globally recognised as an innovative and effective way to get the best results for major infrastructure projects and has been used on large-scale projects such as the 2012 London Olympic Games."

Last year, expressions of interest were sought for the project, with three consortia shortlisted for the final stages of the competitive process.

The consortia include Pacific Complete (Laing O’Rourke and Parsons Brinkerhoff), Jacobs Fulton Hogan Joint Venture and PacWay consortia (Advisian, Aurecon, Mace and Seymour Whyte).

New South Wales (NSW) minister for roads, maritime and freight Duncan Gay said: "Since 2011, over $3.4bn has been invested into Pacific Highway upgrades, resulting in a series of major construction milestones such as the opening last year of the 25km Sapphire to Woolgoolga section of highway."

The project and other highway upgrades will see 4,000 people working directly during the construction peak, and a further 12,000 will work indirectly on the upgrade.

The construction of the Woolgoolga to Ballina upgrade would be funded by the Australian and NSW Governments on an 80:20 funding split.

In June 2013, Australia announced an additional A$282.3m ($267.7m) funding to complete the necessary planning and pre-construction work along the Woolgoolga to Ballina section.