RP Infrastructure

To meet Sydney and NSW’s long term economic and trade growth requirements, the Sydney Ports Corporation SPC undertook a major expansion of the Port Botany container and land side logistics infrastructure.

Project Overview

The project comprised the dredging and reclamation of a 63ha platform (8 million M3), construction of 1,800m of counterfort seawalls, new rail and road linkages (including a major grade separation intersection) and major environmental enhancements to Penrhyn Estuary, Foreshore Beach and adjacent seagrass meadows.

The works were delivered in a sensitive marine environment adjacent, and without disruption to, the operational port and Kingsford Smith Airport. The D&C contract (circa $500m) was delivered on time and under budget and was regarded as a model for delivery of major infrastructure projects in NSW.

Our Role

Engaged as Project Director for SPC, we led the over delivery of the project. The project attracted a large amount of community attention and the planning and approval process was very challenging, being subject to a commission of enquiry and a court challenge by the Botany Council. As Project Director we were responsible for the development of concept design, development and approval of the business case, the early works campaign and the two stage transaction process. The interactive process was very effective as it resulted in a world class design solution and a commercial outcome that provided exceptional value for money to government. Our engagement was instrumental in mitigating delivery risk by ensuring that extensive site investigations were undertaken to define geotechnical conditions, marine environments (wave, current, water quality etc.) and stakeholder requirements. Comprehensive interface agreements were negotiated with SACL, the Port Harbour Master, ARTC, RMS, adjacent terminal operators and RailCorp to ensure that key interfaces were clearly defined and that inputs by others were committed to and delivered.