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Billion-dollar tunnelling contract for Sydney Metro West finalised
Global law firm Ashurst has advised Sydney Metro on its $1.96 billion contract to design and construct 11 kilometres of twin tunnels as part of the Sydney Metro West project.
Emma Musgrave
Firm: Ashurst (Sydney Metro).
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Deal: Sydney Metro has been advised on its contract with Acciona Construction Australia Pty Ltd and Ferrovial Construction (Australia) Pty Ltd Joint Venture (AF JV) to design and construct 11 kilometres of twin tunnels between Sydney Olympic Park and The Bays.
Value: $1.96 billion.
Area: Finance, construction.
Key players: The Ashurst team was led by partner Harvey Weaver, who was assisted by partners Julie Ma and Olivia Lau; counsel Ben Kipic; senior associates Mathieu Nolin, Joshua Lee, Tom Nemec and Rhiannon Evans; and lawyers Lachlan Mack, Edwina Wang and Daniel Oey.
Lawyers from the firm’s finance, dispute resolution and environment and planning teams also advised. Ashurst’s Madrid office provided Spanish law advice.
Deal significance: According to a statement from Ashurst, this is the first major contract signing for the Sydney Metro West project.
“It follows on from the procurement of the tunnelling contract for Sydney Metro City & Southwest project awarded in 2017 on which Ashurst also advised,” the firm said, noting that the Central Tunnelling Contract “forms the first of three tunnelling contracts that are being procured by Sydney Metro for the Sydney Metro West project and on which Ashurst is advising”.
“The contract also includes excavation and civil works for five new stations at The Bays, Five Dock, Burwood North, North Strathfield and Sydney Olympic Park, a TBM launch site at The Bays Station and a TBM retrieval site at Sydney Olympic Park Station. Completion of the tunnelling contract is expected in 2025,” Ashurst’s statement explained.
“The procurement for the Central Tunnelling Contract is one large-scale procurement involving an innovative 3-2-1 procurement route, which means that the successful tenderer on the Central Tunnelling Contract does not proceed to bid for the Western Tunnelling Contact, leaving the two unsuccessful bidders remaining.”
Commenting further, Mr Weaver said: “We are delighted to have acted for Sydney Metro on this first major tunnelling contract for the Sydney Metro West project.
“This AU$1.96 billion contract represents a key milestone in advancing construction of this important new metro line, part of Australia’s biggest public transport project.
“We look forward to continuing our relationship on the current Western Tunnelling Contract procurement.”
