ParkLife Metro owes its successful bid to Ashurst
MinterEllison has closed the chapter on the third and final contract for the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport line to the ParkLife Metro consortium, whose successful bid was guided by Ashurst.
The Parklife Metro consortium has been selected to deliver the Stations, Systems, Trains, Operations and Maintenance (SSTOM) contract for the joint Australian and NSW government project. It will then operate and maintain the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport line for 15 years.
According to Sydney Metro, the SSTOM contract has the largest scope of any Sydney Metro contract awarded to date, and is the largest Public Private Partnership (PPP) awarded in New South Wales.
The new 23-kilometre railway will link residential areas with job hubs including the new Aerotropolis, and connect travellers from the new airport to the rest of Sydney’s public transport system. It is expected to create more than 14,000 jobs during construction.
The MinterEllison team was led by partners Jonathon Williams and Stewart Nankervis, with support from senior associates Sam Rafter and Alexandria Hammerton.
“MinterEllison is pleased to have advised Sydney Metro and NSW Treasury on this significant contract and the largest PPP awarded in NSW. It is another step to the government delivering vital infrastructure and world-class metro services for Western Sydney,” Williams said. "We are proud to be part of a cutting edge PPP rail infrastructure project bringing together best of class Australian and international partners to deliver a carbon-neutral project from the start of construction through to operation."
Meanwhile, the Ashurst team was led by partners Gareth Sage and David Jardine, with support from counsel Laura van den Berg, senior associates Craig Sherritt and Cameron Griffiths, associates Emma Jamieson, Rediete Aborete G Messkel, Victoria Mellor, Mario Masino, and Dani French.
"We're incredibly proud to have worked with Parklife on the bid. The Sydney Metro - Western Sydney Airport PPP builds on Sydney Metro's successful contract model for other developments but adds many innovative features,” Jardine said. “At Ashurst, we've played a strong role in the development of Western Sydney's infrastructure, and we're proud and excited to watch the project develop and transform the Western Sydney region."