Location: Parramatta CBD and North-East
Duration: 2017 – 2018
Project Value: $1.6 billion
Roles: Engineering Design Manager and Technical Services Contract Manager
Project website: http://www.parramattalightrail.nsw.gov.au/sign packages
Parramatta Light Rail is one of the NSW Government’s latest major infrastructure projects being delivered to serve a growing Sydney. Light rail will create new communities, connect great places and help both locals and visitors move around and explore what the region has to offer.
Stage 1 will connect Westmead to Carlingford via Parramatta CBD and Camellia with a two-way track spanning 12 kilometres, and is expected to open in 2023. The route will link Parramatta’s CBD and train station to the Westmead Health precinct, Parramatta North Urban Transformation Program, the new Western Sydney Stadium, the Camellia Precinct, the new Powerhouse Museum and Riverside Theatres Cultural Hub, the private and social housing redevelopment at Telopea, Rosehill Gardens Racecourse and three Western Sydney University campuses.
Stage 1 – MCE undertook the analysis of the desegregated Systems Operator and Maintainer (SOM) and Infrastructure Constructor (INF) contracts to ensure all contract interfaces were considered with clear responsibility. MCE devised a Systems Interface Flow diagram for the LR design, which has been adopted as best practice.
Stage 2 – Initially engagement was to provide engineering expertise and guidance to the PLR Stage 2 extension during the development of design and requirements for the Strategic Business Case. As the Engineering Design Manager for Stage 2 MCE identified a variety of alternative routes for the light rail extension, then challenged each route against criteria for justification within the business case.
Engineering Design Management
Stage 1 Hawkesbury Road Widening – MCE undertook the Engineering Design Manager role for Hawkesbury Road Widening project (circa $30M capital cost) managing the accelerated program for the detailed design of a 30m x 150m retaining wall and cantilever structure, to be built by NSW Health Infrastructure. This structure and other road design features will smoothly integrate with current and future major Health projects. The asset was non-configurable, therefore MCE worked with stakeholders to define the engineering design and approval gateways. This involved agreeing an alternative approvals process to the Change Configuration Board and establishing a Systems Integration Committee (SIC) to gain approval for the project. The project had many stakeholders and interfaces including NSW Health Infrastructure, Parramatta City Council and Roads and Maritime Services (RMS). RMS were responsible for the road arrangements, traffic control systems and priorities, and MCE worked closely with RMS to gain an agreed and integrated solution. NSW Health is constructing the asset and will eventually inherit the structure, and Council will own the road, urban design and streetscape and its ongoing maintenance, therefore MCE ensured that the engineering design, customer functionality, environmental and urban design requirements were satisfied whilst working closely with NSW Health’s Project Manager.
Technical Adviser Management
MCE undertook the Contract Management for two Technical Advisor engagements (total of $27M), including resolving a series of commercial issues including insurances and resolving a series of outstanding variations. Instigated change control system to manage the scope of the consultant and deliver the project.
Key Successes and Outcomes
- Delivery of the Multi-Criteria Analysis ahead of program and under budget.
- Defining PLR Systems Interface Flow Diagram, now adopted as best practise
- Writing the Assurance and Governance Plan
- Commercial examination and negotiation for historical scope change.
- Contractual Interface examination and definition
- Delivery of Hawkesbury Road concept, detail and issued for construction design packages
