Key Etheus personnel were engaged as lead the Financial and Commercial Advisor team to support Transport for NSW (TfNSW) in undertaking the detailed planning and Final Business Case for the Western Sydney Rapid Bus Project (WSRBP).

The proposed WSRBP is proposed to establish a new rapid bus network to serve Western Parkland City (WPC) in Greater Sydney, including connecting the existing centres of Liverpool, Greater Penrith and Campbelltown-Macarthur with the new Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) and the Western Sydney Aerotropolis.

The scope of the WSRBP included the procurement of a fleet of zero emissions double decker buses (ZEB), development of a bus depot and other supporting infrastructure (such as bus stops, layovers and charging equipment), and maintenance and operations of the buses and infrastructure delivered through the project.

Our people’s involvement

• Leading the planning and implementation of a market sounding exercise with ZEB bus manufacturers, bus operators, designers, construction contractors, transport systems providers and financiers

• Leading the planning and development of a delivery strategy to support the Final Business Case including zero emission buses, bus related infrastructure, bus priority measures and bus stop infrastructure

• Undertaking comprehensive financial modelling, risk modelling and affordability analysis

• Preparing the financial and commercial sections of the Final Business Case

• Supporting the WSRBP project team to successfully complete the TfNSW project assurance process

Key achievements and value-add

• Market sounding processes were best practice. 

• The delivery strategy assessment process considered commercial frameworks for delivery by assessing:

  • Packaging options – smaller individual packages vs larger integrated packages 

  • Market capacity and appetite – market sounding feedback 

  • Procurement approach – two stage EOI/RFP process 

  • Risk appetite and allocation – interface risks, defects, layovers and turnaround infrastructure, patronage risk, site acquisition and approvals 

  • Financing / Funding models – Operator financing, progress payments, service charges and upfront funding 

  • Contract models – Construct Only, Design and Construct, Managing Contractor, Alliance, Design Build Operate Maintain, Public Private Partnership 

• We successfully delivered all key deliverables on time for incorporation into the WSRBP Final Business Case and assisted the TfNSW project team through the assurance process.