INFRASTRUCTURE PARTNERSHIPS AUSTRALIA

CASE STUDIES

Project Name and Location:

Spencer Street Station Redevelopment (Southern Cross Station) Melbourne,
Victoria.
Project Values:
-

Infrastructure Value (the DC component of the project)

$375m

Financing Value (the cost of the finance package, including debt and
equity)
$700m in 2002 dollars

Employment Levels
500 workers at peak construction

Sponsors/developers:
CIVIC NEXUS CONSORTIUM financed and led by ABN AMRO, Leighton
Contactors (D&C), Honeywell and Delaware North (operations and maintenance).
Infrastructure Description:
The completed transport interchange will feature:
An open design light filled space with full glass frontage to Spencer Street
and Collins Street
120 passenger information screens with real time train arrival and departure
information
Comfortable waiting areas
A 30-bay coach station
Complete passenger security
Efficient baggage-handling facilities
Platform access from both the Bourke Street Bridge and Collins Street

 Secure, sheltered parking facilities for 800 cars

Public facilities including toilets, internet services and telephone
New retail outlets including cafes and eateries
Operation Description:
Victorian Government pays Civic Nexus $30m each year for 30 years.
Financial Description:
Bond Debt.
Process:
Public-private partnership
Spencer Street Station Authority established as a special purpose Government
authority to oversee redevelopment.
Timeframe:
EOI issued
EOI closed
RFP issued
RFP closed
Preferred bidder
Financial close
Construction commences
Contractual completion
Actual completion

19 July 2001
30 August 2001
10 October 2001
5 February 2002
2 July 2002
27 August 2002
October 2002
April 2005
July 2007

Economic/Social Impact and Benefits:

-

The new transport interchange will feature airport like facilities, providing
passengers with a 21st century travel experience.
The interchange will be Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) compliant with
escalators and wheelchair accessible lifts linking all sections of the precinct.
Tactile tiles will also help vision impaired customers.
Finding your way around the station will be easy, with clear directional signs,
120 new passenger information screens and multiple points along Collins,
Spencer and Bourke Streets.
A new 800 space car park and five minute drop off area will make it easier to
drop off and pick up family and friends.

Passengers will enjoy a fully sheltered and brand new coach terminal
complete with enclosed waiting areas, passenger information and an
undercover walkway link to the train station terminal.
The new commercial developments being undertaken by Civic Nexus will
include a retail plaza with more than 120 speciality shops and food courts.

Summary of Outcomes:
As one of the first and largest PPP projects in Victoria, the PPP model lacked
maturity for all participants. Brownfields development - 900 trains with 60,000
commuters per day meant that site access for the builders was difficult because of
the competing needs of private sector train operators, public sector trains, interstate
trains against having to completely refurbish the station whilst maintaining
operations. Many stakeholders each with different priorities. Complicated design
issues especially related to the roof design.
Testimonials:
There have been a range of media articles commenting favourably on the design of
the station.
Photos: