Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Nov. 4, 2013 -- Melbourne Water's next phase of capital investments will name Black & Veatch, in a joint venture with Thiess, as one of two preferred Service Providers for the process.
The Service Providers will bid for a proposed AU$500 million ($475.5 million) worth of projects from a broader capital program, known as Water Plan 3. The program focuses on renewing and upgrading assets throughout Melbourne Water's portfolio. It represents a significant reprioritization of expenditure following major capital investments in recent years.
"We are seeing an increased focus by water utilities throughout the world to extend the lifecycle of their assets," said James Currie, Managing Director of Black & Veatch in Australia. "The program of improvements is significant and represents a concerted effort to deliver long-term value for Melbourne Water customers."
The three year framework agreement that has been put in place is also designed to deliver the works more effectively. The approach allows Melbourne Water to deliver multiple small- to mid-scale projects competitively and efficiently. The terms of the framework agreement can be extended for a further seven years.
Black & Veatch can point to a heritage in Australia that dates back to consultancy work on the 650 kilometer Golden Pipeline from Perth to Kalgoorlie in 1903. In recent years, the company has been involved in delivering many ground-breaking water solutions. A number of these projects have received not just Australian but international awards and recognition.
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