Design construct contracting — Australian style

To facilitate an integrated controlled access roadway network through Melbourne, the State of Victoria awarded a 34 year concession for a $1.7 billion dollar BOOT project to connect and upgrade three existing freeways currently terminating as they enter the city, called the Melbourne City Link Project (MCLP). A major feature of the work is the design and construction of two three lane vehicular tunnels excavated as deep as 65m below the city. In order to protect the interests of the State, the owner/operator and the stakeholders, the role of the Office of the Independent Reviewer (OIR) was established. The role of the Independent Reviewer was unique as the OIR entered into a tripartite contract with both the State’s Authority and the owner/operator of the BOOT Concession, with a number of obligations and responsibilities to not only the State and the owner/operator, but the design build contractor, the banks engineers and others. The OIR’s obligations and responsibilities were broad, as the role was defined, and intended to reduce the number of entities normally involved in the review, approval, and monitoring process in normal BOOT, or design build projects, to facilitate resolution of issues and progress the project..