Sydney Metro West
Planning approvals for Australia's largest public transport project
Client | Sydney Metro
Service | Planning approvals services
Duration | 2016 - current
Sectors | transport
‘bd infrastructure have delivered high quality environmental assessment work with all deliverables achieved within the tight project timeframes. provided a highly skilled and experienced team that maintained a transparent and collaborative approach to risk management and change management and were proactive in identifying potential solutions and innovative responses.’
-Yvette Buchli, Director Planning Approvals, Sydney Metro (February 2023)
Project Overview
Sydney Metro West involves the construction and operation of a metro rail line around 24 kilometres long between Westmead and the Sydney CBD. It includes new metro stations at Westmead, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock, The Bays, Pyrmont and the Sydney CBD.
Our approach
For a decade, we have worked inside the Sydney Metro West team to shape planning approvals for one of Australia’s most complex transport projects. We brought client-side judgement, environmental planning expertise and a deep understanding of how early approvals decisions affect procurement, delivery, cost and community outcomes.
We challenged the standard EIS model by creating a place-based structure for each precinct, making impacts and benefits clearer for local communities and stakeholders. When scope, timing and delivery pressures changed, we responded quickly, managed risk openly and kept experienced people on the project so Sydney Metro could maintain momentum with confidence.
What we delivered
We held embedded client-side leadership and planning approvals roles, including Director Environment, Sustainability and Planning Approvals, Senior Manager, Manager and Senior Manager Heritage.
We shaped approvals strategies that aligned with procurement and delivery, managed concurrent CSSI approvals, modifications and State Significant Development Applications, and negotiated conditions of approval. We supported major contract procurement with planning, heritage and environmental advice.
For EIS Stage 3, we managed the consultant team, design interface, specialist studies, EIS authoring, graphics and social impact assessment, helping deliver the third CSSI planning approval under budget and on schedule.
Impact
Our work gave Sydney Metro greater certainty across approvals, procurement and delivery. By linking EIS strategy to downstream cost, program and constructability, we helped protect delivery flexibility and reduce risk. The place-based EIS and Submissions Report made impacts clearer for communities and stakeholders, while disciplined budget tracking gave Sydney Metro confidence that the upper limit fee contract was being managed transparently and well.
