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NewsAurecon and KBR partner with WaterNSW to deliver water security for the regions

25 May 2020 | 4 min

A major boost to Australia’s regional water security is being delivered with Water Infrastructure NSW awarding the Aurecon and KBR joint venture the contract for its water infrastructure Portfolio Delivery Management.

International engineering, design, and advisory company Aurecon, in a joint venture with KBR, Inc. (NYSE: KBR), will partner with Water Infrastructure NSW, which supplies the state’s bulk water needs. The collaboration is an innovative partnership that will manage drought response and water security projects from start to finish, improving sustainability and resilience for communities, particularly those in the regions, and achieving value for money for the people of New South Wales (NSW).

Melinda Pavey, NSW Minister for Water, Property and Housing. Image courtesy of Andrew Pearson Photography.

Barnaby Joyce, Member for New England. Image courtesy of Andrew Pearson Photography.

L-R: Kevin Anderson, Member for Tamworth and NSW Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation; John Barilaro, NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW, Industry and Trade; Wayne Nolan, Vice President, Infrastructure Services, KBR; Bill Cox, Chief Executive Officer, Aurecon; Melinda Pavey, NSW Minister for Water, Property and Housing; Kevin Werksman, Water Capability Leader, Aurecon; Barnaby Joyce, Member for New England; Carey Gent, Director of Resources Project Management, KBR; Andrew George, Acting CEO Water NSW. Image courtesy of Andrew Pearson Photography.

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Melinda Pavey, NSW Minister for Water, Property and Housing. Image courtesy of Andrew Pearson Photography.

Aurecon’s Chief Executive, Australia & New Zealand Louise Adams said the seven-year partnership would see up to 100 staff working on the portfolio at its peak and demonstrated the strength of its combined engineering and advisory capabilities.

“We will work with Water Infrastructure NSW to build a high performing portfolio delivery team committed to leaving a legacy of trusted capital delivery capability and of assets that will generate community, social, and environmental benefits,” Ms Adams said.

“The Aurecon/KBR joint venture extends the strong collaboration between our two companies having supported the management of SA Water’s capital plan program in South Australia since mid-2019, which will involve more than AUD 1.2 billion in investment over the regulatory period. We will bring the expertise and knowledge from this work to our NSW delivery.”

Water Infrastructure NSW capital works portfolio includes projects in various stages of planning and delivery with capacity for further projects to be added. The first tranche of the portfolio alone includes more than AUD 1 billion worth of new dam projects: Upper Mole River Dam; the Dungowan Dam; and the Wyangala Dam Wall Raising, which are required for drought-affected rural areas.

"We’re leading the way towards achieving an important and noble goal – to improve the state’s regional and metropolitan water security for more sustainable, resilient and thriving communities."
Kevin Werksman, Water Industry Director, Aurecon

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro said: “We have not seen this kind of water infrastructure build since the 1980’s and not only are we creating local jobs but we are increasing vital water security across this state and for me there’s nothing more important than that.”

Infrastructure Australia Vice President Wayne Nolan said: “We are fully committed to the successful delivery of Water Infrastructure NSW capital program. KBR will bring together our local expertise, digital solutions and best practice experience from similar programs of work across Australia. The team is dedicated to working collaboratively with Aurecon and Water Infrastructure NSW to deliver improved water security and drought resilience for our communities”.

The new major dam projects, including a complex dam wall raising, are challenging projects with significant long-term water security benefits to regional communities across the state, providing additional water storage capacity and irrigation for towns.

Aurecon’s Water Industry Director Kevin Werksman said the portfolio of Water Infrastructure NSW projects was a national priority and would leave a legacy of water resilience for regional NSW.

“We’re leading the way towards achieving an important and noble goal – to improve the state’s regional and metropolitan water security for more sustainable, resilient and thriving communities,” Mr Werksman said.

“The portfolio management and project governance that Aurecon and KBR will provide will drive all program and project delivery activities spanning business case development, financing and approvals, program planning, contractor procurement, construction performance management, commissioning and asset hand-over.”

The portfolio will require a strong emphasis on the timely delivery of critical infrastructure projects working closely with the supply chain, industry, stakeholders and the community to maximise local opportunities from these critical projects.

The long-term partnership with Water Infrastructure NSW adds to and complements Aurecon’s other major water sector partnerships, including for Sydney Water, Urban Utilities, and SA Water, where Aurecon is focussed on providing better customer outcomes through providing planning, engineering, and program services along the eastern seaboard of Australia.