03 June 2008
Melbourne, 3 June 2008: Clayton Utz has concluded its advisory role to the Victorian Department of Transport on the East West Link Needs Assessment (EWLNA) which commenced in March 2007 and was recently completed.
The EWLNA, led by Sir Rod Eddington[1], was a comprehensive study into improving east to west transport connections across Melbourne.
Construction and major projects partners Marko Misko and Doug Jones and Melbourne managing partner Brad Vann assisted by using their experience with transport related projects to provide strategic input into the study.
"The advice we gave was not purely legal advice but more input from a lawyer's perspective as part of a hand-selected multi-disciplinary consultant team which also involved such professionals as traffic engineers, financial advisers, environmental consultants and traffic modellers," said Brad.
" We used our considerable experience in acting for government around Australia on other road, rail and transport projects to provide high level commercial input."
In addition to the specialist consultants an expert study team assisted Sir Eddington on the EWLNA with submissions also made by members of the public, including local councils, community and business groups and individuals.
Currently open for public comment, the report has a number of key recommendations including the building of a rail tunnel linking Melbourne’s western and south eastern suburbs and an 18 kilometre road corridor that provides an alternative to the West Gate Bridge with an estimated capital cost of $18 billion. Ways to improve cycling connections and bus services have also been outlined.
Brad said the Clayton Utz team continued to play a major role in the Victorian Government's transport plan – Meeting Our Transport Challenges – having recently advised on Australia's newest tollway, EastLink, which will connect Victoria's Monash, Eastern and Frankston Freeways and is due to open on 29 June.
[1] Sir Rod Eddington is an Australian engineer and businessman and a leading international expert on transport matters. Prior to his work on the EWLNA Sir Eddington was engaged by the UK Government to report on the long-term link between transport and economic productivity, growth and stability.
