M7-M12 Integration and Delivery is a market-led proposal, submitted to the NSW Government by WSO Co – a joint venture comprising Transurban Group, QIC and CPP Investments. The proposal is to widen sections of the M7 and connect it to the future Western Sydney Airport precinct via the future M12 motorway.
The proposal includes that WSO Co would:
- finance and deliver the widening of the M7 motorway
- deliver a M7-M12 interchange
- Elizabeth Drive connection, and
- manage incident response, operations and maintenance for the M12.
M7 motorway was commissioned in 2003 and opened to traffic in December 2005, with NorthWestern Roads Group holding ownership under a concession agreement, that has since been extended until 2048. As of the time of submission of the M7-M12 Integration and Delivery proposal, the ownership of NorthWestern Roads Group comprised Transurban Group (50 per cent), Queensland Investment Corporation (25 per cent) and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (25 per cent).
Under the M7-M12 Integration and Delivery proposal, the NSW and Commonwealth Governments will retain the devolopent and delivery of the future M12 will, and once completed, it will remain untolled.
Key Dates
| Sep 2022 | RFT Close |
| Nov 2022 | Preferred Bidder Selection |
| Feb 2023 | Contract Award |
| Aug 2023 | Construction Commencement |
| 2026 | Expected Construction Completion |
Funding contributions
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The funding Sources for the project comprise:
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Financing
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WSO Co and Westlink Motorway ltd will provide financing for the project via Debt and Equity contributions. |
Procurement
| Shortlist: | D&C Contractor - John Holland & Acciona |
| Successful Tenderer: | John Holland |
| Procurement note: | Procurement of the Design adn Construct Contractor was coordinated by the WSO Co |
PROJECT HISTORY
| Aug 2020 | The NSW Government announced that the proposal submitted by WSO Co for M7-M12 Integration and Delivery will be progressed to Stage Two of NSW Government's Unsolicited Proposals process. |
| May 2022 | The NSW Government has progressed WSO Co’s unsolicited proposal to the final stage of the NSW Government's Unsolicited Proposals process. |
| Sep 2022 | WSO Co shortlisted John Holland and Acciona for the Design and Construct Contract to deliver the project. |
| Feb 2023 | The Design and Construct contract was formally awarded to John Holland. |
| Aug 2023 | Construction commenced on the Elizabeth Drive and M7-M12 Interchange sections of the project. Construction of the M7 Widening is expected to commence late 2023. |
| Nov 2023 | Australian Government funding was removed from the project following the results of the Independent Strategic Review into the IIP. |
| Dec 2023 | Construction commenced on the M7 Widening section of the project. |
