The South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Duplication is a proposed series of upgrades to the existing rail track, with the goal of enabling more services on the Geelong Line.
The project includes:
- duplication of eight kilometres of track between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds
- rebuilding South Geelong and Marshall stations
- level crossing removals at Fyans Street and Surf Coast Highway
- signalling upgrades
- five kilometres of new shared user paths, creating a continuous connection between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds, and
- development of a business case for further upgrades, including the rail tunnel between Geelong and South Geelong and the line over the Barwon River.
The project is part of the staged upgrade of the Geelong Line, with other minor packages set to upgrade the existing station and to deliver a new train maintenance and stabling facility at Waurn Ponds.
Further, work on Barwon Heads Road Duplication – delivered separately by Major Road Projects Victoria – will remove another level crossing in Marshall.
Key Dates
| Jan 2021 | EOIs Open |
| Mar 2021 | EOIs Close |
| Jun 2022 | Contract Award |
| Jul 2022 | Construction Commencement |
| Aug 2024 | Construction Completion |
| Aug 2024 | Operations/Service Commencement |
Funding contributions
| Federal Government | |
| Victorian Government | |
|
The 2020-21 Victorian Budget allocated $899 million in funding for Stage Two of the project. This included $754 million of Federal funding. |
|
Procurement
| Procuring Agency: | Rail Projects Victoria |
| Shortlist: | CUBG, comprising CPB Contractors, UGL, Beca and GHD, and the Djilang Alliance, comprising McConnell Dowell, Downer, Arup and WSP |
| Successful Tenderer: | The Djilang Alliance, comprising McConnell Dowell, Downer, Arup and WSP |
| Related contracts: |
PROJECT HISTORY
| Dec 2016 | In FY2016-17 the Victorian and Federal governments allocated funding towards the $4 million South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Planning Project, which developed the business case for the project by examining signalling and asset upgrade options along the rail corridor, including the South Geelong tunnel. |
| May 2018 | In May 2018 the business case for Stage Two was submitted to Infrastructure Australia for consideration. |
| Aug 2018 | Infrastructure Australia released their project evaluation of Waurn Ponds Duplication project Stage 2, finding the project had a Benefit Cost Ratio of 0.6 and therefore did not add the project to its Infrastructure Priority List. |
| Oct 2018 | Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for Stage 1One were called for in October 2018. |
| Jan 2020 | On 29 January 2020 Downer were awarded the contract for Stage One. |
| Oct 2020 | The Federal Government's 2020-21 Budget brought forward $605 million into the forward estimates in order to accelerate Stages Two and Three of the project. |
| Nov 2020 | Funding for Stage Three business case was allocated in the 2020-21 along with Victorian Budget's allocation of funding for Stage Two of the project. |
| Jan 2021 | Rail Projects Victoria opened Expressions of Interest for Stage Two, closing on 11 March 2021. As part of the tender process, shortlisted proponents may be expected to include additional scope for a new rail viaduct over Barwon River and Waurn Ponds Creek, and for the replacement of the existing rail bridge over the Barwon River. The EOI documentation confirmed that, alternatively, the successful proponent may be required to prepare an additional scope proposal under the Project Alliance Agreement. |
| Aug 2021 | Rail Projects Victoria shortlisted two consortia to design and construct the South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Duplication. The shortlisted bidders were CUBG, comprising CPB Contractors, UGL, Beca and GHD, and the Djilang Alliance, comprising McConnell Dowell, Downer, Arup and WSP. The contract award was expected by mid-2022, with construction expected to start in late 2022 and be completed by late 2024. |
| Mar 2022 | The Djilang Alliance was announced as preferred contractor for the project. |
| Jun 2022 | Rail Projects Victoria awarded the Djilang Alliance the contract to deliver the project. |
| Aug 2024 | The Victorian Government announced main works construction on the project had been completed, with services recommencing on the Geelong Line. |
Estimated Total Cost
(2021)
Sector
Rail
Procurement approach
Alliance |
Location
Victoria |
National |
Resources
