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Arup, APP and Aurecon appointed North East Link Independent Reviewer and Environmental Auditor

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Trish Sunga Trish Sunga Australasia Press Office,Sydney
9 November 2021

An Arup, APP and Aurecon joint venture (AAAJV) has been appointed Independent Reviewer and Environmental Auditor for Melbourne’s North East Link – a major, multi-faceted infrastructure program that will significantly improve the city’s connectivity and amenity.

AAAJV will work with the Victorian Government and the Spark consortium to help deliver the North East Link program which includes road tunnels, a dedicated busway, 34km of walking and cycling paths and major new parklands.

The ‘missing link in Melbourne’s freeway network’ will improve travel times across the city, take thousands of trucks off local roads and provide better public and active transport options. The tunnels will free up extensive space for parklands and wetlands.

Drawing on its combined expertise and experience of major civil and tunnelling projects and public private partnerships, the AAAJV team will independently assess that project development, delivery and completion of the $11.1 billion primary tunnelling package of works are in accordance with the project specifications and approval conditions.

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As a member of the AAAJV, Arup is proud to be helping deliver tangible benefits to the community by creating better, safer and more reliable transport experiences for generations to come. It will be exciting to see hectares of new open spaces being created at the same time. ”

Jonathan Griffin Jonathan Griffin Australasia Project Management Leader
Artist impression of the North East Link Project, Melbourne © North East Link Project Artist impression of the North East Link Project, Melbourne © North East Link Project
Southern tunnel portal and green bridge, Bulleen © North East Link Program

Inclusive employment opportunities

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the project is the largest-ever investment in Melbourne’s north-east and will support 10,000 jobs. 

Employment opportunities will extend to priority job-seekers under a scheme being developed by the AAAJV. 

In partnership with one of Australia’s leading employment social enterprises, Brotherhood of St Laurence, AAAJV will offer a career pathways program which will meet the needs of jobseekers and the wider market.  

“We are codesigning a tailored career development program which will identify and remove barriers to employment,” said Jonathan.

“We hope to empower individual jobseekers by creating sustainable and technical career pathways, enabling them to enter the competitive Victorian job market. This will also contribute to a robust, resilient and diverse future Victorian workforce for the pipeline of projects ahead.” 

The Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allen said 500,000 people live within two kilometres of a North East Link interchange, and the design is the result of extensive community consultation. 

North East Link is jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian governments. Early works are underway and the project will be complete by 2028. 

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