Transport for NSW is embedding Project Swift across road infrastructure projects after early results showed it could significantly reduce project delivery timeframes.
In a major effort to deliver road projects for communities across New South Wales sooner, the Minns Labor Government is expanding a successful initiative to cut red tape, saving time and money across the infrastructure pipeline.
Project Swift is changing how infrastructure projects are delivered by cutting out unnecessary processes, removing duplication and undertaking more work concurrently, saving years on projects.
Under the traditional project development timeframe adopted by the previous Liberal-National Government, it could take upwards of seven years between a road project being funded and a single shovel hitting the ground. As a result, communities - particularly in the fast-growing areas of Western Sydney - have been left without the basic infrastructure to support their growth.
Under Project Swift, a project could be into procurement in less than 12 months.
Working alongside the Transport for NSW-led industry program, Accelerate Together, the initiative focuses on tailoring approaches to infrastructure projects to streamline their planning and delivery in line with their size, complexity and risk - rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.
Transport for NSW has worked with contractors, project designers, industry associations, and government partners to identify opportunities to improve project development, procurement, and delivery.
Key initiatives include:
- Early contractor involvement, bringing contractor expertise into project development sooner
- Fast-track business cases, to reduce duplication while still meeting Treasury and Infrastructure NSW assurance requirements
- Accelerated design development, including progressing collaborative design and construct contracts
- Early property acquisition to provide greater certainty for affected property owners and enable earlier construction
- Bundling procurement of multiple projects to achieve economies of scale and greater efficiency with industry
- Technical standards and specifications reform to remove red tape and duplication for industry
- Modern methods of construction to speed up project delivery
Over the past 12 months, Project Swift has been focused on accelerating major infrastructure projects across NSW. After promising results, Transport for NSW will now embed these initiatives into business as usual.
Projects in planning and development that will now see shovels in the ground sooner include:
- Bandon Road Upgrade, Vineyard (up to 12 months), commencing this year
- Avoca Drive upgrade, Kincumber (up to nine months), commencing this year
- Windsor Road Upgrade, Rouse Hill (up to six months), commencing next year
Projects in delivery that have been accelerated and will be completed ahead of schedule include:
- M1 to Raymond Terrace (over 12 months), opening in coming months
- Jervis Bay Flyover (over six months), completing in the next six months
- Pennant Hills Rd / North Rocks Rd Intersection (over three months), opening this year
Initiatives from Project Swift have also been applied to the project to reopen the Great Western Highway at Victoria Pass, with geotechnical testing, a global industry roundtable, an accelerated procurement process and a finalised contract achieved in 109 days.
The improvements under Project Swift do not remove the safeguards that communities expect. Safety, environmental protection, community engagement, business case assessment, accountability, and value for money remain central to the way transport infrastructure is planned and delivered across NSW.
Minister for Roads and Minister for Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison said:
"Rolling out the Project Swift framework across all road infrastructure projects in NSW is going to be a gamechanger for the state.
"The Minns Labor Government understands that communities want projects delivered without unnecessary red tape, and that's exactly what Project Swift will do.
"We've already seen projects delivered ahead of schedule thanks to this framework, which is why we will be applying it to every road project across the state, no matter the size.
"By working smarter and improving how projects move from planning to delivery, we can help bring infrastructure forward while continuing to uphold the high standards expected by the people of NSW."
Transport for NSW Deputy Secretary for Infrastructure Projects and Engineering Raquel Rubalcaba said:
"Transport is building a more efficient and fit-for-purpose approach to infrastructure delivery that responds to the size, complexity, and risk of each project.
"We are working across the entire project lifecycle, from planning and approvals through to procurement and delivery, to remove duplication, improve coordination and support better outcomes for communities and industry.
"Our focus is on delivering transport infrastructure more effectively while maintaining strong governance, safety, environmental protections and value for money."
