Northern Water Supply (SA)

Northern Water aims to deliver a secure, climate-resilient water source to meet the growing needs of existing and emerging industries in South Australia’s Upper Spencer Gulf and Far North. It will unlock the economic growth potential of the region, particularly in industries that are critical to global decarbonisation, and will provide an alternative to water resources including the Great Artesian Basin and the River Murray.

This would be achieved by constructing a seawater desalination plant and a transfer pipeline to supply industry in the Upper Spencer Gulf and Far North.

MBB was appointed by the State to provide Transaction Advisory Services for the Project. In this role, MBB supported the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT or the Department) in developing the overall procurement strategy, preparing for and managing the transaction and providing commercial advice. Services provided include: 

• Review and development of governance documents, including acquisition plan, confidentiality agreements/COI declarations, project governance structure, reporting frameworks, and project program
• Review and development of transaction documents including updated market facing documentation suites, briefings to bidders, Evaluation Plans, and document roadmap
• Management of the procurement process, including tender workshop program with bidders, managing all bidder interactions, delivery of briefings, and developing responses to bidder questions
• Leading the commercial workstream to develop and review contract documentation in partnership with the Department’s legal advisors and Crown-Solicitor’s Office
• Management of virtual data room including all communications and document controls
• Support the Department through internal governance, external assurance and regular reporting
• Providing commercial and financial advisory services.