Bills Street
MBM Project Lead
Client Name
Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
Sector
Timeline
2020 – 2023
Project Value
$120m
MBM Project Team
- Arnea Vargas
Services Provided
MBM is providing full cost management services including cost planning, bill of quantities, tender evaluation and contract administration.
Project Background and Scope
The project provides 206 social and affordable housing units of 1, 2 ,3 bedroom and 1 and 2 bed DDA units. There are 5 blocks ranging from 2 to 6 levels high with 167 basement carparks. Hard and soft landscaping is provided throughout the site include podium landscaping. The site requires remediation and considerable infrastructure relocation in conjunction with realigning Bills Street. The precinct is also being enhanced by the project with carparking and landscaping along the adjacent Robinson Street. The project is being procured under a novated design and construct arrangement.
Project Challenges
The project has encountered several unforeseen site conditions, including soil contamination, the need to lower and divert existing stormwater infrastructure, and a potential redesign of the entire sewer and stormwater systems to avoid impacting existing trees. These issues have arisen in part due to council restrictions on tree removal, which were not anticipated during initial approvals
MBM Solutions
MBM assessed the soil contamination claim by requesting disposal dockets from the builder and establishing agreed rates early in the process. This proactive approach has resulted in cost savings for the client, as the actual volume of contaminated soil was less than initially anticipated, avoiding the need to accept a potentially inflated lump sum price.
Additionally, MBM collaborated closely with the builder and design team to evaluate the implications of redesigning the stormwater system in the event that tree removal approval was not granted. We provided the client with a recommended contingency allowance to cover this risk, offering greater clarity and enabling informed decision-making regarding client-initiated variations