Capital Metro, the agency behind a proposed light rail system currently in the planning stages in Canberra (Australia), has announced that Clayton Utz is now providing specialist legal advice for the project.

A PPP project is under consideration to finance the proposed light rail transit (LRT) facility. The contract agreement would be for a period between 20 to 25 years. The new LTR is expected to have a capacity of about 200 people.

One month ago we reported that Ernst and Young is working on a business case, looking at costs, benefits, funding and ownership options, and ensuring all the opportunities offered by light rail can be realised.

An Arup-led consortium, which includes six local suppliers, is working on the project's technical elements including engineering, design, construction, operations, urban design, maintenance, network integration, sustainability, land development and safety management.

It is expected that later this year all of these experts will produce a preliminary design, select the best funding model and define the best approach to building and operating the light rail system. A consortium would be appointed to build and operate the rail line early next year. Construction is to start midway through 2016.

This PPP project will be the model for others future potential project to develop the Canberra light rail network system.

This contract would follow the Sydney light rail project. In early June Australia's Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian announced green light had been given for the new light rail system for CBD and South East Sydney, which is being delivered though a PPP procurement.

The contract will cover design, construction, services relocations, operation and maintenance of the 12-kilometre project, as well as the operation and maintenance of the Inner West Light Rail network. Internationals companies as Bombardier, Macquarie Capital, Plenary Group and Acciona are among the shortlisted firms.