Learning Communities Victoria Consortium has been appointed by the Victorian Department of Education and Training as the preferred bidder to build 15 new primary schools through the PPP model in Melbourne's growth suburbs.

The Learning Communities Victoria Consortium is made up Amber Infrastructure (sponsor), Watpac Construction (design-builder), Spotless (FM) and YMCA (community services and activities).

The team bat out competition from the Plenary Schools team composed by Plenary Group, Hansen Yuncken and DTZ

The project comprises the delivery of 15 schools across 12 sites. It will be developed on a design, build, finance and maintenance (DBFM) basis. The preferred bidder will have to supply maintenance for 25 years, and will be paid quarterly over the life of the project.

The total project investment is estimated at A$223 million (US$156.5 million).

Construction works are expected to commence in Q4 2015. The 15 schools will open across the 2017 and 2018 school years.

Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia and Oceania. It has a population of 4.45 million inhabitants as of 2014.