[vic]appntmnt of Spencer St redvlpmnt Project Manager

["andrei" <andrei@ausisp.com>]

media release
FROM THE MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT

DATE: Thursday, April 6, 2000

APPOINTMENT FOR THE SPENCER STREET STATION
REDEVELOPMENT

The Minister for Transport, Mr Peter Batchelor, today announced the
appointment of Mr Richard Parker
as the interim project director for the Spencer Street Station development.

Mr Parker will be responsible for establishing a project team to
progressively plan the station
development. The team will draw on the expertise of the Melbourne City Link
Authority, including the
involvement of Dr Alf Smith, and the resources of the Department of
Infrastructure.

"I am delighted that Mr Parker has agreed to accept this new position," said
Mr Batchelor.

Mr Parker has held a number of management positions at CEO level in the
development and
implementation of major projects and public housing. He will continue in his
role as the Chief Executive
of the Melbourne City Link Authority.

"The multi disciplinary team being brought together under Mr Parker's
leadership combines strengths in
private public partnering, financing, commercial and risk allocation,
engineering, planning, legal, legislation
and community consultation".

The development of Spencer Street Station forms an important component of
the Government's Linking
Victoria program, a plan for generating over $1.5 billion of investment in
vital transport infrastructure over
the next three years.

The station development will be undertaken through a private public
partnership, and includes the
commercial redevelopment of the Spencer Street Station site.

"This is a unique opportunity to replace the existing Spencer Station
building with a state-of-art
multi-modal interchange providing country and metropolitan rail services, an
airport rail link, trams and
regional buses."

"Its location also lends significant opportunities for adjacent development
to the Docklands precinct."

"The principal task of the Project Director is to develop a Master Plan for
the West End Precinct together
with a Concept Plan for Spencer Street Station, with tenders for the private
sector to be let later this
year," said Mr Batchelor.

"Critical to the work undertaken by Mr Parker's team will be consultation
with stakeholders including the
Melbourne City Council, users, residents, the Docklands Authority and
transport franchisees and, the
provision of information to the wider Victorian community.

A consultation and information process will be established and managed by Ms
Mary Baker. Registration
of interest in the project can be made by calling Ms Baker on 9655 6601.