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Allens acts for Thiess-Degrémont JV in winning bid for Australia’s biggest desalination plant

5 August 2009

Allens Arthur Robinson (Allens) has acted for Thiess, one of Australia's largest construction and services companies, and Degrémont, a world leader in desalination technology, for their role in the winning consortium's bid for the Victorian Desalination Project.

The Victorian Desalination Project – valued at A$3.5 billion – will be delivered as one of the largest Public Private Partnerships (PPP) in the world and will be Australia's biggest desalination plant.

Consortium AquaSure – comprising of Thiess, Degrémont, Suez Environnement and Macquarie Capital Group – will finance, design, construct, operate and maintain the reverse-osmosis desalination plant, and its associated transfer pipeline.

Allens brought together a team from Sydney and Brisbane – who operated out of Melbourne – to work with the Thiess-Degrémont joint venture, as well as Clayton Utz who acted for the entire consortium.

Partner Leighton O'Brien led the Allens team on the deal, which included Partners Ren Niemann, Malcolm Stephens, John Greig and Senior Associate Christopher Larcos.

According to Mr O'Brien: 'It was great to be able to work with Thiess and Degrémont – and the wider consortium team – on such an important project for Victoria.

'The successful result is a credit to a lot of hard work from everyone and an outstanding bid for this critical infrastructure.'

The Thiess-Degrémont joint venture will design and construct the project. The Victorian Desalination Project will be Australia's largest desalination plant and will be capable of providing around a third of Melbourne's annual water supply. AquaSure will also deliver the Victorian Government's preferred underground power option and ensure water delivery by the end of December 2011.

Ends

Allens legal team Financial Services & Projects: Leighton O'Brien (Partner – Sydney), Ren Niemann (Partner – Brisbane), Christopher Larcos (Senior Associate – Sydney)

Litigation & IP: Malcolm Stephens (Partner – Sydney)

Corporate: John Greig (Partner – Brisbane)

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Notes for editors.

Allens Arthur Robinson has staff in 14 cities and eight countries across the Asia Pacific.