PB has worked on public private partnerships (PPPs) around the world. Key examples in Australia include:

• the Airport Link project in Queensland — where PB, in joint venture with Arup, is providing detailed design for this PPP design-and-construct project
• the CLEM7 project, also in Queensland — where PB, in joint venture with AECOM, is leading design and also providing construction-phase services and support
• the Lane Cove Tunnel in New South Wales — where PB was lead designer for 3.4 km of twin road tunnels and 3.5 km of bridge and road upgrade
• the Victorian Desalination Plant in Victoria — where PB, in joint venture with Beca, provides design services to Thiess Degrémont.

PPPs create a partnership between public and private sectors to deliver a project and/or service that would traditionally be provided by government. Under this method of procurement, private sector capital and expertise is used to deliver outcomes for government, most frequently for major asset and infrastructure items such as roadworks, hospitals and schools.

PPPs have operated in Australia since the 1980s, and are now one of the major strategies for delivering the Australian Government’s infrastructure priorities.

PB typically provides design services for the ‘Design and Construction’ vehicle which delivers the infrastructure for PPPs. Sometimes we provide technical or advisory services to the ‘sponsor group’ or ‘concessionaire’ (the bidding entity which becomes the business which owns and operates the infrastructure and service delivery). And occasionally we provide advice to banks or banking consortiums which provide debt or equity to the project.

PB's PPP experience also extends to other countries. In the UK, where more than 10% of all investment in public infrastructure is now in the form of PPPs, PB has been active in schools projects. PB is the engineer for AURA Newcastle, which won the title of ‘Best Private Sector Consortium’ at the UK’s 2009 Public Private Finance Awards. AURA has worked with Newcastle City Council to rebuild a first wave of eight schools, and will soon begin work on another eight.

On all our PPPs, PB works with clients to achieve:

• value for money
• successful outputs
• optimal use and management of assets
• appropriate risk allocation
• transparency and accountability.