Mott MacDonald to help shape South East Queensland’s water future through NG4D partnership

Mott MacDonald, in joint venture with SMEC, has been appointed by Urban Utilities, alongside construction partner Fulton Hogan, to deliver its Next Generation for Delivery (NG4D) Program under a collaborative framework agreement.

This appointment is part of Urban Utilities’ new partnership-style model for planning and delivering its multibillion-dollar capital investment program over the next decade. The NG4D will see the development of business cases, design and construction of water, wastewater, network and treatment infrastructure across Urban Utilities' over 14,000 km² operational footprint.

Serving more than 1.6 million customers across Brisbane, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim and Somerset, Urban Utilities is one of Australia’s largest water and sewerage service providers. Over the next 10 years, it will invest $3.8 billion in essential infrastructure to ensure safe, clean water supply and reliable and resilient wastewater services.

Meeting the challenges of tomorrow

The NG4D Program is a 5- to 10-year contract, with an initial five-year term and options for extension. It represents a step change in how Urban Utilities works with its supply chain, focusing on early collaboration, deeper integration, and outcome-driven delivery.

The program will address some of the most pressing challenges facing South East Queensland, including affordability, ageing assets, climate change and population growth. The program also presents a unique opportunity to showcase Brisbane’s infrastructure excellence ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games.

Urban Utilities CEO Paul Arnold said the partners will play a key role in shaping a resilient and sustainable water future for South East Queensland.

“We’re pleased to announce the planning and delivery partners joining us under a new partnership-style model to deliver our multi-billion-dollar capital investment program,” said Arnold. “These contracts have been awarded following a highly competitive process aimed at our continued focus on reducing costs and delivering long-term savings for customers. Our partners bring genuine passion and capability to address some of the biggest challenges our industry has ever faced, including a rapidly growing population, ageing infrastructure, and more frequent extreme weather events."

Building on trusted relationships

All three partners – Mott MacDonald, SMEC and Fulton Hogan – have worked with Urban Utilities for more than five years. Now, under NG4D, they are preparing for a new level of collaboration and integration. The team’s approach is centred on outperformance, with a particular focus on leveraging artificial intelligence and the power of data to drive efficiency and delivery certainty across projects.

Frances Badelow, Mott MacDonald’s managing director for Australia, said: "The NG4D program enables us to bring global excellence in water infrastructure through local expertise and visionary leadership. The level of integration and ambition in our partnership with Urban Utilities is truly exciting, and we’re committed to delivering affordable, high-impact outcomes for customers."