Transport for NSW Zero Emission Buses Program

Buses and coaches currently account for a significant percentage of Transport for NSW’s (TfNSW) public transport greenhouse gas emissions. The NSW Government has made policy commitments to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and is leading the way by decarbonising its own operations.  

TfNSW Zero Emission Buses is a multi-billion dollar program to transition the state’s 8,000 plus diesel and natural gas public transport buses to zero emissions technology. This transition delivers on the NSW Government’s commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, and to provide more comfortable journeys and liveable places for passengers and communities. 

The program will be delivered in stages to allow local industry time to prepare, and technology advancements to be assessed and adopted along the way. Under the Zero Emission Buses Transition Plan, the transition will be complete in Greater Sydney by 2035, in Outer Metropolitan regions by 2040, and in Regional NSW by 2047. 

WT was appointed as cost advisors in 2022 for the development of the Zero Emission Buses Greater Sydney Stage 1 Program final business case. Since then, we have remained engaged and helped TfNSW develop projects within this program, including the proposed new battery electric bus depot at Macquarie Park. 

Macquarie Park Bus Depot 

Macquarie Park Bus Depot will be the first purpose-built battery electric bus depot delivered as part of the Zero Emission Buses Program. 

As this project is the first new greenfield site of its kind in NSW, we prepared detailed design cost estimates with limited benchmarking and leveraged existing relationships with the supply chain for accurate charging infrastructure costings.  

To help track and maintain budget through the design development phase, we created a ‘cost evolution tracker’ to understand key cost differences at each cost plan stage.  

In June 2024, the project went to construction tender, which we supported with the preparation of tender documentation and returnable schedules.  

Once complete, the new electric bus depot will support public transport services in the lower North Shore and Northwest suburbs of Sydney, stretching to Chatswood and Parramatta, contributing to making Sydney’s bus public transport network more sustainable for generations to come.  

Image: Artist impression of the Macquarie Park Bus Depot. Subject to change. Supplied by Transport for NSW.