Ashurst has been appointed legal adviser to the NSW Government on the procurement and property aspects of the $1.6 billion Sydney CBD and South East Light Rail project.

Ashurst partners Gareth Sage and Lee McDonald, who is on secondment from Ashurst LLP, will lead the procurement work for the project and partners Chris Mitchell and Melinda Harris will lead on property acquisition and other property related matters.

Work on the light rail project is expected to commence in 2014 and take five to six years to complete. The 12km of new light rail lines will extend from Circular Quay, along George Street to Central Station and then to Kingsford via Anzac Parade and Randwick via Allison Road.