Bovis Lend Lease has been appointed to oversee the initial tunnelling, track and station works for the Parramatta Rail Link.

The Minister for Transport, Carl Scully, announced the appointment today as the first major contract to be awarded for the project.

He said Bovis Lend Lease would be responsible for managing the major contracts between Epping and Chatswood which were worth a substantial proportion of the $1.62 billion funding provided by the NSW Government to commence construction of the new rail link. Contract management services for the new Parramatta Transport Interchange and upgrading of Chatswood Station will be tendered separately.

Mr Scully said Bovis Lend Lease had presented an impressive team with strong international experience in major construction projects, including:

Sydney's Jacksons Landing development;

the International Terminal at Sydney Airport;

the new Aeroflot Passenger Terminal at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport;

the Time Warner building in New York; and

the $350 million renovation of Grand Central station in New York.

"Bovis Lend Lease won the job following a highly competitive tender process," Mr Scully said.

"The quality of the tender submissions is reflective of the importance of the Parramatta Rail Link project to the construction industry, and of the depth of experience offered by the market.”

The Chief Executive Officer of Bovis Lend Lease Australia/New Zealand, Mr Adam Tindall, said the company was excited to be working on "one of the biggest infrastructure projects since the Snowy Mountain scheme".

"Working with such an important client harnesses the collective skills of our business," Mr Tindall said.

"Our consulting services will be supported with in house project management and construction expertise, drawn from our experience on a diversity of rail projects both in Australia and internationally."

Bovis Lend Lease will be responsible for ensuring the contractors meet the requirements of the contract, including compliance with all conditions of planning approval.