In January 1998 Sydney Water Corporation formed an Alliance with construction contractor Transfield, and engineering consultants Connell Wagner and Montgomery Watson, to design and construct the Northside Storage Tunnel. The project is part of WaterPlan 21, Sydney Water's strategy for cleaning up the harbours, bays, rivers and beaches within its business area. WaterPlan 21 is an integral part of the NSW Government's $3.1 billion Waterways Package which establishes targets and initiatives for sustainable wastewater management within NSW. The project is being delivered under an Alliance Agreement, which has a number of non-traditional features in terms of partnering, management principles and design and construct. Construction began in mid-1998 and is on target to meet the completion deadline for the Sydney 2000 Olympics.