Roads Australia
The concept of a congestion tax was again in the news last week, making it to the front page of the Sydney Morning Herald.
The Herald reported on modelling by Sydney University’s Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies which suggested a variable pay-per-kilometre tax (averaged out at 10 cents per kilometre) would reduce congestion in Sydney by eight per cent in peak periods. The same report quoted NSW Roads Minister Eric Roozendaal repeating his opposition to a congestion tax.
Later in the same week the Herald published the results of a reader straw poll which cited majority support for a congestion tax. On the same day, the Herald also reported Sydney’s traffic congestion was scaring away tourists and business.
Meantime a report in last weekend’s SMH said a 70-kilometre outer-western Sydney orbital motorway was on the State Government’s agenda. The Herald said the motorway was included in the Government’s submission to Infrastructure Australia.
In other news, the Herald Sun in Melbourne carried a story on the Victorian Auditor-General’s report to State Parliament on the State’s main regional road network, highlighting the increasing demand on the State's country road network and subsequent pressure on the maintenance budget.
In Adelaide, the Advertiser this week reported on a raft of State Government planned initiatives aimed at reducing the road toll, including expansion of red light and speed cameras, point-to-point speed detection, a trial of median wire rope barriers, and a mandatory alcohol interlock system for repeat offenders.
Today’s AFR reported that the TWU was pushing the Federal Government to create a system of compensation for truckies impacted by rising fuel and repair costs. The Fin Review also reported the Government had blocked access to temporary visas for foreign truckies.
And the opening and first week’s operation of Melbourne’s new EastLink has received largely favourable press.
The ARF - soon to become Roads Australia - is inviting member representatives to a workshop in Sydney on July 15 to establish the policy chapters foreshadowed at its recent National Roads Summit.
The three chapters are being established to support policy makers in the key areas of congestion, capacity and sustainability.
Each of these chapters will run parallel with portfolio responsibilities assigned to state roads ministers under the new National Transport Plan. Each relevant road authority has agreed to participate in the policy chapters, and the National Transport Commission has also agreed to collaborate with them.
The chapters will be chaired by ARF board members – Phil Mumford, Queensland Motorways (congestion), David Stuart-Watt, RTA (capacity) and Tim Boyle, SKM (sustainability). The Secretariat function will be provided by ARF’s newly appointed Policy Director, David Jarwood.
The July 15 workshop, sponsored by the RTA, will kick-start the process by establishing a vision in each policy area and initiate a work program. The workshop will be held at the Citigate Sebel, Albion Street, Surrey Hills (across the road from the RTA) commencing at 10.30am and concluding by 4pm. There will be no charge to participants.
Any member representatives either interested in attending or playing a role in one of the new chapters, should contact davidjarwood@roads.org.au, or phone 0413 288 403.
Australia’s biggest road project to date - Melbourne’s EastLink - was officially opened last weekend by Victorian Premier John Brumby.
The $2.5 billion EastLink project opened five months ahead of schedule and, according to Mr Brumby, its completion in just 39 months made it the most successful ever delivered in the state.
Mr Brumby said the roadway would transform travel around Melbourne, delivering massive economic and social benefits for Victoria.
“EastLink’s early opening is set to deliver even greater benefits with improved transport choices and connections, reduced congestion on existing roads, the creation of 6,500 jobs and a massive $15 billion boost to the Victorian economy,” the Premier said.
“Delivering EastLink as a Public Private Partnership has achieved an outstanding result for Victoria with the project delivered ahead of time and on budget.
“ConnectEast and Thiess John Holland included innovation in every aspect of the project, including its design, delivery and community focus with the inclusion of additional public art, public transport upgrades and toll free bypasses at Ringwood and Dandenong.
“People and businesses in this corridor now have the option of paying the cheapest vehicle tolls in Australia on EastLink and avoiding countless traffic signals or continuing to use existing roads which will enjoy less congestion.”
The $2.5 billion EastLink project is a 39km motorway linking Mitcham and Frankston and featuring 17 interchanges, 6km of toll-free bypasses, 88 bridges, a 35km shared use path, more than 3.6m plants, 60 wetlands and twin 1.6km three-lane tunnels under the Mullum Mullum Valley.
ConnectEast Managing Director, John Gardiner, said the opening was smooth and, most importantly, safe.
WA Premier Alan Carpenter has unveiled a massively expanded public transport system as the centrepiece of the State Government’s future vision for Perth.
Mr Carpenter told the Labor Party State Conference last weekend that the comprehensive plan would be delivered in stages over at least two decades and would include:
The Premier said Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan would establish a project team to draw together ideas already being worked on, and develop a detailed plan for public transport.
“Critically, this plan responds to climate change and means more and more Western Australians will have a genuine option of not using cars,” he said.
Ms MacTiernan said she had asked the project team to report to government by July 1 next year.
The Premier said while the plan would pull together planning work which was already under way in various agencies, the project team would invite submissions from the public.
The Federal and NSW governments have together committed $45 million to upgrade a notorious section of the Prince Highway on the NSW south coast.
The Federal Government has committed $10 million to the upgrade, and the State Government $35 million.
The upgrade will improve a 3.5km section of the Highway over Conjola Mountain in southern NSW, the scene of 35 reported crashes in the five years to September 2006.
The improvements include realignment works, installation of wire rope median to separate traffic, construction of a new overtaking lane along one of the steeper sections, reinforced earth works and bridge works.
Work commenced on Stage 1 of the project in January this year, with Stage 2 tenders called in late May. It's expected the project will be completed by the end of December 2009.
Sinclair Knight Merz has announced the appointment of Dr Nick Fleming to a newly created role as Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO).
The company says the purpose of the role is to spearhead a united front on sustainability, and to embed required skills across the firm through a Learning and Development framework.
Dr Fleming will also act as the principal representative for SKM on sustainability in industry, government and business forums that are relevant to SKM’s global operations.
“Nick will guide SKM’s leadership team in incorporating sustainability into all key business decisions, influence our R&D activities and seek opportunities to promote sustainability at SKM, both internally and externally,” says SKM Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Paul Dougas.
Dr Fleming was formerly the Technology and Innovation Manager within SKM’s Water and Environment Business Unit. As part of his role as CSO, he will continue as SKM’s Practice Leader for Sustainability.
Macmahon Contractors has been chosen as the preferred contractor to deliver the extension of the Reid Highway from West Swan Road to Great Northern Highway.
The project will involve the construction of 2.6km of four-lane control access dual carriageway between West Swan Road and Great Northern Highway.
Construction is expected to start in August this year, with completion scheduled for December 2009.
The Tullamarine–Calder Interchange Alliance has been awarded a 2008 Alliance Contracting Excellence (ACE) Award, and is a finalist in the 2008 Banksia Environmental Awards in the Built Environment category.
The ACE Awards recognise, honour and promote innovation and best practice in alliance contracting across Australia and New Zealand. A panel of judges announced the Tullamarine-Calder Interchange Alliance the winner in the category of Excellence in Major Capital Alliances.
VicRoads, Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) and Baulderstone Hornibrook formed the alliance that delivered the project five months ahead of schedule and nearly 10 per cent under budget.
The $150m redevelopment was the first road infrastructure project in Victoria to be delivered under a project alliance agreement.
Innovations to enhance sustainability on the project included the use of recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe for drainage along road shoulders. And in a first for the Southern Hemisphere, the interchange’s 210 solar panels are offsetting up to 10 per cent of the annual power demand for freeway lighting, and will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 26 tonnes annually. Continuing for 500m beside the redeveloped freeway, the solar panel installation also forms part of the noise attenuation wall for the project.
The Victorian Transport Association (VTA) is establishing an industry think tank to address a raft of issues impacting on the viability of the freight and logistics industry.
The scope of issues to be looked at by the VTA Industry Think Tank includes:
“We aim to work together to seek out opportunities for the industry,” said VTA Chief Executive, Philip Lovel.
“There are many things we can do together to support each other and change the way we do business. This is our future, we have many talented people in our industry and we aim to use them.”
Transport lobby group the Committee for Adelaide Roads (CAR) has unveiled a bold vision for the state’s transport system.
South Australia's 2030 Transport Plan includes calls for an orbital road network around Adelaide and a system of strategic roads to enhance freight movement, together with light rail and busway initiatives.
Launching the plan last month, CAR chairman Barrie Hosking said: "SA needs to move away from the current piecemeal project-driven approach and consider how we want to live and work in thirty years time. The plan represents a step change in thinking.
"Not everyone will agree with some of the solutions we have proposed. Our objective in launching the plan is to draw attention to the need for such a vision and to engage the wider public in the debate.”
The group’s vision for SA includes:
For more information, visit the CAR website.
Submitted by Mark Bowmer on Friday July 4th 2008 10:53am
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