Road congestion pricing has been identified as an emerging issue in a report to the Victorian Government, according to a front-page story in today’s Age.
The Age says the claim is made in a 2006 review of the State’s transport legislation, obtained by the State Coalition under Freedom of Information legislation.
The Age report included comments by a Government spokesperson reaffirming the Government’s opposition to tolling of existing roads and a London-style congestion tax.
Meantime, the Age and Herald Sun both reported last week that the State Government had commissioned polling to assess public support for extending the Metropolitan Ring Road from Greensborough to the EastLink tollway at Ringwood.
In other news, the Australian has reported that the NSW Government will abolish the toll on the M4 motorway in 2010 when the current private operator contract concludes.
And the Courier Mail reported last week that the Federal Government has set a deadline of June 2009 for the completion of planning on widening of the Gateway Motorway’s two missing links.
Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister, Anthony Albanese, has welcomed Roads Australia as a new kind of stakeholder body for Australia’s roads.
Formerly known as the Australian Road Forum, Roads Australia (RA) was launched by the Minister in Sydney last week at a lunch attended by over 200 road industry leaders.
“Clearly you have a key voice for the road sector in Australia,” Mr Albanese told guests.
“Roads Australia’s greatest attribute is that it is representative of a wide range of stakeholders. Your strength is in your numbers and the calibre of organisations, all focussed on the same goal – better outcomes for the road sector.”
Mr Albanese said Roads Australia reflected the agenda of Infrastructure Australia in adopting a national approach, and committed his Government to working with Roads Australia in the future.
“It’s far easier if organisation’s can come forward with one voice and that’s what Roads Australia will be able to achieve,” he said.
Roads Australia’s 58 members include representatives of the road construction and engineering sectors, as well as state road authorities, toll road operators, the freight industry, the union movement, industry associations, construction material and equipment suppliers, and road users.
The organisation’s new name reflects not only its broad national membership base but its renewed focus on providing opportunities for policy consultation and discussion for all industry players.
“Roads Australia is seeking to encourage an open partnership between government and industry in policy development – in effect, industry and government working together as never before,” says Roads Australia President, Ray Fisher.
"The key players in Australia's roads are all equal members of Roads Australia – government agencies, the private sector and major industry associations. This creates a unique partnership between decision-makers and stakeholders."
Roads Australia has recently formed policy chapters focused on some of Australia’s most pressing road transport problems - namely congestion, resource leveling/skills, and sustainability/climate change.
“Each chapter is made up of representatives of a diverse and experienced range of stakeholders, and as such provides an ideal vehicle for government – industry engagement on these critical issues,” Mr Fisher says.
Last week’s Roads Australia launch in Sydney was also attended by NSW Planning Minister, Frank Sartor.
Detailed feasibility studies are commencing this month into the proposed upgrade of the M5 East and the Western Metro rail (Green Line).
The Commonwealth will provide $25 million to kick-start and accelerate the studies, with the NSW Government agreeing to manage the process and put in a further $20 million.
Both studies are expected to be finalised by the middle of next year.
Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister, Anthony Albanese, says upgrading of the M5 East corridor has the potential to support the thousands of additional trucks that will be heading to and from an expanded Port Botany as well as the rapidly growing suburbs of Sydney's south west.
Already 96,000 vehicles a day use the M5 East and this is likely to grow not least because the number of containers moving through the Port is expected to more than double to 3.6 million in less than two decades.
BMD Constructions has delivered the first carbon-neutral road project for any road authority in Australia.
The VicRoads owned and managed Mickleham Road Duplication has set a precedent for road construction, offsetting carbon emissions generated throughout the entire construction process.
EPA Chairman, Mick Bourke, said that detailed analysis enabled the team to calculate the carbon footprint of the construction work. Subsequently, 4,500 trees will be planted across Victoria to offset calculated emissions.
BMD Project Manager, Emil Vranjes, said VicRoads initiated the concept to pilot a carbon-neutral project, and then it was the significant contributions made by all project individuals that ensured success.
"The onsite BMD team committed to achieving this pilot, and integrated a significant amount of additional record keeping into their daily activities," he said.
"Onsite impacts, transport of materials and embodied energy of construction materials were all taken into account to calculate the carbon footprint of the project."
Net Balance Management Group was engaged to work with the team and develop a comprehensive framework required to track and quantify the Greenhouse Gas emissions.
The new technology developed by the project team captures and calculates all emissions generated throughout the construction process.
"BMD has since refined the 'framework' to calculate Greenhouse Gas emissions and we are now advising clients on emissions generated from certain activities,"Mr Vranjes said.
The 30-year decline in the number of people dying on the nation's roads has stalled in recent years, according to the latest official statistics released last week by Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister, Anthony Albanese.
Road Deaths Australia 2007 Statistical Summary shows that the annual road toll has changed little since 2003 and actually rose last year.
In 2007, road crashes killed 1,616 motorists, truck drivers, passengers, cyclists and pedestrians - 18 more than in 2006. Among these crashes:
Mr Albanese said it was encouraging that the recent focus on young drivers appeared to be paying dividends, with the number of Australians aged 17 to 25 killed on our roads falling by 11 per cent in 2007.
“Despite this progress, the overall figures are evidence that Australia will struggle to achieve a 40 per cent reduction in the road death rate over the decade to 2010, a target agreed upon by all governments in 2000,” the Minister said.
“In other words, the target of no more than 5.6 road deaths per 100,000 Australians by 2010 is unlikely to be achieved. The rate for 2007 came in at 7.7.
Fatality rates across the jurisdictions are:
The recent slowing in progress follows three decades of consistent improvements in road safety, with the number of road deaths more than halving due largely to initiatives like random breath testing, speed cameras and the compulsory use of seatbelts.
“While the new report is a wake up call to all governments, as well as the broader community, I acknowledge the importance of national leadership in tackling a problem that does not recognise state borders,” Mr Albanese said.
The Minister added that the Federal Government was addressing the problem through initiatives like the $70 million package targeting the causes of fatal truck accidents, as well as moves to establish a national road safety council and develop a new National Road Safety Action Plan.
Qld Main Roads has begun a $4.5 million concept planning study to look at ways to upgrade the Centenary Motorway between the Ipswich Motorway and the Toowong roundabout.
Announcing the study earlier this month, Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said the motorway was recognised as a key link in the city’s road network and needed redevelopment to accommodate the transport needs of a growing population.
"Currently the corridor has an average of about 67,000 vehicles travelling along it daily, which means the road is nearing capacity,” Mr Pitt said.
"Planning for the motorway will also need to incorporate the outcomes of the current Western Brisbane Transport Network Investigation project, as well as the smaller but significant Kenmore Bypass Planning Study.
"The Centenary Motorway will also be required to perform its vital role as part of the Brisbane North Urban Corridor, recognised by the Federal Government as nationally significant."
The Centenary Motorway Planning Study is at the beginning of the planning cycle. At this stage, neither funding for the project’s construction has been approved nor a fixed construction time frame identified.
Macmahon has been awarded the $78 million contract for the extension of Reid Highway in Perth.
The design and construct contract involves the construction of a 2.6 kilometre, four-lane, controlled access dual carriageway between West Swan Road and Great Northern Highway.
The project, which includes a 220-metre bridge, an underpass for a local road to maintain community access, several smaller bridges and a major intersection, is scheduled to be completed in early 2010.
The new road bridge spanning the Swan River will incorporate facilities for cyclists and pedestrians with the existing Whiteman Bridge on Middle Swan Road being dismantled as part of the contract.
Chief Executive Officer, Nick Bowen, said winning the contract from an extensive field of major contractors was further evidence of the capacity of Macmahon to deliver major Government infrastructure in a timely manner at competitive pricing.
Tenders have been called for the construction of twin bridges over the Myall River at Bulahdelah as part of the Pacific Highway upgrade in northern NSW.
In a joint statement issued last week, Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister, Anthony Albanese, and NSW Roads Minister, Eric Roozendaal, said the tender process was the next step in their governments ongoing commitment to the upgrade of the Pacific Highway at Bulahdelah, which will provide an 8.5km section of four lane divided highway.
The construction of the twin bridges over the Myall River will include seven 35 metre bridge spans, with a total length of 245 metres.
Tenders close on October 15, with a preferred contractor expected to be announced in January 2009. More information on the project can be found at the RTA website under Bulahdelah upgrade.
The Alfords Point Bridge duplication, in Sydney’s south, was officially opened by NSW Premier Morris Iemma last week. The bridge was completed on time and under budget.
Around 56 thousand motorists use this corridor every day.
Constructed by Abigroup, the new bridge sits to the east of the existing Alfords Point Bridge and is 445 metres long, 15.3 metres wide and is similar in design and appearance.
Roads Minister Eric Roozendaal said the major infrastructure project was seven per cent under budget at $42 million.
Tenders for the northern approach to Alfords Point Bridge, including a duplicate bridge over Henry Lawson Drive, will be called before the end of 2008.
Submitted by Mark Bowmer on Monday August 25th 2008 10:28am
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