Roads Australia
The failure of the NSW Government’s preferred power privatisation plan last week has put a cloud over the future of major infrastructure projects like the M4 East extension, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
In an editorial the day after the Opposition Coalition effectively scuppered the plan, the Herald said the decision had sent a ‘clear message to global infrastructure investors...that NSW does not want your money’.
In other news, the Herald Sun reported last week that the RACV had made a submission to the State Government calling for consideration of a road-user charge based on kilometres travelled in place of fuel excise and other taxers on motoring.
And as if to underscore the challenge facing all governments in tackling transport and congestion issues, the Herald Sun also reported that an extra 100,000 Melbournians a day were using public transport over the past year.
Infrastructure Australia, the Rudd Government’s independent statutory advisory council tasked with steering the modernisation of the nation’s infrastructure, has invited public and industry submissions for the National Infrastructure Priority List.
The first National Infrastructure Priority List will be handed to the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) in March 2009.
Submission of project ideas for evaluation and possible inclusion will be accepted up until October 15.
Infrastructure Australia's immediate tasks are to conduct an audit of the nation's transport, energy, communications and water infrastructure; produce an Infrastructure Priority List to guide future public and private investment decisions; and develop nationally consistent guidelines for Public Private Partnerships.
Infrastructure Australia is also in a position to provide advice on the harmonisation of policies and regulations relating to investment in, and use of, nationally significant infrastructure.
Infrastructure Australia has released a discussion paper calling for evidence-based submissions to inform each of these tasks. A copy of the discussion paper, as well as information about how to prepare and lodge a submission, is available at www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au.
Roads Australia has backed the introduction of clearway changes in Melbourne aimed at relieving congestion.
The first changes to clearway times on busy Melbourne roads took effect this week, as part of the Brumby Government’s $113 million congestion plan, Keeping Melbourne Moving.
Roads and Ports Minister, Tim Pallas, said the clearway changes would improve the journeys for up to 300,000 tram and bus passengers and up to 250,000 private vehicle users travelling in Melbourne’s inner suburbs each day.
“The Keeping Melbourne Moving plan will standardise more than 160 clearways within 10 kilometres of the Melbourne CBD from 6.30am to 10am in the AM peak and from 3pm to 7pm in the PM peak. Clearways will also be more strictly enforced,” the Minister said.
AM peak clearways changes will roll out progressively until the end of the year, with PM peaks to follow at the start of 2009.
The first four AM sites to take effect from this week were:
The changes have been backed by business and stakeholder groups, including the RACV and Roads Australia.
RA Chief Executive Ian Webb said the decision, although not an easy one for the Government, was nonetheless right.
“Notwithstanding the concerns of retailers, this is a case of serving the greater good,” he said.
“We can and must make better use of our existing road infrastructure as part of an integrated solution to urban congestion.”
Meantime, the State Government convened its Victorian Transport Summit in Melbourne today. The Summit is part of a comprehensive consultation program that is helping to shape the Victorian Transport Plan, to be released by the end of the year.
Mr Pallas said this week the Transport Plan would tackle road and public transport congestion, co-ordinate urban development with transport delivery and put in place a longer-term freight strategy.
Leading industry analyst and economic forecaster BIS Shrapnel has forecast a return to strong economic growth in the medium term, once the current episode of ‘overdone pessimism’ has receded.
This growth will be driven in part by lower interest rates over the next year, although inflationary pressures from capacity constraints and labour markets will prevent interest rates from falling back to the low levels seen earlier this decade.
BIS Shrapnel’s Long Term Forecasts, 2008 to 2023, predicts interest rates will be lowered during 2008/09. BIS Shrapnel believes the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) will not allow the sharp slowdown in retail spending and building approvals witnessed in the first half of 2008 to cause further contraction in employment, spending and investment.
For more information on this latest BIS Shrapnel report, go to their website.
Premier John Brumby turned the first sod this week on the $30.5 million Thompson Road duplication project between the Mornington Peninsula Freeway and Dandenong-Frankston Road.
Mr Brumby started the works to widen the road to provide two lanes in each direction from the east of Mornington Peninsula Freeway to EastLink and three lanes in each direction between EastLink and Dandenong-Frankston Road.
Construction is being undertaken by BMD Constructions and works are expected to be completed in 2010.
VicRoads and BMD Constructions have been awarded the prestigious 2008 Earth Award for Excellence by the Victorian Branch of the Civil Contractors Federation for the Mickleham Road duplication at Greenvale – Victoria’s first carbon-neutral road construction project.
In a postscript to the story in the last edition of Insider, the project partners were presented with the award acknowledging their joint commitment to sustainable road construction.
Throughout construction of the 2.4 kilometre road duplication, innovative actions to reduce and offset carbon emissions in future roadworks were identified. Greenhouse emissions were measured for materials used including concrete, crushed rock, steel and asphalt.
To accurately calculate the overall carbon footprint of the project, fuel consumed by construction equipment and trucks delivering materials to the site was also considered.
More than 4500 trees are being planted in north-west Victoria to offset carbon emissions generated during the construction.
VicRoads also worked with the Department of Sustainability and Environment and the City of Hume to create a wildlife corridor to enhance native fauna habitat on the eastern side, and to minimise the risk of fauna crossing the road. Particular care was also taken to recycle and reuse materials during the construction.
The $543 million Tugun Bypass, linking the Gold Coast and northern New South Wales, has been recognised as the achievement of the year at the 2008 Queensland Transport and Logistics Industry Awards.
Queensland Main Roads Minister, Warren Pitt, said the Tugun Bypass had tied with Queensland Transport's Industry Capability Initiative for the prestigious award, which is judged by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (Queensland Section).
"I'm absolutely delighted to see such a vital project recognised in this way," Mr Pitt said.
"The Tugun Bypass was one of the most challenging projects in the department's history, with sensitive environmental issues to be considered and approval required by the Queensland, New South Wales and Australian governments.
"To deliver this infrastructure six months ahead of schedule and within budget represented an enormous achievement."
Mr Pitt said recognition of the Tugun Bypass had been two-fold at the awards, with Main Roads General Manager (Major Projects) Derek Skinner crowned the achiever of the year.
Mr Skinner was a driving force in getting the joint state and federal funded project up and running.
"Derek Skinner exemplifies the sense of innovation and conscientiousness that Main Roads thrives on," Mr Pitt said.
Meantime, in other Queensland news Premier Anna Bligh this week announced three flagship measures aimed at addressing congestion in South East Queensland.
The congestion package includes:
Submitted by Mark Bowmer on Friday September 5th 2008 2:27pm
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