With national media coverage over the past fortnight dominated by Budget speculation, particularly in relation to the size of the deficit, all eyes turn to Canberra next Tuesday night in anticipation of announcements on infrastructure spending.
Last week the Australian newspaper carried comments by Infrastructure Australia chairman, Sir Rod Eddington, who reportedly told a CEDA event in Brisbane that he expected announcements on the successful projects from the IA priority list to be included in the Budget.
Sir Rod made it clear in his comments that in the wake of the global financial crisis the Government would need the financial support of both the states and the private sector to get projects across the line.
In a further take on the infrastructure debate, today’s Sydney Morning Herald reported that the NSW Government could expect only $100 million from the Building Australia Fund for one of its high profile projects, the western metro rail line. There was no mention of road funding in the Herald’s report.
Meantime, in Adelaide last week the Advertiser reported that the State had the worst record of any on infrastructure spending over the past 20 years, according to an Engineers Australia analysis.
The Advertiser also reported that traffic congestion in Adelaide was now worse than in Sydney and Melbourne.
In other news, the road and transport initiatives outlined in the Victorian State Budget this week were reasonably well received in the media - particularly the funding for Peninsula Link - although the Age questioned the absence of dollars for a number of big ticket rail projects from the state’s transport plan.
Victorian Roads and Ports Minister, Tim Pallas, announced yesterday that five consortia had expressed interest in building the Government’s toll-free Peninsula Link project.
He said the enthusiastic response to the Government’s invitation for expressions of interest would ensure a competitive bidding process and achieve the best outcome for the community.
The project will be delivered as an Availability Public Private Partnership (APPP), which will allow the 25 kilometre road to remain toll-free while harnessing the benefits of private sector involvement, Mr Pallas said.
The five consortia vying for the project are:
The expressions of interest will be evaluated and a shortlist of two or three consortia will continue through the bidding process. Shortlisted bidders will receive a Request for Proposal (RFP) with detailed documentation expected to be issued in mid-June, Mr Pallas said.
This week the Brumby Government allocated $354.3 million over four years in the 2009 State Budget for the Peninsula Link project (see story below), which will secure up to 4000 direct jobs over the life of the project.
The 2009 Victorian Budget announced this week will inject $992.3 million into Victoria’s road network.
Roads and Ports Minister, Tim Pallas, said the State Budget roads package came on top of the $1.6 billion committed to major metropolitan road projects currently underway, including the $1.39 billion M1-CityLink-West Gate Upgrade.
The 2009 State Budget metropolitan roads package includes:
Mr Pallas said work on the Peninsula Link project would commence this year and provide 4,000 direct jobs and significant economic stimulus for the state and national economy.
The State Government is also contributing $390.1 million to $1.9 billion in Nation Building (Auslink II) road projects being delivered in partnership with the Federal Government.
Road projects to be delivered in partnership with the Federal Government include Victoria’s contribution of $129 million for Stage 1A of the $2.25 billion M80 Ring Road Upgrade project which will widen the road between Sydney Road and the Tullamarine Freeway.
The Budget also provides $5.4 million for a suite of initiatives to encourage carpooling over the short, medium and long term.
“Safely increasing the average number of occupants in private cars has the potential to alleviate congestion, particularly at peak times,” Mr Pallas said.
“If we can reduce the number of single passenger vehicles on our roads, particularly in peak periods, we will be able to use our existing roads more efficiently and reduce congestion on our road network.”
Mr Pallas said that an additional $22.6 million would be provided for road maintenance in the 2009-10 financial year.
The Federal Government has confirmed $26.4 billion in funding for a six-year program of national road and rail works under a new Nation Building Program (formerly Auslink) agreement with the states and territories.
Specific highlights of the six-year program, announced by Federal Transport and Infrastructure Minister, Anthony Albanese, on April 26 are:
NSW – $8.6 billion
VIC – $4.4 billion
QLD – $6.8 billion
WA – $2.8 billion
SA – $1.7 billion
TAS – $800 million
NT – $590 million
ACT – $200 million
A number of important road safety initiatives have been announced by state governments in NSW, Victoria and South Australia in the past week.
In NSW, Roads Minister, Michael Daley, announced the Government will introduce point-to-point speed cameras for heavy vehicles on 20 stretches of road across the state.
The routes will range from two kilometres to 80 kilometres in distance and will be designed to enforce heavy vehicle speed limits on NSW major freight routes.
Mr Daley said overseas studies had shown point-to-point enforcement could reduce the rate of casualty crashes by around 50 per cent.
“The new system will require some changes to the legislation, so it’s our aim to get it through Parliament as quickly as possible, with all 20 sites to be operational within two years,” he said.
Mr Daley also announced today that planning would start immediately on 28 new and upgraded rest stops for heavy vehicles across the State. The State and Federal governments have each committed $8 million to deliver the rest stops.
In Victoria, the Government this week announced a $22.2 million road safety package in its 2009 State Budget.
The package includes:
And in South Australia, the Government’s new laws allowing alcohol interlocks to be fitted to the vehicles of recalcitrant drink drivers came into effect on on May 1.
Road Safety Minister, Michael O’Brien, said the new laws would require a drink driver who had previously lost his or her licence, and had reoffended, to fit an alcohol interlock to their vehicle for a period of time equal to their last disqualification.
More of the Pacific Highway will be duplicated following the decision of the Federal and NSW governments to commit an extra $60 million towards the long term task of upgrading the entire road between Sydney and the Queensland border.
Federal Transport and Infrastructure Minister, Anthony Albanese, and NSW Roads Minister, Michael Daley, announced last month that an additional seven kilometre section of the Pacific Highway at Glenugie, 60 kms north of Coffs Harbour, would be duplicated by the end of 2011.
The project is a joint initiative, with the Federal Government providing $54 million and the NSW Government a further $6 million.
A study commissioned in 2006 by the former Howard Government to assess the cost and viability of delivering the Toowoomba Bypass was released by the Rudd Government this week.
The $10 million study investigated the possibility of delivering the Toowoomba Bypass as a Public Private Partnership (PPP). This analysis was done in accordance with Queensland's PPP Value for Money Framework.
The study's key findings are:
Federal Transport and Infrastructure Minister, Anthony Albanese, said this week the study was provided to Infrastructure Australia so it could make an assessment as to whether this project should be included on its National Priority List.
“The Government has now received Infrastructure Australia's National Priority List. It will be considered by Federal Cabinet, with the timing of its public release a matter for government,” the Minister said.
The full report can be found at www.nationbuildingprogram.gov.au/publications/reports
RA member Maunsell AECOM has come together with Bassett, ENSR Australia and EDAW AECOM as part of a global integration that will see each brand adopt the AECOM name.
AECOM, a professional services firm, has more than 4,000 employees in Australia and New Zealand, and 43,000 employees worldwide.
AECOM Regional Chief Executive for Australia and New Zealand, Richard Jackson, said this week the move to AECOM was a natural evolution providing one face to clients.
“It will make dealing with us simpler and provide our clients with easier access to our full range of services and expertise globally,” said Jackson.
“Integrating AECOM brands and operations brings together the resources and shared expertise needed to deliver world-leading projects both locally and globally.”
AECOM project involvement in Australia includes Brisbane’s North South Bypass Tunnel; the Australian Synchrotron, the Olympic Dam Mine and Kunioon Coal Project.
RA members Sinclair Knight Merz and Abigroup are partners in the alliance appointed last month to work with the NSW RTA to deliver the Hume Highway bypass of Woomargama in southern NSW.
The RTA named the alliance with SKM and Abigroup to design and build the nine kilometre bypass to the west of Woomargama village, one of the last remaining town bypasses required to achieve full duplication of the Hume Highway.
The dual carriageway Woomargama bypass will improve safety and transport efficiency along the Hume Highway, the main transport corridor between Sydney and Melbourne.
SKM General Manager, Buildings & Infrastructure, Terry Petersen said, “SKM is delighted to have been selected to play a continuing role in the delivery of this important piece of road infrastructure.”
Abigroup and SKM are currently working together with the RTA as part of the Hume Highway Southern Alliance for the delivery of 32 kilometres of new Hume Highway duplication works in NSW.
The current route of the Hume Highway at Woomargama carries an average of approximately 3,500 light vehicles and 2,000 heavy vehicles per day. The bypass will improve safety and convenience for motorists and local residents by removing many light and heavy vehicles from the current route through the village.
Completion of the Woomargama bypass is scheduled for late 2011.
Leighton Contractors last month commenced production at its new 30,000 tonne capacity concrete precast facility near Coffs Harbour. The facility specialises in the manufacture of precast concrete products and will initially supply concrete girders and planks for the Ballina section of works under the RTA’s Pacific Highway Upgrade program.
Mike Metcalfe, General Manager NSW & ACT with Leighton Contractors, welcomed the start of production following a six-month program to construct the Precast Facility.
“Manufacturing our first precast concrete products for the Ballina Bypass project is a major milestone for the Coffs Harbour Precast Facility and for Leighton Contractors,” Mr Metcalfe said.
“Our highly skilled team, including 12 permanent employees and additional production workforce from the local area, have shown their commitment to always deliver and achieved the start of production despite recent flooding.
“With production now underway, Leighton Contractors and the Coffs Harbour Precast Facility are ideally placed to contribute to the local economy and help meet the strong demand from infrastructure developments in the Sydney-Brisbane corridor expected over the next decade.”
RA member Connell Wagner has recently joined with Africon, South Africa’s largest privately owned infrastructure consultancy, and Ninham Shand, one of South Africa’s most established engineering and environmental consultancies, to form a new multi-disciplinary global group called Aurecon.
Aurecon will provide professional technical services on large scale integrated infrastructure projects to clients across Europe, Middle East and Africa (AME) and Asia Pacific (APAC).
Given the geographical reach of Aurecon’s operations, the global group will be headquartered in Singapore and employ over 6,700 people across 87 offices in 28 countries.
It is anticipated that Aurecon will rank in the top 60 global consulting firms based on the anticipated combined revenues of the combined businesses.
Paul Hardy, previously CEO and Chairman of Connell Wagner, has been appointed Aurecon’s Global CEO.
The Chairman of Bilfinger Berger Australia and former NSW Premier, the Hon Nick Greiner AC, will be guest of honour at this year’s Roads Australia John Shaw Award dinner in Sydney on July 28.
The prestigious 2009 John Shaw Award and Dinner will be held on the first night of the 2009 Roads Australia Annual Summit.
The medal is awarded by Roads Australia and is selected by a peer group of former winners. His Excellency Dr Ken Michael AC, Governor of Western Australia, was the 2007 recipient, and RACV MD and CEO, Colin Jordan, in 2008.
Booking are now open for the Dinner, and continue for the two-day Summit (July 28 and 29) - Australia’s premier annual gathering of road industry leaders.
For information on both events, click here.
Submitted by Mark Bowmer on Friday May 8th 2009 12:58pm
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