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FEBRUARY/MARCH 2014

SPECIAL FEATURES CRITICAL NEED FOR URBAN TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY

BAUXITE BY-PRODUCT TRIAL IN WA ROAD CONSTRUCTION

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FEATURE

CRITICAL NEED FOR URBAN TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY THE LACK OF A WIDELY ACCEPTED, NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR MANAGING, PLANNING AND FINANCING URBAN TRANSPORT IN AUSTRALIA IS AN IMPEDIMENT TO EFFECTIVE TRANSPORT AND PRODUCTIVITY, ACCORDING TO INFRASTRUCTURE AUSTRALIA.

I

n releasing Infrastructure Australia’s Urban Transport Strategy report on February 7, National Infrastructure Co-ordinator, Michael Deegan, said: “Australia needs an urban transport strategy to ensure that our community gets the best value for money in terms of infrastructure spending”.

Mr Deegan said such a strategy would be of paramount importance.

“This strategy would target improved city planning, better use of transport services, and better investment in road and rail infrastructure. It would complement national ports, airports and freight strategies.”

Mr Deegan said the strategy would – in conjunction with national infrastructure audits – aim to improve proposals for inclusion on the national infrastructure priority list.

The Infrastructure Australia report said the purpose of the strategy would be to provide “clear signals” about economic, social and environmental criteria that needed to be addressed by urban transport projects.

It said that, until now, debates about urban transport had focused on roads or public transport, emphasising local issues – urban transport had not been viewed as an integrated system dealing with people and freight flows.

The report emphasised it was critical that any discussion on urban transport needed to consider road and public transport together, because greater use of one form of transport could result in less use of the other, and funds allocated to one were not able to be allocated to the other.

It said road funding had long been a contentious issue among governments in the context of relative tax and spending between levels of government.

“It is becoming a pressing financial issue for all governments as total road expenditures are outstripping road revenues. The Henry Review recommended a national roads agreement in part to address this matter.”

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“It is becoming a pressing financial issue for all governments as total road expenditures are outstripping road revenues. The Henry Review recommended a national roads agreement in part to address this matter.”

The report said it would be important to look for innovative mechanisms to finance urban transport projects, such as publicprivate partnerships, which made use of land and commercial development opportunities. It said this might need to involve cooperation between tiers of government.

FEATURE

“The best approach to urban transport,” the reports said “may be to source all funds directly from users or beneficiaries”.

“The aim would be to encourage optimal travel behaviour and moderate demand, as well as provide finance for services and infrastructure. In an ideal world, revenues would be higher than financial costs in order to account for externalities.”

The report said while urban transport systems as a whole were significant, certain infrastructure was especially important because of the locations it served.

“While the Australian Government has a designated national land transport network, that network does not cover every road that could be nationally significant; for example, most of the Tullamarine Freeway in Melbourne and the Eastern DistributorHarbour Bridge-Pacific Highway in Sydney are excluded.

“Some of Australia’s public transport sub-systems are world scale and influence the performance of urban roads and national freight systems. Very little of Australia’s urban railways are included on the government’s national transport network.”

The report stated governments were in the best position to oversee the public reporting of urban transport performance.

It said, at present, there was very little nationally consistent reporting of outputs or outcomes, and very little information that enabled independent diagnoses of urban transport systems.

The report said the forthcoming national infrastructure audit may need to give more detailed consideration to this issue.

Also in relation to governments, the report said they strongly influenced the use and provision of urban transport and the infrastructure it needed.

Urban transport was largely a state and territory responsibility, but national government policies affected the level and pattern of urban travel demand.

“The Australian Government should have a strong interest in ensuring that urban transport systems, as a whole, allow for productive national outcomes. This would include an interest in ensuring that such systems are planned in conjunction with land use plans.”

The entire report by Infrastructure Australia can be found in the publications section of its website.

While Infrastructure Australia was highlighting the need for an urban transport strategy, a report by the International Transport Forum (ITF) said the volume of global transport could double or even quadruple by 2050, placing greatly increased pressure on infrastructure.

The ITF is an intergovernmental organisation with 54 member states associated with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

GDP growth, freight intensity of economic activity and demographic change are important drivers of this growth. But key determinants for the level of future increases are policy choices, according to the ITF Transport Outlook, an annual report containing long-run scenarios for global transport activity and related CO2 emissions.

The report said China and India drove transport volume growth, with traffic increases to between four and nine times the present level. Across non-OECD countries, surface passenger transport volumes could be four or five times higher in 2050 than today.

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“The Australian Government should have a strong interest in ensuring that urban transport systems, as a whole, allow for productive national outcomes. This would include an interest in ensuring that such systems are planned in conjunction with land use plans.”

For the industrialised OECD area, surface passenger travel – measured in vehicle-kilometres – is projected to grow by 50-60%.

For surface freight volumes – i.e. goods transported by road and rail – ITF projections put growth at up to 430% in non-OECD emerging economies and up to 125% for the OECD area. With low GDP growth and a decoupling of economic growth and freight intensity, the growth figures there could be 100% and 40% respectively at the lower end.

Strong increases in transport volumes meant strong growth of emissions from transport. The baseline projection saw global CO2 emissions from surface transport grow by 80% by 2050. At the top and bottom end, the increase could be as high as 170% or as low as 30%.

The outcome, according to the ITF Transport Outlook, would depend not least on choosing the best long-term strategies to support growth and protect the environment. Policy choices were particularly important in the cities of emerging regions, as exploding urbanisation shaped global transport trends.

A case study in the report on emissions in Latin American cities showed urban policies favouring private cars led to 30% higher emissions, while policies favouring public transport resulted in 30% lower emissions (compared to a business-as-usual scenario).

These results were not purely hypothetical but based on patterns of development that existed across the region in today’s major cities.

Policy-makers faced a funding dilemma, however, the report contended.

Demand for transport was growing rapidly but budgets were getting tighter. Tax revenue available for transport infrastructure was often eroded by the economic crisis.

Structural factors such as falling fuel tax revenues due to growing fuel efficiency added to the problem. This trend reinforced the importance of pricing mechanisms such as road charging, both for revenue generation and demand management, e.g. to reduce congestion in urban areas.

On the publication of the report, José Viegas, SecretaryGeneral of the International Transport Forum, said: “The 2013 ITF Transport Outlook is based on original research

by ITF experts. It also incorporates insights from ITF’s 2013 Annual Summit of Transport Ministers on Funding Transport namely on how to establish sustainable funding mechanisms for the transport sector and emphasise the need for long-run funding strategies.”

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FEATURE

BY-PRODUCT OF BAUXITE COULD BE COMPONENT OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION IN WA THE TOWN OF PINJARRA ABOUT 20 KILOMETRES FROM THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN COASTAL CENTRE OF MANDURAH IS THE SITE OF TESTING BY MAIN ROADS WA THAT COULD BRING ABOUT A MAJOR CHANGE IN THE SUSTAINABILITY OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION IN THE STATE. A section of Greenlands Road, which connects the Forrest Highway to the South Western Highway at Pinjarra, has been constructed using red sand – a by-product of the alumina extraction process.

The road authority is currently testing the road’s performance under normal traffic conditions and the results, so far, are the same as those for a road constructed with traditional virgin sand and limestone.

The testing – over about three years – has shown the red sand to have good structural properties for road construction.

The sand is a waste product from the process of extracting alumina from bauxite and it was considered to be unusable.

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Alcoa’s three refineries in Western Australia produce 30,000 tonnes of red mud and 18,000 tonnes of residue sand each day – the red sand is a by-product of the residue sand.

Research undertaken by Alcoa’s refining research and development team, the Technology Delivery Group (TDG) determined the red sand had the potential to be used for purposes including road base, general fill for industrial land development and as topdressing sand for turf.

The sustainable use of coarse bauxite residues for road construction is considered a viable option because it has the potential to be a cost-effective alternative to general purpose sand. It is a high quality construction

sand with top drainage and strength characteristics.

As well as the TDG, research focused on the use of red sand has been undertaken by the Centre for Sustainable Resource Processing and Curtin University’s Sustainable Engineering Group.

Dr Wahid Biswas from the SEG said red sand could be effectively used for road construction.

“The physical characteristics of bauxite – the grain sizes – vary depending on the source of the bauxite. In Western Australia, residue is characterised by a high course sand fraction from which the red sand by-product can be produced.

“It is this by-product that is suitable for use in road construction.

“It can replace virgin sand which is traditionally used in the sub-base and limestone which is the normal material for the base course in road construction.

“Using it as an alternative to those materials can lead to reduced energy and water consumption during construction which means road making with red sand is more sustainable from a cost and environmental viewpoint.”

Research undertaken by Dr Biswas and his associates at the Sustainable Engineering Group assessed the sustainability of red sand using a triple bottom line analysis that included economic, social, and environmental objectives.

The analysis focused on whether the use of red sand fostered or impeded sustainability.

Dr Biswas said his team’s assessment indicated that replacing virgin sand and crushed limestone with red sand would provide a range of financial and environmental benefits.

“Using red sand avoids environmental impacts associated with using virgin sand and crushed limestone, such as loss of biodiversity and land degradation,” Dr Biswas said.

“Embodied energy consumption associated with producing red sand is lower than the energy that’s required to quarry virgin sand and crushed limestone – that reduces the overall greenhouse impact of road construction.

“We also expect the use of the sand will conserve land and raw materials for future generations.”

Statistically, using red sand for roads – based on use of 600,000 tonnes per year over a 35-year period – can:

• Avoid approximately 66,200 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions; • Conserve approximately 407 hectares of land (a similar size to Perth’s Kings Park), with corresponding preservation of vegetation and biodiversity; and • Achieve reduced costs of $18 million to the construction industry and potentially many more millions, depending on the fate of the federal carbon tax.

“Overall, our research has found the use of red sand can offer sustainability benefits in road construction,” Dr Biswas said.

“Its use is still in the planning stage in WA and Alcoa is looking at the commercial aspects of such a construction method.”

NEWS

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT CONTRACT FOR KEY SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND MOTORWAY Parsons Brinckerhoff and Seymour Whyte have been awarded a design and construct contract in south east Queensland under what they describe as a unique joint venture arrangement.

The contract covers design and construction work for the Smith Street Motorway and Olsen Avenue Interchange upgrade – a project valued at more than $50 million.

It was awarded by the Department of Transport and Main Roads and involves the upgrade of the link between the new Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct and the Pacific Motorway.

Parsons Brinckerhoff’s Director of Transport, Mark Keogh, said the structure of the joint venture was unique and represented a positive, strategic step forward for industry.

“We are pleased that Parsons Brinckerhoff and Seymour Whyte have joined together under a joint venture agreement to deliver this project, and will be trading as GC Connect Joint Venture.

“Both parties will share the risks and opportunities presented by the project, allowing for a focus on collaboration and for the delivery of best-for-project outcomes for our client and the community.

“This partnership demonstrates a positive step forward for the design and construction industry and brings together two companies which are closely aligned in terms of cultural, corporate and safety values”, Mr Keogh said.

“A key challenge for the project will be to ensure all critical milestones are met with construction set to commence in early 2014 and expected completion in mid-2015.”

About the project: Smith Street Motorway links the Pacific Motorway (M1) and the new Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct in Parkwood, and is also a major connection between the M1 and the Gold Coast’s main tourism districts.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads has worked with the Department of Infrastructure and Planning, Queensland Health, Gold Coast City Council and Griffith University to ensure the roads network supports the new Gold Coast University Hospital, the planned expansion of the Griffith University campus and the first stage of the Gold Coast Rapid Transit project.

Project focus areas include: • Providing capacity for future traffic volumes and emergency vehicle movements around the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct.

• Allowing for greater traffic efficiency with extra through and turning lanes at the Smith Street Motorway/Olsen Avenue Interchange.

• Facilitating access to the new Gold Coast University Hospital from Olsen Avenue and Smith Street.

• Alleviating congestion for traffic entering and leaving the Smith Street Motorway, and • Improving pedestrian access to the university through signalised crossings on Olsen Avenue.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT UPGRADES PART OF MELBOURNE’S EAST WEST LINK The Victorian Government unveiled plans on February 9 for what it called a significant package of public transport works as part of the multi-billion dollar East West Link project.

The package is designed to provide a boost for public transport users, cyclists and pedestrians who are seeking to access Melbourne’s Central Business District. It comprises a $47 million upgrade of the Doncaster Area Rapid Transit (DART) bus service, $29 million for tram improvements and $32 million for urban renewal on Alexandra Parade – a key and congested feeder road into and out of Melbourne.

“We will upgrade DART with new bus lanes along Hoddle Street and upgraded bus stops, including a new free-flowing exit off the Eastern Freeway, Transport Minister, Terry Mulder said.

“We will consult relevant councils about these improvements, which are designed to preserve all existing running lanes for cars.

“There are some 3.8 million passenger trips on DART each year and these improvements will deliver real benefits to those passengers, reducing delays, improving travel time reliability and creating potential for additional services,” Mr Mulder said.

Premier, Dennis Napthine, said the East West Link tunnel would remove up to 30 per cent of traffic each day from Alexandra Parade, which paves the way for public transport improvements.

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“As a result of the East West Link project, an integrated transport project has been developed which will deliver benefits for road and public transport users and the broader Victorian economy,” Dr Napthine said.

“This will create a real difference for the 80,000 tram and 20,000 bus passengers travelling on north-south routes that cross Alexandra Parade, Victoria Parade and Brunswick Road each day, and are routinely held up by traffic lights and slow-moving traffic.

“These changes will deliver more reliable tram travel times and greater capacity to deliver extra services on these busy tram routes.

The government’s purchase of 50 new trams will support this package of tram improvements.

Dr Napthine also said the package would ensure Alexandra Parade became one of Melbourne’s great boulevards.

“As part of the East West Link package we will be able to plant canopy trees along Alexandra Parade, to reinstate its boulevard character, improving the design of intersections and developing beautiful open spaces for people to enjoy.

“The Alexandra Parade urban renewal will help turn it from a heavily congested inner city arterial road into a vibrant boulevard.”

NEWS

NEW COMMISSIONERS AT NTC A group of new commissioners is leading the National Transport Commission’s work on transport reform around the country.

The new board of Commissioners, who began their three-year term on 1 January 2014 comprises Chair– David Anderson, Deputy Chair – Carolyn Walsh, Commissioner – Nola Bransgrove, Commissioner – Mike Mrdak and Commissioner – Norm McIlfatrick.

NTC Chief Executive and fellow Commissioner, Paul Retter, said he looked forward to utilising the new board’s expertise to advance the NTC’s work program.

“The new commissioners bring a wealth of expert industry knowledge and public sector experience from a state, national and international level.

“I am confident that we can work together with our stakeholders to bring about real and positive change for the Australian transport sector,” said Mr Retter.

David Anderson, Chair / Commissioner An independent consultant on transport and infrastructure issues and projects to private companies, Australian transport jurisdictions and to the Prime Minister and senior Ministers of the Government of East Timor. His past roles included Chief Executive Officer of VicRoads, Independent Chair of the Performance Based Standards Review Panel, and providing advice on the development of East Timor Infrastructure Plan 2009-2020.

Carolyn Walsh, Deputy Chair / Commissioner Currently a Commissioner at the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, and is a member of a number of NSW Government agency Audit and Risk Committees.

Her past roles with the NSW Government have included Chief Executive of the Independent Transport Safety and Reliability Regulator and Executive Director, Office of the Coordinator General of Rail.

Nola Bransgrove / Commissioner Joint owner of Branstrans Pty Ltd, a transport company based in Gippsland, Victoria. She had an instrumental role in developing the industry accreditation program TruckSafe and was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the Transport and Logistics Industry and the Community in 2012.

Past roles include Municipal Councillor of Traralgon Shire, Commissioner of Latrobe Regional Commission, Trustee Director of Transport Industry Superannuation Fund, and Councillor of Victorian Freight and Logistics Council.

Mike Mrdak / Commissioner Currently Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development. Past roles included senior positions across this portfolio and within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Norm McIlfatrick / Commissioner Currently Secretary of the Tasmanian Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources.

Past roles included Secretary of the Tasmanian Department of Economic Development and Tourism, Chief Executive Officer of the Tasmanian Development Board, and Managing Director of Aurora Energy.

CONSULTATION ON SA TRANSPORT DEVELOPMENT LEVY LEGISLATION Draft legislation for a transport development levy to fund improvements to South Australia’s public transport system was open for consultation until the end of January 2014.

Premier Jay Weatherill said Adelaide had relatively low rates of public transport use and the government wanted to make catching public transport more attractive.

Mr Weatherill said Adelaide had more car parks per capita than any other Australian capital and, as the population increased, it was experiencing increasing congestion on roads into the city.

He said aside from Canberra, Adelaide had far and away the cheapest CBD parking in Australia.

“A transport development levy will impose a cost on the owners of city carparks that will be spent on improving our public transport for everyone.”

Mr Weatherill said after listening to concerns raised by community members about the levy, changes had been made to the draft legislation.

The legislation detailed a number of exemptions to the levy including: • residential car park spaces; • car parking spaces provided to customers of businesses free-of-charge; • loading bays and bus layovers; • disability car park spaces; 10

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• car park spaces for emergency vehicles; • short-term parking by the general public on a hospital site; • car park spaces provided for special event parking (including parklands); • car park spaces for motorcycles, display vehicles, servicing vehicles or stock vehicles; and • spaces located at sites that do not contain more than five car parking spaces where the owner does not own more than five car parking spaces in total in the CBD. Mr Weatherill said the levy would commence in 2014-15, which meant it would be first assessed against carparks owned as at January 1, 2015. The levy was expected to raise almost $30 million in 2014-15.

It would initially be used to pay for new park ‘n’ ride and passenger facilities at various locations around suburban Adelaide.

Mr Weatherill said new revenue streams were necessary to continue and extend the government’s investment in the state’s public transport system.

“This Government has a strong record in developing and improving the state’s public transport system.

“Over the next four years we are investing $373 million on the extended and electrified Seaford rail line, new electric trains and 107 new buses.”

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NEWS

REVISED STANDARD COVERING BITUMEN FOR PAVEMENTS A new version of AS 2008-2013 Bitumen for pavements was released at the end of November 2013 – a revision that brought the standard upto-date and helped ensure the safety of pedestrians and drivers.

Dr Bronwyn Evans, Chief Executive Officer, Standards Australia said pavements were something Australians used every day and assumed they were safe and durable.

“The rigorous testing and classification method this standard sets out for bitumen helps assure the quality of construction and maintenance of pavements, while meeting the increasing demands of road users.”

Dr Evans said the standard set out important safety engineering specifications for different types of bitumen and provided advice on handling and labelling of samples.

“This includes appropriate labelling, sample sizes, and what temperature they glue and hold together.”

Dr Evans said the revision added strength to a series of standards relating to materials for road making purposes. She said the standard was prepared by the Standards Australia Committee CH-025, Bitumen and Related Products (for Roadmaking).

The committee comprises: • Australian Asphalt Pavement Association; • ARRB Group (Australian Road Research Board); • Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry;

• Australian Institute of Petroleum; • AUSTROADS; • Engineers Australia; • National Association of Testing Authorities Australia; • Roading New Zealand; and • Transit New Zealand.

“This is an important and fundamental technical document that provides community benefit and promotes road safety,” Dr Evans said.

HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW IN FORCE One Heavy Vehicle National Law regulating trucks, buses and other heavy vehicles across most of Australia came into force on February 10, with the aim of boosting efficiency and productivity in the transport industry.

Under the new law, all vehicles over 4.5 tonnes will operate under one rule book covering Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory.

Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss congratulated the participating state and territory governments, the National Transport Commission and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator on achieving the consistent laws.

Mr Truss said the single law would relieve the transport industry of unnecessary and costly red tape, while ensuring a consistent safety regime for heavy vehicles on the nation’s roads. He said the benefits included: • reducing paperwork and administration costs for businesses operating across state borders; • creating a one-stop-shop for heavy vehicle accreditation and roads access permits; and • instituting new work diary arrangements for managing driver fatigue.

“This important agreement across state lines is expected to boost the national economy by more than $12 billion over the next 20 years,” Mr Truss said.

“The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator opened its doors in January 2013 and has been managing the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme and the Performance Based Standards Scheme.

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“With the commencement of the National Law, the regulator will now be responsible for heavy vehicle compliance with national vehicle standards and for regulating drivers and the industry’s safety practices.

“Importantly, the Regulator will also oversee vehicle loading and manage permit applications for roads access.

“While Western Australia and the Northern Territory are yet to implement the national law, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator will continue to work with them to address cross-border issues for heavy vehicle operators.”

Mr Truss said the heavy vehicle industry was the lifeblood of Australia’s economy and the government was committed to reducing red tape and compliance costs for businesses and implementing measures that improved safety for operators and the community.

“We have already clocked in a new Australian Design Rule requiring either antilock braking systems (ABS) or load proportioning brake systems for new heavy trailers.

“Combined with the recent mandating of ABS for new heavy vehicles, these new rules are expected to save around 50 lives over the next 30 years on Australian roads,” Mr Truss said.

“And behind the wheel, for drivers we are continuing the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program providing improved rest areas and facilities, while our $300 million Bridges Renewal Program will improve productivity and access in regional areas.”

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator can be contacted on 1300 696 487 or at: www.nhvr.gov.au.

FLOOD RECOVERY ON FAST TRACK The Queensland Government’s efforts to fast track the recovery from ex-cyclone Oswald has delivered 94 per cent of damaged roads to market one year on from the natural disaster.

State Transport and Main Roads Minister, Scott Emerson, said at the end of January that better planning with industry meant $845.1 million of recovery and reconstruction works were delivered or out to tender.

“Through better planning we’ve fixed the situation we had with previous disasters where it was taking several years to repair our roads and transport infrastructure,” Mr Emerson said.

“No time was wasted getting emergency repairs underway after floodwaters receded one year ago, and we’ve worked with industry to ensure that momentum has continued.

“The results are evident, with key projects already completed or underway enabling businesses, tourism, agriculture and the resource industries to reconnect and rebuild.”

Of the $845.1 million of recovery and reconstruction works delivered or out to tender: • $207.1 million of works are complete; • $313.1 million in works are currently in delivery; and • $324.9 million in works are out to tender and nearing award.

Key recent projects completed since the disasters include: • Double Creek bridge works on the Dawson Highway between Gladstone and Biloela; • Landslip at Tugun on the Pacific Motorway; and • Pavement and slope repairs on the Tamborine Mountain Road.

“We are on target to meet our goal of having all works arising from the natural disasters in early 2013 completed by the end of 2014,” Mr Emerson said.

Almost $900 million in total transport recovery and reconstruction works was allocated following the January and February 2013 disasters under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements – a joint federal and state initiative.

UPGRADE FOR KEY ARTERIAL ROAD IN MELBOURNE’S SOUTH EAST Work has started on the $49 million Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road upgrade to reduce congestion along one of south-east Melbourne’s key travel corridors.

The project will extend the duplication of Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road to a fully divided road for 3.5 kilometres between Pound Road and Thompson Road.

It will complete the duplication of the road all the way from Ernst Wanke Road, north of the Monash Freeway to Thompson Road, at Cranbourne East.

The work will result in safer and less congested conditions for drivers, with three lanes each way between Ormond Road and Glasscocks Road, and two lanes each way for the other sections between Pound Road and Thompson Road.

The upgrade of intersections at Ormond Road and Glasscocks Road, and new traffic signals at Rosebank Drive will also help people access residential and commercial areas more safely and easily.

Victoria’s Minister for Roads, Terry Mulder, said the upgrade would improve access, road safety and traffic flow along the heavily-used arterial road.

“The Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road is an important link for residents and businesses in the area with this section carrying around 29,000 vehicles each day.

“Once completed, the project will also improve safety for drivers, which is especially important given that this road recorded 61 casualty crashes in the five years to December 2013.”

Work on the project is expected to be completed by late 2015.

ROADS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2014

13

NEWS

LEGACY WAY WINS INTERNATIONAL TUNNELLING AWARD

Brisbane’s Legacy Way project won the Major Tunnelling Project of the Year for 2013 (over $500 million) at the International Tunnelling Awards held in London.

Transcity, the contractor building Brisbane City Council’s 4.6 kilometre tunnel was acknowledged as the winner of an award which celebrates the most innovative and successful projects from around the world.

Transcity is a joint venture between Spanish tunnelling and civil infrastructure giant, Acciona Infrastructures, Italian tunnelling specialists, Ghella, and Brisbane’s BMD Constructions.

Transcity is responsible for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of Legacy Way. Brisbane’s Lord Mayor, Graham Quirk, said Transcity’s win at the award was not surprising.

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“Council takes great pride in its reputation as Australia’s new world city and the world-class construction being delivered on Legacy Way is a credit to the work being undertaken by Transcity,” Cr Quirk said.

“The appointment of Transcity to design and build Legacy Way has brought a wealth of international experience and expertise to Brisbane to deliver this vital project for the city’s transport network.

“We chose Transcity’s bid because of its outstanding value for money for Brisbane’s ratepayers by combining international experience with innovative design, resulting in strong community outcomes.”

Transcity Project Director, Fernando Fajardo, said the win confirmed Transcity’s performance was world class.

“We are very proud of Transcity’s achievements in delivering Legacy Way through many innovations in safety, design and construction since works began in early 2011,” Mr Fajardo said.

“Through the hard work and dedication of the entire Transcity team, we have been able to achieve great success, including world recordbreaking tunnel boring machine excavation rates.

“At Legacy Way we have been able to achieve a record 49.68 metres excavation in a 24- hour period, 258.3 metres in a week and 858.1 metres in one month,” Mr Fajardo said.

“Our tunnel boring machines completed their tunnelling journey three and six months ahead of schedule, and records such as these have not been seen anywhere else in the world using 12.4 metre diameter TBMs.” The project is due to open to traffic in mid-2015.

Legacy Way is Brisbane City Council’s 4.6km road tunnel that will connect the western and inner northern suburbs. It is the fourth project in council’s TransApex plan, designed to reduce congestion and increase connectivity on the city’s road network.

NEWS

TOOWOOMBA RING ROAD CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY Work started at the end of November 2013 on Queensland’s Toowoomba Ring Road.

The Victoria Street extension is the final link in Toowoomba’s Outer Circulating Road system.

The Outer Circulating Road Victoria Street extension project includes: • a new four lane sub-arterial road extending Victoria Street from Russell Street through Queensland Rail land to connect with the Chalk Drive-Ruthven Street intersection, including a major three-span bridge over the West and East creeks; • an upgrade of the Russell-Victoria Street intersection, including an upgrade of the existing Russell Street drainage structure; • an upgrade of the Ruthven Street-Chalk Drive

intersection and an upgrade of West Creek channel; and • widened shoulders for cyclists, and a separate footpath for pedestrians on the new section.

Construction of a new ring road will better protect the city’s central business district from floods and make it easier to get from one side of Toowoomba to the other.

The Toowoomba Regional Council will receive $45 million and a further $5 million for flood mitigation works on the West Creek Railway Bridge through the Queensland Government’s Royalties for the Regions program.

State Transport Minister, Scott Emerson, said the detailed design for the new four-lane road had been completed with the project planned

to be constructed and open to traffic by the end of 2014.

“We will transfer under-utilised Queensland Rail freehold land at the Toowoomba rail yards precinct to the council for the ring road.

“Flood mitigation measures include the construction of a three-span bridge and widening of the creek channels in the area.

“This important project is one of a range of strategic infrastructure improvements the government is delivering to improve flood immunity, safety and efficiency of our regional roads.”

The current Toowoomba Range safety improvements are well underway and due for completion in April 2014.

PENOLA SOUTHERN BYPASS TO BOOST SA’S ECONOMY Work was due to start in early 2014 on a 2.5-kilometre Penola Southern Bypass in South Australia’s south east.

Construction of the bypass is part of the Rural Freight Improvement Program – it has been planned by the SA Government and Wattle Range Council.

The more direct and higher speed freight route will be more efficient for industries around Penola and will support the highly productive Limestone Coast economy. The bypass will provide an alternative route for freight vehicles, while improving the safety and amenity for local traffic and tourists within the historic town of Penola.

State Transport Minister, Tom Koutsantonis, said the project was a

priority under the Green Triangle Region Freight Action Plan, released jointly by the Victorian and South Australian Governments in April 2009, and formed part of Wattle Range Council’s Penola Freight Access project.

Wattle Range Mayor, Peter Gandolfi, said council had worked closely with the State Government for many years on the project and acquired the corridor for the bypass as its contribution to the development.

“Although there have been many challenges and delays throughout the planning and acquisition stages of the bypass, the State Government … has maintained and honoured its partnership with council for the project.”

Mr Gandolfi said stage one of the project would extend from the Riddoch Highway south of Penola to the Robe Road.

“The first stage will divert away from Church Street heavy vehicle blue gum traffic travelling from north west of Penola to the Port of Portland (in south west Victoria).

“The council remains committed to supporting the State Government’s bid to obtain funding from the Federal Government to complete the bypass and further improve the safety and amenity for Penola residents and visitors.”

Pre-construction activities, including service relocation works, were expected to be underway early in 2014, with construction expected to begin mid-year, weather permitting.

OVERWHELMING RESPONSE TO SA’S FIRST TRANSPORT PLAN Thousands of South Australians took the opportunity to provide feedback on the state’s first Integrated Transport and Land Use Plan.

More than 1,500 submissions had been received and more than 2500 people had attended community engagement events across the state during the consultation period, which ended on 17 January.

Submissions included emails, feedback forms at public events, online surveys, written submissions as well as feedback through social media and calls to the Info Line.

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“The feedback received has been overwhelmingly positive and everyone’s ideas and insights will help us deliver a comprehensive plan that will meet the State’s transport infrastructure needs into the future,” Transport and Infrastructure Minister, Tom Koutsantonis, said.

“We care what the people of South Australia have to say.”

Mr Koutsantonis said the government had shown the community its vision for transport infrastructure over the next 30 years and

would continue to work with the community to implement the vision.

Planning Minister, John Rau, said consultation was critical to informing the next stage of the plan.

“This is a plan that covers the entire state and the diverse views that we have heard during this extensive consultation period will be very important in refining the final version of the plan,” Mr Rau said.

“This is a plan that will help communities and businesses grow over many years – it is a vital plan for South Australia.”

6th Australian

Small Bridges

Australian Technology Park 27-28 May 2014 Sydney | Australia

Conference

www.smallbridgesconference.com

About the Conference

Speakers Include

The 6th Australian Small Bridges Conference has been designed to alert bridge and road engineers, managers, contractors and suppliers about significant new developments and requirements for bridges.

Adjunct Professor Wije Ariyaratne, Principal Bridge & Structures Engineer, Bridge & Structural Engineering Branch, Engineering Technology Services, Roads and Maritime Services

The two day conference program will focus on small to medium bridges, both road and pedestrian. Small and medium bridges are the most common type of bridge in Australia.

Michael P. Culmo, PE, Vice President of Transportation and Structures, CME Associates, USA

Local Government Authorities are in particular currently faced with major challenges in their management and so Local Government Projects are a major theme of the conference.

Tony Green, Manager Operations, Kempsey Shire Council Luay Butrus, Structures Team Leader, VicRoads Metro North West Region Phil Hewitt, Manager Engineering Strategy & Assets, City of Charles Sturt John Woodside, Principal, J Woodside Consulting Gerald Lovell, Senior Structural Engineer, GHD

Small Bridges are located not only within road reserves but also occur on train lines, parks & gardens, national parks, mines, forestry areas, private property and in public areas such as zoos. Small bridges can be for vehicles, trains, pedestrians or even stock & wildlife. Structures such as elevated boardwalks and viewing platforms also fall within the scope of this conference.

Anant Gupta, Senior Structural Engineer, Metro Trains Melbourne: Tony Green, Manager Operations, Kempsey Shire Council

This event will bring together councils, state government road managers, railways, government agencies and the private sector.

Matthew Buttigieg, Structural Engineer, GHD

State and Local Government Engineers, leading practitioners and consultants in the bridge sector will present up-to-the-minute, highly relevant information to assist asset owners, road managers and engineers to perform their roles in an increasingly complex bridge and road environment.

Dan A. Tingley, Wood Research and Development, Canada, USA/Canada

Topics Include

Pascal Savioz, Civil Engineer & Head of Asia-Pacific, Mageba, Switzerland/China

• timber bridge inspection • timber bridge restoration • bridge investigation & evaluation • pedestrian bridges • elevated boardwalks • viewing platforms • bridge aesthetics • bridge innovations • culverts

Mahes Rajakaruna, Main Roads Western Australia Garrett Bray, Senior Structural Engineer, BG&E Dr Kabir Patoary, Principal Bridge Engineer, GHD Marcia Prelog, Senior Bridges Engineer, Aurecon Dr. Olivia Mirza, Lecturer, Academic Course Advisor Postgraduate, Fire Safety Engineering and Building Surveying, School of Computing Engineering and Mathematics, University of Western Sydney’ Ross McConell, Civil Structural Engineer - Infrastructure, Arup Andrew Tammeslid, Principal Engineer - Bridges, GHD

• concrete bridges

Andrew Sonnenberg, Bridge Engineering Manager, pitt&sherry

• steel bridges

Reza Salamy, Senior Engineer, Sterling Group

• modular bridges

See website for more speakers and all topics and abstracts

• bridge replacement

Delegate Registration

• bridge maintenance • repair & strengthening • railway bridges

Register online at www.smallbridgesconference.com. Alternatively, contact the Registration Manager: p +61 3 8534 5050 f +613 9530 8911 e registration@commstrat.com.au

• case studies

Sponsorship & Exhibition

More Information:

Contact: Scott Matthews, BE, Conference Convenor, p +61 3 8534 5004 e scott.matthews@commstrat.com.au

For more information on the conference including Program, Venue and Registration, please visit our conference website www.smallbridgesconference. com or contact the Conference Convenor.

The conference website will be regularly updated with new information.

Gold Sponsor

Silver Sponsors

Bronze Sponsor

pitt&sherry GLOBAL

Minor Sponsor

NEWS

NORTH-SOUTH CORRIDOR PLANNING STUDY Work is underway on an $8.5 million North-South Corridor planning study between Anzac Highway and the Southern Expressway in Adelaide.

A consortium of local consultants – Sinclair Knight Merz, SMEC, Wallbridge & Gilbert and Tonkin Consulting – is undertaking the study.

The project will develop an optimised plan for a multi-million dollar upgrade of approximately eight kilometres of South Road between the Anzac Highway and the Southern Expressway, and also determine the best value transport solution for Darlington.

The planning study for the key section of South Road is being supported by engagement with local businesses, residents and a range of key stakeholders on and around the South Road corridor.

SA Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Tom Koutsantonis, said as an early priority, the study would develop a business case for the Darlington project in the first half of 2014.

The Darlington Study is a major investigation into future transport options and land use arrangements. It addresses future requirements through to 2031 for all modes of transport – road, rail, bus, cycling and walking – and their potential to activate urban regeneration.

It includes developing a plan for the future upgrading of South Road, in particular the South Road/Sturt Road intersection and the South Road/ Flinders Drive intersection, Mr Koutsantonis said when the overall planning study was completed in December 2014 it would deliver a longer-term plan for South Road from Anzac Highway to the Southern Expressway, including traffic modelling and an analysis of environmental, social and economic impacts.

“This study will form part of the bigger picture – a dedicated NorthSouth Corridor stretching 78 kilometres from Gawler to Old Noarlunga.

“Delivering this vision is already well underway with the Gallipoli Underpass and the Northern Expressway, the soon to be completed South Road Superway, and preparation for the construction of the section from Torrens Road to River Torrens. Construction of the Northern Connector is also firmly on the agenda,” Mr Koutsantonis said.

GATEWAY BOTTLENECK OUT TO TENDER At the time of writing, a design and construction tender was underway to fix one of Queensland’s major road bottlenecks.

The tender process related to the Gateway Upgrade North project.

About 75,000 vehicles use the Gateway Motorway daily, a significant proportion of them commercial vehicles.

State Main Roads Minister, Scott Emerson, said there was a high level of interest in the project which would ensure healthy competition resulting in innovative ideas and value for money for the taxpayer.

“Motoring bodies regularly rate this as one of the worst sections of road in Queensland, the cause of major delays and a burden on the economy.”

The upgrade will include widening 11.3 kilometres of roadway from four to six lanes between Nudgee and Bracken Ridge, upgrading the Nudgee Interchange and widening Deagon Deviation to two lanes in each direction.

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TASMANIAN MAINTENANCE PROGRAM PRIORITY IN ‘PRUDENT’ ECONOMIC TIMES

More than $53 million of road maintenance, rehabilitation and resealing is being undertaken by the Tasmanian Government between December 2013 and April 2014.

“Maintaining our roads saves lives, connects Tasmanians, and supports jobs in our key industries,” State Minister for Infrastructure, David O’Byrne, said.

“Good maintenance and new technology such as the variable speed limits system on the Tasman Highway are making a real difference.

“That’s why they’re front-and-centre in our successful Road Safety Strategy,” he said.

Mr O’Byrne said providing a strategic approach to maintaining and upgrading the existing road network was the government’s key priority in prudent economic times.

He said 53 sites covering state and national roads throughout Tasmania would be improved under the 2013/14 road rehabilitation and resealing program.

The Midland Highway was a particular focus, with major pavement treatment works in 2013/14. That includes: • Kempton through to Mood Food Straight; • North of Melton Mowbray junction; • Lovely Banks/Tedworth; • Just south of Oatlands; • North of Antill Ponds; and • Travelling north towards Perth Bridge.

Other projects include resurfacing works on: • Tasman Highway through Sorell heading north towards Orford; • Arthur Highway between Lewisham and Forcett; • Huon Highway south of Franklin to Castle Forbes Bay; • Mudwalls Road near Midland Highway; • Bruny Main Road heading south out of Alonnah; • West Tamar Highway between Launceston and Riverside; • Lake Leake Main Road; • Lyell Highway entering Strahan; • A number of sites along the Bass Highway; • Esk Main Road east of Avoca; • Sections of Cradle Mountain Tourist Road; and • Mole Creek Main Road travelling west out of Mole Creek.

“This expenditure is on top of the $90 million being invested under our Community Roads Program, the $42.5 million North East Freight Roads program, $21 million on the Murchison Highway upgrade, and the $23 million Tarkine Drive Project,” Mr O’Byrne said.

4th

11-12 November 2014 Rydges World Square Sydney

Local Government & Public Sector

Building Maintenance & Management Conference www.buildingmaintenanceconference.com.au

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE · Make your buildings and facilities more sustainable - save energy and water · Improve occupant comfort, productivity and safety · Improve building systems and services · Improve maintenance practices · Improve operational efficiency · Lower costs This practical conference will cover all the key issues relating to the maintenance and management of Local Government, Government and Public Sector buildings, including the implementation of technology solutions.

This year’s conference expects to attract 200+ building maintenance managers/ officers, leisure centre managers/officers, facility managers, engineers, surveyors, consultants and building asset managers over two days.

A comprehensive conference program will include two speaking streams to allow for a wide coverage of different building types and uses, rural and urban locations as well as

OUR SPEAKERS ALREADY INCLUDE: ASSET MANAGEMENT OF BUILDINGS – THE HOLISTIC PLANNING OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES Jonathon Merrett, Facilities & Buildings Asset Planner, City of Greater Greater Dandenong VOLTAGE OPTIMISATION Adrian Evans, Associate Director, Operations and Services, Swinburne University CASE STUDY: RAILCORP - SECURITY MONITORING FACILITY Mark Edmonds, Sydney Trains, Rail Corp, NSW ENERGY EFFICIENT LIGHT REPLACEMENT PROJECT Dean Farnsworth, Group Environmental Engineer, St John of God Health Care

issues that will be addressed.

SPONSORSHIP, EXHIBITION & ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES To obtain a prospectus, or for further enquires, please contact Scott Matthews. e: scott.matthews@commstrat.com.au t: +61 3 8534 5004

CALL FOR SPEAKERS Please submit an abstract of 100-300 words to Scott Matthews via scott.matthews@commstrat.com.au or + 61 3 8534 5004

WHO SHOULD ATTEND • Building Maintenance Managers/Officers • Facility Managers/Officers • Leisure Centre Managers/Officers

CONFERENCE TOPICS As a guide, topics and papers may be in the following areas: • Building Systems

• Asset Management

• Building Asset Managers and Owners

• Smart Building Technologies

• Green Power

• Engineers, Building Surveyors and Consultants

• Buildings Management

• Air conditioning

• Building Information Modelling

• Security & CCTV

• Project Delivery and Financing

• Contracts and Models

• Maintenance Delivery & Management

• Building Condition

• Design, Management & Operation of Specific Building Types

• Cleaning

FROM • Local, State and Federal Government • TAFE, Universities and Schools • Not-For-Profit Organisations • Art Galleries, Museums, Libraries • Sporting Facilities, Leisure Centres, Swimming Pools

• Energy Efficiency, including Retrofitting

• Any organisations that are within the broad Public Sector

• Power for Buildings + Facilities

• Building Audits • Toilets • Ground Maintenance • Building Repairs

Super Early Bird Registration Closes 17 April | Book now for only $700+gst Register at www.buildingmaintenanceconference.com.au p +61 3 8534 5050 e registration@commstrat.com.au