ROADS REVIEW
FOR THE ROAD REVIEW SECTION THIS MONTH, WE ASKED THE INDUSTRY DECISION-MAKERS, ‘WHAT FACTORS HELP THE INDUSTRY BUILD UP MORE CAPABILITY TO DELIVER THE CURRENT PIPELINE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK?’
DAVID HALLETT, CEO, INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC WORKS ENGINEERING AUSTRALASIA (IPWEA) VICTORIA Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is the key to capability development, both in technical and non-technical areas. Technical learning provides industry professionals with knowledge of contemporary best-practice in the areas of infrastructure design, sustainability and technology, while non-technical learning can address resource management, project leadership or business administration skill gaps. The regulation of built environment engineers in Queensland and Victoria brings with it a mandatory professional development obligation, but whether registration renewal is the driver or not, a commitment to ongoing professional development and lifelong learning is vital at a time of rapid, ongoing change in the construction sector.
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ROADS APRIL 2022
SARAH BACHMANN, CEO, NATIONAL PRECAST CONCRETE ASSOCIATION AUSTRALIA With skyrocketing work volumes, steel and timber price hikes, an increased focus on reducing carbon emissions and a skills shortage, the post-pandemic key to boosting construction capability will be to work smarter. Fundamental changes in culture and construction practices are needed if construction productivity – which typically lags behind manufacturing productivity – is to be improved. Collaboratively embracing off-site manufactured products through engagement of industrialised construction and Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) methodologies will be key, as will be making better use of the less-price-affected available products. Using high-quality elements like precast, which are factory manufactured and simply bolted into place rather than being poured or built from scratch on site, has flow-on benefits. These include reducing site waste, lowering site activity, improving site safety while delivering higher quality, more durability, and more environmental benefits – all of which lead to superior, more energy-efficient structural outcomes.
