Roads & Infrastructure July 2023

THE ROAD TO A BRIGHTER FUTURE

The next steps towards achieving a more efficient and sustainable national road network

A POSITIVE LEGACY

The 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games present a unique opportunity to shape the nations infrastructure for generations to come

CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE

A wrap up of the big winners from the 2023 Women in Industry Awards

COVER STORY

12 The road to a brighter future Industry is moving to increase the resiliency, quality and sustainability of Australia’s road network.

RENTAL/USED EQUIPMENT

19 Specialised by name

New Zealand’s SIRE is making a splash across the pond in Australia.

22 Growth and commitment

The story of a company driven by quality and family culture.

26 The choice for all needs

How SIXT has expanded its offerings for the infrastructure market.

ROADS REVIEW

29 We asked the industry’s decisionmakers, ‘Do specifications need to be relaxed to support innovation?’

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

30 A balancing act

A discussion on the Warrnambool Line Upgrade, as well as VIC’s current contract distribution model.

TECHNOLOGY

33 A process of evolution

The role of tunnel monitoring in maintaining some of the world’s busiest connections.

36 The names Bond, SAMIbond

There’s more than meets the eye with SAMI Bitumen Technologies’ SAMIbond 007.

39 The cleaner subset

The newest addition to a renowned plantbased, bitumen performance fluid.

42 Building on global infrastructure investment

How to leverage growth to maximise your operational outcomes.

MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT

45 Constant evolution

MBE is embracing new technologies, while further developing its patented Tack Coater.

48 A new era

One of the world’s largest machinery manufacturers has opened its first HQ in Australia.

51 Taking on the challenge

Flocon has been at the forefront of machinery manufacturing for more than four decades.

54 No limits

Equipment is helping to reach previously inaccessible areas during road construction works.

58 Going beyond the point of call

Expanding on the professional relationship between Newpave Asphalt and WesTrac.

60 Flexihire fires up for all

Why CEA machinery is the equipment of choice for Flexihire.

62 Forest fears

Exploring SANY Australia’s new range of forestry excavators.

EVENTS

64 Women in Industry Awards

A look over the big winners from the 2023 Women in Industry Awards.

66 No Dig Down Under

A preview of the upcoming No-Dig Down Under Conference.

67 Inside Construction

A peak inside the first ever Inside Construction Expo.

ISC SECTION

68 Sustainability key to positive legacy

How the Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games could leave a generational impact on the development of sustainable infrastructure.

AFPA SECTION

70 Resiliency in Roads

Inside the New South Wales Government’s efforts to increase road resiliency across impacted communities.

NATIONAL PRECAST SECTION

72 A milestone has been reached on Perth’s first major elevated rail project.

CONTRACTS AND TENDERS

74 Contracts in brief Roads & Infrastructure provides an update on some of the contracts and tenders recently awarded or put to market across the Australian infrastructure sector.

REGULARS

4 Editor’s letter

6 News

17 People on the move

In this edition we address the need for greater road resiliency and recycling for the long-term benefit of Australia’s national road network.

AN EXCITING PRESENT AND FUTURE

INNOVATION IS NOW MORE THAN JUST A BUZZWORD for the sector. It now represents a committed investment into the future of construction machinery, services, maintenance and more for the industry.

The Federal Government’s national rollout of its 10-year infrastructure investment pipeline will increase from $110 billion to close to more than $120 million, a new record for the sector.

The results of such investment are already making in-roads on a sector, which generates $367.2 billion in revenue, producing around nine per cent of the nation’s total GDP (Australian Industry and Skills Committee).

Such a pipeline has also resulted in an influx of new opportunities and projects concerning road construction. In this month’s cover story, we hear from four key stakeholders around the industry’s current push towards increasing the sustainability and resiliency of Australia’s road network. The future is bright, but there’s still a few key steps for us to take in order to develop a higher quality road network.

For this month’s feature topic, we take a look at the current offerings and state of the equipment hire and rental industry. With the boon of infrastructure projects in the pipeline, many across the hire and rental sectors are experiencing significant growth.

Roads & Infrastructure Magazine also hears from Peter Gill and Leslie Chung of Donald Cant Watts Corke, to hear how the company currently views the contract distribution model employed by the Victorian Government. This discussion produced a range of potential solutions to what is a controversial model for some.

A record 158 nominations were received for the 2023 rendition of the Women in Industry Awards. We take a look at the big winners from the night which recognised outstanding women from various industrial sectors, such as mining, transport, manufacturing, engineering, logistics, bulk handling, waste management, rail and construction and infrastructure.

We also shine a spotlight on two of the industries most anticipated events, the 2023 Inside Construction Expo and the 2023 No-Dig Down Under Conference. Both events will provide opportunities for key decision makers in the construction industry to brainstorm, explore and innovate.

Finally, in this month’s Roads Review column, we hear from some of the industry’s leading decision makers on how relaxed specifications could make way for greater innovation across the sector.

Happy reading!

Tom O’Keane Roads & Infrastructure Magazine

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EDITOR

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COPYRIGHT

Roads & Infrastructure Australia is owned and published by Prime Creative Media. All material in Roads & Infrastructure Australia is copyright and no part may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic or mechanical including information and retrieval systems) without the written permission of the publisher. The Editor welcomes contributions but reserves the right to accept or reject any material. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information, Prime Creative Media will not accept responsibility for errors or omissions or for any consequences arising from reliance on information published. The opinions expressed in Roads & Infrastructure Australia are not necessarily the opinions of, or endorsed by the publisher unless otherwise stated.

PREPARATIONS PROGRESSING ON $2.2B COFFS HARBOUR BYPASS

Staff, equipment and contracts are moving into place ahead of more major works on the Coffs Harbour Bypass in New South Wales.

The 14 kilometre bypass project seeks to improve connectivity, transport efficiency and safety for motorists.

The project is expected to save motorists about 12 minutes in travel time, avoid up to 12 sets of traffic lights and reduce the number of vehicles through the city centre by about 12,000 a day. Works on vegetation removal are already underway and will continue until late this year. More works will start in the coming weeks, including excavation for some of the cuttings.

Additional works will also start to establish access points to the corridor, as well as drainage and bridge works, the

development of compound sites and the installation of project boundary fencing. Construction will also begin on new road connections between Campbell

Close and the Pacific Highway and between Russ Hammond Close and Korora School Road. The Coffs Harbour Bypass will be completed by late 2027.

PILING COMPLETE ON $1B GYMPIE BYPASS

The last of 575 concrete piles are now in place for the $1 billion Gympie Bypass project in Queensland.

With the piles now in place, works on all 42 bridge structures on the Bruce Highway Upgrade – Cooroy to Curra, Section D (Gympie bypass) are now

underway or complete.

The $1 billion section of the project is a new 26 kilometre, four lane divided highway between the current Bruce Highway interchange at Woondum, south of Gympie and Curra.

The project aims to improve and

increase the safety, flood resilience, and capacity of the connection.

The project is expected to be competed in late 2024 and is being jointly funded by the Federal ($800 million) and Queensland ($200 million) governments.

The project will aim to increase the safety and reliability of the bypass. Image courtesy of the Queensland Government.

The project will be completed by late 2027. Image courtesy of the New South Wales Government.

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CHAIR, BOARD APPOINTED FOR NEWLY FORMED HIGH SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY

The Federal Government has announced its appointments for the newly formed High Speed Rail Authority.

Jill Rossouw has been appointed as the Chair of the Authority Board with the four other board members to include Gillian Brown, Dyan Crowther, Ian Hunt and Neil Scales.

This authority will oversee the development of the high-speed rail network along the east coast.

It will aim to provide a faster alternative for commuters between cities and regional centres across Australia.

This network could allow passengers to travel between major cities and regional centres at speeds exceeding 250 kilometres per hour.

According to the Federal Government, the first priority for the High Speed Rail Authority will be planning and corridor works for the Sydney to

FIRST TWO TBMS BEGIN MAJOR SYDNEY METRO WEST TUNNELLING WORKS

The first two tunnel boring machines have begun tunnelling out the next section of the 24-kilometre Sydney Metro West line.

The Sydney Metro West project will double rail capacity between the two CBDs, linking new communities to rail services and supporting employment growth and housing supply.

The new 24-kilometre metro line will include stations at Westmead, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, North Strathfield,

Burwood North, Five Dock, The Bays, Pyrmont and Hunter Street in the Sydney CBD.

Tunnel boring machine Daphne is already 150 metres into its 11 kilometre journey to Sydney Olympic Park. Tunnel boring machine Beatrice is 45 metres into its journey on the parallel tunnel.

TBM Daphne has been named in honour of pioneer for Paralympic sport Daphne Hilton, while TBM Beatrice’s namesake is iconic local

newspaper seller Beatrice Bush who sold newspapers for over 25 years in Sydney.

On top of tunnelling, works on the tunnels will also include the construction of cross passages and crossover caverns. Construction of the twin metro tunnels is being led by the Acciona Ferrovial Joint Venture, which was awarded the construction contract in July 2021. Passenger services are expected to commence in 2030.

Newcastle section of the high-speed rail network, backed by a $500 million Federal commitment.

The senior leadership team has been finalised for the brand new authority which has already begun operations.

The progress of the machines is a major milestone for the project. Image courtesy of the New South Wales Government.

WORLD FIRST RECYCLED GLASS TRIAL A SUCCESS

mix can be replaced with recycled crushed glass, reducing reliance on virgin sand and diverting waste glass from landfill.

These mixes were used in the construction of temporary suspended concrete slabs, successfully producing a concrete mix of equal strength and quality.

Similar mixes have only previously been used in the construction of footpaths and local roads, hence the world-first milestone.

The Metro Tunnel will create a new end-to-end rail line from Sunbury in the west to Cranbourne/Pakenham in the south east, with bigger and better trains, next generation signalling technology and five new stations.

Researchers from the University of Melbourne, as well as industry have demonstrated the world’s first use of a recycled glass concrete mix in a structural application on a major infrastructure project.

The trial formed part of works on the Metro Tunnel Project in Victoria, specifically construction on the new State Library Station.

The trial demonstrated that 25 per cent of virgin sand used in concrete

Following the success of the trial, the Victorian Government is considering further trials with the University of Melbourne to increase the virgin sand replacement from 25 per cent to 80 per cent crushed glass.

NEW MILESTONE FOR $280M TOWNSVILLE RING ROAD – STAGE FIVE

Ramps have reopened on the Townsville Ring Road in Queensland, with traffic now travelling in each direction.

The Townsville Ring Road Stage Five project aims to deliver improved road safety, efficiency and travel time reliability for freight and passenger vehicles on the Bruce Highway in Townsville.

The Townsville Ring Road’s southbound entry and exit ramps at Hervey Range Developmental Road have reopened, with the southbound ramp at Shaw Road also expected to reopen. Works began on these sections in August 2022.

Traffic will remain single lane in each direction for several more months while final works are completed on the project, which includes construction at Beck Drive to install a new, signalised intersection at Gouldian Avenue.

All four lanes of the newly duplicated

motorway will open to traffic when the Townsville Ring Road – Stage 5 project is completed later this year. The Federal Government has

committed $224 million and the Queensland Government $56 million toward the $280 million Townsville Ring Road Stage Five project.

The trial saw the use of recycled glass in a major infrastructure component. Image courtesy of the Victorian Government.

Traffic is now flowing on the section, with additional works also set to get underway. Image courtesy of the Queensland Government.

THE ROAD TO A

BRIGHTER FUTURE

THE ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE SECTORS ARE TAKING STRIDES IN ROAD RESILIENCE, RECYCLING AND REHABILITATION. DESPITE THESE DEVELOPMENTS, THERE’S STILL A LONG PATH TO IMPROVEMENT AHEAD. ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE MAGAZINE HEARS FROM FOUR KEY DECISION MAKERS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE NEXT STEPS AHEAD.

Australia’s road network is one of the largest in the world, estimated to be larger than 877,000 kilometres (Roads Australia).

The size of the existing road network, paired with rapid expansion caused by Federal and state government investment, means Australia’s road network will face even greater expansion.

Roads Australia predicts that to 2024-25, the estimated spend on road construction activity will be equal to $106 billion. And yet annual maintenance budgets are in the order of $7 billion.

While such a large focus has been placed on future development, maintaining existing road infrastructure cannot be overlooked, Jim Appleby, Chief Operating Officer – Hiway Group says.

“Particularly in a country as geographically

spread as Australia. If you don’t have a well maintained and resilient road network you have disconnection and disruption” he says.

“That disconnection has not just an economic cost, but a social cost as well. As soon as you lose your road network, then commerce and community are directly affected. Having those connections are critical to the success of the nation.”

One of the core components of maintaining the existing network is road resiliency. This relates to suitable infrastructure that can endure current and future hazards, such as severe weather events, high traffic volumes and changing infrastructure environments.

Dr. Michael Moffatt, Chief Technology Leader and Discipline Leader: Pavements, Safer Smarter Infrastructure – NTRO (formally ARRB), says Australia’s reliance on road travel places an even greater need

on road resilience.

“In terms of surfacing, the vast majority or two-thirds of Australia’s roads are unsealed, and road travel is the most popular mode of transport,” he says.

“Roads are also responsible for carrying around 65 per cent of all freight. Essentially our communities are linked by the existence of the road network. If the road network isn’t resilient, then communities are not connected. People don’t have the same access to family, social groups, food, medical services and more.”

Daniel Orriss, Executive General Manager, Stabilised Pavements of Australia, says the opportunity to provide better performing assets is in the interests of both the public and asset owners.

He says the floods in Queensland are an important example of evaluating the resiliency of an infrastructure network.

“Queensland experienced significant rainfall events around 10 years ago and the Queensland Government has subsequently taken time to really learn what had been the biggest impacts to those assets,” Orriss says. “The end damage bill was above $5 billion to repair and rehabilitate the network after those events.

“Rather than just accept that outcome, the QLD State Government looked and evaluated ‘how we could prevent this outcome from occurring again in the future?”

“These learnings weren’t only in designing for asset life, or traffic loads on the road network, but they also incorporated the

Road recycling and resilience helps to establish sustainable options for future and current road production.

impacts, not only just for roads, but also other components of the state’s infrastructure, helped to give an indication of what needs to be incorporated to limit any network failures from occurring in the future.

“It requires asset owners to be more aware of what options they have, as well as the benefits of each option. For example, utilising pavement materials that are less susceptible to moisture is a really good option,” he says. He says this includes considerations such as moisture ingress and materials that have reduced moisture sensitivity properties.

GREENER AND GREATER

On top of future-proofing and creating a more reliable road network, increased road resiliency can also provide a suit of benefits in terms of sustainability, says Appleby.

“I can only applaud that sustainability is now a primary consideration,” he says. “Now more than ever there’s a big push towards sustainability and reducing our carbon impact, and rightfully so.”

Appleby adds that increased sustainability doesn’t come at a cost to quality.

“I’m sure we all want to leave a positive legacy for our children. Sustainability should be at the forefront, but it doesn’t mean it has to come with a technical compromise. The technology is already available, such as in-situ stabilising, where we are reusing what

were previously raw materials. We reuse and recycle, to bring these materials back to their former glory,” he says.

“Confidence in recycled materials has definitely grown. With the technical depth and engineering capabilities available in Australia, we’re now talking about achieving the same pavement quality, but in a different way,” Appleby says.

Recycling and re-use doesn’t only help to reduce carbon emissions as well as the reliance on virgin materials, but can also reduce pressures surrounding the financial aspects of infrastructure development.

“We have to be honest. There isn’t a bottomless pit of available funds for road construction and maintenance,” Appleby says. “We have to be thrifty in the road building

Education is a valuable asset for implementing greater levels of sustainability and efficiency into road production.

Australia’s road network is estimated to be larger than 877,000 kilometres.

world. We don’t need to have a gold-plated network, we need a network that’s resilient and fit for purpose.

“The reality is that it’s cheaper to recycle a road than dig out and put in a new one. It just makes commercial and environmental sense.

“Australia’s in a position to impress the world if we fully embrace road recycling.”

QUALITY LEADS TO SAFETY

Appleby believes increased road resiliency, and therefore increased road quality, can also play an “essential role” in tackling one of Australia’s biggest safety issues.

The Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics says Australia’s annual road death toll in 2022 was 1194, an increase of five per cent on 2021.

“We’re clearly fighting a mounting death toll on Australian roads,” Appleby says. “Investment into the road network can increase the safety of roads. These safety elements should never be forgotten, because ultimately, we’re talking about people’s lives.”

Simon Abrahams, General Manager, National

and the road resiliency that comes with these recycled pavements, is that if you have a bound and stabilised pavement surface, it is far more robust and reduces the likelihood of future pavement failures. Furthermore, recycled pavements often offer a more sustainable and cost effective solution which means more improvement work can be done with limited funding.”

THE TO DO LIST

To support increased road resiliency, as well as a higher adoption of sustainable road construction methods and material use, Downer’s Abrahams says an appropriate and mature procurement process is the first step.

“A lot of times, it is assumed that virgin material will deliver a better result in comparison to recycled and stabilised options because it’s new. This traditional method of road design and specifications is evolving as communities demand a more sustainable approach,” he says.

Abrahams adds that changing this way

“THE ADVANTAGE OF ROAD STABILISATION WORKS, AND ROAD RESILIENCY, IS THAT IF YOU HAVE A BOUND AND STABILISED PAVEMENT SURFACE THERE’S LESS CHANCES OF DEFECTS. IF YOU HAVE A FLOOD EVENT, THE SURFACE IS LESS LIKELY TO BE DAMAGED.”

Wirtgen machinery on site for works on the Inland Rail project.

Major stakeholders in the roads and infrastructure sectors say the technologies and processes are within the sector’s reach to increase the sustainability of Australia’s road network.

and final road quality.

“You get the best results when you have a process that creates collaboration between the asset owner, designers and expert construction contractors with a deep knowledge of pavement recycling,” he says.

“There are three key factors to making the collaboration successful and achieving sustainable, resilient, and optimum project outcomes.

“Firstly, set clear expectations upfront with designers, that input from contractors will be sought on pavement recycling options to allow the designer to consider this in their approach.

“Secondly, allow sufficient time in the procurement process for pavement investigation and testing and providing contractors the geotechnical investigation data early in the process, to consider and recommend genuine alternatives.

“Thirdly and finally, it’s important to ensure that risk is allocated to the parties that can most effectively manage it. Tenderers can then develop better, and more innovative solutions based on reliable information and lower project costs and risks accordingly.”

Stabilised Pavements of Australia’s Orriss says another key driver of a sustainable and resilient road network will be education.

“Education and awareness is one of the biggest challenges. Often what you already

know, or what you have been doing for years becomes the first option. It’s important to be educated and remain aware of other options that are out there,” he says.

“Due to the nature of the industry, people are transient and move around roles. That’s where you can lose that inherent knowledge, as it’s not easily transferred, and it takes time to build up that knowledge.”

Education isn’t the only issue.

“The other challenge is what you could consider risk management. When asset owners utilise third-party designers, there’s often a disconnect between options that are selected based on the risk to the designer, as opposed to engineering fit for purpose solutions that fit in within the asset owners needs,” Orriss says.

“There’s a great opportunity for asset owners where they’re devoid of that internal experience to leverage off what the industry can provide. Particularly organisations like Stabilised Pavements of Australia, which can support them through a documented design process to achieve better outcomes.”

A LIKE-MINDED PARTNER

Despite being competitors, Hiway Group, Stabilised Pavements of Australia and Downer are all united by their vision of a more sustainable, resilient and effective

domestic road network.

These organisations also share another common denominator – the support of Wirtgen Group Machinery for their equipment needs.

Appleby says both Hiway Group and Wirtgen are united by both companies push for continual improvement and technological development for the betterment of the industry.

“It’s great to have a partner that is willing to collaborate with us to drive improvement,” Appleby says. “Just like us, Wirtgen isn’t happy with what we do today, we’re constantly challenging ourselves for tomorrow.”

Orriss believes it’s the manufacturer’s passion and commitment that differentiates Wirtgen from others in the market.

“They’ve partnered with organisations such as ourselves to enable them to use subject matter experts to develop products to be fit for purpose,” he says.

Abrahams says Downer has shared a more than 20 year professional relationship.

“The majority of our frontline specialist recycling equipment is Wirtgen machinery, not just because Wirtgen Australia support the pavement recycling industry, but because they provide some of the most advanced equipment that’s currently available anywhere in the world,” he says.

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE HELPS YOU KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST MOVEMENTS ACROSS THE ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE SECTORS.

ROADS AUSTRALIA FAREWELLS CEO

Roads Australia has farewelled its Chief Executive Officer Michael Kilgariff, who is leaving the organisation following a five-year tenure. Kilgariff brought major economic, social and government policy experience to the role, as well as a broad understanding of key issues impacting the industry. Kilgariff holds a degree in Economics from the Australian National University and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors’ diploma and advanced diploma courses. He also completed the Cambridge University Judge Business School Advanced Leadership Programme in November 2017.

Image courtesy of Roads Australia.

ARA ANNOUNCES NEW BOARD MEMBER

The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) has announced that Pacific National Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Paul Scurrah has joined the ARA Board as a General Director. Scurrah’s previous experience includes more than 20 years in transport, logistics, travel, and aviation, working at companies such as Virgin Australia, Queensland Rail and port and supply chain operator DP World Australia. He has also held senior leadership roles at Ansett, AWH and Australia Post and is a director of the Gold Coast Suns AFL team.

Image courtesy of Gold Coast Suns.

NEW TAC CEO APPOINTED

The Victorian Government has appointed Tracy Slatter as the new CEO of the Transport Accident Commission (TAC). Slatter has previously served as CEO of Barwon Water for the past six years and prior to that, as CEO at the City of Port Phillip. Slatter also worked as the Head of Claims at the TAC for four years. She also serves on the boards of the Institute of Public Administration Australia (Victoria) and Water Services Association of Australia and is Deputy Chair of the Barwon Regional Partnership. Slatter will take over from Joe Calafiore, following an eight-year term as CEO.

Image courtesy of Barwon Water.

SPECIALISED BY NAME

SPECIALISED ROADING EQUIPMENT IS ONE OF NEW ZEALAND’S HIGHEST REGARDED MANUFACTURERS OF BESPOKE ROAD CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT. NOW THE COMPANY IS LOOKING TO MAKE A SPLASH IN THE AUSTRALIAN MARKET. MANAGING DIRECTOR MARK WANSBROUGH OUTLINES THE COMPANY’S PLANS.

road construction equipment, particularly telescopic bitumen sprayers.

SRE Managing Director Mark Wansbrough says the company has rich roots in product development, in part thanks to the company’s early days more than 20 years ago.

“SRE was founded about 23 years ago by a guy who had his own road construction and sealing business. At the time he became frustrated that the only bitumen sprayers that were available on the market were pretty basic, fixed wing sprayers,” Wansbrough says.

“He couldn’t see a suitable machine available anywhere else in the world. It really depended on what he could create. So, he formed the company and from scratch he designed New Zealand’s first telescopic sprayer.”

“People started coming and knocking on his door saying ‘hey we’d like one of those, too’. It started from that initial innovation and a desire to improve his operations in the industry,” Wansbrough says.

Following the success of the first machine, the roading business was eventually sold, with an emphasis placed on the sprayer manufacturing business. Specialised Roading Equipment is the spiritual successor of this first innovation.

SRE now provides tack coat sprayers, emulsion pumps and trailers, telescopic bitumen sprayers, emulsion sprayers spray bars and more to both New Zealand and Australia.

FROM SMALL BEGINNINGS

Wansbrough identified SRE’s potential in

2019 and set about increasing its capabilities and services, while also making changes to the internal structure of the company.

For the past four years, Wansbrough says SRE has more than tripled its output when it comes to building sprayers for the New Zealand and Australian markets. He says that evaluating the company internally identified opportunities for improvement.

“We changed our outlook as a business and we reiterated our focus on looking after machinery from the time they’re made, until the time they die,” Wansbrough says.

“Another big change was filling some niches with new products. Before 2019, we effectively had one product in our portfolio. But now we’ve got a number of different options, depending on what the customer wants.”

A big part of this continued growth is embracing new markets and opportunities,

From its headquarters in New Zealand, Specialised Roading Equipment has established a meaningful presence in Australia’s road construction market.

SRE ABROAD

SRE has always eyed the Australian market as a baseplate for further growth.

The company has now supplied machinery and equipment to Australia for more than 15 years.

Wansbrough says the Australian and New Zealand road construction industries share similar desires and concerns, making the transition towards Australia’s domestic market much easier.

“In New Zealand, and the same things happening in Australia, customers are becoming more aware of how they’re using their machinery and what they’re using it for,” he says.

“Having a fancy sprayer that’s close to a

were using one tool to do everything, but we’ve helped them to find the appropriate tool for each role.”

Wansbrough says one of SRE’s strengths is its control over the manufacturing process, allowing customers to have streamlined contact for after sales support.

“We control the entire build process from the start. We don’t use someone else’s heating control system or someone else’s designs. We control and support all of the parts and systems,” he says.

This applies to the machinery, as well as inbuilt technology like the computer control system and bitumen job tracking.

These systems can provide operators and project managers with real-time job management and productivity data. This is also supported by SRE’s support services, including maintenance and repairs throughout the entirety of a sprayer’s serviceable life.

Wansbrough says SRE is able to provide after-sales support quicker than some Australian providers in the case of a breakdown or component fault.

“We can support [customers] from a technical perspective remotely. We can hop online, hook into the sprayer and look at the data and see exactly what’s happening with the machine at any time,” he says.

“We’ve also got the ability to get people on the ground. We’re involved all the way through the process.”

relationships in Australia to help customers.

“One of our customers had a slight issue with the bitumen pump on a Thursday, so we were on a plane that night to be onsite first thing Friday morning. We worked through the weekend and on the following Monday they were ready to spray again,” he says.

“I’d question if they’d be able to get support that quick from anyone in Australia, and we did it from Hamilton, New Zealand.”

SRE also has services when it comes to spare parts for its bitumen and emulsion machinery.

EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES

SRE machinery has already been used on Australian projects, with its equipment being used as part of works on the NorthLink Program for Main Roads Western Australia.

The company is looking to expand its portfolio, assessing new machinery developments and new business opportunities throughout Australia. This includes developing new technology for its equipment, as well as equipment that can support the spraying of sustainable materials.

“We could be like other companies that make any equipment in the roading industry. But instead, we’ve chosen to be experts in the niche bitumen equipment market, while having a full product offering for specific jobs,” Wansbrough says.

“We’re living up to our name.”

Specialised Roading Equipment Managing Director Mark Wansbrough.

A number of companies are already using Specialised Roading Equipment for projects across Australia.

A HISTORY OF GROWTH AND

COMMITMENT

KENNARDS HIRE IS DRIVEN BY QUALITY AND A FAMILY CULTURE. GENERAL MANAGER – COMMERCIAL, TONY SYMONS, PAINTS THE COMPANY’S PICTURE

The post-war economic expansion, following the devastating conflict of World War II, can be regarded as one of the most influential periods on modern civilisation.

Rapid economic growth and technological development led to the birth of new opportunities and business.

Shortly after the end of World War II in 1945, a simple gesture by Walter Kennard laid the foundation for what is now one of Australia and New Zealand’s largest family-owned machinery and equipment hire providers.

Walter Kennard was approached by a customer, asking if he could borrow one of Kennard’s concrete mixers. Walter Kennard said he wouldn’t lend the mixer to the customer, instead he would hire it out to him.

And so, in 1948, Kennards Hire was born. The company boomed in the early 1950s, moving from its original storefront in Bathurst, to Sydney.

Kennards Hire continued to expand, adding branches, new machinery and

equipment as the years passed.

In 2023, the company is celebrating its 75th anniversary. General Manager – Commercial, Tony Symons says the milestone has been achieved through reliability and innovation.

“Being a family business has helped to ride the peaks and troughs of the economy, as well as the construction industry and other sectors,” he says.

“There’s been a consistent focus on quality as well. We’re a very customer centric organisation.”

Symons says this notion started with Walter Kennard’s commitment in providing the very best on offer to every customer. In fact, Walter Kennard, and later his sons Neville and Andy Kennard, would often make changes to existing machinery, to increase the efficiency and safety of machinery for customers.

“We’ve gone from a business that was primarily focused on small trades and those keen on DIY, to include much bigger, broader and diverse sectors,” he says.

According to Symons, Kennards Hire is now the largest family-owned equipment hire business across Australia and New Zealand, with almost 200 sites and branches, as well as more than 1800 members of staff.

WHAT’S IN STORE?

Kennards Hire’s equipment range now spans across a vast number of commercial industries.

For the roads and infrastructure sectors, the company provides options for compaction, materials handling, access, rail, safety, concrete, generators, lighting, lifting, portable site equipment and much more.

Symons says Kennards Hire’s network of sites, as well as its reliability, have made it the provider of choice on some of Australia’s largest infrastructure projects, including the West Gate Tunnel project, as well as works on the Monash Freeway.

“We have great equipment brands and a branch network that spans all states,

Kennards Hire has provided hire equipment and solutions for 75 years.

including regional towns. Geographically, there’s extensive coverage, with a lot of our sites close by for works on large projects,” he says.

“In the last 20 years our range of products and solutions in construction and infrastructure has increased significantly. We expanded our equipment offerings and distribution, which led us to the infrastructure market.”

In the past few years, Kennards Hire has also developed a dedicated internal major projects business.

“This side of the business was developed in the last three to four years to focus specifically on larger projects, with a slightly different offer,” Symons says.

“Our business development team engages the client at an early stage of the project to understand their wants and needs. We then work with them on solutions on a day-to-day basis.

“Our team is highly trained and highly skilled and have a very good

“WE’VE HAD PEOPLE TRAVEL OVERSEAS TO KEEP ABREAST OF INNOVATION. AS A RESULT, WE’RE NOW INVESTING MORE IN SOLA R-POWERED EQUIPMENT, ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT AND HYDROGEN-POWERED EQUIPMENT.”

understanding of specific site requirements, as well as equipment compliance. We work closely with the project manager around equipment, repairs, technical advice as well as numerous other support services.”

Symons says the differentiator is Kennards Hire’s capabilities and service.

“We’ve got high quality and modern equipment, but it’s our ability to respond quickly to a client’s needs. Project managers need to make decisions on the go, so when they contact our branch or business development team, we can provide answers quickly,” he says.

CONTINUED INNOVATION

A common theme throughout the company’s 75-year history is continual

development and investment into its machinery range.

“There’s been a huge investment in environmentally friendly products and greener machinery, primarily when it comes to the burning of diesel fuel,” Symons says.

“We’ve had people travel overseas to keep abreast of innovation. As a result, we’re now investing more in solarpowered equipment, electric equipment and hydrogen-powered equipment.”

Kennards Hire also has electric trucks within its Sydney branch network. The company has received orders for the first hydrogen-powered generators in Australia.

“It’s been in the company’s DNA forever,” Symons says. “We have

Kennards Hire can provide hire equipment options for infrastructure and road projects of all sizes.

established a robust framework for addressing and progressing environmental and sustainability initiatives for many years. This commitment is significant not only to us but also resonates with the Kennards family and clients.”

CONTINUED EXPERTISE

Symons adds that the company’s push for new developments is supported by the company’s expertise, “We have a lot of long-term people in the business. There’s team members who’ve been in the company for more than 40 years.”

Symons says that by using their expertise, the team at Kennards Hire can help to improve the smoothness of project delivery, from your weekend warrior, right up to tier one infrastructure developers.

“We can offer one point of contact in a dedicated account manager who is supported by technical experts and others within the business,” he says. “These account managers have a very good understanding of how a project works, site compliance, safety requirements and more. They know the lay of the land.”

He adds that getting ahead of the job at hand can often be key. And for every

project stage, Kennards Hire is there to assist.

“Wherever possible we like to have early engagement to understand the clients’ issues and the sites complexities, to see what they’re looking for,” Symons says.

This model has kept Kennards Hire in great stead, particularly when it comes to establishing meaningful relationships within the industry.

“We’re responsive to the client and always evolving our business. People within the sector may change companies, might be working on different projects or may have changed their roles, but there’s a sense of familiarity,” Symons says.

“They know our brand and our people, so there’s long term established relationships. We’ve grown and expanded our business accordingly.”

CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT

Another aspect that has remained

consistent is continual improvement.

“There’s certainly been investment in the units themselves and replacing of assets to keep them at a young age,” Symons says. “This helps from a reliability point of view and a technological point of view.”

This ethos not only accounts for machinery and equipment performance, but also for the internal functions of the company.

“We run an extensive internal quality audit program, which ensures there’s consistency across the business and that machinery is maintained,” Symons says.

“Company-employed quality auditors visit every branch across Australia and New Zealand – without notice – with a full day of quality auditing across procedures and equipment standards.”

Additionally, Kennards Hire conducts internal training programs to increase the quality of its service, while also providing opportunities for employees to expand their skill set.

This improvement also extends

to assisting clients to improve the efficiency and sustainability of their operations.

“For example, traditionally a lot of sites would have run a diesel generator 24 hours a day,” Symons says. “Now we can turn that generator on during the day to charge a battery that can then run overnight.

“There’s a lot happening in the renewable power source space that’s not only green, but can actually also save time and money. What was fairly pie in the sky sort of stuff is now readily available.”

“Continuous improvement is key.”

Symons says the future is bright for Kennards Hire, with even more products and services currently in development. “Looking towards the future, we’ll be looking to grow, improve and expand our relationships with clients in the construction and infrastructure space. All while keeping those strong family values in place.”

“LOOKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE, WE’LL BE LOOKING TO GROW, IMPROVE AND EXPAND OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH CLIENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND INFRASTRUCTURE SPACE. ALL WHILE KEEPING THOSE STRONG FAMILY VALUES IN PLACE.”

Tony Symons, General Manager Commercial –Kennards Group.

FOR ALL NEEDS THE CHOICE

SIXT AUSTRALIA IS WELL EQUIPPED TO CATER FOR A VARIETY OF VEHICLE HIRE NEEDS. ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE SPEAKS WITH SOME OF SIXT’S L EADERS TO LEARN HOW THE COMPANY HAS EXPANDED ITS OFFERINGS AND CAPABILITIES NATIONALLY.

Agile and flexible. These are the two principles which guide SIXT’s offerings for businesses across the sector.

SIXT Australia is 100 per cent owned by the NRMA and has more than 30 years experience in the Australian car and truck rental industry. The company has one of the largest vehicle fleets nationally, consisting of options for economy, compact, intermediate, standard and fullsize passenger vehicles.

SIXT also offers premium and electric vehicles, SUVs, people movers and other commercial options such as 4WDs, Utes, vans, buses and trucks.

SIXT Australia CEO, Matthew Beattie, says the catalogue of options, mixed with an expansive network, can provide options for the majority of Australia.

“SIXT’s commercial rental vehicle fleet is one of the largest in the country and through our national footprint we supply vehicles to the most remote parts of regional and rural Australia,” Beattie says.

“This means we can deliver purposebuilt mining and construction specialty vehicles to get the job done, wherever and whenever needed, making us an ideal partner on major infrastructure projects.”

SIXT now has over 160 locations nationally, including all major airports across Australia.

A SMOOTH RIDE

Rob Jaffer, Regional Sales Manager for New South Wales, the ACT and Western Australia, says SIXT’s focus on the customer has resulted in the company being recognised on a national level.

“We focus heavily on our service delivery and have won various national and international awards that demonstrate SIXT’s customers value the unique service experience. Regular surveys help [us to] know more about the customer’s opinion which enables constant improvement,” Jaffer says.

“Our commercial fleet is new, clean and safe, and our ‘floating fleet’ model enables us to relocate vehicles quickly and efficiently to meet demand.”

On top of providing for the construction and infrastructure sectors, SIXT has also forged a market for vehicle options suited to mining applications.

As Jaffer adds, the company has built its portfolio in these industries over a number of years.

“We have a history working with some

of the largest mining and construction companies in Australia. We continue to partner with companies of all sizes in providing commercial vehicles, specifically mine spec light vehicles, trucks and buses for short and long-term projects,” Jaffer says.

SIXT can work with each client to ensure that their vehicle needs can be met. This is thanks to a collaborative approach, which can deliver specific customer requests and requirements.

This also extends to SIXT’s on-going customer support for clients, which includes a damage service. All SIXT Australia vehicles are supported by 24/7 roadside assistance.

SIXT also uses a unique method to formulate its vehicle fleet. The company uses analysis from existing and projected customers to maintain a modernised range of options. This includes benefits to performance, safety and the environment, with features such as enhanced fuel economy and vehicle reliability.

TAKING ON THE CHALLENGE

SIXT also has experience in catering for major infrastructure projects. Pacific Complete – a joint venture between

two major infrastructure providers – was tasked with delivering a 129 kilometre section of the Pacific Highway in partnership with Transport for New South Wales.

The project required the use of 120 dual cab Utes over a five-year period.

Ian Moore, Commercial Fleet Manager at SIXT Australia says the company worked to ensure that project requirements were met for each vehicle.

“The fleet needed to be customised with driver telematics installed. As we were all working towards a clear enddate, it was an easier and more attractive proposition for our client to hire vehicles and have us take responsibility for arranging all maintenance on the fleet throughout the five-year project,” Moore says.

service and capabilities enabled the company to overcome these issues.

“There were challenges with the driver telematics due to network black spots and functionality, so we needed to change all systems to get better range and functionality across the board. We did this by working closely with the client at all times to achieve the desired outcome,” Moore says.

EYEING EXPANSION

Despite its foothold in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, SIXT has recently shifted its focus towards

metro expansion, and we have recently opened new locations in Kewdale and Fremantle with more locations being identified,” Jaffer says.

Jaffer says SIXT is also working to further develop its range of sustainable offerings for the market, including electric vehicles.

“[We’re] continuing our journey to become a ‘premium mobility provider’, leading the way in sustainable mobility as we increase our EV offering, which will extend to commercial vehicles,” he says.

“We’ll also be partnering with and supporting companies that have strong sustainability goals.”

“WE FOCUS HEAVILY ON OUR SERVICE DELIVERY AND HAVE WON VARIOUS NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AWARDS THAT DEMONSTRATE SIXT’S CUSTOMERS VALUE THE UNIQUE SERVICE EXPERIENCE.”

SIXT can mobilise vehicles to support your location and site requirements.

SIXT’s commercial fleet caters to both civil and mining projects.

SIXT is seeing high demand of buses for mining and infrastructure projects.

REVIEW

THIS MONTH, WE ASKED THE INDUSTRY’S DECISION-MAKERS, ‘DO SPECIFICATIONS NEED TO BE RELAXED TO SUPPORT INNOVATION?’

JAMES FRENCH, AUSTRALASIAN SOLUTIONS SPECIALIST – CONSTRUCTION –

The relationship between specifications and innovation varies depending on the context. Specifications can provide necessary guidelines and standards for ensuring quality and safety, but overly strict or inflexible specifications can sometimes hinder innovation. We need to support and encourage innovation and experimentation in the correct channels without compromising these specifications. By providing more flexibility, organisations can enable the exploration of unconventional ideas and solutions, facilitate the integration of emerging technologies, and create opportunities for new businesses. Thoughtful consideration of the context, risk assessment, and stakeholder involvement is necessary to strike the right balance and harness the benefits of both innovation and necessary standards.

ROMILLY MADEW, CEO – ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA

Australia’s engineering sector is at the forefront of innovation globally, but we would never seek to compromise the safety of our infrastructure. A balance needs to be struck between fostering innovation and ensuring that it does not risk the structural stability and/or design life of assets. Specifications and standards are critical to ensure the integrity and safety of roads, but they must also be regularly reviewed to deliver the best outcomes for the community. Overall, we believe greater collaboration is needed between government and industry to be agile and enable both innovation and safety.

SARAH BACHMANN, CEO – NATIONAL PRECAST

We have always argued that overly-prescriptive specifications stifle innovation. It is overly-prescriptive specifications that stagnate productivity and increase costs. In the case of supplying authorities with infrastructure, this can be detrimental to all parties and those increased costs are ultimately borne by the Australian taxpayer. Outcomes-based specifications however, provide inherently more freedom and allow manufacturing suppliers to explore creativity and innovate. It is innovation that will benefit clients, asset owners, suppliers and end-users. What differentiates one product manufacturer from another is their ability to deliver a unique product for a fair price, and to do that, they innovate. After all, it is they who are the subject matter experts; it is they who tweak the manufacturing process down to a fine art. What is the risk for authorities, when those manufacturers are generally long-standing, highly regarded operators – such as audited National Precast Master Precasters – who will manufacture in accordance with required design outcomes and stand by their products. It is in their interests to do so for their own future prosperity. Specifications should not be prescriptive and rather, should largely point to outcomes-focused Australian Standards. Nationally developed, they are inclusive with all parties – including authorities –contributing to their development. They are transparent and subject to public comment.

If you or someone at your organisation is an industry leader and would like to be a part of this monthly column in 2023, please get in

A BALANCING ACT

ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE MAGAZINE SITS DOWN WITH DONALD CANT WATTS CORKE’S MANAGEMENT TEAM TO HEAR ABOUT THE COMPANY’S INSTRUMENTAL CONSULTATION WORKS ON THE WARRNAMBOOL LINE UPGRADE, AS WELL AS WHY THE CURRENT CONTRACT DISTRIBUTION MODEL IS LEAVING MUCH TO BE DESIRED.

The Victorian Government is committed to increasing the capacity, safety, accessibility and efficiency of the state’s public transport network, which has resulted in an infrastructure boom.

Under the umbrella of Victoria’s Big Build infrastructure pipeline, the State Government is delivering 165 major road and rail projects across Victoria.

This $90 billion investment into the public transport network has also provided new opportunities for tier one, two and three infrastructure contractors.

Leslie Chung, Director – Infrastructure –Donald Cant Watts Corke (DCWC) says this investment has helped to establish programs aimed at improving the transport capabilities of regional communities.

“Victorian and Federal governments have committed more than $4 billion to the Regional Rail Revival Program, which will

upgrade 10 regional rail lines,” Chung says.

As part of the Regional Rail Revival Program, DCWC – one of Australia’s largest providers of project management services – was awarded a contract in 2021 for works on the Warrnambool Line Upgrade in Victoria.

This upgrade aims to provide additional services and improved rail infrastructure for one of the State’s fastest growing regions.

“The Warrnambool Line Upgrade has been identified as a high priority project under this program, with Warrnambool’s population expected to expand by 20 per cent over the next 20 years,” Chung says.

On top of delivering suitable infrastructure to support the rollout and use of modern VLocity trains, the Warrnambool Line Upgrade also includes upgrades to surrounding infrastructure.

“All 57 level crossings around Warrnambool Station must be updated to fully activated

axel counting-enabled crossings to allow more frequent patronage,” Chung says.

“For our organisation to play such a pivotal role in a growing area and rail line makes us very satisfied.”

DCWC’s services for these works includes providing detailed constructability lines in cost budgetary, as well as a robust estimating service, which is fully risk adjusted to P50 and P90 risk adjusted prices.

These risk adjusted prices represent the probability that the project will be delivered within that cost estimate (P90 represents a 90 per cent probability and so forth).

Chung says DCWC is well placed to provide such guidance, even for a project of such a large technical scope.

“One of the reasons why we were selected to be a part of this project is our ability to produce budgets and a service that’s risk managed to the absolutely highest level.

One of Donald Cant Watts Corke’s most recent ventures is cost estimation and consultation works on the Warrnambool Line Upgrade in Victoria.

That’s usually between one to five per cent of the contracting market prices,” Chung says.

“Our accuracy and our confidence are commodities that our clients really value. We’re trusted cost and strategic advisors and we leverage off these skills while walking our clients through their journey.

“We’re able to mitigate risks on the spot and estimate to a very highly accurate number, even at the early stages of a project.”

DCWC’s success in both government and private industry-led projects has resulted in the company being selected to provide services on other infrastructure projects, such as the North East Link Project and Metro Tunnel Project.

“The reason why we love working on these projects is that we can actually see the value of our efforts come to fruition on works that are contributing to the wider society and making it a better place,” Chung says.

“We don’t treat [projects like the Warrnambool Line Upgrade] as a mere transaction, but a partnership in realising our ambitions as a state and as Victorians. That’s what really excites me.”

THE CURRENT CONTRACT MODEL

Throughout his 35-year career, Peter Gill, Managing Director Infrastructure – DCWC, has seen the ebbs and flows of infrastructure delivery, both in Australia and overseas.

Gill says that the current distribution model for infrastructure contracts in Victoria, while effective, could implement changes in order to “share the load” between tier one and other infrastructure service providers.

Particularly for projects such as the Warrnambool Line Upgrade.

He says the early signs of this pattern could be traced back to the mining sectors growth in the late 2000s.

“If we go back to the mining boom between 2008 and 2013, the size of the projects that were coming out at the time were worth billions of dollars,” he says.

“The tier two and three contractors couldn’t compete with the big tier one companies. These contractors lost out on a lot of work. Then there was obviously a slowdown in the economy in 2014-15.”

Gill says these similarities can be drawn between this economic environment and the environment that the sector faces today.

“There were discussions around encouraging tier one contractors to provide more opportunities to tier twos and tier threes,” Gill says.

“We’re in a similar situation now, where

there’s been a slowdown. Projects are being put on hold due the tight economy and escalations. One of the ways that [State and Federal] governments can add value and make the process more competitive is to recognise the tier two or tier three contractors.

“These companies have lower overheads, not only onsite overheads, but also offset overheads.”

Chung says that tier two and three companies can be supported by different contract models such as collaborative approaches.

“The traditional method of thinking is that

transformations particularly in the last six months,” he says.

“We’re starting to see some of those results being tracked and reported back to the government. One example is Major Road Projects Victoria on the Roads Upgrade Program have been using a PPP model. I’d like to see more of a collaborative model.”

bigger is better. That’s not necessarily the case,” Chung says.

“Multibillion dollar projects where the ultimate risk is passed on to a particular contractor, which is usually an international company, isn’t necessarily the best idea.

“Breaking down the projects into collaborative contracts allows local contracting firms to contribute funds back into the local economy. Changing the narrative will be pivotal for the next stage.”

Chung adds that these new models could potentially provide solutions to current economic, supply chain and skilled personnel constraints. He says that while these models have seen limited use in Australia, the results are so far pleasing.

“I think that the State Government is starting to realise that due to budget

Gill says he expects these models to face further review within the next year, with hopes that changes can reinvigorate competitiveness in infrastructure project contracting.

“I think in the next six to 12 months they’ll be forced to look their procurement model, purely due to the current economic situation, the interest rate rise and their current budgets,” he says.

“The Federal and State governments need to provide a pipeline of work to make sure that we retain those resources in our country.”

“These models can help to break down these works into smaller packages, sharing around the world with shadow alliance and collaborative contracting to provide confidence to the market that there’s going to be works in the future.”

“THE REASON WHY WE LOVE WORKING ON THESE PROJECTS IS THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE VALUE OF OUR EFFORTS COME TO FRUITION ON WORKS THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE WIDER SOCIETY AND MAKING IT A BETTER PLACE.”

Peter Gill, Managing Director Infrastructure – DCWC.

Leslie Chung, Director –Infrastructure – DCWC.

A PROCESS OF EVOLUTION –OVER 60 YEARS OF TUNNEL

SAFETY SOLUTIONS

SICK SENSOR INTELLIGENCE’S RANGE OF TUNNEL MONITORING DEVICES PLAY A MUCH MORE IMPORTANT ROLE THAN YOU MAY THINK.

LINTU MATHAI, SENIOR MARKET PRODUCT MANAGER – ANALYSER, FLOW AND SYSTEM SOLUTIONS, EXPLAINS HOW THESE DEVICES ARE HELPING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Air quality can at times be an overlooked, but crucial aspect to tunnel users.

Hazardous gases pose a serious potential risk to the health of both contractors and civilians using the road.

Lintu Mathai, SICK Senior Market Product Manager – Analyser, Flow and System Solutions, says these environments have called for a suitable monitoring solution.

“Most road tunnels, depending on the length and complexity, need to be monitored for emissions, such as nitrogen monoxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and carbon monoxide (CO),” Mathai says.

“They also need to be monitored for smoke. These gases and fumes can have serious health risks not only for just motorists, but also the people who are conducting maintenance and work inside these tunnels These devices are important to make sure that tunnels are sufficiently ventilated.

He says that as the density of traffic on roads increases, the future will be about finding ways to increase the availability of tunnels, while at the same time improving safety for road and tunnel users.

“This is where we come in. For over 60

years, SICK has been helping road and tunnel operators to take on this challenge by offering innovative products, not only for measuring visibility and air quality, but also for air flow measurement and smoke detection in emergency situations,” he says.

IT’S IN THE AIR

SICK Sensor Intelligence is a global organisation, responsible for developments in technologies branching into factory automation to logistics automation and process automation.

The company’s focus on providing technologies that increase safety, while also preventing impacts on the environment has forged a path towards increased automation for tunnel and condition monitoring.

“It’s just a process of evolution,” Mathai says. “Back in the day there weren’t ways to make sure that motorists were safe. I think one of the driving factors would have been the level of pollution.

“If you go back 60 or 70 years, vehicles were

polluting a lot more as they were spewing out smoke and gases that weren’t safe for other motorists. Back in the day there were no emission standards and vehicles had powerful motors but no exhaust gas cleaning mechanism.

“This led to road tunnels with low visibility. Visibility then was used as a general indication of pollution inside the tunnel. Scenarios like this drove SICK to come up with a device that makes it safer for motorists to drive with information on visibility.”

As the first manufacturer, SICK offers standard product families for both routine operation and emergency situations in tunnels.

“Data is captured on aspects like air velocity, visibility, air quality and even if a vehicle has caught fire. Once detected, the traffic is then managed accordingly inside the tunnel, and the tunnel exhaust system is controlled automatically,” he says.

“All of this happens in real time.”

The VISIC100SF and Vicotec32X series

SICK Sensor Intelligence’s monitoring systems provide conditioning monitoring to boost safety, efficiency and maintenance.

are all-in-one solutions for measuring visibility, carbon monoxide (CO) as well as nitrogen monoxide (NO) or nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in tunnels. The VISIC50SF and Vicotec450 smoke detector is SICK’s reliable and extremely fast solution for early fire detection.

Apart from in-tunnel monitoring, SICK also has devices that are used to make the tunnel safe from unsafe vehicles.

The HISIC450 is used to reliably detect vehicles that are too high before they enter the tunnel, thereby helping the operator to redirect those vehicles and prevent them from entering the tunnel.

This helps in protecting the tunnel infrastructure from potential damage that can be caused by such vehicles.

“We also have VHD Systems for detection of overheated vehicles. So basically, if a vehicle is really overheated, it obviously has the potential to catch fire inside the tunnel. We can detect such vehicles before they

enter the tunnel and give that information to the tunnel operator so that those vehicles can be redirected. This again helps in keeping the tunnel safe for users.”

“In an emergency situation, in case a vehicle does catch fire, our solutions are designed to give information to the tunnel operator in terms of the direction in which the smoke is travelling so that tunnel staff can take corrective actions.”

With over 1000 installations, these devices have already been deployed across the globe, in some of the world’s busiest tunnels and motorways.

REAL TIME CONDITION MONITORING

AI Based Real-Time condition-based monitoring of tunnel equipment is another service that is offered by SICK. SICK’s condition monitoring solutions aim to improve the reliability, efficiency, and safety of tunnels by enabling predictive maintenance and early fault detection.

By continuously monitoring the condition of equipment, potential issues can be identified and addressed before they lead to significant failures or potential operational disruptions.

While also providing the safety benefits of tunnel monitoring, condition monitoring goes a step further to increase the efficiency and cost effectiveness of tunnel maintenance.

“There can be a lot of learning from our installations,” Mathai says. “Condition monitoring contributes significantly to the utilisation of tunnels. Intelligent remote diagnostic features can improve the planning and maintenance or scheduling of service tasks.”

Condition monitoring from SICK provides an effective solution for monitoring and maintaining devices and sensors in tunnels. Device and sensor states can be monitored in real time, and undesired operational states predicted ahead of time.

If required, every significant change to the device states is visualized concisely and clearly in a browser-based dashboard, thereby enabling the operating staff to intervene in a timely manner.

This ensures the availability of critical device components.

“It reduces the number of service interventions and allows for better and more efficient preparation for necessary service deployments,” Mathai says.

“For a tunnel in the Netherlands, our condition monitoring has enabled them to reduce their unplanned service intervention by as much as 70 per cent. For maintenance and the operating cost of a tunnel – that’s a huge cost saving.”

All this data is also kept secured, thanks to SICK’s Data Security Policy.

“We take Cyber Security very seriously and we prefer to be safe than sorry when it comes to Cyber Security,” Mathai says.

“We have commissioned SICK Product and Security Incident Response Team (SICK PSIRT), who manage all cyber security threats for SICK products and services. The SICK PSIRT manages the inspection, internal coordination and disclosure of Cyber Security vulnerabilities.”

“Before commissioning a project, we sit with the PSIRT team, and go through all aspects of Cyber Security Vulnerabilities and implement safeguards.

“We make sure that both parties are more than comfortable.”

SICK’s sensor intelligence devices are available now.

SICK Sensor Intelligence’s monitoring systems can analyse information in real time.

SICK Sensor Intelligence provides internal and external tunnel monitoring for some of the world’s largest road connections.

PICK THE RIGHT TOOL

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THE NAMES BOND, SAMIBOND

SAMI BITUMEN TECHNOLOGIES’ SAMIBOND 007 TRACKLESS TACK COAT EMULSION HAS BEEN DESIGNED FOR HIGH STRESS IMPACTS AND APPLICATIONS. ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE SPEAKS WITH SAMI TO LEARN MORE.

Tough, effective and calm in high stress environments. These are words commonly associated with the title of 007.

SAMI Bitumen Technologies’ take on the 007 label maintains the sophistication while removing the cheesy one liners. But what does it take to earn double 00 status?

Kanjana Yindee, Laboratory and R&D Manager – SAMI Bitumen Technologies, says the company’s development of non-tracking tack coat emulsions began in 2019. Ultimately leading to the production of the SAMIbond 007 trackless tack coat emulsion.

“To ensure a sufficient bond between layers, a tack material should remain intact after application. However, a conventional tack coat is likely to track under paving equipment and asphalt delivery vehicles,” Yindee says. “Even if the tack coat is appropriately sprayed, the tack coat binder can be removed in a wheel path due to its pickup by the construction vehicle tyres.

“This is why our customers frequently ask if we have trackless tack coat emulsion, the

main reason why we’ve developed such a product.”

A tack coat refers to a thin layer of bitumen that is applied between the layers of a multilayer asphalt pavement, to bond them together, improving the overall strength and durability of the pavement and surface. One of the many reasons it achieved 00 status.

This is usually applied in the form of an emulsion that is sprayed prior to the application of the next layer of asphalt being laid.

This special emulsion allows delivery trucks and pavers to drive over the new surface without leaving markings or wheel tracks on the adjacent surfaces.

Once applied, the SAMIbond 007 renders a shiny black and hard surface.

As Yindee explains, SAMIbond 007 is a cationic bitumen trackless tack emulsion that has been modified with a polymer.

“The addition of polymer helps to improve the emulsion’s performance and durability, making it better able to withstand high horizontal stresses from traffic during the life of the pavement. This makes the emulsion

ideal for use in pavements associated with heavy traffic and high stresses,” she says.

BEHIND THE SCENES

Development of SAMIbond 007 focused not only on the trackless component, but also overall durability.

Brad Richards, State Manager Southern Region – SAMI Bitumen Technologies, says this development has also caught the eye of Victoria Department of Transport (VDoT).

“The concept really started with VDoT who were looking to tack coating products that weren’t going to be picked up by the tyres of machinery that were laying the asphalt on top of it,” he says.

“Their thinking was ‘what’s the point of putting down a tack coat if it’s just going to be picked up by the wheels of the equipment?’ It’s just messy.”

He adds that the product has already been used in projects with high-stresses, such as highways and airports.

“Sometimes, like on an airport, there are only short windows of time that the crew is allowed to be on site so careful planning and

SAMI Bitumen Technologies’ SAMIbond 007 trackless tack coat emulsion is highly suitable for high stress surface applications, like airports and highways.

specialty products are key to productivity,” Richards says.

“SAMIbond 007 has been used successfully in several applications to date, including cold environments and at night. Paving equipment can drive on the sprayed surface with no pickup on the paving equipment wheels.

“Time is money and the faster the asphalting equipment can get onto the job, the better.”

Richards says SAMI Bitumen Technologies’ direction from both industry and government were large influencers during development.

“Our technical experts have refined the product over recent years balancing the ease of handling, speed of curing and trackless behaviour, to now have a product that is being used successfully in calibrated sprayers and through pressurised crew trucks,” Richards says.

Yindee concedes that one of the biggest challenges during the product’s development was establishing an emulsion product that catered for Australia’s variety of spraying machinery.

“There is a wide variety of sprayers on the market and it is difficult to anticipate how the product will react with each one,” Yindee says.

“Over a long development period we worked hard to achieve the final formulation with all of the properties that we were aiming for. SAMIbond 007 can now be applied without heating with some sprayers. It’s also energy-efficient, making it a sustainable product.”

FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE

One company that has already benefitted from using SAMIbond 007 is Centre State Asphalting.

The Victoria-based contracting business carries out works across the state for clients of all sizes, from private works, to leading contracting on resurfacing works for the Victorian Department of Transport.

Scott Bowley, Project Engineer – Centre State Asphalting, says delivering quality outcomes is the company’s number one priority.

“By having our crews fully fitted out, asphalt sourced from our production facility and binders from SAMI, we can ensure at every point along the asphalt production and placement process that quality is maintained allowing us to provide the highest quality service possible,” he says.

The company recently used SAMIbond 007 as part of minor works around central

Victoria, as well as the Calder Highway for the Victorian Department of Transport. Bowley says the product has shown potential for use in future projects.

“Having a product that allows delivery trucks and paving equipment to drive over and keep the tack coat on the pavement, is better for the long performance of the pavement and better for stopping tracking of the fresh binder on the site where the works are being undertaken,” Bowley says.

“Due to the quick breaking nature of SAMI bond 007, this product is perfect for all conditions, including low temperatures where the quick breaking nature reduces pick up under vehicle tyres when compared

with a typical tack coat.

“Combined with the quicker breaking, reducing the concern of emulsion wash off, it is a lower risk product to be applying at any time of year.”

Richards says that based on the performance and feedback received, there are expectations that SAMIbond 007 could be widely adopted in the near future.

“As more customers get to use the product and see the benefit of how it performs, it is expected that it will become the bond coat of choice not only because it has been specified, but because of the efficiencies that it provides the contractors that use it,” he says.

The SAMIbond 007 trackless tack coat emulsion is designed to prevent wheel marking from construction machinery travelling over the sprayed pavement surface.

SAMI Bitumen Technologies’ SAMIbond 007 trackless tack coat emulsion renders a shiny black and hard surface.

Safe driving in tunnels: FROM START TO FINISH

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ANOTHER SUSTAINABLE

RECOSOL

RECOCHEM’S RECOSOL 195 IS THE NEWEST ADDITION TO ITS RENEWABLE PLANT-BASED PERFORMANCE FLUIDS, WHICH ARE HELPING TO OPEN NEW PATHWAYS FOR SUSTAINABLE COLD MIX ASPHALT USE AND PRODUCTION ACROSS AUSTRALIA.

Asphalt has always been a mainstay of the roads and infrastructure sectors. It’s use in wider society dates back to 625 B.C, where the ancient Greeks used the material as a sealer.

The word asphalt even originates from the Greek word “asphaltos,” meaning “secure” (Virginia Asphalt Association). But a lot has changed since then.

Recent developments have shed light on pathways to enhanced asphalt sustainability and performance capabilities, such as the introduction of bituminous additives.

Development of these products caught the eye of Recochem’s James McAllister over a decade ago.

Recochem’s Recosol 195 is a sustainable additive for cold mix asphalt production and use.

sourced from South-East Asia, McAllister quickly saw the product’s potential for use in Australian applications.

“We initially thought that it was a really interesting product,” McAllister says. “Through one of my colleagues in South Australia, Recosol 175 got its first entry into Australia as a replacement for diesel in cold mix asphalt.”

Traditionally, diesel has been used within cold mix asphalt as a fluxing agent. The main aim of using diesel is to decrease the overall viscosity of the bitumen.

This enables contractors to use bitumen that’s at a workable level in standard ambient temperatures. Hence the term ‘cold mix asphalt’.

“Diesel has a flashpoint of around 65°C, which is well below the production

temperature of cold mix asphalt that’s between 100 and 110°C,” McAllister says.

The flash point is the temperature in which a liquid can ignite, when exposed to an ignition source.

“I think a lot of people in the industry have encountered a scare from either fire or fumes using diesel in the production of cold mix asphalt,” McAllister says. “Diesel is also a suspected carcinogen. We tried Recosol 175 [with a major cold mix asphalt manufacturer] and they’re still using it today.

“One of the General Managers of [the asphalt manufacturer] announced that the company was no longer going to use diesel in its cold mixes for health and safety reasons.”

Following the successful implementation of Recosol 175, demand for the product soared.

“It actually gave us a bit of a headache as we didn’t have enough Recosol 175 to go around,” McAllister says.

“Within six to eight weeks we developed a new product in Australia called Recosol 185.” Recochem’s Recosol 185 looked to expand and improve on the successful Recosol 175, both in terms of performance and versatility.

“Recosol 185 has been used for the past five years in a multitude of applications, but still primarily in replacing diesel in cold mixes,” McAllister says.

“It’s also found its way in uses like lubricating skips and conveyors in the asphalt plant. It’s also been used as a slip lubricant for asphalt trucks.”

Recosol 185 shares a lot of similarities with Recochem’s newest addition in the Recosol family, the Recosol 195.

A SPIRITUAL SUCCESSOR

Recochem’s new Recosol 195 marks the next era for the company’s safe and sustainable offerings.

“The Recosol 195 has evolved. It’s not too dissimilar to Recosol 185, but it’s a pure product. It’s got slight advantages in lower odour, as well as the cleanliness as the product is almost colourless, compared to the ‘amber brown’ like colour of the Recosol 185,” McAllister says.

“Just like Recosol 185 it’s Non-VOC (no Volatile Organic Carbon). It’s biodegradable, it comes from a renewable source.”

McAllister says Recosol 195 has a proof of sustainability certificate, issued by the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC). He says a product like Recosol 195 can support organisations’ push towards achieving improved sustainability outcomes.

“The major contractors can achieve their environmental objectives. A lot of contractors who were using Recosol 185 were achieving environmental awards. It’s also a bit more legitimate to be able to show proof of sustainability [with the ISCC certification],” McAllister says.

Recosol 195 can also be implemented into the rejuvenation of recycled asphalt pavement for blending purposes.

On top of sustainable benefits, Recosol 195 provides benefits to worker safety, as well as a reduced odour when compared to the use of diesel as a fluxing agent.

“There’s also a much higher flashpoint (170°C). The proof is in the pudding with it being considered non-hazardous according to SafeWork Australia,” McAllister says.

“A lot of companies talk about the safety of their employees as well as their contractors’ part of their mission statements. Using products like Recosol 195 is moving towards that continual improvement that they’re trying to achieve.

“You really want a complete safety net, not just for cold mix production (between 100110°C), some of the other applications in the bitumen and asphalt industry are 200°C and over. So, it’s very important that you’re using a product that is going to work and uphold the safety of those operators.”

McAllister says that Recosol 195 provides benefits not just for the short term, but also for potentially generations to come.

“Even after all these years later, I’m still hearing how the Recosol products are working day in and day out. Recosol 195 will do the same thing,” he says.

Recochem’s James McAllister.

Recochem’s Recosol 195 joins the 175 and 185 as sources of renewable plant-based performance fluids.

BUILDING ON GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE

INVESTMENT

HOW CAN BUSINESSES LEVERAGE THE RAPID GROWTH IN INFRASTRUCTURE TO MAXIMISE THEIR OPERATIONAL OUTCOMES? ENSURING OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY IS NOT INHIBITED BY MACHINERY BREAKDOWNS IS CRITICAL TO MAXIMISING THE BENEFITS FOR BUSINESS.

The world of construction is changing rapidly. Businesses are quickly adapting to new ways of working on a journey to decarbonise their operations. It helps that construction is a sector set to be in high demand during 2023. Many governments have identified the positive impact construction can have on global economies and are ramping up their investments in infrastructure projects. In the US, construction spending is expected to increase by 5.5 per cent in 2023. The $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is driving increased demand. China put even

more money behind infrastructure projects in 2022, boosting construction with its own $2.3 trillion plan. They are set to invest further during 2023.

Elsewhere, the energy crisis has inspired governments to invest in long-term alternatives to oil and gas. This is the case in the UK, which plans to accelerate the development of new nuclear, wind, solar and hydrogen power. Similarly, India needs to invest around $840 billion in urban infrastructure over the next 15 years to meet the needs of its rapidly growing population.

All this investment creates a vital opportunity for the construction industry to drive growth for businesses and their communities. From new housing to sustainable infrastructure, construction companies can help to build a better economic and environmental future for people everywhere.

THE BIG QUESTION

The industry’s big challenge is to find how construction businesses can make the most of this opportunity. Companies need to take on a range of additional new projects to realise the

Having the right oils and lubricants is key to maintaining construction and production projects.

potential of increased global investments in infrastructure. This means setting themselves up for success by optimising their processes and maximising equipment uptime.

There are several reasons why these two areas are essential. Across multiple industries, there’s a shortage of skilled workers. Construction is one of the worst affected, with hundreds of thousands of unfilled vacancies worldwide. Companies must make the most of their skilled teams and equip them with the right tools and processes. Companies must find as many efficiency savings as possible to protect their margins, along with rising material, fuel and labour costs. A vital place to look for these savings is equipment operations. Breakdowns contribute to missed deadlines and account for roughly 40 per cent of the industry’s cost overruns.

Viva Energy Australia, the Shell Lubricant Macro Distributor in Australia, offers a range of lubricants, oil, and greases. Its products can help extend equipment lifespan, prevent breakdowns, and provide solutions for effective maintenance plans.

“Shell invests significantly in technical collaboration,” says Silvana Farrugia, Technical Expert from Viva Energy. “Over 350 product application specialists work closely with OEMs and customers. Together, they develop innovative lubricant solutions to optimise equipment uptime. Our lubricants products can deliver value but also improve business outcomes.”

KEEP EQUIPMENT WORKING HARD LIKE YOU

As construction companies take on more projects, their equipment and process

reliability will be critical in delivering works on time and within budget. Shell Lubricants have a wide variety of lubricants, tools, technologies, and initiatives available to businesses. Each product can help maximise equipment uptime and drive efficiency across site operations.

PREDICTIVE MAINTENANCE & MODELLING

So much equipment damage can go unnoticed until it’s too late. Unplanned downtime can arise from previously unseen equipment damage. With predictive maintenance practices (including oil condition monitoring), construction crews can spot and fix issues before they escalate – preventing avoidable breakdowns and unplanned downtime. Sensors play a vital role in creating valuable new data sources for companies to generate actionable insights.

PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE

Inadequate lubrication has caused breakdowns for four out of ten companies. Highperformance lubricants for engines, hydraulics, gears, and transmission systems are essential to avoiding unplanned downtime and maximising equipment productivity. That’s why regular ongoing maintenance from on-site assessments and services like Shell LubeAnalyst optimise lubrication practices can make a massive difference in delivering projects on time and within budget.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)

The use of AI in construction is expected to grow 183 per cent over the next two years, so how can it help companies improve efficiency? In the initial stages of a project, it can aid planning to prevent cost overruns and

missed deadlines. On the site, autonomous equipment can free up workers for more practical tasks – helping teams streamline operations and increase productivity while mitigating the issues caused by labour shortages.

WORK WITH AN EXPERT PARTNER

Construction businesses have a tremendous opportunity, and collaboration will be crucial in setting them up for success. Working closely with a partner like Viva Energy, Shell Lubricants Macro Distributor can help businesses select the solutions that meet their specific needs and take advantage of the opportunities that increased investment in construction will bring. For more information, visit www.vivaenergy. com.au/shoplubricants

Editorial source — https://www.shell.com/ business-customers/lubricants-for-business/ perspectives/equipment-life.html

Shell Rimula is designed to keep your machines operating and clean.

Shell Rimula R4L features the latest generation technology to deliver significantly better outcomes.

Viva Energy and Shell work together to ensure equipment continues to work at its optimal level.

EVOLUTION CONSTANT

MATTHEWS BROTHERS ENGINEERING HAS EMBRACED INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES DURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF ITS UPDATED MULTI-PURPOSE ASPHALTING VEHICLES. ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE BREAKS DOWN WHAT THESE TECHNOLOGIES MEAN FOR THE INDUSTRY.

Matthews Brothers Engineering’s (MBE) equipment has been more than 100 years in the making.

Throughout that time the company has ensured and excelled, particularly when it comes to industry technologies, regulations and processes.

During World War II, MBE was identified by the military and asked to manufacture equipment to support the Allies. In the 1950s-60s, MBE pioneered the bulk wheat handling elevator machine. Then in the 1970s, it won a contract to develop bitumen melting kettles, to be supplied to the Victorian Country Roads Board.

Each of these innovations culminated in the company’s first developments in bitumen spraying technology in the 1980s,

a major milestone that helped shape the company that it is today.

Quality and experience have been two of the main contributing factors to this continued innovation, says third generation employee and MBE Managing Director Paul Matthews.

“We’ve been able to adapt very well, at the drop of a hat really,” he says.

As one of the industry’s most experienced stakeholders, Paul Matthews has direct input into MBE’s machinery, as well as what operators require and desire.

He says this has resulted in machinery that can deliver quality outcomes. One such machine is the company’s Tack Coater, or MPAV (Multi-Purpose Asphalting Vehicle).

STATE OF THE ART

As Matthews explains, having efficient, productive and accurate machinery during road sealing and spraying jobs is essential.

“A wise old man once told me that if the base is ‘no good’, then the road is not going to last,” he says. “If you don’t do the base properly, then there’s no point putting a seal over the top because it’s going to fail anyway.”

MBE’s Tack Coater has predominantly been used as part of bitumen emulsion spraying prior to the application of hot mix asphalt during road construction.

Due to its multi-purpose nature, the Tack Coater has also been used for general road maintenance such as patching, repairs and filling.

Matthews Brothers Engineering’s MultiPurpose Asphalting Vehicle.

One of the largest differentiators of MBE’s Tack Coater is that the machine is fully calibrated, providing boosts in productivity, efficiency and safety.

Calibration is a form of quality control within the machine, which allows accurate selections to ensure that the machine can provide consistent results for a variety of criteria. This includes road speed and distance, viscosity, spray bar adjustments, the pump speed and more.

The hopes of industry bodies, such as the Australian Flexible Pavement Association and Austroads, as well as feedback from clients, indicated towards a future where calibrated Tack Coaters would be preferred.

As such, MBE streamlined its development with the assistance of its partners to develop a suitable solution.

As General Manager and Design Manager Richard Bailey explains.

“We see this as an evolution, as we’ve always had the Tack Coater. But this is meant to take it to the next level by delivering a comprehensive package in the vehicle,” Bailey says.

The system helps to solve what can be a common issue in consistency.

“Some people with the emulsion just kind of spray back and forth,” Bailey says.

“The problem that can create is an uneven distribution, so you could be missing patches. That’s why some associations are pushing for this technology; they want to know what’s going on when it comes to the surface.

“Obviously this improves the quality of the finished job, while also being able to

deliver greater longevity.”

Bailey says the calibrated Tack Coater was specifically designed for these applications.

“We provide a premium product,” he says. “We deliver quality and with these demands for policy, we’ve had more customers saying that they need to meet these new demands. Now they’re coming to us asking ‘what can you do for us?’

“We take pride in the quality of what we do. We make sure that it’s right.”

OPTIONAL OPTIMISATION

As with the majority of MBE’s machinery, MBE’s Tack Coater is customisable.

One of MBE’s hallmark features is the G-TAR (Guaranteed Target Application Rate), an optional feature that has been in development for close to two decades.

This feature, represented by an internal

mounted screen in the cab, helps the operator to optimise their control of the machine.

The operator can access spraying parameters not otherwise available. The operator can then use this information to dictate the number and type/s of jets to be used, as well as the desired application rate. All that’s required from the operator is to change the gear engine speed to achieve the G-TAR. These parameters can also be changed in real time, to ensure that the machine can achieve a consistent finish.

Other optional features include firefighting pumps and reels, additional fuel storage, a hydraulic operated compactor plate loader, diesel burner system, air compressors and more.

Bailey says features such as the G-TAR help to further improve the machines “ease of use”. He adds that MBE can also assist operators who may be inexperienced, to ensure that they can make the most of their time in the machine.

“If we are delivering the sprayer, we can include some training as part of that package. To assist with this knowledge transfer we also provide support and documentation,” he says.

“One of the benefits of COVID was that we were able to develop some instructional videos for our national clients and we’ve been developing that over some time. Clients can now just play these videos over again for operators as they come on board, or they can do refreshers.”

MBE has already taken orders for its updated Tack Coater, with multiple models already in development, and expectations that more will be developed in the future.

Each system within Matthews Brothers Engineering’s equipment aims to achieve greater levels of consistency and quality for bitumen spraying.

Matthews Brothers Engineering’s Multi-Purpose Asphalting Vehicles include patented technology that’s been developed over multiple decades.

SUPPORTING LARGE SCALE COMMERCIAL PROJECTS

CONTACT

YOUR LOCAL

KENNARDS

HIRE EXPERT

A NEW ERA

LIUGONG AUSTRALIA HAS OFFICIALLY OPENED ITS NEW HEADQUARTERS IN MELBOURNE. ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE MAGAZINE SPEAKS TO SHANNON BETHE, DIRECTOR LIUGONG AUSTRALIA, TO LEARN WHAT THE MILESTONE MEANS FOR THE COMPANY, AS WELL AS ITS CUSTOMERS.

LiuGong truly encompasses what it means to be a ‘global brand’. With nearly 70 years’ experience, the machinery manufacturer and developer has long serviced the needs of China’s infrastructure and construction sectors and has expanded to more than 300 dealers across 170 countries.

LiuGong’s versatile and robust machinery lines have been used in conditions as hot as the Sahara, to freezing temperatures in the Antarctic.

The company’s equipment range includes wheel loaders, excavators, rollers, motor graders, dozers, pavers, cold planers, skid steer loaders, backhoe loaders, cranes and more.

LiuGong is now looking to further support its strong customer base in Australia’s infrastructure and construction sectors and recently unveiled its new headquarters in Laverton North, Melbourne.

Shannon Bethe, Director LiuGong Australia, says the move has been more than 20 years in the making.

“The plan was always to provide local support to our dealer base and distributors in the region. This is why we’ve established what we refer to as a local market support facility. It’s

much more than just a parts distribution centre,” he says.

MELBOURNE CENTRAL

The establishment of the new headquarters in Laverton North doesn’t signify a new focus on the Australian market. The company has long developed purpose-built machinery for Australian applications, as Bethe explains.

“For 20 years now, we’ve developed machinery specifically for the Australian market. These developments have actually permeated into the wider network globally,” he says.

“What this new facility does is bring us closer to our distributors and our dealers. That way we can provide a higher level of support, product development and specification development for our customers and individual market segments.”

According to Deng Tao, Chairman of LiuGong Australia, establishing a local headquarters not only reinforces the company’s collaborative approach with local dealers, but also enables the company to better service local customers.

“Due to Melbourne’s geographical location and commercial environment, we are strategically positioned to further

Customers, dealers and media in attendance at LiuGong Australia’s grand opening event in Laverton North.

increase LiuGong’s brand awareness in Australia,” Tao says.

“This sets a foundation for us to expand our footprint in the local market by investing heavily in product improvement and after-sales support, accelerating channel coverage, and supplying highquality machinery that helps customers achieve their environmental, social, and corporate governance goals.”

Bethe adds that the new headquarters will allow LiuGong to get on the front foot when it comes to future developments.

“It makes LiuGong a lot more proactive in developing future models that meet specific Australian requirements. We’ve now got a large contingency of factory staff now based here, so we can cater

for the different specifications across different areas of the Asia Pacific region,” he says.

ELECTRIC FEEL

The launch of the Laverton North facility coincided with the launch of two new machines to the Australian market, the LiuGong 856H-E MAX electric loader and 9027F-E electric excavator.

Both machines represent the company’s new range of electric machinery, encompassing a variety of machinery models and classes.

Bethe says LiuGong is wanting to push the envelope when it comes to sustainable machinery development.

“We’ve placed significant investment

in electric machinery. In 2023, the market will see the launch of fully electric roller models, skid steer models, wheel loaders and excavators,” he says.

“We’ve got a comprehensive range of electric machinery in the pipeline for all our customer’s needs. These machines really do offer a unique solution to the roads and civil construction market, especially when it comes to low noise units, which will be very effective for unique applications, such as tunnelling works.”

In early 2023, LiuGong delivered its first electric units to high-end markets in the United States and United Kingdom.

As part of this push, LiuGong has also recently announced the signing of a 10-year deal with CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited), one of the world’s largest battery developers and manufactures.

This 10-year deal will aim to further support innovations in LiuGong’s development of electric machinery and equipment.

Bethe says the grand opening of the facility is just one component that is helping to establish an exciting future for LiuGong Australia.

“I’m very excited about the scope of our product range in the future,” he says. “We’re really branching out into our global product lines to launch new equipment and machinery for a variety of industries.”

“What I’m most excited about is being able to support a premium Chinese brand, which is leading the way in market offerings.”

LiuGong Australia is building upon the variety of machinery and equipment currently available to the Australian market.

LiuGong’s senior management celebrating the grand opening.

Residential Companies

TAKING ON THE CHALLENGE

FLOCON ENGINEERING’S MANUFACTURING PROCESS AND FACILITIES HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED OVER MORE THAN FOUR DECADES. WITH ONE OF THE COMPANY’S MOST EXPERIENCED EMPLOYEES TO SEE HOW THESE SYSTEMS AND METHODS HAVE BEEN ADAPTED OVER TIME.

Ever since its introduction to the roads and infrastructure markets more than 40 years ago, Flocon Engineering has remained at the forefront of equipment development.

One example of Flocon Engineering’s ‘know-how’ was the development of its forward moving aggregate spreader, the result of VicRoads Standard 408 clause 408.11. This required road construction and maintenance contractors to utilise forward moving equipment.

This foresight has enabled the company to adapt its manufacturing capabilities and equipment, gradually increasing its efficiency with the introduction of new technologies, as well as skilled personnel.

This adaptation has enabled the company to remain at the forefront of innovation for decades.

Dorel Strugaru – Lead Body Fabricator can attest to this. Strugaru has worked in the company’s manufacturing department for 33 years. As such he’s seen these changes firsthand.

He says that despite changes in technology and processes, the quality of Flocon’s products hasn’t changed.

“We’ve been in business for a long time because we produce a very high-quality product,” Strugaru says.

He says Flocon’s manufacturing process can produce consistently high-quality machines due to its ‘twostaged’ approach.

Flocon utilises two different sites, each with its own responsibilities.

Stage one of the design phase prepares the parts required for manufacturing.

From there the machine body is prepared, as well as the machine floor.

Stage two completes the machine body, as well as the installation of any

newpave.com.au

custom parts, which may have been requested by the customer.

“We have quality control checks at the beginning and end of the product [manufacturing process],” Strugaru says.

This quality has been certified by an Australian Design Award, with the operation of more than 1000 units

in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Western Samoa and China.

Strugaru says his team have had to adapt themselves with new technologies. But he says these “upgrades” have helped to increase the efficiency of manufacturing by almost six weeks since he first started at the company.

“WE HAVE QUALITY CONTROL CHECKS AT THE BEGINNING AND END OF THE PRODUCT [MANUFACTURING PROCESS].”

Flocon Engineering’s manufacturing process is guided by 40 years of innovation.

example as well as laser cut parts. [The process] has improved a lot, it’s much easier.”

Strugaru says the process can at times be challenging, but it’s something he “really enjoys” about his role.

FORWARD PROGRESSION

One of the biggest challenges that Strugaru says he enjoys the most is the production of Flocon’s fully patented Forward Moving Aggregate Spreader.

The machine, used for road construction and maintenance, is designed to cater for Victorian Government legislation, requiring the need for forward-moving spreaders in road works across the state.

Flocon Engineering’s forward-moving aggregate spreader is cabin controlled and can spread aggregate up to 20 millimetres in size. The machine is capable of towing and has a legal payload of 10 tonnes with the current model.

When fitted with an aggregate spreader to the truck, the machine’s maximum spreading width is 2700 millimetres. This can be increased to 4900 millimetres when spreading with a self-propelled chipping spreader. And for full width spreads, two split hydraulic augers can be installed, to support the spread of material.

Strugaru says each individual unit is tailored to the desires of the end user,

with a multitude of customisation options available.

“When the final truck comes in you need to make sure everything fits perfectly,” he says. “Every truck is different, so it’s challenging, but it’s definitely not boring.”

He says the Flocon Engineering team has learned valuable lessons since the production of the first prototype.

“Now we’re trying new things to make the machine much better,” Strugaru says. “The end product is beautiful; it works very well.”

He adds that Flocon Engineering’s culture of innovation means each unit is seen as a new opportunity and challenge, rather than just another typical manufacturing process. A contributing factor for his 33-year tenure at the business.

“It’s a very cool company to be a part of,” Strugaru says. “We have a lot of good people around us. There’s great communication with management, so everything runs smoothly when we build good, quality machines.

“It’s a good job to be [in].”

Each unit, as well as Flocon Engineering’s manufacturing process itself, are subject to frequent quality checks.

“WE HAVE A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE AROUND US. THERE’S GREAT COMMUNICATION WITH MANAGEMENT, SO EVERYTHING RUNS SMOOTHLY WHEN WE BUILD GOOD, QUALITY MACHINES.”

Dorel Strugaru, Lead Body Fabricator – Flocon Engineering.

Safety in construction continues to be an aspect in the roads and infrastructure sectors that’s in need of dire improvement.

According to NSC Injury Facts, the construction industry experienced the most workplace deaths in 2021. As such, technological development continues to improve current processes in what is one of the world’s most dangerous industries.

Road rehabilitation and compaction works, in particular, pose risks, including factors such as unpredictable terrain or civilian traffic.

Lynn Marsh, President of Road Widener, says identifying these risks was the factor that led to the development of the company’s answer to compaction works in trying applications.

“Tandem compaction rollers are common in the industry, and while they serve a purpose, with Road Widener’s background in the paving industry, we saw a need for a safer option,” Marsh says.

“Too often, we hear of contractors who experience close calls with ride-on

NO LIMITS

ROAD WIDENER’S OFFSET VIBRATORY ROLLER IS HELPING OPERATORS TO ACCESS UNREACHABLE AREAS OF ROAD SURFACES DURING ROAD AND TRENCH COMPACTION WORK. ROAD WIDENER’S TEAM EXPLAINS HOW THE ATTACHMENT IS HELPING TO INCREASE SAFETY.

rollers or situations where tipping occurs. We didn’t want to accept this safety risk at face value, but instead took what we know about the industry and compaction and designed the Offset Vibratory Roller.”

Road Widener’s Offset Vibratory Roller is a patented attachment that allows operators to complete road and trench compaction works on a flat surface.

The attachment is a remote-controlled offset arm, which can reach the outside of the road shoulder slope due to a pivot position of up to 30 degrees and a reach distance of 30 inches below the mounting point.

“As a former COO for a paving company, I often heard of what we would call ‘silent rollovers,’ when operators would jump to safety as the tandem roller they were using was tipping,” Marsh says.

“We have heard of this happening when compacting a steep road shoulder or ditch, as well as in trench compaction. The Offset Vibratory Roller eliminates this risk.”

Operators can place their compact track

loader, wheel loader, skid steer or grader safely on flat ground. The attachment can then reach the furthest, steepest edge of sloping road shoulders, ditches, trenches and other hard-to-reach areas.

“Other compaction attachments that are not offset pose the same risks as tandem rollers, because the host machine still ends up driving at an angle and is frontweighted,” Marsh says.

“The safety provided by allowing the host machine to drive on flat ground while compacting sloped shoulders and ditches is something unachievable by a ride-on roller or other compaction attachments on the market.”

INCREASED EFFICIENCY

On top of meaningful safety benefits, the roller also provides efficiency bonuses. These productivity yields are already being recognised by operators on site.

Matt McDonald, Project Supervisor of Cox Construction, a 40-year-old construction company based in Canada, says the attachment has helped to

Road Widener’s Offset Vibratory Roller and FH-R material placement attachment result in a lower impact to traffic, reducing congestion and increasing safety and traffic flow.

maintain consistency and reliability.

“The Offset Vibratory Roller has been a game changer for our company. Not only does it improve safety, but it also offers increased efficiency,” McDonald says. “We do a lot of resurfacing roads, and these projects often involve very narrow shoulders with dangerously steep dropoffs into the ditch.”

“Ride-on rollers put the operator at risk of tipping and injury. The Offset Vibratory Roller attaches to the skid steer already in our fleet, allowing our crew to drive on the level road with the offset roller compacting on the shoulder. The risk of rollover and injury to my operators is eliminated.”

To further improve the versatility and efficiency of the roller, Road Widener also

to prevent excess dust on the worksite when compacting ‘clumpy’ materials. On top of suppressing dust particles, the optional water spray bar system can also improve the compaction performance of materials such as hot mix asphalt.

COMPACTION, ALL YEAR ROUND

During the development of the roller, Road Widener identified the need to ensure that the attachment could endure varying weather conditions. This focus also extended to minimising downtime due to unpredictable weather.

“Road Widener equipment can be used in both wet and dry environments,” Marsh says. “In addition to the Offset Vibratory Roller, Road Widener offers a material placement attachment, the

including road shoulder work and utility trench backfilling.”

“Both the FH-R material placement attachment and the Offset Vibratory Roller are compatible with a wide range of materials. The FH-R is designed to handle wet and dry aggregates, allowing contractors to remain productive and on schedule when rain is a factor.”

During the colder months, users can also have peace of mind when it comes to the maintenance of these attachments. Marsh says the roller requires 90 per cent less maintenance than selfpropelled machinery.

“Where winter months may be more of a down season with traditional compaction and paving equipment, attachments may only require their regular greasing and dayto-day simple maintenance,” Marsh says.

“As long as the weather is conducive to the work, Road Widener’s attachments can be used.”

Maintenance is also supported due to long-term after sales support from Road Widener’s team.

“We have a dedicated team that supports customers from the point of contact and the initial sale through the equipment’s life cycle. In addition to our internal team, we have a growing dealer presence and are continuing to add more dealers that provide excellent customer service,” Marsh says.

IMPORTANCE OF COMPACTION SAFETY

Marsh says road compaction safety remains to be a key focus – both here

Road Widener’s Offset Vibratory Roller attachment allows operators to remain safely on flat ground while compacting sloping terrain.

The Offset Vibratory Roller compacts a range of materials including asphalt, gravel, sand and topsoil.

in Australia – as well as Road Widener’s home, the USA.

“As many countries move toward safe systems approaches, Australia among

them, there is a growing focus on enhancing safety in all aspects of the highway infrastructure in a country,” she says.

“The equipment used to build those highway systems should be at the very core of this movement – and that is what we had in mind when developing the Offset Vibratory Roller.”

Marsh says equipment such as the Offset Vibratory Roller is helping to lead the charge.

“Safety is the highest priority in construction, but it remains a prominent challenge to achieve, especially when it comes to compaction safety. Compaction equipment that requires an operator to be at imminent risk of rollover is a prime example of a potentially problematic design” she says.

“These types of attachments are a more compact equipment option than traditional ride-on rollers. This results in a lower impact to traffic, reducing congestion on roads and benefitting safety in terms of traffic flow.”

Contractors can learn more about Road Widener’s products and services by visiting: www.roadwidenerllc.com

The FH-R material placement attachment is used in a wide range of applications such as road shouldering and utility works, as well as trench backfilling.

GOING BEYOND

THE POINT OF CALL

NEWPAVE ASPHALT HAS THRIVED, THANKS IN PART TO THE SUPPORT OF CAT DEALER WESTRAC. ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE FINDS OUT HOW THE PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP

BETWEEN THE TWO COMPANIES CONTINUES TO BLOSSOM.

Newpave Asphalt says that it has always prioritised local opportunities. Mark Gilson, Newpave Client Relationship Manager, says this focus on localisation has been the bedrock for the success of the New South Wales based company.

“We’re an independently owned business that employs local people, uses local suppliers and keeps profits local,” he says.

The company celebrated its 10th anniversary on May 21, symbolising what has been a period of advancement and development for Newpave. Gilson says Newpave’s rise can be attributed to both organic growth, as well as the support of established relationships within the industry.

“We’ve grown significantly since the company’s inception 10 years ago. We started out with one plant at Tomago and have expanded to have plants in Muswellbrook and Moree. This has given us a significant opportunity to expand and work across a large area of north-western New South Wales,” he says.

Gilson explained that this expansion has led to Newpave becoming an A2 prequalified asphalt contractor, making it certified to service the needs of both government and the private sector. And that Newpave has already completed works for New South Wales Roads and Maritime Services, as well as traffic control contractors.

The company proudly notes that its repertoire also includes standing contracts with every council across both the Hunter Valley and Central Coast regions.

Gilson says achieving quality outcomes can often rely on having the best quality equipment. Especially for a company whose services range from asphalt manufacturing, construction and profiling, right through to stabilisation, spray seal and line marking jobs.

A search for new equipment in 2018 has led to what has been a fruitful professional relationship.

OPTIMUM QUALITY

One of Newpave’s initial interests in Cat

machinery was in 2018, when the company was contemplating the purchase of a Cat PM620 Cold Planer, based on conversations with its customers who were using the machine at the time.

As Gilson recalls, it wasn’t only the capabilities of the machine itself that stood out, but also the support on offer by Cat dealer WesTrac.

“Not only the quality of the Cat product was appealing, but so was the after sales and aftermarket service,” he says.

Gilson says Newpave required flexibility and reliability from both the service and equipment, in part due to the company’s scope of works across New South Wales. For this reason, WesTrac solidified itself as a leading contender.

“The fact we are located a few minutes’ drive from WesTrac at Tomago was also a huge advantage for the working relationship,” he says.

“Nothing is ever a lasting problem. Emergency breakdown calls are always responded to quickly and efficiently,

resulting in less down time for Newpave and increased productivity.”

According to Gilson, Newpave now has 33 Cat units as part of its fleet, making it one of the larger paving fleets of Cat pavers, rollers and material transfer vehicles nationally.

NEW AND IMPROVED

Newpave’s latest purchase, the Cat RM400 Road Reclaimer, marks a first for the company. Purchased in 2021, the RM400 is the first purchase of such a machine for Newpave, opening new doors for the company.

The machine is powered by a Cat C9.3B Engine that delivers 416 horsepower. This power is complemented by a reduced machine size.

The Cat RM400 is well suited for both road rehabilitation and soil stabilisation works, while

completing approximately 200,000 square metres of stabilisation works,” Gilson says.

“We’ve recently completed some contributions on the Newell highway, including 13 kilometres of stabilisation works on at Bellata in early 2022 for Transport NSW and 30,000 square metres of patching works between Narrabri and the Queensland border.”

ALWAYS CLOSE BY

The purchase of the Cat RM400 Road Reclaimer, among other machines, has been made possible by WesTrac.

Michael Kelly, WesTrac Product Specialist – Paving and Forestry, says both companies share an invested interest in continued success.

“Newpave are a valued customer, having purchased a range of Cat and Weiler products from WesTrac as well as utilising our service department to support their operations,” he says.

“They’re a highly dynamic business. With works anywhere across New South Wales, they wanted to be sure that if there was a breakdown, there was a WesTrac branch or resident tech-nician close by.”

As Kelly adds, this support is always ongoing, thanks to the FitFleet® Customer Value

a different level of support to suit every customer’s needs.

“FitFleet has enabled us to have regular touch points with their equipment, to firstly service the machine, but also to undertake repairs such as warranty or product improvement programs,” Kelly says.

“Through our FitFleet CVAs we monitor the machine’s health using Cat Product Link and Cat S•O•S fluid testing that’s available in house to make recommendations to Newpave around machine health.”

On top of machinery and after sales support, Caterpillar® has also provided financing options to suit Newpave’s scope.

Luke Ranclaud, Senior Territory Manager – Cat Financial Australia says these services include opportunities for loans and leasing of new equipment.

“When you invest in Cat equipment, we invest in your success for the life of your business,” he says. “The team are here to help you succeed not just in good times, but in tough times, too.”

Ranclaud says the relationship between Cat Financial and Newpave has been developed over several years and has increased in strength.

“The service provided to Newpave has been focussed on delivering tailored and structured

“The services provided by Cat Financial have machine acquisitions when required. Our deep our funding solutions are aligned to their core

Newpave Asphalt operates throughout New South Wales and Queensland.

Newpave Asphalts services include asphalt manufacturing, construction, testing, haulage, traffic management, profiling, stabilisation, spray seal and line marking.

Newpave Asphalt has contracts across both the Hunter Valley and Central Coast regions in New South Wales.

FIRE UP FOR ALL FLEXIHIRE

FLEXIHIRE HAS BEEN OPERATING THROUGHOUT QUEENSLAND AND NORTHERN NEW SOUTH WALES FOR DECADES, PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY HEAVY MACHINERY FOR A RANGE OF INDUSTRIES.

Flexihire is renowned for supplying quality equipment. Expertly maintained by its own mechanics and delivered by its own drivers, professional advice is always on hand and everything comes at a very competitive price.

Atlas CEA is a supplier of choice for the Flexihire business, offering a wide range of generators, compressors, and lighting towers to suit a diverse range of applications. Flexihire is committed to providing machinery that is fit-forpurpose across a wide range of sites and applications.

Ben Hosking is the Sales Manager of Flexihire and joined the company nine years ago. Originally trained as a diesel mechanic, he has found that the industry is constantly shifting.

“There’s never a dull day here,” Hosking says. “It’s always keeping us on the hop.”

WORKING WITH ATLAS CEA

Flexihire and Atlas CEA have been working together for decades. The relationship that has been formed between the two organisations has been vital in providing high-quality products from well-respected brands.

“We buy the best of the best in every category that we can. CEA provides a range of respected brands such as JCB, Dynapac, Ditch Witch and Atlas Copco. These are the products

The Atlas Copco air compressor is a key part of Flexihire’s business.

that industry wants to work with,” Hosking says.

One challenge for Flexihire is ensuring that they have enough equipment and products that different industries and organisations want to work with. CEA, a leading distributor of world-renowned capital equipment brands, distributes Atlas Copco generators, portable air compressors, and lighting towers.

“The availability of these products is fundamental to our business,” he says. “Not only do our clients want the capital equipment they are used to working with, but also good quality machines, where suppliers can provide the equipment and the parts promptly.”

The extensive range of products available through Atlas CEA has allowed Flexihire to minimise logistics costs and stock a comprehensive range of equipment at each branch. By working with Atlas CEA for multiple

product lines, Flexihire can dedicate its resources to servicing its customer’s needs and centralising the requirement for sales and aftersales support.

MAINTENANCE IS KEY

“We need to have good-quality machines that are reliable, with parts readily available. Along with the dealer support network, we can ensure that the machines are not idle in our workshops. We must have the equipment on hand as and when our customers need it,” Hosking says.

“Their equipment is reliable and consistently performs to the highest standards. Their customer service is second to none, and their team is always helpful and responsive. We know that we can rely on Atlas CEA to help us meet our customers’ expectations and deliver the best possible service.”

Flexihire ensures access to reliable and well-maintained construction hire equipment for its customers. With multiple workshops throughout Queensland and northern New South Wales, every workshop can manage its maintenance and repair needs. It also has three major workshops throughout Queensland (Brisbane, Rockhampton, and Gladstone) where more significant repairs can be undertaken.

“Each workshop can do a variety of maintenance and repair tasks, depending on what they are and what the local community needs,” he says. “The three major refurbishment centres are distributed in a way that best covers our entire service area.”

Hosking acknowledges that Flexihire is unique in running so many workshops. By employing mechanics to manage its repairs, Flexihire works hand in hand with Atlas CEA to ensure that the staff across the network have access to the latest technical and parts support. He reiterates that the availability of parts is critical.

“It’s the biggest thing to keep the machines available for hire. It also shows that we are flexible and working with our clients to ensure they have what they want promptly,” he says.

WHAT DOES FLEXIHIRE WANT FROM ATLAS CEA?

The Atlas Copco Hi-Light B6+ lighting towers have been a recent addition to the Flexihire fleet and have proven reliable and a great way to keep a project site or event well-lit. At the same time, the generators provide hours of power to remote work sites. Atlas CEA supplies Flexihire with a variety of machinery, including air breakers, air compressors, air tools, and generators.

The flexibility that Flexihire offers by providing high-quality Atlas CEA products ensures that it is ready for any market shifts. While the demand from specific industries for Flexihire’s services comes and goes with changes in the economy, Hosking says he’s focused on working with a broad range of industries that can use the equipment he gets from Atlas CEA.

“It means we can adjust our plans. We can go to different market segments and provide them with exactly what they need when they need it. That’s why our clients keep working with us,” he says.

Illuminating project sites is made much easier with Atlas Copco Hi-Light B5+ lighting towers.

“NOT ONLY DO OUR CLIENTS WANT THE CAPITAL EQUIPMENT THEY ARE USED TO WORKING WITH, BUT ALSO GOOD QUALITY MACHINES, WHERE SUPPLIERS CAN PROVIDE THE EQUIPMENT AND THE PARTS PROMPTLY.”

Ben Hosking, Flexihire Sales Manager, is developing a close relationship with Atlas CEA.

FOREST FEARS SANY

EXCAVATOR EFFICIENCY

SANY HAS BECOME ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST DYNAMIC AND TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED HEAVY MACHINERY PRODUCERS. ITS NEW FORESTRY EXCAVATORS ARE SETTING A NEW STANDARD, SOUGHT OUT ACROSS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND.

SANY has been expanding worldwide with its construction equipment. The name “SANY”, which means “three ones”, refers to the three goals the company mentions as its vision. They are “to build a first-class enterprise, to foster first-class employees, and to make first-class contributions to society”. The company’s logo refers to this phrase, as it contains three number ones interlinked.

Elton Wang is the Vice General Manager of SANY Australia.

“SANY is a big brand,” Wang says. “When I joined, it was a growing manufacturing company. I felt this was an industry where I could make a difference.”

WHAT MAKES SANY UNIQUE?

SANY is one of the world’s largest OEM manufacturers of industry-leading construction and mining equipment, heavy machinery, and renewable wind-energy systems. According to Wang, there are reasons for this.

“Our motto is Quality Changes the World. Prioritising the research and development of technological advancement allows the company to expand into a more diverse product line. We have the best production lines and the most disciplined staff to do that. This means that we will be the most efficient in manufacturing large quantities of the machines we make. This is particularly the case for our excavators,” he says.

Wang also points to the research and development focus of SANY. SANY has one of the largest research and development teams that is focused on the construction industry.

“We keep modifying and improving our products,” he says. “In that way, we are very efficient with one of the fastest production lines. Our products are highly available,

reliable, and fuel-efficient. It reflects the high quality of our work.”

FORESTRY EXCAVATORS

Many types of excavators are on the market today, and finding the right excavator for your sector is essential. SANY understands the needs of multiple markets and designs different excavators for each industry.

“One of the reasons we provide customised excavators for each industry is that the market has become so big and diverse. We hope our products can cover every aspect of each industrial sector. On top of that, we can sell our efficient and good quality machinery at a good price to every market, not just the forestry market,” Wang says.

In designing a forestry excavator like the SY245, SANY starts from a solid base that can be retrofitted for almost any industry. Its customised additions ensure that it is

suitable for any environment.

“We generally start with a conventional excavator,” he says. “We then give it a higher chassis and undercarriage, which allows them to traverse the terrain better. There is also more protection for the carriage due to the materials being handled. We also provide specialised, heavy-duty attachments needed for the forestry industry.”

SANY adds an additional hydraulic pipeline to the attachments as part of that design. It’s important to have this support for the imported equipment. Approval in the Australian and New Zealand markets is vital.

“If we can sell a specific model in Australia and New Zealand, other countries will also buy that model. New Zealand is known for requiring very heavy-duty forestry equipment. It’s generally felt that if the forestry excavator can be used successfully in Australia and New Zealand, companies

The SY245 is a medium excavator capable of logging, sawmilling, and stripping operations.

across North America and Europe will also want that model,” Wang says.

The SY245 is a medium excavator capable of logging, sawmilling, and stripping operations. It dramatically improves forestry working efficiency, with a 147kW diesel engine powering the 25.5-tonne excavator.

The SY245 features a powerful, robust, and reliable powertrain and hydraulic components for a long life in the most demanding applications.

“We tend to go for a simple technical layout,” Wang says. “Unlike many other types of excavators, the forestry excavators could be far from any technicians. Our clients generally want a simple internal structure to conduct any maintenance or simple repairs without calling someone out. It reduces costs on both ends because technicians may have to travel a long way. I’ve even heard of cases where technicians have had to be flown out to a site by helicopter. If the users can fix many problems by themselves, that is a win-win outcome for everyone.”

INDUSTRY GROWTH

In Wang’s eyes, SANY has seen significant progress in the last two to three years. Sales volumes have increased dramatically throughout Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific.

“Our sales volume has grown from tens

of units a year to over one thousand units yearly,” he says. “This is across the forestry excavator range, and our market share is constantly growing. At this point, we are the largest supplier of forestry excavators in Fiji while growing our market share in Australia and New Zealand.”

Wang has also found that competitors are looking to SANY for inspiration. Despite starting from a low base, their competitive edge has been vital.

“We know that over time, our market share will grow. We’ve seen our competitors change and adjust certain aspects of their excavators in response to what we provide. Many are changing their warranty terms to adjust to what we offer. It shows that our numbers will grow over time, and we will have a bigger impact on the industry,” he says.

For more information, visit: https://www.sanyaustralia.com.au/

SANY has manufactured forestry excavators for the toughest of environments.

The SANY SY245F has the tools for every aspect of forestry excavation.

WOMEN IN INDUSTRY AWARDS -

2023 WINNERS

THE WOMEN IN INDUSTRY AWARDS RECOGNISED OUTSTANDING WOMEN FROM VARIOUS INDUSTRIAL SECTORS, SUCH AS MINING, TRANSPORT, MANUFACTURING, ENGINEERING, LOGISTICS, BULK HANDLING, WASTE MANAGEMENT, RAIL AND

Hundreds gathered at Aerial on South Wharf in Melbourne to celebrate the women who work tirelessly to advance the mining, engineering, road transport, logistics, rail, bulk handling, infrastructure, and waste management industries.

There was a record 158 nominations received in 2023. The judging panel had a tough time getting to a finalist shortlist and deciding the winners. In front of their peers across the country, ten category winners and the Woman of the Year were announced.

FREDON’S GISELLE PHILLIPS WINS BIG

Giselle Phillips from Fredon Queensland took out both the Woman of the Year (sponsored by Fulton Hogan) and the Safety Advocacy Award (sponsored by Komatsu). The latter seeks to recognise an individual working actively to improve safety for their industry.

Phillips is an HSEQ Advisor for Fredon’s Queensland office. She described herself as a dynamic driver of positive change, making a difference by being a positive and supportive influence, sharing and imparting information or implementing change. She’s been in the role for just over two years, supporting various projects throughout the state.

Phillips was thrilled to have won both the coveted Woman of the Year and Safety Advocacy Awards.

“This acknowledges the dedication and passion I’ve put into my work as a safety professional,” Phillips said. “In my role at Fredon, I have taken almost every woman on their journey. I’ve advocated for them. I have put them up for submissions. I’ve interviewed them. I have listened to them, and we are all in the same boat. We are not in competition with each other. We need

to advocate and help each other get where we need to be.”

QUEENSLAND FINALISTS DOMINATE

Five of the eleven awards presented on the night went to women based in Queensland, with Phillips picking up two awards for the state.

Elsa Antunes from James Cook University (JCU) won the Excellence in Engineering Award, sponsored by SEW-Eurodrive. As a Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering, she’s established a career in the materials science and chemical engineering sector. Her leadership across research projects at JCU showed that she should be recognised as someone who has demonstrated leadership in engineering, technological excellence, and innovation.

“I’d like to thank my nominator who believes in me, and without her, I would not be here. Of course, I would not be here without all my research team. This is not just about women, but how we make

an impact on society,” Antunes said.

Continuing the theme of academic excellence among women in industry, Ashara Moore from BHP won the Excellence in Mining Award, sponsored by Weir Minerals Australia. Moore has a technical background in Geotechnical, Civil Earthworks and Environmental studies. She is completing a PhD at the Queensland University of Technology as a PhD student, focusing on the sustainable management of mining waste through enhanced geochemical treatment of materials.

“I’m very passionate about STEM as an engineer and a PhD student in sustainable management in the mining sector,” Moore said. “I have a wonderful team at Saraji Engineering in Moranbah in central Queensland. There is a fantastic team of engineers working with me. It’s fantastic to deliver projects and sustainable outcomes in the resources sector with them, so I couldn’t be here without them today.”

MC Claire Hooper delighted the audience at the Women in Industry Awards.

For many women in male-dominated industries, a mentor is a crucial support piece for their career. Teagan Dowler, the Director and Founder of The BCW, won the Mentor of the Year Award. Her willingness to be a leader who provides practical advice and support saw her colleagues at STS Consulting Australia nominate her for the award.

“I want to thank every single person who has believed in the work that we do to support women in our industry, particularly in the personal development and mentoring space. I want to give a special shoutout to all the other finalists because your work is so impactful in creating change in the industry,” Dowler said.

ADVOCACY HAS A VITAL ROLE IN INDUSTRY

Advocacy at any level is crucial to developing people’s career paths. It’s why Jemma Walshe from Fulton Hogan won the Industry Advocacy Award. She advocates to ensure that time, energy, and resources are dedicated to making a difference in the communities that Fulton Hogan works within.

“I wanted to say a big thank you to all the leaders I look up to,” Walshe said. “I wouldn’t be here talking about this if it wasn’t for you. You support everything we want to do in this space to change the industry while striving for it and pushing everyone to do better.”

Similarly, seeing young women progress

in their career paths is critical for them as role models. Sophia Kurianski, the founder and CEO of Jinolo, won the Rising Star of the Year Award, sponsored by Atlas Copco. Kurianski founded Jinolo, which has already garnered significant attention. Manufacturing, design, and engineering teams across the globe are using Kurianski’s software to collaborate on 3D files.

“I remember even when deciding to become an engineer, it was essentially a

process of looking at the list of careers and thinking, ‘mechatronics looks cool. I like robots, and I’ve only watched Ironman about 30,000 times, so it can’t go wrong.’ Upon starting this journey into engineering, I realised that the stereotypes are still, unfortunately, very real,” Kurianski said.

FULL LIST OF 2023 WINNERS:

tefanie Frawley (TMX Global) –Business Development Success of the Year

rudy Grimshaw (Department of Finance, Western Australia) –Excellence in Construction

lsa Antunes (James Cook University) –Excellence in Engineering

risti Riordan (Harvest B) – Excellence in Manufacturing

shara Moore (BHP) – Excellence in Mining

• Coralie Chapman (Humes Concrete Products) – Excellence in Transport

• J emma Walshe (Fulton Hogan) –Industry Advocacy Award

• Teagan Dowler (The BCW) – Mentor of the Year

• S ophia Kurianski (Jinolo) – Rising Star of the Year

• G iselle Phillips (Fredon QLD) – Safety Advocacy Award

• G iselle Phillips (Fredon QLD) – Woman of the Year

“IN MY ROLE AT FREDON, I HAVE TAKEN ALMOST EVERY WOMAN ON THEIR JOURNEY. I’VE ADVOCATED FOR THEM. I HAVE PUT THEM UP FOR SUBMISSIONS. I’VE INTERVIEWED THEM. I HAVE LISTENED TO THEM, AND WE ARE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT. WE ARE NOT IN COMPETITION WITH EACH OTHER. WE NEED TO ADVOCATE AND HELP EACH OTHER GET WHERE WE NEED TO BE.”

Giselle Phillips from Fredon Queensland scooped the night, winning Woman of the Year and the Safety Advocacy Award.

The Women in Industry Awards was an enormous success.

DOWN UNDER 2023 A LOOK INTO NO-DIG

ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE GIVES A GLIMPSE INTO THE 2023 NO-DIG DOWN UNDER CONFERENCE.

As less invasive construction becomes more popular, the call for trenchless technology has become louder.

No-Dig Down Under, to be held on September 12-14, is the Southern Hemisphere’s largest trenchless technology event. It provides a platform for key decision makers in the construction industry to brainstorm, explore and get involved in the world of trenchless technology.

No-Dig Down Under Show Director, Lauren Winterbottom, says No-Dig Down Under is a must-attend event for everyone involved in the trenchless technology sector – be it councils looking to make upgrades to their municipalities, or utilities seeking to upgrade or install services.

“This year the event theme is “Better Outcomes Through Trenchless,” she says.

“As always, the event will also focus on new technologies and products that will help make the industry more efficient, safer, and provide more benefits for both those within the industry, and the broader community.”

Organised in partnership with the Australasian Society for Trenchless Technology (ASTT), No-Dig Down

Under features a large-scale exhibition, multi-stream technical conference, training, social program and the coveted ASTT Awards.

Winterbottom says No-Dig Down Under

is a great networking opportunity, the best chance for industry members to come together as one group and learn about the recent advances in the industry.

“The industry is focused on communicating the benefits of trenchless technology – for the environment with less disruptions to wildlife, for the community with less disruption to roads and other infrastructure while making repairs or installations, and for the financial bottom line with lower costs to complete major projects,” she says.

At No-Dig Down Under this year, attendees can look forward to an array of opportunities not only at the event itself, but also prior to the conference.

Training courses will be presented by industry leaders from Australia and overseas and are set to be of high value to anyone who encounters trenchless technologies as part of their employment.

Overall, the technical program will invite and encourage speakers from around Australia and the globe to present papers covering case studies, new and emerging technologies, challenging projects and environments, industry skills and training, risk management and more.

Along with the more practical side of the event, three sponsored social functions will also be held, including the prestigious ASTT Gala Dinner and awards evening, on September 14, providing attendees with networking opportunities in a variety of settings with industry professionals.

Some of the newest technologies in trenchless construction will also be showcased at the event.

Attendees can expect to see include KOR Equipment Solutions, CDE, OptionX Group, UHI Machinery, Sewer Equipment Company, Robb Carr, TRACTO Australia, Pipe Core, Vermeer Australia, CEA, DCS Manufacturing and Kaiser Technology Pty.

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

ASTT will once again offer ten utility and council scholarships for attendance at NoDig Down Under 2023.

ASTT is a non-profit organisation, representing organisations and individuals involved in Australia and New Zealand’s trenchless technology industry. Established in 1991, the society has grown from 35 members when it was incorporated, to over 200 today.

Membership is open to all who are concerned with the provision of gas, water, sewage, drainage, telecommunications and electrical services.

This includes consultants, contractors, material and equipment manufacturers, public authorities at all levels of government and those engaged in research and development for underground systems.

No-Dig Down Under will be held from the 12-14 of September at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

For more information on the event, visit: www.nodigdownunder.com

Keynote speakers at No-Dig Down Under 2022.

A PEEK INSIDE

CONSTRUCTION EXPO

ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE PROVIDES A SNEAK-PEEK INTO THIS YEAR’S INSIDE CONSTRUCTION EXPO.

An event dedicated to major commercial and civil projects in the Australian construction industry, Inside Construction Expo is being held from 20 to 21 September 2023 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

With a robust conference program featuring top-level speakers, a world-class exhibition showcasing the latest equipment and technology, and the Inside Construction Foundation Awards celebrating talented industry individuals and businesses, Inside Construction Expo 2023 is a mustattend event.

Lauren Winterbottom says the event is positioned to foster the successful delivery of projects in the pipeline.

“Inside Construction Expo was created to fill the gap in events targeted at major commercial and civil projects,” she says.

BACKGROUND FOR INSIDE CONSTRUCTION EXPO

The 2022-23 Victorian Budget outlines $85.3 billion in general government spending on infrastructure over the next four years.

Many projects are planned nationwide over the next decade, but considerable industry challenges remain. Inside Construction Expo 2023 will provide a platform to canvass solutions to the issues hampering the commercial and civil construction sectors.

With four stages across the event focusing on Health, Safety and Well-being; Training, Education and Careers; Digital Transformation and Connectivity; and Construction Productivity, there will be a wealth of industry information and solutions.

“Throughout the conference, attendees can expect to hear from executive-level representatives from Australia’s major constructors and suppliers, alongside research and education bodies and government figures,” Winterbottom says. “The exhibition show floor spans up to 15,000 square metres

across 10 bays and will display the latest construction machinery and equipment.”

Inside Construction Expo is backed by support from several valued organisations and media partners.

“We’re pleased to partner with industry associations and peak bodies to bring Inside Construction Expo to life,” Winterbottom says. “Specialist in assembly and fastening materials, Wurth Australia has come on board as a supporting sponsor for the Expo.”

“We are thrilled to be part of the 2023 Inside Construction Expo, which promises to be a game-changer for the industry. This event will provide an unparalleled opportunity for us to showcase our latest products and innovations, as well as to connect with fellow professionals and share insights and expertise,” says Serge Oppedisano, CEO of Wurth Australia

Winterbottom also pointed to intelligent positioning solutions provider Position Partners and manufacturer Komatsu as proud conference sponsors. In the lead-up to the event, over 19 industry-leading publications continue to cover the latest in Expo news extensively.

“We have seen their coverage reach more than 80,000 decision-makers across multiple sectors,” a spokesperson says.

“We’re excited to connect with delegates at Inside Construction in Melbourne this year. Events are experiencing a resurgence post-lockdown, and nothing beats in-person conversations, especially when it comes to

2023

INAUGURAL FOUNDATION AWARDS

As part of this year’s Inside Construction Expo, the Foundation Awards will be held on 20 September 2023 to celebrate the individuals, businesses, and projects championing transformation in the construction industry. With a focus on showcasing the initiatives that seek to promote core standards around safety, diversity and environmental sustainability throughout major and local projects, the Foundation Awards will be a premier event on the construction industry calendar.

PLAN YOUR ATTENDANCE

Whether you’re a project manager, superintendent or an engineer, all professionals in the field of construction are invited to attend Inside Construction Expo 2023. Registration is free for both the exhibition and the conference.

As the construction industry continues to face ongoing challenges, from skills shortages and lack of digitisation to poor productivity and inadequate safety management – this year’s Inside Construction Expo will encourage transformation and a brighter future for the sector.

For more information, visit  www.insideconstructionexpo.com.au

showcasing new technology!” says Gina Velde, Marketing and Communications Executive Manager of Position Partners.

The 2023 Inside Construction Expo will be held at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre on September 20-21.

Infrastructure Sustainability Council

SUSTAINABILITY KEY TO POSITIVE LEGACY FOR BRISBANE 2032

WITH

“Sports have the power to unite; so too does sustainability. The Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032 is a powerful catalyst for cumulative change. It impacts before, during, and long after the event itself. Now is the time to come together for a positive infrastructure legacy that serves people, the environment, and the economy.”

That’s from Ainsley Simpson, CEO of the Infrastructure Sustainability (IS) Council. The organisation she leads helps to generate social, environmental, governance and economic returns for society, primarily through the IS Ratings Scheme.

Recently, the Queensland Government elected to mandate IS Ratings for all new Games related horizontal infrastructure in a move designed to support its contractual commitment to deliver a climate positive games.

UNPRECEDENTED OPPORTUNITY FOR CHANGE

In March 2020, the International Olympic

Games will be Climate Positive from 2030. This was intended to lead both the global effort to combat climate change and to leave a tangible, positive legacy for the planet. As the next host city awarded the Games following this announcement, Brisbane 2032 is thus the first to commit to this Climate Positive outcome.

The long lead time of Brisbane 2032 provides an unprecedented opportunity to create a positive legacy, with the aim to produce lasting benefits to the community while accelerating the transition to net zero emissions.

BEYOND CLIMATE POSITIVE

Working in partnership with IS Council member, AECOM, the IS Council seeks to leverage this commitment as an accelerator for industry excellence and innovation. Together, they have produced

a thought leadership article that explores how Brisbane 2032 might provide an opportunity for resetting the sustainability agenda for infrastructure and examined the implications of reaching beyond contractual commitments.

In the first instance, the article recommends expanding the timeline in scope. When people talk about legacy plans for Olympic and Paralympic Games, they often refer to the 10+10. That is, the 10 years leading up to the event and the 10 years after it. There is value, however, in extending this scope to factor in regional, national, and international 2050 climate action targets. By considering the 10+10+10, they account for the second decade after the event where they expect to see Games infrastructure continuing to provide restorative gains enabled by the step-change in behaviour and expectations.

“IT COMES WITH A RACE THAT MUST BE WON. THE GOAL IS TO DELIVER MORE RESILIENT, INCLUSIVE, CLIMATE-POSITIVE INFRASTRUCTURE. THIS INFRASTRUCTURE ENABLES PEOPLE AND OUR SECTOR TO THRIVE.”

RESILIENCE AS THE NEW NORMAL Increasing uncertainty, and a range of compounding externalities, shape and change how the industry delivers across the built environment. These externalities include extreme weather events, natural disasters, the impacts of a global pandemic and other health emergencies, cyber-attacks and critical digital network failures.

Climate change is not just an environmental issue, but also a social and economic one. As Australia emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic and re-focuses on 2030 targets, climate-positive approach will help to mitigate future risks including extreme weather, biodiversity loss, social inequality

THE BRISBANE OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES LESS THAN A DECADE AWAY, THE INFRASTRUCTURE SUSTAINABILITY COUNCIL IS SUPPORTING THE INFRASTRUCTURE VALUE CHAIN TO SET A NEW BENCHMARK FOR THE BENEFIT OF GENERATIONS TO COME.

The Infrastructure Sustainability Council is hoping that the upcoming Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games will leave a lasting impact on the country’s future infrastructure development.

and polarisation, and livelihood crises. While climate mitigation alone won’t solve these global challenges, minimising the impacts of future climate change scenarios can prevent worst-case outcomes that can trigger or exacerbate social, economic, and environmental emergencies.

Leveraging the goal of delivering a Climate Positive Games presents a unique opportunity to support systemic resilience as the new benchmark for infrastructure. This sustainability-minded approach requires responsiveness to a diverse range of shocks and stresses while also seeking to enhance the well-being and liveability of communities.

To this end, momentum is growing around the concept of nature-based solutions. Also called green and blue infrastructure, naturebased solutions use nature as an asset that generates social, economic and environmental returns over time and are often designed and implemented with the engagement and consent of local and Indigenous communities.

SPOTLIGHTING THE G IN ESG

The aggregated outcomes of hundreds of infrastructure projects rated through the IS Rating Scheme over a decade has demonstrated that delivering excellence, legacy, innovation, social inclusion, and resilience requires an inclusive and

governance. When planning stages include a clear objective to create an enduring and meaningful legacy, early action by an integrated and collaborative group establishes a greater chance of success.

Working inclusively and collectively builds stronger networks, forges productive partnerships, and breaks down information silos. The G in ESG underpins all other activity for project and business outcomes, along with lasting community benefit.

“As we set our ambitions and cross the finish line, the answers to our questions are much like Tolstoy’s hermit suggested to

Infrastructure Sustainability (IS) Council.

“When we seek to leave a legacy, the most important time is now. The most important people are those you are with. The most important thing is helping those around you. With the addition of our findings, we are helping the present and the future.

“It comes with a race that must be won. The goal is to deliver more resilient, inclusive, climate-positive infrastructure. This infrastructure enables people and our sector to thrive.”

For more information, visit www.iscouncil. org/beyond-climate-positive/

The games also present an opportunity to accelerate the development of sustainable infrastructure.

The Infrastructure Sustainability Council says a plan for the city’s infrastructure legacy can support more sustainable infrastructure for future generations.

RESILIENCE IN ROADS

AFPA IS LEADING THE CHARGE AND CULTURE CHANGE TOWARDS ROAD RESILIENCY IN AUSTRALIA. ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE LEARNS MORE, AND SITS DOWN WITH TOM GROSSKOPF OF TRANSPORT FOR NEW SOUTH WALES WHICH IS DELIVERING SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT TO THE STATE’S ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE.

Severe weather events, as well as an increased reliance on Australia’s road network have highlighted the need for greater road resiliency.

AfPA hosted the Resilience in Roads Event Industry Briefing Event in May 2023 with the objective of a whole of industry approach to the repair, rebuild and resilience one of the nations most valuable asset – its roads.

The event considered what is ‘resilience’, and how resilience can be best integrated into projects, programs and policies, as well as the challenges and issues for the industry and the road network. The event also discussed different technologies, products and applications, as well as case studies, equally informed by AfPA’s recent Information Knowledge Tour (IKT).

The Australian Flexible Pavement Association (AfPA) itself submitted its recommendations to the Federal Government’s House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport, following an inquiry into the impacts of severe weather conditions on Australia’s road network.

The association recommended the establishment of “more sustainable, healthier, and longer-term pipelines of investment, with a focus on fixing it first.”

AfPA also highlighted the need for addressing climate change and weather conditions that are affecting this network, with a focus on supporting the establishment of sustainable road maintenance and repair methods.

Road resiliency continues to be a hot topic which is why Roads & Infrastructure Magazine sat down with Tom Grosskopf, Executive Director, Network and Assets, Regional and Outer Metropolitan – Transport for NSW to learn how New South Wales is implementing change.

Q AND A

WHY IS RESILIENCE IMPORTANT?

The complexity, intensity and economic impact of natural disasters in NSW is increasing, and by 2061 the cost to the New South Wales economy is expected to rise to at least $15.8

billion. A transport network that is more resilient through natural disasters is essential for maintaining the social and economic health of communities.

Roads better equipped to withstand such events take less time and cost to recover and repair, resulting in improved experiences for road users, continual flow of goods and services, communities staying connected and less workforce/contractor pressure when the risk of fatigue and injury is high.

WHAT ARE TRANSPORT FOR NSW’S PRIORITIES AND FOCUS AROUND RESILIENCE IN ROADS?

Transport for NSW’s plan to build resilience in the road network uses the best available evidence on risks to plan how we will manage both new and existing assets Our resilience work takes a customer journey viewpoint, considering all modes of transport as one network, and a build-back better approach.

Under the Network Resilience Program, which commenced after the 201920 bushfires, Transport prioritises the most vulnerable and critical assets and incorporates future climate projections into asset management plans. We have developed a centralised data system that records extreme weather-related events across the whole transport network.

Another major plank to Transport’s plan for a more resilient road network is the, first of its kind, betterment funding scheme being delivered in Northern NSW. The scheme enables eligible infrastructure damaged in the early 2022 floods to be rebuilt stronger and better able to withstand future natural disasters. Betterment works can include route realignment to avoid known areas of repeated or frequent impact, enhancing drainage, widening narrow roads and using asphalt or concrete on sections of spray sealed roads frequently impacted by flooding.

WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE BIGGEST LEARNINGS AND OPPORTUNITIES FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF TRANSPORT FOR

NSW?

Under the Network Resilience Program, three

projects are providing significant lessons and opportunities for enhancing the resilience of the road network.

The Bushfire Corridor Resilience Project is developing a tool to assess the risk to bushfires on state roads and investing in strategic interventions like the removal of high-risk vegetation and protection of critical flammable infrastructure such as timber truss bridges.

The second project is Customer Journey Resilience Plans to identify vulnerability and the potential for impact to customer journeys. These plans will inform future investment in the road network.

The Aboriginal Cultural Landscape Management project acknowledges ways our First Nations people have historically managed the landscape and looks to potential applications for more resilient transport.

HOW IS TRANSPORT FOR NSW WORKING TO FURTHER IMPROVE THE PROGRAM IN THE FUTURE?

Transport acknowledges, while we work to develop a more resilient road network, future predictions are for more extreme weather events and natural disasters, which will continue to disrupt customers and their journeys.

While assets are designed and constructed to withstand modelled operating conditions within defined standards, industry standard management practices are being challenged by the variability and extreme nature of recent events. We are continuing to work with the industry to review the standards to keep them relevant to the new climatic conditions.

Transport also recognises the need for wider resilience efforts. We are part of a whole-of-government resilience building effort, with a focus on preparedness and streamlining the recovery process.

We are also strengthening our organisational resilience by undertaking a holistic review of our emergency capabilities and improving co-ordination of data and insights across Transport and other agencies.

SIX LEVEL CROSSINGS REMOVED IN PERTH’S FIRST MAJOR ELEVATED RAIL PROJECT

LBeams, Tee Beams, headstocks and columns are among the precast elements being supplied by Master Precaster Australian Precast Solutions (APS) for Perth’s first major elevated rail project.

Come November 2023, the nearly four kilometres of overhead rail that is being delivered as part of the METRONET Victoria Park-Canning Level Crossing Removal Project, will reduce traffic congestion, deliver improved public transport safety and create new and versatile public space for the community.

The project entails the removal of six level crossings along the Armadale Line by raising the rail over the road at Mint Street, Oats Street, Welshpool Road, Hamilton Street, Wharf Street and William Street.

While Welshpool Station will close at Carlisle, new modern elevated stations will be built at Oats Street, Queens Park, Cannington and Beckenham stations. Additionally, extensively landscaped public space will surround the stations for community enjoyment.

Expected to support around 8500 jobs, the project is funded by both State and Federal government and is being delivered by the Armadale Line Upgrade Alliance, comprising Acciona Construction, BMD Constructions, WSP and AECOM.

Australian Precast Solutions is bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the project, with 260 prestressed ‘L Beams’ being manufactured for the main viaduct, which are similar in design to Melbourne’s Level Crossing Removal Project. The 31 metre long beams weigh 130 tonne and the design is a first for Western Australia.

The Master Precaster is also manufacturing 40 prestressed 29.9 metre Tee Beams for station platforms, 480 reinforced headstocks and supporting column segments for

PROJECT: METRONET Victoria Park-Canning Level Crossing Removal Project

CLIENT: Main Roads Western Australia

BUILDER: Armadale Line Upgrade Alliance (Acciona Construction, BMD Constructions, WSP and AECOM)

MASTER PRECASTER: Australian Precast Solutions

below the viaduct. These elements weigh between six and 120 tonne.

According to Stuart Young from APS, precast was specified for the project for its recognised durability and because it allowed efficient onsite installation works to meet the tight construction programme. Young says the main challenges involved temperature control of the elements as they cured.

This was managed through extensive thermal modelling and the design and application of thermal controls which included internal and external cooling of the elements and their moulds, monitoring concrete supply temperatures, concrete mix trials and dispensation from specified limits.

The project is not only fuelling local employment, but also engaging

local businesses that will contribute to the fabrication and production of these structures.

Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan says projects such as this one will provide a variety of benefits for the local community.

“Already we are seeing real benefits for our State, with local industry playing a key role in manufacturing components of the overhead rail structure – with thousands more local jobs to be created across the life of the project,” he says.

Meanwhile the Transport Minister Rita Saffioti believes manufacturing of this scale in Western Australia will be of benefit local businesses and draw on local knowledge. The new elevated rail line will also generate new opportunities for development and public open space as land previously occupied by the rail line becomes available.

Works on the METRONET Victoria Park-Canning Level Crossing Removal Project.

CONTRACTS IN BRIEF

THE AUSTRALIAN

VICTORIA Contract awarded for new tram facility construction

A contract has now been finalised for works on a new tram maintenance and stabling facility in Melbourne which forms part of the State Government’s $100 billion transport infrastructure investment. The contract has been awarded to a construction alliance led by John Holland Group and will include works on the new facility in Maidstone. This new facility will be the new home for the latest fleet of modern and accessible Next Generation Trams that will roll out first in the western suburbs from 2025. It will be used to maintain, clean and store the next generation trams. The designs for this new facility have already been released and include sustainable infrastructure such as energy efficient LED lights, the use of recycled plastic materials during construction and new rainwater tanks which will harvest 80 megalitres annually to wash the trams.

New contract signed for VIC PT ticketing system

A new 15-year ticketing contract has been signed and finalised for Conduent Business Services to operate the state’s public transport ticketing system. The contract will aim to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the myki system by introducing improvements to technology. These improvements will ensure that the public transport network remains safe, seamless and accessible for all users. Trials for these improvements will commence in 2024, which will allow public transport users to tap on and off with their credit/debit card, as well as pay through a digital wallet on smart devices. These changes will be made progressively, with no immediate changes slated for the current ticketing system (myki and V/Line). Conduent Business Services has delivered and operates more than four hundred ticketing systems across 24 countries including in Paris, Dubai, Montreal and New Jersey. The new contract will begin on December 1 2023.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA Contract awarded for works on $72.5M Port of Port Hedland Stage Two

The second stage of the Nelson Point Tug Haven upgrade project is set to get underway, after TAMS Group were awarded a contract

for works which make up a segment of the $72.5 million package of upgrades to the Port of Port Hedland in Western Australia. The Nelson Point Tug Haven, at the Port of Port Hedland, was constructed in 1985, and over time has deteriorated due to the impacts of weather conditions and general wear-and-tear. TAMS Group’s works will see the construction of a new outer wall. The new tug haven outer sheet pile wall will be designed to better withstand severe thunderstorms and cyclones, providing a safe and reliable asset for port users. In addition to the new outer wall, the second stage of the project will also include the demolition of the existing outer wall and the installation of gangways and pontoons. Works on the first stage of the project began in October 2021. All upgrades are on track to be completed by mid-2024.

Contractors appointed for WA freight study

Contractors have now been selected to conduct a study into the recommissioning of sections of tier three freight rail lines in Western Australia. Agonis Group and Jacobs Australia will conduct the study into Western Australia’s Wheatbelt region freight infrastructure, aiming to provide clarity on the engineering, economic and network potential of recommissioning sections of the tier three NarroginKulin-Wickepin rail lines. Agonis Group will deliver a capital cost estimation of recommissioning the lines, while Jacobs Australia will deliver an economic assessment of the project and collate all study components into a final report. Key stakeholders will be consulted as part of the study, including local shires, rail and road freight operators, local grain and export commodity producers, and community members.

Contract awarded for Alinta Energy battery

CIMIC Group’s UGL has been selected to install a 35-megawatt one-hour battery energy storage system (BESS) for Alinta Energy, in Western Australia’s Iron Ore port facility in Port Headland. A 45MW solar farm and 35MW will be constructed and connected into Alinta Energy’s power station, approximately 14km from BHP’s port facilities. UGL is a

specialist engineering and services provider that helps Australia move through transport manufacturing, maintenance and operations. They are responsible for the design, testing and commissioning of the BESS as well as the extension to the existing high voltage infrastructure for connection of the BESS. The design will include battery storage and a power conditioning system. BHP said they expect to halve the emissions from the generation of electricity used to power the facility as part of to their aim to reduce operational emissions by at least 30 per cent from FY2020 levels by 2030 and the longterm goal of achieving net zero operational emissions by 2050. BHP and Alinta expect 200 jobs to be created from the Power Purchase Agreement as well as opportunities for local Pilbara Aboriginal and Kariyarra Traditional Owner businesses. BHP expects 100 per cent of the average daytime energy requirements for their port facilities to be powered by solar generation. The remaining power requirements will be met through the integrated BESS and market access to Alinta Energy’s existing gas fuelled power station facilities. The project is expected to be completed by late 2024.

NEW SOUTH WALES

$82.5M contract awarded for St Marys Station works

Laing O’Rourke has been awarded an $82.5 million contract to deliver a new footbridge at St Marys Station in Sydney. The scope comprises a new footbridge and concourse at the eastern end of St Marys Station including five lifts, four escalators and three sets of stairs. The bridge will connect the existing Sydney Trains station to the future Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport line. The new St Marys metro station will provide easy, efficient and accessible interchange with the existing T1 Western Line. The station will include a new concourse bridge and connect north and south of the station precinct. Works will also include the construction of new amenities for Sydney Trains station staff, as well as landscaping to create a new entrance to the northern side of the station through to Harris Street.

ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE PROVIDES AN UPDATE ON SOME OF THE CONTRACTS AND TENDERS RECENTLY AWARDED OR PUT TO MARKET ACROSS

INFRASTRUCTURE SECTOR.

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