Roads & Infrastructure October 2022

DECARBONISING

COVER STORY

14 Sustaining lives

Major Roads Projects Victoria is empowering OC Connections Enterprises to grow the social and environmental value of major infrastructure projects.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

18 Generosity and family

Roads & Infrastructure sits down with Rokon’s Managing Director and Executive Director to learn how the company gives back to the community and its employees.

21 Keeping focal on local

NVC Precast is reaffirming its commitment to supporting local business, projects, and customers, exemplified through its works on the Echuca-Moama Bridge Project.

25 Giving back

Position Partners is making an impact on some of Australia’s disadvantaged youth through its support of The Smith Family.

28 Connecting to the moment

Through his business, his charity, and his way of life, Norman Bartie is helping to drive positive change in the infrastructure industry and the broader communities it serves.

32 Compassion and community

COLAS has established a reputation for its supportive company culture, enabling and encouraging employees to contribute to community-based organisations and charities.

ROADS REVIEW

35 Roads Review

This month, we asked the industry decisionmakers, ‘How important is ongoing communication with the community to the roads and infrastructure industry?’

COMPANY PROFILE

36 Fifty years of UAA

UAA is celebrating 50 years in business.

Group Chief Operating Officer Stan Alexandropoulos reflects on the past and what’s in the store for the future.

MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT

40 High level support

JCB is new to the elevated work platform space, but Craig Barr from Quick Access Rental & Training knows quality products and customer support when he sees them.

42 Brains and brawn

Komatsu’s machinery is built tough – but what good is toughness without a skilled operator? Komatsu’s Pat Munro explains how iMC 2.0 is helping reshape operator training.

44 Answering the call

Roads & Infrastructure learns how Wirtgen group machines and three-dimensional technology are helping Corps Group’s project delivery.

TECHNOLOGY

46 Optimising transparency Nuonic’s Prism platform is helping fleet operators to better manage, track and automate their transport assets.

48 Simplifying control VEGA’s series of VEGAMET display and control units offers comprehensive monitoring solutions for any situation.

SUSTAINABILITY

50 Decarbonising the industry

The ISC has launched its Low Carbon Impact Note. Roads & Infrastructure sits down with

Norman Bartie started iLH-Australia to help drive positive change in the infrastructure industry and the communities it serves.

Technical Director Kerry Griffiths to learn what it means for the industry.

EVENTS

52 Women in Industry Awards

The roads and infrastructure sectors were well represented at the 2022 Women in Industry Awards in Sydney last month.

NATIONAL PRECAST

54 National Precast Member Snapshot

An overview of some of the projects in progress around the country involving National Precast members.

AFPA SECTION

56 Towards sustainability

AfPA and Transport for NSW recently held an industry event focusing on instilling sustainability priorities and outcomes for flexible pavement across the state.

CONTRACTS & TENDERS

58 A summary of the contracts awarded for major infrastructure projects across the nation.

REGULARS

4

note

Move

WHAT IT MEANS TO GIVE BACK

THROUGHOUT THIS MONTH I’ve been asking myself “what does it mean to give back?” With the October edition’s theme being community support, many of the stories I’ve read across this month have re-ignited my admiration of the roads and infrastructure sector.

Whether it be through volunteering, mentoring or financial contributions, companies across our industry have recognised that many people are doing it tough and are aiming to make an impact.

In this month’s cover story, we talk to OC Connections, a disability support service. Through its social enterprise arm, OCC Enterprises, the service is creating positive social change, while also manufacturing road bollards from 100 per cent recycled plastics. Carla Phillips, Business Development Manager, OCC Enterprises says the program is helping those living with disability to gain employment and empowerment.

We also speak to Position Partners, who have partnered and become a key supporter of The Smith Family, a charity that aims to help young Australians to overcome educational inequality caused by disadvantages. The company has so far sponsored 299 children, while also providing employment to two tertiary students from the charity. Gina Velde, Position Partners Marketing and Communications Executive Manager, says the experience of supporting The Smith Family has been gratifying.

The team over at Rokon, one of Victoria’s largest civil construction providers, has developed a new program dedicated to community support. Through ‘Rokon Giving’, the company is actively supporting and encouraging participation in community groups and charities. We hear from two of the company’s Managing Directors on what the future has in store for the program.

Sustainability continues to be a highly discussed topic across the sector. The Infrastructure Sustainability Council’s newly released Low Carbon Impact Note is aiming to raise awareness and action against low embodied carbon in materials. We sat down with IS Technical Director Dr Kerry Griffiths to learn more.

Lastly, we highlight and celebrate the winners from this year’s Women in Industry Awards. The awards recognise the women who are driving change across multiple industries, such as mining, engineering, manufacturing, road transport, logistics, infrastructure and rail. Roads & Infrastructure Magazine would like to congratulate all winners and nominees.

Happy reading!

Tom O’Keane Roads & Infrastructure Magazine

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DESIGN Bea Barthelson

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Brad Marshall brad.marshall@primecreative.com.au

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EXPERTS IN MOBILE PLANT INSURANCE

A construction method – never seen previously worldwide – has been used as part of works on the Cross River Rail’s Woolloongabba station in Queensland.

The Cross River Rail is a new 10.2-kilometre rail line from Dutton Park to Bowen Hills, which includes 5.9 kilometres of twin tunnels under the Brisbane River and the CBD. The two 5.9-kilometre twin tunnels below the Brisbane River and CBD will be home to four underground stations, Albert Street, Roma Street, Woolloongabba and Boggo Road.

As part of works on the mezzanine of the underground Woolloongabba station, assembled concrete beams are lowered into the station box, moved into position and then turned 90 degrees in the air inside the cavern, before being fitted into place with millimetre accuracy.

More than 450 individually cast concrete segments have been made and are being delivered to site to construct the

mezzanine using a mobile gantry from inside the cavern. Each precast beam weighs between 65 to 70 tonnes, and are comprised of up to three segments each (weighing between 20 to 25 tonnes).

The Cross River Rail’s three remaining underground stations are also progressing, with mezzanine beams due to start being installed at Boggo Road, Roma Street and Albert Street later this year.

DESIGNS RELEASED FOR DANGEROUS SOUTH GEELONG ROUNDABOUT REMOVAL

New designs have detailed the removal of a dangerous and congested five-way roundabout at Fyans Street in South Geelong as part of the South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Duplication project.

An elevated rail bridge will replace the level crossing and roundabout, with Fyans Street to extend through to Breakwater Road. The

design is expected to improve traffic flow and safety for the more than 17,000 vehicles that use the road each day.

A new public open space underneath and around the rail bridge will offer increased space for recreation, landscaping, and urban

user path along Carr Street linking pedestrians

and cyclists to the Bellarine Rail Trail.

Newly released designs for the South Geelong Station upgrade show a reconfigured car park, making the station safer and more accessible for passengers.

The station will feature a new second platform, rebuilt station building and forecourts, an accessible pedestrian overpass, increased shelter, and better wayfinding. The main entrance to the existing platform will feature an architecturally designed canopy over the new station building.

Passengers will also be able to access the station from a new entrance on Carr Street, which will connect to the second platform.

The South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Duplication project is being delivered by the Djilang Alliance, which comprises McConnell Dowell, Downer, Arup and WSP Australia.

Major works are expected to start in late 2022, with completion targeted for late 2024.

A WORLD-FIRST ENGINEERING FEAT FOR QLD’S CROSS RIVER RAIL PROJECT

The precast concrete beams are being installed with millimetre accuracy.

New Fyans Street rail bridge concept.

Image courtesy of the Queensland Government.

Image courtesy of Victoria’s Big Build.

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WORKS UNDERWAY ON $110 MILLION SECTION OF

Work has begun on a major upgrade of the Exit 49 (Pimpama) Interchange to improve safety and reduce congestion on Queensland’s M1 Pacific Motorway.

deliver significant improvements in safety and traffic flow efficiency by keeping traffic moving through the improved interchange, thereby reducing queuing.

This project will include building a new bridge across the M1 with

work in coordination with the rest of the interchange.

New bike lanes and pathways for safer travel are also being built as part of the upgrade.

Queensland Transport and Main Roads

would support one of the fastest growing

50:50 between the Australian and Queensland governments, including a developer contribution of $305,000. The project is being delivered by Seymour White, and is expected to be completed in 2024.

MAJOR GISBORNE SAFETY UPGRADE NOW COMPLETE

A major safety upgrade at the Melbourne Road and Kilmore Road intersection in Gisborne is now complete with thousands of drivers, pedestrians and cyclists set to benefit from safer and easier journeys north-west of Melbourne.

The intersection is a major entry point to Gisborne from the growing northeast communities of Riddells Creek, Monegeetta, Romsey and Lancefield.

The intersection is located on a bend and has poor visibility making it difficult for traffic to enter and exit Kilmore Road safely.

The upgraded intersection includes a new roundabout, shared user paths for

cyclists and pedestrians and improved street lighting. A new and wider bridge over Bunjil Creek was built adjacent to the intersection to allow enough room for the safety upgrades. The new bridge prominently features bluestone re-used

from the previous bridge.

The intersection was one of Gisborne’s most difficult intersections to navigate with regular near-miss collisions. The new roundabout has improved visibility at the intersection and vastly improves the flow of traffic in all directions.

The upgrade is one of many road safety projects rolling out across the Macedon Ranges with an intersection upgrade at Station Road and Saunders Road in New Gisborne completed in November 2021.

Crews are currently rebuilding a fourkilometre section of Melbourne-Lancefield Road between the Bolinda Creek Bridge and Mullalys Road in Bolinda.

Image courtesy of Seymour Whyte.

Gold Coast M1 Pacific Motorway.

Image courtesy of the Victorian Government.

FINAL CONCEPT RELEASED FOR $280 MILLION SWAN RIVER CROSSINGS PROJECT

The final concept plan for Western Australia’s $280 million Swan River Crossings project has been released.

The project will include the replacement of the existing Fremantle Traffic Bridge, as well as the construction of a new rail bridge.

The concept plan features a direct connection into Fremantle via Queen Victoria Street, and the realignment of Canning Highway to travel under the new traffic bridge to enable new connections for road, rail, boat, and path users.

Community feedback has been incorporated, with the area in front of the heritage-listed Naval Store becoming available to progress opportunities for a new public open space.

The project will include removing the signalised intersection at Canning Highway and Queen Victoria Street; realigning Canning Highway form East Street to travel under the new bridge, and connect it to Beach Street; and prioritising journeys into Fremantle via Queen Victoria Street, providing a direct, free-flowing journey

from North Fremantle.

The plan also enables opportunities for urban landscaping, heritage interpretation and community connection for an area in front of the existing Naval Store, including the use of existing timber pylons in the current traffic bridge.

Cyclists and pedestrians will benefit from paths on both sides of the new traffic bridge – including a four-metre-

wide standard pedestrian and cyclist path on the western side and a three-metrewide shared path on the east.

The project is being delivered by the Fremantle Bridges Alliance (FBA), comprising Main Roads Western Australia, Laing O’Rourke Australia Construction, Arup Australia, and WSP Australia. It is jointly funded by the Federal and Western Australian governments on a 50:50 basis.

INITIATIVE TARGETING SPEEDING DRIVERS

New speed camera technology will target speeding drivers in school zones and

first road safety initiative.

The solar-powered roadworks speed

top of a mobile platform to allow for manoeuvrability around a work site.

At school zones, the cameras will be installed in specially designed, stationary school zone signs but can be moved around as needed.

This new enforcement technology is part of the Camera Detected Offence Program. Camera fines are used to fund road safety initiatives and education across Queensland.

The cameras will also help to establish an accurate data set on the number of drivers who disregard speed reductions around worksites and pose a dangerous threat to traffic controllers and road-workers.

During 2021 there were 74 fatalities as the result of crashes involving speeding motorists, representing almost 27 per cent of Queensland’s road fatalities.

An artist’s impression of the Swan River Crossings project.

Image courtesy of Main Roads WA.

The solar-powered cameras are mounted on mobile platforms.

Image courtesy of the Queensland Government.

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

RAIL PROJECTS VICTORIA CEO TO STEP DOWN

Rail Projects Victoria CEO Evan Tattersall has announced he will be stepping down at the end of the year. Tattersall has been CEO of Rail Projects Victoria for the past seven and a half years and has overseen works such as the Metro Tunnel, Regional Rail Revival program and Melbourne Airport Rail. The Victorian Government said Tattersall ‘s leadership had been pivotal in the delivery of the Metro Tunnel, one of the biggest transport infrastructure projects in the nation’s history, delivering capacity for half a million peak hour passengers each week and due to be completed in 2025 a year ahead of schedule. Tattersall has overseen the project through planning, procurement, and construction. Twin nine-kilometre tunnels have been dug, construction of five new underground stations is well progressed and testing is underway on a new high-capacity signalling system for the project. The Major Transport Infrastructure Authority will work over the coming months to appoint a replacement CEO.

SNOWY HYDRO CEO RESIGNS

Paul Broad, Managing Director and CEO of Snowy Hydro, has resigned. Since 2013, Broad has led expansion and innovation, transforming Snowy Hydro into a dynamic and integrated energy business. Externally Broad is known for his leadership on Snowy 2.0 and leading Snowy Hydro’s expansion into retail and renewable energy. Under Broad’s leadership, the first Snowy Hydro renewable energy procurement program began in 2018 and has grown to encompass 12 contracts with wind and solar projects totalling 1.3 gigawatts of energy generation. Snowy 2.0 will aim to underpin the transition to a decarbonised National Electricity Market and now employs more than 2000 people, generating economic uplift in the Snowy Mountains. Snowy Hydro said Broad’s commitment to the safety, health and well-being of the Snowy Hydro project will remain a cornerstone of his legacy. The Snowy Board will now commence a process to identify new leadership. Roger Whitby, CEO, will lead the organisation on an interim basis, with support from Broad to facilitate a smooth transition.

SIEMENS AUSTRALIA APPOINTS NEW CHAIRMAN AND CEO

Siemens Australia has announced the appointment of Peter Halliday, currently Senior Vice President at Siemens Smart Infrastructure, as the new Chairman and CEO for the region, effective September 1, 2022. In a career spanning 24 years at Siemens, Halliday has held senior roles within the company in Australia, Asia and Europe. Prior to relocating back to his home country of Australia, Halliday was the global head of Siemens’ Building Performance and Sustainability division operating out of Switzerland. Siemens said Halliday brings a wealth of experience across various technology fields including engineering, project management, sales, business development, portfolio and senior management. The timing coincides with Siemens celebrating its 150th anniversary in Australia this year as well as the announcement of Siemens Xcelerator, a new, open digital business platform featuring a curated portfolio of IoT-enabled hardware and software.

GEORGIOU GROUP ANNOUNCES NEW GENERAL MANAGER

Building and civil construction company Georgiou Group has appointed Tony Ricciardello as General Manager – Operations for its Western Australian infrastructure business. From September, Ricciardello will work alongside Executive General Manager Steve Tennant as the company builds on its 45 years’ experience in the infrastructure sector in Western Australia. Ricciardello joined Georgiou Group in 2000 as a student engineer. In the 22 years since, he has worked his way through the business delivering land development and redevelopment projects such as Ellenbrook Estate, Subiaco Redevelopment, Elizabeth Quay Forward Works and Scarborough Redevelopment, before taking on senior roles such as Construction Manager and Operations Manager. Ricciardello’s promotion comes just one month after Georgiou Group announced the appointment of two new General Managers to its New South Wales and Queensland businesses.

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

SUSTAINING LIVES

OC Connections has been providing essential support to people with disability across southeast Melbourne for 72 years. For more than 40 of those years, the organisation’s social enterprise arm OC Connections Enterprises (OCCE) has helped create jobs to enrich the lives of people of all abilities.

Carla Phillips, OCCE Business Development Manager, says OCCE’s goal is to support the employment needs of people by providing opportunities for meaningful work, as well as training and skill development in a professional commercial environment across a range of workplace settings.

“Our aim is really to be a stepping-stone,” Phillips says. “We want to provide people with all the skills, training, and confidence they need to maintain meaningful employment and enjoy the independence it brings.

“We now operate four social enterprises, offering a range of workplace settings to the 100 people we employ. These include document management and administration

services, light manufacturing and packing, an eco-friendly mobile fleet cleaning business and our soon to launch OC Eco T-Top Bollards.”

Two years ago, the OCCE team began searching for innovative new ways to create employment opportunities for its employees, and to increase the organisation’s social and environmental impact on a broader scale.

This search led to a potential solution for both: Victoria’s Big Build.

BUILDING GREENER INFRASTRUCTURE

Over the past few years, Victoria’s Big Build projects have been redesigning, reshaping, and optimising the way Victorians navigate the state by foot, road and rail.

The introduction of Victoria’s Recycled First Policy in March 2020 mandated a push for construction and civil infrastructure companies to think outside the box in terms of process, procurement, and priorities on their projects.

According to Transport Infrastructure

Minister Jacinta Allan, the policy is key to balancing the state’s significant infrastructure investment with climate-friendly, industry-led circular solutions.

“It’s more important than ever to minimise the amount of waste we produce and ensure we’re recycling as many items as possible – and this priority initiative is important as we help build the future of the waste and recycling industry,” she says.

“From enriching topsoil for landscaping with used coffee grounds, to deploying ink-toner derived asphalt in roads – countless projects are supporting cross-industry collaboration and innovation in the name of sustainability.”

The inaugural ecologiQ conference at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in September was evidence of the enthusiasm within industry and government to pursue innovative solutions in the name of “greener infrastructure” and ultimately, a circular future.

The consensus from the conference was that a unified,

MAJOR ROAD PROJECTS VICTORIA IS EMPOWERING ORGANISATIONS SUCH AS OC CONNECTIONS ENTERPRISES TO GROW THE SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL VALUE OF MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.

co-ordinated shift in attitude is necessary to bring about meaningful change for the construction and infrastructure sector – one that must go beyond post hoc box-ticking.

BUILDING SOCIAL VALUE

As this enthusiasm for environmental sustainability builds, Major Road Projects Victoria (MRPV) is leading a similar charge on the social front.

Victoria’s Social Procurement Framework exists to drive businesses to factor social value into their buying decisions. In an infrastructure context, this can include purchasing materials or services from social enterprises, First Nations-owned businesses, or any other enterprise that contributes social benefit.

Kylie Adeniyi, Acting Director of Social Value and Inclusion at MRPV, says the purpose of the framework is to harness government buying power for the greater good.

“We want to reinforce the idea that we’re not just building roads, we’re actually connecting communities as well,” Adeniyi says. A key role of Adeniyi’s team at MRPV is to facilitate relationships between contractors and social enterprises, and create opportunities for mutual benefit.

This includes running networking sessions to help these social enterprises make valuable industry connections.

“One of the visions of MRPV is building better connections,” she says. “For us, the networking we do and the intermediary role that we play is all about connecting our current contractors with what’s possible, with opportunities that go beyond just infrastructure.”

Adeniyi hopes this will help foster an industry landscape where the value of these government policies becomes ingrained and self-evident.

“Our contractors appreciate that they can no longer do the bare minimum,” she says. “They have to go above and beyond, to build their brands around the values that are most important to their organisations.”

Adeniyi says this shift applies to both sustainable and social procurement in equal measure.

“There’s a growing expectation that we will deliver not just infrastructure, but a legacy in terms of the people that are trained, the products that are used and how it impacts the urban environment, as well as local communities,” she says.

“When you have an enormous infrastructure investment from both the State and Federal governments, the community has an expectation that money will be invested appropriately.”

The Fitzsimons Lane Upgrade in Melbourne’s northeast, being delivered by MRPV and BMD Constructions, is a good example of a Victoria’s Big Build project that is contributing both socially and environmentally.

to help tackle a niche but ubiquitous waste problem: damaged traffic bollards.

OCCE’s unique service initially offered recovery of worn, end-of-life traffic bollards, diverting them from landfill to be recycled. This involved OCCE’s supported employees collecting the damaged bollards from dedicated drop-off points on site, sorting them, and preparing them for recycling.

Using this service meant contractors were contributing both environmentally, by diverting waste from landfill, and socially, helping provide meaningful work for people living with disability.

While OCCE provided this service to several projects and traffic management companies, the team was also working on a circular outcome for the collected plastic. This is where OCCE’s 100 per cent recycled OC Eco T-Top Bollard comes in.

VITAL CONNECTIONS

Phillips says the bollard idea was born when OCCE engaged with another social enterprise, Social Outcomes Solutions, to help identify gaps in the market where a socially and environmentally positive product could be introduced.

Once the concept was developed, and its viability researched, Social Outcomes Solutions helped facilitate the initial conversation with MRPV.

“MRPV has been very supportive in terms of helping identify the target consumer for the product, how best to introduce the product to the market, and providing the necessary connections to construction companies,” Phillips says.

Damaged bollards are collected at dedicated drop-off points, before being collected by OCCE employees for sorting and recycling.

In 2021, the project team engaged OCCE

The first working phase of the project

Carla Phillips, OCCE Business Development Manager with the OC Eco T-Top Bollard.

started with resource recovery, which helped establish a stream of feedstock for the future manufacture of the bollards, and start building relationships with construction and traffic management companies.

“This started with the Fitzsimons Lane project in late 2021, and that provided a really good case study for our project,” Phillips says. “MRPV provided some wonderful promotion of the resource recovery program for International Day of People with Disability.”

OCCE estimates its employees have recycled approximately 1500 damaged bollards since the start of the project, diverting more than a tonne of plastic from landfill.

It has maintained its working partnership with BMD Constructions, and has a number of other partnerships in the pipeline.

Phillips says OCCE has also built valuable relationships with several Victorian traffic management companies, including Traffic Diversions Group and First Nations Traffic Management.

“They’ve been doing infield testing for us, taking our new bollards onto projects, running them over, and just generally being rough with them to see how they hold up,” she says.

Phillips says working with these and other industry partners helped to identify weaknesses in existing bollards on the market, and address these issues in the design of their own to maximise the product‘s lifespan.

PARTNERS IN PLASTIC

To handle the recycling and manufacturing processes, OCCE has formed partnerships with two local businesses, while supported employees handle everything in between.

The established resource recovery process brings in used bollards, from which employees remove reflective strips, and sort by plastic type.

“Polymer Processors in Mordialloc recycles the old bollards, and Garden City Plastics in Dandenong South moulds the new bollards using a blow mould tool designed and owned by OCCE,” Phillips says.

Employees at OCCE then finish the process by applying reflective strips, undertaking quality checks, packing the bollards, and coordinating logistics and freight.

The first full production run of 10,000 bollards is due in the coming months. Confident in the performance of the product, and the added bonus of it being Australian-made, Phillips is hopeful that the demand will build quickly.

“We know traffic management companies that use thousands of these products,” she says. “Once the product is released and we’ve got the process up and running, we anticipate doing three production runs per year, producing around 60,000 bollards.

“At that scale, we’re estimating we’ll be able to provide about 6000 hours of meaningful work, as well as divert more than 40 tonnes of plastic from landfill annually, which would be a really

BUILDING ON THE FUTURE

With the positive buzz around the organisation’s work so far – and the research that’s gone into it – Phillips says the OCCE team is exploring ways to diversify the operation, and is always keeping an eye out for new ideas that would suit the enterprise.

If demand necessitates that operations scale up in the future, OCCE has a network of other social enterprises it can share work opportunities with.

“The bollard project has started legitimate conversations with large scale construction businesses around social procurement,” Phillips says. “It’s opened doors for further opportunities for our supported employees through our administration and mobile eco-friendly fleet cleaning services.”

Adeniyi thinks the success of social enterprises such as OCCE is also a big help to MRPV in its push for positive social change.

“Having the visibility of their staff on our sites enables other people working on our contracts to see people with disabilities doing this work, and see how valuable they are as employees and the commitment they have to their job,” Adeniyi says.

“Just having that interaction, having exposure to lots of different kinds of people on our projects can change the way those projects operate – it changes the way people look at the skills that are

OCCE employees Daniel and Belinda with Lionel Dukakis of First Nations Traffic Management.

GENEROSITY AND FAMILY: THE ROKON WAY

As one of the largest civil contractors in Victoria, Rokon has always kept generosity and family as core values for success.

Established 24 years ago by Jim Thomas and his business partner, Rokon provides civil construction services for minor and major projects. From industrial subdivisions to retirement developments, Rokon’s vast knowledge and proven effectiveness in project delivery has led to the company becoming the preferred contractor for

many of Victoria’s largest developers.

The company recognises the importance of supporting local, with many of its projects, such as wetland developments, being designed and developed to benefit local communities.

“At Rokon, we help build communities so

Thomas says. “Our work is mainly in existing in the position that we are, and we like to make the most of our opportunities to give back.”

As the company’s Owners Managing Director, Jim Thomas, alongside Executive Director Steve Traicevski, have helped forge a supportive family culture throughout the entire business.

Traicevski says this culture is reflected in the company’s day-to-day operations.

“We function as a family, and in any family situation, there’s expectations that everyone does their bit. Everyone is working together for the same common goals. We are many teams and one family.”

A CHARITABLE FAMILY

Rokon has been a keen supporter of many charity and community groups throughout the years, which led to the development of its Rokon Giving initiative.

Through Rokon Giving, the company has selected two organisations to support during the next 12 months, offering ongoing volunteer and financial help.

The first is Launch Housing, who deliver housing support and services to disadvantaged Victorians. The second, Variety, the Children’s Charity, focuses on providing life-changing equipment and programs to children experiencing disadvantage, disability, and illness.

Rokon Giving will also continue efforts to support local sporting clubs in the Melbourne area.

THROUGH ITS OWN CHARITABLE INITIATIVE AND EMBEDDED FAMILY CULTURE, ROKON IS ALWAYS LOOKING TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND ITS EMPLOYEES. ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE SITS DOWN WITH ROKON’S MANAGING DIRECTOR AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO LEARN MORE.

Through Rokon Giving, Rokon supports Variety –the Children’s Charity, whom each year supports thousands of children living with disability or experience disadvantage or illness to reach their full potential.

“We encourage our 250 employees to engage with the community, whether it be supporting a charity, or even a local football or soccer team,” Thomas says. “Rokon Giving is about us engaging with our community. Our community includes our direct employees, subcontractors, and our stakeholders. I think it’s a great opportunity for us to give, and to engage with our people.”

Rokon has also become a keen supporter of the Rokon footsal team and the West Footscray Rooster Football Club, to which it supplied more than 40 pairs of football shorts and jumpers.

Traicevski and Thomas say Rokon Giving isn’t entirely about financial commitments. The program also emphasises the impact that even small contributions can make on those who are disadvantaged.

“There’s lots of different things that we can do to change people’s lives,” Traicevski says.

Traicevski and Thomas say Rokon Giving has presented benefits for the company in terms of employee team building and engagement.

“We take our corporate social responsibility very seriously. As a business and as people we aim to be decent corporate citizens. This component is something that we align our business and personal lives with. We want our people and the community to succeed,” Thomas says.

VALUING THE INDIVIDUAL Rokon’s company values state, “we care about our people”. Traicevski and Thomas

say this ethos is reflected in the company’s commitment to ensuring every individual is valued, by celebrating diversity and employee contributions.

Rokon provides its employees with a platform for growth with opportunities through leadership, graduate and coaching programs.

Employees also have access to a range of benefits, including service recognition, employee assistance programs and salary continuance.

“We spend a significant amount of time and energy on our employees. We have systems in place which some companies, who may be larger in scale, don’t have. Our employees have access to a range of life

and income protection insurance packages,” Thomas says.

As Traicevski explains, he takes pride in assisting with the development of employees and clients. He says the company is always looking to increase its capabilities by providing opportunities.

“I get great satisfaction in being able to pass on a skill or a piece of knowledge to our younger cohort, that they can then use in the future,” he says.

“We’ve seen many employees grow individually and establish their own families in their time in this business. That’s part of the reason why Jim and I love what we do. We love construction and we love the business.”

“WE ENCOURAGE OUR 250 EMPLOYEES TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT BE SUPPORTING A CHARITY, OR EVEN A LOCAL FOOTBALL OR SOCCER TEAM,” THOMAS SAYS. “ROKON GIVING IS ABOUT US ENGAGING WITH OUR COMMUNITY. OUR COMMUNITY INCLUDES OUR DIRECT EMPLOYEES, SUBCONTRACTORS, AND OUR STAKEHOLDERS. I THINK IT’S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GIVE, AND TO ENGAGE WITH OUR PEOPLE.”

Rokon Managing Director, Jim Thomas.

Rokon Executive Director Steve Traicevski.

Rokon recognises the importance of giving back to the community.

KEEPING A FOCUS ON LOCAL

NVC Precast has always viewed the local community as an important part of its success. The prestressed and precast concrete product supplier has remained in Kilmore, just outside of Melbourne since its’ beginning, growing from strength to strength with the support and encouragement of the locals.

By far one of the most impressive projects in recent years was the Echuca-Moama Bridge Project, jointly funded by the Australian, Victorian and NSW governments. Throughout 2020 and 2021, NVC Precast’s use and support of local businesses was firmly in the spotlight during its works on Stage 3 of the $323.7 million project.

The project set out to deliver an additional Murray River crossing, to ease the traffic flow on the existing bridge which was constructed more than 140 years ago. NVC

Precast was tasked with the supply and delivery of 124 Super T-beams and six planks for the construction of new crossings over the Campaspe River and Murray River.

The largest of the Super T-beams was over 37 metres long and 1.8 metres deep, weighing in at an impressive 81 tonnes.

Physical construction started on Stage 3 of the project in mid-2020, with November 2020 marking the beginning of NVC Precast’s contribution to the largest transport infrastructure project in northern Victoria, with its contributions on the project completed within five months.

The magnitude of the project saw the NVC Precast team dedicate more than 30,000 hours to manufacture the precast beams, totalling 3725 metres in length containing 3464 cubic metres worth of concrete, requiring almost 700

NVC Precast has been a part of the local community and remained in Kilmore since its inception in 1989.

concrete deliveries.

Over 250 kilometres of strand was used to the manufacture the beams - which if laid out - would span the entire state of Victoria, from Echuca to Torquay.

The project however was not all smooth sailing. Unprecedented supply chain and personnel impacts were brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting infrastructure works across Victoria.

General Manager Business and Finance Ortensio Caroli says the support and contribution by the local community were invaluable in NVC Precast’s ability to meet the construction deadlines of the project.

“We obviously didn’t anticipate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, with consistent lockdowns and travel restrictions across the borders,” he says.

“We’ve been operating in Kilmore for over

NVC PRECAST IS REAFFIRMING ITS COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESS, PROJECTS, AND CUSTOMERS, EXEMPLIFIED THROUGH ITS WORKS ON THE MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR ECHUCA-MOAMA BRIDGE PROJECT.

30 years and have built strong relationships with many businesses and subcontractors within the region. While Melbourne was locked down in the ‘ring of steel’, we were able to continue working as an essential workforce under ‘COVID safe’ protocols.”

“It’s not just the countless hours of hard work and support by local tradesman and labourers over the years. It’s more than that,” Caroli says.

He adds that locals are often impressed with the sheer size of the structures.

“Due to the size and scope of our products, our business is visible to the community, when we transport one of our beams, everyone knows about it,” Caroli says.

“We often receive feedback from others in the community about the sense of pride they feel when they see these huge structures escorted by pilot cars with their flashing lights, slowly travel down the road to their final destination.”

The beams, escorted by pilot cars in the front and rear, travel on a route predetermined by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), to ensure the safety of all road users. This route must consider road assets, such as bridges and intersections, which will need to withstand the mass of such a large object. As such, extensive planning is required to ensure these elements are transported safely.

Permits issued by the NHVR specify the

to site during daylight hours.

“You can appreciate the traffic delays that residents can be faced with, when we’re transporting our beams through the community. But rather than becoming impatient, we get phone calls from residents asking us for details of the route so they can watch the beams as they go past and take photos,” he says. “It’s also great to see comments on social media

when workers are sharing posts.”

“We try to source locally as much as possible, in doing so all businesses can benefit from the major infrastructure projects that we supply. This allows local businesses to thrive and provide more services and employment opportunities for residents and young people. There are many tangible and intangible benefits to using local employees and suppliers and this project highlighted the flexibility and availability of local resources,” he says.

Mitchell Shire Mayor Bill Chisholm says NVC Precast is an “excellent” example of prioritising local suppliers.

“They’re incredibly important to the Mitchell Shire economy. They can have up to 80 staff onsite at any one time and their continued support of local apprentices is invaluable,” Chisholm says.

“The business-to-business relationships built and maintained by NVC Precast and other local contractors are critical to a resilient and diversified local economy.

“Not only do they support local jobs and businesses, NVC Precast also support local community groups like Kilmore Tennis Club by donating materials and sponsorship of the Kilmore Busking Championships.”

Keeping the project local not only refers to suppliers, but also people.

In line with the Victorian Government’s Major Project Skills Guarantee (MPSG), NVC Precast, when working as a sub-

NVC Precast General Manager Business and Finance Ortensio Caroli.

NVC Precast worked on the Echuca-Moama Bridge Project began in November 2020.

contractor for the Echuca-Moama Bridge Project, contributed to the Local Job’s First policy, opening opportunities to engage Victorian apprentices, trainees or cadets for at least 10 per cent of the project’s total labour hours.

NVC Precast currently employs apprentices learning skills across the engineering (Fabrication Trade) and concreting disciplines.

NVC Precast also contributed to securing employment for the most disadvantaged

members of the community.

The Victorian Social Procurement Framework is designed to provide employment opportunities for people living with a disability, are long-term unemployed or disengaged youth, or are Aboriginal.

Caroli says NVC Precast is proud to be able to work with local employment organisations to provide valuable and meaningful work for disadvantaged community groups.

A LOCAL FUTURE

NVC Precast will continue to support local business for the foreseeable future. As Caroli explains, the company’s vision starts with ensuring the success of its own locally employed workforce.

“The company has always had the philosophy of hiring from within the local area. We want our staff to be able to get home at a reasonable time to spend it with the families and loved ones. We’ll always take the health and safety of our people very seriously,” he says.

Mitchell Shire Mayor Bill Chisholm says the Echuca-Moama Bridge Project demonstrates the level of expertise which is available throughout the region.

“Local businesses need to support each other to assist in reducing escape expenditure and keeping jobs local. It’s extremely important and very pleasing to see local suppliers being used on major projects,” he says.

“We’re very pleased to have NVC Precast in our shire and look forward to working with them in the future”

For more information on NVC Precast visit its website; www.nvcprecast.com.au

NVC Precast was tasked with the supply and delivery of 124 Super T- beams and six planks as part of its works on the Echuca-Moama Bridge Project. Credit: Echuca-Moama Bridge Project

NVC Precast dedicated more than 30,000 hours to manufacture the precast beams.

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GIVING BACK

Honesty, integrity and respect are just three of the core values shared by Position Partners and The Smith Family.

Primarily a provider of positioning solutions for surveying, civil works, mining and building activities, Position Partners is also driven to make a lasting impact on its local community.

Which is why in 2020 the company committed its support to The Smith Family, Australia’s largest education charity, which has helped young people in need for more than 100 years.

Gina Velde, Position Partners Marketing and Communications Executive Manager, says the commitment was made without hesitancy, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“A lot of businesses were reining in expenses and were not in a position to make financial commitments. But we thought, ‘well this is actually the time when people probably need that support more than ever’,” Velde says.

“We made an executive decision to make sure that we could have a real impact. The Smith Family is a national organisation, that has great governance and management, so it really was an easy decision to support it. It also supports families located near our own branches, so we knew that we’d be supporting our local community as well.”

According to The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS), one in six Australian children and young people live in poverty. The Smith Family aims to create opportunities to ensure young, disadvantaged Australians have access to long-term support, to enable them to participate in education.

Alan LeMay, The Smith Family Queensland General Manager, says every child deserves the opportunity to access essential educational tools.

“We believe education is one of the most powerful agents of change,” LeMay says. “Our vision is to create a world where every child has the opportunity to change their future. The Smith Family currently supports more than 58,000 students with our flagship ‘Learning for Life’ program, which helps to

break the cycle of disadvantage through targeted, long-term educational support.”

POSITION PARTNERS PROGRAMS

Throughout the past two years, Position Partners has increased its support of The Smith Family by participating in five programs, each aimed at opening doors for students to transition from school, tertiary education or training into the workforce.

“Corporate partners are so important to The Smith Family as their generous backing allows us to support students through our ‘Learning for Life’ program,” LeMay says. “This support also helps us to provide learning and mentoring programs to thousands of children

across Australia.

“Many of our corporate partners also engage with our students directly, taking part in programs such as ‘Cadetship to Career’, which sees our tertiary students placed on a paid internship with a company, or programs such as ‘Work Inspiration’, which gives high school students the opportunity to visit workplaces and speak to staff about their employment pathways. These are meaningful touchpoints and our students, as well as corporate partners, always get a lot out of them.”

Position Partners sponsored 68 children through the ‘Learning for Life’ program and three tertiary students as part of the

POSITION PARTNERS IS MAKING AN IMPACT ON SOME OF AUSTRALIA’S DISADVANTAGED

YOUTH THROUGH ITS SUPPORT OF THE SMITH FAMILY CHARITY. MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS EXECUTIVE MANAGER GINA VELDE EXPLAINS.

Position Partners became a keen supporter of The Smith Family in 2020.

‘Cadetship to Career’ program. Two of the three students have since secured paid roles within the business.

Velde says the experience of supporting The Smith Family has been gratifying.

“All of our employees have the opportunity to volunteer and give some of their time. Some of our employees have told us that it’s the most rewarding thing they’ve done in their careers. By engaging with these young people and having those connections, it’s been beneficial for both the students and our people too,” she says.

“We have an employee within the business whose mother or grandmother was supported by the Smith family. So, we can see first-hand how the program is breaking that cycle of disadvantage for generations to come.”

Velde says Position Partners has also received mail from sponsored students, detailing the impact the support has had on their own educational journey.

“Every year we write them Christmas cards, and on their birthdays we give them a gift card. We’ve received lots of really nice cards back which detail what our support means to them,” she says.

contributions have been significant.

time, volunteering as part of our ‘Work Inspiration’ program, and hosting several

Position Partners has sponsored 299 students through several initiatives, including its Christmas Toy and Book Appeal.

“Altogether, Position Partners has had a direct impact on the lives of 299 students through student sponsorship, ‘Work

some of the existing programs.

“We’ve established a great working relationship with our contacts at The Smith

embed these programs, but I feel as though

Three tertiary students had the opportunity to gain industry experience through Position Partners, as part of the Cadetship to Career program.

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CONNECTING TO THE MOMENT

When Norman Bartie set out on a JCB backhoe loader in January 2019, he had two primary goals: travel more than 5500 kilometres, and encourage tough conversations about child safety.

The five-and-a-half-week journey took him from Brisbane to Townsville, to the front lawn of Parliament House in Canberra. At the conclusion of the trip, Bartie had clocked up 5649 kilometres, achieving the Guinness World Record for the longest journey in an excavator or digger.

But more importantly, he had spread the word of his cause across Australia’s east coast, raised $17,000 and generated some

crucial publicity for his charity, It’s Not Your Fault 4 Kids Incorporated.

“Being out on the road with big trucks and impatient drivers, I learned a lot along the way,” Bartie says. “But being someone who’s built roads all my life, I have a sense of how people behave and react. Little things like how they overtake at speed or approach blind corners on a highway.

“That’s why I took two camera drones, six batteries, and put an iPad in the cab with me. I always had eyes in the sky – that way I could see what was approaching me from behind and coming up ahead.”

This “eyes in the sky” mentality exemplifies how Bartie approaches his work, life, and

the relationships within. Whether it’s with drones, an awareness of the land, or simply reaching out to a colleague whose personal troubles are affecting their work – he is always striving to tune into the bigger picture.

GIVING BACK

Bartie is a man who wears many hats: he’s a proud Indigenous man, Managing Director, charity founder, mentor, former bodyguard, and current Guinness World Record holder.

“But the most important job of all is being a dad to six daughters,” Bartie says with a smile.

In speaking with Bartie, family is a

THROUGH HIS BUSINESS, HIS CHARITY, AND HIS WAY OF LIFE, NORMAN BARTIE IS HELPING TO DRIVE POSITIVE CHANGE IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE INDUSTRY AND THE BROADER COMMUNITIES IT SERVES.

JCB CEA has built a strong partnership with iLHA based on support and understanding.

recurring theme. Whether on the worksite, in the home, or throughout the broader community – the concept is sacred.

In 2014, he walked away from a lucrative earthmoving career, citing rising suicide rates among friends and family, and what he perceived as a troubling work culture underpinned by fear, anxiety, and anger.

He turned his attention and finances full-time to his passion for supporting the community – running wellness retreats, and harnessing the teachings of his culture to help children who have survived trauma and abuse reconnect with their lives.

After a few years away from the industry, Bartie found himself drawn back by that sense of the bigger picture – he could combine his trade skills and teachings to spread positive change through the construction and infrastructure space.

“I knew I had to come back into the industry, but do it in a way where I’d feel I could sleep at night,” Bartie says. “I wanted to teach people a different way to work, a different approach to their surroundings.

“By better connecting people to the land they’re working on, we could help create a healthier workplace, not only to pave the way to better and more sustainable practices in civil construction, but also a better balance in our family lives.”

This led Bartie in 2017 to found iLHAustralia Group (iLHA), what he describes as a holistic, traditional lore-based business in the environmental and civil infrastructure space. The business provides construction, plant and labour hire services, but also runs workplace wellness workshops, as well as cultural awareness training.

“Indigenous labour hire is where it started, but we quickly grew into the plant hire and civil space,” he says. “We are guided by the traditional lore that has survived on this earth for 60,000 years. We do our best for our ancestors, and invoke that lore and those protocols in earthmoving.”

Bartie says he started iLHA to deliberately highlight some of the downfalls of the industry, but with solutions that don’t necessarily require money.

“They just require people talking and connecting,” he says. “There’s not always been a willingness to include Aboriginal culture and practices in this industry. Businesses will get enough Aboriginal people on the job site because the government requires that a box is ticked – but then they just become invisible.

“But we actually practise our culture within that space – smoking ceremonies of our machinery, Welcome to Country when we’re working on other people’s lands – because

we believe we’ll be in safer hands when we connect to those spirits.”

iLHA runs toolbox sessions for partnering contractors, through which Bartie shares learnings from his culture to help workers from all backgrounds appreciate and connect with the environment and people around them. He says this is a key requirement for any project iLHA works on.

These sessions also include a pledge to support child safety, in the name of Bartie’s charity. It all ties back to his holistic approach – the bigger picture.

“It’s not something I can just sell. We need more people having the experience themselves, being exposed to things differently, so together we can intuitively change how we work and support one another through nature. We’re beginning to see good movement developing around it –and people are sharing notes.”

To date, iLHA has successfully implemented its holistic model on a range of large projects, including works with Laing O’Rourke and Symal Group. Bartie says the business is also in talks with SEE Civil and CPB Contractors regarding a major tender submission.

By continuing to engage more infrastructure companies and industry leaders through contracting jobs and his

Norman Bartie, Managing Director, iLH-Australia.

POSITIVE CONNECTIONS

Bartie says he’s regularly challenged by some people’s notion that it’s impossible to change everyone – but that isn’t what he’s setting out to do.

“It’s about me taking my place, doing what I can do, and sharing my experience. And one thing leads to another,” Bartie says.

This is evident in the past few years of his career. His passionate charity work led to his Guinness World Record experience, which led to a fruitful and supportive partnership with machinery supplier JCB CEA, which has helped support the growth of iLHA.

“The team at JCB CEA have great insight and a compassion for what we’re trying to do,” Bartie says. “They’re always asking how they can help with the charity, and they’re sensitive to our cultural differences as well.

“They’ll always go above and beyond, and they’re never trying to go for the sell. They have that understanding, and they’re patient. And because of that I’ve ended up buying multiple pieces of gear from JCB CEA over the last couple of years.”

He also values meaningful relationships developed with other organisations that contribute to a positive bigger picture, such

as the Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital, and the Preston Campbell Foundation.

Bartie says it’s all part of building that positive chain of connections, mutual respect, and support for the people and land around you.

BREAKING THE CYCLE

The same is true of families. Happy childhoods are more likely to lead to happy lives. It’s a big part of what has driven Bartie to dedicate years of his life to supporting at-risk teens and children who have suffered abuse.

Through decades of work as an emotional facilitator, and in recent years through his charity, Bartie has endeavoured to help guide these children through their darkest times and ultimately, to help break the cycle of domestic violence.

The wellness retreats his charity runs encourage children to connect to the land around them, to live in the moment, and try to re-engage with a sense of childlike innocence Bartie says is too often taken away.

“In those retreats, there’s no story, they don’t need to think about their future or past,” Bartie says. “They’re just connected.”

Encouraging this connection with the present is another common thread through all his work. For this reason, Bartie says iLHA workdays always start with a morning check-in to make sure everybody is in the right headspace.

“You never know what someone’s going through,” he says. “Your mate could be coming to work and see a bad road accident on the way, maybe his wife’s just said she’s leaving him, and now he’s operating a concrete saw. He’s working in a harsh environment, and his mind’s anywhere but on the job – and that’s how you lose a finger or a leg.

“It’s part of the human condition that we all share. Whether you’re a project director, a CEO, or the person who cleans the toilets –everybody can be affected by what goes on around them.”

It all comes back to that holistic approach, the eyes in the sky, and breaking the cycles of fear that can destroy families and lives.

“We want to help people rebuild the confidence in their lives, just by using machinery,” Bartie says. “I’ve seen it work. It spreads from digging in the dirt to their home life, saving money and buying a house, spending time with their kids – and just trusting themselves.

“For us it’s about more than coming to work, getting paid, spending it, and coming back next week. Our goal is to share our practices with all people, Indigenous or not, and show how it creates a more harmonious workplace. And I think the world needs more of that.”

To learn more, visit: www.itsnotyourfault.com.au

“Wellness Diggers” events, Bartie believes positive change will spread – throughout the industry, families, and beyond.

Bartie holds the Guinness World Record for longest journey in an excavator or digger.

COLAS: COMPASSION AND COMMUNITY

According to the eighth edition of the Australia Charities Report, revenue that Australian charities received from donations increased to $12.7 billion in the 2020 reporting period.

Companies right across the roads and infrastructure sector are increasingly supporting charitable and community organisations, but for some, time can be the biggest constraint.

COLAS is aiming to pave the way for community support in the industry, by embedding a compassionate culture for community outreach.

COLAS Human Resources Advisor Sherone Merryfull explains.

“As a business, we want to give back to the communities in which we work. We want to do more than just provide safe and sustainable roads, we want to improve access to education, improve health and well-being, as well as provide employment opportunities wherever possible,” she says.

“For us, it’s more than just enhancing our reputation as a business. It’s an opportunity for us to really make a difference.”

As a leader in manufacturing products for the road and airfield industry, COLAS primarily focus on the creation and maintenance of infrastructure for local communities.

As such, the company is well placed to offer a range of community support services to these existing and emerging regions, as Merryfull adds.

“We like to support organisations which share our company values, which are caring, sharing, daring,” she says.

“We’re lucky to have a lot of hard-working generous people in our business. If we work together, I feel that we can make a real difference to the people in the community, who may not have the same access to resources that we do.”

A SUPPORTIVE STRUCTURE

To assist in identifying relevant community and charitable based groups to support, Merryfull and the team at COLAS helped to establish a ‘corporate social responsibilities program’.

“The program is focused on building a formalised process and providing some structure around the business participating in various community outreach programs. The benefit or purpose of providing something more structured is that we can have more of a focused and targeted approach,” she says.

This approach is mainly used for resource or financial contributions to larger charities.

“We may have various initiatives that might be identified in different states by

of information which is compared against a selection criterion, we make sure that we’re involving ourselves in initiatives that align with our values and policy.”

COLAS has so far supported an extensive list of charities and community driven organisations, including The Smith Family, One Foot Forward, sustainability programs and assisting with the clean-up after the New South Wales floods.

COLAS is also supporting organisations which are held dear by its own employees.

COMPASSION ON SOULS

COLAS has become a keen supporter of Compassion on Souls. The program, based

COLAS HAS ESTABLISHED A REPUTATION FOR ITS SUPPORTIVE COMPANY CULTURE, ENABLING AND ENCOURAGING EMPLOYEES TO CONTRIBUTE TO COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANISATIONS AND CHARITIES.

COLAS Human Resources Administrator Sunandha ‘Shree’ Rajaram participates in the Compassion on Souls program, run by her friends and family.

in Sydney, focuses on providing clothing and food for the disadvantaged and homeless throughout Parramatta, Blacktown and Liverpool.

COLAS Human Resources Administrator Sunandha ‘Shree’ Rajaram is a participant of the program, which is also run by her friends and family.

“Disadvantaged people will come to our sites, where we give cooked food such as pasta, rice and curries. We also give them fruit, vegetables, as well as hot and cold beverages weekly. We also provide them with daily necessities. We fund the program from our own pockets,” Shree says.

“Recently COLAS has become aware of the program, and they’ve come forward to help us and support us. They’ve now supported us for nearly six months. We were very grateful for their timely support.”

COLAS employees, such as Group Human Resources Advisor Sherone Merryfull, have assisted with the wrapping and delivery of food hampers.

“It was really humbling to see a group of people coming together to support those who are less fortunate. I met some really wonderful people. People from different backgrounds, different cultures with different life experiences. Some of whom just need a bit of extra help. I’m grateful I had the opportunity to connect with the community in such a meaningful way.” Merryfull says.

Sunandha says Compassion on Souls will always welcome new individuals who would like to participate in the program. She says the program is making a positive social impact.

“You get a great feeling when you meet people and touch their hearts. And it’s an indescribable, mesmerising feeling that I wish everyone could experience,” she says.

“Every day you wake up and know that you’re about to do something meaningful.”

SUPPORTING FLEXIBILITY

Another major focus of COLAS is supporting the flexibility of its employees and contractors.

Daniel Rensburg-Phillips, Business Development Manager at Topcoat Asphalt Contractors (now a COLAS company after the business was acquired in 2018), is just one example.

Rensburg-Phillips is a devoted member of the South Australian Country Fire Service (CFS), in a regional town called Norton Summit.

As part of his role as a Lieutenant in

choice, because they support my passion for helping and being a part of the community.”

Rensburg-Phillips was recently awarded a National Emergency Medal for his devotion to service during the 2019-20 bushfire season.

He says his experiences with the CFS have also improved his performance in his role as Topcoat Asphalt’s Business Development Manager.

“In terms of leadership and resilience, I think those skill sets can be developed when you’re apart of community group or an emergency service organisation. For me personally, the friendships, mental toughness and performance under pressure are all skills which have certainly transferred into my working life,” RensburgPhillips says.

Norton Summit-Ashton CFS, RensburgPhillips fulfills a leadership role within the operational and non-operational aspects of the brigade.

He says COLAS has provided individual support, to ensure that he can fulfill his duties for both the company and the CFS.

“They’ve given me great flexibility. At any time, I may need to leave work at the drop of a hat and respond to an emergency within the community. This emergency may require 30 minutes of my attention, or two or three days, depending on the scale. So, it’s a significant commitment on behalf of COLAS and Topcoat Asphalt,” RensburgPhillips says.

“To me it makes them an employer of

“I believe that if you’re willing and able and in a position to do so, you should absolutely give back. Contributing to community groups and society as a whole is very satisfying.”

COLAS also established a Go Fund Me page to raise necessary funds during the 2019/20 bushfire season.

Group Human Resources Advisor Sherone Merryfull says the company is keen to build upon its existing charity and community group partnerships.

“Through these programs and as a large company running them, I do genuinely feel that we can make an impact. When we all come together as a business or as a group of people, we can really help to improve and increase resources for those in need,” she says.

COLAS Human Resources Advisor Sherone Merryfull.

Daniel Rensburg-Phillips, Business Development Manager at Topcoat Asphalt, was awarded a National Emergency Medal for his service during the 2019-20 bushfire season.

ROADS REVIEW

If you or

LISE SPERLING, AUSTRALIAN FLEXIBLE PAVEMENT ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NSW/ACT Communication is fundamental to every aspect of life. Effective strategic and outcome focused communication facilitates knowledge sharing, informed planning and decision making, while also stimulating innovation and sustainable change. Regular, open and ongoing communication underpins strong relationships, it forms and instils community to achieve our common goals. It is critical that all stakeholders are engaged, including local communities to gain local knowledge and deliver local outcomes. The Australian Flexible Pavement Association is proud to bring industry and community together, to open lines of communication to share information, discuss issues and develop and promote best standards and practices across safety, sustainability, technology, diversity, knowledge and training.

PROFESSOR TAYYAB MAQSOOD, ASSOCIATE DEAN-PROJECT MANAGEMENT, SCHOOL OF PROPERTY, CONSTRUCTION AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT, RMIT UNIVERSITY

For infrastructure projects to be successful, a robust communication and community consultation framework is essential to accompany any development. Public opposition to new infrastructure is primarily due to potential noise, stench and other pollution risks and concerns about impacts on property values. If there is no satisfactory communication, all infrastructure projects risk having public opposition. Therefore, government has a key role to play in ensuring communities are adequately consulted on new infrastructure projects, which may come in the form of a tailored program to educate them about the value and benefits of that particular infrastructure project.

TROY RIGBY, TRIMBLE CIVIL CONSTRUCTION - ASIA PACIFIC

Ongoing communication with the community is very important when it comes to infrastructure projects. Not only are these projects paid for with taxpayer dollars, but they can also be disruptive to community members. Sharing project updates with the public used to be difficult, but advances in project reporting and visualization technology are making it much easier. Trimble SiteVision, for example, is a user-friendly augmented reality system that makes it easy – and even fun - to visualize and explore construction projects in 3D. This can help community members and others outside of the construction industry better understand a project’s design and timeline.

NINA MCHARDY, FULTON HOGAN REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS AND STAKEHOLDER MANAGER - SOUTHERN CONSTRUCTION

Communication is more important than ever given the record spend on major infrastructure and the significant disruption that is occurring across our Country. Whilst the infrastructure industry delivers solutions that improve and enrich communities, the construction process can be disruptive. Active and meaningful engagement brings community on the journey with us, it affords us the social license to operate and builds trust. By empowering our Project teams to genuinely engage, to deliver out of the box solutions and by lifting the lid on what goes on behind the barriers, we bring the communities in which we work along for the ride - they become enablers and can be the projects biggest advocates.

at your organisation is an industry leader and would like to be a part of this monthly column in 2022, please get in

with Editor, Tom O’Keane: tom.okeane@primecreative.com.au

THIS MONTH, WE ASKED THE INDUSTRY DECISION-MAKERS, ‘HOW IMPORTANT IS ONGOING COMMUNICATION WITH THE COMMUNITY TO THE ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE INDUSTRY?’

COMMEMORATING 50 YEARS OF BUSINESS

UNDERWRITING AGENCIES OF AUSTRALIA (UAA) IS CELEBRATING 50 YEARS IN BUSINESS. GROUP CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER STAN ALEXANDROPOULOS REFLECTS ON THE PAST AND WHAT’S IN THE STORE FOR UAA’S FUTURE.

From humble beginnings in 1972, Underwriting Agencies of Australia (UAA) has expanded from its base in Newcastle, New South Wales to become one of the leading global mobile plant and machinery insurance providers.

Shortly after establishing the company, as Sanderson Insurance Brokers, an insurance brokerage, founder Philip Duncan identified a significant gap in the insurance market.

After realising that the industry provided lacklustre specialised insurance coverage for crane equipment, Duncan set out to source an applicable product overseas.

This journey led him to England, to visit the Lloyds of London insurance market. It was here that Duncan sourced and developed the CPI (Contractors Plant Insurance) policy.

As UAA Group Chief Operating Officer Stan Alexandropoulos explains, Duncan’s drive for further innovation in the insurance sector laid the groundwork for UAA’s official foundation as an underwriting agency in 1988.

“Duncan basically grabbed what was a basic product and brought that to Australia. That product eventually became what we call the Industrial Special Plant or ISP policy, which is commonly used today,” he says.

By maintaining a strong relationship with Lloyds of London, Duncan ensured that UAA could underwrite its own machinery risks and manage claims directly for its clients. This also led to further development on the ISP cover, which now has a catalogue of seven sections covering a variety of mobile plant and equipment exposures, suitable for a variety of industries.

Alexandropoulos says the ISP cover continues to be a trend-setting and comprehensive package for the mobile plant equipment insurance market.

“The product was specifically designed for

mobile plant equipment, which was – and continues to be – unique throughout the market. There’s a number of competitors that have tried to replicate the basic setup of the actual policy, after all, imitation is the greatest form of flattery” he says.

“In the past, other insurers may have repurposed packages such as motor vehicle policies to try and make things fit. It’s a little bit like fitting a square peg in a round hole.”

“At UAA we have a saying that all our policies are handmade because no two businesses are the same. We understand the unique exposures of each of these businesses and we work with the broker to ensure that we tailor a solution to meet their needs.”

UAA’s initial success with the ISP product also led to the sale of the company to the QBE Group in 2008, who identified UAA’s

expertise throughout the insurance sector.

Since becoming the owner of UAA in 1988, QBE Group’s global reach helped the company to expand significantly. UAA now has business in South America, Asia and New Zealand.

Alexandropoulos says the acquisition has enabled UAA to take its expertise worldwide.

“There’s 50 years’ worth of IP embedded within the company, which is one of the many reasons why we’re so successful,” says Alexandropoulos. “We place a great focus on selling mobile plant equipment insurance, and therefore our staff are experts in that field, particularly the way we handle and manage the claims process. Our competitors might be able to copy the policy, but they can’t replicate what we do when it really matters, when our customer has a claim.”

Throughout 50 years, Underwriting Agencies of Australia has grown from nothing into a $450 million per annum organisation.

In 2015 the Steadfast Group, an ASX 100 company and the largest general insurance broking network and underwriting agency owner in Australasia, also recognised UAA’s unique expertise and niche and purchased UAA from the QBE Group. The Steadfast Group have an 88 per cent share in the business, with the other twelve per cent owned by the UAA Group Executive team.

ENDURING INDUSTRY CHANGE

One aspect which Alexandropoulos is “extremely proud” of is UAA’s resilience throughout the last 50 years. He says the company has been able to quickly adapt to what he refers to as a “rapidly changing landscape”.

“The insurance sector has obviously evolved over many years, particularly on facets like

regulatory changes and compliance. A lot of time is spent these days on making sure that we are meeting and exceeding these compliance needs. It’s obviously been challenging. But from our perspective, one of the biggest challenges annually is climate change,” he says.

“We’re finding that there’s more and more catastrophe style claims. Events such as the recent Queensland and New South Wales floods can happen very quickly, more often and are even more severe than they’ve been in previous years due to climate change. Providing insurance coverage and finding solutions for these types of

the global insurance market as a whole.”

Alexandropoulos says UAA’s consistency and expertise in delivering timely and sustainable mobile plant insurance coverage and claims solutions has solidified the company as an “expert” in the mobile plan equipment insurance sector.

“Longevity is really important to us. It’s very hard to be a market leader for such a long time. And not only a market leader, but we also pretty much set the trend when it comes to mobile plant and equipment in the markets we deal in. We work very hard to maintain that edge by working closely with the industries we protect,” he says.

A MEANINGFUL MERGER

To coincide with the company’s 50th year of operation, UAA recently announced its merger with former competitors MECON Insurance.

As Alexandropoulos explains, the merger will enable MECON’s and UAA’s clientele to have the best of both worlds when it comes to industry coverage.

“MECON Insurance’s main specialty has always been construction insurance. So, we’ve now added that string to our bow. We’ve got the two brands now working hand in hand, one being an expert of mobile plant and equipment in UAA and MECON Insurance being industry leading experts in the market when it comes to construction insurance,”

merger, clients can still expect to deal with the same broker they’ve come to learn and trust.

“We’ve chosen to avoid becoming a corporatised sort of structure. As a result, we’ve still maintained our small business family feel. One of the ways in which we do that is we get our staff and their partners globally to come together every couple of years for a Christmas party. This year is no exception, so we’ll be celebrating our 50th birthday at our home in Newcastle. Our catch-cry within the Group and something we are very strong on is – Two Brands, One Family” he says.

EYES ON THE FUTURE

Alexandropoulos says he’s enthusiastic for the future of UAA, with plans already in place to expand the company’s foothold world-wide.

“We’re continuing to focus on global expansion while still maintaining and growing our core business in the Australian and New Zealand markets,” he says.

“We’re currently looking at moving into the Canadian market and beyond. At this stage, we’ll be launching into Canada at some stage during the latter part of 2022. So, we’re really, really excited about that.”

“We’ve grown from nothing to $450 million per annum over 50 years, so we’re looking

UAA Group Chief Operating Officer Stan Alexandropoulos.

Glenn Ross, Chief Executive Officer Mecon Insurance, Michael Murphy, UAA Group Chief Executive Officer.

HIGH LEVEL SUPPORT

Quick Access Rental & Training provides elevating work platform (EWP) rental, service, and training for customers across Victoria and New South Wales.

The family-owned business has built its success on the kind of niche expertise and know-how only decades in the industry can provide.

As a long-time EWP specialist and accredited trainer, Managing Director Craig Barr knows a thing or two about mitigating risk.

This applies to both working safely at heights, and investing in new machinery for his business – which is why he prefers to deal with suppliers who take support as seriously as he does.

“I’ve been involved with EWPs since 1987, and formed Quick Access in 2009,” Barr

JCB IS A RELATIVE NEWCOMER TO THE ELEVATED WORK PLATFORM SPACE, YET CRAIG BARR FROM QUICK ACCESS RENTAL & TRAINING KNOWS QUALITY PRODUCTS AND CUSTOMER SUPPORT WHEN HE SEES THEM.

Elevating

says. “Our goal has always been to provide premium quality products to our customers.”

In a modern market swamped with capable products from countless manufacturers, Barr says it’s what’s behind the machinery that really counts. Which is why, when JCB CEA announced it was entering the Australian EWP market, Barr was first in line.

“JCB has been around for decades. They know how to build quality products, and they know how to support their customers,” he says.

“I want to invest in high-quality products that I know are going to be well supported –that’s the main reason I’m keen on the JCBs. It also means I can supply my customers equipment from a brand they recognise, and that they know is going to do the job.”

NEW HEIGHTS

JCB introduced its access platform range to the world in 2017 – a new direction for a company known primarily for telehandlers and earthmoving equipment. Following positive receptions in multiple

overseas markets, JCB CEA has recently begun rolling out its elevation solutions down under.

“I first saw the product when they introduced it to Australia at a trade show in May 2021, and we started up the conversation then,” Barr says.

“I’d had great experiences with JCB products in the past, and I think they were keen to find a rental company who could talk seriously about what they could offer the market.

“We took one of the new machines for a trial and loaned it to one of our trusted customers. They put it to work and were impressed by how solid it looked and felt.”

Following that initial trial, when JCB CEA imported the first three models of the new range into the country, Barr ordered one of each: an S1930E 5.8-metre compact scissor lift, an S2632E 8.1-metre electric scissor lift, and an AJ48D 14.7-metre articulated boom.

“These are the most popular sizes of scissor and boom lifts, which is of course the right move for a company like JCB breaking into a new market,” Barr says.

“I’ve already challenged them to see

what else they can bring to the space going forward. Considering their track record of innovation with backhoe loaders and especially telehandlers – it would be interesting to see what they can do.”

But what really matters to Barr is reliability and service.

“We’re a relationships business, and partnerships with suppliers are very important,” he says. “If you sell it Monday, you’ve got to be able to support it Tuesday. That’s always what I’m looking for.”

As ongoing supply-chain issues continue to plague the sector, Barr wants to know that his suppliers will be there when Quick Access and its customers need them.

“JCB CEA already has that infrastructure in place,” he says. “From spare parts and service divisions, to having good people on the ground.

“It’s a quality brand with a track record of providing good support for the products they sell. I have no doubt that they’ll do the same in the EWP space as they’ve done for so long with the rest of their range.”

JCB CEA is rolling out the new machines in Australia, following positive feedback overseas.

BRAINS AND BRAWN

Komatsu’s machinery has a reputation for toughing it out, no matter the conditions.

One of the Japanese machinery company’s earliest dozers – the “KOMATU” branded T40 – made the unconventional journey to Australian shores via several decades at the bottom of the ocean, where it was lost following the Second World War.

After being recovered by an Australian scrap metal company decades later, the dozer was purchased by two Sydney farmers and resurrected with a simple oil change and some new electrical components.

The machine was acquired by Komatsu in 1979 and returned to Japan, where it was fully restored to its original specifications. It now remains proudly on display at the company’s training institute in Ohito, Shizuoka Prefecture.

A MODERN ALL-ROUNDER

The Komatsu D65EXi-18 Dozer – one of the T40’s modern-day descendants –shows that through decades of evolution, innovation and refinement, toughness still runs deep in Komatsu’s DNA.

Komatsu’s Pat Munro – Dozers Product Manager – doesn’t recommend submerging your D65EXi-18 Dozer in saltwater, but he says the machine still exemplifies the kind of durability on which the company has built its legacy.

“I’ve been with Komatsu for 19 years, and it’s the reliability of the product that’s kept me here,” Munro says. “It’s easy to represent a product that you really believe in, and Komatsu have never let me down.”

The 22-tonne D65EXi-18 Dozer, with its external push arms and semi-U blade, is tough enough for bulk earth-moving and

ripping, but light enough to make it easily transportable. Munro says this sweet spot has made the machine a popular choice for general construction and civil infrastructure.

“This class of machine makes up around 70 per cent of the total construction market,” he says. “They’re very easy to move around on floats from job to job.

“The D65EXi-18 is a really great general tool. As well as construction and civil works, it’ll handle stockpile ripping, tree clearing, and agricultural work without trouble.”

The D65EXi-18 is powered by a Tier 4 Final certified Komatsu SAA6D114E-6 engine, which balances performance with lower fuel consumption.

The Komatsu Parallel Link Undercarriage System (PLUS) comes standard, which ensures high durability and extended service life thanks to its rotary bushing. The Integrated ROPS Cab provides peace of mind for operators, while fatigue is minimised by low noise levels and cab damper mounts for vibration absorption.

Munro says the D65EXi-18 demonstrates the company’s dedication to the comfort of their operators.

“Komatsu over the years have spent millions on operator comfort across all their equipment,” he says. “The designers and engineers in Japan are always desperate to hear feedback from operators – good and bad – to help improve their products.

“They want to hear from the people that sit in these cabins for hours every day –because they know it can be the simple little things that make all the difference to operators.”

SMART PRODUCTIVITY

Komatsu’s iMC 2.0-enabled D65EXi-18 Dozer balances power and smarts.

The D65EXi-18 is one of the first dozers in Australia to feature Komatsu’s new Intelligent Machine Control (iMC) 2.0 – an automated system designed to enhance machine efficiency, jobsite productivity, and ease of operation.

KOMATSU’S MACHINERY IS BUILT TOUGH – BUT WHAT GOOD IS TOUGHNESS WITHOUT A SKILLED OPERATOR? KOMATSU’S PAT MUNRO EXPLAINS HOW IMC 2.0 IS HELPING TO RESHAPE OPERATOR TRAINING FOR A NEW GENERATION.

Munro says iMC 2.0 introduces a range of upgrades and enhancements to the original iMC feature set that takes smart automation to the next level.

The factory-integrated twin antenna GPS system allows operators and fleet managers to track their position precisely – without having to worry about external antennas or cabling.

Munro says several new smart automation features substantially improve dozing operations from bulk earthworks to finish grade work.

“Lift Layer Control, and Tilt Steering Control are two new features that can really make a huge difference to productivity,” he says.

Lift Layer Control is used to automatically spread fill material from existing areas, and measure the terrain as it tracks to plan the next pass; while Tilt Steering Control reduces the need for constant operator corrections by automatically tilting the blade to maintain straight-line travel.

“The Quick Surface Creation feature is also particularly good if they’re just pushing a road out on a particular slope,” Munro says. “Once that’s initially set up in the cabin, the operator can just park the dozer, put the blade on the ground, push one button, and it’ll run that grade out for as far as they want.”

All iMC 2.0 features also make good use of the factory-installed touch screen, which provides operators a clear indication of how they are tracking relative to a design. Munro says it’s a package of features that can make a good operator even better, reducing fatigue while enhancing accuracy.

“What’s perhaps even more valuable about the technology, is less experienced operator can be skilled up very quickly with a reasonably small amount of training,” he says. “So, you can have operators meeting designs on a particular job much sooner.

CLOSING GAPS

Munro says this means iMC 2.0-equipped machines such as the D65EXi-18 can essentially be used to complement ongoing training.

“The industry is struggling with a lack of new skilled operators coming through to replace the experienced ones who are retiring,” he says. “The other problem we’re seeing is companies poaching good

operators off each other, rather than taking the time to teach and upskill.”

This is causing gaps in the skilled workforce, both locally and globally. On the flipside, Munro says this gives equipment manufacturers such as Komatsu the chance to step up to the plate.

“I think younger generations have a bit of a different mindset, different skills and interests,” he says. “They’re much more engaged with technology.

“Our iMC 2.0 technology can help assist fleet owners in training new operators that want to learn. Not only about operating, but also in understanding the broader picture of how designs and work sites function.”

Munro says the feedback from customers has been encouraging, and he’s excited to hear the real-world benefits of iMC 2.0 straight from the job site.

“One customer has a young operator on site who hasn’t been operating bulldozers for very long. But he’s been really embracing this new technology, and wants to understand more about how it works.

“He’s seeing the benefits – it’s making him look like a much more experienced operator. It means he’s able to do jobs once, and not have to come back and redo work.”

For more information, visit: www.komatsu.com.au

“THE D65EXI-18 IS A REALLY GREAT GENERAL TOOL. AS WELL AS CONSTRUCTION AND CIVIL WORKS, IT’LL HANDLE STOCKPILE RIPPING, TREE CLEARING, AND AGRICULTURAL WORK WITHOUT TROUBLE.”

The recovered T40 bearing the branding “KOMATU” – from an early alternate transliteration from the original Japanese.

Komatsu’s designers and engineers are always seeking feedback on operator comfort and ease of operation.

ANSWERING THE CALL FOR ALL DIMENSIONS

and innovative technologies, as part of a commitment to sustainable and high-quality project outcomes.

As such, the company is always looking to acquire new and innovative machinery. Which is why, for 14 years, Corps Group has engaged Wirtgen for its equipment needs.

Managing Director Dayne Corps says he’s proud of the company’s continued efforts to find new and improved equipment.

For three generations, the Corps Group

has called Western Australia home.

Founded initially as Karratha Earthmoving by Darryl and Kerrye Corps in 1985, the origins of Corps Group are forged out of hard work. Darryl and Kerrye had to balance bringing up four young boys, while also struggling from week to week in the 1980s.

The company’s first major coup was moving sand to be used for the local Woodside Gas Plant in late 1980, before the business, and its family, underwent its most significant change.

All four boys of the Corps boys left home, before returning to operate the business. Kristian, Vaughan, Beau and Dayne Corps now own and operate the company, which has grown from two pieces of machinery to over 200 employees.

The creation of Karratha Environmental

Crushing, Karratha Asphalt and the acquisition of Bitumen Sealing Services between 2013 and 2017 also led to further expansion throughout the Pilbara and Kimberley regions.

In 2020, Corps celebrated its 35th year of operation, before the new Corps brand was launched in 2022, consolidating Karratha Earthmoving, Karratha Asphalt and Karratha Environmental Crushing.

The Corps Group is now one of Australia’s leading tech-driven civil construction companies, which aspires to partner and work with fellow minded innovators. Which is why the company has a longstanding professional relationship with the Wirtgen Group.

INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY

A staple of the Corps Group over the last 30 years has been embracing new

“We’re always keen to take a leading edge in the market. We like to make sure that we’ve got - and are using - the best that’s out there,” he says.

Four years ago, Corps Group were looking to replace an outdated Wirtgen profiler. Utilising the existing professional relationship between the two companies, the Corps Group approached Wirtgen before purchasing Wirtgen W210XP and W100CF milling machines.

Brad Jarvis, General Manager Corps Asphalt explains.

“The demand for profiling around the Kimberley region has gradually increased. We work on projects of all sizes, so we need flexibility,” he says. “We had discussions with Wirtgen, who were showing us how we could incorporate both machines into our existing technology base.”

The Wirtgen W210XP and W100CF profilers form part of Wirtgen’s extended milling machine range.

With a standard milling widths of 1000 millimetres and 2000 millimetres respectfully, the Wirtgen W210XP and W100CF both feature a 24-volt electrical system, which is used to record job data and power an electro-hydraulic power pack.

Both machines, while suited to different project sizes (W100CF for smaller and W210XP for larger projects), include a range of the latest technologies. Multiple reversing and front cameras, low emission engines and quick and precise manoeuvring are just some of the diverse technologies included on both machines as standard.

Jarvis praises the adaptability of both machines, which he says is thanks to the reduced machine frame and compact design

The Wirtgen W210XP and W100CF milling machines both feature variable conveyor belt speeds and discharge rates.

THE CORPS GROUP PRIDES ITSELF ON EMBRACING INNOVATION, WHICH IS WHY THE COMPANY HAS ENTRUSTED THE WIRTGEN GROUP FOR ITS MILLING MACHINERY NEEDS. ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE LEARNS HOW THE MACHINES AND THREEDIMENSIONAL TECHNOLOGY ARE HELPING CORPS GROUP’S PROJECT DELIVERY.

of the W210XP and W100CF.

“We’re a multi-layered company, so it’s important that we purchase machinery which can be used throughout the entirety of business,” he says.

“We’re one of the few companies in the region who can service the needs of clients throughout the entirety of a project, from commencement through to surfacing. Whether you’re using these machines for the surfacing division, asphalt division or earthworks, both the W210XP and W100CF are very effective.”

“I think we’ve done over 1000 lineal kilometres of local road shoulders for Main Roads Western Australia using the W100CF milling machine.”

Another feature which is shared across W210XP and W100CF milling machines is ‘LEVEL PRO’. This levelling system has been developed in house by Wirtgen specifically for cold milling machines and consists of a control panel and multiple sensors.

The system speeds up the operating process, while also increasing the accuracy of each pass by precisely maintaining a consistent milling depth.

Both the Wirtgen W210XP and W100CF

milling machines also feature a highperformance conveyor for material loading, with adjustable belt speeds and variable discharge ranges.

THREE-DIMENSIONAL TECHNOLOGY

For more than four years the Corps Group has embraced three-dimensional technology as part of its asphalt operation.

Managing Director Dayne Corps says the technology has now been installed as standard across most of the company’s machinery fleet.

“We practically run every machine with GPS and Universal Total Stations (UTS). So, we have it on our graders, loaders, excavators and dozers. The next logical step was to put the UTS on our profilers,” Corps says.

Using a three-dimensional design model, Corps Group’s Trimble UTS can show an operator which areas are above or below ideal grade. The UTS then automatically guides the drum to cut at the ideal depth without the need for manual inputs. This not only increases the accuracy of works, but also enables works to be completed in space-restricted areas due to

precise machine guidance.

Corps says the system, combined with the versatility of the Wirtgen W210XP and W100CF milling machines, has significantly increased the efficiency of his operation.

“I can view data on the machines and operators’ performance in real time,” he says. “It’s precise, it’s efficient and it’s one guy to one machine. You no longer need a loader, a ‘truck grader’ and an excavator. It’s literally just the profiler doing everything in one hit. So, the process basically replaces three machines.”

Brad Jarvis says the increased efficiencies have also prevented the devaluation of other machinery.

“It also saves wear and tear. Because of its accuracy, the grinders, dozers and excavators aren’t doing as much work as they have previously,” Jarvis says.

The Corps Group conducts its own maintenance in-house, but for spare parts and after sales support, Jarvis says Wirtgen is there every step of the way.

“Wirtgen are always on the front foot when it comes to servicing. Our relationship with Wirtgen is definitely a positive one,” he says.

Corps Group’s W210XP Wirtgen milling machine on site in Karratha, Western Australia.

OPTIMISING TRANSPARENCY

With more than 40 years’ experience in developing data-driven solutions between them, it’s fair to say that Sebastian Jezierski and Guy Carpenter are experts in their field.

Both have extensive knowledge of the software and technology sector and its intersection with transport operations. Together, they lead a highly talented team to support product delivery for datafocussed software developer Nuonic. Nuonic designs digital products that combine analytics with software. With

expertise in cloud computing, geospatial analytics, artificial intelligence and largescale data integration, Nuonic has serviced the software and analytic needs of applications across health, education and transport and logistics.

Jezierski is the founding architect of what’s known as Prism, Nuonic’s cloudbased platform which has been designed to provide fleet operators with timely, accurate and simplified analytics for transport assets. He says the platform opens new possibilities for the fleet operators and users.

“It’s designed specifically for analysing vehicle position (GPS) and telematics data from tracking devices installed in commercial fleets,” Jezierski says. “The platform includes extensive mapping of the Australian public road network and data integrations with a wide range of leading telematics systems and devices. Prism is used to analyse the activities of over 5000 vehicles each month operated by clients in various industries.”

He adds that Prism is the only automated analysis platform with GPS position-level integrations with over 20

NUONIC’S PRISM PLATFORM IS HELPING FLEET OPERATORS TO BETTER MANAGE, TRACK AND AUTOMATE THEIR TRANSPORT ASSETS. ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE TALKS TO SEBASTIAN JEZIERSKI, CO-FOUNDER AND GENERAL MANAGER, AND GUY CARPENTER, CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER ABOUT THE PLATFORM.

Nuonic’s Prism platform contains extensive mapping of the Australian national public road network.

telematics systems, including leading brands like Verizon Connect, Geotab, MT Data, Netstar, Volvo Dynafleet and Mix Telematics.

“Using Prism allows the client to perform an important business process faster, more accurately and for lower overall cost than was previously possible,” he says.

INSIDE THE PRISM

Prism provides automated analysis for connected vehicles. Fleet managers are able to gain insights into the commercial performance of their fleet operations.

One of the platforms biggest benefits is maximising accuracy of fuel apportionment for Fuel Tax Credits (FTC). FTCs provide organisations with a credit for the fuel tax, which is included in the price of fuel for a range of vehicles and equipment.

The value of these credits depends on the type of fuel used, where the fuel was acquired and the activity for which the fuel is used for. As such, FTCs are a key entitlement for fleet operations.

Using its clients’ GPS position data, and mapping data covering national roads, Prism provides more precise calculations while also reducing the manual labour previously required.

Before Prism, collecting the necessary data could take weeks. Now it takes minutes, says Chief Technology Officer Guy Carpenter.

“Traditional methods of calculating the non-public road fuel amounts, which attract the highest credit rate, were highly manual, opaque, and costly,” he says.

“Many companies simply claimed a fixed amount for their ‘off road’ portion despite having variable activity that may have been higher or lower, thus they were either over or under claiming.”

Users can also have full transparency over their movements and activities.

“Since establishing the FTC service, we have added various analysis tools to the platform, that provide clients with insights into their vehicles’ utilisation and productivity as well as advanced mapping reports that identify the locations with highest on and off-road activity,” Carpenter says.

“No other solution in the market uses vehicle activity to identify worksites on road infrastructure, which are classified as nonpublic for the duration of the work, for short or varied durations. The only alternative is to manually calculate the fuel apportionment. We’re also partnered with accredited

tax partners and clients with nationwide operations, so our clients can feel assured that they have access to specialised tax advice to support their claims.”

PUTTING PRISM IN PRACTICE

Nuonic has recently implemented Prism to assist one of its clients in the civil construction sector.

Nuonic’s client conducts a considerable amount of road construction activity on public roads. But these worksites are considered non-public for FTC purposes when the work is in progress, which can result in a significant difference in claimable credits.

Results from Prism can also form part of a company’s management reports or can be used to provide insight for strategic reviews and projects. In this case, Prism will provide a complete list of identified construction zones, operating times and more in a detailed report to support the approval of FTC credits by the client’s tax advisors.

Jezierski says adopting the Prism platform is simple for all business sizes and capabilities.

“For a client that uses one of our integrated telematics providers, getting started is as simple as signing a form allowing us to access their data,” he says.

Works on these sites last for variable durations, meaning monthly calculations can be difficult when done manually. Up until the use of Prism, this portion of the clients FTC activity had not been claimed.

Sebastian Jezierski, Nuonic Co-Founder and General Manager, says this application presented an ideal situation for the Prism’s deployment to improve the client’s FTC calculations.

“We’re using Prism to identify the worksites based on specialised activity signatures in the data, and then use that location data to map out non-public road zones that would otherwise be public roads. Each zone can be verified by the client’s staff and when you have hundreds of sites over the year, this approach is much more efficient” he says.

“This new approach will help our clients to access FTCs for fuel used on non-public roads that they otherwise may not have identified. Their staff are empowered with more accessible information and can focus more of their efforts on making decisions rather than executing repetitive processes.”

“Our team will then set up a Prism account, connect the data and produce the first output which we will take the client through. From there, we work with clients to ensure their accounts are correctly configured for their unique situation and that they understand how to use all the platform features.”

PRISM’S POTENTIAL

Jezierski, Carpenter and the rest of the Nuonic team are constantly looking to upgrade the Prism platform.

As Jezierski explains, it’s imperative that the platform remains adaptive in what is a constantly evolving industry.

“The transport sector has seen massive adoption of in-vehicle technology over the last decide. In fact, many vehicles now have no room for any more screens, sensors or devices. The challenge now is what to do with the vast amounts of data that is being collected, how can it be used to improve safety, efficiency, and commercial returns for vehicle operators,” he says.

Prism can be used to automate high-volume data analysis for fleets of any size.

SIMPLIFYING CONTROL

VEGA has spent years building its reputation as a leading manufacturer of accurate, reliable sensors for use across a wide range of industries.

With VEGA’s latest generation of VEGAMET controllers, level and pressure measurement and control is made even easier and more efficient.

Whether in the water, wastewater or building materials industry, VEGAMET controllers allow data from VEGA sensors to be processed and easily monitored and represented with large displays and traffic light warning systems. These help operating staff to quickly grasp even complex processes and maintain an overview.

Ralf Höll, VEGA Product Manager, says there’s a suitable product for any situation in the VEGAMET range.

“No matter if the controller is to be installed inside a switching cabinet, in a front panel or stand-alone in the field, we have a design that will fit,” Höll says.

OUT OF THE BOX SOLUTIONS

The VEGAMET series is designed to be highly visible and ready to use out of the box.

The compact controllers all feature large, high-contrast display, which offer options for clear, well-arranged

VEGA’S SERIES OF VEGAMET DISPLAY AND CONTROL UNITS OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE MONITORING SOLUTIONS FOR ANY SITUATION.

DECARBONISING THE INDUSTRY

According to the Infrastructure Sustainability Council (ISC), embodied carbon emissions from materials make up between five and ten per cent of Australia’s total greenhouse gas emissions.

Australia’s infrastructure projects can influence about 70 per cent of the nation’s total emissions (ISCA, Climateworks & Asbec). As such, the ISC has developed its Low Embodied Carbon Materials Impact Note, outlining the importance of reducing carbon emissions in construction materials.

ISC Technical Director Kerry Griffiths says the impact notes aim to highlight the

irreversible emissions which are being emitted on construction sites daily and provide a call to action.

“We know that the whole area of embodied carbon and materials needs a greater level of focus. Because once you use materials and build infrastructure, the carbon within those materials is locked in forever,” Griffiths says.

The embodied carbon of materials refers to the emissions which occur during the manufacturing of construction products, extraction and transportation of resources for manufacturing and transportation of materials to the construction site.

As such, each stage of project development

presents opportunities to reduce embodied carbon emissions, therefore contributing to the industry’s progress of achieving netzero, as well as the development of the circular economy.

THE IS RATING TOOL

The Low Embodied Carbon Materials Impact Note highlights how the IS Rating Tool can be used to reduce the embodied carbon emissions of materials. The rating scheme is Australia’s only detailed system which can be used to evaluate the environmental, social and economic performance of infrastructure assets across the entire lifecycle, including

THE INFRASTRUCTURE SUSTAINABILITY COUNCIL HAS LAUNCHED ITS FIRST LOW CARBON IMPACT NOTE. ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE SITS DOWN WITH TECHNICAL DIRECTOR DR KERRY GRIFFITHS TO LEARN WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE INDUSTRY’S DECARBONISATION EFFORTS.

design and construction phases.

By using the scheme, the sustainability performance of infrastructure can be gauged at both a micro and macro level.

According to the ISC, the IS Rating Tool led to a 55 per cent avoidance in material greenhouse-gas emissions for projects in 2021.

Griffiths says, the IS Rating Tool provides guidance for those in the industry who may be looking to increase the sustainability outcomes of their projects.

“We’ve just celebrated our 10-year anniversary of the scheme this year. It was developed by industry for industry, as momentum was growing from a group of committed industry participants who really saw the need for a rigorous system to drive sustainable performance within the sector,” she says.

“It allows the industry to assess sustainability performance of infrastructure assets, whether it be the planning stage, the design and construction stage or in the operation stage. The IS Rating Scheme caters for what we call the quadruple bottom line of sustainability performance, and performance benchmarks. So, it’s a common framework, it’s consistent and it’s also third party assured.”

The IS Rating Tool uses a credit-based system which cover a range of focus areas, such as procurement, materials use, resource

efficiency, design, innovation, stakeholder engagement and energy efficiency.

Projects and assets achieve certification under the IS Rating Tools based on their performance against the benchmarks, demonstrating measurable sustainability benefits.

“The IS Rating Tool has been fundamental in raising the awareness and activity within the infrastructure sector to deliver economic, environmental and social benefits,” Griffiths says.

The rating scheme also aims to reduce barriers for low embodied carbon materials. Griffiths says teamwork is key.

“Collaborating with your suppliers and industry partners is very important for driving carbon reductions and creating new opportunities for the use of these materials.

This doesn’t just apply to the main contractor or designer, it’s a whole supply chain,” she says.

KEY ACTION POINTS

The ISC’s Low Embodied Carbon Materials Impact Note also establishes key action points that companies can take to reduce the embodied carbon of materials.

One strategy is to introduce a carbon budget. These budgets can be applied to associated materials used during construction, as well as other operational emissions. The impact note encourages operators to set carbon budgets in line with the 1.5ºC goal highlighted in the Paris Climate Accord.

Another action point emphasises the influence of sustainable procurement.

Projects can prioritise the use of low carbon materials, and develop partnerships with companies that have committed to net-zero, while assessing low carbon alternatives early in the project life cycle.

The final action point underlines the importance of receiving assurance from suppliers about the environmental footprint of their materials or products. Projects can require suppliers to present an environmental product declaration and independent product certifications, ensuring transparency.

Griffiths says these are just some of the methods contractors and operators can use to begin their journey to sustainable project delivery.

“We also encourage people to trial low carbon, or carbon positive products. As suppliers come into the market with different alternatives, there needs to be a level of confidence that builds within the industry. Being able to trial low carbon products really makes a difference in terms of understanding best practice,” she says.

She adds that opportunities across the industry, as well as initiatives such as the ISC’s Impact Notes, are helping to accelerate the gains already being made within the infrastructure sector.

“There’s clearly more work to be done to decarbonise. We can already see organisations who are really wanting to take that next step and looking to perform at the highest level where possible, which is pleasing. Leadership is critical,” Griffiths says.

The Low Carbon Impact Note aims to reduce the embodied carbon of materials used in infrastructure works.

The Infrastructure Sustainability Council’s Low Carbon Impact Note applies the IS Rating Scheme, a guide for contractors to achieve sustainable project outcomes.

WOMEN IN INDUSTRY AWARDS 2022

The Women in Industry Awards recognise the achievements of women across industries typically dominated by men, such as mining, transport, manufacturing, engineering, waste management, logistics and infrastructure.

Held on Thursday 8 September at Sydney’s Doltone House in Jones Bay Wharf, the 2022 awards night celebrated the accomplishments of many exceptional women who have achieved success in their respective industries through commitment, leadership, and innovation.

FULTON HOGAN’S HEROES

Civil infrastructure company Fulton Hogan was especially well represented this year, accounting for five of the 12 awards presented on the night.

Sarah Marshall, Construction and Infrastructure Executive at Fulton Hogan, took out both the prestigious Woman of the Year Award, as well as the Excellence in Construction award.

A passionate leader, Marshall has spent her career pushing for positive change in the construction sector. This has involved driving sustainability, improving culture, tackling mental health issues, increasing Indigenous engagement and procurement, and improving gender diversity.

Fulton Hogan Chief Executive Officer Duncan Gibb said Marshall’s contribution to the company had been immeasurable.

“Whether it be her insatiable appetite for taking on new challenges, an unparalleled work ethic, or her ‘say it as you see it’ style, it is impossible to question her impact on the business,” he said.

“Harnessing resources across the multiple regions, sectors and disciplines of Fulton Hogan, Sarah has helped make significant progress in our journey towards becoming an employer of choice.”

Other finalists in the Excellence in

Construction category included Biljana Stanic (Martinus) and Emma Muller (Horizon United Group).

Joanne Jeffs, People Project Manager at Fulton Hogan, was awarded the Social Leader of the Year award – sponsored by Komatsu – from a group of finalists including Emma Muller (Horizon United Group) and Kelsey Smith (Roy Hill).

During her time with Fulton Hogan, Jeffs has championed and delivered on strategies for diversity, inclusion, and community engagement – including the ‘Kicking Goals Program’, a coaching and mentoring program for First Nations employees.

Nina McHardy, Fulton Hogan’s Regional Communications and Stakeholder Manager for Victoria and Tasmania, won the Industry Advocacy Award for her work in breaking down barriers for women in the construction industry, as well as driving meaningful engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and businesses. She has also been instrumental

in building partnerships between Fulton Hogan, the AFLW, and amateur football clubs.

Other Industry Advocate finalists included Lina Goodman (Tyre Stewardship Australia), Sarah Vogler (United Carriers), and Yvette Mihelic (John Holland).

The Safety Advocacy Award was won by Barbara Pitsos, who has been with Fulton Hogan in various safety roles since 2016. She currently manages a team committed to the safety of all staff and contractors, while also working to promote and maintain the company’s strong safety culture.

Pitsos and her team created the ‘Stay Safe Not Silent’ safety video campaign, which has had an enormous impact across the business, as well as garnered praise from Worksafe.

Other finalists in this category included Annastasia Denigan (Qube), Felicity Hall (CJC Management), and Michelle Cowper (Viva Energy Australia).

THE ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE SECTORS WERE WELL REPRESENTED AT THE 2022 WOMEN IN INDUSTRY AWARDS IN SYDNEY LAST MONTH.

Woman of the Year Sarah Marshall (left), with Master of Ceremonies Jean Kittson.

LEADING THE WAY

The Mentor of the Year award went to Danielle Bull, General Manager Operations at WesTrac Cat. Always looking for new avenues to promote success for women in business and industry, Bull has taken on numerous official and unofficial mentoring arrangements throughout her career.

In her role at WesTrac, she actively seeks out and cultivates new mentormentee relationships between people in the business. In 2022, she co-founded Industrious Women Networking in the Newcastle and Hunter region, which attracted 100 women to its inaugural event in April.

Other nominees included Anne-Laure Saluden (Transdev Sydney Ferries), Deb Scown (Ampol), and Kari Banick (Linfox).

A TRANSPORT LEGEND

Frances Ross, Co-Founder of Ross Transport, was recognised for a long and successful career with the Excellence in Transport Award. Ross started the business with her late ex-husband Reg in 1975, before taking over the business in 1989 with her son Alan. She has steered Ross Transport through some challenging times, her strength and resilience providing a sense stability and calm to her family and business alike.

At the age of 81, Ross is still involved with the business today, overseeing office staff while training her granddaughter to take over the business. She has taken part in the i98FM Illawarra Convoy since 2005, helping to raise more than $15 million for the local community, as well as donating almost $915,000 on behalf of the Ross Transport family in that time.

Other finalists included Joana Feiteira (Transdev Sydney Ferries), Priya Perera (Department of Transport), and Stacey Davies (Daimler Truck & Bus).

ENGINEERING SUCCESS

The Excellence in Engineering award was won by Louise Adams, Aurecon’s Group Chief Operating Officer and former CEO for Australia and New Zealand. With more than 20 years’ experience as a Chartered Civil Engineer, she became the first female Executive Director on Aurecon’s Board in 2013.

A passionate advocate for female leadership and equality within the fields of STEM, Adams has developed a reputation as a well-respected, empathetic,

and effective leader, and a valued keynote speaker at engineering industry conferences. She is a member of Australia’s Chief Executive Women (CEW) group and was awarded a CEW Scholarship to attend the Wharton Business School in 2018.

Other finalists in the engineering field included Brenda Denbesten (BHP), Maria Hill (Hitachi Rail), and Sarah Stante (CJC Management).

THE FULL 2022 WINNERS LIST:

• Joanne Jeffs (Fulton Hogan) – Social Leader of the Year

• Helen Tower (CSL Seqirus) – Rising Star of the Year

• Sage Hahn (Bio Gro) – Business Development Success of the Year

• Nina McHardy (Fulton Hogan) – Industry Advocacy Award

• Danielle Bull (WesTrac) – Mentor of the Year

• Barbara Pitsos (Fulton Hogan) – Safety Advocacy Award

• Rebecca Healy (Boxhead Plastics) –Excellence in Manufacturing

• Frances Ross (Ross Transport) –Excellence in Transport

• Louise Adams (Aurecon) – Excellence in Engineering

• Sarah Coleman (idoba) – Excellence in Mining

• Sarah Marshall (Fulton Hogan) –Excellence in Construction

• Sarah Marshall (Fulton Hogan) – Woman of the Year

Frances Ross, Ross Transport.

Danielle Bull, WesTrac Cat.

NATIONAL PRECAST MEMBER SNAPSHOT

Two new buildings at Sydney’s Central Station show off precast’s architectural versatility in an infrastructure setting. The buildings on the new Platform 14 feature 216 precast panels with inlaid bricks prefabricated by Master Precaster Waeger Constructions and stained by ECOTONE. The feature bricks reveal artwork designed by renowned Bandjalung artist Dr Bronwyn Bancroft for its contemporary representation

PROJECT: Green Bridges - Yanchep Rail Extension

Green bridges have been extensively constructed all over the world to minimise the adverse impacts of roads on wildlife and habitat. National Precast Master Precaster PERMAcast was recently engaged to supply precast elements for three new green bridges that are being constructed as a part of the Yanchep Rail Extension. These wildlife crossing structures will protect local animals such as the Western Brush Wallaby and Southern Brown Bandicoot. As well as providing safety for wildlife, the bridges will also support firefighting vehicles during bushfire emergencies.

Precast

The new architecturally designed Bell Street Station is improving the commuter experience in Melbourne’s north. Master Precaster Advanced Precast was engaged to supply stunning precast concrete façade panels featuring a white oxide mix and complex patterns which were achieved by the use of formliners. Thanks to its elevated platforms, the new Bell Street Station offers amazing view of the city and creates a safer and easier access to the station.

PROJECT: Sydney Airport approach ramps

LOCATION: Sydney, NSW

MASTER PRECASTER: The Reinforced Earth Company Australia

National Precast Master Precaster the Reinforced Earth Company was engaged to supply walls on the approach ramps to Sydney Airport’s Domestic Terminal, along Sir Reginald Ansett Drive. Featuring an eye-catching architectural design, the walls give the walls both form and function. Reinforced Earth continues to astonish clients with their ability in reinforced earth walls for Australian infrastructure projects.

PROJECT: Ranford Road Bridge

LOCATION: Canning Vale, WA

MASTER PRECASTER: Georgiou

National Precast Master Precaster Georgiou is supplying Tee-Roff beams for the bridge over the railway at Ranford Road, Canning Vale in Western Australia. Manufactured in its precast facility at Hazelmere, the beams are among Australia’s largest of their type, weighing 200 tonne and measuring 50 meters long. Upgrades to the bridge will cater for future traffic volumes through six new general traffic lanes.

MASTER

TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY IN FLEXIBLE PAVEMENTS

Held on September 8, Sydney Olympic Park saw the unification of both industry and government. The Australian Flexible Pavement Association (AfPA) hosted the ‘Towards sustainability in flexible pavements’ industry breakfast event as presented by senior representatives from Transport for NSW.

The event aimed to provide attendees with an industry specific insight into the NSW flexible pavement specifications and potential avenues for sustainable procurement and project delivery.

AfPA Executive Director Lise Sperling says the event was an astounding success, with plans already in place to potentially host a similar event in the near future.

“This marks our first in-person technical specification event in two years due to COVID-19. It was really an opportunity to have

the road specification space,” she says.

“It allowed Transport for NSW to be very

sustainability. Different options around materials were discussed such as recycling glass, concrete, brick, the use of crumb rubber and more. It was a great chance to discuss how Transport for NSW is going to modernise standards, while working with industry on prioritising sustainability throughout the sector.”

The event hosted two key note speakers from Transport for NSW, which included Hossein Asadi, Senior Manager Pavements Technical Services – Infrastructure and Place; and Sean Dorahy, Pavement Manager, Asphalt Technology Technical Services – Infrastructure and Place.

With more than 30 years of combined experience in material engineering and pavement design and construction, both Asadi and Dorahy provided first-hand accounts and insights into the use of different technologies and materials.

“They’re very strong champions of change and experienced technical experts in the road and infrastructure industry,” Sperling says. “It demonstrates that Transport for NSW is genuinely committed to sustainability and working with industry to be more progressive.”

“We’ve had very positive feedback from attendees, who welcomed the opportunity to be able to hear an industry specific session which looked at the localised opportunities for different technologies, some of which are being trialled in New South Wales“.

Off the back of what has been hailed as a success, AfPA will be hosting future events, with a renewed focus on sustainability.

“Sustainability is one of our key strategic pillars, and it’s something that we will continue focus on,” Sperling says. “We will also be holding a road maintenance and rehabilitation masterclass on 11 November 2022, which will cover best practice across the flexible pavement industry.”

THE AUSTRALIAN FLEXIBLE PAVEMENT ASSOCIATION (AFPA) HAS RECENTLY HOSTED TRANSPORT FOR NEW SOUTH WALES IN AN INDUSTRY SPECIFIC EVENT FOCUSING ON INSTILLING SUSTAINABILITY PRIORITIES AND OUTCOMES FOR FLEXIBLE PAVEMENT ACROSS THE STATE. AFPA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NSW/ACT LISE SPERLING EXPLAINS.

The industry-focused event explored sustainable alternatives and technologies, which can be used as part of pavement design and construction.

(From left to right) Hossein Asadi, TfNSW Senior Manager Pavements Technical Services; Gana Varendran, Downer General Manager NSW/ ACT and AfPA NSW Branch Chair; Sean Dorahy, TfNSW Pavement Manager, Asphalt Technology Technical Services; and Lise Sperling, AfPA Executive Director NSW/ACT.

CONTRACTS IN BRIEF

VICTORIA

Firms shortlisted for SRL East

tunnelling works

Three firms have been shortlisted for tunnelling contracts on the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) East project in Victoria. SRL East will deliver 26 kilometres of twin tunnels and six brand new underground stations between Cheltenham and Box Hill. Tunnelling begins in 2026, with up to 10 tunnel boring machines (TBMs) to be used to carve out the twin tunnels. The tunnelling task will be split into two separate contracts to ensure the work is done as efficiently as possible, minimising disruption to the community. These will be awarded from the shortlist. Three firms have now been invited to submit a detailed Request for Proposal: CPB Contractors Pty Limited, Ghella Pty Ltd and Acciona Construction Australia Pty Ltd; John Holland Pty Ltd and Gamuda Berhad trading as Gamuda (Australia) Branch; and Webuild S.p.A and GS Engineering and Construction Australia Pty Ltd. The first contract will be awarded next year for twin tunnels between Cheltenham and Glen Waverley. The second is to construct tunnels between Glen Waverley and Box Hill. Initial works on SRL East are already underway in Clayton and major works have been given the green light following a Environment Effects Statement (EES) planning process. Construction of SRL East will create up to 8000 local jobs.

QUEENSLAND

Downer and Ventia awarded 10-year Gold Coast water contract

Downer and Ventia have been awarded a 10-year contract for the delivery of Gold Coast water and sewerage services. The contract will be delivered by Gold Coast Infrastructure Solutions, a 50:50 unincorporated joint venture between the two civil infrastructure companies. Gold Coast Infrastructure Solutions will deliver water supply and sewerage services to the City of Gold Coast, Australia’s second largest Local Government Area. The scope of work includes planned and reactive repairs and maintenance, refurbishment and renewals programs, and capital works related to the city’s water and sewerage network assets and facilities. The contract will commence in August 2022 and is estimated to generate approximately $250 million in revenue for each company.

Contracts awarded for Paradise Dam

The Paradise Dam rebuild project in Queensland has reached a key milestone,

with three contracts awarded for design, geotechnical and environmental services. Paradise Dam is approximately 20 kilometres north-west of Biggenden and 80 kilometres south-west of Bundaberg on the Burnett River. It is a key component of the Bundaberg Water Supply Scheme. Following the 2011 and 2013 floods, the Paradise Dam was damaged. Since then, water service providers Sunwater have been working to repair and improve the dam. Engineering specialist GHD has been appointed to prepare the reference design for the project. This will be used to procure a major construction partner. Jacobs will undertake geotechnical investigations and assess availability of any suitable basalt material that could be used as aggregate for the dam. Specialist consultants, Epic Environmental, will undertake an environmental impact assessment and prepare applications for the necessary environment and planning approvals for the project. The contracts will support 37 jobs over the coming year and follow the recent appointment of Harrison Infrastructure Group to lead an investigation of the road network leading to the dam to ensure approximately one million tonnes of aggregate can be transported safely. The new contracts will further support the investigations Sunwater has already progressed.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Final two major contracts awarded for WA’s Armadale Line transformation

The 129-year-old Armadale Line’s transformation is another step closer with contracts awarded for the METRONET Byford Rail Extension and Victoria ParkCanning Level Crossing Removal projects in Western Australia. The Victoria ParkCanning Level Crossing Removal Project will see replacement of six level crossings at Mint Street, Oats Street, Welshpool Road, Hamilton Street, Wharf Street and William Street with elevated rail. It will also see five new elevated stations built at Carlisle, Oats Street, Queens Park, Cannington and Beckenham. The project is expected to create around six hectares of versatile public space and better community connections through elevated rail. The Victoria Park-Canning Level Crossing Removal Project, to be delivered by the Armadale Line Upgrade Alliance (Acciona Construction, BMD Constructions, WSP and AECOM), will also include removing William Street level crossing and building a new elevated Beckenham Station after federal funding

was committed to the project. The Byford Rail Extension contract has been awarded to MetCONNX Alliance (Laing O’Rourke, Pritchard Francis Consulting and Kellogg Brown & Root) and will help create better transport connections for Serpentine Jarrahdale. This will be achieved through a new ground-level Byford Station with around 400 parking bays, a bus interchange, and pedestrian connections; elevating rail through Armadale, with a new Armadale Station and removing eight level crossings at Armadale Road, Forrest Road, Church Avenue, Seventh Road, Byron Road, Eleventh Road, Thomas Road and Larsen Road – with works already underway on the Thomas Road project. These projects are expected to support around 8500 jobs and will see Perth’s first major elevated rail through sections of Victoria Park, Canning and Armadale, with up to 14 level crossings removed for good along the Armadale Line. An 18-month Armadale Line Shutdown will start in late2023, to aid construction.

NEW SOUTH WALES

Joint Venture begins works on the M12 Motorway

A 50:50 joint venture between Georgiou Group and CPB Contractors has commenced construction on the $494 million M12 Motorway (west) project. The project will see the construction of a 6-kilometre dual carriage way, 11 bridges, and a grade-separated interchange connected with the Western Sydney Airport. The CPB Georgiou Group Joint Venture will deliver the western section to The Northern Road, which includes the airport interchange and Elizabeth Drive flyover. The Australian and New South Wales governments are building the M12 Motorway as part of the Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan (WSIP) road investment program. The new motorway will provide direct access to the Western Sydney International Airport at Badgerys Creek and connect to Sydney’s motorway network. The corridor route is an east-west 16-kilometre motorway between the M7 Motorway, Cecil Hills and The Northern Road, Luddenham. The motorway would provide increased road capacity and reduce congestion and travel times in the future. It would also improve the movement of freight in and through Western Sydney. Works are also progressing on the central section of the project between Cecil Park and Badgerys Creek, which are being led by Seymour Whyte.

ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE PROVIDES AN UPDATE ON SOME OF THE CONTRACTS AND TENDERS RECENTLY AWARDED OR PUT TO MARKET ACROSS THE AUSTRALIAN INFRASTRUCTURE SECTOR.

RUBBER LIKE NO OTHER

SAMI’s Crumb Rubber Modified Binders (CRM) are anything but ordinary.

For over 25 years we’ve been re-purposing end-of-life car and truck tyres in our CRM products. SAMI’s CRM Binder is a choice for the environment you can feel; thanks to improved skid resistance and rideability. It’s all part of our ongoing mission to create sustainable roads with superior moisture resistance, increased durability, and long-term performance.

Because with more tyres in the road, we can all drive towards a greener future.