Bridges: The weakest link or the strength of the Australian economy?

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

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

INFRASTRUCTURE WA APPOINTS NEW CHAIRPERSON The Governor of Western Australia has appointed Nicole Lockwood as the new Infrastructure WA (IWA) Board chairperson. The infrastructure body, which was a key election commitment of the McGowan Labor Government, provides an advisory and assistance role to the State Government on infrastructure related matters to drive Western Australia’s economy and create jobs. Ms Lockwood, who has served as deputy chairperson since IWA’s establishment in 2019, brings extensive experience in infrastructure planning and delivery through her previous board roles with Water Corporation, Horizon Power, Westport Taskforce and Infrastructure Australia. Ms Lockwood currently holds board roles with the Green Building Council of Australia, the Western Australian Association for Mental Health and chairs the Sienna Wood Joint Venture.

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA CEO RETIRES Engineers Australia has announced that CEO Dr Bronwyn Evans AM will retire in April 2022. Dr Evans has led the organisation since 2019 and has achieved several milestones in this time. This includes successful advocacy for the compulsory registration of engineers, promoting women in STEM, and climate change initiatives – including a new flagship conference – Climate Smart Engineering, headlined by Nobel laureate and former US Vice President Al Gore. Dr Evans has over 35 years’ experience in various engineering roles, including CEO of Standards Australia, senior executive roles at Cochlear Ltd and GE Healthcare, as well as non-executive board experience in the construction, medical technology, and digital business sectors. She has been recognised nationally as one of the most influential engineers and recognised among the 100 Women of Influence.

COATES APPOINTS EXECUTIVE GENERAL MANAGER – SOUTH BUSINESS UNIT Luke Sullivan joined Coates as Executive General Manager for the South Business Unit. He will head up Coates’ Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania’s operations. Luke has more than 20 years’ experience in senior executive roles, both in Australia and internationally. Prior to starting with Coates, Luke was the Executive General Manager, Services at UGL, where he led a national team of 5000 employees across 150 locations delivering operations and maintenance services in transport, power, oil and gas, mining and Defence. Before that, Luke held senior leadership roles in Asset Management with ExxonMobil and Orica, as well as serving as General Manager Operations, Resources and Industrials at Transfield Services, now Ventia. Luke brings to Coates a wealth of experience across many market sectors, as well as extensive leadership in operational management and strategic development.

MOOVEN APPOINTS NEW ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Jack Joy has joined Mooven’s ANZ sales team as the company’s sixth Account Executive. Jack is Perth-based and will be expanding Mooven’s business into Western Australia, home of the road trip. Jack joins with several years of technical and software sales experience across a number of companies in the construction industry and past roles including Business Development Manager for BCI Australia and Sales Account Manager – Southern Region for SKIDATA Australasia. As someone who can’t stand traffic congestion around the multiple infrastructure projects in his neighbourhood, Jack is passionate about working with Mooven to help WA-based organisations solve their problems relating to traffic movement on both minor and major civil and road infrastructure projects.

CONTRACTS IN BRIEF

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

NEW SOUTH WALES Shortlisted companies announced for $1.8B Coffs Harbour bypass

Construction on the Coffs Harbour bypass, the biggest infrastructure project in Coffs Harbour’s history, is a step closer to commencing with the shortlist of companies invited to tender for construction announced. CPB Webuild Joint Venture, Acciona Seymour Whyte Joint Venture and Gamuda Ferrovial Joint Venture have been selected to take part in the tender process, which will be finalised by the end of the year with the successful contractor to be announced in mid-2022. The project includes upgrading around 14 kilometres of the Pacific Highway at Coffs Harbour, starting from south of Englands Road roundabout and finishing at the southern end of the Sapphire to Woolgoolga project. Once completed, the bypass will save motorists 11 minutes travel time, allowing them to bypass up to 12 sets of traffic lights. Three tunnels will be built for the bypass at Roberts Hill, Shephards Lane and Gatelys Road, delivering safer and quicker journeys for the thousands of locals, tourists and freight operators who use the route daily. The Federal Government has committed to fund 80 per cent of the $1.8 billion Coffs Harbour Bypass project, up to $1.46 billion. The New South Wales Government is funding the remainder of the project. The tendering phase will extend to March 2022, and the major contractor will be announced in mid 2022.

VICTORIA North East Link’s $11.1B primary package contract awarded

Preferred bidder Spark consortium has inked a $11.1 billion deal with the Victorian Government to build, operate and maintain the tunnels of Melbourne’s long-awaited North East Link over the next 25 years. The consortium comprises of CIMIC Group companies Pacific Partnerships, CPB Contractors and Ventia, as well as WeBuild, GS Engineering and Construction, China Construction Oceania, Capella Capital, John Laing Investments and DIF. The $15.8 billion project, co-funded by the Victorian and Federal governments, is tipped to cut travel times between Melbourne’s north and south-east by more than half an hour and take 15,000 trucks off the road per day. The stretch of road will link Metropolitan Ring Road to the Eastern Freeway and include road upgrades, the creation of Melbourne’s first busway and 25 kilometres of upgraded walking and cycling paths. Construction will commence later this year and operations will run to 2053. The project will be completed by 2028.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA Downer awarded major South Australian energy project contract

Downer has been awarded a $200 million contract from AlectraNet to construct high-voltage transmission lines between New South Wales and South Australia, as part of the EnergyConnect project. The project will connect South Australia and New South Wales’ power grids and will involve the construction of a new 330 kilovolt above-ground transmission line between Robertstown in South Australia and Wagga Wagga in New South Wales. Downer’s contribution to the project will include the design, procurement and construction of a 330kV transmission line between Bundey Substation and the South Australian and New South Wales border, as well as a 275kV transmission line between Bundey Substation and the existing Robertstown Substation. Downer will commence major construction in 2022, with the transmission line set to be commissioned in 2023.

Contractors announced for Fisherman Bay infrastructure upgrades

South Australian civil infrastructure firm Bardavcol will deliver infrastructure upgrades totalling more than $23 million in Fisherman Bay, in the Yorke Peninsula. This will include works on a wastewater collection system, road upgrades, a new stormwater system as well as coastal protection measures. The work represents more than $20 million in private investments, between the Fisherman’s Bay Management and the Barunga West Council. In addition to the infrastructure works, the Barunga West Council will lead a $3 million upgrade of the areas existing Community Wastewater Management System. The Community Wastewater Management System upgrade and associated works are due for a mid-2022 completion.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA $29 million contract awarded at Port of Port Hedland

Austral Construction has been awarded the $29 million contract for the design and construction of a revetment wall at Nelson Point Tug Haven and Port Hedland. The contract will help to protect the Tug Haven embankments from destructive cyclones and powerful storm surges, which will be designed to withstand a one in 500year weather event. The design, electrical services and fabrication will be subcontracted, with five per cent of the works to be awarded to Aboriginal-owned subcontractors. The revetment wall works will form part of the $51.2 million Nelson Point Tug Haven upgrade project, as well as the Western Australian Government’s $5.5 billion WA Recovery Plan. Port operations will not be impacted, with works expected to be completed by the end of 2022.