Roads Australia
Infrastructure seems to be among the buzzwords of the moment, with media attention focussing on a number of major projects and commitments.
In Sydney, it’s been widely reported that the NSW Government’s mooted $15 billion sell-off of the State’s power assets will fund a swag of road, rail and water projects.
The Herald and Daily Telegraph have reported on plans for a European-style metro subway system across Sydney. The SMH said a subway line running from the CBD under Parramatta Road to Olympic Park would be announced next month, suggesting it would be a ‘trade-off’ for building the M4 East motorway extension.
The Herald says the State’s infrastructure wish-list is likely to be further funded by more asset sales - although in an AFR article, Premier Morris Iemma downplayed suggestions the State’s $86 billion in property holdings was up for a fire sale.
Meantime, the Courier Mail said plans for a subway under central Brisbane – although 10 to 20 years off - were also winning wide support.
In other news, the SMH cited a NSW Auditor General’s report saying that tolls from the Harbour Bridge are subsidising running costs for the Sydney Harbour Tunnel to the tune of $52 million a year. NSW Roads Minister Eric Roozendaal was reported as saying that under the contractual arrangements the bridge has always supported the tunnel.
Adelaide and Melbourne print media have been competing to give their respective cities bragging rights as the most car obsessed city in the country.
The Advertiser said a University of Melbourne study showed Adelaide had more people driving to work per head of population (75.4 per cent) than any other capital city. However the Herald Sun took a different spin on the same study, claiming Melbourne workers were the biggest car users based on total numbers – more than one million drivers each day, slightly ahead of Sydney.
In Brisbane, the Courier Mail reported that the State Government would not give Brisbane City Council power to levy tolls on the planned Hale Street bridge unless it moved to address the expected traffic gridlock caused by the works.
The Courier Mail has also reported that the Rudd Government will be pushing the State Government to complete the $1.1 billion Ipswich Motorway within three years.
And in another Mail story, a University of Queensland professor has called for planning to introduce a London-style congestion tax for Brisbane’s CBD.
Leighton Holdings Chief Executive, Wal King, has called on state and federal governments to stop talking and start delivering major infrastructure projects such as roads.
Addressing 200 road industry leaders at the Australian Road Forum annual lunch in Sydney this week, Mr King sounded a timely warning to the Federal and state governments ahead of next week’s COAG meeting.
He said lack of action on the backlog of infrastructure projects, coupled with poor co-ordination between governments on the scheduling of these projects, was a significant roadblock to prosperity and job security.
“The backlog in investment in water, energy, land transport and other major infrastructure that CEDA puts at $25 billion is denying us higher productivity and wealth creation,” Mr King said.
“Our nation and our industry is busy delivering infrastructure in arrears.”
Mr King said more than 160 key infrastructure projects had been identified, including Sydney’s M4 East and the F3 - M2/M7 connection, the Pacific Highway upgrade, and Melbourne’s East - West growth corridor integration.
“The M4 has been planned since 1992 and there’s still no firm timetable for getting it done,” he said.
“Planning is not the issue. Implementation is the issue.”
Mr King said despite the current skills crisis, the construction industry could muster the necessary skills to deliver these projects.
“The problem is not a lack of capacity in the construction industry, but the lack of co-ordination between state and federal governments to ensure that as each stage of a major project is completed - from the bid to construction to delivery - another is ready to go,” he said.
“For example, at one stage in NSW we had three mega projects at once - the Cross City Tunnel, the M7 and the Epping to Chatswood railway. Now there is not one major project in Sydney.”
Mr King welcomed the Rudd Labor Government’s appointment of the country’s first Infrastructure Minister.
He said an important task for the new Minister should be to get the states on board and smooth the way to further real investment in infrastructure from the public or private purse.
“I believe we’ll also see more PPPs and alliances as the burden is shared more equitably and more opportunities open up for a cooperation approach to project delivery and long-term arrangements.
“I hope we will also see more sensible procurement processes to shortlist bidders earlier in the process to reduce bid costs and, ultimately, project costs.”
Australian Road Forum President, Ray Fisher, said next week’s COAG meeting was a perfect opportunity for the Rudd Labor Government to set a new course in the planning, funding and delivery of major road infrastructure.
“We would like to see the Federal Government establish the platform for a more bipartisan approach to road funding and planning across all level of Government - one that puts the national interest ahead of parochialism and short-term budget cycles,” Mr Fisher said.
“In particular, we would encourage the Federal and state governments to use next week’s meeting to finalise an early timetable for infrastructure commitments to ensure skills and equipment can be maintained and marshalled most effectively.”
The 2007 ARF annual lunch, sponsored by B R Durham and Sons, was a sell-out event.
Melbourne’s EastLink project passed another significant milestone this week – although the opening of the $65 million Dandenong Bypass was somewhat overshadowed by the news that EastLink itself is set for completion mid next year.
Victorian Premier John Brumby announced last Sunday that the 39 kilometre roadway was on course to open mid 2008, around six months early.
He said progress on EastLink was outstanding and the early delivery of the motorway would provide a massive boost to communities along the project corridor and the Victorian economy.
Mr Brumby made the announcement at a ceremony to mark the official opening of the 4.75 km Dandenong Bypass, itself completed 12 months ahead of time.
The Premier said the opening of the Bypass demonstrated what could be achieved when the Government and private sector worked together to deliver positive transport outcomes for the community.
“The Dandenong Bypass is one of two toll-free bypass roads offered as an additional incentive by ConnectEast during the bidding process, along with four railway station upgrades,” he said.
“The partnership model used on EastLink is providing exceptional outcomes and showcasing to the rest of Australia our success in delivering massive infrastructure projects.”
Mr Brumby said the Government was looking at opportunities to extend the Dandenong Bypass in both directions in the future.
“We are well aware of the transport pressures on the Greater Dandenong region and we are currently investigating options for extending this Bypass in both directions.
“Priorities being investigated include the sections between Springvale Road and Perry Road and between South Gippsland Highway and the South Gippsland Freeway.”
Minister for Roads and Ports, Tim Pallas, praised the efforts of EastLink project parties ConnectEast and Thiess John Holland in delivering the Bypass 12 months early.
“The Dandenong Bypass was originally scheduled as the last section of this project to open and now it is the first,” Mr Pallas said.
The Bypass links Perry Road in Keysborough to South Gippsland Highway in Dandenong South.
New National Party leader, Warren Truss, has been given responsibility for Infrastructure, Transport and Local Government in the Federal Opposition shadow ministry.
Mr Truss, a Queenslander, has experience in roads and transport, having held the ministerial portfolio of Transport and Regional Services from July 2005 to September 2006.
More recently he served as Trade Minister up until the election loss.
A Parliamentarian since 1990, Mr Truss has also held the portfolios of Customs and Consumer Affairs, Community Services and Agriculture, and Fisheries and Forestry.
NSW roads in the AusLink National Network have been rated the worst in Australia under the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) Star Ratings system.
Star ratings form part of AAA's Australian Road Assessment Program (AusRAP), which shows that many national highways in NSW are likely to contribute to casualty crashes and death.
The star ratings classify roads from 1 star (least safe) to 5 stars (safest).
In total, more than 4,600km of the NSW network was rated, with 8% of roads rating just 2 stars and 68% rating 3 star — the remainder of the network (24%) was rated an acceptable 4 stars.
The NSW network rated worse than the rest of Australia, where 2% is rated 2 star, 51% is 3 star and 47% is rated 4 stars.
The star ratings are based on design features of a road, such as whether it is divided or not, the proximity of trees and poles to the side of the road, lane and shoulder width and horizontal alignment (ie: bends).
AAA Research Manager, Greg Smith, said 2 and 3-star ratings were not good enough for national highways.
One of the more risky sections of road identified in the study was on the Pacific Highway north of Woolgoolga, which received a 2-star rating.
The AusRAP star ratings were developed by AAA and its member motoring clubs, in consultation with State and Territory road and traffic agencies and research organisation ARRB. AusRAP makes use of data provided by the agencies.
The NSW RTA provided information and data to assist the AusRAP program develop the NSW star ratings. AusRAP has also benefited from a grant from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).
AusRAP reports and colour-coded maps showing the Star Ratings for the AusLink national network are available at www.ausrap.org
ETM Search and Selection is the latest organisation to join the growing ranks of the Australian Road Forum.
Already well known to many ARF members, ETM is a national HR consulting, recruitment and contract placement company specialising in the career development and placement of engineering executives and technical professionals for both private and government organisations in road, rail, water, local government, energy and resources sectors.
ETM boasts access to a network of approximately 50,000 professional engineers, technologists and MBA students and graduates, and is accredited to ISO 9001:2000.
This latest recruitment brings ARF’s membership to a record 53 organisations that together represent all facets of the roads industry.
For more information on ETM, contact Bill Pixton on (07) 3236 9225 or visit www.etm.com.au
The International Road Federation (IRF) has launched its first ever blog to discuss road safety issues.
The blog, titled Road Safety Matters, is a place to announce upcoming road safety events, introduce new concepts and products and present challenges for other road safety experts.
"The purpose of this blog is to examine, discuss and publicise pressing road safety issues and current developments and trends in the road safety industry," says Mike Dreznes, IRF Deputy Director General, Safety and Training.
"This is an exciting new format for road safety professionals to discuss and exchange ideas and concepts regarding road safety."
Visit the IRF Road Safety blog at
http://www.irfroadsafetymatters.blogspot.com/
South-east Queensland’s Centenary Highway extension is on track for a mid 2009 opening, with work on the third and final section of the $366 million project to start soon.
Queensland Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt this week announced the $31 million contract for the five kilometre section between Ripley and South Deebing had been awarded to Leighton Contractors.
“Since construction began in November 2006, Leighton Contractors has already shifted more than 2.7 million cubic metres of earth on the eastern 10 kilometre section between South Deebing and Yamanto,” Mr Pitt said.
"Once work on the final section starts by the end of the year, all three sections will be under simultaneous construction and due to open to traffic in mid 2009.”
Victorian Minister for Industry and Trade, Theo Theophanous, this week officially opened Downer EDI Works’ new environmentally responsible asphalt plant in Somerton.
Mr Theophanous said the $13.5m facility had been specifically designed to meet the green asphalt challenge and incorporated a host of innovative features.
“Innovation is often associated with hi-tech industries of the future like biotechnology and electronics, but as Downer EDI Works demonstrates, traditional industries can also meet the challenges of a highly globalised, carbon-constrained future,” Mr Theophanous said.
Key features of the new plant include:
· an automated truck unloading facility and asphalt mix storage to improve productivity and reduce environmental impacts;
· a fume collection system to stop fumes escaping when trucks are loaded;
· computerised systems and specialised burners to optimise energy consumption including fuel usage;
· waste water collection to ensure only clean water leaves the site; and
· use of up to 50 per cent Recycled Asphalt Product in manufacturing new asphalt.
The plant – which was built while preserving a 100 year old gum tree – will complement other facilities on the site which include the company’s rail maintenance and road maintenance businesses and a $1.4 million R&D laboratory.
With Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) likely to be a key part in the delivery of the broader national infrastructure program, the Victorian Government has called on the Rudd Government to consider reconvening the National PPP Ministerial Forum.
“In 2003, Victoria initiated the formation of a National PPP Forum which in recent years has waned under the former Howard Government,” Victorian Treasurer John Lenders said this week.
“The forum is designed to encourage a more streamlined and coordinated approach to the bidding for and delivery of PPP projects and, in doing so, generate greater infrastructure investment.
“Increased national co-operation will streamline the bidding process and better co-ordinate the pipeline of projects going to the market. It will also reduce bidding costs through more uniform contractual arrangements.”
Mr Lenders said Victoria was a leader in the field of PPP’s and was the first Government in Australia to adopt a PPP model under Partnerships Victoria – a model which has since been adopted by other Australian and international governments.
“Last week the report released by Infrastructure Partnerships Australia confirmed the potential benefits in terms of time and cost certainty of delivering large and complex infrastructure projects through the rigorous PPP framework,” Mr Lenders said.
“A reconvened National PPP Ministerial Forum will build on our common objective to deliver a coordinated national PPP market, with greater consistency of practices and increased information sharing across jurisdictions.”
Mr Lenders said he had written to the Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, and Local Government, Anthony Albanese, asking him to hold the first meeting early in 2008.
The ARF National Roads Summit 2008, the peak annual gathering for the major stakeholders in Australia's road industry, will be held in Sydney on June 17 and 18.
The ARF has no connection to a similarly named event being held in March.
The theme for the 2008 ARF Summit is “Roads as a Business.”
This Summit will attract the executive staff of the major roading organisations in Australia and once again will enable you to foster relationships at the most senior level.
For more details, contact scott.matthews@halledit.com.au
ARF is also a supporter of the 3rd Australian Road Engineering and Maintenance Conference 2008, to be held in Melbourne on March 5 and 6.
It should be noted that the ARF’s Annual Summit is an executive level summit whereas this road engineering conference is for practitioners to senior management.
For more information, go to www.halledit.com.au/conferences/roads/2008/
The following stories appear courtesy of World Highways.
Climate change dilemma
According to Jack Short, secretary general of the OECD based International Transport Forum: “Trends in transport are completely at odds with the political aspirations on Climate Change.”
Short made the comment at Michelin Challenge Bibendum 2007 in Shanghai recently. He said transport emissions are increasing and this is set to continue well into the future. Yet, at the same time, many governments and international bodies are setting targets of 50% and more for reductions in total emissions.
Achieving significant reductions in Transport is “an unprecedented challenge for the Sector” and will require both technological advances and major policy initiatives. Political expectations about technological change are “probably too high,” Short said. Technology takes time and large research spending to develop, and further time to bring to markets. Crucially this depends on the costs, which still remain too high.
In the shorter term, there are many cost effective actions that can make a valuable difference. These include actions on tyres, lubricants, lights, air conditioners and on driving behaviour. All of these add up and can reduce emissions by more than 10%. These actions can be taken now," Short said.
Infrastructure need
A new publication from the International Road Federation’s (IRF) Research Council is aimed at reversing the trend for reduced road infrastructure investment.
According to the publication, low investment in road infrastructure across Europe threatens to strangle current economic growth. Safe and efficient individual mobility forms a cornerstone of Europe’s economy but decades of under investment in many countries mean that congestion is reaching endemic proportions, significantly increasing costs in terms of lost work hours and pollution levels. The publication details how Europe’s citizens, businesses and nations benefit from growth in road transport demand and how investing in road infrastructure.
For example, in Spain, the construction of the A7 motorway which stretches across the Valencia Region is reported to have contributed as much as 1.5% of the overall regional GDP growth. The publication explains that roads have a structural impact on the distribution of wealth and services, with car ownership/1,000 inhabitants more than doubling since 1970.
The sustainability of the road transport sector is tackled with data on how reducing the environmental footprint of the sector is already underway, coupled with analysis of the potential beneficial impact of coming new technologies. “The Socio-Economic Benefits of Roads in Europe” publication also features a foreword by MEP Ari Vatanen.
For more road news from around the world, visit the World Highways website.
Submitted by Mark Bowmer on Friday December 14th 2007 1:20pm
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