In a week that’s seen Roads Australia launch its new funding and financing policy chapter (see below), there’s been much speculation in the national media about what projects will be put forward by Infrastructure Australia and, significantly, how they’ll be funded.
Infrastructure Australia (IA) was this month due to report to the Rudd Government on the first round of projects it believes should be prioritised for funding as part of the Government’s Nation Building agenda.
Last week the Australian newspaper reported that IA would hand the Government a list of about 20 projects worth $45 billion, but said the lack of finance available to the private sector put delivery of the projects at risk.
Yesterday’s AFR reported that the Federal Government had agreed to guarantee an estimated $170 billion in state debt to help the states access finance to keep their respective infrastructure programs on track.
Today’s Age reported that Premier John Brumby would seek $300 million from the Federal Government for the Frankston Bypass, saying the project ticked all the boxes. Earlier this week the Age claimed the project would not be on IA’s list, adding that the State Government remained committed to a start this year regardless.
In a twist to the story, it was also reported that two private parties had approached the State Government to build the road, proposing an availability model to fund the project.
In a separate Age story this week, Minister Albanese was down-playing expectations of an overnight fix to the country’s infrastructure problems, telling the paper the Government’s program could not be delivered “...within the space of one or two years — or even one parliamentary term".
Meantime, today’s Daily Telegraph reported that the NSW Government was putting plans to widen the M2 and western end of the M5 on the back-burner, claiming a funding submission by NSW Roads Minister, Michael Daley, had been rejected by the Government’s budget committee. NSW Treasurer, Eric Roozendaal, reportedly told the Tele the Government was still committed to the projects but admitted that finding a financial model was a major challenge.
In other news, the Courier Mail reported last week that RACQ’s submission to a Senate inquiry on public transport called for toll roads to be replaced with congestion charging on major Brisbane arterials at peak times.
And the SMH reported last week on renewed calls by the Australian Trucking Association for a B-triple network to be declared in NSW and Victoria to allow the trucks to use an inland route from Melbourne to Brisbane.
Roads Australia has launched a new policy group to focus on the pressing issue of how to fund and finance road infrastructure.
The new Road Funding and Financing Chapter was launched in Melbourne on the eve of this week’s six-monthly Roads Australia Forum of road industry leaders.
The Chapter launch was attended by 35 participants from across the public and private sectors. Tim Boyle, RA’s Vice President and the Chief Operating Officer of Sinclair Knight Merz, will chair the new Chapter.
The Chapter will focus not just on the immediate question of how to unlock financing for planned new road infrastructure in the current economic climate, but the broader question of how society pays for road construction and maintenance in the future.
The Chapter will work along similar lines to RA’s congestion, sustainability and capacity chapters - that is, by providing a vehicle for all stakeholders - including the government and finance sectors - to exchange and test opinions, ideas and solutions, with a view to developing a broadly-based suite of options that can be referred to political leaders for consideration and action.
RA President, Ray Fisher, says the current economic crisis is undermining the ability of both governments and the private sector to fund and deliver new infrastructure.
“This infrastructure is critical in terms of pulling Australia out of the current crisis - both in terms of job creation and as a stimulus to economic activity - and setting us up for long-term prosperity,” he says.
“We have to look outside the square to find the funding and financing solutions that can deliver this critical infrastructure - and that’s the task with which this new Chapter is charged.”
For more information about the Road Funding and Financing Chapter, contact RA Policy Director, Christine Keyes, christine@roads.org.au
Craig Wallace has been appointed Queensland’s Minister for Main Roads in the new Bligh Ministry.
Mr Wallace was formerly Minister for Natural Resources and Water, and Minister Assisting the Premier in North Queensland. He takes over as Main Roads Minister from fellow North Queenslander Warren Pitt, who retired at this month’s election.
Mr Wallace was elected to State Parliament in 2004 and has held the position of Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier and Minister for Trade in North Queensland. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from James Cook University and, before entering politics, worked in all levels of government. These roles included advisor to the former Member for Herbert, electorate officer for the former Member for Townsville, and Executive Officer to the Mayor of Townsville.
Meantime, in the post-election wash-up the RACQ has urged the Bligh Government to move early to secure more federal funding for the state’s highways.
“Having held the fort for Labor in Queensland, the returned Bligh Government should be in a strong position to press Canberra for early and favourable funding decisions on such projects as the Bruce Highway upgrade between Cooroy and Curra and the Toowoomba Bypass,” RACQ spokesman, Gary Fites, said this week.
Mr Fites said the 1.2 million-member organisation was disappointed with the relatively low priority both sides gave to the safety and efficiency of roads in the election campaign.
The Victorian Government this week announced new planned standardised afternoon clearway times to improve traffic flow on key arterial roads while allowing for more parking opportunities near local businesses.
Roads and Ports Minister, Tim Pallas, said the new plan would achieve a consistent approach to clearway times across Melbourne, helping to ease congestion during the afternoon peak period.
“We are listening to the concerns of local traders and councils and have made these changes to address these concerns, while improving traffic flow on important metropolitan arterials,” Mr Pallas said.
More than 160 clearways within 10 kilometres of the Melbourne CBD are being extended to run from 6.30am to 10am and from 3pm or 4pm to 7pm as part of the $112.7 million Keeping Melbourne Moving plan.
Mr Pallas said the first changes to clearway times on busy Melbourne roads commenced in August 2008. Since then, about 75 per cent of the AM clearway changes have been completed.
“We would be looking to implement changes to PM peak clearways over the coming months, monitoring their effectiveness; and continue consultation with councils and traders,” he said.
RA President, Ray Fisher, welcomed the latest changes as a good compromise.
“We think it represents a balanced, pragmatic outcome that recognises and responds to the concerns raised by local traders and councils, without losing sight of the wider community benefits of improved traffic flows.
“We can and must make better use of our existing road infrastructure as part of an integrated solution to urban congestion.”
Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister, Anthony Albanese, this week announced the allocation Australia's councils and shires will receive over the next five years (2009/10 to 2013/14) from the Rudd Labor Government's $1.75 billion Roads to Recovery program.
“Councils can use the funding they receive from the Program to make urgent repairs and upgrades to their local road networks,” Mr Albanese said.
“The funding is untied and can go towards the local priorities identified by local communities.
“All up, our record funding will deliver more than 20,000 minor road projects in every part of the country over the next five years.”
Details of individual council allocations can be found at www.nationbuildingprogram.gov.au.
Mr Albanese has also this month announced Black Spots and level crossing funding.
Victorian Premier John Brumby this week turned the first sod on the $125 million, 2.5 kilometre stage 4A of the Geelong Ring Road connection from the Ring Road north of the Princes Highway to Anglesea Road.
The construction contract for this latest section has been awarded to Fulton Hogan, and is due for completion by the end of 2010.
Mr Brumby also launched the Economic and Land Use Impacts of the Geelong Ring Road study, which confirms that the Geelong region, including the Bellarine Peninsula, Surf Coast, Golden Plains and Colac-Otway communities, will experience record population and tourism growth on the back of investment in the Geelong Ring Road project.
“This study confirms that the travel time savings and vast improvements to the efficiency of the local road network will have a significant impact in shaping Geelong’s future – and the future for this region is bright,” Mr Brumby said.
“It predicts population growth of more than 100,000 to 376,000 by 2031 on the back of growth generated by the Geelong Ring Road, with the city’s growth to generate 50,000 new jobs over the next 25 years.”
To date about $618 million has been committed to the Geelong Ring Road project, with the Victorian Government contributing $321.5 million and the Commonwealth Government providing $293 million through the AusLink program.
Construction of the $32 million Glenelg Tram Overpass of Adelaide’s South Road will begin in May following the appointment of a contract team to deliver the project.
SA Transport Minister, Patrick Conlon said this week McConnell Dowell Constructors - the team behind the successful Bakewell Underpass - would build South Australia’s newest piece of transport infrastructure.
“Taking trams over South Road is the next step in the Rann Government’s commitment to a dedicated north-south corridor with free flow traffic between Darlington and the Port River Expressway,” Mr Conlon said.
A shared use bicycle and pedestrian overpass has been incorporated in the project and a process to ensure continuity of tram services during construction while minimising the impact on the local area has now been developed.
For further information visit www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au.
The $110 million upgrade of the Great Western Highway from Leura to Katoomba was officially opened earlier this month by NSW Roads Minister, Michael Daley.
The highway has been widened by two extra lanes over the three kilometre section, increasing capacity for the 35,000 vehicles that use this section every day. A number of intersections have also been upgraded to separate local traffic from the highway.
Mr Daley said the $560 million Great Western Highway upgrade involves widening the highway to four lanes between Emu Plains and Katoomba, and to three lanes from Katoomba to Mount Victoria in most sections.
“So far 15 sections have been completed, and work is now starting on two new sections,” Mr Daley said.
“Work on highway widening at Lawson between Bass and Ridge streets to four lanes started last month to improve safety and traffic efficiency through the town.”
The $220 million project is expected to finish in early 2011, weather permitting.
Mr Daley also announced that the contract for the Wentworth Falls East section of the highway upgrade had been awarded to Fulton Hogan, with work expected to start next month.
In other NSW road news, Mr Daley announced this week that planning approval had been granted for the early start of the Banora Point upgrade on the Pacific Highway. Construction is now expected to commence by the end of this year - six months ahead of schedule.
The upgrade will provide a 2.5 km dual carriageway from the northern end of Barneys Point Bridge to the southern end of the Tweeds Head bypass.
The Federal Government has launched a new job search initiative for job seekers and employers, jobsearch.gov.au
The new service allows employers to advertise vacancies for free online, either by calling an Employer Hotline or going online themselves to register and enter job details on the JobSearch website.
Employers can also use the service to advertise bulk recruitment needs, lodging advertisement automatically from their recruitment IT system.
Using the website, employers can also access:
For more information, visit www.jobsearch.gov.au, call the Hotline (13 17 15), or email ajs@deewr.gov.au
Encouraging Victorians to ride their bikes and integrating new and existing cycling infrastructure into the transport network are key features of a $115 million Victorian Cycling Strategy launched by the State Government this week.
“This strategy seeks to further establish cycling as a viable, sustainable, affordable and safe transport option, investing in projects to reduce congestion and better integrate bike infrastructure into our transport network,” said Premier John Brumby.
“Since 1999 the Government has built 926 kilometres of paths and on-road facilities – that’s further than Melbourne to Sydney. This plan builds on that with infrastructure works to begin this year on projects across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.”
Mr Brumby said cycling infrastructure projects across the state included:
The Victorian Cycling Strategy can be viewed at www.transport.vic.gov.au
CILTA – the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Australia – will officially relaunch its new service and website in April.
Established in the UK in 1919 and represented in Australia since 1935, CILTA has rebranded for the future and says it's looking forward to establishing itself as the one truly international industry organisation focusing on the pursuit of excellence in the supply chain, transport and logistics.
In line with the relaunch and CILTA’s plans for the future, the Institute has appointed Dani Elwood to the position of Business Development Manager. Dani has a range of experience in the transport and logistics industry and a close association with a number of relevant professional bodies.
For more information on CILTA, go to www.cilta.com.au or contact Dani Elwood at dani.elwood@cilta.com.au or on 1300 68 11 34.
Submitted by Mark Bowmer on Friday March 27th 2009 2:32pm
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