Congestion charging has again been in the news in the wake of the Henry recommendations on road pricing.
ABC Radio National’s Australia Talks program hosted a one-hour debate on the issue last week. Dr May Lay, Roads Australia’s Special Policy Advisor who recently authored a Discussion Paper on the issue for members, took part in the debate.
The debate is available on line at the ABC Radio National website.
The completion of Brisbane’s second Gateway Bridge was celebrated yesterday, with tens of thousands of Queenslanders taking the opportunity to walk the iconic new structure.
The existing and new Gateway bridges will both be officially known as the Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges, after the Queensland Treasury Corporation chairman who is one of the state's longest serving public servants.
The new six-lane bridge, constructed by Abigroup in a joint venture, will open to traffic this month with four southbound lanes. Following final bridge approach works, all six lanes will open by August.
Refurbishment of the existing Bridge will begin in June, with the existing three northbound traffic lanes remaining open. New screens, lighting and pavements will be installed over the full six northbound lanes.
By December, all 12 lanes - six southbound on the new bridge and six northbound on the existing bridge - will be open to the public, six months ahead of schedule.
South of the Sir Leo Hielscher Bridge, 12 kilometres of upgrades to the motorway between Lytton Road and Mt-Gravatt-Capalaba Road are scheduled to be completed by the end of this month.
Qld Main Roads Minister, Craig Wallace, said yesterday the original Gateway Bridge project completed in 1986 cost $140 million and included the bridge and four kilometres of motorway from Lytton to Kingsford Smith Drive.
"Our Gateway Upgrade Project involves construction of a second Bridge, 16 kilometres of upgrades to the Gateway Motorway south of the Gateway bridges and seven kilometres of new motorway north to Nudgee Road," the Minister said.
The second bridge has been constructed 50m downstream from the existing Gateway Bridge and has the same distinctive shape, which is partly determined by air traffic requirements and shipping clearances.
These restrict the height of the bridge to under 80m above sea level and demand a navigational clearance of 57m – a narrow envelope in which to construct a long bridge.
Like its twin, the new bridge stands at 64.5m at its highest point over the Brisbane River and is 1.63km long. The two bridges are among the ten longest cantilever box girder bridges in the world.
The new bridge is wider than its twin - 27m compared with 22m. This is to accommodate a new shared pedestrian and cycle way.
There are also four rest areas offering shade and unsurpassed views west to Brisbane City and east to the Port of Brisbane, Brisbane Airport and beyond to Moreton Bay.
A different construction methodology has been used to accommodate the extra width. Rather than a single box girder design, the new bridge uses a twin box girder system.
By opening up a necessary debate on the cost of road congestion and making observations in relation to freight, the Henry tax review has laid the groundwork for the resolution of some of Australia’s most pressing future infrastructure needs, says Infrastructure Coordinator, Michael Deegan.
Mr Deegan also says that by outlining policies to boost the nation’s savings pool via superannuation and further infrastructure funding to help Australia unlock its resource wealth, the Henry Review and the Australian Government’s response to it will assist Australia in realising its economic potential.
“Without infrastructure investment, this nation won’t grow and the future economic prosperity that’s within Australia’s grasp could be lost,” Mr Deegan says.
“In addition, without addressing road congestion, Australians in the future won’t be able to get around our cities, another inhibitor to economic prosperity.
“Through the Henry review these vital issues are now before the Australian nation and the Australian people. We all have an opportunity to set the future directions we need to take.
“The creation of the infrastructure fund is a clear acknowledgement of the immense size of the task of infrastructure delivery in the vital areas, of road, rail, energy, ports and water.
“Through linking economic growth with infrastructure, the scene is set for a permanent means of funding infrastructure, although the right commercial arrangements must be in place for delivery of projects to become a reality.
“Allied with effective project delivery is the focus on superannuation, which creates and builds the nation’s savings pool, underpinning infrastructure creation.
“The growing savings pool is a necessary complement to the infrastructure fund in rolling out Australia’s infrastructure needs”.
Mr Deegan says Dr Henry’s review has increased the need for a debate on road congestion, the economic and social cost of congestion and the potential of road congestion charges to create efficiency and equality on metropolitan road usage.
“While everyone sitting in traffic snarls knows the social cost and the personal frustration, few realise how it savages our economy,” he says.
“That’s why a discussion of road congestion charging is important as it can highlight how the nation can encourage efficient use of a limited resources as well as examining potential investment in alternative transport options, such as mass transit.
“This is a debate we must have.”
Meantime the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) has called on the Federal Government to fast-track the debate on road user charging, saying private motorists continue to pay more than their fair share to use Australian roads.
AAA's call comes following an independent report prepared by ACILTasman economic advisory group, which highlights the Henry Review arguments and the fact the Government has put most of the Henry recommendations on the "back burner".
Tenders have been called for $110 million worth of roadwork contracts as part of the highly anticipated Gold Coast Rapid Transit project.
The works support stage one of the project, a 13-kilometre light rail corridor connecting Griffith University and the new 750 bed Gold Coast University Hospital to Broadbeach, passing through the key centres of Southport and Surfers Paradise.
Qld Premier Anna Bligh said the project team had identified two government-funded packages, valued at approximately $110 million, that would lay the foundations for the future light rail system.
These would be delivered using a competitive Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) approach, she said.
Advertising for the two roadworks will commence over the next week with the packages divided geographically into two areas:
The works would include road widening, the relocation of public utilities and accommodation works such as the reinstatement of driveways, fencing and car parks.
“These works are vital in preparing the stage one corridor for the laying of the light rail tracks and the construction of stations which will be conducted by the appointed operator from 2012-2014,” Ms Bligh said.
“We are seeking Main Roads pre-qualified and experienced contractors to bid for the roadworks packages and I would encourage all interested contractors to visit the e-tenders website for more information.”
The Cardwell Range Realignment, a $115 million federally-funded project that will improve traffic flow and safety on a 4.2 kilometre section of the Bruce Highway in North Queensland, will be delivered under an Alliance between the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, Abigroup and SMEC Australia.
The Alliance Manager is Abigroup’s Matthew Quy-Verlander, who has over 20 years experience in the transport infrastructure industry in Queensland and the United Kingdom. Matt recently completed Brisbane’s world class Northern Busway and is looking forward to bringing lessons learnt from that experience to North
“It’s an exciting challenge to deliver this important infrastructure in the high rainfall area of tropical North Queensland and in a sensitive World Heritage rainforest,” said Matt.
“We’re aiming to complete the project by late 2012, depending on the weather and look forward to leaving a positive legacy for the surrounding community and natural environment.”
The key features of Abigroup’s successful proposal include:
Detailed design on the Cardwell Range Realignment project has commenced and, following a range of early works, construction on the Realignment will commence later this year.
The Victorian Government will inject $490.2 million to improve the State’s road network, with the 2010 State Budget continuing to deliver on the $38 billion Victorian Transport Plan, according to Roads and Ports Minister, Tim Pallas.
Highlights of the 2010 State Budget’s road package, delivered earlier this month, include:
Mr Pallas says more than $5 billion worth of major road projects are currently underway in Victoria, including the $759 million Peninsula Link project, the M80 Ring Road Upgrade and the $1.39 billion M1 (Monash-CityLink-West Gate) Upgrade.
Transurban announced last week that it had reached agreement to acquire the assets and motorway concession deed connected with Sydney’s Lane Cove Tunnel for $630.5 million.
The 3.6 kilometre tunnel is a key link on the Sydney orbital network and sits adjacent to the Hills M2, which is wholly owned by Transurban.
Transurban said the Lane Cove Tunnel expanded the company’s footprint on the orbital network and increased its exposure to Sydney’s northwest corridor, one of the city’s fastest growing business and residential centres.
“There is clear strategic value in expanding our interests on the Sydney orbital network given our existing ownership stakes in four of the assets on the network,” said Transurban CEO, Chris Lynch.
“Transurban is a natural owner of the Lane Cove Tunnel and we believe the asset sits extremely well within our portfolio of prime toll roads.”
Transurban is already working on important enhancements to the Sydney network, including a $550 million upgrade of Hills M2.
Initial agreement has also been reached between Interlink Roads (50 per cent Transurban owned) and the New South Wales Government to widen the M5 in Sydney’s southwest.
Roads Australia has welcomed the draft National Ports Strategy. Released earlier this month for public comment, the Strategy calls for long-term coordinated planning of Australia's major ports and their related transport corridors and shipping channels.
Four priorities are identified in the Strategy through analysis and stakeholder
consultation:
In a joint statement, Michael Deegan, Infrastructure Coordinator, Infrastructure Australia, and Nick Dimopoulos, Chief Executive Officer of the National Transport Commission, said responsibility for the planning and operation of Australia's ports, which handle 25 per cent of all freight moved, currently cut across all three levels of government.
Better coordination of those activities would help to improve productivity and attract greater private sector investment, they said.
The report identifies opportunities to reduce landside costs through the implementation of best practice efficiency reforms, such as peak pricing at ports and supply chain coordination.
RA Chief Executive, Ian Webb, said it was critical that the planning of Australia's ports went hand in hand with road, rail and land-use planning.
“This draft strategy document provides an opportunity for all stakeholders to have a clearer understanding of the challenges facing Australia’s ports, and to play a part in the development of integrated transport infrastructure solutions that will deliver long-term efficiencies in the movement of our freight,” he said.
Mr Webb said Roads Australia looked forward to making a contribution to the policy development.
Submissions on the draft Strategy can be made until May 28. Information is available at the Infrastructure Australia website.
The road pavement industry, together with State road authorities working through Austroads, have embarked on a major project to compare the performance of a range of warm mix asphalts (WMAs) against hot mix.
The WMA Validation Project is being conducted on a three lane, 1.3 km section of the Hume Highway on the outskirts of Melbourne. This site has been made available by VicRoads and carries 24,000 vehicles per day.
The Australian Asphalt Pavement Association (AAPA) says the industry and State road authorities are constantly looking for ways to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Two such methods are by using warm mix asphalt (WMA) in place of hot mix asphalt (HMA), and using reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) with new asphalt mixes.
Although HMA is the standard for roads in Australia, there is increasing interest in WMA and RAP. It is claimed around the world that WMA, even with relatively high proportions of RAP, performs as well as HMA. The current project will seek to validate this claim.
WMA is manufactured using processes such as foaming or including additives during production. WMA can then be applied at temperatures of up to 50oC lower than HMA, thus saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Various proportions of RAP can also be added. RAP is asphalt that has been milled or removed from an existing road. The use of RAP even further reduces the already low levels of energy associated with asphalt production and removes the need to dispose of old paving material as landfill or into other lower value uses.
As part of the WMA Validation Project, 21 WMA and HMA sections were laid on the nights of 21, 22 and 26 April, with several State road authorities participating as observers and monitors. The various mixes were provided by AAPA members Boral Asphalt, Downer EDI Works and Fulton Hogan.
Monitoring will be undertaken for at least two years by asphalt companies, ARRB and representatives from several State road authorities. AAPA and ARRB will also prepare reports for Austroads throughout the duration of the project.
For further information contact, Cassandra Simpson at AAPA (03) 9853 3595 or Keiran Sharp at ARRB (03 9881 1555).
The construction sector is forecast to grow at a higher rate through 2010 and 2011 with infrastructure and resource-related construction underpinning growth.
According to the latest Australian Industry Group/Australian Constructors Association Construction Outlook survey, total turnover from construction work will lift by 4.1 per cent (current dollars) this calendar year (following growth of 2.7 per cent in 2009), and 7.4 per cent in 2011.
The Ai Group/ACA survey of Australia’s leading construction companies predicts that engineering construction will lead the way, with growth of 6.5 per cent forecast in 2010 and 8.9 per cent next year. Non-residential work is expected to begin to recover in 2011 and the apartment building sector is expected to recover by 15 per cent in 2011, although this is off a weak base with companies predicting a fall of 22.7 per cent in 2010.
Australian Constructors Association (ACA) President, Wal King AO, said: "The survey confirms the strengthening outlook for Australia’s non-residential building industry, supported by significant planned infrastructure work and the expanding pipeline of resource-related construction projects.
"The Federal Government stimulus measures, particularly those directed at education building, are expected to continue to play a key role in stimulating construction opportunities through the remainder of 2010 and into 2011.
"This stronger growth outlook will place increasing pressures on labour procurement and input costs. This is a critical issue which poses risks and challenges for both the industry’s growth and the delivery of Australia’s future infrastructure needs."
Population growth in Australia is set to slow considerably in 2010/11 and 2011/12, as net overseas migration declines from record highs, according to leading industry analyst and economic forecaster, BIS Shrapnel.
This outlook is a key factor of BIS Shrapnel’s newly released medium-term forecasts which are part of its Building in Australia 2010 report. The report notes that in the two years over 2007/08 and 2008/09 net overseas migration delivered a comparable population impact to that observed over the five years to 2005/06.
BIS Shrapnel’s Senior Economist, Jason Anderson, says this strong population growth, which equated to 2.1 per cent in 2008/09, has filtered through the Australian economy in many ways.
“Public attention has been directed towards housing markets, particularly the rebound in residential property markets, but there is also undeniable evidence of tight rental markets and acceleration of rental growth,” says Anderson.
However, BIS Shrapnel is forecasting a sustained decrease in net overseas migration over the next two years. Net overseas migration is expected to be down to 175,000 persons in 2010/11 and 145,000 persons in 2011/12. As a result, national population growth is expected to slow to about 1.5 per cent in 2010/11, and 1.3 per cent in 2011/12.
BIS Shrapnel also says that even with lower population growth, the rate of new dwelling construction will remain below underlying demand, so shortages will persist and rental markets will stay very tight.
“Overall, a few years of weakening population growth will have some mixed effects on the economy,” says Anderson. “It will lead to more moderate growth in household spending, at a time when the income gains from the commodity cycle will already be boosting national income.
“This combination would allow for a relatively benign interest rate environment, which would be supportive of residential property markets, and enable a sustained increase in dwelling construction, which is badly needed to address the shortages that already exist.”
Submitted by Mark Bowmer on Monday May 17th 2010 11:35am
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