From the CEO’s Desk
It’s been a big week at RA as we kicked off our extensive program of face-to-face networking events for 2022. On Tuesday, RA President Michael Bushby hosted a single table lunch in Sydney which featured Peter Regan, Chief Executive, Sydney Metro as the guest speaker.
RA is the peak body for roads within an integrated transport system – and our events regularly feature insightful and informative presentations from those leading the development and delivery of city and region-shaping transport projects.
Sydney Metro will enhance transport connectivity, improve sustainability outcomes and create more vibrant local communities, with a clear focus on place-making that puts people at the heart of the project’s planning and delivery. Our event this week was a tremendous opportunity for RA’s members to develop their understanding of how Sydney Metro will integrate with the city’s transport network and the other opportunities this will create for industry participants.
Of course, this was just the first of around 100 events that RA plans to deliver face-to-face and online throughout 2022.
I encourage you to regularly check RA’s website to see upcoming events in your state and take advantage of opportunities to connect with your industry peers while hearing insights from those shaping the future of integrated transport in Australia.
Michael Kilgariff
Chief Executive Officer
Pictured (L to R): Michael Bushby, RA President; Peter Regan, Chief Executive; Sydney Metro; and Belinda Virant, Managing Director – Transportation, Arcadis.
Transurban research tracks mobility impact of COVID-19
RA member Transurban has been undertaking regular research since July 2020 to track the impact of COVID-19 on mobility and get a snapshot of what people think day-to-day life will be like after the pandemic risk has passed.
The February 2022 edition of Urban Mobility Trends from COVID-19 finds that definite trends in mobility are emerging, including an increasing preference for private vehicles over public transport, continuing demand for online shopping and wider availability of flexible work. Among the findings were:
- 87% of respondents expect to do most of their work back in their workplace after the pandemic risk as passed – consistent with findings in July 2020 (86%) and January 2021 (87%).
- On average, people expect to work 1.7 days from home post-pandemic, down from 2.8 in July 2020.
- 16% more people, across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane intend to use private vehicles every day post-pandemic, compared to their pre-pandemic use.
People
MinterEllison has appointed Simon Harvey as a Partner in its Infrastructure, Construction and Property (ICP) practice. He has 20 years’ experience as an infrastructure development and construction lawyer, with extensive experience advising on global energy (including renewable energy), water and other infrastructure projects. Simon’s career has seen him working on projects in Russian Federation, across the Middle East and in Central Europe. He will be based in Sydney.
BG&E have announced two further executive-level appointments. Joe Catanzariti has been appointed as the Director – Emerging business divisions. With more than 35 years’ experience in managing engineering teams to design and deliver iconic building and infrastructure projects, and growing the NSW business, Joe will lead the national Asset Management, Construction Engineering, Digital Engineering, Traffic Engineering, Defence, Rail, Renewables, Timber and Water business divisions. Matthew Ing has been appointed to the role of NSW/ACT/NZ Lead at BG&E. He previously led the NSW Highways team and also contributed to the rapid expansion of the broader NSW Infrastructure business. Matthew has more than 18 years’ experience in providing exceptional outcomes for clients in Australia, NZ and the UK.
Dayan Jayasekera has joined Tonkin + Taylor as Geotechnical and Tunnels Director and will be based in Queensland. Dayan has more than 20 years of delivering results within the construction, development and consulting sectors, across Sydney, Brisbane, Victoria and Sri Lanka. Nicole Neal, General Manager of Tonkin + Taylor Australia said: “We’re incredibly excited to have Dayan join Tonkin + Taylor, and his addition to our team will be a real game changer.”
The RAA’s long serving CEO Ian Stone has announced he will depart the role from 1 August – 15 years to the day since first becoming the organisation’s CEO. RAA President Peter Siebels said: “Ian has been able to retain the values and culture that sets RAA apart and achieve incredible commercial success. Under his leadership, revenue has increased more than five-fold making RAA one of the largest and most successful operations in the State.” The process to recruit a new CEO has formally commenced and will extend both within South Australia and the broader market.
Diversity & Inclusion
RA’s fifth annual Emerging Leaders Gala Dinner in Sydney on 17 March is an ideal opportunity for our industry’s next generation of leaders to make connections that will help them build their own professional networks. RA members are encouraged to organise tables for their own emerging leaders.
Our guest speaker is Megan Bourke-O’Neil, Deputy Secretary, Greater Sydney, Transport for NSW.
As well as insights on leadership and team building from respected industry leaders, you’ll also hear perspectives from our outgoing PPP Award winner Rezarta Rushitaj – and meet the latest recipient as we formally present the PPP Award to John Hallam.
Early bird tickets are available until 3 March.
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To share your news or achievements in the D&I space with our readers, please send details through to Prue Northey at RA.
Policy
The Productivity Commission is now undertaking its second five‑yearly review of Australia’s productivity performance. The previous review, completed in 2017, resulted in the Shifting The Dial report.
Enhancing productivity across all facets of integrated transport infrastructure and mobility services will be essential to lift national productivity growth, which has stagnated for the past 15 years.
Productivity growth is critical if Australian communities are going to enjoy an increased standard of living in the future, and if Australian businesses are to remain internationally competitive.
RA is developing its own submission to the inquiry, which will focus on opportunities to use cultural change, emerging technologies and regulatory reform as levers to enhance productivity. RA members who wish to share their perspectives to help shape our submission should contact Jason Romney, RA’s Senior Policy Officer.
Industry
Sustainability is again in focus this week as the NSW Government announces it has awarded a contract for the design and manufacture of 79 new electric buses. Sydney based company Custom Denning will deliver the new public transport vehicles, which will operate in the city’s inner west. The NSW Government has committed to transition the state’s entire 8,000+ fleet of buses to electric vehicles, and Transport for NSW and its contracted operators have already ordered over 100 electric buses from Custom Denning.
In Victoria, RA member Winslow Infrastructure has been awarded a contract to deliver the Sunbury Road upgrade, which forms part of the $2.27 billion Suburban Roads Upgrade package jointly funded by the Federal and Victorian Governments. The works will include providing extra lane in each direction on Sunbury Road between Powlett Street and Bulla-Diggers Rest Road, along with the installation of traffic signals, safety barriers and constructing a new walking and cycling pathway along the length of Sunbury Road.
In Queensland, the Department of Transport and Main Roads has called for construction tenders for the Mango Hill park ‘n’ ride upgrade. The project will more than double park ‘n’ ride capacity by delivering a further 280 parking spaces and relocate the existing kiss ‘n’ ride and taxi zone, along with the bus facility to improve safety and traffic flows in the precinct.
To South Australia, where the Federal Government has committed a further $2.26 billion to Stage 2 of the Torrens to Darlington (T2D) project, meaning funding for the entire project is now confirmed. T2D represents the most significant road project ever undertaken in SA, with the 10.5 km route set to bypass 21 sets of traffic lights via a series of tunnels, lowered and ground-level motorways and overpasses/underpasses at key intersections. Early works commenced in August 2021, and tunnelling is expected to begin in 2023.
Austroads has engaged SEC Newgate, together with ARRB, to obtain feedback from the road safety auditing sector throughout Australia and New Zealand as part of project SAG6343 – Harmonisation of Road Safety Audit Practices. As part of the review process for the Austroads Guide to Road Safety Audits (AGRS), industry and stakeholder consultation has been conducted over a number of years. This identified considerable variance in practices across Australia and New Zealand and road agencies have expressed an appetite for a harmonised approach. This project is working to identify a pathway to harmonisation and to establish the benefits and challenges of a road safety audit framework. Input is sought from auditors, government, trainers, assessors and industry to provide feedback to this project before more targeted workshops are held. The survey is open until 28 February.
CPEE offers specialist engineering education through its Higher Education and Short Course programs to ensure that your team is equipped with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills to win the next big project. CPEE is owned, created, and delivered by industry leaders. One of the industry leaders delivering academic excellence to CPEE’s higher education programs is Jacqui Hansen, the Unit Chair of Unit 540 ‘Asset Management Principles’. Jacqui is a leader in Asset Management and Civil Engineering, with more than 25 years of experience working with local councils to improve asset management practices and develop meaningful asset management plans. Her focus has always been on the needs of regional, rural and remote communities. For more details on this and other CPEE offerings, click here.
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Remember, if your organisation has news to share with the readers of RA Insider, please send details through to Simon Morgan
RA Events
25 February – Industry Lunch with Tony Braxton-Smith (Adelaide). Bookings now open. Supported by Aurecon
7 March – RA International Women’s Day Lunch – Creating a culture of diversity in Australia’s transport industry (Melbourne). Bookings now open. Supported by BMD.
11 March – Industry Lunch with Peter Woronzow (Perth). Bookings now open. Supported by WSP.
17 March – Emerging Leaders Annual Gala Dinner (Sydney). Bookings now open. Supported by Turnbull Engineering
25 March – Industry Lunch with Camilla Drover (Sydney). Bookings now open. Supported by Arup.
19-20 May – 2022 Transport Summit (Melbourne). Bookings open for RA members
19 May – 2022 John Shaw Dinner (Melbourne). Bookings open for RA members
(Please note non-member bookings for the Summit and John Shaw Dinner open 1 March 2022)
Please contact events@roads.org.au with all event enquires.
Industry Events/Training
1st Semester 2022 – CPEE Postgraduate Study – Enrolments happening now
10 March – NRSPP Webinar – Growing a Strong Safety Culture
24-25 March – TMAA Annual Conference – Redefining Traffic Management
31 March – NRSPP Webinar – Emerging Technologies Driver Monitoring Project: Eyes on Fatigue
17-18 May – TrackSAFE Level Crossing Safety Forum
10 August – Australian Pavement Recycling and Stabilisation Conference
