From the CEO’s Desk
There is just one week remaining before the 2021 RA Transport Summit commences in Sydney. The breadth of the program for this year’s Summit reflects the wide variety of contemporary issues now facing those who build, maintain and operate Australia’s integrated transport system.
The agenda has a clear focus on crucial operational issues such as safety, procurement and risk allocation, resilience in infrastructure and mobility and mass transit. At the same time, you will find several panels dedicated to matters that are increasingly prominent in our day-to-day activities, including enhancing workforce culture and diversity, improving environmental outcomes and the increasing convergence of transport, energy and technology.
The opening of the Summit will include the launch of the latest iteration of RA’s three-year rolling Strategic Plan, setting out how RA will bring industry, government and communities together to lead the evolution of Australia’s roads, integrated transport and mobility networks.
The Summit promises to be two days of engaging and challenging discussions that will inform RA’s policy agenda moving forward.
I hope you can join us.
Stay safe and well.
Michael Kilgariff
Chief Executive Officer
Hiway Group joins Roads Australia
RA is excited to welcome Hiway Group to Roads Australia as a new member.
Established in 1986, the business operates throughout Australasia and the South Pacific, delivering a wide range of ground improvement solutions for government, commercial organisations, land developers and main contractors.
A long-standing commitment to technology, innovation, quality and outstanding service has seen Hiway Group introduce a number of pioneering ground improvement solutions for its clients. To learn more, visit the Hiway Group website.
Diversity & Inclusion
RA member CPB Contractors have produced a video highlighting the organisation’s approach to social procurement, leveraging its supply chain to support economic growth within indigenous communities across Australia.
As part of CPB Contractors’ Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), the company awarded more than $51 million in contracts to 100 Indigenous suppliers last year.
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Remember, if you have D&I news or achievements to share with the readers of RA Insider, please get in touch with Marlie Curtis at RA.
People
Matt Longland has departed his role as Deputy Director-General (TransLink) at Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) and will take up a new position as Chief Executive of Sydney Trains. While the recruitment process for his successor is undertaken, Sally Stannard will become Acting Deputy Director-General (TransLink). She has worked in a range of senior executive and board positions across the transport industry for the past 16 years, including TMR.
Dimi Rigas will join the team at the National Transport Commission as Executive Director – Strategy & Government Relations. She brings significant experience in transport policy to the role, most recently as Director – National Policy & Reform at Transport for NSW.
Industry
Feedback is being sought on the proposed route and supporting road alignments for the new Richmond bridge and bypass, with the project set to proceed following a $250 million funding boost from the Federal and NSW Governments. The new two lane bridge across the Hawkesbury River will include a bypass of Richmond and North Richmond, reducing travel time for drivers by up to 12 minutes in this fast growing part of Western Sydney. An online information session will be held on 28 June from 4pm to 5pm on the NSW Roads Facebook page, with submissions closing on 5 July. More details here.
The Queensland Government is also seeking input on priority areas for upgrades to the Bruce Highway that will occur along the 1700km long corridor between Brisbane and Cairns over next 15 years. The works are being funded by a joint investment of $13 billion between the Federal and Queensland Governments. Input is being sought via this survey, which will help inform the work of the Bruce Highway Trust Advisory Council, which brings together leaders of Queensland’s peak transport and industry bodies to develop a long-term plan that will provide certainty around the pipeline of works for the project.
In Western Australia, major works have commenced to improve safety and traffic flows at the interchange of Leach Highway and Welshpool Road. The $136 million project is anticipated to create and support up to 600 jobs and is being delivered by a consortium comprising RA members Georgiou Group, BG&E and Golder. The works will provide a new grade-separated intersection with Leach Highway bridging over Welshpool Road; an at grade roundabout at the intersection of Leach Highway and Welshpool Road; and an upgrade of the Leach Highway Bridge over rail south of the interchange. Learn more.
ARTC Inland Rail is seeking tenders to establish a panel of suitably qualified and experienced contractors to provide support services across a range of disciplines. Potential support services being sought include Commercial; Communication; Engineering (technical); Environment and sustainability; Information communication and technology; Organisational development and change; Project and construction management; Quality; Safety; Stakeholder engagement; Training. The panel will have an initial term of three years and is anticipated to start in August 2021. Tender documents must be submitted via Tenderlink on or before 2pm (AEST) Wednesday 23 June 2021. To access the documents, Tenderlink registration is required and use ID number #INLAND-968946. For more details, phone 1800 732 761 or email inlandrailenquiries@artc.com.au
EastLink’s tunnels have become the first major tunnels in Victoria to be lit by LED lighting, following a lighting upgrade undertaken four nights. The project saw 1,066 High Pressure Sodium (HPS) lights replaced with 1,174 new LED lights which are whiter and brighter, offering enhanced image quality in CCTV footage and making site management easier for emergency workers and incident response units. The new lights also consume around 26 per cent, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by around 469 tonnes per year. Learn more via this video.
Policy
The NSW Legislative Council has now published submissions to its Inquiry into Road Tolling Regimes, including the submission from RA.
Our submission notes that it is ultimately a matter for government as to how a particular road is to be financed and funded, and this needs to be determined on a case-by-case basis. However, it is clear that toll roads do have a place in the road mix of Australian cities. The involvement of the private sector in designing, constructing, financing, operating and maintaining toll roads allows road owners to capture the benefits of innovation that can lead to better outcomes for governments and for the community.
RA also makes it clear that competing demands for a limited pool of public funds means that some form of direct payment is sometimes necessary so the high-quality motorways required to safely move people and freight around our cities can be built. Without this option, many worthy projects would be delayed or never occur. As the populations of our major cities grow, toll roads play an important role in addressing congestion, as they allow projects to be delivered earlier than would be possible under traditional road provision models. Read more of what RA said here.
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A reminder that RA is engaging with both Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads on the development of their Road Safety Strategy and subsequent Action Plan and with the Federal Government as part of the targeted consultation on the new National Road Safety Action Plan, which was flagged following the recent Infrastructure and Transport Ministers Meeting (ITMM).
RA members wishing to highlight matters they would like to form part of these discussions should contact Royce Christie, RA Director – Policy or Sophie Chalmers, RA Policy Officer.
Upcoming RA Events
June 16 2021 – RA Pre-Summit Board Dinner with Rob Sharp (Sydney). By invitation. Sponsored by BMD
June 17-18 2021 – RA Transport Summit, Sydney. Bookings now open.
June 17 2021 – John Shaw Dinner, Sydney. Currently at COVID capacity. Sponsored by WSP
June 18 2021 – RA Industry Lunch with Minister Paul Fletcher (on location at the RA Transport Summit). Bookings now open. Sponsored by ACRS
New RA events are continuing to roll out all the time, so keep an eye on our website www.roads.org.au to make sure you don’t miss out on networking opportunities.
Event Enquiries – Contact RA Director Events Rachael Rooney
Booking Enquiries – Contact RA Event Coordinator Alex Smith
Sponsorship Enquiries – Contact RA National Event & Membership Manager Marlie Curtis
Upcoming Industry Events/Training
June 22-23 2021 – CPEE – Haul Road Design Workshop (Online)
June 24 2021 – ARRB Webinar – NACOE P76 – New and Updated Specifications for the Use of Recycled Glass Aggregates
Ongoing (self-paced) – Centre for Automotive Safety Research (CASR) Online Course – Safe System for Road Engineers and Managers
1& 2 September 2021 (Postponed from 3-4 June) – TMAA Annual Conference – Redefining Traffic Management
