News

1.  Auditor-General critical of level of infrastructure analysis

The Federal Government has come under criticism from the Auditor-General over its funding of major infrastructure projects.

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2.  National infrastructure challenges key issue for election 2010

The Federal election must be about how Australia’s next government recommits to meeting national infrastructure challenges, according to Infrastructure Partnerships Australia.

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3.  Demolition work nearly complete on site for major health PPP

Demolition of the site which will house Melbourne’s $1 billion Parkville Comprehensive Cancer Centre – being developed as a public private partnership – is almost complete.

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4.  Three companies shortlisted for Melbourne sporting project

Three companies have been invited to submit tenders for the $125 million design and construct contract for the Eastern Plaza project – part of the Victorian Government’s $363 million Melbourne Park redevelopment.

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5.  Rail infrastructure initiative secures Major Project Facilitation status

Major Project Facilitation status has been granted to the $1 billion Border Railway Project being advanced by the Australian Transport and Energy Corridor Ltd (ATEC).

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6.  Local Government Sustainable Development Conference 2010

August 24 - 25th 2010, Dockside Convention Centre, Sydney

~ PROVIDING SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT ~

The Local Government Sustainable Development Conference 2010 is the leading sustainable development conference for local government, with CEOs, Mayors, Councillors and senior managers from local councils around Australia attending each year.

The national Conference will showcase leading edge examples of outstanding environmental initiatives by Australian local governments, including the winners of the Australian Sustainable Cities Award and the International Liveable Cities Awards as well as international best practice case studies.

Topics will include:

• Climate change and energy efficiency
• Integrating sustainability into economic imperatives
• Future directions for asset management
• Practical approaches to water management
• Sustainable planning and urban design
• Waste management and resource recovery
• Land remediation
• Community engagement in environmental initiatives
• Green purchasing and procurement

Invited speakers include:

• Chris Davis, Commissioner, National Water Commission
• Cr Paul Bell, President, Local Government Association of Queensland
• Professor Peter Newman, Professor of Sustainability, Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute
• Professor Gary Jones, Chief Executive, eWater CRC
• Kelly Pearce, Assistant Secretary, Waste Policy Branch, Department of Environment and Heritage
• Rod Welford, CEO, Australian Council of Recyclers
• Dave West, Founder, Boomerang Alliance
• Pete Williams, CEO, Deloitte Digital
• Ian Blair, Director, Quadraco Asia-Pacific
• Martin Brennan, Deputy CEO, ICLEI Oceania
• Tom Roper, President, Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council
• Wayne Wescott, Chair, Local Government Task Group, Green Building Council of Australia
• Dr Ralf Haese, Project Leader, Coastal Research and Management, Geoscience Australia
• Sean Rooney, Sustainability Program Manager, Sinclair Knight Merz
• Marcus Spiller, Director, SGS Economics and Planning
• Dan Atkins, Managing Director, Shaper Group
• Cr Angelo Tsirekas, Mayor, City of Canada Bay
• Shayne Silcox, Chief Executive Officer, City of Melville
• Bob Gaussen, Managing Director, Review Today Pty Ltd
• Percy Allan, Research Director, Review Today Pty Ltd
• Michele Leembruggen, 1200 Buildings Program Coordinator, City of Melbourne
• Colin Pitman, Director, City Projects, City of Salisbury
• Charles Turner, Manager Asset Management, Bayside City Council
• Greg Hunt, Executive Officer, South East Councils Climate Change Alliance

REGISTRATIONS

Register now by going to http://www.halledit.com.au/lgsd2010 or contact Denise McQueen on 03 8534 5021 or denise.mcqueen@halledit.com.au

SPONSORSHIP/EXHIBITION

For sponsorship and exhibition enquiries, contact Brian Rault on 03 8534 5014 or email brian.rault@halledit.com.au

PLATINUM SPONSOR

SUPPORTING PARTNER

NETWORKING DRINKS SPONSOR

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7.  Focus on Tasmanian infrastructure projects

The Tasmanian Government will meet with senior officials from Infrastructure Australia during August to help further progress the state’s submissions to the national infrastructure body.

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8.  Multi-million dollar urban projects in Sydney’s CBD

Project approval has been granted by the New South Wales Planning Assessment Commission for nearly $600 million of urban renewal projects at the old Carlton United Brewery site in the south of Sydney’s CBD.

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9.  Victorian rail infrastructure initiatives running to schedule

Two of the biggest infrastructure projects undertaken in Victoria are on schedule.

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10.  Requests for Proposals issued for major Gosford development

Planning to revitalise the Gosford City Centre has taken a major step forward with the New South Wales Government calling for proposals to redevelop a key component of the project - the Gosford waterfront.

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11.  Legislation provides for major WA rail infrastructure projects

A $240.7 million project to extend Perth’s Joondalup rail line has moved a step closer with the passing by the WA Parliament of relevant enabling legislation.

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12.  Queensland developing new infrastructure initiative

A state-wide Queensland Infrastructure Plan will be rolled out by the Bligh Government.

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13.  Port charge to drive more efficient use of infrastructure

Five companies have been short-listed to deliver the Freight Infrastructure Charge Collection service at the Port of Melbourne.

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14.  Contract awarded for WA health infrastructure

A contract for the first stage of design and construction of the $166 million Albany Health Campus has been awarded to John Holland Pty Ltd.

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15.  EOIs called for major development in Palmerston

Expressions of Interest are being called by the Northern Territory Government for a major development in the central business district of Palmerston – the Territory’s fastest growing region.

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16.  Infrastructure upgrade lifts productivity at the Port of Fremantle

Berth 10 at the Port of Fremantle’s North Quay has been reconstructed to accept container shipping as part of a $250 million program to deepen the port’s inner harbour and upgrade berths.

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17.  East Kimberley development package moves ahead

The Western Australian Government has chosen the managing contractor to design and build $92.3 million in education and health projects in the East Kimberley region.

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18.  New Chief Executive to oversee infrastructure development in NT

The Northern Territory Department of Construction and Infrastructure has a new Chief Executive.

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Analysis

19.  DELIVERING BETTER AUSTRALIAN CITIES

By MARK BIRRELL

Australia’s cities have a well-deserved global reputation, with both Sydney and Melbourne recently rated among the world’s most desirable places to live. Yet it is apparent that without reform and targeted, sustained and well-planned investments in the next generation of infrastructure, the desirability of Australia’s major cities will be compromised.

Our cities are under pressure because of often inconsistent planning and an historic absence of integrated infrastructure delivery, twinned with unprecedented growth pressures.

The Australian Treasury’s recent Intergenerational Report signals that Australia will need to house around 36 million people in 40 years’ time. There is a broad consensus that our main capital cities will house the lion’s share of future population growth.

More people will inevitably mean more commuters, more freight and a greater call on public services. If we are going to ensure a high quality of life for Australians and avoid unending urban sprawl or social disconnection, it will also mean enhanced planning that fully considers density, transport infrastructure and the delivery of social assets and community infrastructure – like schools, hospitals and cultural spaces – in a single, uniting, strategic infrastructure plan for each city.

These challenges come on top of an existing infrastructure shortfall estimated at more than $700 billion. Australia faces recurrent urban congestion costs estimated at more than $10 billion a year, while demand across Australia’s road and freight networks will double over the next decade.

Such pressures mean we need to plan seriously now for the kinds of cities we want in the short, medium and longer term.

It is therefore time to consider new ways to make our cities more productive, efficient, liveable, connected and sustainable.

Fortunately, Australia’s policymakers are awake to many of these challenges. Last year, COAG agreed to a new approach predicated on world-class experience and global best practice in planning for the future of our urban domain.

A cooperative COAG-led process that drives best practice planning will equip Australia to resolve many of its common national urban challenges. These moves are particularly welcome because they elevate the strategic planning of Australia’s major cities to a key focus of Australia’s first ministers.

Currently, the quality of existing long-term infrastructure planning across the states is highly variable. National principles reflecting global and national best-practice could help all of Australia’s states to get it right on infrastructure. Linking national infrastructure funding to nationally agreed reform presents a positive option which was successful in the context of the National Competition Policies in the 1990s.

Of course Canberra should limit itself to higher-level planning principles. States have the primary responsibility for state infrastructure and planning decisions – but common principles are a sensible step forward.

A nationally agreed set of goals that begin to integrally link land use, urban density and environmental outcomes to the development of supporting transport, utilities and social infrastructure will be very important to address growth pressures.

But recognition of the scale of the problem will only get us part of the way there. The welcome focus from governments of all levels must be matched by a willingness to drive hard decisions and undertake sustained investment.

Recent large Federal/State investments in urban rail projects provide a very good guide here. Done well, a rail renaissance will deliver important and transformational effects on the functionality of Australia’s cities.

South East Queensland is enjoying new investment in rail infrastructure. Soon, the Gold Coast will be home to a new light rail network, linking Helensvale in the north with Broadbeach through Surfers Paradise. The project – supported by local, state and Federal governments – will eventually reach as far south as Coolangatta Airport.

Plans for a major expansion of Brisbane’s metropolitan rail system are also underway, with detailed feasibility planning well advanced for the important Cross River Rail project, a new north-south rail line for the inner city, including a tunnel under the Brisbane River and new underground inner city stations.

Melbournetoo is planning for its Metro rail tunnel project, which would massively increase capacity and offer the ability to evolve the operation of that cities urban rail network, while Perth is soon to enjoy the fruits of a nationally funded project to sink the CBD rail line and connect the Northbridge precinct to the city centre.

With state balance sheets heavily impacted by the global financial crisis, there is a significant role for the Commonwealth in helping to deliver the next generation in public transport projects.

Put simply, the scale of many of the most important projects is now beyond the budget of any single state – much in the same way that the many costs of urban congestion also extend across state boundaries. Like other economic and social infrastructure needs of our nation, it is a challenge that will only be met by using multiple partners.

Mark Birrell, the national leader of Minter Ellison’s infrastructure group. He is the Chairman of Infrastructure Partnerships Australia.

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