Construction, civil industry and infrastructure briefs

Comments open on Bruce Highway priorities and National Construction Code, local government project news, and more in this week's round-up. BMD close to wrapping up Carmichael rail works BMD’s civil works component of the Carmichael Rail Network project in Central Queensland is set to be complete in around three months. BMD said this week that 100 per cent of the rail bridge works and drainage in its scope of works had been finalised and 70km of rail embankment were due to be handed over before the end of the month. More than 3 million cubic metres of earthworks had been undertaken, 120km of haul road constructed, and 56km of pipework laid, it said. "BMD is proud to continue to deliver the project which has employed approximately 600 people and builds on our long history of providing opportunities for people and communities in North Queensland for more than 25 years," the company said in a statement online. Public survey to help form Bruce Highway action plans Queenslanders are being asked to share their views on Bruce Highway upgrade priorities. Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said motorists who travelled the highway every day were best placed to share their views on the best and worst bits of the 1700km-long corridor between Brisbane and Cairns. “Under the Bruce Highway Upgrade Program, $13 billion in joint funding has been locked in to deliver major upgrades over a 15-year period,” Mr Bailey said. Feedback received via an online survey will support the work of the Bruce Highway Trust Advisory Council (BHTAC), which is overseeing the development of a 15-year vision supported by three, five-year rolling action plans and the Safer Bruce 2030 Action Plan. The survey, which takes about 10 minutes to complete, can be accessed via the BHTAC website at www.tmr.qld.gov.au/business-industry/Business-with-us/Bruce-Highway-Trust-Advisory-Council Funding for new Queensland solar farm ING in Australia has finalised a funding deal with Lightsource bp for the construction of its 107MW West Wyalong and 214MW Woolooga solar farms in New South Wales and Queensland. The solar farms are expected to be completed in mid-2022 and will have a combined generation capacity to supply clean power to more than 100,000 Australian households. The Woolooga solar project, 25km north-west of Gympie, covers 500ha of land which was previously used for grazing. Pavement preservation focus of new guide Austroads has published a modelling framework, supporting tool and compilation of case studies to help road asset managers evaluate and select effective road preservation and renewal treatment options. Austroads transport infrastructure program manager Ross Guppy said that while the framework focused on flexible sprayed seal pavements, it could be applied to other pavement types. “Road asset managers are regularly required to justify decisions about the timing and type of road surfacing and rehabilitation treatments applied across their networks,” he said “Choosing inappropriate treatments and their timing can increase road safety risks, reduce the level of service provided to the community and add significant costs in the long term.” Download here: Prolonging the Life of Road Assets Under Increasing Demand: A Framework and Tools for Informing the Development and Justification of Asset Preservation and Renewal. Step forward for Mount Isa motorsports project The first hurdle has been cleared for development of a motorsports park for Mount Isa, with the land recently released to the local council in a trustee lease arrangement. It is subject to a number of conditions, such as the completion of a full Environmental Impact Statement and a connection of services to the site including electricity, telecommunications, water and sewer. Motorsports Park Advisory Committee chairman and Deputy Mayor Phil Barwick said Mount Isa City Council’s next step would be to conduct a full feasibility study of a motorsports facility on the land. Toowoomba Regional Council upgrades work fleet Toowoomba Regional Council has taken ownership of a new fleet of water trucks as part of its $13.6 million Fleet Replacement Program for 2020-21. Toowoomba-based dealer Western Truck Group has supplied the nine Volvo trucks to the council, with fittings and water tanks supplied and fitted by Felco Manufacturing. TRC Infrastructure Committee Chair Councillor Carol Taylor said the vehicles would be used by TRC’s Fleet and Logistics and Construction and Maintenance Branches for road works throughout the region. “Council will spend $13.6 million this financial year to replace ageing and out-dated assets to ensure we can continue to provide best quality services to the community,” she said. Land locked in for University Hospital development The State Government says it has locked in a deal to secure the land for the planned University Hospital in Cairns. An in principal agreement has been reached between the Queensland Government, James Cook University and the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service (CHHHS) to finalise the land transaction. Deputy Premier Steven Miles, who the Premier tasked with urgently ensuring an agreement was reached, said at a meeting on Wednesday 2 June 2021 all key parties agreed on the site. “The site is the block bordered by Digger, Charles, Sheridan and Grove Streets. Right in the heart of the CBD and conveniently located near the hospital,” Mr Miles said. This land will be for the construction of a purpose-built research, education and innovation precinct, which is a crucial step required to create a University Hospital. LGAQ seeks further Works for Queensland commitment The peak body representing Queensland councils has welcomed the announcement of the latest round of community infrastructure projects to be funded under the Works for Queensland program. Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) President Mark Jamieson said the new projects continued to demonstrate the value to Queensland communities of this successful program, which has supported more than 22,000 jobs since its inception. While the current allocation is welcome, Cr Jamieson called on the Queensland Government to restore the full funding value of Works for Queensland into the future, to ensure the 65 eligible regional councils and their communities continued to receive the support they need. Works for Queensland has historically been funded at $100 million a year, but this is due to drop to $70 million in 2022-2023 and then to $30 million in 2023-2024 over the life cycle of the funding commitment made by the Queensland Government in the lead up to the 2020 State Election. Construction code out for comment The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) National Construction Code 2022 Draft has been released for public comment. Some of the key areas of change include: Improved NCC Usability (All Volumes)Quantification of Performance Requirements (All Volumes)Verification methods for cross-connection control and sanitary plumbing and drainage pipe sizing (Volume Three)Accessible housing (Volumes One and Two)Lead in plumbing products in contact with drinking water (Volume Three)Early childhood centers and primary schools in high-rise buildings (Volume One)On-site wastewater management (Volume Three)External wall combustibility (Volume One)Bushfire protections for Class 9 buildings with vulnerable occupants (Volume One)Face-mounted balustrades (Volumes One and Two)Rainwater Storage and Services (Volume Three) The public comment period closes July 2. Access the public comment draft here

Construction, civil industry and infrastructure briefs

Industry Queensland

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