Victoria Report - September 2010

Bendigo Science and Engineering Challenge 2010
On August 3, CCF Vic attended and supported the Bendigo Science and Engineering Challenge 2010, hosted by Latrobe Uni at Bendigo. This challenge event was attended by teams from local secondary schools in the region. The event is a lot of fun, with seven schools competing in 2010.
There were eight challenges to be undertaken: Crypto Craking Cronies; Future Power; Flight! of the Navigator; The Dish; Mission to Mars; Hover Frenzy; Eco-Habitech and Gold Fever.
Each required the teams to solve a problem through design and to put that design into practice to test its effectiveness.
The day ended with the Bendigo Challenge for future bridge designers, in which each team’s bridge design was tested by having a trolley loaded with weights rolled across it. The weights were gradually increased until the final weight known as The Bridge Breaker was rolled out. Only 1 bridge fully survived this challenge. The winning team was Bendigo South East Secondary School. They were due to go on to the super challenge in Geelong in early September.
2010 state conference
Recognised as one of the leading civil construction conferences in Victoria, the 2010 Civil Construction State Conference at Etihad Stadium on July 212010, was themed around leadership, partnership, collaboration, building skills in the industry, minimising business risk, becoming more competitive and building effective infrastructure, and ultimately better communities.
I welcomed some 300 delegates to the conference and hosted some 200 delegates for dinner. Also, I outlined that the CCF has established the Industry Technical and Industry Education Alliance, to explore in a collaborative forum, the skills enhancement opportunities to build capacity in the sector.
The conference was opened by Minister for Roads and Ports and Major Projects Tim Pallas and he spoke about the large quantity of Infrastructure works currently being delivered across the state and specifically the $10.5bn of transport projects that have been committed as part of the $38bn VTP. Minister Pallas focused on his government’s commitment to deliver for the next generation and ensure an effective legacy for the state.
The conference opening identified too that decisions made over the next few years will impact on the next generation and we need to encourage the making of good decisions and leave a sustainable legacy and that the CCF sees itself as a partner in delivering better outcomes for the Victorian community.
The agenda this year focussed on alliance contracting incorporating areas in asset management, tools for procurement and showcased award-winning best practice examples of Victorian civil construction projects.
The conference included senior managers from VicRoads discussing the M1 upgrade project, a $1bn plus project delivered by an alliance contracting arrangement. Senior executives from the roads and water sectors, as well as CCF members, participated in a lively discussion about alliance contracting.
The afternoon session saw IPWEA’s national CEO Chris Champion, deliver an outline of asset management and directions being taken by public works authorities.
Lloyd Arnott, Aurecon’s Asia Pacific Development Leader delivered the best practice procurement tool kit for contractors.  This body of work will greatly assist CCF members in improving business practices and profitability.
Fioana Warren presented details on Abigroup’s national 2009CCF Earth Award winning project, the Taylors Road St Albans Rail Underpass Project. Fiona’s presentation was warmly and enthusiastically received by delegates.
Rod Clifford, regional delivery manager for Melbourne Water, spoke about the Sugarloaf Pipeline alliance project and lessons learned from it.
Jason Reid from J&C Reid Earthmoving, also a winner in the national CCF Earth Awards last year, spoke about his company’s Bogong Power Cable installation in the steep terrain around the West Kiewa River.
The conference session was capped off by a motivated and inspired Alan Peck, from Absolutely Positive, who encouraged delegates to keep focused on the positives in professional life and provided strategies to do this.
Dinner guests were enlightened and well entertained by guest speaker and comedian Rod Quantock.
We acknowledge all speakers and conference sponsors: OAMPS Insurance Brokers, Dial Before You Dig, Miller & Associates Insurance Broking, Incolink, CBUS, Viewpoint Construction Software, MWOA, IPWEA and CivilTrain.
Contaminated soil forum
We are planning a free contaminated soil forum for members in October and seeking interest from companies to share their experiences in managing contaminated soil. The focus should be from the civil contractor’s perspective in the form of a 20 minute case study presentation and should include practical examples and measures taken to manage the project including identification of the contamination, treatment, stakeholders and community, staff training, reuse and or disposal of contaminated soil.
This is a great opportunity to showcase your management skills and help others in industry. Please contact Paul Mannix on 9819 5170.
Dirty deeds don't come cheap
A company that allowed industrial waste to be dumped on Werribee Zoo land was convicted in the Werribee Magistrates’ Court on July 13.
The court heard that Enviro Fill Management (Aust) Pty Ltd had been engaged to provide a significant amount of clean fill to the zoo. However EPA Victoria investigations of the site found the company was accepting other material.
Construction waste, asbestos, low level contaminated soils and acid sulphate soils were allowed to be dumped at the site, for the profit of the company, the court heard. The company eventually removed and disposed of the waste appropriately, at its own cost.
Enviro Fill Management pleaded guilty to the charge and with conviction was placed on a one year good behaviour bond, ordered to pay $25,000 to an environmental project and EPA costs of $14,150.
EPA CEO John Merritt said EPA has a separate industrial waste prosecution before the court against the related Enviro Fill Greenvale Pty Ltd. That case was due to go before the court in August.
Merritt said the company had failed to meet its legal obligations and this court action should send a clear message to illegal dumpers. “This behaviour is illegal. Companies can’t go creating their own dumping ground and think that’s okay or that there’s no accountability for their actions.
“EPA is looking to stamp out this behaviour and make sure that everyone’s aware of the rules. Be warned: conduct your business in the right way or there’s every chance you’ll end up in court.”
Industrial relations
IR/HR member support services will continue to be provided as they have in the recent past by Peter Maguire and his team of regional advisors. Members should note that responses to members’ general telephone enquiries will continue to be provided as part of your membership.
Where more detailed consultancy services are provided (for example the development of enterprise agreements etc.) members will continue to receive this service at a discounted member rate, based on a fee of $190 an hour plus GST.
IMS course
CCF will hold a 1 day SCIMS training session in Hawthorn on September 28. It will provide contractors with instruction and guidance to fully develop and implement their CCF-IMS. An interactive training course it aids in the understanding of the system’s software and system’s documents, in order that users can optimize the functionality of their business and their clients’ requirements in this key compliance area.
The course provides strategies to effectively use and understand system methodology to encompass throughout the business for the benefit of best practice operation. This includes expanding and enhancing an understanding of the management system in relation to specific business activities.
After completion of the 1 day course, participants will have gained strategies on how to further develop their system’s capabilities in order to meet client and industry expectations. Participants will have a greater recognition of factors associated with meeting legislative, community and commercial obligations and been provided with strategies to meet audit requirements.
Paid parental leave
From 1 January 2011, Australia’s first national paid parental leave scheme will start. It’s an entitlement for working parents funded by the Government. Legislation for the scheme came into force on July14.
Parents planning to have or adopt a child on or after 1 January 2011, need to be aware of this and consider how decisions they make now about work, could affect their eligibility for PPL.
Employers need to be aware of how the scheme will operate in practice. From 1 July 2011, employers must provide parental leave pay to their long-term employees. These are employees who have been with the business for at least 12 months before the expected date of the birth or adoption of their child.
The Family Assistance Office will contact employers to provide them with funding for any eligible employee.
Growth Area Authority
We are responding to the recently released design manual by the GAA and are asking for comments from members.
The document is obviously a work in progress and we have taken the opportunity to provide detailed comment. This should not be taken as all inclusive, but rather a list of matters which we believe should be addressed.
On the broader scene, we believe the following matters need to be addressed:

1. The manual as currently drafted, lacks continuity in form and consistency of terms;
2. Processes are not always clear and the inclusion of process maps, setting out who does what at each stage of the development, would assist in making the document more comprehensible, particularly for contractors, operational and field staff;
3. The role and application of quality assurance, including the elements of OH&S and environmental management, is not always clear, particularly the quality approach of individual councils;
4. The standard form of construction agreement is missing one of the key players in the process, the consulting engineer appointed by the developer; and
5. Ownership of the manual and the responsibility for its updating.

As a means of obtaining a firm commitment from all key stakeholders, such as developers, consultants, contractors and councils, it is essential that a memorandum of understanding between the UDIA, ALDI, CCF and the participating councils, be signed as the background to implementation of the manual, initially in the growth areas, but ultimately across the state.