July

New Dial Before You Dig guidelines to keep underground assets intact

New safety guidelines to help protect the lives of Victorians and prevent damage to essential underground services, were launched in mid June by Energy and Resources Minister Peter Batchelor.

ARTC awards $250m contract for third Hunter rail

John Holland, in an alliance with GHD and the Australian Rail Track Corporation, has been awarded the tender to build a $250m, 42.8km Maitland to Whittingham third railway line.

Cat compact a success formula for landscaping veteran

A genuine veteran of Melbourne’s hard landscaping industry, Steve Douglas has carved out a successful business formula based on reliability of performance and quality of workmanship.

David Elliott overhauls CCF in NSW

Approaching the half way mark in his three year contract as chief executive officer of the New South Wales branch of the Civil Contractors Federation, David Elliott BA MA, spoke with New South Wales correspondent, Bob Lawrence.

Employee bloodbath if NSW tenders not forthcoming

The construction industry has expressed cautious optimism about the NSW budget’s infrastructure spend, and confirmed that it is well placed to lead the state’s strategy for economic recovery, said the CCF’s chief executive in NSW David Elliott in mid June.

Four charged over scaffold deaths

Almost one year to the day, Queensland Health and Safety has charged three companies and a company director over the deaths of two Gold Coast workers who fell from a swing stage scaffold to their deaths on a Broadbeach high rise last year.

Federal Government muffles watchdog

Members will be aware that we have been continuing to advocate for a strong, independent watchdog, with real powers in relation to the building and construction industry.

Reshaped coastline brings in the fish

At first it seemed the adage, “it’s an ill wind that blows no good” was true, when heavy seas reprofiled the Gold Coast in early winter.

Constructors challenge next generation engineers, scientists

The Australian Constructors Association (ACA) has announced a $250,000 national sponsorship to expand the reach of the Science and Engineering Challenge, a program for Australian schools that encourages the development of the next generation of Australian science, engineering and technology professionals.

Harping on About Beckett: a new bridge spans the Liffey

A bridge that looks like an Irish harp lying on its side will open to traffic in Ireland’s capital, Dublin, in early 2010.

Navy work proving a winner for SA

THE great Air Warfare Project at Osborne north of Adelaide is taking shape. Three Hobart-class AWDs ordered for the Royal Australian Navy at a cost of $8bn will be built at Techport Australia, a maritime precinct on state-owned land fronting the Port River. They are due off the slipway in 2014-17.

Three contracts deliver new NSW water infrastructure

The Priority Sewerage Program (PSP) alliance being delivered by Sydney Water in conjunction with John Holland, MWH Australia, United Group Infrastructure and Manidis Roberts, has been awarded three contracts to deliver new water infrastructure in New South Wales.

Contracts Let July 2009

Contracts

Vibratory roller, excavator, boost rocky country’s value

A farming family 36km south east of Walcha, New South Wales, is doing interesting and innovative work, in reducing substantial protruding rock, to increase production on its quite steep basalt country.