Archived News for Engineering Professionals
Victorian Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder has announced that early stage works on the Regional Rail Link will begin by July 1.
"Regional Rail Link will get started by moving part of the existing track between Sunshine and Tottenham to make way for the future country line tracks," Mr Mulder said.
"The Regional Rail Link will mean V/Line's country trains having a separate track for the first time to improve the reliability and capacity of the Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo lines.
Golder projects receive international recognition at GE Awards
Two Golder Associates projects, one of them in Australia, have been recognised at the international Ground Engineering (GE) Awards, receiving ‘Highly Commended’ (runner-up) and ‘Commended’ in the category of ‘International Project of the Year’ at the annual awards’ event held recently at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
Late councils to lose infrastructure funding
The Federal Government has a threatened to ‘blackball’ councils that finish Commonwealth-funded infrastructure projects behind schedule or over budget.
Geothermal research centre launched in Queensland
The Queensland Geothermal Energy Centre of Excellence (QGECE) has been officially opened at the University of Queensland, with funding of $15 million from the Queensland Government allocated in 2007.
Sustainable Population Strategy released
The Federal Government has released the nation's first ever dedicated sustainable population strategy.
International Energy Centre to open
The universities of Queensland, Newcastle, Monash and Western Australia have entered a joint venture, together with Xstrata Coal, to open an International Energy Centre (IEC) in Brisbane by 2012 that will offer a Masters of Energy Studies.
Port Bonython inches closer to fruition
The planned port facilities at South Australia’s Port Bonython are a step closer to realization after an agreement between the South Australian State Government and ports consortium Spencer Gulf Ports Links (SGPL) was struck.
Potential technical problems cancel Qantas strike
Qantas’ engineers have cancelled their planned industrial action, citing recent technical problems as a potential safety concern for the airline’s passengers.
EWLP buys up land for Iron Boomerang rail link
East West Line Parks has begun land procurement following announcement of plans to build the ‘Iron Boomerang’ rail line between Queensland coal mines and Western Australian iron ore mines.
Call for national approach to flood mapping
Mark Babister of the National Committee on Water Engineering (part of Engineers Australia), has called for a national approach to flood mapping in the wake of the enormous damage to property caused by this years floods across three Australian states.
Funding for urban development planning welcomed
Federal budget funding of $160 million for projects that support sustainable urban development has been welcomed by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) as “the first step on what is a long journey towards the integrated strategy necessary to enable our buildings, cities and communities to adapt to climate change."
$25.3 million for infrastructure vehicle reform
The Federal Government has allocated $25.3 million in funding from the nation’s Budget to reform regulations regarding maritime safety, rail safety and heavy vehicles.
Major Infrastructure Australia reform
Major reform has been slated for the Federal Government’s infrastructure statutory advisory body, Infrastructure Australia (IA), after an additional $36 million injection was announced in the Federal Budget.
$1 billion for Pacific Highway upgrade
The Federal Government has announced a $1 billion upgrade to New South Wales’ Pacific Highway in the nation’s Budget.
$3.4 billion for rail programs
The Federal Government has announced a $3.4 billion injection for the country’s rail system.
Federal Government announces $61 million for 'smart roads'
The Federal Government has announced a $61.4 million injection for state governments to fund smart road infrastructure, cut commute times and reduce greenhouse emissions.
Tax incentives for major infrastructure projects
The Federal Government is aiming to encourage more investment in infrastructure by sweetening the ability of investors to claim greater tax deductibility in potentially high-risk major infrastructure projects.
The revised tax treatment will allow for losses in projects to be passed along to new investors by liberalising of the tax rules relating to business continuity and same business tests.
DIT releases road safety draft
The Department of Infrastructure and Transport has requested input from heads of transport and road agencies around the country for after publishing the first draft strategy of its new National Road Safety Strategy for 2011-2010.
Abbot Point Coal Terminal lease money direct to disaster relief
The Queensland State Government has announced the finalisation of the 99 year lease of the X50 Abbot Point Coal Terminal to Mundra Port Pty Ltd at a price of $1.829 billion after the Federal Government’s Foreign Investment Review Board approved the deal.
$256 million for ACT transport infrastructure
The ACT Government has announced a $256 million injection for transport infrastructure in the Territory’s 2011-12 Budget with an aim to deliver ‘major upgrades to transport infrastructure across Canberra’.
$21.5 million for Victorian aviation and manufacturing
The Victorian Government has announced a $21.5 million injection for regional Victorian manufacturing and aviation industry in the State’s 2011-12 Budget.