Archived News for Engineering Professionals
The Business Advisory Forum (BAF) has agreed to reform that will expedite environmental approvals and assessments at its inaugural meeting.
“We know that red tape is a huge issue for business. For the small business owner who has to spend hours on paperwork or filling out forms, to the big business that has to wait months or even years for project approvals,” Prime Minister Julia Gillard said in a statement.
The BAF, which is made up of businesses leaders and state, territory and Federal leaders, outlined the following reform priorities:
Leighton wins $420 million Indonesia contract
Leighton Asia has announced it has won a seven-year, $420 million contract to provide mining services to PT Marunda Grahamineral in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia.
Logan wins Livable Cities projects
The Federal Government has announced Logan will host two innovative projects that will showcase best practice in urban design, planning and renewal.
Qantas to undertake biofuel study
Qantas has announced it will conduct a feasibility study into the potential of an Australian sustainable aviation fuel industry, backed by funding from the Federal Government after the company conducted a successful test flight of an Airbus A330 fueled by a 50-50 blend of biofuel and regulat jet fuel.
Victoria announces new construction guidelines
The Victorian Government has released enhanced Implementation Guidelines for the Victorian Code of Practice for the building construction industry.
Baulderstone wins Swinburne contract
Swinburne University of Technology has awarded Baulderstone the $70 million contract for the construction of the university’s Advanced Manufacturing Centre.
Chevron starts Wheatstone recruitment drive
Chevron has launched its first major recruitment drive to find operations personnel for the company’s $29 billion Wheatstone liquefied natural gas project.
Government announces $60 million in disability accommodation
The Federal Government has announced 21 companies to share in $60 million to help construct community-based accommodation for adults with severe or profound disabilities.
M80 work begins
The Federal and Victorian governments have announced work has begun on the next section of the $2.25 billion M80 upgrade, marking the commencement of the state’s largest road infrastructure project.
Alarm bells ring at Leighton
Leighton Holdings has issued its second profit loss warning in six months as the company struggles to stem the losses incurred from its troubled Victorian desalination plant and Brisbane airport tunnel.
COAG savages cities
The Reform Council of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) has savaged the planning of the country’s capital cities, publishing a review that urges governments to do better in planning future land use, infrastructure assets and economies of the country’s major cities.
Government to open doors to US workers
The Federal Government has announced it will allow skilled workers from the United States, such as electricians, plumbers and other trades, to get their licence to work in Australia on arrival.
Parker Hannifin to base in Wodonga
US-headquarted engineering supplier Park Hannifin has announced it will consolidate its Australia-New Zealand hose and fitting manufacturing operations in Wodonga.
Dow and UQ to establish Centre for Sustainable Engineering Innovation
The Dow Chemical Company and The University of Queensland have unveiled a strategic partnership that will establish the Dow Centre for Sustainable Engineering Innovation.
Funded through a Dow contribution worth $10 million over the next six years, the newl Centre will pursue a program of research and collaboration aimed at harnessing solutions to the sustainability challenges of the 21st Century.
“This is a lighthouse initiative - hot-housing innovation at the urban energy, water and carbon nexus, which will attract international attention to the issues of sustainability and position Dow and UQ as leaders, achievers and contributors to society,” Dow Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Andrew Liveris said.
Government passes ABCC bill
The Federal Government has passed legislation that will abolish the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) through the Senate.
SA releases manufacturing discussion paper
The South Australian Government has released a discussion paper aimed at ‘ensuring not only the survival but the expansion of South Australian manufacturing.’
Consult Australia calls for government reform to ease engineering shortage
Consult Australia has recommended that Governments undergo significant reform in their procurement processes, to ease the burden of the engineering skills shortage on the private sector.
Engineers Australia calls for national engineers registration scheme
Engineers Australia has proposed that a nationally consistent scheme of engineering registration be part of the COAG ‘seamless economy’ reforms.
Gender diversity within engineering workforce report released
Consult Australia has released results of a benchmarking study into gender diversity within the engineering workforce, marking a first step by industry towards overcoming the issue.
Quickstep wins Lockheed contract
Bankstown advanced manufacturer Quickstep has won a contract valued between $75 million and $100 million to make carbon fibre wing flaps for C130J Hercules military transport aircraft.
Leighton wins Rio Tinto contracts
Leighton Contractors has signed five-year Framework Agreements with mining giant Rio Tinto for the delivery of a stream of earthworks projects and a stream of structural, mechanical, piping (SMP) projects as part of Rio Tinto’s 353 million tonnes per annum expansion program in the Pilbara.