Archived News for Engineering Professionals
The NSW Minerals Council has announced its annual awards for innovation safety in the mining industry.
The 2012 OHS Innovation Award Winners are:
2012 OHS INNOVATION AWARD: BHP Billiton Illawarra Coal (West Cliff Mine), Illawarra/Wollondilly Region
Ultra Lightweight Ventilation Tube: In a first for a NSW underground coalmine, trialling new carbon fibre ventilation tubes in place of traditional fibreglass significantly reduces their weight (from 35-40kg to just 9kg), increasing productivity and minimising heavy lifting risks like muscular-skeletal injuries.
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Centennial Coal (Myuna Colliery), Hunter/Newcastle Region
SOTO Tow Hitch Syste: This innovative rigid towing device minimises the risk of safety incidents by increasing control of movement while towing heavy mine equipment underground. It can be used in all conditions and can be operated by just one person.
HIGHLY COMMENDED: BHP Billiton Mt Arthur Coal, Hunter/Newcastle Region
The ‘Marnett’ Belt Lifter Bracke: This specialised bracket allows conveyer belts without a mechanical belt lifter to be periodically changed without manual handling and pinch point hazards. It saves time by around 25 per cent, can be used on any conveyor and costs less than $300 each.
PEOPLE’S CHOICE (Voted by conference delegates): BHP Billiton Illawarra Coal (West Cliff Mine), Illawarra/Wollondilly Region
Ultra Lightweight Ventilation Tube: (Also winner of the major 2012 OHS INNOVATION AWARD)
GHD and the Sernas Group merge
GHD, one of the world’s largest engineering and architectural consulting firms, has merged with the Sernas Group, a large water engineering firm based in Canada and the USA.
IP Australia launches online services
IP Australia has launched its online service, eServices, which provides a secure electronic business portal to register, login and conduct selected transactions.
In the first release of eServices customers can renew all IP rights and submit trade mark registrations electronically, and pay for them online using VISA or MasterCard. You can also access new features such as the option to save your requests, access your eServices transaction history and update your details.
The services and transactions within eServices have built-in checks and pre-populated fields to save time and help ensure the accuracy of the information.
Over the coming months IP Australia will be adding more transactions and services to the portal to make it a one-stop-shop to help in the management of IP assets.
Leighton wins Peak Downs Mine contract
Leighton Contractors has been awarded a three-year contract worth $604 million for the provision of mining services at the Peak Downs Mine in Central Queensland’s Bowen Basin.
Patrick Stevedores to expand Sydney terminal
Patrick Stevedores has announced the signing of commercial agreements for the development and expansion of Patrick’s Container Terminal at Sydney’s Port Bortany.
Western Water plant certified carbon neutral
Low Carbon Australia has certified Western Water’s Class A Recycled Water Plant in Melton, north-west of Melbourne as carbon neutral.
Victoria announces $58 million for high performance manufacturing
The Victorian Government has outlined $58 million in spending for high performance manufacturing in the State’s 2012-13 Budget.
Work begins on Marine Supply Base
Construction of the $110 million offshore gas Marine Supply Base has begun in the Northern Territory.
Abigroup wins wastewater treatment contract
Sydney Water has awarded Abigroup Water a new scope of works for the construction for a wastewater treatment plant in Sydney as part of the ongoing Odour Management Program Alliance.
AI Group to form SME advisory support service
The Australian Industry Group (AI Group) has launched a specialist advisory group to assist Australian SME manufacturers and primary producers suffering from economic injury by dumped or subsided imports.
Ballina Bypass finished
The Federal Government has officially opened the Ballina Bypass to traffic after four years of construction, allowing 1,500 trucks a day to bypass the town.
Broad Construction wins Riverside redevelopment contract
The Western Australian Government has announced it has awarded the $22 million contract for road and infrastructure works at Perth’s Riverside project to Broad Construction.
GHD announces water breakthrough
Global engineering consultancy firm GHD has announced a new technological innovation that will allow continuous water pump monitoring in real time.
Perth redevelopment starts
Work on Perth’s $440 million redevelopment has commenced after Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett attended a groundbreaking ceremony.
Victoria announces $1.2 billion infrastructure project
The Victorian government has announced a $1.2 billion re-development of the Port of Melbourne and will see the construction of a new container terminal at Webb Dock and further infrastructure upgrades as Swanson Dock to increase capacity.
Bruce Highway upgrade second stage begins
The Federal Government has announced preparations are underway to start work on the second and final stage of the reconstructing and upgrading of the Bruce Highway through Wide Bay township of Tiaro.
New freight terminal for Sydney
The Federal Government has announced a new freight terminal to be built in Sydney’s south-west.
Confidence in construction slowly rebuilding
Confidence in the NSW property industry is slowly starting to build, a new survey has revealed.
Engineers target Australian iron ore
Australian engineer TWSP has joined forces with US based iron ore specialist Global Minerals Engineering, recently announcing a memorandum of understanding.
Ferra Engineering wins international award
Brisbane Based manufacturer Ferra Engineering has won the prestigious Boeing International Supplier of the Year award.
Geoengineering "risky" says Chief Scientist
Geoengineering is regarded as “risky” by the Office of Australia’s Chief Scientist, with the sector struggling under little governance or broader policy frameworks according to a recently published report.