Archived News for Engineering Professionals
Abigroup has started construction on what will become Australia’s longest operating road bridge, close to Kempsey in northern NSW.
The Macleay River and Floodplain Bridge will be 3.2km long and Abigroup is responsible for the design and construction of the $185 million project for the Roads & Transport Authority.
The first of the 394 piles, which will form the bridge’s foundations, was driven into the ground at a ceremony held on 21 July to mark the start of work.
The structure will eventually span the Macleay River in the north – a distance of about 300 metres – and the floodplain to the south.
The design also calls for 93 support piers, including eight in the river, spaced 34 metres apart, with the deck of the bridge to be formed using 941 concrete beams – or ‘super-T’ girders – each weighing 65 tonnes.
The bridge forms part of the Federally funded Kempsey Bypass which will consist of a 14.5-kilometre, four-lane divided road to the east of the existing Pacific Highway.
Abigroup’s 100 per cent owned subsidiary Australian Precast Solutions will produce the 941 Super-T girders required for this landmark project. Abigroup secured the Macleay River and Floodplain Bridge project at the end of 2010.
S2F merges with SKM
Architectural and engineering firm S2F has joined forces through a merger with projects firm Sinclair Knight Merz. In Australia, New Zealand and China, the merged operation will take the name "SKM–S2F".
Study to assess Upper Spencer Gulf heavy industry hub
The South Australian Government has commissioned a $500,000 study to determine how a heavy industry hub in the Upper Spencer Gulf could enable local industries to leverage opportunities linked to the growing mining and energy sector.
WA local government road funding tops $145 million
The Western Australian State Government will contribute more than $145 million to local roads in Western Australia in 2011-12, an increase of more than $9million on the past financial year.
Details about Queensland Major Projects Office released
The Queensland Government has released details about its planned office that will be responsible for streamlining medium to large-scale development projects.
Contract signed for Mackay bagasse power plant
Mackay Sugar has appointed local company G&S Engineering to erect the plant and major machinery for its $120 million Cogeneration Project.
Tetra Tech to acquire Proteus
US-based resources and water engineering company, Tetra Tech Inc, has announced plans to acquire the assets of WA mining engineering company Proteus EPCM Engineers.
Proteus, based in Perth, has about 150 employees primarily located in Western Australia and has annual revenue of approximately $30 million. The acquisition is expected to close in early August 2011. The company has been owned by partners, Lachlan Walker and David Sutton.
Tetra Tech's Chairman and CEO, Dan Batrack, said the acquisition was a step in the execution of Tetra Tech's global expansion strategy.
"Like Canada, Australia's high-growth economy is driven by strong demand for natural resources. This acquisition will serve as a gateway to new markets across Asia and Africa. We plan to continue expanding our service offerings in Australia in each of Tetra Tech's core markets."
Proteus has provided engineering services to the mining and minerals processing sector for more than 25 years, with experience in a wide range of commodities, particularly iron ore, precious and base metals, gold, mineral sands, and aluminum. They generally act as the owner's engineer, designing facilities and providing procurement and construction management services. Proteus is joining Tetra Tech's Engineering and Consulting Services segment.
With around 12,000 employees worldwide, Tetra Tech Inc – listed on NASDAQ – provides consulting, engineering, program management, construction, and technical services addressing the resource management and infrastructure markets.
Queensland engineering firm trials soy biodiesel
Shadforths Civil Engineering Contractors on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast is trialling B20 soy biodiesel in 20 machines at the Sunshine Coast Council’s new Nambour landfill site.
WA boom to continue 'for decades' as Engineering demand expands
A report published by Deloitte Access Economics shows that the Western Australian economy is set to continue to prosper for decades on the back of jobs and export growth.
Skills shortage grows as labour demand increases
Research conducted by the Australian Institute of Management (AIM) shows that nearly two-thirds of large companies are considering hiring from overseas in order mitigate the effects of the growing skills shortage.
Queensland Government to expedite sustainable infrastructure projects
The Queensland Government has released its Green Door policy which will see the state government agencies work with local government and referral agencies to accelerate the development assessment of projects that that demonstrate exemplary sustainability performance.
Woodside gas project in doubt
Woodside Petroleum’s planned floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) project in the Timor Sea is under threat from a dispute with partners and the East Timorese Government.
Opinion: Our future in space
By Dr Steven Tsitas and Professor Andrew Dempster of the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research at UNSW.
Work starts on Australia's longest bridge
Construction of what will become the nation’s longest bridge has commenced in New South Wales’ Mid North coast. The bridge will serve as a bypass for a number of NSW towns and will serve to expand the capacities of the Pacific Highway.
Perth engineering firm bought by US giant
Perth based engineering services firm Proteus EPCM Engineers has been bought out by US giant Tetra Tech.
Details about Queensland Major Projects Office released
The Queensland State Government has released details about its planned office that will be responsible for streamlining economy building medium to large-scale development projects.
$66.5 million for solar research
The Federal Government has announced a $66.5 million grant under the Education Investment Fund (EIF) to fund ‘world-leading’ research that will assist in the construction of one of the largest solar power plants in the world.
Major restructure of NSW transport announced
The Roads and Traffic Authority and three other agencies will be abolished as part of the most significant restructure of transport in NSW history.
Solar roundtable focuses on large-scale projects
A roundtable day has been held in Canberra by the Federal Department of Energy, Resources and Tourism to discuss the future deployment of large-scale solar projects in Australia.
Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources launched
The Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER) has been officially opened at the University of Newcastle.
$370 million for Bruce Highway upgrade
The Queensland State Government has announced it will spend $370 million to repair 116 sites between Rockhampton and Cairns after the damage caused by the spate of natural disasters earlier in the year.