Archived News for Engineering Professionals
Economic Analyst, BIS Shrapnel, has released its annual study on the outlook for the civil engineering construction sector in Australia, finding that the sector is growing strongly, with 25% growth forecast for the next three years due to mining, LNG and flood reconstruction activity.
The report covers 12 sub-sectors of civil construction, from the main transport, recreation and utilities infrastructure sectors through to mines and heavy industrial facilities. More than $80 billion was invested in projects in these sectors in 2009/10, and engineering construction is now Australia’s largest building and construction sector.
The report found that while the rate of growth of the sector had slowed in 2009-10 to 2.8%, a stronger performance would increase activity by 5% for 2010-2011, and up to 20% in 2011-12 and 2012-13, driven by large mining and energy projects that are already approved and in the early stages of planning and implementation.
BCA skills report reveals lack of engineering graduates
Universities are pushing out too many lawyers and commerce graduates and not enough engineers, scientists and mathematicians, according to a report by the Business Council of Australia.
Decmil Group awarded $71M BHP contract
Civil engineering and construction company, Decmil Group Ltd has been awarded a $71 million contract by BHP Billiton Ltd to design and construct the Warrawandu Village, around 25 km east of Newman in WA’s Pilbara region.
Gascoyne water pipe upgrade
Gascoyne Water Co-operative Limited (GWCL) and Pipe Fusions Australia (PFA) have signed the contract for construction of a new pipeline to deliver water for intensive agriculture development in the Carnarvon horticulture district.
$20 million train contract awarded to overhaul Queensland commuter trains
Queensland Rail has awarded EDI Rail – Bombardier Transportation Pty Ltd a $20 million contract to overhaul ten commuter trains at its facility in Maryborough.
Queensland tenders for road reconstruction works
The Queensland Government is about to tender for a broad range of road-repair projects in Far North Queensland, including major contracts worth around $80 million to be tendered in the next three weeks.
Executive Director of WSAA resigns
The Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) Executive Director, Ross Young, has announced his resignation after leading the Association since 2004.
New international system to speed up patent processing
A new online patent access system will enable IP offices in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom to share a digital library of patent search and examination reports.
Infrastructure projects awarded
Brisbane’s Gateway Upgrade Project has been judged as the nation’s best infrastructure project of the year at Infrastructure Partnerships Australia’s National Infrastructure Awards, held in Sydney last week.
Australian Infrastructure Statistics Yearbook released
The inaugural Australian Infrastructure Statistics Yearbook has been released, showing a substantial increase in infrastructure investment by all levels of government on roads, railways, power stations and water storage facilities.
Survey finds engineers want work which requires imagination
Australian engineers rate “work which requires imagination” as the most important factor when considering a new job, according to a survey by engineering and technical recruitment firm, Australia Wide Personnel.
Program guidelines for Regional Development Australia Fund released
The Federal Government has released program guidelines for the Regional Development Australia Fund.
UTS construction project to assess use of building information modelling
Researchers at the University of Technology Sydney and partners from industry will use the new Dr Chau Chak Wing Building, designed by Canadian architect Frank Ghery, as a case study on the use of advanced building information modelling (BIM) technologies in Australia.
ATSE approves Gender Equity Policy
The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) has taken steps to promote women's roles in technological sciences and engineering – both within the Academy and nationally.
Lhere Artepe takes over CDE
An Aboriginal organisation, the Lhere Artepe Group, has bought a controlling interest in civil engineering company, CDE.
Marand secures major defence manufacturing contract
Victorian company Marand has secured a major international contract with two of the world’s leading aerospace and defence firms.
Built Environment Industry Innovation Council report released
Partnerships between Government, industry, academia, unions and small business have been demonstrated in a new report from the Built Environment Industry Innovation Council.
Inaugural chair of Tasmanian Infrastructure Advisory Council announced
Mr Philip Clark AM announced as the first Chairman of the Tasmanian Infrastructure Advisory Council.
Engineers Australia launches sustainability publication
Engineers Media, the publishing company of Engineers Australia, has launched Sustainable Engineering Australia, an electronic publication containing news and other information about one of the most important challenges for the engineering profession - sustainability.
Life cycle inventory data for building products finalised
The Building Products Innovation Council is Australia’s peak body representing the building materials sector. It aims to provide a unified and coordinated approach to the rapid pace and expanding scope of regulatory change in the Australian building industry and the need for better environmental outcomes.
The Building Products Life Cycle Inventory will assist life cycle assessment practitioners, architects, designers, engineers, builders, developers and regulators to more accurately assess the impact building products and buildings have on the environment.
It is freely available to all industry stakeholders from BPIC.
For further information go to www.bpic.asn.au
ASBEC calls for coordinated approach to urban management policy
Australia needs a federal Minister and Department for Cities and Urban Development to ensure the nation meets its urban challenges, according to the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC).