Archived News for Engineering Professionals
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.
Between 2006-07 and 2009-10, investments by governments across Australia rose across the board, most notably in the following areas of infrastructure construction:
Survey finds engineers want work which requires imaginationAustralian 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 releasedThe Federal Government has released program guidelines for the Regional Development Australia Fund. UTS construction project to assess use of building information modellingResearchers 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 PolicyThe 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 CDEAn Aboriginal organisation, the Lhere Artepe Group, has bought a controlling interest in civil engineering company, CDE. Marand secures major defence manufacturing contractVictorian 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 releasedPartnerships 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 announcedMr Philip Clark AM announced as the first Chairman of the Tasmanian Infrastructure Advisory Council. Engineers Australia launches sustainability publicationEngineers 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 finalisedThe Building Products Innovation Council (BPIC) has completed a three year project in partnership with the Federal Government to provide Australian life cycle inventory data for building materials.
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 policyAustralia 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). Romily Madew appointed as new World Green Building Council standards committee chairThe chief executive of the Green Building Council of Australia, Romilly Madew, has been appointed chair of a new committee tasked with overseeing consistent standards for global green building rating.
The World Green Building Council’s (WorldGBC’s) new committee will develop an international standard for quality assurance of global green building rating tools.
“Our immediate priority is to provide guidance on the Common Carbon Metric project, which is working towards a globally-accepted and consistent methodology for measuring the carbon performance of our building stock,” Ms Madew says. “With Australia moving towards a price on carbon, robust carbon accounting within the built environment will become increasingly critical. “We will also be complementing the work commenced by the South African Green Building Council on socio-economic criteria for green building rating systems.” Other nations represented on the committee include the US, UK, Japan, Singapore, South Africa and Germany.
“I’m delighted to take on the role of Chair of this new committee. Australia’s property and construction industry should take this as further evidence of our leadership role in the formation and delivery of green building rating tools,” Ms Madew says. “Being part of this new committee enables us to continue to play an active role in the evolution of the global green building movement,” Draft strategy on national freight network releasedThe Federal Minister for Transport, Anthony Albanese, has released a draft strategy on developing a national freight network to integrate road, rail, ports and airports. Aerospace centres to be establishedMelbourne aerospace researchers at RMIT are working with leaders of the Russian space industry to build two space centres in Australia. Perth Waterfront redevelopment set for 2012The WA Government has released design plans for the redevelopment of Perth Waterfront, together with a commitment for project funding in this year’s State Budget and confirmation that earthworks will start in early 2012. Built Environment Supplier Advocate appointedThe Australian government has appointed a Built Environment Supplier Advocate, Mr John Gaskin, who will help Australian companies identify opportunities and promote their interests in making major building projects and procurements more sustainable. Review to examine Victorian flood warnings and responseThe Victorian Government has announced a review of flood warnings and emergency response efforts to be undertaken in the wake of this month’s floods. The review will be led by Mr Neil Comrie, former Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police and current Bushfires Royal Commission Interim Report Implementation Monitor. Flood recovery oversight plans announcedThe Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced oversight and accountability measures to oversee delivery of flood recovery programs. High-Speed Railway study commencesA feasibility study has commenced to determine the economic benefits and financial viability of a high speed rail network along Australia's east coast. Funds ‘reprofiled’ to assist with flood recoveryThe Federal, Victorian and NSW Governments have agreed to ‘re-profile’ three major infrastructure projects to free up funds for rebuilding after the floods in those states. Archived NewsMore »SectionsToolsContact UsUnit 18, 347 Bay Road |