Construction, civil and infrastructure briefs

Update on Inland Rail contracts, Rookwood Weir construction, regional roadworks and more in this week’s round-up. Freight Connect consortium wins civil works for rail stretch A consortium led by Laing O’Rourke and including FKG Group will deliver Inland Rail civil works for an 85km section between North Star in New South Wales and Whetstone in southern Queensland. The collaborative framework agreement between the ARTC and the Freight Connect consortium also covers a separate 14km package south of Moree called Narrabri to North Star Phase 2. ARTC Inland Rail interim chief executive Rebecca Pickering said the announcement was the culmination of months of work by ARTC and was a crucial part of the project as it delivered the ‘missing link’ between the two states where no previous rail line existed. For information on Inland Rail tenders and market opportunities visit inlandrail.artc.com.au/opportunities/suppliers/ or to register your interest on the ICN Gateway. Gracemere to benefit from major road upgrade Fulton Hogan kicking off the $35 million upgrade Lawrie St upgrade project in Gracemere this month. Member for Rockhampton Barry O’Rourke said the project would reduce congestion, making it an easier trip on and off the Capricorn Highway. “The project will see Lawrie St increase from two to four lanes between the McLaughlin St intersection of the Capricorn Highway and the John St/Russell St roundabout in Gracemere,” Mr O’Rourke said. “With over 21,000 motorists travelling over the Poddy McDonald Bridge each day, the upgrade will help keep traffic flowing through the region while directly supporting 56 jobs." The project is expected to be completed by December 2022. Link cuts travel time for weir construction crews A river crossing is now complete at the $367.2 million Rookwood Weir project to improve access for construction vehicles. Linking the project’s two construction sites located on the opposite banks of the Fitzroy River, the new crossing eliminates the need for project vehicles to make the two-hour round trip using public roads. Central Queensland-based McCosker Contracting was awarded the contract to build the Rookwood Weir with ACCIONA in partnership with GHD and Sunwater. As the project nears its completion in 2023, the crossing will be disassembled and removed. Concept designs for Mount Isa CBD development Mount Isa Council has started the ball rolling on the potential development of the former Harvey Norman site in the Mount Isa CBD. Consultants have been engaged to develop two concept designs for a multi-use community space, to be known as Centennial Place. Urban design and landscape architecture consultants Tract have started the process of developing the concept designs, with three company representatives visiting Mount Isa earlier this month to conduct initial key stakeholder engagement and information gathering, as well as in-person site inspections. Union officials penalised over 'right of entry' breaches The Federal Court has penalised the CFMMEU and eight of its officials $121,000 for 36 contraventions of right of entry laws at Queensland’s Toowoomba Second Range Crossing project in 2018. The court heard that CFMMEU officials Kurt Pauls, Beau Seiffert, Te Aranui Albert, Blake Hynes, Shaun Desmond, Craig Davidson, Justin Steele and Michael Davis refused to show their federal right of entry permits, entered the construction site and failed to comply with requests to leave the site. The ABCC said Pauls and Davis did not hold a federal entry permit at the time, while the remaining six officials were federal entry permits holders and were entitled to enter the site upon production of the permits but refused to produce those permits when requested. Local government seeks funds for climate change impact The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has applauded calls for the nation’s 537 councils to be given greater backing to protect local communities from the accelerating impacts of climate change. A landmark Climate Council/City Powers Partnership report published this week found extreme weather events driven by global warming are taking a growing toll on community infrastructure owned by local government. Ahead of the next federal election, ALGA is calling for the next Australian government to support communities in their climate change responses by investing in a Local Government Climate Change Partnership Fund of $200 million per annum over four years. ALGA is also seeking a targeted disaster mitigation program at the level of $200 million per annum for four years to strengthen community resilience response and recovery costs. Marian Water Treatment Plant turns out 'top drop' Mackay region water has taken out the title for best tasting tap water in Queensland for the third time in four years. Water from Mackay Regional Council's Marian Water Treatment Plant won the title at the annual water tasting competition, held at the Queensland Water Directorate Forum in Brisbane this month. Water samples from across Queensland were put to a blind taste test, where they were judged on taste, colour and smell. Marian Water Treatment Plant water also won Queensland’s top drop in 2019. It went on to win Australia’s best tasting water in 2019 and came second – by just one vote – in an international taste testing in the USA in 2020. Mayor Greg Williamson, water treatment plant coordinator Brian Woods and engineering and commercial Infrastructure director Jason Devitt with the Queensland award for best-tasting tap water.

Construction, civil and infrastructure briefs

Industry Queensland

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