Construction, civil and infrastructure briefs

Update on Defence maintenance opportunities, work camp plans as dam project studies progress, call to mandate local content for wind turbines, and more in this week’s round-up. Key Defence procurement details released online Defence has released its new Estate Works Program forward schedule, showing future procurement activities for September 2021-June 2022. The EWP provides facilities maintenance projects aimed at restoring or sustaining capability and addressing safety and compliance requirements of facilities and infrastructure at the Defence Estate. Townsville's Defence Industry Hub advises that interested businesses can find a list of the project at this link: BS23083286.xlsx (defence.gov.au). If there are problems accessing this link, visit DEQMS : Estate Works Program - Service Delivery Division - Estate & Infrastructure Group : Department of Defence and scroll to the bottom of the page to open the document. Work camp for Burdekin Falls Dam project Site investigations and surveys are ramping up for the detailed business case assessments for the Burdekin Falls Dam Improvement and Raising project, Sunwater says. Sunwater estimates up to 150 full-time jobs would be created during four years of construction to raise the existing dam wall at Lake Dalrymple, about 210km south of Townsville on the Burdekin River. The work is estimated to cost between $358 million and $665 million, depending on the final height of the dam raising. From the week commencing September 13 (weather permitting), Sunwater will be establishing a temporary workers camp to accommodate contractors who will be undertaking these investigations. It will be located near the main Burdekin Falls public camp site. More information at bit.ly/BFDTempWorkersCamp2 CivilPlus in $1.2m spillway upgrade The Paluma Dam spillway will get a $1.2 million enhancement ahead of the wet season with construction of a new protective slab beginning this week. Townsville-based company CivilPlus has been engaged to complete the project in collaboration with Townsville City Council construction staff. Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said the project would improve the safety of the Paluma Dam spillway, ensuring it would last well into the future. “This particular project is the last of a series of projects to upgrade and enhance the Paluma Dam which have been conducted over the past year, with works including replacement of steel flashboards and installation of new rock anchors," she said. Crews complete $2.2m railway bridge upgrade A $2.2 million project to future-proof one of Rockhampton’s most recognised structures - the Alexandra Railway Bridge - has been completed. Member for Rockhampton Barry O’Rourke said the project supported about 45 jobs for contractors and suppliers, including Queensland businesses JWB Construction, Central Scaffolding and CQ Crane Hire. "Spanning 242m across the Fitzroy River, the bridge is an essential piece of Queensland’s vital North Coast rail line and allows the safe passage of more than 350 freight and passenger trains every month," he said. “Over the last seven months, crews have successfully replaced 500 aged timber sleepers with more durable composite materials, made to last up to 50 years. “This is another example of the Palaszczuk Government creating jobs at a time when Central Queensland needs them most." Upgrade for major Bentley Park road, Cairns A portion of Timberlea Dr in Bentley Park will undergo a $635,000 upgrade as part of a proposed 36-lot subdivision development. Cairns Regional Council has entered into an agreement with developer Mahaside Pty Ltd for the upgrade of 270 metres of Timberlea Dr, including road widening, lighting, footpaths and intersection improvements. The upgrade is part of conditions imposed by Council for the reconfiguring of 43-53 Timberlea Dr into 36 lots. Works are scheduled to be completed in March 2022. New turning lanes for Warrego Highway New left-turn lanes at three key locations on the Warrego Highway between Toowoomba and Dalby will be added to significantly improve safety. Left-turn lanes will be installed at Devon Park Road, Bowenville-Moola Road and Bowenville-Norwin Road, with works commencing later this month. Call to mandate local content for wind turbines Weld Australia is calling on the Federal Government to mandate local content in the construction of critical national infrastructure projects such as major wind farm developments. It came after introduction of the Offshore Energy Infrastructure Bill, which would pave the way for construction of the 2.2-gigawatt Star of the South wind farm off the Gippsland coast in Victoria's south-east and other ojects such as the Marinus Link interconnector between Victoria and Tasmania. “The only way to ensure that these massive wind turbines meet Australian Standards for reliability, quality and safety is to award the fabrication contracts to local Australian companies," Weld Australia chief executive officer Geoff Crittenden said. "Local fabricators comply with internationally recognised Australian Standards and are certified by the relevant Australian authority. “The Star of the South and Marinus Link interconnector projects alone are worth $10 billion combined and are expected to create 10,000 jobs. "A procurement policy that mandates local content would see that $10 billion reinvested back into our economy. It would create thousands of jobs in regional areas like Gippsland, Gladstone and Newcastle—jobs that are absolutely essential to Australia’s post-COVID-19 recovery.” Rockhampton Regional Council hiring apprentices/trainees Rockhampton Regional Council is looking for a number of new trainees and apprentices to start with the organisation in 2022. The 2022 Intake opened last week, and Council Acting CEO, Ross Cheesman, is encouraging all who are looking to expand their skills or make a career change to apply. “In the current intake, we have 21 positions on offer across a wide range of fields,” Mr Cheesman said. They include gardener trainee, business administration trainee, civil construction trainee, apprentice carpenter, warehouse trainee, and apprentice plumber. Applications close at midnight on Monday, September 13. For more information, visit: https://jobs.rrc.qld.gov.au/jobs/

Construction, civil and infrastructure briefs

Industry Queensland

Related News

QAL upgrade attracts $94m federal grant

Bridge damage under scrutiny after excavator mishap

Quick fire – industry news briefs

Get access to breaking mining news, now.