Self-isolation to self-improvement: becoming a Chartered Engineer
by Lindsay Smith CPEng, Team Leader – Traffic and Road Safety at SMEC. Earning CPEng status is a major professional milestone, and it’s something I’ve been planning for years. But as is often the case, life tends to get in the way. Since we are still taking COVID-19 precautions, I decided the time is now. I have been an engineer for more than 20 years, and as we all know, it can be a demanding job. Juggling project deadlines,...
PM commits $1.5 billion to infrastructure including fast-tracking 15 major projects
The Federal Government will fast-track investment in critical infrastructure projects including Inland Rail; the Marinus Link; the Olympic Dam extension; NSW emergency town water projects; and road, rail and iron ore...
ARA launches campaign to support rail careers
The Australian Railway Association (ARA) has created two social media initiatives to help develop the careers of women and young people in the rail industry. The Women in Rail Network and Young Rail Professionals Network LinkedIn groups will provide a space for focused discussion to support career development and participation for female rail professionals and young people in the industry. ARA Chief Executive Officer, Caroline...
$24.5 million COVID-19 support package for WA construction apprentices
The Western Australian Government has announced a $24.5 million support package for workers in the building and construction industry to assist them through the COVID-19 pandemic. The package, which will provide immediate relief to construction apprentices and trainees, and their employers, aims to maintain a skilled workforce throughout the crisis. The package includes $10 million to provide an immediate, one-off payment of $2,000 to...
Intelligent Transport Systems innovation competition launches
Coinciding with the 17th ITS Asia Pacific Forum, taking place in May, a new competition aims to find and celebrate the most innovative transport solutions from around the world. The Global Innovation Competition is a start-up competition for emerging technologies and solutions that create a safer, greener, and smarter mobility system. The 2020 competition is hosted by ITS America, ERTICO, and ITS Asia-Pacific. The ITS Asia Pacific...
Shaking up continuing professional development in construction
The Building Confidence Report that was handed down by Professor Peter Shergold and Bronwyn Weir last year, delivered a damning assessment of public confidence in the building and construction sector. Regulation and industry-leading Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is key to rebuilding confidence and increasing efficiency in the sector. In the report, the authors noted that they, “have heard suggestions that large numbers of...
Critical infrastructure summit 2–3 September 2020 | Brisbane
Industry leaders from the whole infrastructure cycle will come together 2–3 September at the Hilton Hotel in Brisbane for The Critical Infrastructure Summit – the premier event for construction, asset management and disaster resilience in Australia. Over the last few years, Australia’s infrastructure industry has experienced significant growth with billions in funding and new projects underway and planned across road, rail,...
Six new appointments to ARA’s Young Leaders Advisory Board
The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) has appointed four new members to its Young Leaders Advisory Board (Y-LAB), alongside two reserve members. Launched in 2019, Y-LAB aims to harness the ideas of young talent in the rail industry and consider issues, projects and priorities on the ARA Board agenda, reporting into the ARA Board to provide its position, proposals and/or advice. The new appointees are: Miss Jane Gillespie, Senior...
New specifications suite for road and bridge works
Austroads has released the first seven technical specifications as part of its strategy to standardise road and bridge construction works. Austroads Technical Specifications will form a comprehensive suite of specifications currently under development. These specifications cover the supply of precast concrete pipes, polymer modified binders and geopolymer concrete, as well as the repair and strengthening of concrete...