Roads & Infrastructure July 2022

JULY 2022

ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE AUSTRALIA

SUSTAINING INNOVATION

JULY 2022

BildGroup’s senior management share insights on the company’s significant growth in the civil construction sector

Official media partners of

A JOURNEY FOR MENTAL HEALTH How NVC Precast is fostering a supportive environment for positive mental health A NEW APPROACH FOR NET-ZERO An innovative report is highlighting a new method of achieving net-zero emissions

AUSTRALIA’S ONLY SPECIALIST ROAD MANAGEMENT, CONSTRUCTION AND CIVIL WORKS MAGAZINE

A WIRTGEN GROUP COMPANY

We’re passionate about your success THE NEW COLD MILLING MACHINES FROM THE MARKET LEADER | W 210 Fi

> The innovative MILL ASSIST machine control system guarantees low operating costs.

> Unique two-speed DUAL SHIFT powershift

transmission enables extremely high milling output and reduces pick wear.

> Achieve new standards of quality with the new LEVEL PRO ACTIVE leveling system.

> MCS expands the machine’s broad range

of applications by making it possible to quickly switch milling drums or the milling drum unit. www.wirtgen.com/milling

WIRTGEN AUSTRALIA Pty Ltd · Lot 2 Great Eastern Highway (Off Ivy St) · South Guildford WA 6055 T: +61 8 / 6279 2200 · sales.australia@wirtgen-group.com www.wirtgen-group.com/australia

WIRTGEN Australia_W_MILLING_12_A4_Design Award.indd 1

12.06.20 15:41

JULY 2022 CONTENTS

COVER STORY

ROADS REVIEW

SAFETY IN FOCUS

TECHNOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT

16 Sustaining innovation One of Australia’s largest service providers for the civil construction sector, BildGroup continues to grow and innovate.

30 We asked industry decision-makers, ‘What more can the industry be doing to ensure the safety of workers on infrastructure projects?’

20 A journey for positive mental health Amanda Cole, NVC Precast SHEQ Systems Manager, on the CCF Positive Plans, Positive Futures program.

32 Compact material placement Road Widener’s FH-R material placement attachment is providing a compact alternative to heavy-duty machinery.

RISK MANAGEMENT

35 Where safety and versatility meet How the new JCB Teleskid 3TS-8 is poised to revolutionise the skid steer game in Australia.

23 Managing insurance under pressure George Grasso, UAA Group Chief Claims and Services Officer, on severe weather events, global economic pressures, and the insurance industry.

28 Don’t risk it DCWC Director of Infrastructure Andrew Loh talks to Roads & Infrastructure about the importance of risk management services for projects of any scale.

38 SAMI’s stress-free delivery SAMI Bitumen Technologies’ transport division is providing timely and accurate deliveries for customers.

41 Upscaling operations Picton Civil’s new John Deere motor graders have lifted the company into contention for major infrastructure contracts and tenders.

44 Intelligent telematics for job sites Teletrac Navman’s James French explains how telematics is helping to ensure the efficient operation of construction sites.

46 Why smart roads make smart sense Howard Collins, Chief Operations Officer for Transport for NSW, discusses the potential impact of smart roads on modern transport infrastructure.

SUSTAINABILITY 50 A new approach to net-zero A report released by the Infrastructure Sustainability Council and Mott MacDonald proposes a new approach to netzero emissions.

AFPA SECTION 54 The road less travelled AfPA civil engineer and QUT graduate Abraham Wani looks to answer the call for more resilient and sustainable road infrastructure.

56 AfPA Member Profile David McPadden, Ventia Group Executive, Transport, shares insights from his experience in the pavement industry.

NATIONAL PRECAST 58 Safety high on national body agenda Sarah Bachmann, National Precast Chief Executive Officer, on ensuring the highest possible safety standards for workers.

CONTRACTS & TENDERS NVC Precast is using the Positive Plans, Positive Futures program to encourage discussions around mental health on the work site.

60 A summary of the contracts awarded for major infrastructure projects across the nation.

REGULARS 4 Editor’s note 8 News 14 People on the move roadsonline.com.au

3

COO Christine Clancy christine.clancy@primecreative.com.au GROUP MANAGING EDITOR Sarah Baker sarah.baker@primecreative.com.au MANAGING EDITOR Mike Wheeler mike.wheeler@primecreative.com.au

A SAFER INDUSTRY WORKPLACE SAFETY CONTINUES to be a hot topic within the roads and civil construction industries. Advances in technology and the changing of modern practices are helping to amend high-risk behaviours, as we learn in the July edition of Roads & Infrastructure magazine.

Throughout this month, I’ve heard about the improvements that are being made across the board, whether it be the development of safety action plans, additional protection equipment for employees or extra support, progress is being made. But there’s more work to do.

Mental health remains a concern throughout the industry. As such, the Civil Contractors Federation has developed the Positive Plans, Positive Futures program.

The program aims to help businesses establish action plans to prevent stress and anxiety among employees. As we learn in this edition, NVC Precast is using the program to great effect. We sit down with NVC Precast SHEQ Systems Manager Amanda Cole to learn more.

Worksite traffic is another concern among the roads and civil construction industries. Teletrac Navman’s telematics services are helping to reduce foot traffic across worksites, as well as providing information on the movements of machinery, preventing potential impacts and accidents. As James French, Solutions Specialist at Teletrac Navman writes, intelligent telematics solutions ensure that project managers are investing in their workers’ safety.

In our cover story we sit down with BildGroup’s senior management team to learn how the company continues to innovate, since its beginnings in 1979. We also learn how Wirtgen Group is supporting BildGroup with its machinery and equipment needs and the reasons why the professional relationship between the companies has endured.

Risk management is also essential on complex, high-risk, high-value projects, says Donald Cant Watts Corke Director of Infrastructure, Andrew Loh. In Loh’s experience, risk mitigation and assessments are most effective when all stakeholders understand how their actions can contribute to successful riskavoidance.

In this month’s Roads Review column, we gain insights into what the industry can improve in terms of worksite and employee safety. Read responses from some of the top decision makers within the road and civil construction industries.

Finally, National Precast’s CEO Sarah Bachmann, shares insights from the association’s approach to safety and risk reduction for the precast production industry.

Enjoy reading!

Mike Wheeler Roads & Infrastructure Magazine

4

ROADS JULY 2022

JOURNALIST Tom O’Keane tom.okeane@primecreative.com.au DESIGN PRODUCTION MANAGER Michelle Weston michelle.weston@primecreative.com.au ART DIRECTOR Blake Storey DESIGN Bea Barthelson BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Brad Marshall brad.marshall@primecreative.com.au CLIENT SUCCESS MANAGER Justine Nardone justine.nardone@primecreative.com.au HEAD OFFICE Prime Creative Pty Ltd 11-15 Buckhurst Street South Melbourne VIC 3205 Australia p: +61 3 9690 8766 f: +61 3 9682 0044 enquiries@primecreative.com.au www.roadsonline.com.au SUBSCRIPTIONS +61 3 9690 8766 subscriptions@primecreative.com.au Roads & Infrastructure Australia is available by subscription from the publisher. The rights of refusal are reserved by the publisher.

ARTICLES All articles submitted for publication become the property of the publisher. The Editor reserves the right to adjust any article to conform with the magazine format.

COPYRIGHT Roads & Infrastructure Australia is owned and published by Prime Creative Media. All material in Roads & Infrastructure Australia is copyright and no part may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic or mechanical including information and retrieval systems) without the written permission of the publisher. The Editor welcomes contributions but reserves the right to accept or reject any material. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information, Prime Creative Media will not accept responsibility for errors or omissions or for any consequences arising from reliance on information published. The opinions expressed in Roads & Infrastructure Australia are not necessarily the opinions of, or endorsed by the publisher unless otherwise stated.

W

re an

EXPERTS IN MOBILE PLANT INSURANCE With over 30 years’ experience, UAA is the largest and most reputable specialist mobile plant and machinery insurer in Australia, New Zealand and globally.

The UAA Group has the knowledge, ability and capacity to insure a wide variety of plant and machinery spanning numerous industries.

Our experienced claims team has access to a network of the very best expert industry repairers, assessors and suppliers.

Our insurance products are tailored to produce a hand crafted solution to meet your business needs

For more information on UAA’s Industrial Special Plant and Procon products, please contact your Insurance Broker or visit www.uaa.com Industrial Special Plant and ProCon underwritten by QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited. ABN 78 003 191 035, AFSL 239545.

Underwriting Agencies of Australia Pty Ltd. ABN 86 003 565 302 AFS Licence 238517.

Underwriting Agencies of New Zealand Limited (UAA). 4758199, NZBN: 9429040999678.

J6663

NEWS

WORK POWERING AHEAD ON THE $2.6 BILLION SYDNEY GATEWAY

The Gateway project is expected to slash travel times from Parramatta to Sydney Airport by up to 40 minutes in the morning peak. Image: NSW Government.

The first four of 17 concrete headstocks have been installed at Mascot as part of the New South Wales Government’s $2.6 billion Sydney Gateway project.

The headstocks will support an 800-metre flyover road, connecting motorists to Sydney Airport with a toll-free connection to the International and Domestic Terminals.

Sydney Gateway will be a new above

ground, toll-free route connecting St Peters interchange on the WestConnex to Sydney Airport, through Port Botany and beyond.

It will provide a new route for around 10,000 trucks a day. This will divert trucks from local streets in Mascot by providing an alternative route, reduce travel times and congestion, and return local streets to the community.

Arcadis and AECOM are completing the design work for the Sydney Gateway project, alongside the construction Joint Venture comprising John Holland and Seymour Whyte.

The Sydney Gateway is expected to support more than 4000 construction and manufacturing jobs during the life of the project.

DESIGN RELEASED FOR OVERPASS IN DARWIN’S EAST The Northern Territory Government has released the design for a proposed overpass at the Tiger Brennan Drive and Berrimah Road intersection in Darwin’s east.

Artist’s impression of the proposed overpass.

Image: Northern Territory Government.

6

ROADS JULY 2022

The $110 million project, jointly funded by the Federal and Northern Territory governments, targets a road accident hot spot traversed by close to 20,000 vehicles each day.

The new overpass will elevate Berrimah Road over Tiger Brennan Drive to enhance safety, enable the continuous flow of traffic, reduce delays during peak hours and improve connectivity for freight transport.

Works will also include the realignment of Tiger Brennan Drive, improvements to Berrimah Road to meet road train requirements, on and off ramps, earth and drainage works, as well as pavement and asphalt works, new street lighting and signals, landscaping and urban design, and improved accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists.

Northern Territory-based construction company Sitzler were awarded the tender last August.

The company will deliver the project in stages over the next two years, with consideration given to minimising impact to road users.

LESSisMORE 50%

Less Labor

One Trailer Transport

90%

Less Maintenance

From road shouldering and trench backfilling to material compaction, Road Widener attachments offer a winning combination that boosts productivity, safety and profits — with less.

Travel to jobsites with one trailer; easily connect to your current equipment; and complete the job with one operator. Plus, no engine means less maintenance. Best of all, the patented design of the Offset Vibratory Roller virtually eliminates tipping hazards so you can compact with ease — no matter the terrain.

FH-R Material Placement

Industry’s Only Offset Vibratory Roller

START DOING MORE. 844-494-3363 w w w. r o a d w i d e n e r l l c. c o m

NEWS

WORKS UNDERWAY ON VIC’S SUBURBAN RAIL LOOP Construction is now underway on the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) – the single biggest transport investment in Victoria’s history.

The 90km rail line will link every major rail line from the Frankston Line to the Werribee Line via Melbourne Airport, better connecting Victorians to jobs, retail, education and health services.

Three transport super hubs at Clayton, Broadmeadows and Sunshine will connect regional services, so passengers outside Melbourne won’t have to travel through the CBD to get to employment, hospitals and universities.

The SRL will also deliver decades worth of local jobs, with up to 24,000 jobs supported

Concept image of the Suburban Rail Loop’s trains by Victoria’s Big Build.

across Victoria during the delivery of the SRL from Cheltenham to the Melbourne Airport.

Works have started on the SRL East between Cheltenham and Box Hill, where six station precincts will be constructed in Cheltenham, Clayton, Monash, Glen Waverley, Burwood and Box Hill.

The first phase of works for SRL East will also include road modifications, service relocation and preparation for three sites where tunnel boring machines (TBMs) will be launched.

Up to 10 TBMS are expected to carve the 26 kilometres of twin tunnels, linking the six new underground stations.

SRL East will be open by 2035 – the first of three stages of the 90km orbital loop linking every major rail line via the airport – connecting major employment, health and education centres and slashing travel times.

SRL East is expected to generate up to 8000 jobs during construction. SRL East will be complete by 2035.

While SRL East from Cheltenham to Box Hill is the immediate focus for delivery, early planning and development on SRL North and SRL West continues, with opportunities for construction to start while SRL East is being delivered.

$518 MILLION M80 UPGRADE COMPLETED A YEAR IN ADVANCE OF EXPECTED DELIVERY All major works along the Sydney Road to Edgars Road section of the M80 Upgrade in Melbourne are now finished, with the project being completed a year ahead of schedule.

The M80 Ring Road is one of Melbourne’s busiest and largest freeways, spanning 38 kilometres between Laverton North and Greensborough. The project aimed to provide more reliable journeys for more than 165,000 motorists each day, improve travel times and improve safety.

CPB Contractors with Major Road Projects Victoria undertook the major construction works, which aimed to provide sustainable outcomes for the $518 million project.

The upgrade marks the first major road 8

ROADS JULY 2022

Construction of the M80 Ring Road upgrade was slated for completion in early 2023.

project in Victoria to include recycled content in every layer of its road pavement.

The upgrade also saw the equivalent of three million plastic bags used in freeway asphalt and the use of more 47,000 tonnes of recycled concrete throughout construction.

The early delivery of the M80 Upgrade

has also seen CPB Contractors create over 150 full-time jobs and facilitate over 85,000 hours worked by apprentices, cadets and trainees.

Construction of the section of the M80 Ring Road began in early 2020 and was due for completion in early 2023.

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

NVC_ADVERT_June_2022.pdf

1

6/6/2022

12:05 pm

Proudly Providing Precast Concrete Solutions to the Civil Construction Industry

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

We pride ourselves on working with our clients to provide quality products to specification, to schedule and within budget.

Our purpose built manufacturing facility specialises in all prestressed and precast concrete products including T-Beams, L-Beams, PSC Planks, PSRC Piles, Headstocks and columns.

We offer: Large scale pre tensioning casting beds and capacity for full mould development for bespoke precast concrete elements Large lift capacities and transport solutions

K

Ancillary works such as anti-graffiti coating and specialist treatments Barrier rail and hand rail fabrication and installation A team of Drafters, Engineers, Technical Specialists and Designers We are VicRoads prequalified to R3, B3 and F25, RMS prequalified to C2 Complex prestressed concrete products. We hold ISO certifications to 9001 (Quality), 14001 (Environment) and 45001 (Safety).

We have over 30 years of experience specialising in low maintenance precast concrete bridges.

When you work with the best, you deliver the best!

WWW.NVCPRECAST.COM.AU | info@nvcprecast.com.au | +61 3 5781-1984

Follow us on LinkedIn

NEWS

INFRASTRUCTURE NSW PUBLISHES 2022 STATE INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY

The New South Wales Government is supporting the delivery of local infrastructure plans with a $139 million investment.

Independent government advisory agency Infrastructure NSW has published its ‘State Infrastructure Strategy 2022-2044: Staying Ahead’, outlining New South Wales’ infrastructure needs and priorities for the next two decades.

Infrastructure NSW publishes the strategy every five years to provide independent advice to the New South Wales Government as part of the Infrastructure NSW Act 2011.

The latest strategy calls for continued

infrastructure investment, but with a more diversified investment pipeline that balances large-scale projects with small and medium sized projects.

The State Government has also been encouraged to support new and existing infrastructure through proactive risk assessment, preventative maintenance programs, asset hardening and increased use of digital technology.

Developed in consultation across

government, including with Transport for NSW and the Greater Cities Commission, the strategy is underpinned by nine longterm objectives the agency feels will guide the state in the right direction over the next 20 years.

These objectives include boosting economywide productivity and competitiveness, serving growing communities, embedding reliability and resilience, transitioning to net zero emissions, enhancing long-term water security, protecting the environment, harnessing data and technology, integration of infrastructure with land use and services, and designing a lasting investment program.

The NSW Government currently has a range of major infrastructure projects underway, including a 22-hectare waterfront precinct development at Barangaroo, the redevelopment of Sydney Football Stadium, and the urban renewal project at Blackwattle Bay. The NSW Government is also ramping up investment in infrastructure projects to support more than 30,000 new homes in Sydney’s rapidly growing west.

PARRAMATTA LIGHT RAIL TRACK WORKS COMPLETE Stage one of the Parramatta Light Rail project has reached an important milestone with the completion of its two-way track installation.

Installation of the 12-kilometre stretch of track began in November 2020 at Westmead, with the final section complete at Tramway Avenue in Parramatta.

The construction and installation process has used an estimated 1250 tonnes of reinforcing steel, 3300 aluminothermic welds, and 18,000 cubic metres of concrete.

The project has engaged approximately 600 workers each day and 100 workers each night to build the track network, which comprises a combination of concrete track, ballasted track, and green track, which features grass or ground cover between and beside the rails.

Ongoing finishing works including road improvements, kerbing, footpath paving, tree planting and landscaping will continue as 10

ROADS JULY 2022

preliminary works on rail stop construction get underway.

The milestone follows the New South Wales Government’s $602.4 million commitment to the second stage of

Parramatta Light Rail green track in Cumberland. Image: NSW Government.

the project, which will begin with the construction of the Wentworth Point Bridge.

Stage one of the Parramatta Light Rail is expected to commence passenger services in 2023.

TN360

A new approach to understanding sustainability across your fleet

Understanding the term sustainability is the first step toward having a measurable impact. Where artificial intelligence turns data into insight, it empowers meaningful insights into sustainable practices.

Health & Safety Analtyics to curb poor behaviour and improve on safety through coaching.

Sites of cultural significance

Preserve natural ecosystems

Tech to protect & promote sustainabile innovative projects.

Ensure the protection of the environment for the future generations.

Net Zero Data to reduce carbon emissions to contribute toward Net Zero.

1300 111 477 TeletracNavman.com.au

NEWS

DUPLICATION WORKS UNDERWAY ON THE $188 MILLION HEATHCOTE ROAD PROJECT Major works have begun on the $188 million upgrade of Heathcote Road, in New South Wales.

The NSW Government is upgrading the 2.2-kilometre section of Heathcote Road between Infantry Parade, Holsworthy and The Avenue, Voyager Point.

Heathcote Road is a major arterial road that runs between Liverpool and Heathcote, connecting Sydney’s southern suburbs to the motorway network in the south-west including the M5 and M7 motorways.

It is also a key link for commuters who drive, walk or cycle to Holsworthy Train Station and the Holsworthy Army Barracks.

The existing road between Infantry Parade and ‘The Avenue’ is generally a two-lane road and contains three bridges across Williams Creek, the T8 Airport railway line and Harris Creek. Congestion is often experienced along these sections of the road, particularly near the Macarthur Drive roundabout.

The Heathcote Road upgrade will help reduce congestion, improve road safety

The duplication of Heathcote Road and the widening of the current bridge will aim to increase safety.

and provide more reliable journeys for all road users.

Key features of the project includes upgrades to the roundabout at Heathcote Road and Macarthur Drive to a four-way intersection with traffic lights, the installation of traffic lights at the intersection of

Heathcote Road and The Avenue, as well as the replacement and duplication the existing bridges at Harris Creek and Williams Creek.

This project is jointly funded on a 50:50 basis between the Federal and New South Wales State governments.

Work is expected to be complete in 2024.

LEVEL CROSSING REMOVAL TO KICK OFF MAJOR SUNBURY WORKS A suite of major works is set to commence in Sunbury, beginning with the removal of the level crossing at Gap Road, in Victoria.

The level crossing removal targets a notorious bottleneck, where the boom gates are down for more than a quarter

of the morning peak.

The project will see Gap Road closed for four months between Evans and Horne streets while a new rail bridge and road underpass are built. Included in the design is a separate shared user path to improve safety for The underpass and rail bridge at Gap Road, Sunbury.

12

ROADS JULY 2022

pedestrians and cyclists.

The works form part of a $2 billion infrastructure investment by the Victorian Government in Melbourne’s northwest, which will include the Sunbury Road Upgrade, Sunbury Line Upgrade and a new 300-space carpark at Sunbury Station.

The Sunbury Line Upgrade will prepare the region for the larger modern trains due as part of the Metro Tunnel project in 2025, as well as the Melbourne Airport Rail in 2029.

Initial excavation for the Sunbury Road Upgrade is also underway, which will see the road widened to four lanes between Powlett Street and Bulla-Diggers Rest Road to ease congestion.

Gap Road will reopen to traffic in early October, with the full level crossing removal and line upgrade projects set for completion in 2023.

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE HELPS YOU KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST MOVEMENTS ACROSS THE ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE SECTOR. HEAD OF INFRASTRUCTURE AUSTRALIA NAMED NEW CEO OF ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA Romilly Madew has been appointed as the new CEO of Engineers Australia, following the retirement of Dr Bronwyn Evans in May. Madew was appointed CEO of Infrastructure Australia in early 2019 and was responsible for overseeing Infrastructure Australia’s role in helping governments prioritise projects and reforms for communities. Before joining Infrastructure Australia, Madew was CEO of Green Building Council of Australia for 13 years. In acknowledgment of her contribution to Australia’s sustainable building movement, Madew was awarded an Order of Australia in 2019.

She has held Board positions with the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council and Sydney Olympic Park Authority. She has sat on numerous Federal Government panels including the Cities Reference Group, National Sustainability Council, Climate Futures Independent Expert Group, and the National Urban Policy Forum and is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, Honorary Fellow, Planning Institute of Australia and Life Fellow GBCA. Engineers Australia COO Michael Luddeni will act as CEO until Madew commences on 1 August.

CIMIC GROUP APPOINTS NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER CIMIC Group has announced the promotion of Pedro Vicente to CIMIC Chief Executive Officer, from Executive General Manager Operations, effective immediately. Vicente was formerly CIMIC Group Executive General Manager Operations. Vicente has more than 25 years of international experience in the delivery of major construction, services and resources projects, including managing Dragados Australia and Leighton Asia. Juan Santamaria, currently Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CIMIC, will continue to serve as Executive Chairman. He has also accepted a position as Chief Executive Officer of Actividades de Construcción y Servicios, SA (ACS). ACS is the largest shareholder in HOCHTIEF, which is currently completing its 100 per cent acquisition of CIMIC. Pedro holds a Master of Civil Engineering from the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, Spain and is a member of the Spanish Association of Civil Engineers.

M NEW LEAD FOR BECA’S TRANSPORT MARKET IN VICTORIA Messi Khabazi has joined Beca’s Melbourne team as Market Leader – Transport Victoria, a role critical to support Beca’s ambitious Transport & Infrastructure growth plans in Victoria. Messi will focus on client relationship management across the transport sector, covering roads, rail, and active transport. An experienced project and design manager, Messi’s technical background will be instrumental in engaging with clients and leading Beca’s transport consultants and engineers. Messi recently completed an MBA with Melbourne Business School, and he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering and a Master of Engineering in Project Management.

14

ROADS JULY 2022

MELBOURNE'S PREMIER CIVIL AND ROAD CONSTRUCTION COMPANY Residential Sub-Divisions

Industrial Sub-Divisions

Medium Density / Retirement Developments Infrastructure & Structural works Wetland Developments

rokon.com.au

Rokon is certified for ISO 45001:2018; 14001:2015; 9001:2015 & OFSC Accredited

SUSTAINING

INNOVATION

BILDGROUP HAS GROWN INTO ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S LEADING SERVICE PROVIDERS FOR THE ROAD PROFILING, CIVIL CONSTRUCTION AND ROAD MAINTENANCE SECTORS. ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE SITS DOWN WITH BILDGROUP’S SENIOR MANAGEMENT TO LEARN HOW THE COMPANY CONTINUES TO INNOVATE.

D

rawing on more than 40 years’ experience in the road profiling and civil construction sectors, BildGroup has grown from six to 650 employees, while also developing nationally.

Initially founded as Road Profilers Australia in 1979, the business was re-branded as Bitu-mill by Stephen Graham and his son Matthew in 2003.

The Grahams’ eyed expansion, growing

16

ROADS JULY 2022

the profiling business and adding rural civil, asphalt paving, landscaping, metro civil, urban and micro-stabilisation entities to Bitu-mill’s portfolio.

In 2021, the company was rebranded to BildGroup, now compromising two operating businesses in Bitu-mill and BildCivil.

As BildGroup COO Domenic De Fazio explains, the enterprise now represents

more than road profiling.

“We are now made up of 13 different business units (departments) and our growth can be attributed to unifying many small businesses together,” he says.

“But profiling still remains a core facet of BildGroup. We would still identify ourselves as one of the largest profiling businesses in the Southern Hemisphere.”

“Stephen Hill, our CEO, was brought in to

COVER STORY

BildGroup now comprises two major enterprises, Bitu-mill and BildCivil.

focus on the civil aspects of the business and where we could take that. And over the last 10 years that’s where we’ve seen most of our growth and that’s where the business has really started to excel.”

BUILDING A FOUNDATION Instrumental to BildGroup’s growth has been the reliability of its services. With 13 different disciplines, De Fazio says that retaining and growing a customer base cannot be achieved over-night.

“When it comes to our customers, our philosophy really is to look for long term sustainable relationships,” he says.

De Fazio adds that internal investment has also held BildGroup in great stead, investing

not only heavily in plant and equipment, but also in people. He says that BildGroup’s landscaping entity, BildLandscapes, was originally presented as a concept by a BildGroup employee, before it received financial support from the company.

“Success through investment in people and backing their ideas is key. If you’re willing to do this then you’re likely to achieve long-term benefits,” he says.

BildGroup is also uniquely positioned in the market, with many of its competitors also acting as clients due to the many disciplines the company operates in. De Fazio says that finding a balance is crucial.

“We place a very high value on partnerships and are mindful that

competing against our clients can be challenging. We’ve got this relationship with people, where we’re working for them and they’re working for us,” he says.

“Getting that balance right and maintaining those partnerships is critical.

It’s something we’ve been able to do really well.”

THE RISE OF BITU-MILL BildGroup’s Bitu-mill business focuses on providing profiling services for roads and pavements, asphalt paving and also equipment hire.

According to BildGroup, Bitu-mill is the largest road profiling business in Australia, with profiling teams nation-wide. Bitu-mill roadsonline.com.au

17

houses “state-of-the-art equipment”, which not only aim to increase accuracy, but also reduce noise and emissions.

Another key focus of Bitu-mill is pioneering new technologies, such as 3D machine control, which removes the need for a surveyor by positioning a machine using a digital design. Digital files are uploaded into the machine.

From there, the 3D system automatically controls the apparatus’s hydraulics, improving the accuracy and reliability of the machine’s height and slope, which are constantly updated.

Information such as depth, slope and the position of the machine are relayed back to an onboard screen for operators. When compared to conventional methods, 3D profiling reduces asphalt overuse, as well as survey and traffic control costs.

Derek Thomas, Bitu-mill National Profiling Manager says 3D profiling also provides safety benefits.

“We’re also making the worksite safer by removing the number of on-foot staff at each site where 3D profiling is being deployed,” he says. “We’re very innovative with our equipment and new machines.

We’re always trying to make changes and further developments.”

BildGroup’s resurfacing works on Albert Park’s F1 Circuit, in Melbourne.

18

ROADS JULY 2022

COVER STORY

BildGroup’s Wirtgen W 210 Fi large milling machine in action.

“By moving into the 3D machine control market, we’re using total stations to ensure millimetre accuracy in our pavement works.”

The system has proven to be effective in multiple projects nation-wide.

Albert Park’s F1 Circuit resurfacing saw the use of two machines equipped with 3D profiling, to complete more than 68,000m2 of milling for a new track design. Two 3D profiling machines have also been used for the resurfacing of Alice Spring’s Airport.

“With that technology, we can achieve results which were unobtainable when using conventional equipment,” Thomas says.

BildGroup also typically has 35-40 ongoing projects across the country, with the potential to cater for more major infrastructure projects.

“We don’t want to be a tier one company, but we want to offer our clients the best of what a tier one has to offer with the service and relationships of a family company,” De Fazio says.

MAINTAINING MODERNISATION An important aspect of achieving continued innovation and success in the civil

“WE’RE VERY INNOVATIVE WITH OUR EQUIPMENT AND NEW MACHINES. WE’RE ALWAYS TRYING TO MAKE CHANGES AND FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS.” construction market is having the ideal equipment provider, Thomas says.

Since 1999, BildGroup’s Bitu-mill department has used Wirtgen Group machinery.

Thomas says the ideologies and machinery desires of Bitu-mill closely align with Wirtgen Group, a key reason for the sustained professional relationship.

“We’re both passionate in the same way,” he says. “They’re very innovative and they always want to be at the forefront of the market. We’re constantly upgrading our machines to continually improve what we do, so we work closely with Wirtgen to find the right equipment options for us. Most of their machines now have 3D capabilities when they arrive as well.”

De Fazio concurs, saying the partnership has helped Bitu-mill to modernise its fleet and service.

“We are excited by every new innovation, and we try to embrace it

whenever we can,” he says.

“The difference with Wirtgen is that we’re able to work with them to take full advantage of these innovative features.

Many companies purchase machinery from Wirtgen Group, but some may not fully realise a machines capability.

I believe that maximising this innovation is one of the many strengths of BildGroup.”

WHAT’S NEXT? De Fazio says BildGroup are eyeing further growth, with plans to complete another acquisition in 2022. He says that continuing to deliver on BildGroup’s “quality” service will continue to lead the company on “the path to success”.

“We have to continue to satisfy expectation, in terms of quality, safety, be competitive, maintain strong partnerships and continue to develop our people, business and brand. What we’re trying to achieve is very multi-dimensional.” roadsonline.com.au

19

A JOURNEY FOR POSITIVE

MENTAL HEALTH NVC PRECAST’S JOURNEY THROUGH THE CIVIL CONTRACTORS FEDERATION (CCF) POSITIVE PLANS, POSITIVE FUTURES PROGRAM IS FOSTERING MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS. AMANDA COLE, NVC PRECAST SHEQ SYSTEMS MANAGER EXPLAINS.

W

ith mental health a prevalent issue within the construction industry, many organisations are looking to increase their resources and understanding of the impacts of mental health.

In July 2021, NVC Precast signed up for Positive Plans - Positive Futures, a program developed by the Civil Construction Federation (CCF) of Victoria which aims to establish an action plan to prevent stresses and anxiety caused by common workplace factors. It also aims to improve mental health outcomes for all workers across the construction industry.

Developed by CCF Victoria, the state-wide project is supported by WorkSafe’s WorkWell Mental Health Improvement Fund.

Amanda Cole, NVC Precast SHEQ Systems Manager, says uncertainty caused by COVID-19 lockdowns promoted the issue and accelerated the need for mental health support for NVC Precast’s employees and their families.

“We saw anecdotal evidence that people were struggling. We’re an essential service, so we continued working through these lockdowns. There were just so many stresses and different things that people were dealing with. Our employees started having more discussions around emotions such as stress, sadness, uncertainty and fear,” she says.

“When you add COVID-19 on top of that, 20

ROADS JULY 2022

Amanda Cole speaking at the CCF Victoria 2022 Positive Plans - Positive Futures Mental Health Summit.

these emotions can become overwhelming.

By participating in the Positive Plans - Positive Futures program, we are equipping our leaders and managers with the tools to offer additional support to employees.”

IMPLEMENTING THE PROGRAM Implementing the Positive Plans - Positive Futures program for NVC Precast began with an independent third-party survey, which was designed to provide an insight into the working environment and operation of the business. Factors such as job demands, access to management, equality and communication were assessed.

NVC Precast then sought to develop key action plans to prevent work-related stress, address burn-out, increase the effectiveness of communication and improve mental health outcomes for all workers.

With more than 11 years’ experience in her role at NVC Precast, Cole says implementing the Positive Plans - Positive Futures program has come at an ideal time for the prestressed and precast concrete producer.

“In the past four years, we’ve more than doubled in size. With this expansion comes an increased number of staff,” she says.

“We’ve always been a supportive and open organisation. If our employees had an issue or a problem, they could discuss it privately with their manager so we could assist them in the short, medium or long term,” she says.

“For years, this worked really well. But at times this system did rely on the employee voicing their concerns first. If they didn’t, these issues could just bubble underneath the surface, so the aim now is to provide an environment that’s conducive to everyone talking about mental health.”

One of the first steps for NVC Precast was ensuring that adequate resources were available for employees, in a language and format that they were familiar with.

“The availability and accessibility of resources are essential for improving awareness and understanding of concepts and creating a mentally healthy workplace. These

NVC Precast is implementing the Positive Plans - Positive Futures program to encourage discussions around mental health on the work site.

SAFETY

aspects can be challenging for businesses such as ours, who are based in regional areas,” Cole says.

“In my experience, if you were to search mental health online, it tends to go directly to a diagnosed mental health condition. We really want to focus on the wellness side, and what are the practical things that you can do to stay well, to be able to manage the normal stresses in your life.”

NVC Precast also provided practical solutions for pressures outside of the work environment such as the burden of financial stress.

“We held a toolbox style information session with some of our financial partners for our employees. This mainly focused on the services that are available to assist people if they need it, such as budgeting or financial counselling,” Cole says.

“Some people didn’t realise that those resources were even available or accessible to them, they thought they were ineligible as they were working.”

NVC Precast also began incorporating mental health terminology throughout its safety, health and human relations management systems.

Cole says doing so has helped to normalise discussions around mental health throughout the business.

“Our initial focus has been about building the level of trust with the workers to actually start these conversations, to open up and be honest about the issues that they’re facing, due to the sensitive and personal nature of mental health. It’s about encouraging our leaders and managers to listen and try to assist as best they can,” she says.

Adrian Panozzo, Project Manager, Positive

As an essential service, NVC Precast continued to work through COVID-19 lockdowns, where emotions such as stress and uncertainty were intensified.

Plans - Positive Futures, CCF Victoria says NVC Precast has successfully implemented the program to create a supportive workplace for positive mental health.

“We know that managing mental health in the workplace can be a complex issue. Not knowing where to start can put businesses off doing anything about it,” he says. “As a Founding Partner of CCF Victoria’s Positive Plans - Positive Futures initiative, NVC Precast have demonstrated outstanding leadership and commitment to creating a mentally healthy workplace for their workers.”

“Their engagement with their workforce, and willingness to identify opportunities to change the way mental health is discussed and managed has been admirable, and the work they have done to develop their mental

action plan should be celebrated.”

Cole says NVC Precast are already seeing results.

“We’re more understanding and considerate of each other. Our behaviour has changed and there’s now an extra level of sincerity and compassion that people are starting to show. Our employees are able to say ‘look, I’m just not in the right headspace today, I can’t concentrate on this particular task’. That is critical in a high-risk industry such as our own,” she says.

“These sorts of conversations are happening more between workers and managers. It’s demonstrating to everyone that it’s okay, to not be okay. It’s very pleasing to see.”

So, what’s next for NVC Precast on its journey through the Positive Plans -

“THE AVAILABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY OF RESOURCES ARE ESSENTIAL FOR IMPROVING AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF CONCEPTS AND CREATING A MENTALLY HEALTHY WORKPLACE.” Positive Futures program?

“Our next step is to be able to provide the training and the skills for our leaders and managers with a deliberate focus on mental health and wellness. Not necessarily to diagnose a mental health injury, but to have meaningful conversations, and to empower our workers to be proactive in managing their psychosocial wellbeing,” Cole says.

“It’s about understanding that we’re all here together and no matter what the issue is, we’ll work through it together.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulty with mental health, reach out to Beyond Blue: www.beyondblue.org.au For more information on NVC Precast visit www.nvcprecast.com.au. roadsonline.com.au

21

INGAL CIVIL PRODUCTS

Low Deflection Roadside Safety Barrier

Low deflection roadside safety barrier The nexT generaTion of The ezy-guard suiTe of safeTy barriers The Ezy-Guard LDS (Low Deflection System) roadside safety barrier offers superior hazard protection for highways with constrained verges or medians. Ezy-Guard LDS is crash tested to the superior MASH Test Level 4, where it demonstrated containment and re-direction of a 10,000kg truck travelling at 90km/h and a 2,270kg pick-up truck travelling at 100km/h with a low deflection of only 1.1 metres. innovative engineering: Ezy-Guard LDS Z-post design makes it suitable for installation in rock, asphalt or concrete mowing strips.

Post-on-baseplate: Can be installed as a post-on-baseplate for areas where underground services restrict posts from being driven into the ground.

designed for safety: The Z-section post maximises the bending resistance of the post for angled vehicle impacts. rapid installation, Cost savings: Fewer components to purchase, savings on freight costs and faster to install. narrow Width: A system of just 245mm conserves valuable formation width.

designed and Manufactured in australia: Made by Ingal Civil using Bluescope steel.

Quality Control: Components are stamped to ensure traceability and quality control.

Consideration for Vulnerable road users: Ezy-Guard LDS is compatible with the MPR Motorcyclist Protection Rail (MPR) offering further protection for motorcyclists.

Mash TL4 MASH TL4: 10,000kg Truck + 2,270kg Utility Australian Made

Consideration for motorcyclists

www.ingalcivil.com.au sales@ingalcivil.com.au 48324-EzyGuard LDS A4 Full page advert.indd 12

1.1m Low Deflection: 10,000kg Truck at 90km/h • • • •

Sydney (02) 9827 3333 Melbourne (03) 9358 4100 Perth (08) 9452 9111 Wagga 0427 779 588

• • • •

Brisbane (07) 3489 9125 Adelaide/NT 0438 153 482 Newcastle 0400 235 883 Local call 1300 446 Ref: 425 PP0615

20/6/22 12:36:28 PM

5 82

2:36:28 PM

RISK MANAGEMENT

MANAGING INSURANCE DURING WEATHER EVENTS AND GLOBAL ECONOMIC

PRESSURES

GEORGE GRASSO, UAA GROUP CHIEF CLAIMS AND SERVICES OFFICER, EXAMINES HOW SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS AND OTHER GLOBAL ECONOMIC PRESSURES ARE IMPACTING THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY.

R

ecent weather events have caused havoc on the Eastern Seaboard and in sharp contrast, parts of Western Australia have suffered as out of control bush fires cause catastrophic damage.

As George Grasso, UAA Group Chief Claims and Services Officer explains, these severe weather events continue to affect Australia’s insurance sector, as well as premiums for the infrastructure industry.

“As we know, Australia is a vast continent and as we have seen recently, the weather can vary vastly from state to state. We saw bush fires rage out of control in WA whilst the East Coast experienced extreme flooding. And, needless to say, our ever changing global climate is now the new norm, and this is amplified by weather patterns such as the current La Niña weather system, which is predicted to remain until October 2022,” Grasso says.

“In terms of the effect on claims, depending on the accumulation and severity of such weather events, it has a direct impact on claim’s resources including UAA’s claims personnel and service providers.”

“Not only does it impact client’s assets and livelihoods, the enormity of the emotional impact it has on our clients, communities as well as our suppliers and our staff in claims cannot be underestimated. When these disasters occur, the first person the customer turns to for help is the insurance broker

George Grasso, UAA Group Chief Claims and Services Officer.

and the Claims Consultants. At UAA, our role is to ensure we collaborate with our Brokers to assist our mutual clients in need.”

These recent weather events, between March and April 2022, have seen flood related claims reach over 124 claims

and approximately $24 million of losses incurred. This is the largest weather event loss in UAA’s history. Five of the claims have exceeded $2 million each.

As a comparison, the January 2011 floods in Brisbane and northern New South Wales finished with a total of 77 roadsonline.com.au

23

Recent severe weather events have resulted in approximately $24 million in losses.

claims and $7.7 million in losses. The largest claim was $1.9 million and every other claim was under $1 million.

“124 claims may not sound like a lot, particularly when you compare this with other insurers in the commercial, domestic and motor vehicle space that have incurred thousands of claims.

“However, these weather event claims on UAA can involve the clients’ fleet of assets per claim. You are looking at thousands of items combined, and 24

ROADS JULY 2022

each asset is then treated as a separate claim where it is assessed individually, and determination of indemnity is considered for each item. Then you factor in that some of our customers were hit twice with these recent floods, three weeks apart, the claims task is enormous.

“Most of these items are a total loss, some we have been able to repair, but it requires working with and engaging the clients to encourage them to do so. Such

clients recognise the value of mitigating their insurance claims exposure and also appreciate that many machines are impossible to replace in the current market with parts almost impossible to obtain in the current market.”

He adds that UAA’s experience in delivering suitable insurance solutions can support clients suffering from loss.

“Most clients are accepting total loss, and several are purchasing the salvage wreck of their machines in the hope

RISK MANAGEMENT

will support the sustainability of the machinery industries.”

It is also important to understand that UAA is dealing with a perfect claims storm at the moment.

Claims inflation post pandemic has caused increased costs of loss and extenuating time frame on the supply of parts and materials causing delay in repairs meaning claims are open for longer. This further impacting on claims resources inability to finalise claims sooner, thus incurring greater incoming enquiries and further frustrations from clients and Brokers.

While simultaneously managing the largest CAT weather event seen in the history of UAA. This is further compounded by new regulatory claims compliance. With the recent changes imposed on Claims departments by ASIC and the General Insurance Code of Practice (including RG271), there is enormous pressure on Claims SLA’s and detail of complaints management requirements. This has required UAA to implement more steps in its processes, further involvement of QBE, additional staff in Claims, changes with systems to measure and monitor these regulatory obligations, and huge penalties (even loss of licence to trade) if UAA fails to comply.

“Our claims team continues to remain diligent and resilient and doing their upmost best to provide the service they strongly believe our clients deserve, and in turn continue to receive compliments about our service. This is by far the proudest accolade our team could

claim’s costs, the first of these is freight which has increased around 30 per cent.

Globally, the freighting industry was in somewhat disarray leading into the pandemic. However, the problems have now been compounded by the pandemic and the recent Suez Canal incident which has led to huge delays in many supply chains,” he says.

“Dramatic increases in online shopping and high disposable income has created a further demand on products globally which has seen shipping prices soar.

As an example, in the past the cost of shipping a 40 feet shipping container out of Singapore would average between $3000 to $5000, today you are looking at $13k to $15k.”

“This has had an impact for UAA, particularly on large part items such as machine cabins, and other large bulk items. During the pandemic, air freight has also soared. With passenger flights grounded for almost two years many parts goods which would normally be flown on commercial passenger airlines had to wait for specific freight airlines, causing extensive backlog and price increases.

The cost of parts has increased by 15 per cent. The closing down of global manufacturing during the pandemic has dramatically increased the demand for parts, with manufacturers finding it impossible to supply parts in the volumes required. This is further compounded with greater demand for machinery globally as many governments recognised the importance of keeping the construction economy afloat during

“AS IMPORTANTLY, OUR CLAIMS TEAM CONTINUES TO REMAIN DILIGENT AND RESILIENT AND DOING THEIR UPMOST BEST TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE THEY STRONGLY BELIEVE OUR CLIENTS DESERVE.” they can restore them and to keep their businesses afloat. As underwriters, we need to be mindful of such total loss, machines returning to their schedules and understanding there is risk of further potential loss post the self-repairs they have conducted,” he says.

“However, we also need to remain commercially sensitive and compassionate to the measures our clients need to implement in order to survive and in every we can, UAA

receive. The team is dedicated to the ongoing support they and their colleagues nationally continue to provide UAA clients,” said Grasso.

To further elaborate on the Claims Inflation, Grasso highlights a number of global factors impacting the insurance industry during this post pandemic period.

“We are seeing significant increases from four main sections of the global economy which are impacting on our

the pandemic. This has ensured greater security of construction work globally, but construction equipment and crane OEMS for example cannot supply enough machines to satisfy the demand.

This includes all components that make up certain parts also. As an example, Microchips are in high demand and the manufacturing sector including Chinese manufactured product, cannot satisfy the demand. This has placed pressure on equipment manufacturers and roadsonline.com.au

25

RISK MANAGEMENT

“WE ASK OUR VALUED CLIENTS TO REMAIN VIGILANT DURING THESE WEATHER EVENTS AND WHERE POSSIBLE PREVENT LOSS BY MOVING EQUIPMENT TO HIGHER GROUND IF A FLOODING SITUATION IS IMMINENT.”

Grasso says the recent floods have resulted in the largest weather event loss in UAA’s history.

dealerships to review the technology offered on machines and vehicles with many forced to consider supplying machines and equipment with downgraded technology.

“It is the same for second-hand parts.

One benefit we are seeing though is the increase in salvage wreck returns. We are seeing in some cases up to 60 per cent of the Sum Insured on Salvage Wreck returns. This offsets some of our total losses to some degree, but it does create more pressure on our ability to repair,” Grasso says.

This inability to service the demand for 26

ROADS JULY 2022

new equipment has seen value of the second-hand equipment market soar. In some cases, second-hand machines can be more expensive than new equipment with purchasers needing to access machines immediately rather than wait the 18 months to two years for new equipment. This is also evident in the used car market.

“We have seen the cost of labour rise by 20 per cent. With the increase in demand for equipment in our sector, the demand for skilled labour has increased accordingly. Employees are commanding higher wages/salaries with many moving

from business to business seeking the best deals. The crane industry for example, was already experiencing a skilled labour shortage prior the pandemic and this continues to be a problem,” Grasso says.

“In addition, some employees have not returned to their previous work. They are now looking into new industries - seeking the ability to work in hybrid work environments including working from home with many moving from large congested industrial and city environments. They are re-evaluating life/work balance, and this is also evident with real estate pricing increasing dramatically in areas well outside of major cities. The freeze on migration has also seen an impact on employment here in Australia and other parts of the world.”

There has been a major rise in the demand for raw materials such as iron ore which has led to increased pricing for steel, electronics, plastic, materials such as paint, hardware, oil and gas, parts and componentry which has led to pricing increases of more than 20 per cent. For all of these reasons UAA clients will be seeing increases in their premiums.

“As always, we will try to keep the premium increases to a minimum and we will continue to work hard to deliver the best service and product we possibly can. We thought it was a good time to advise the industry that we are operating in difficult times and we are facing many challenges which are completely beyond our control,” Grasso says.

“We ask our valued clients to remain vigilant during these weather events and where possible prevent loss by moving equipment to higher ground if a flooding situation is imminent. UAA is here to support you every step of the way and if disaster strikes our Claims Department is dedicated to getting you back on your feet as quickly as is humanly possible.”

A NEW DAY.

TRUSTED WORLDWIDE. NOW ON THE JOB HERE. A NEW DEERE.

John Deere has an unrivalled reputation globally for dependable quality, proven reliability, outstanding durability, and strong performance. And now excavators designed, built, and backed by John Deere are available for you to put to work right here in Australia. Ergonomic automotive-quality styling, 7” touch-screen monitor, and intuitive controls deliver maximum productivity all day long. Together we’ll meet even the toughest demands.

It’s a New Day and a New Deere.

TRACTA_JCF63000_AU_Excavators_RI

JohnDeere.com.au/ANewDay

The DCWC Infrastructure team has experience in the assessment of risk on complex and high-risk projects.

DON’T RISK IT

ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE SPEAKS TO ANDREW LOH, DIRECTOR OF INFRASTRUCTURE AT DONALD CANT WATTS CORKE (DCWC), ABOUT WHY RISK MANAGEMENT SERVICES ARE CRITICAL FOR PROJECTS OF ANY SCALE. Andrew Loh, Director of Infrastructure at Donald Cant Watts Corke.

28

ROADS JULY 2022

A

ndrew Loh, Director of Infrastructure at Donald Cant Watts Corke (DCWC), has 15 years of experience in the construction industry – long enough to remember a time when construction drawings were often still meticulously drafted by hand.

“It was tedious work, but I wouldn’t trade that experience for the world,” he says. “Hand drafting helps you develop an intuition about how things are put together, a sense of what works well, and what sequencing of events works best to deliver a project on time and on budget.”

Loh is a senior lead for the infrastructure team at DCWC – a company that has been providing quantity surveying and project management services to governments, as well as private and

public organisations since 1966.

“The Infrastructure team is a young and dynamic group,” Loh says. “We provide cost estimating services for major infrastructure sectors such as road, rail, maritime, water utilities and heavy industry. We also provide associated services such as risk management, scheduling, project control and advisory services such as constructability and escalation advice.”

Loh says he has been fortunate enough to work on infrastructure projects across multiple sectors, including the Port of Melbourne’s Port Capacity Project, the Victorian Government’s Level Crossing Removal Project, the North East Link Project and for the Water Utilities Alliance.

“I am grateful for this diverse range of experiences, as it has provided me with a handy mental toolkit to draw upon when dealing with any type of infrastructure

RISK MANAGEMENT

“CLIENT EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION ARE KEY PARTS OF OUR PROCESS, AND WE TAKE THE TIME TO KEEP OUR CLIENTS IN THE KNOW EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.” Loh says the ultimate aim is to answer two questions: “how much contingency is required for the project?” And “how volatile is the price in terms of possible uncertainties and contingent risks in the project?”.

“We use this collaborative risk management process to enable clients to accurately determine the appropriate level of risk contingency and set strategies in place to minimise the likelihood of project budgets being exceeded,” he says.

project,” he says.

Loh’s broad experience has instilled in him the importance of effective risk management processes.

“Risk management is crucial for any project,” he says. “It is a method of more accurately determining the appropriate amount of contingency required for each project. This is achieved using probability and statistics, after a holistic assessment where key risks are detailed and measured.

“It lends a greater degree of accuracy compared to an arbitrary ‘gut feel’ allowance based on a percentage of the contract sum.”

party to be committed to addressing and mitigating that risk.

Loh says this requires all stakeholders to have a clear understanding of the risks, and how their respective actions contribute to successful risk assessment and mitigation.

“To achieve this common understanding, you need an experienced risk advisor – similar to how an experienced personal trainer can help tailor your fitness regime,” he says. “A good risk advisor will forge a common understanding of risk amongst all parties and from that, ensure commitment from each to effectively assess and mitigate risk.”

A RISK MANAGEMENT FITNESS REGIME “Risk management is a lot like exercise,” Loh says. “Two people can engage in it with two very different outcomes. What differentiates effective and ineffective exercise plans is the level of discipline – form, effort, frequency and attitude.”

Loh says risk management works the same way – the method, and the level of focus and commitment applied all play a part in determining how effectively risks are identified and mitigated.

He believes that for risk management to be successful in any infrastructure project, the responsibility for each risk should be allotted to the parties most suitable to manage it and, crucially, for each assigned

THE SIX STEPS TO RISK MANAGEMENT Loh says the DCWC Infrastructure team have extensive experience in the facilitation and assessment of risk on complex, high-risk, highvalue projects.

“We use Palisade’s @RISK software to calculate contingency allowances and provide a range of budgeted values for each component of a project,” he says. “We set up risk models – bespoke to each client – which @RISK uses to simulate probabilistic cost estimations.”

Loh says that all risk management processes follow the same six-stage process: establish context, risk identification, risk analysis and evaluation, risk modelling, quantitative risk assessment, and @RISK outputs.

SHARING THE BURDEN In Loh’s experience, risk management is most effective when all parties share critical risks which may result in cost overruns.

“An example of this working well is my recent experience on a major road infrastructure project,” he says. “Client and contractor shared the potential consequences of any major risks, such as inground contamination and relocation of existing utility services. Site surveys and geotechnical studies helped estimate these risks, and they were accounted for within the contingency.

“Any additional cost encountered during construction was shared between all parties, as were any cost savings if risks were overestimated. This way neither party bore the full consequence of these risks, leading to a more collaborative working relationship.

“My advice is always to be transparent with clients. I think most clients would be open to sharing these risks to a reasonable extent in order to attain a successful outcome.”

As for the ongoing success of DCWC’s Infrastructure service, Loh says that patience, partnership and true collaboration are key.

“These are not buzz words for us, it’s a code we live by each day,” he says. “True collaboration only comes with total client understanding, which in turn drives client commitment.

“Client education and communication are key parts of our process, and we take the time to keep our clients in the know every step of the way. At DCWC Infrastructure, we believe that guiding the client through the risk assessment and mitigation journey is equally as important as the final outcome.” roadsonline.com.au

29

ROADS REVIEW

ROAD REVIEW

THIS MONTH, WE ASKED THE INDUSTRY DECISION-MAKERS, ‘WHAT MORE CAN THE INDUSTRY BE DOING TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF WORKERS ON INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS?’ PETER COLACINO, CHIEF OF POLICY & RESEARCH, INFRASTRUCTURE AUSTRALIA Ensuring the safety of workers is rightly a focus for the industry, however we need to stretch our thinking beyond physical safety to mental health and wellbeing. MATES in Construction have identified construction workers are six times more likely to die from suicide than a workplace injury. An epidemic that costs the country $1.5 billion per annum. As highlighted in our Delivering Outcomes report, creating an infrastructure sector that protects and promotes the health, safety and wellbeing of workers is not only an ethical and legal obligation but vital in improving productivity, performance, and innovation. Senior leaders are responsible for prioritising the wellbeing, as well as the health and safety of their teams. Greater priority and investment should be given to investment in the practices and skills that are needed to support wellbeing for people and the supply chain. To attract the skills the sector needs, the industry must create not only a physically safe environment for workers, but also a mentally safe one.

MARK PIORKOWSKI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR QLD/NT, AFPA The flexible pavements industry is committed to continual improvement in road worker safety.

Our current initiatives include: Rolling out a national harmonised worker on foot training, utilising technology to stop on-site plant impacting workers; new national guidance on managing silica dust focused on protecting long-term health and advocating for speed enforcement on roadworks sites. However, the biggest risk to roadworkers is exposure to moving traffic. To mitigate this, clients need to show political fortitude in embracing the use of road closures and traffic diversions. This leads to safer work environments and higher quality roads, as well as reduced construction times and carbon emissions.

SARAH BACHMANN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, NATIONAL PRECAST Infrastructure is one of the industry’s sectors where the use of offsite manufactured products is commonplace. For good reason – sites are safer. The reduced site congestion and fewer materials deliveries from manufacturing elements like bridge beams, pipes, culverts and the like offsite, then erecting – rather than constructing from scratch – delivers flow-on safety benefits. Additionally, AS 3850 Prefabricated concrete elements, Part Three Civil Construction, requires that every erection has an engineered erection design. When combined with appropriate worker training and supervision, properly designed installations will by nature, be safer.

If you or someone at your organisation is an industry leader and would like to be a part of this monthly column in 2022, please get in touch with Editor, Mike Wheeler: mike.wheeler@primecreative.com.au

30

ROADS JULY 2022

BioFluid

PLANT

BASED TECHNOLOGY

BioFluids A4 PRINT Ad.indd 1

30/05/2022 10:52:04 AM

COMPACT MATERIAL

PLACEMENT ROAD WIDENER’S PATENTED FH-R MATERIAL PLACEMENT ATTACHMENT IS PROVIDING A COMPACT ALTERNATIVE TO HEAVY-DUTY MACHINERY FOR ROAD WIDENING AND REMEDIATION. ROAD WIDENER BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER TODD DOHNAL EXPLAINS.

The FH-R material placement attachment can reduce costs for fuel, maintenance and new machinery.

F

or state road departments and infrastructure contractors, road construction and repairs have always been essential services.

Traditionally, road wideners have been self-propelled machinery, often expensive and difficult to transport.

The FH-R material placement attachment from Road Widener is aiming to deliver a flexible option for road widening and repair works.

From its initial development in the early 2000s by a small contractor in Wisconsin, USA, the FH-R material placement attachment has grown into one of Road Widener’s most popular products.

The FH-R is an attachment-based unit, which can be connected to a loader, skid steer, compact track loader, wheel loader

32

ROADS JULY 2022

or road grader. The unit supports a range of road works, including road shoulder repairs, remediation, road widening, trench backfilling and even asphalt and aggregate placement.

Todd Dohnal, Road Widener Business Development Manager, says the FH-R provides a much-needed substitute to conventional machinery for the road construction industry.

“Up until the creation of the FH-R, many road shouldering machines were very big.

Operators would need to section off a larger section of the road, wasting time and disrupting traffic,” he says.

“Costs for fuel, manufacturing and new machines were also increasing. There weren’t many options on the market.”

Following the success of the initial

design, a remote-controlled version of the attachment was released in 2016, allowing the operator to regulate the flow of asphalt or aggregate from the safety and comfort of the host machine’s cab.

As Dohnal recalls, the launch of the remote-controlled model helped to widen the use of the attachment throughout the road construction industry.

“For some council projects, operators are required to have a spotter. This spotter controls the aggregate flow. If you need to speed or slow down the material flow, you can do this without needing to stop the machine. It’s a risk mitigation feature, as operators no longer need to be right next to the attachment to make adjustments,” he says.

With an overall length of 249 centimetres,

TECHNOLOGY & EQUIPMENT

the FH-R also comes in single and dual discharge models and has a heattreated belt to lay down a wide variety of materials, including hot mixes. The attachment streamlines a variety of tasks including backfilling, road widening, road shoulder repairs, remediation and aggregate placement.

“With dual discharge, it allows the operator to do either left-hand or righthand works on major highways, whether they are wanting to use aggregate or asphalt,” Dohnal says.

The material is poured into the hopper at the top of the FH-R and then precisely dispensed via remote control in adjustable laydown widths from 0.3 to 1.8 meters. The attachment dispenses up to 20 tons of material in under 10 minutes.

“As such, this unit is also suited for councils that do their own road works, as it creates road shoulders in an easy and safe way,” Dohnal says.

SAVING COSTS The FH-R also presents potential savings in maintenance and operation costs.

According to Road Widener, the FH-R requires 90 per cent less maintenance, while costing up to 80 per cent less than large, self-propelled machines.

Dohnal says the significant savings are thanks to the FH-R’s power unit design.

“The attachment itself does not have an onboard engine, it uses power and hydraulics from the host machine. It’s a very simple design, but very effective,” he says.

“The attachment requires greasing on all of the pivot points and tightening of the Road Widener’s patented FH-R material placement attachment is compatible with a range of machinery, including track and wheel loaders, as well as skid steers.

The material flow of Road Widener’s FH-R material placement attachment can be controlled remotely.

discharge belt, but overall, maintenance is very minimal for the FH-R.” The FH-R can be attached to any brand or make of compatible machinery, meaning operators can use their existing fleet, rather than purchasing a new material placement machine. Its push roller is adjustable to accommodate different truck axles, further increasing its adaptability.

“We’ve started seeing more councils use small wheel loaders because they provide greater visibility to the shoulder, which is why we’ve been promoting wheel loaders as a preferred host machine with this attachment,” Dohnal says.

Road Widener’s FH-R material placement

“THE ATTACHMENT ITSELF DOES NOT HAVE AN ONBOARD ENGINE, IT USES POWER AND HYDRAULICS FROM THE HOST MACHINE. IT’S A VERY SIMPLE DESIGN, BUT VERY EFFECTIVE.” attachment also supports customisation.

“As it is a material placement unit, we do have the ability to extend the width of the attachment depending on the requirements of a project,” Dohnal says. “You can also remove the outflow shoot and attach a curb backfiller.”

The optional kerb backfilling attachment allows operators to backfill parallel to the curb rather than working against the curb.

Therefore, reducing the risk of damaging the curb surface.

The compact design of the FH-R allows it to be towed on a common-width trailer by a standard truck along with the host machine.

Road Widener has the FH-R in stock, in New South Wales. Dohnal says there are also plans for a wider rollout in Australia and Europe, following its success in the United States and Canada.

“The FH-R allows contractors to get the job done more quickly and efficiently. Due to the weather and deterioration of road shoulders, there’s massive potential for infrastructure companies to use the FH-R throughout Australia,” he says. roadsonline.com.au

33

Delivering integrated solutions

Donald Cant Watts Corke is one of Australia’s leading providers of independent end-to-end project services.

Providing a wide range of end-to-end project services for over 50 years, we have proven our expertise and reliability in helping ensure the successful delivery of infrastructure projects throughout Australia.

Through a holistic approach, we provide you valuable advice and assurance with our quantity surveying, project management, advisory, and engineering services, tailored to ensure your project reaches its full potential.

Our in-depth understanding of the infrastructure sector enables us to develop the right solutions that address the complex needs of your project.

We are committed to Delivering outstanding results for Australia's future.

www.dcwc.com.au ADELAIDE BRISBANE CANBERRA DARWIN MELBOURNE NEWCASTLE PERTH SYDNEY TOWNSVILLE

TECHNOLOGY & EQUIPMENT

WHERE SAFETY, STRENGTH AND VERSATILITY MEET

JCB’S ALL NEW TELESKID 3TS-8 IS POISED TO REVOLUTIONISE THE SKID STEER GAME IN AUSTRALIA. JCB CEA’S GLENN MCLEOD EXPLAINS.

J

CB has a long history of pursuing innovation. The Telehandler concept they pioneered in 1977 is a testament to that – not to mention the iconic backhoe loader Joseph Cyril Bamford invented in 1953.

The JCB Teleskid 3TS-8 is the latest example of how innovative thinking can shake up the norm. Combining the flexibility of the Telehandler’s single telescopic boom with the mobility and toughness of a skid steer loader, the Teleskid offers a compelling package of versatility, safety, and productivity.

CHANGING THE GAME The company has always strived to be “innovators, not imitators,” as JCB CEA’s Glenn McLeod puts it.

McLeod is JCB CEA’s National Government Business Manager for backhoe loaders and compacts. As the company gears up to launch the Teleskid in Australia, he’s looking forward to seeing how their unique offering fares in the local market.

He thinks the massive popularity of the Teleskid in the United States since its debut in 2017 bodes well for its future in Australia.

“It’s just going gangbusters over there. We can’t produce enough of them to satisfy the American market,” he says. “We’re trying to play catch-up.”

This overwhelming demand, as well as pandemic-driven supply chain issues is part of the reason the Teleskid has yet to reach Australian shores from JCB’s North American manufacturing facility in Savannah, Georgia.

“The demand shows there was definitely a gap in the market for such a versatile machine,” McLeod says.

Despite the delay, he says local interest is already building and pre-orders are piling up – based purely on what information has been available to prospective buyers online.

“We’ve even had a very significant number

of Teleskid 3TS-8 models ordered by the Australian Defence Force for use across a range of applications,” McLeod says.

He understands they will used for earthmoving, construction, and everything in between.

“They’re even going to be transported by air and deployed to target locations by parachute,” he says.

DESIGNED FOR SAFETY, PRODUCTIVITY As with the company’s existing range of skid steer loaders, JCB’s single-side boom allows room for an extended offset cabin, as well as side-door access. McLeod says this design gives JCB an edge with safety.

“Your typical skid steer requires ingress and egress through the front of the unit,” he says. “With our side-door access, there’s no clambering over a loaded bucket or a bulky

attachment to get in.”

Another key safety and productivity feature is the 270 degrees of visibility from within the Teleskid’s cabin. McLeod says the large front windshield is also easily removed for quick exit in case of an emergency.

The main attraction though – and the Teleskid’s biggest point of difference – is the telescopic boom, McLeod adds. He says the versatility this provides can have an enormous positive impact on productivity.

“Because you’ve got a 1.7 metre reach at full height, it allows you to dump debris into the centre of the truck body, for example,” he says. “A conventional skid steer struggles to attain that sort of height, and it certainly can’t dump into the middle of the truck body because it has no forward-reach.”

McLeod says this can mean operators of traditional skid steer loaders often have to The Teleskid’s telescopic boom offers added versatility for a range of industries.

roadsonline.com.au

35

TECHNOLOGY & EQUIPMENT

The Teleskid’s side-door access means no clambering over bulky loads or attachments.

“throw” material into trucks with a skid steer’s bucket, at a potential cost to both safety and productivity.

“In terms of working at ground level, you’ve got 2.25 metres of reach – so that offers all sorts of extra versatility,” he says. “For example, with pallet forks attached, you’re able to reach over the side of a truck and unload the whole thing from just one side.”

A JCB OF ALL TRADES From what he’s seen overseas, McLeod says the Teleskid has the potential to be a big hit across the Australian infrastructure, agriculture, construction and landscaping industries, among others.

“Its versatility certainly lends itself well to general road construction and infrastructure support,” McLeod says. “You’d have the ability to reach over a footpath and place material or a heavy pallet over the curb without having to drive up over it.”

“The Teleskid will also reach below ground level, which allows the machine to clean out drains, for example. There’s no way a conventional skid steer can do that.”

McLeod says agriculture has also historically been a big market for both JCB’s telehandlers and skid steer loaders.

“Depending on the customer’s requirements, they could be looking at replacing the need 36

for two machines with just one,” he says.

SOMETHING TO PROVE McLeod believes there remains a longstanding degree of cynicism around JCB’s single-arm concept on their skid steer loaders when compared to the industry standard, whether it’s a question of functionality, durability or stability.

“Well, it’s an absolute fallacy,” he says. “We’re now coming up to 30 years since we first

introduced this concept in the marketplace with the Telehandler, a machine which never seems to have the same criticism levelled at it,” he says.

“Hopefully, what the Teleskid will do once and for all is dispel any myths about the integrity of the JCB design concept.”

JCB are currently taking pre-orders for the Teleskid 3TS-8’s Australian release later this year. The unit will be available in both wheeled and tracked configurations.

The Teleskid’s expanded offset cabin offers 270 degrees of visibility.

ROADS JULY 2022

CECA-20

TAKING CONSTRUCTION

TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

250,000sqm of exhibits / 130,000 attendees / 1,800 exhibitors / 150 education sessions

MARCH 14-18 / 2023 / LAS VEGAS / NEVADA

No matter what sector of construction you’re in, you’ll leave CONEXPO-CON/AGG with new ideas, new relationships, and new opportunities to grow your business, and your place within the industry.

This isn’t just North America’s largest construction trade show, it’s taking construction to the next level.

LEARN MORE AT CONEXPOCONAGG.COM

CECA-2023-PRNT-SHOW-MISSY-210x297mm+5mm_Bleed.indd 1

2020 Attendee Missy Scherber, T. Scherber Demolition & Excavating

12/28/21 8:47 AM

SAMI’S STRESS-FREE DELIVERY

SAMI BITUMEN TECHNOLOGIES’ TRANSPORT DIVISION IS PROVIDING TIMELY AND ACCURATE DELIVERIES FOR ALL BITUMEN, PMB AND RELATED BITUMEN-BASED PRODUCTS SUPPLIED FOR CUSTOMERS. PIERRE-HENRI BERARD, LOGISTICS AND SUPPLY MANAGER, EXPLAINS.

S

ince its inception in 1978, SAMI Bitumen Technologies has grown into one of Australia’s largest bitumen, PMB and related bitumen-based products manufacturers.

With manufacturing plants in Brisbane, Perth, Sydney and Melbourne, SAMI Bitumen Technologies has a storage capacity of more than 50,000 tonnes across the country.

With a significant increase in infrastructure projects nationally and a growing demand for speciality bitumen products, SAMI Bitumen Technologies

38

ROADS JULY 2022

has developed an efficient and timely method for material transportation.

Pierre-Henri Berard, SAMI Bitumen Technologies Logistics and Supply Manager says the company’s logistics service is “a game-changer” for the industry.

“We’ve grouped our transport fleet to have one key solution for our clients.

We are now virtually able to deliver anywhere, at any time, no matter the distance,” he says.

SAMI Bitumen Technologies uses its network of 43 tankers to transport hot bitumen, polymer modified blends, or

bitumen emulsion to any destination in Australia.

With transport options ranging from 8500 litres, up to 65,000 litres, this logistics service aims to satisfy the material needs of customers for asphalt, sprayed sealing, surface rejuvenation, road repairs and other infrastructure works.

ACCESSIBLE DELIVERIES SAMI Bitumen Technologies has created an online portal, where customers are able to place orders for material delivery in just a few clicks.

TECHNOLOGY & EQUIPMENT

“We have everything in place to make the life easy for clients. We stay in contact with customers during the entire process, from the order placement to final delivery,” Berard says.

“Customers can also have access to all of their previous orders in the portal.

From there they can decide if they want to duplicate the previous order or place a new one. All customer details can be saved for faster transactions as well. It’s a process which is very simple.

It takes less than a minute to place an order and less than 30 seconds for us to confirm the details.”

Customers are able to specify the location, time and volume for each delivery. For urgent orders, customers are also able to contact SAMI Bitumen Technologies to arrange a specified delivery time.

“We can answer any requests at any time. Sometimes we have people calling us if they’ve forgotten to prepare a delivery, or if they don’t have enough material for a project. We check to see if we are able to complete immediate deliveries and most of the time we can,” Berard says.

“The order will be tabled with the

closest manufacturing or input facility.

From our system we can view the date, time and volume for delivery.

An allocated tanker is then filled to complete the delivery.”

While SAMI Bitumen Technologies has sites domestically for bitumen manufacturing, they’re also supported internationally by its French parent company Colas SA, a highly regarded bitumen technology organisation.

The strategy ensures a guaranteed supply of bitumen products for the Australian market.

Berard says customers are supported by SAMI Bitumen Technologies’ “one-stopshop” service.

“We are able to assist customers from manufacturing to delivery. We handle the whole process,” he says.

KEEPING THE HEAT ON SAMI Bitumen technologies also has the ability to deliver hot asphalt, with the majority of tankers equipped with heating capabilities. Customers simply need to specify the required heat.

“Throughout our entire fleet we use diesel burners to heat products for both long and short distance deliveries,” Berard says.

SAMI Bitumen technologies is also aiming to transition the majority of its fleet’s heater fuel from LP Gas to diesel. As Berard explains, the move will provide several safety benefits, as well as a larger source for heating.

“We are always looking for the safest solutions in our operations, as safety is a priority for the group. In our eyes diesel is a safer alternative to LP Gas,” he says. “Diesel is also easier to source nation-wide when compared to LP Gas, which is particularly useful for us as an Australian wide enterprise.”

SAMI Bitumen Technologies is expecting that its logistics fleet will further expand before the end of 2022..

“WE’VE GROUPED OUR TRANSPORT FLEET TO HAVE ONE KEY SOLUTION FOR OUR CLIENTS. WE ARE NOW VIRTUALLY ABLE TO DELIVER ANYWHERE, AT ANY TIME, NO MATTER THE DISTANCE.”

SAMI Bitumen Technologies’ transport fleet is capable of delivering products nationally.

roadsonline.com.au

39

& INFRASTRUCTURE

DON’T MISS AN ISSUE, SUBSCRIBE TODAY. www.roadsonline.com.au/subscribe

JULY 2022

ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE AUSTRALIA

SUSTAINING INNOVATION BildGroup’s senior management share insights on the company’s significant growth in the civil construction sector

Official media partners of

A JOURNEY FOR MENTAL HEALTH How NVC Precast is fostering a supportive environment for positive mental health A NEW APPROACH FOR NET-ZERO An innovative report is highlighting a new method of achieving net-zero emissions

AUSTRALIA’S ONLY SPECIALIST ROAD MANAGEMENT, CONSTRUCTION AND CIVIL WORKS MAGAZINE

Roads & Infrastructure Australia is a leading news resource for the Australian roads, civil engineering, and infrastructure sectors.

Catering to Australia’s civil and road construction industry, Roads & Infrastructure Australia is a key source for industry decision-makers, contractors, civil engineers and individuals in local and state government sectors and the private sector looking to keep up to date with important issues, developments, projects and innovations shaping the industry today.

www.roadsonline.com.au

AUSTRALIA’S ONLY SPECIALIST ROAD MANAGEMENT, CONSTRUCTION AND CIVIL WORKS MAGAZINE

TECHNOLOGY & EQUIPMENT

UPSCALING OPERATIONS

WITH JOHN DEERE PICTON CIVIL’S RECENT PURCHASE OF TWO JOHN DEERE MOTOR GRADERS HAS LIFTED THE COMPANY INTO CONTENTION FOR MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE CONTRACTS AND TENDERS.

Picton Civil’s 672GP John Deere motor grader.

J

osh Silver, Workshop Manager – Picton Civil says the construction industry is constantly evolving.

While undertaking infrastructure projects throughout the southwest of Western Australia, Silver says he has witnessed first-hand the average scale and machinery requirements of projects increase over time.

Which is why in 2019, Picton Civil made the decision to upgrade its motor grader fleet.

“We had a fleet of three, 12-foot graders at the time. With the opportunity to add to the existing fleet, we took this chance to go for a larger grader to broaden our capabilities.” Silver says.

“This was due to the nature of construction work in Western Australia at the time. We were getting requests from

customers for projects which required machines with larger capabilities.”

Soon after, Picton Civil purchased a 670GP and a 672GP motor grader from John Deere.

Silver says moving to the larger motor graders has broadened Picton Civils’ capabilities “immensely”.

“It’s significantly boosted our production and has reduced our lead time on projects,” he says.

“With some of our older machines we could only complete smaller projects and repair works. It’s opened a new door for us as a civil construction provider.”

Picton Civil, formally J.W Cross and Sons, has been providing earthmoving services and civil construction solutions throughout the southwest of Western Australia since 1968.

The company also provides wet and dry plant hire, demolition and asbestos removal to a wide range of clientele ranging from individuals and small business to large-scale industry and mining projects.

“We also complete civil construction projects such as road construction, large scale carparks, drainage and dam construction. It’s in these projects that the 670GP and 672GP motor graders really shine,” Silver says.

The 670GP and 672GP models form part of John Deere’s G-Series fourwheel-drive and six-wheel-drive motor graders, respectively.

The G-Series marks the introduction of John Deere’s SmartGrade Motor Graders.

This platform offers grade-control and hydraulic functions to boost productivity.

This allows the machine to stay on grade, roadsonline.com.au

41

TECHNOLOGY & EQUIPMENT

Picton Civil’s 672GP motor grader is mainly used for major infrastructure works, including works on the $1 billion Bunbury Outer Ring Road.

no matter what blade pitch, articulation angle, or circle offset the operator has selected.

Machine positions can also be pre-set, allowing multiple machine functions and positions to be altered with the press of a single button. SmartGrade Motor Grader components are installed and calibrated at the factory, meaning the user can maximise their grading output from day one.

MULTI-PURPOSE MACHINERY Silver says that having both the 670GP and 672GP models has given Picton Civil an extra layer of flexibility.

He adds that while both machines can complete similar projects, the 672GP larger net power and torque (149–179 Kilowatts, compared to the 670GP 134–172 Kilowatts) can sometimes be the deciding factor when selecting which machine to use.

“We’ve used the 670GP for road maintenance and we’ve also used it on local carpark and road construction projects,” he says.

“For a recent dam project, the 670GP provided us with great flexibility, as it was able to complete road construction works as well as dam construction. It’s very useful having one machine to complete different types of projects.”

But for major infrastructure works, Silver says the 672GP just edges out the 670GP. “With the extra weight and blade pull, the 672GP is the preferred machine for our larger projects, but the 670GP can handle 42

ROADS JULY 2022

these jobs quite easily as well.”

PUTTING MACHINERY TO THE TEST Picton Civil has recently commissioned its 672GP for works on the Bunbury Outer Ring Road, a $1 billion project in WA’s southwest.

The project aims to create a 27-kilometre free-flowing highway, linking Forrest Highway to Bussell Highway, providing an alternative route around Bunbury.

As well as supplying wet-hire equipment for other contractors, Picton Civil was awarded a tender for its own construction project as part of the Bunbury Outer Ring Road works.

when required.

Both machines were designed to offer easy ground-level access for servicing needs.

All daily service points, including fuelling fluid levels and daily checks, are grouped on the left side for convenient operator access. On the right side, maintenance teams have easy access to the engine oil, fuel, hydraulic, transmission, and differential filter bank.

“The serviceability of the two graders is exceptional. The overall design and strength of the machine is another standout, it’s very durable,” Silver says.

Picton Civil has nine John Deere

“FOR A RECENT DAM PROJECT, THE 670GP PROVIDED US WITH GREAT FLEXIBILITY, AS IT WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE ROAD CONSTRUCTION WORKS AS WELL AS DAM CONSTRUCTION. IT’S VERY USEFUL HAVING ONE MACHINE TO COMPLETE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROJECTS.” Silver says that having the larger 670GP and 672GP motor graders was essential in supporting the project.

“Some contracts and tenders require the use of larger machinery. At the site we have 40 tonne dump trucks, 40 tonne water carts, 36 tonne excavators and the 672GP, so it’s quite a large-scale operation,” he says.

Silver says minimising downtime on the project is paramount. As such, Picton Civil sometimes carries out its own general maintenance for the 670GP and 672GP

machines in total, with plans to add more models in the near future.

“We had a warranty issue with the mouldboard following the purchase of the first machine. This was solved in just two phone calls with no interruption to our operation and absolute minimum downtime,” Silver says.

“It was this level of customer service and the overall sales experience which left a great impression, which is why we’ll go to Afgri Equipment when purchasing new machinery.”

TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE

SEPT 2022

WOMEN IN INDUSTRY AWARDS

WOMEN IN INDUSTRY.COM.AU

P R O U D LY P R E S E N T E D B Y

MHD Supply Chain Solutions

AWARDS SPONSORS

S I M O N . C O B U R N @ P R I M E C R E AT I V E . C O M . A U

INTELLIGENT

TELEMATICS POWERING JOB SITES AS JAMES FRENCH, SOLUTIONS SPECIALIST AT TELETRAC NAVMAN WRITES, TELEMATICS ARE HELPING TO ENSURE THE EFFICIENT OPERATION OF CONSTRUCTION SITES.

44

ROADS JULY 2022

A

ustralia’s economic, social, and environmental future relies on infrastructure. It supports progress across the nation, powering growth.

Unfortunately, while construction sites forge our nation’s future, they can be difficult places to work.

Project managers need to balance competing demands such as project deadlines, quality management, and compliance in an environment that can be loud, busy, and sometimes dangerous.

Without adequate visibility, these demands become hard to meet.

On top of that, with people and light vehicles operating alongside a variety of plant and equipment, managing safety can be complex. This is where telematics

technology can help.

Telematics provides complete visibility across the project site, improving safety and productivity while freeing staff to concentrate on the project.

ASSET VISIBILITY Whether building roads or upgrading infrastructure, telematics provides real-time complete asset visibility, ensuring a safe and more productive project with an objective evidence trail and a single source of truth for many on-site activities.

Light towers are a common feature on job sites; however, monitoring and managing them can involve a lot of travel to and from the units. On large sites, locating them can be time-consuming. Telematics can help with

TECHNOLOGY & EQUIPMENT

With telematics, operators can view all traffic and machine movement across the job site.

Telematics can provide remote data for project managers, such as light status and fuel levels.

this. Lights can be programmed to switch on and off automatically based on the project’s work schedule and requirements.

Data including engine performance, light status, fuel levels and fault codes are available remotely. Removing the requirement to drive to a light tower to check fuel or to check whether the unit is on or off results in immediate benefits in terms of safety and productivity.

Consider plant and equipment maintenance: proactively maintaining plant reduces Telematics shows data in real time.

downtime and unscheduled maintenance and improves fuel efficiency while keeping operators safe at the controls.

Meanwhile, predictive equipment management solutions use historical data to identify and alert operators and fleet managers of what equipment needs maintenance and when. The digitised systems fully automate maintenance routines with custom schedules and real-time access to equipment diagnostics and inspection reports.

This provides complete visibility without administration staff having to sort through paper-based reports, which is time-consuming.

What does this all mean for businesses? It means complete visibility over the status of assets, allowing operators to address potential problems before they occur — so they can successfully and safely complete projects on time and on budget.

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT The construction industry doesn’t operate within a single, defined parameter. Individual job sites can cover large areas, so ensuring work is completed safely and efficiently can be challenging.

With vehicles entering and exiting sites, machinery constantly on the move, and people moving and working across a site, managing traffic on a worksite can be one of the most frantic, stressful, and timeconsuming elements of worksite management.

Telematics combined with site management solutions like Site360, which was implemented on the WestConnex Rozelle project, provides a condensed view of all traffic and machine movement across the project.

Automated allocation allows Site360 to direct inbound vehicles to the correct entry gates and pick up or deliver on approaching the site. This reduces delays and improves traffic management, minimising disruption in built-up areas. The implementation of telematics frees up engineers to concentrate on production rather than traffic management.

POWERING AUSTRALIA’S FUTURE By adopting intelligent telematics solutions, contractors will have complete visibility over their operation, improving the safety and efficiency of job sites.

Simple changes like light tower monitoring, proactively maintained equipment, and automated traffic control can have a significant impact. Our future relies on construction sites — by investing in workers’ safety and efficiency of job sites, operators are investing in Australia’s tomorrow. roadsonline.com.au

45

WHY SMART ROADS MAKE

SMART SENSE

HOWARD COLLINS, CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER FOR TRANSPORT FOR NSW, DISCUSSES THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF SMART ROADS ON MODERN TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE.

46

ROADS JULY 2022

TECHNOLOGY & EQUIPMENT

H

oward Collins is all about solving problems. Whether it was when he was in charge of the London Underground, or in his current role as the Chief Operations Officer for Transport for NSW, he knows the future of getting people from A to B in the quickest, non-congested manner, is in the hands of latest technologies.

At the recent Roads and Traffic Expo held at the ICC in Sydney, he gave a speech about smart motorways. He knows that as the population rises – and even with investment

in infrastructure, whether it be new tunnel systems or light rail – there are going to be pressure points. And it’s part of his job to foresee those pressure points and make sure they don’t become an issue.

WHAT IS A SMART MOTORWAY? “Smart motorways, as it suggests, is a way of managing issues on roads so that we get the maximum flow out of the ‘pipe’,” he says.

The ‘pipe’ is the metaphor he uses to describe the issue of getting people from one

place to another on a limited piece of real estate – after all, a pipe can take only so much pressure at a time – if you push it too hard, it will burst. However, if you manage it correctly, it will flow smoothly.

“If you get a blockage occasionally [in that pipe], you get a flood,” he says. “[It’s the same with motorways], you get people who complain about why they’re stuck on the motorway,” he says.

“And even if you unblock the other end, 50 minutes later, despite the announcement on Collins says that even with large infrastructure investment, the transport network will still see pressure points.

roadsonline.com.au

47

Smart motorways can help to reduce congestion, improving travel times for motorists.

“WE’RE A CAR CITY. WE’RE A PLACE WHERE ONLY 16 PER CENT TO 17 PER CENT OF THE PEOPLE USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT. WE MUST PROVIDE ROADS FOR CARS, BUT WE NEED TO PROVIDE THEM IN A SMARTER WAY.” the radio that the accident or the smash has been cleared, vehicles are still trickling through that pipe to get to the other end. Every one of us who’s driven in Sydney, has experienced… some sort of delay as a result of that.”

Collins points out that using technology is nothing new. Even 50 years ago, in London, they knew the benefits of smart technology to help with traffic flows.

“In 1968, on the railways of London Underground, we started using technology to manage the flow by using very large computers and some fantastic technology to move trains along automatically – to connect the train with the track,” he says. “City Metro is another form of smart motorway, but a smart railway in the fact that we’re using the ability to get carriages together to flow them in the correct way and use that technology.”

One of his favourite technologies is ramp metering, which has come into play over recent years on Sydney’s motorways, especially the M4.

“What we’ve done with this smart technology is tried to ensure we give you a more consistent drive. How do we do that?

Well, it’s all about giving you information to 48

ROADS JULY 2022

ensure that you do the right thing,” he says.

“One of these technologies is what people call ramp metering. We use a version of it at Town Hall station in Sydney. When it gets a little bit too busy, we close some of the gates off – very frustrating for those who want to get down on the platforms – but it’s stopping the flow of people going onto the platform and thus overcrowding and then causing that blockage in that point.”

It’s the same on the M4, he says. It’s about slowing the vehicles down and entering that pipe. He believes ramp metering has reduced the number of accidents and incidents that have occurred on the motorways, as using the method controls the flow of traffic in an effective way.

It’s also about managing speeds, as Collins explains.

“Now, it’s obvious sometimes that if there’s an accident or lane delay, the signing will change,” he says. “And I know as motorists, if you can’t see people road working, you think ‘Why on earth are they slowing me down?’

“And if there’s obstruction ahead, you may not be able to see it, but you need to get out of that lane and get to the next time lane

because very soon, you’re going to come across that obstruction. The beauty with smart motorways really is about ensuring that we assist you give you plenty of warning.”

One of the outcomes of a smart motorway and controlling the flow of traffic in such a way is that even though you are slowing down traffic in order to control the flow, people will more than likely get to their destination quicker because of that control. Without it, there would be chaos – people ducking in and out and causing a lot of stop/start issues of flow. Collins knows this can cause incidents, but it is getting better.

“It might be frustrating as you think you want to do 100 kilometres an hour and the sign says 80 or 60, but it is there because it has been scientifically proven to give you the smoothest journey,” he says.

The technology that controls the flow on the motorways in NSW cost $600 million, which Collins acknowledges is a lot. However, he also cites the data collected since the sensors and periphery products such as software and hardware have been installed, shows it is having a positive effect.

“The motorways are safer. Data from

TECHNOLOGY & EQUIPMENT

December 2020 has shown we’ve had 40 per cent fewer incidents/accidents on those sections of the road that are now smart,” he says.

“Also, journey times have improved by 20 per cent. Isn’t that a great thing for all of us?

Putting this technology in has been a great idea. And certainly, it has improved safety and the ability for us to move volumes.”

What’s next on the agenda in smart technology for roads? In Collins mind it is connecting the vehicles, and other transport options like trains. He thinks this is important because it will help optimise the capacity of the motorway system.

“Connecting those vehicles and allowing for smart technology to get to the next generation, is important,” he says. “Because that’s what mass transit does. If you travel on Sydney Metro, the trains – ie the pipe – are all talking to each other in real time. Those trains can get closer together, you can get higher volumes, take out the human error.

With technology, you can deliver a much better outcome. And you might be saying ‘well, when’s that going to happen?’ Sooner than you think, when you think of how

technology is moving forward.”

Collins believes Australians will embrace technology in terms of electrification of vehicles. He says the country is slow off the mark. He was in Canada recently, and he noticed there were 150 charging stations at the local shopping mall. He also saw a large volume of fully electric cars.

“It’s a changing world out there,” he says.

“What that technology allows us to think about is how we can connect those vehicles, whatever the make they are, to our smart motorway network.”

“If you’ve driven in Los Angeles in the past 10 years, no matter how wide that roadway in that pipe is, if the volume of those vehicles it too large, you will end up with the same traffic jam and the same frustration. It’s important that in our future world, we provide smart technology, we give people alternatives. And we provide that solution which is multimodal.”

“We’re a car city. We’re a place where only 16 per cent to 17 per cent of the people use public transport. We must provide roads for cars, but we need to provide them in a smarter way.”

JCB BACKHOES THE WORLD’S NUMBER ONE BACKHOE LOADER MANUFACTURER INTRODUCING THE NEW STAGE V JCB SITEMASTER • • • • • • •

BEST IN CLASS ROAD SPEEDS LOW EMISSION HIGH POWERED STAGE V ECOMAX ENGINES IMPRESSIVE FUEL SAVINGS WITH AUTO ENGINE SHUT DOWN ERGONOMICALLY DESIGNED CONTROLS WITH EXCLUSIVE IN SEAT CONTROLS ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY 7” LCD TOUCH SCREEN EFFICIENT DESIGN PHILOSOPHY AUTOMATED FUNCTIONS WITH SELF LEVELLING STABILISERS

JCB’s iconic backhoe loader is as fresh and innovative today as when it was first conceived over 60 years ago. Since the invention of the backhoe by JCB in 1953 it has undergone continual innovations, pushing the boundaries and providing real solutions to meet customer needs.

A large part of JCB’s success is that we’ve listened to what our customers want, and we’re always striving to produce the most productive, reliable and efficient machines on the market. In tough market conditions, we take the time to understand what’s important to customers and how we can make a difference to your success through features that ensure versatility, offer positive residuals, fuel efficiency and low cost of ownership.

For more information on the range of JCB backhoe loaders please contact your local dealer www.jcbcea.com.au or call 1300 522 232.

A NEW APPROACH FOR

NET-ZERO The place-based approach focuses on the decarbonisation of cities, rather than infrastructure projects.

A REPORT RELEASED BY THE INFRASTRUCTURE SUSTAINABILITY COUNCIL AND GLOBAL ENGINEERING, MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS MOTT MACDONALD, HIGHLIGHTS A NEW WAY TO ACHIEVE NET-ZERO EMISSIONS.

A

ccording to the Infrastructure Sustainability Council, infrastructure contributes up to 70 per cent of emissions through planning, design, building and use of assets.

While solutions for emission reduction do exist, implementation across the whole infrastructure sector and across interconnected infrastructure systems, has proven to be a challenge – until now.

The Place-based approach to netzero report, written by Infrastructure Sustainability Council and Mott MacDonald, highlights a new approach which focuses on climate action in cities and regions, rather than just assets and materials.

As Cathy Chesson Technical Director Environment and Sustainability for Mott MacDonald says, the report is inspired by similar action taken in the United Kingdom (UK).

“In May 2019 the UK Government legislated to cut greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050, acting 50

ROADS JULY 2022

on advice and recommendations from its advisory group, the Climate Change Committee (CCC), that rapid and total decarbonisation of the economy is required to achieve a stable climate and a sustainable future,” Chesson says.

“The Net-Zero Infrastructure Industry Coalition was set up to support the delivery of this UK net-zero commitment.

Clare Wildfire, Global Cities Lead at Mott MacDonald, led the team that prepared the initial Place Based Approach to Net Zero report, a key delivery of the coalition, looking at the interplay between national and local government as the UK steps up its decarbonisation ambitions.

“The Infrastructure Sustainability Council approached Mott MacDonald late last year, interested in preparing a similar piece for Australia and New Zealand.”

The UK report detailed how infrastructure could be used to achieve net zero through place-based solutions.

It also acted as a call-to-action for the infrastructure sector to lead by example.

“It’s putting a systematic approach to

decarbonisation of cities and regions, rather than thinking about individual infrastructure assets or projects,” Chesson adds.

Adapting the report from the UK application to Australia and New Zealand did present its challenges due to differing government structures between the three nations, however it’s content is still highly applicable for Australia and New Zealand, says Marianna Southwick, Mott MacDonald Australia Precincts Lead.

“The challenges of urbanisation and the need for climate action are common to all countries, cities and regions. But the responses to address them require a bespoke and nuanced approach, depending on where they are located,” Southwick says.

“The place based framework in the original report is robust and applicable to multiple different places, enabling a targeted response to the challenges, vulnerabilities, opportunities and community considerations of each location.”

ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY

KEY FINDINGS Major infrastructure projects, such as the Parramatta Light Rail in Sydney’s west, are already employing sustainable construction methods, which in turn, support broader benefits to the local community.

Southwick says the Parramatta Light Rail Project’s use of ‘green track’, which involves planting grass or groundcovers between and beside the light rail tracks, is a good example. 1.3 kilometres of green track will result in 81 per cent less concrete, reduced carbon, reduced urban heat, improved dust filtering, reduced stormwater and enhanced natural habitat. Plus, the benefits will extend to localised social and community outcomes.

Creating and connecting communities was a key goal for the Parramatta Light Rail. Use of the green track and overhead wire-free technology though heritage parklands and reserves, ensures the Light Rail will seamlessly pass through valuable green spaces, rather than acting a major infrastructure barrier. Optimising local green space connections will further contribute to health and wellbeing benefits, protect heritage values, and support increased community participation.

So how else can the place-based approach be implemented?

The report contains a case study at Hobsonville Point, in Wellington, New Zealand. Here the focus was setting and achieving ‘sustainable transport targets’.

As Chesson explains, the case study provided an example of applying the

Marianna Southwick, Mott MacDonald Australia Precincts Lead, says the need for climate action is universal, but the nuances of each region are different, a reason for the development of the place-based approach.

The place-based approach incorporates the transport habits of each region or city.

framework to a specific location and their communities. She adds that the behaviours, perceptions and priorities of communities may have been derived through decades of precedent, but its important in tackling pathways to net zero that we look at these motivations and behaviours and look for opportunities to release new funding and resources.

“The project team asked ‘how do people move around within Hobsonville Point?

How do they get to work? Is everything they’re doing within their community?’” she says.

The safe and convenient movement of people on foot or on bikes within the community has been made a priority. The coastal walkway also allows residents to walk or bike ‘off road’ between their homes and the schools, parks, shops and ferry wharf. Living in a walkable neighbourhood reduces the need for families to own more than one car.

“By identifying what’s relevant to communities, we can also identify what infrastructure is needed to foster behavioural changes,” Chesson says.

“I think the report sets up a framework for other places, cities and regions to actually implement place based approaches to achieve carbon reduction and other environmental and community benefits.”

LOOKING AHEAD Southwick says a key to the success of the place-based approach will be collaboration and partnerships as well as appropriate governance.

“The framework identifies the four pillars of change, which are powers, partnerships,

platform and people. These are critical to success – ensuring that for every place we have the right powers, the right governance and the right leadership to effect meaningful change,” she says.

She adds that momentum is growing across the infrastructure sector to achieve place-based outcomes and solutions.

“It’s very encouraging that all tiers of government, industry, business and communities are coming together to resolve how we can work together to optimise outcomes.

“We’re at an important point politically regarding the net zero conversation, and I think this report is well timed for Australia.

A place based approach enables more effective cross sector solutions, working more effectively across jurisdictions, and mobilising local community engagement.

These are all key to a net-zero future.”

This report is a call-to-action for the infrastructure sector to lead by example, thinking globally, acting locally in the cities and regions in which people live, work and play. Following from the report the Infrastructure Sustainability Council is encouraging industry (government department, delivery authorities, private industry, consultants and contractors) to join the ISC Climate Action Coalition or to start similar conversations.

Since the launch of the report, the Infrastructure Sustainability Council has launched an EOI for a Member Coalition which will collaboratively lead the progression of place-based approaches to net zero for every town, city and region.

To find out more, visit the Infrastructure Sustainability Council website or email coalitions@iscouncil.org roadsonline.com.au

51

MEET THE AFPA GRADUATE TAKING THE ROAD LESS

TRAVELLED A

ccording to Infrastructure Australia, by 2023 one in every three skilled labour positions will go unfilled, and whilst Australia’s skills crisis remains well publicised in the context of typical trades, little discussed are its impacts on the workforce servicing the nation’s most crucial assets, its roads.

Australian Flexible Pavement Association Civil Engineer and QUT Graduate Abraham Wani is one of these young people breaking the mould by looking to answer the call for more resilient and sustainable road infrastructure.

Wani has urged that more people seeking to make real difference to Australia’s future infrastructure consider the flexible pavement industry.

“I am excited to be playing a critical role in Australia’s recovery. I am excited to learn as much as possible and to apply the practices I learned in university, for example I am very passionate about sustainability,” he says.

“Though I was raised in Australia I was born in South Sudan, visiting there throughout my childhood I began to realise from a young age the value of infrastructure and wellmaintained transportation routes.

“I would absolutely recommend that young people consider this industry, though many might not have considered it, I get to do important, innovative work and make a real tangible difference.”

Having already completed a variety of projects including engineering reports, onsite investigations and civil infrastructure design, Wani is already providing vital skill and innovation to one of the nation’s most crucial industries.

AfPA aims to support more graduates like Abraham through a variety of programs they offer, supporting students with upskilling opportunities throughout their studies including sharpening their comprehensive, analytical and calculative engineering skills.

52

ROADS JULY 2022

Australian Flexible Pavement Association Civil Engineer and QUT Graduate Abraham Wani.

Carlos Rial, CEO of AfPA, says he is delighted with Wani’s progress thus far.

“We are very proud of the work that Abraham has done and applaud his intuition, spotting the glaring need for skilled workers to service the nation’s crucial transport routes.

“Young people such as Abraham are a rare and desperately needed asset to the Australian infrastructure workforce, more than ever we need eager, intelligent young people to lead the way froward for our critical assets.

“In the midst of Australia’s civil sector big build, supporting our economic and flood damaged recovery, we need more investment in our young future leaders to help with today and for society tomorrow.”

Carlos Rial, CEO of AfPA.

AUSTRALIAN FLEXIBLE PAVEMENT ASSOCIATION

2022 Industry Awards

Registrations Open https://www.afpa.asn.au/events

Proud Dinner Sponsors

Limited Award and Dinner Sponsorship opportunities are still available https://bit.ly/3sdDS8x

AfPA

MEMBER PROFILE

DAVID MCPADDEN, VENTIA GROUP EXECUTIVE, TRANSPORT, SHARES SOME INSIGHTS FROM HIS EXPERIENCE IN THE INDUSTRY WITH ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE. HOW LONG HAS VENTIA BEEN AN AFPA MEMBER AND WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO BECOME ONE? Ventia, one of Australia and New Zealand’s largest essential infrastructure services businesses, has been a member with AfPA since 2019. Associations like AfPA are important for us to keep abreast of industry trends, allow our people to upskill and network, and keep us connected with our clients.

HOW DID YOU START YOUR CAREER IN THE ROAD TRANSPORT OPERATIONS INDUSTRY? I’ve been fortunate to have a career that has spanned a diverse range of major transport infrastructure (road and rail), renewable energy and complex brownfield aviation projects.

My very first role in construction was at BMD back in the mid-1990’s where I was a Project and Construction Manager. Prior to my roles at Ventia, I was Executive General Manager for WBHO Infrastructure, and had the responsibility for the restructure and growth of the business. I’ve also held a variety of senior operational management and project director roles.

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT ROLE AND WHAT DOES IT INVOLVE? I joined Ventia in 2020 as General Manager – Road Transport Operations (Australia). This year, I was fortunate to move into the role of Group Executive – Transport and now head up Ventia’s Transport sector. We provide maintenance, project delivery, technology solutions and minor capital works to owners and operators of road, motorway, tunnel and rail networks across Australia and New Zealand. At Ventia, our strategy is to redefine service excellence by being client focused sustainable and innovative, so my role is really to bring that to life in our Transport sector.

WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR CURRENT ROLE? We’ve got some amazing apprentices coming 54

ROADS JULY 2022

through the ranks who I hope we can foster and grow into our next leaders. We’ve also been incredibly fortunate to have several CareerSeekers interns join our team over 12week internships. CareerSeekers is a non-profit organisation that provides preparation and support to both refugees and people seeking asylum who are either currently studying at university, or looking to restart their professional career in Australia. I was thrilled that we were able to recently offer a full-time role to one of our talented interns, Nashwan, one of our Sydney road transport projects. In this industry, we also have an important role to attract and retain women. Ventia is firmly committed to creating career opportunities for women and driving equal opportunities as we seek 40 per cent representation across our business.

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN THE INDUSTRY? One of my proudest moments at Ventia has been the way our team helps our communities, following major incidents or natural disasters, ensuring road and transport networks are back up and running as quickly as possible. The recent floods across the East Coast of Australia are a great example of this.

WHAT IS A RECENT CHANGE YOU HAVE SEEN IN THE INDUSTRY AND HOW ARE YOU/THE COMPANY PREPARED FOR THAT? We’re seeing a real shift towards sustainability across the industry. The impact that transport infrastructure has on the environment and climate change is here and we’re seeing our clients, partners and government looking to service providers like Ventia to help with that journey and transition. In the past year, we have also started transitioning our fleet to hybrid and electric and our Transport sector has been leading the way. In the past 12 months, we have introduced Victorian road operation’s first EV truck; two Teslas in Sydney which are fully recharged by power generated by solar panels on the roof of our facility;

David McPadden

one of New Zealand’s first hybrid excavators and one of Australia’s first hydrogen vehicles.

There is more to be done but we are making great strides to support our clients and their customers on their sustainability journey.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS MOST INTERESTING ABOUT THE ROAD TRANSPORT OPERATIONS INDUSTRY? As EV adoption grows across Australia and New Zealand, the associated vehicle charging infrastructure will become a growing need. For builders of roads, this will need to be factored in design, and for service providers like Ventia, how these will be maintained. If we look further to the future, according to McKinsey, by 2035, 15 per cent of light vehicles sold are expected to be fully autonomous. What does this mean? Driving precision is anticipated to increase dramatically, and therefore we could see major changes in road construction such as lanes that are much narrower.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE FUTURE? The market outlook is extremely positive that will present Ventia with significant opportunities for further growth. My team and I are committed to ensuring Ventia remains the market leader in our industry by redefining service excellence, fostering a culture people want to come work for and see strong career paths, and continue to drive safe and sustainable solutions for our clients and their customers.

Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre

nodigdownunder@primecreative.com.au

EXHIBITION SPACE ON SALE NOW!

www.nodigdownunder.com

12 - 15 SEPT 2023

NO-DIG DOWN UNDER 2022 sold out.

Don’t miss your chance to be involved in 2023. www.nodigdownunder.com

OFFICIAL MEDIA PARTNER

#nodigdownunder

SUPPORTED BY

FOCUS ON SAFETY HIGH ON NATIONAL

BODY AGENDA H

igh on the agenda of National Precast’s Master Precasters is ensuring the highest possible safety standards for workers. It is an ethos that is advocated by the industry’s peak body, National Precast.

According to National Precast’s CEO Sarah Bachmann, the organisation regularly educates and communicates with its members on safety matters.

“While precast construction offers many safety benefits, good safety practices both in the factory and onsite are imperative.

We are constantly trying to raise the bar, via member newsletters and presentations and with our ongoing dealings with WHS authorities,” she says.

“A workplace health and safety briefing at our most recent national member conference is case in point.”

The briefing was presented by Elizabeth Radley, Partner of Professional Associate member Moray and Agnew and gave members an update on their WHS obligations and responsibilities.

As well, National Precast regularly communicates with members via newsletters on safety matters, bringing them up to date with changes to standards and codes and sharing information on benchmarked industry best practices.

MASTER PRECASTERS AUDITED ON SAFETY PRACTICES The focus on safety is a cornerstone of the organisation’s audit process for new Master Precasters. All of National Precast’s Master Precasters have been professionally audited to ensure that they comply with all elements of a competent health and safety management system.

Safety is assessed and addressed in every stage of the manufacturing process.

“It is a critical component of the audit, and if the precaster doesn’t come up to scratch, they won’t be admitted as a 56

ROADS JULY 2022

Waeger Constructions’ office staff observing the safety aspects of setting up one of the company’s bridge plank moulds.

Master Precaster” says Bachmann.

“Along with quality and environmental systems and process checks, safe work practices are something we carefully assess. We make sure the precaster not only has the right policies and systems in place, but importantly, that these are implemented on a daily basis.”

PRECASTER OFFERS ONGOING SAFETY TRAINING An example of the priority placed on safety by National Precast’s Master Precasters, is Rutherford NSW-based Waeger Constructions. Waeger’s Managing Director Michael Waeger is also the current President of the industry body.

“At Waeger Constructions we are committed to providing a safe working environment and safety is a major priority,” Waeger says.

All staff at Waeger are involved in weekly safety observations. These observations not only provide office based staff with an understanding of the tasks undertaken in Waeger’s precast yard, but increase overall safety awareness, ensure compliance to the company’s policies and procedures and provide ongoing opportunities to identify improvements to best practice.

“It is part of the ongoing learning and development we provide for our teams in all aspects of safety across the business,” Waeger adds.

Regular site visits by the company’s safety team, to work with site crews to better understand rescue training, is just one example. These visits provide opportunities to test various techniques and strategies, so workers understand the safest and most efficient way to execute a rescue from heights.

REIMAGINING T H E S U P P LY C H A I N

PROUD PARTNER

Department of Transport

24-26 AUGUST

S U P P O R T I N G S P ON S O R

M E L B O U R N E C O N V E N T I O N &

BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW SAVE MONEY WITH EARLY BIRD TICKETS One of the first trade expos post-COVID, MEGATRANS is the critical event for the freight and logistics supply chain to get your brand in front of customers again.

M E G AT R A N S . C O M . A U

CO N F E R E N C E SPONSORS

ASSOCI AT ION PART NE RS

E H X H I B I T I O N C E N T R E

CONTRACTS & TENDERS

CONTRACTS IN BRIEF ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE PROVIDES AN UPDATE ON SOME OF THE CONTRACTS AND TENDERS RECENTLY AWARDED OR PUT TO MARKET ACROSS THE AUSTRALIAN INFRASTRUCTURE SECTOR. NEW SOUTH WALES John Holland to deliver $658 million children’s hospital project John Holland has been chosen to deliver the $658 million Sydney Children’s Hospital Stage One and Minderoo Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Randwick, New South Wales. The company will partner with Health Infrastructure and the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network on the project, to be located within Sydney’s Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct. The new children’s hospital and research centre will be delivered as a single project in an integrated facility, which aims to transform paediatric health care locally, nationally and globally. Funding for the project includes $478 million from the New South Wales Government, $100 million from the Federal Government, $25 million from the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation, and $25 million from the Children’s Cancer Institute.

The University of New South Wales is providing a $30 million in-kind contribution for the children’s cancer centre, to which the Minderoo Foundation have also pledged $20 million. Planning and design for the project have been underway since 2019, with main works due to begin in the coming months.

The facility is expected to open in late 2025.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA CIMIC’s CPB selected for $130 million Wind Fences Project CIMIC Group’s CPB Contractors has been selected by BHP to deliver its Wind Fences Project; with fences to be constructed at Nelson Point and Finucane Island at Port Hedland, in Western Australia’s Pilbara region. The project involves the construction and installation of dust mitigation fences, which aim to improve environmental outcomes through dust abatement for the Port Hedland area. The contract will generate revenue of approximately $130 million to CPB Contractors. The fences will include mesh panels designed to reduce wind speeds, shielding BHP’s stockpiles and reducing the potential for dust lift-off. The fences will abate dust emissions and 58

ROADS JULY 2022

prevent net increases over time. The 30 metre high fences, which span a length of two kilometres, will be fabricated and built in Western Australia, are designed to control dust from BHP’s port operations and will be the first of their kind in Australia. Construction of the wind fences is expected to start in August 2022 and take 14 months to complete. Up to 150 employees will be involved in the construction of the project, with up to 10 per cent Indigenous employment.

BMD Urban awarded Perth City Centre Regeneration Program contract BMD has been awarded the contract for the construction of stage two of Cecil Avenue East, as part of the City of Canning’s City Centre Regeneration Program in Western Australia. The Canning City Centre Regeneration Program is a 10 year, $76 million package that aims to turn the area into Perth’s Southern CBD. The second stage of works aims to transform the area between Lake Street and Sevenoaks Street with high quality paving, integrated artworks and other landscape finishes. As part of the upgrade, the BMD works will include site preparation and demolition, construction of roads footpaths and paved areas, traffic signal upgrade works, electrical works, landscaping and irrigation improvement works, street furniture, drainage and hydraulic works and communications works. Additional works for Cecil Avenue East include dedicated bus lanes which can also be used by cyclists and taxis, wider footpaths for a pedestrian-friendly street and smart infrastructure including technology for augmented reality, free Wi-Fi, CCTV, public mobile charging stations and interactive street and furniture lighting. These works follow on from the first stage of Cecil Avenue West which was completed in 2019.

This included the completion of Service Relocations, which will allow for the major road and landscape works to commence.

Works for stage two will commence this month and are expected to be completed by late January 2023.

NORTHERN TERRITORY Tender awarded for Darwin bus services The Northern Territory Government has awarded a tender for the operation of bus services across Greater Darwin.

ComfortDelGro Corporation (CDC) subsidiary CDC Darwin – formerly Buslink NT – has won the tender for a six-year contract as the sole operator of public bus services for Darwin, Palmerston and rural areas, as well as Special Needs Services across the region. CDC currently operates the urban bus network in Alice Springs, as well as school services in Alice Springs, Batchelor and Jabiru. The contract starts from 1 July 2022, with current Buslink branding replaced by new CDC Northern Territory branding. Buslink has operated in Darwin since 1988 before it was acquired by CDC in November 2018. CDC runs transport services both globally and across Australia, including buses in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, the ACT, as well as the Northern Territory.

BMD providing an infrastructure boost for the Northern Territory Works are underway on the Stuart Highway duplication in the Northern Territory, as progress continues on additional infrastructure upgrades throughout the region. BMD Group are extending and duplicating the Stuart Highway 200 metres before Cyprus Road to 300 metres past Uralla Road. In addition to the duplication, a new link road intersection positioned between Cyprus Street and Uralla Road will be constructed, Uralla Road intersection will be realigned and safety upgrades applied to the Cyprus Street intersection.

The upgrades will see the existing two-lane highway upgraded to four-lanes, extending the existing duplication from the Katherine CBD southbound. Stormwater, sewer and electrical upgrades will also be undertaken.

These upgrades complement the $10 million flood mitigation works which will take place in Katherine North this year. Construction on the duplication is expected to be completed by late 2022.

INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR PORTABLE ENERGY Built to withstand a variety of conditions the Atlas Copco range of lighting towers are robust and offer unrivalled efficiencies ensuring they are both reliable and can operate for an extensive period of time.

•

Fuel efficient, ensuring longer running hours

•

Specially designed directional optics offering incredible light distribution

•

LED HiLight towers achieve up to 6.000 square-metres of light coverage with an average level of 20 luxes

•

A life expectancy of more than 50.000 hours

•

Aluminium casting, providing heavy duty protection

SPEAK TO OUR TEAM TODAY FOR AVAILABLE FINANCE OPTIONS! PH: 1800 733 782 www.atlascea.com.au

Small Asphalt Rollers Compact and Smart

DYNAPACS SIXTH GENERATION SMALL ASPHALT ROLLERS - READY TO ROLL Dynapac’s sixth generation CC1300VI and CC1400VI small asphalt rollers are designed and built to meet the construction industries ever evolving and tough conditions.

The new design has resulted in a robust, comfortable and modern machine that still achieves the market leading compaction results that Dynapac is renowned for.

The new generation has a unique cross mounted engine providing exceptional access to engine and hydraulic components. This new engine concept and the slideable operators seat combine to increase visibility to drum edges and the greater worksite. High vibration frequency, offsetability of the drum, high efficiency eccentrics and options such as edge press devices and chip spreaders all improve compaction efficiency and versatility.

Your Partner on the Road Ahead

dynapaccea.com.au 1300 788 757 15:41

PROUD DISTRIBUTOR

ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE AUSTRALIA

FOLLOW THE GREEN BIOPRIME ROAD.

JULY 2022

BioPrime is an environmentally friendly quick-penetrating primer emulsion specifically formulated for use on both stabilised/bound granular and unbound granular base courses.

So now you can build safe roads that seal quickly and reduce our industry’s environmental impact, because after all, there is no place like home.

CALL 1800 BITUMEN

OR VISIT

SAMI.COM.AU