Roads & Infrastructure August 2021

AUGUST 2021

BUILT TO CONNECT Revealing Astec’s new look and business model

CLOSING THE LOOP Following the progress on Melbourne’s North East Link Official media partners of

ROAD SAFETY IN FOCUS Industry experts on how to enhance road safety

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AUGUST 2021 CONTENTS

& INFRASTRUCTURE COVER STORY

14 Astec’s new look All of Astec Industries’ 16 brands are now brought together under the OneASTEC banner.

PROJECT REPORT

16 Closing the loop The North East Link Project team and sub-contractors explain the latest progress made on the project.

AFPA

20 AfPA Symposium takes off A look at the list of speakers at AfPA 2021 Symposium and what they will deliver.

23 AfPA Member Profile Giovanny Alvarado, Project Manager and Design Director at AECOM, talks about his experience in the industry.

ISCA

24 Keeping sustainability front of mind Key messages delivered by Romilly Madew, CEO of Infrastructure Australia at the ISCA Connect 2021 conference.

NATIONAL PRECAST

26 Masters of precast A look at innovative works delivered by National Precast Master Precasters.

ROADS REVIEW

28 Industry leaders look at what we can do better in Australia to improve the state of road safety.

SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS

30 True owner-contractor partnerships InEight’s Queensland Government Account Director, Derek Griffiths talks about how project owners can manage data and the tools they use to ensure their projects stay within budget.

JCB’s 525-60 IND Telehandler features a 2500 -kilogram weight lift capacity. Story on page 36.

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EQUIPMENT INSURANCE

TECHNOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT

EVENTS

32 Bitumen enhancement We look at some of the most popular items in Sripath Technologies’ bitumen enhancement products.

34 Delivering sustainability Alex Fraser Managing Director Peter Murphy talks about the company’s role in driving use of recycled material.

36 Lifting the Industry Standard We find out more about JCB’s 525-60 IND Telehandler in conversation with Product Manager Phil Withell.

39 Laying down the foundation Bilboa Construction’s Mitch Walley shares his experience with Simex PLB300.

40 Catching the rain ACO Australia’s Head of Marketing on safe and effective drainage options for roads.

ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY

44 Proactive approach to insurance Claims managers from Underwriting Agencies of Australia talk about risk-free equipment insurance.

46 Women in Industry Finalists for the Women in Industry Awards 2021 are announced.

ARRB THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

48 An engineered approach to road safety ARRB’s National Leader for Transport Safety David McTiernan talks about ARRB’s role in integrating safety with road construction.

CONTRACTS AND TENDERS 50 An overview of the latest tenders and contracts from around Australia

REGULARS

4 Editor’s note 6 News 12 People on the move

43 Coming together for Net Zero Tyrecycle CEO Jim Fairweather says collaboration will be key to the success of tyre recycling efforts in Australia.

roadsonline.com.au

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PUBLISHER Christine Clancy christine.clancy@primecreative.com.au MANAGING EDITOR Sarah Baker sarah.baker@primecreative.com.au

HOLDING ENGINEERS, AND EVERYONE ELSE, ACCOUNTABLE ON JUNE 24, NEWS OF ONE OF THE MOST DEVASTATING, and potentially the deadliest, accidental building collapses in American history shocked the world. The collapse of the Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida with nearly 140 residents was a tragedy not just to people in the US, but to the whole world.

Though investigations into the cause of the collapse are ongoing, the incident serves as a reminder of the grave responsibility engineers and builders carry on their shoulders every day they work on a new project.

In Australia, July 1 marked a major step in the national professional registration era, with the New South Wales and Victorian governments beginning to phase in registration schemes for engineers working in their respective states.

New South Wales has introduced the Design and Building Practitioners Regulation. Although this applies only to multi-storey (and mixed use) residential buildings initially, the government has indicated it will be extended to other building classes over time.

In Victoria, registration of professional engineers is being introduced under the Professional Engineers Registration Act 2019 and will be progressively introduced for each of the five areas of engineering, namely fire safety, civil, structural, electrical and mechanical, until December 1, 2023.

This is a massive step forward in regulating the professional engineering sector, considering that Australian states and territories have historically lacked a consistent or universal requirement for engineering practitioners to register. Queensland is the only state with mandatory registration of all professional engineers since 1930.

Announcing the new Act on June 25, the Victorian Government noted it would “give Victorians more confidence when engaging professional engineering services” across the state.

But if the views of industry experts on the issue of road safety in this month’s ‘Roads Review’ are any indication, the responsibility for safety, be that of road users or building residents, is one that is shared by everyone working in the respective sector. From materials manufacturers to regulatory bodies, to training institutes, to engineers and to the builders, all have a role to play when they are assigned with jobs that directly affect people’s safety and wellbeing.

With that reminder, I invite you to read this edition of the magazine, which puts road safety in the spotlight. Don’t miss the commentary from ARRB’s National Leader for Transport Safety David McTiernan on integrating safety with road construction.

Tara Hamid Editor, Roads & Infrastructure Magazine 4

ROADS AUGUST 2021

EDITOR Tara Hamid tara.hamid@primecreative.com.au JOURNALISTS Tom O’Keane tom.okeane@primecreative.com.au DESIGN PRODUCTION MANAGER Michelle Weston michelle.weston@primecreative.com.au ART DIRECTOR Blake Storey DESIGN Kerry Pert, Madeline McCarty 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.

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NEWS

WEST GATE TUNNEL PROJECT BACK ON TRACK Tunnelling for Melbourne’s delayed West Gate Tunnel Project is expected to commence soon, with the project contractor, CPB John Holland Joint Venture, announcing the Hi-Quality landfill facility in Melbourne’s northwest as the preferred site to process the contaminated rock and soil from the project.

The Hi-Quality facility was selected after an assessment of proposals from three sites approved by the Environment Protection Authority Victoria.

The multi-billion-dollar transport project was meant to be finished next year but was delayed after the detection of per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the material excavated from the site.

PFAS is often caused by extensive use of chemicals such as firefighting foams.

With the landfill site finalised, a West Gate Tunnel Project spokesperson

Artist impression of West Gate Tunnel, Courtesy of Victoria Government.

informed Roads & Infrastructure work was already in progress.

“Thousands of workers have been making significant progress on the West Gate Tunnel Project and activation of the Hi-Quality site is a major step forward.

The tunnel entries and exits are well under construction and the tunnel boring machines are assembled. We look forward

to tunnelling starting as soon as possible,” the spokesperson said.

Designed as an alternative to the West Gate Bridge, the $6.7 billion West Gate Tunnel Project will give Melbourne a second freeway link between the west and the city, creating an additional option of travel for more than 200,000 vehicles that rely on the West Gate Bridge every day.

LIDAR TECHNOLOGY IMPROVING ROAD SAFETY FOR VICTORIANS The Victoria Government has successfully finished a six-month trial wherein advanced light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors were adopted to enhance safety of road users.

The technology was developed and delivered by Omni-Aware, a consortium of specialist technology companies including Intelligent Transport Services, Transoptim

VicRoads is trialling LiDAR technology from Omni-Aware to predict crashes and near misses.

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ROADS AUGUST 2021

Consulting and IBIS Computers.

The Omni-Aware technology adapts perception technologies derived from Automated Vehicles (AVs) to roadside use by using multiple LiDAR sensors to build continuous spatial awareness of pedestrians, cyclists, cars, buses and trucks at a road location.

The trial project was a safety initiative

and explored the technology’s capability to intervene with hazard warnings ahead of a potential problem. When crashes and nearmisses occur, the technology can act as a black box, making available highly detailed information for analysis to help prevent future crashes.

The recent six-month trial followed an off-road testing in September 2019 and took place at a busy intersection in Melbourne’s western suburb of Yarraville.

The trial found that the technology can accurately detect potential hazards within 0.2 seconds to alert road users.

The trial also investigated ways for intersection infrastructure to communicate hazard warnings to connected vehicles using roadside Co-operative Intelligent Transport System equipment.

The $2 million trail, part of the Victorian Government’s $9 million Connected and Automated Vehicle Trial Grants Program, was the first extended trial using LiDAR technology to collect road data in Australia.

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NEWS

CONSTRUCTION CLOSER FOR GOLD COAST LIGHT RAIL EXTENSION Work on stage three of Gold Coast light rail project is getting underway, with GoldlinQ and John Holland commencing detailed construction planning for the project.

The estimated $1 billion stage three project will deliver a 6.7 kilometres extension south of the existing Gold Coast tram network, linking Helensvale to Burleigh Heads and providing eight additional stations.

John Holland was selected by GoldlinQ as design and construction partner on the project back in September 2020 following a competitive tender process.

As per the announcement by the Queensland Government, John Holland and GoldlinQ will now begin detailed construction planning for the project to identify and inspect underground services

Image credit: Queensland Government.

and start establishing a site presence along the 6.7-kilometre corridor.

Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads released a detailed flythrough video which gives a clear look at how the new line will transform areas along the route including Mermaid Beach, Nobby Beach and Miami.

John Holland’s team will be on the ground engaging directly with the

community and businesses to ensure they are informed before and throughout stage three construction.

John Holland Chief Executive Officer Joe Barr said the start of construction would revitalise the city and create jobs at a much-needed time.

“We are excited to start early works on this city-shaping light rail project to improve public transport on the Gold Coast,” Barr said.

John Holland will host a Local Industry Forum in September, presenting to potential local suppliers on upcoming work packages and answering questions.

A new round of community consultation also starts to canvass views on a future 13-kilometre stage four extension of light rail between Burleigh and Coolangatta, via the Gold Coast Airport.

SUNSHINE STATION TO BECOME TRANSPORT SUPERHUB FOR MELBOURNE AIRPORT RAIL New concept designs unveiled by the Victoria Department of Transport show how key areas along the Melbourne Airport Rail route might look, including upgrades to support Sunshine Station’s development into a transport superhub.

The transport superhub at Sunshine Station will provide Melbourne Airport Rail passengers with easy connections to Victoria’s regions and metropolitan areas, with a trip to Melbourne Airport from Sunshine expected to take 11 minutes.

As part of the new concept design, the Sunshine Station will nearly double Concept design for Melbourne Airport Rail Albion flyover, subject to planning approvals.

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ROADS AUGUST 2021

in size with a new accessible second concourse with escalators, lifts and stairs for better passenger connections and platform extensions and better access to existing platforms including more weather protection.

Other features of the design including extra ticketing gates and doubling the number of lifts in the station to improve accessibility and ease of movement for travellers with luggage.

These improvements to Sunshine Station will complement future investments being considered by the Victorian Government to transform Sunshine into a key transport precinct and jobs centre for western Melbourne.

The Victorian Department of Transport is now inviting public feedback on scope details and concept designs at Sunshine and other locations including Albion and the Western Ring Road (M80).

The pipeline of major rail investments for western Melbourne – including the Metro Tunnel, Melbourne Airport Rail,

Suburban Rail Loop and Western Rail Plan – will all contribute to Sunshine Station’s development into a transport superhub.

To maximise the benefits these major projects will bring to Sunshine, the Department of Transport is developing a Sunshine Station Masterplan, which will look at requirements for future investment and opportunities around Sunshine Station.

This includes considering the plans of key stakeholders such as the local council and other transport agencies.

Melbourne Airport Rail will be delivered

by Rail Projects Victoria, which currently has $30 billion invested in regional and metropolitan rail projects across Victoria.

Trains will run from Melbourne Airport through to Sunshine Station, into the Metro Tunnel in the CBD and then out onto the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines in Melbourne’s southeast.

Planning and development for this major project is now underway with construction set to start in 2022, subject to all relevant approvals.

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NEWS

GLOBAL MOVEMENT FOR ZERO-EMISSION CONCRETE GAINS MOMENTUM The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) and World Economic Forum have launched ‘Concrete Action for Climate’ (CAC), a collaborative platform that will help drive the industry’s journey to carbon neutral concrete by 2050 as part of the Mission Possible Partnership.

The Concrete Action for Climate initiative, which represents 40 per cent of the global concrete and cement industry through the GCCA, will bring together expertise and influence from the wider built environment industry, business, civil society, governments, and investors to help deliver and co-ordinate global climate action, stimulate demand for sustainable materials and ensure appropriate financing and public policy is in place to help the sector reduce its carbon footprint.

Dominik von Achten, chairman of HeidelbergCement and of the CAC, said the industry needed to engage and collaborate better.

“Strong action to improve the sustainability of cement and concrete is already underway, but the industry needs to engage and collaborate with others to help drive collective action towards achieving carbon neutral concrete for the world,” he said.

The work of the Concrete Action for Climate forms part of the Mission Possible Partnership and will follow a four-step approach, bringing together ambitious industry stakeholders to forge a shared vision for the future of concrete.

Alongside CAC, GCCA members are working on a comprehensive roadmap which will outline the pathway to net-zero with measurable milestones and a shared commitment to agreed actions. CAC will also be supporting implementation through the development of practical resources and toolkits for actions to share best practice with concrete and cement companies globally.

CAC is now inviting companies and wider society to join its movement by contributing to the development of key elements of achieving the climate goals, including supply and demand targets, policy recommendations, financing mechanisms and circularity solutions.

Nigel Topping, UN High Level Climate Action Champion at COP26 – the UN Climate Change Conference, said the launch of Concrete Action for Climate was a strong demonstration of the cement and concrete industry’s commitment to completely de-carbonising their entire supply chain.

“Now we must implement this ambition with the rapid uptake of green cement and concrete across the industrial ecosystem. We look forward to seeing more cement and concrete companies join the Race to Zero and drive forward these fundamental shifts to deliver a zerocarbon world in time.”

SOUTHERN ENTRY POINT REVEALED FOR TORRENS TO DARLINGTON TUNNELS

Image creddit: South Australia Government.

The South Australian Government has revealed the southern entry and exit points for the Torrens to Darlington (T2D) tunnels, the final 10.5 kilometre piece and the most complex part of the NorthSouth Corridor.

10

A purpose-built site near Tonsley Boulevard, in Clovelly Park, has been revealed as the launch site.

Known as the southern laydown area, this site will be used to assemble two tunnel-boring machines (TBMs) that will

Artist’s impression of the Torrens to Darlington (T2D) Project.

ROADS AUGUST 2021

dig four kilometres of tunnels for the new six-kilometre motorway – which will ultimately connect Darlington to Anzac Highway.

The site will also provide facilities to support tunnel-boring operations, such as workshops, storage facilities, tunnel access paths and transport routes.

Federal Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, Paul Fletcher said the announcement signified an important milestone in the delivery of the project.

“The Morrison Government has invested billions in the North-South Corridor – the most significant infrastructure project ever undertaken in the state – as part of its record $110 billion infrastructure investment pipeline, which is helping to drive the nation’s world-leading economic recovery,” Minister Fletcher said.

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PEOPLE ON THE MOVE ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE HELPS YOU KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST EXECUTIVE MOVEMENTS ACROSS THE ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE SECTOR IN THIS NEW COLUMN FEATURING LATEST APPOINTMENTS WITHIN THE INDUSTRY. DOWNER APPOINTS MARK CHELLEW AS NEW CHAIRMAN Downer has announced the appointment of Mark Chellew as a Non-executive Director, and Chairman elect following the impending retirement of current Chairman Mike Harding.

Chellew is currently the Chairman of Cleanaway Waste Management and a Director of Ampol but is set to take up his new role with Downer effective from 1 September 2021.

Chellew’s experience includes roles within Adelaide Brighton, Blue Circle Industries, CSR, Manufacturing Australia, Virgin Australia, and Infigen Energy.

Chellew had been the Chairman of Cleanaway Waste Management since September 2016.

Harding will retire from the board on 30 September 2021, in which time Chellew will take up the role of Chairman. Harding’s tenure on the Downer board began in July 2008 and he became Chairman in November 2010.

“I thank all the employees of Downer for their hard work and support over the years,” Harding said.

JEFF DOYLE JOINS AUSTRALIAN ROAD RESEARCH BOARD (ARRB)

Jeff Doyle has been appointed Executive Director for ARRB’s new Infrastructure Measurement Group.

Jeff Doyle has been appointed Executive Director for ARRB’s new Infrastructure Measurement Group, which delivers services to all those in the transport sector across road, rail, ports and airports.

Doyle will lead innovation and product development within this ARRB group, and 12

ROADS AUGUST 2021

roll out the delivery of next generation network-wide digital data collection, utilising world leading technology.

Doyle is the former chief executive officer of Altus Traffic and the Adecco Group for Australia and New Zealand. He had been Group CEO at Altus Traffic for six years, and previously led recruitment giant Adecco as CEO of its Australia and New Zealand operations. He also held senior leadership roles at Adecco before his elevation to CEO of office supplies company Corporate Express.

Doyle also holds multiple board directorships and is very well recognised across the infrastructure sector as a person who gets things done.

“Jeff’s appointment to this new role will enhance ARRB’s offering to our shareholders especially local governments across Australia, delivering to them smart, efficient and cost-effective Infrastructure Measurement services supported by asset management experience,” says ARRB Chief Executive Michael Caltabiano.

“Jeff will lead the transformation of the Infrastructure Measurement group within ARRB as we enhance the fleet with world first technologies that will deliver digital twinning capability and rapid assessment and reporting of the condition of our road networks,” he adds.

“ARRB’s role across all infrastructure sectors – road, rail, port and airports – will also be strengthened through the development of fit-for-purpose, cost-effective tools that support a deeper understanding of asset performance.”

WIRTGEN GROUP APPOINTS NEW ANZ NATIONAL PARTS MANAGER Wirtgen Group has appointed John Richardson the new National Parts Manager for Australia and New Zealand. Richardson brings with him over 20 years’ experience in the spare parts sector, including eight years in parts management.

Wirtgen Group’s genuine spare parts are tailored to meet the requirements of Wirtgen machines operators. The Wirtgen Group Parts Shop provides customers with a variety of options to find the parts they are looking for – including an electronic

John Richardson has joined Wirtgen Group as National Parts Manager for Australia and New Zealand.

‘WIDOS’ documentation system which makes it easy for customers to identify and order spare parts.

As National Parts Manager, Richardson will be managing all of Wirtgen’s spare parts operations in Australia and New Zealand, including preparing budgets, setting internal KPI’s and following up with customer satisfaction – something he is very passionate about.

“At Wirtgen, we pride ourselves on being ‘Close to Our Customers.’ Wirtgen Group is a company that ensures we have long term repeat partners in business because we have a passion for our products, and we are close to our customers,” Richardson tells Roads & Infrastructure.

During his years in the industry, Richardson says the biggest change he has experienced has been the move to online support for Wirtgen customers and partners.

“COVID-19 has been a catalyser in creating and growing online platforms that were not utilised previously. Over the last 18 months, we have seen more and more partners choose to order online through our ‘Parts & More’ online parts solution, and we have been able to engage through communication platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom to offer our customers efficient online solutions to ensure their business never stops.”

Going forward, Richardson is keen on growing Wirtgen Group’s spare parts business even further.

“My goal now is to create an efficient and solid spare parts business by working with our partners and delivering long term sustainable solutions to their business.”

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ASTEC’S

NEW LOOK

IN A MOVE DESIGNED TO DELIVER BENEFITS TO CUSTOMERS AND CHANGE THE WAY ITS PRODUCTS ARE PRESENTED TO THE MARKET, ASTEC INDUSTRIES HAS ANNOUNCED A MAJOR RESTRUCTURING OF THE COMPANY’S BUSINESS MODEL.

Astec is rebranding all of its subsidiary companies under the OneASTEC banner.

T

he change to the organisation’s structure sees all its well-known subsidiary companies brought together under the new OneASTEC banner.

Former brands including JCI, KPI, AMS, BTI, Telesmith, Telestack, Roadtec, Carlson, Osborn, Heatec, Astec Inc., Powerflame, Peterson and Rexcon, and two new concrete plant manufacturing acquisitions, Con-E-Co and BMH Systems will no longer operate as separate subsidiary businesses and will take on the Astec name.

Coinciding with the restructure, Astec has launched an international rebranding initiative – the first since the company was founded in 1972.

Astec Industries’ President and Chief Executive Officer Barry Ruffalo announced the changes from the company’s head office in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

According to Ruffalo, the restructure is part of the company’s OneASTEC business model including its ‘Simplify, Focus and Grow’ strategy.

“The unification will make it easier for dealers and customers to work with the 14

ROADS AUGUST 2021

“DEVOTION TO THE CUSTOMER, SAFETY, INTEGRITY, RESPECT AND INNOVATION; THEY’RE THE VALUES WE’VE LIVED AND WORKED BY AND THEY’RE AS IMPORTANT TODAY AS THEY WERE IN 1972. THE ONEASTEC BUSINESS MODEL IS UNDERPINNED BY THESE STRONG VALUES.” company,” he says.

“By coming together as one organisation, we can offer greater customer service and drive innovation. The rebrand enables us to build our strength together under one common name and purpose. We can better leverage growth as one Astec team rather than individual brands.”

Astec Australia’s Regional Managing Director, David Smale, welcomes the changes.

“Astec was founded in 1972 by Dr Don Brock who was known and respected globally for his ingenuity and focus on developing high quality products and leading technologies. He had an unparalleled passion for his customers and for hard work, expanding his business – one company at a time – until it became the global organisation it is today. That

growth was achieved both through acquisitions and by building businesses like Astec Inc., Roadtec and Heatec from scratch. Don Brock’s legacy has truly survived,” says Smale.

While Astec’s development has been remarkable, Smale believes it’s the core values on which the company was founded that have sustained the business for almost fifty years.

“Devotion to the customer, safety, integrity, respect and innovation; they’re the values we’ve lived and worked by and they’re as important today as they were in 1972. The OneASTEC business model is underpinned by these strong values,” he notes.

“The pillars created by Barry Ruffalo – ‘Simplify, Focus and Grow’ – weren’t simply dreamed up. In his first two months

COVER STORY

as CEO, Barry visited all Astec factories around the world, talking directly to our employees and customers. It was their feedback that convinced him the business needed to be less complex so we could focus more effectively on our customers and the products, service and support we provide them. This simplified structure means we will be better able to fine-tune our product range, be more competitive and offer our customers even better value,” Smale adds.

A GLOBAL MOVE Astec has rolled out the new structure globally, so the company’s business operations are identical in every region.

“In the previous model, sixteen companies operated on a range of different systems. Under OneASTEC, we are already seeing huge benefits from working together under common operating systems across the entire business,” says Smale.

“Simplifying our internal structure makes for greatly enhanced information transfer between different parts of the business, no matter where we are in the world. And that gives us a superior ability to meet and respond to our customers’ needs.”

While Astec strengthens its global network, Smale says the company recognises the need to maintain a local perspective.

“We fully understand that our customers in different regions around the world have different requirements. That’s why we’ve established a hub at the centre of every region, in the same time zone as our customers.

“Our teams have expertise around the products and they know the local market,

“WE FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT OUR CUSTOMERS IN DIFFERENT REGIONS AROUND THE WORLD HAVE DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS. THAT’S WHY WE’VE ESTABLISHED A HUB AT THE CENTRE OF EVERY REGION, IN THE SAME TIME ZONE AS OUR CUSTOMERS.”

so there’s a detailed understanding of local standards and regulations, and potential impacts of the physical environment.”

CLOSER TO CUSTOMERS Astec Australia customers will soon become familiar with the company’s newly released branding. The streamlined grey and blue ‘A’ will be standardised across all Astec products, and those products will become more readily available to the market.

“Wherever you are, when you operate remotely, logistics is always a critical issue and it’s no different for us here in Australia,” says Smale. “One thing that will reduce the impact of that is the decision by the company to locate our factories regionally, closer to our markets and the customers we serve.”

As part of the restructure, Astec Australia has taken over its dealer networks operating in the country.

According to Smale, the move has opened up new market segments for Astec.

“We’re expanding our product offering, particularly in terms of innovative modular equipment, as well as our new Astec BG series of modular asphalt batch plants. We now provide a very successful range of concrete plant products.

“In the concrete sector, Con-E-Co and BMH were acquired last year to complement our Rexcon brand, all

of which have been united under our OneASTEC umbrella. We now have 60 concrete plants operating for our customers throughout Australia and New Zealand, so that’s a significant addition to the business,” he says.

As Smale further notes, it’s all about giving customers more options to add portable equipment to their existing facility when peak production periods demand it.

“Other relatively new products to the Astec offering are our material handling systems from our Telestack factory in Ireland,” says Smale.

“Whether you operate in a mine, quarry, port or plant, Astec offers the most comprehensive and accomplished range of mobile conveying solutions in the marketplace.”

The company’s product range includes mobile ship loaders, ship unloaders, hopper feeders, truck unloaders, bulk reception feeders, stockpiling conveyors, link conveyors and telescopic stackers.

“Ultimately, our goal is to design and build state-of-the-art equipment which makes it possible for our customers to supply their customers with industryleading results profitably,” says Smale.

“We are committed to connecting people, processes and products, advancing innovative solutions from rock to road.

We’re ‘Built to Connect’, and OneASTEC helps us achieve that purpose.”

The Roadtec SB-3000 Shuttle Buggy Material Transfer Vehicle is powerful yet manoeuvrable.

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15

CLOSING

THE LOOP

Image courtesy of North East Link Project.

NORTH EAST LINK IS THE BIGGEST ROAD TRANSPORT PROJECT IN VICTORIA’S HISTORY. ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE CATCHES UP WITH THE PROJECT TEAM, AS WELL AS WITH THE SUB-CONTRACTOR BOTHAR BORING & TUNNELLING AND THEIR LIFTING PARTNER PREMIER CRANES AND RIGGING TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE LATEST PROGRESS.

Corridor-A from the Eastern Freeway at Bulleen to the M80 at Greensborough was selected as the preferred corridor for North East Link.

N

orth East Link is one of the most ambitious road projects in Victoria’s recent history. With an estimated cost of $16 billion, it’s the single biggest investment in road transport infrastructure the Victorian Government has ever undertaken and one that will finally close the loop with Melbourne’s Metropolitan Ring Road.

The project will fix the missing link between Melbourne’s M80 Ring Road and an overhauled Eastern Freeway, connecting the growing northern and south‐eastern suburbs. Upon the project’s anticipated completion in 2027, Melbourne will have, for the first time, a fully connected orbital freeway network that will provide a route around the city instead of through it.

Moreover, the North East Link will cut travel time between the city’s north and east

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ROADS AUGUST 2021

by up to 35 minutes and take 15,000 trucks off local roads in the north-eastern suburbs every day. It will link key growth areas in the north and east, providing an efficient connection for up to 135,000 vehicles each day and allow travel from Melbourne’s suburbs to the airport without stopping at a single traffic light.

WHERE IT STARTED Planning and assessment for North East Link began in 2016 after Infrastructure Victoria identified it as the ‘highest priority infrastructure project in Victoria’ in its 30 Year Infrastructure Strategy.

In October 2017, the five-year Victorian Infrastructure Plan confirmed North East Link as one of several ‘catalyst’ state-shaping infrastructure projects designed to “stimulate economic growth, create jobs and deliver

positive, long-term benefits for Victorians.”

Investigations into potential corridors for North East Link began in early 2017 and following a detailed assessment of potential benefits and impacts, Corridor-A, from the Eastern Freeway at Bulleen to the M80 at Greensborough, was selected as the preferred corridor. The reasoning for the corridor selection was to provide the best opportunity for connections to the existing road network, while providing better connectivity for freight journeys and public transport.

Between late 2017 to early 2019, the project underwent business case studies and environmental effect assessment and planning. When the reference design was finally released by the North East Link Authority in September 2019, it featured a number of firsts: Victoria’s longest road

PROJECT REPORT

EARLY WORKS CIMIC Group’s CPB Contractors was selected to deliver the early works package, which among other tasks, includes relocating more than 34 kilometres of communications, gas, power, water and sewerage pipes and drains and over 96 other utilities to make way for North East Link.

Assisting CPB Contractors with the early works package on the project is Bothar Boring & Tunnelling, part of the international Bothar Group of Companies with over 30 years’ experience in the tunnelling contracting industry.

Bothar Boring & Tunnelling has been contracted by CPB Contractors to relocate the Yarra East Main Sewer (YEMS) line, which runs below Bulleen Road and services thousands of homes and businesses across Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. The line intersects with North East Link at a number of points, so it needs to be moved to make way for North East Link.

The YEMS relocation job, as Bothar Boring & Tunnelling’s Senior Project Manager Ben Eastoe tells Roads & Infrastructure, consists of shaft construction and installation of a new main sewer, using a mini tunnel boring machine (TBM) and pipe jacking method.

Having completed similar works all over the world, Bothar Boring & Tunnelling is a specialist in utility installation using micro tunnelling and other trenchless methods.

Already, the company has moved three mini-TBMs to the project, all of which are now active and working under Bulleen to move a 1.8-kilometre section of the sewer to the east of Bulleen Road.

Melbourne-based crane company Premier Cranes and Rigging has been the preferred lifting partner for Bothar Boring & Tunnelling, with the two teams working alongside each other on the project from day one.

As Eastoe further adds, the decision to partner with Premier Cranes on such a critical project followed earlier successful collaborations between the two teams.

“Bothar Boring & Tunnelling has used Premier Cranes on a number of previous projects, and we have always found Premier to be a professional organisation,” Eastoe says.

PREMIER CRANE’S ROLE For Steve Warton, Chief Executive Officer at Premier Cranes and Rigging, being selected for the project is another step forward in the company’s growth journey.

Premier Cranes has been in the industry for 12 plus years. Within that time, the company has been involved in some of the biggest projects shaping Melbourne – including playing a major role in civil infrastructure works for the West Gate Tunnel and construction of the tunnels’ entry and exit portals.

But how Bothar Boring & Tunnelling came to know and work with Premier Cranes began at one of Melbourne CBD’s busiest locations: Spencer Street, opposite the Southern Cross Station.

“The senior engineer from the project made contact with us and advised they needed our assistance with some short lead time ‘heavy’ lifting, in a ‘tight’ setup location,” says Warton.

As anyone with lifting experience would know, sewer relocation and managing crane setups in the heart of Melbourne CBD is no walk in the park.

Premier Cranes proved their expertise by setting up large cranes within their compound, erected gantries, and placed establishment components in desired locations right in front of the Southern Cross Station. When the site team were ready, they carefully lifted the TBMs into the ground, all the while helping with traffic management and minding the existing overhead and underground services in and around the area.

When Bothar Boring & Tunnelling secured the contract to help with CPB’s early works on the North East Link, Premier Cranes was already their preferred lifting company. From early days on the project, the two companies worked closely to plan and make sure there was a clear passage for Bothar Boring & Tunnelling’s mini-TBMs to be lifted into place.

Warton says Premier Crane’s experience of working on the West Gate Tunnel project was also helpful in understanding the complexities of TBM lifts and legacy service systems in the Melbourne Metropolitan area.

“At one instance on the West Gate project, a 100 year old hand-constructed, brick-lined sewer pipe needed to be intersected to create intersections for new sewer lines. We had to work closely with the head contractor CPBJH JV and be mindful of the existing structures,” Warton says.

“While the Yarra East Main Sewer line is not quite that vintage (originally built in the 1960s), being able to manage such delicate works with our cranes and crews on West Gate Tunnel meant we were confident when North East Link project came along that our team were the right people for the job,” he adds.

WHAT’S AHEAD Apart from the Yarra East Main Sewer relocations, the early works package on North East Link includes relocating two high voltage transmission towers in Watsonia and continuing to move underground utilities along Greensborough Road.

The Premier Cranes team works with the Bothar Boring & Tunnelling team to recover a mini-TBM.

Image Credit: Hivisual Media.

tunnels, Melbourne’s first dedicated express lane busway, and with those, one of the most extensive packages of civil relocation the city had experienced.

roadsonline.com.au

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Image Credit: Hivisual Media.

Premier Cranes has been the preferred lifting partners for Bothar Boring & Tunnelling on the project.

As of early July, over 1.7 kilometres of gas pipe and 1.5 kilometres of power lines had been installed and the first micro tunnel boring machine had been launched in Balwyn North to relocate watermains under the Eastern Freeway.

The project will also see 19 sports grounds upgraded, as part of a $68 million package, with improved playing surfaces, flood lights and six brand-new accessible pavilions.

Upgrades have been completed at Veneto Club in Bulleen and Greensborough College The design for the fast-tracked Bulleen Park and Ride has also been finalised, with work due to begin shortly.

In a major milestone for the project, in June, the Spark consortium comprising WeBuild, GS Engineering and Construction, CPB Contractors, China Construction Oceania, Ventia, Capella Capital, John Laing Investments, DIF and Pacific Partnerships, was selected as the preferred bidder for the tunnelling package, which includes construction of the twin three-lane tunnels and key interchanges for the project.

“We’re now working to negotiate a final contract, ready to share details of their concept design with the community before the end of the year,” Duncan Elliott, CEO for North East Link Projects tells Roads & Infrastructure.

When asked about the challenges the project has posed so far in its design and construction stages, Elliott recalls the extensive planning undertaken on the project.

“A key challenge is how we can provide the most benefit for the community in the project scope and design. A project like North East Link doesn’t come around very 18

ROADS AUGUST 2021

often and we want to make the most of the opportunity to get maximum benefit for the community,” he says.

“In response, when planning this massive project, we’ve invested time to understand what else needs to be done to deliver a longterm win for the entire north-east.”

Following the award of the major tunnelling package, the project will also go out to market for other key elements of the project including a massive overhaul of the Eastern Freeway, Melbourne’s first dedicated busway, the completion of the M80 and more than 25 kilometres of new and upgraded walking and cycling paths. Another challenge in the design of North East Link, Elliott says, was the impact years of construction would have on local sports clubs.

“In response, we’re delivering a massive upgrade of sports grounds in the area so teams can relocate during construction and continue to enjoy the sports they love.

More than 20,000 players from 34 sporting clubs and associations will benefit from a $68 million investment that includes six new pavilions better grounds, improved lighting, and female-friendly change rooms.”

INNOVATIONS The project is implementing a number of innovative construction techniques to minimise disruptions for the community and road users. An example of this, as Elliott explains, was demonstrated in the relocations of Watsonia high voltage tower.

“Two existing high voltage towers within the Watsonia Station carpark needed to be moved to allow for North East Link. This required the project team to string new 220kV power lines over Greensborough Road and the Hurstbridge rail line, with a

possibility of lengthy closures of both the rail line and Greensborough Road during works,” he says.

“Following significant planning, an innovative solution using a Cradle Block methodology was adopted to allow us to install these power lines while traffic and trains continued uninterrupted.”

The team has also taken into consideration traffic disruption during service relocation work on Greensborough Road, Elliott adds.

“As part of the early works program, we have been working for almost 12 months to relocate significant power (2.1 kilometres) and gas services (2.5 kilometres) on Greensborough Road. Given Greensborough Road is a busy, arterial route, our works have been taking place at night to minimise traffic disruption.

“This involves digging and re-laying the road each night for traffic to resume the following morning. Lane closures take place after peak in the evenings, with crews relaying the road each morning ready for peak traffic.”

SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS With the North East Link project located in a built-up urban area, speaking to community over three years has enabled the project team to get a good understanding of how the communities view challenges on the project. By early July, the project had already received 15,750 pieces of community feedback, with two Community Liaison Groups and two Business Liaison Groups representing the interests of the local community during the construction phase.

“Our community hub in Watsonia welcomes people to speak with project team members. This effort to engage community members has been readily taken up, with more than 2,000 people visiting the Watsonia Community Information Hub to date,” says Elliott.

Protecting the Yarra River and surrounding significant sites is a core requirement for North East Link project. Elliott says builders will be required to deliver North East Link in accordance with more than 100 strict Environmental Performance Requirements which cover a range of areas including noise and air quality, vibration, visual impacts, landscaping, and tree and vegetation management.

“North East Link is delivering one of the

PROJECT REPORT

largest ever tree planting programs for a transport project in Victoria. More than 30,000 trees will be planted for the project with at least two trees planted for each tree removed,” he notes.

In addition to a major program of early works already underway to move utilities out of the path of the tunnels and interchanges, Elliott says the project has undertaken a huge amount of soil testing for this stage of a project.

“We have taken and analysed around 11,000 samples from over 2000 investigation locations across the project including samples at tunnel depth. The extensive testing helps to prepare the project to manage the spoil that will be excavated and helps to understand the geological conditions. Understanding the area’s geology is important so the right machinery can be selected for the project, including the right cutterheads for the massive TBMs that will build the twin road tunnels. Two tunnel boring machines, each over 15 metres in diameter are planned to be used to construct the twin road tunnels.”

FUTURE PROSPECT Upon its anticipated completion in 2027, North East Link would have created more than 10,000 jobs and provided access to 56,000 more job opportunities for workers in the north-east.

The buses that use the Eastern Freeway are already among the busiest in Melbourne, with six million passenger trips per year and a bus on average every minute in the peak. North East Link will allow buses to travel uninterrupted up to 100km/h along the future busway cutting commute times by up to 30 per cent and improving safety.

North East Link will also complete the long-awaited commuter cycling route to the city along the Eastern Freeway between Chandler Highway and Merri Creek, which is part of 25 kilometres of new and upgraded cycling and walking paths that will be delivered through North East Link.

Elliott is confident about the multifaceted benefits the project will deliver to Melbourne residents.

“It’s been really exciting seeing innovative

solutions being put into place with the ultimate goal of delivering this important piece of infrastructure in a way that minimises disruptions to the local community and those who use these roads each day,” he comments.

For companies like Premier Cranes, the project is another way to be involved in city-shaping projects and showing their capabilities further.

“At Premier Cranes, we follow a strategy built around #TeamLifting, which showcases our company’s culture of helping each member of the team and our clients to achieve the best result. A project like North East Link, for us, is #TeamLifting to the core,” says Warton.

“For our team to be able to work with and help a company like Bothar Boring & Tunnelling to achieve their outcomes for their client as we orchestrate our innovative approach, that is #TeamLifting.

“Premier Cranes are constantly presenting the #TeamLifting notion to the market to enable everyone to feel and realise what it means to work with a tier-one lifting company that’s lifting with a purpose.”

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AFPA SYMPOSIUM

TAKES OFF FROM 3 TO 5 AUGUST, THE AUSTRALIAN FLEXIBLE PAVEMENT ASSOCIATION GATHERED SPEAKERS AND ATTENDEES FROM AROUND THE WORLD IN A VIRTUAL SYMPOSIUM TO DISCUSS ‘ROADS GOING FULL CIRCLE.’ WE LOOK AT THE LIST OF SPEAKERS AND WHAT THEY BROUGHT TO THE EVENT.

T

he AfPA Symposium 2021 is an opportunity for players in the pavement industry to consider the different aspects in the industry that require circularity and long-term planning.

Programmed across three consecutive days, the three overarching themes covered in the Symposium include: Health and Safety, Sustainability and Circular Economy, Engineering and Construction.

DAY 1: MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING Speakers on the first day of the Symposium will share their insights into the challenges facing the road industry in improving workers’ mental health and wellbeing.

Already facing an uphill climb, COVID-19 has only served to add barriers to improving the mental health wellbeing in the road and transport industry, with research persistently

Norbert Michel, Executive Director for Victoria and Tasmania at AfPA. 20

ROADS AUGUST 2021

painting a bleak picture.

A Deakin University mortality study in 2015 showed 323 truck drivers committed suicide between 2001 and 2010, with the rate of suicide among road and rail drivers higher than any other occupation. That same study showed truck drivers had a seven per cent higher chance of developing depression, while those with moderate depression were twice as likely to have a road crash while driving.

Despite all this, Monash University’s Linfoxbacked Driving Health Study finds only 10 per cent of truck drivers seek treatment for the signs of mental illness. A growing concern from Driving Health is the poorer profile of mental health for drivers under 35 years old.

Panellists and keynote speakers for the day are all passionate advocates for health and wellbeing. They will also discuss better practices, from international and Australiawide experiences, to improve safety on the job site.

Norbert Michel, AfPA Executive Director for Victoria and Tasmania will be leading the Health and Safety stream.

Wayne Schwass, distinguished former AFL player and a passionate advocate for mental health awareness and suicide prevention, will deliver a keynote address outlining how normalising mental health and acknowledging emotional wellbeing is paramount in today’s fact paced world.

Gaylon Baumgardner, an engineer with more than 35 years’ experience in the petroleum industry and currently the President of the International Bitumen

Emulsion Federation (IBEF), will provide an overview of international experience to improve the sustainability and safety of spray sealing operations.

Domenic Palumbo is another invited speaker on the day. An engineer with over 34 years’ experience in the road building industry, Palumbo currently serves as Director of Term Contracts for the Central and Northern Regions Directorate, where he leads a team of 15 that oversee the eight Western Australian regions of Main Roads.

In his presentation, he will discuss the ‘Be Bitumen Safe’ card and the benefits as seen

by Main Roads.

DAY 2: EMBEDDING SUSTAINABILITY IN THE PROCUREMENT OF ROADS The second day of the event will focus on sustainability and circular economy in the context of roads and pavements.

Led by AfPA National Sustainability Director Robert Vos, the sessions will bring together speakers around themes such as: Sustainability in the procurement of roads, sustainability assessment tools for the paving industry and the Victorian Government’s Recycled First Policy.

Dr Heather Dylla, Sustainable Pavement Engineer at Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), will provide a keynote address under the general keynote theme of ‘Embedding sustainability in the procurement of roads’.

She will share the FHWA’s Sustainable

Robert Vos, National Sustainability Director at AfPA.

Pavements Program, with a particular focus on embedding circular economy principles in the tools and support material provided.

Mike Southern, Senior Technical Advisor, Eurobitume, is another speaker on the day.

A chemistry graduate of the Royal Holloway College, London University, Southern has dedicated over 30 years to the technical support of bitumen and its downstream products. Prior to joining Eurobitume as Technical Director in 2005, he had worked with Colas Roads for seven years, as well as with Shell Bitumen UK as Senior Development Engineer.

Joseph Shacat will be present as a speaker on the day. Shacat serves as Director of National Asphalt Pavement Association’s (NAPA) Environmental Product Declaration program for asphalt mixtures. He uses his research and experience to educate the asphalt industry about sustainability and how to incorporate it into their organisations.

Evert Schut, the other speaker for the stream, has spent his working life trying to change the linear economy to a more circular one. Over the past 18 years, he has been working with the Dutch government agency Rijkswaterstaat – the largest contracting agency in the Dutch construction sector responsible for the national roads and waterways. He is the leading expert of Rijkswaterstaat’s ‘Impulse program circular economy for the infrastructure sector.’

Tony Aloisio, Director of Ecologiq, is an infrastructure industry leader and passionate advocate for a purposefully greener future.

His presentation will cover the Victorian Government’s Recycled First Policy, which is turning waste into vital resources for the state’s biggest road and rail projects, as it requires contractors to optimise their use of

Anna D’Angelo, Executive Director of Technology and Leadership at AfPA.

reused and recycled materials.

Ainsley Simpson, Chief Executive Officer of Infrastructure Sustainability Council (ISCA) will provide an update on ISCA’s activities.

In her role, Simpson fosters partnerships to advance sustainability; enabling industry to deliver infrastructure for our all communities.

Brook Hall is the Principal Transport Economist within in the Sustainability and Resilience Team at Australian Road Research Board (ARRB). His presentation will provide an overview of the sustainability assessment tool – a new lifecycle assessment tool designed specifically for the agencies and the pavement industry.

DAY 3: MAXIMISING PERFORMANCE AND DURABILITY The third and last day of AfPA Symposium 2021 will focus on maximising performance and durability within the engineering and construction sector. AfPA’s Executive Director of Technology and Leadership Anna D’Angelo will be leading this stream.

Speakers on the day will discuss the practices that support the implementation of circular economy and sustainable solutions.

They will also look at how advancements in technologies related to pavement design and construction can improve durability and cost effectiveness.

A speaker on the day is Randy C. West, who is the Director of the National Centre for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) at Auburn University. He has worked as a pavement engineer for over 30 years, including the last 17 years at NCAT. Prior to NCAT, he led the technical services department of a major highway contractor and as a research engineer for a state department of transportation.

Ross Guppy, Program Manager Transport Infrastructure, is another speaker on the day.

He has over 35 years’ experience in the road and transport infrastructure sector, including 28 years with the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads. Guppy currently chairs five Austroads task forces covering asset management and the more specific technical disciplines of bridges, tunnels, pavements, and project delivery.

Filippo Giustozzi is an Associate Professor at RMIT University where he leads a research group on Intelligent Materials for Road and Airport Pavements. He is the Chair of the Technical Committee on Sustainable and Resilient Pavements at the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies of Sciences and Engineering in the US and also the lead investigator for the national Austroads project on road-grade recycled plastics for sustainable asphalt pavements.

Dr George Chang is a recognised world expert on pavement smoothness and intelligent compaction/construction technologies. Currently serving as Director of Research at the Transtec Group, he has been the principal investigator for numerous research projects for pavement enhancement in the US and world-wide.

His keynote speech will revolve around the central theme of ‘Maximising performance and durability.’

Dr Carsten Karcher is serving as the Secretary General of the European Asphalt Pavement Association (EAPA) since January 2019. Prior to that, he served as Director of EAPA since 2013. As a former head of the department of Highway Construction Technology at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany, he has a strong connection with asphalt material and a deep understanding of its technical, environmental and social issues.

Dr Leslie Myers McCarthy is a Senior Asphalt Pavement Engineer in the FHWA Office of Preconstruction, Construction, and Pavements, where she leads the Mobile Asphalt Technology Centre program. She was an Associate Professor in the Civil Engineering Department at Villanova University and the Principal for Myers McCarthy Consulting Engineers from 2009 to 2019.

The AfPA Symposium 2021 follows the successful 18th AAPA International Flexible Pavements Conference and Exhibition 2019. roadsonline.com.au

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AUSTRALIAN FLEXIBLE PAVEMENT ASSOCIATION

Thank you to our Event Sponsor, Day Sponsors, Exhibitors and Participants!!

2021 Event Sponsor

AfPA 2021

International Flexible Pavements Symposium

Roads going full circle Online Event 3 - 5 August 2021

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MEMBER PROFILE

GIOVANNY ALVARADO IS A PROJECT MANAGER AND DESIGN DIRECTOR AT AECOM. HE TALKS ABOUT HIS CAREER’S JOURNEY WITH ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE. 1. HOW LONG HAVE YOU/YOUR COMPANY BEEN AN AFPA MEMBER AND WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO BECOME ONE? I have been an AECOM employee for nearly ten years, but we have been a corporate member of AfPA long before that. AfPA’s long history as a key industry body and our shared goals of sustainability, safety and delivery of benefits to communities make our ongoing membership an easy decision.

2. HOW DID YOU START YOUR CAREER IN THE ROAD CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY? I started my career in the road construction industry in Colombia. Road infrastructure there is presented with significant technical challenges related to a combination of rugged terrain, complex geology, earthquakes, and heavy rain. Working in such a complex setting under pressure and other significant constraints became an ideal training ground for me as a young civil engineering graduate.

3. WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT ROLE AND WHAT DOES IT INVOLVE? I lead the AECOM Arcadis Joint Venture (AAJV) design team that is currently delivering detail design services for the Sydney Gateway project. We are responsible for all civil design works including road design, pavements, traffic engineering, earthworks and retaining walls, ground improvement and geotechnical design, drainage and flooding, lighting and electrical, intelligent transport systems and rail utilities. The delivery of this project is in a full 3D digital environment and embedded metadata for asset management purposes.

As Design Project Manager I lead a team of 120 professionals and drive collaboration across all stakeholders for timely preparation of design deliverables within budget, while

Giovanny Alvarado, Project Manager, AECOM.

ensuring appropriate levels of resourcing and availability of specialist skills throughout project delivery.

4. WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR CURRENT ROLE? Leading a large team of highly talented professionals where I have the opportunity to positively influence their career development. I am also privileged to be leading the delivery of innovative technical solutions which will deliver a positive impact on the broader community. I enjoy the intensity of major project delivery and the critical role we play in achieving successful outcomes.

5. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN THE INDUSTRY? The development of design teams that have delivered iconic infrastructure and will continue to deliver the next generation of major road infrastructure in Australia. I am proud of my technical background and believe technical excellence is at the core of industry development. I believe this is a principle that I have embedded into our team culture.

6. WHAT IS A RECENT CHANGE YOU HAVE SEEN IN THE INDUSTRY AND HOW ARE YOU/THE COMPANY PREPARED FOR THAT? The adoption of sustainability into procurement, design and construction.

AECOM has been championing the implementation of sustainable technologies through an extensive collaboration with TfNSW, suppliers and contractors. An example is the Easing Sydney’s Congestion Program, where the warm mix asphalt and the use of recycled crushed glass are now default technologies used for all projects.

7. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS MOST INTERESTING ABOUT THE ROAD CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY? Its legacy on communities by creating permanent connections and facilitating social, technological, and economic development. .

8. HOW HAS BEING A MEMBER OF AFPA BENEFITTED YOU IN THE INDUSTRY? Being a member of AfPA has provided our organisation with the required visibility and connections within the flexible pavement industry to facilitate the implementation of innovative pavement technologies. Our staff also benefit directly by attending the forums and other events where these technologies are discussed.

9. WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE FUTURE? Australia continues to have a significant need for major road infrastructure across major cities and regional areas. My goals for the future are the ongoing development of our delivery team and the development and implementation of innovation in our industry. roadsonline.com.au

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Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia

KEEPING SUSTAINABILITY

FRONT OF MIND

ROMILLY MADEW, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF INFRASTRUCTURE AUSTRALIA, SPEAKS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF RESILIENCE AND THE ROLE OF AN INFRASTRUCTURE-LED RECOVERY AT THE ISCA CONNECT CONFERENCE. ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE REPORTS.

T

he need for systematic change in infrastructure planning to tackle the impacts of external uncertainties was a key message delivered by Romilly Madew, Chief Executive Officer of Infrastructure Australia, at the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia’s ISCA Connect conference.

“In recent years, the resilience of our infrastructure assets has been tested on many fronts,” she says. “Australians have experienced unprecedented extreme events which have emphasised the importance of our ability to handle shocks and stresses.”

Recalling how the devastating bushfires of

$39 billion per year,” she says.

But, as she points out, embedding new practices to develop infrastructures that can withstand such uncertainties while remaining cost-effective is easier said than done.

“The sector requires transformation and systematic change at all levels of government, all sectors and across all communities,” she says.

STARTING AT PLANNING PHASE But what does resilience mean in the context of infrastructure planning? Madew elaborates on that.

“We have been working closely with

Romilly Madew, Chief Executive Officer of Infrastructure Australia, speaking at ISCA Connect 2021 conference.

late 2019 damaged energy grids and disrupted communications between communities, followed by the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic leading to increased cyber security threats and telecommunication challenges, she notes that the frequency and severity of such shocks and stresses are likely to increase in the future.

“To give you a sense of what we are preparing for by 2050, the annual economic cost of natural disasters in Australia is expected to more than double from an average of $18 billion per year to more than 24

ROADS AUGUST 2021

Infrastructure NSW on a series of advisory papers to support better resilience planning.

Through this project, we have found that while traditional risk planning focuses on avoiding threats, resilience embraces these threats and acknowledges they’re unavoidable, shifting the focus to absorbing, managing and recovering from disruption,” she says.

“To support this, a systematic approach to understand and quantify risk is necessary to ensure our assets, networks, systems, communities and places are resilient.”

And the best place to start for achieving sustainability, she notes, is at the infrastructure planning phase.

“The decisions made at this [the planning] stage establish the trajectory for the rest of the infrastructure lifecycle. It is at this stage that important decisions like location, design and management of asset interdependencies are made beyond the resilience of the infrastructure asset itself. It is also when shared responsibility for outcomes can be built between government and the community, which is crucially important.”

AUSTRALIAN INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN As an independent infrastructure advisor, Infrastructure Australia is releasing the 2021 Australian Infrastructure Plan in August.

The Plan will detail pragmatic reforms to deliver improved services and sustainable infrastructure across Australian cities, regional centres, rural and remote areas.

The first Australian Infrastructure Plan was published in 2016 and incorporated 78 recommendations for all levels of government with regards to infrastructure challenges. In May, Infrastructure Australia published a review of the 2016 plan, which found that governments across Australia were at varying stages of progress against the reform recommendations in the 2016 Plan.

Developed following consultation on the 2019 Australian Infrastructure Audit report, the 2021 Australian Infrastructure Plan takes those recommendations to a new level, offering guidelines that should be considered not just at the planning phase, but throughout the projects’ development, Madew explains.

Infrastructure Australia is working in collaboration with other industry associations such as ISCA and Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council to develop a collaborative roadmap for the

sector. The partnership has already published a set of sustainability principles to provide clear strategic direction to governments at all levels and the infrastructure sector around how to promote sustainable infrastructure.

A COMMON DEFINITION But why is it important to achieve a unified definition of sustainability?

“Although sustainability is commonly referenced across all forms of infrastructure, the outcomes being sought are often narrow and unaligned,” Madew notes.

“For example, decision makers typically focus on one issue, such as emission reduction or waste reduction, without considering other potential benefits. As a result, cost effective sustainable practises that deliver broad outcomes in the best interest of the community are often overlooked.”

But ignoring these outcomes is a missed opportunity and risks increased costs and a lower quality of life for future generations, according to Madew.

“Infrastructure Australia takes the view that sustainability and sustainable infrastructure are contingent on balancing social,

economic, environmental and governance considerations. Balancing outcomes across each of these four areas will help our communities prosper while not adversely impacting future generations and the planet,” she concludes.

“Access to infrastructure that is resilient, sustainable and adaptable in the face of global shocks and trends is absolutely critical for our national recovery and we are pleased to see this focus on resilience is increasingly shared and embraced by the sector more broadly.”

EMBEDDING SUSTAINABILITY EARLY A key takeaway from the ISCA Connect 2021 conference this year was to emphasise importance of embedding sustainability at early stages of infrastructure planning.

ISCA has been supporting the infrastructure industry drive best practice through the Infrastructure Sustainability Rating Scheme (IS Rating Scheme) since 2012, which evaluates the sustainability performance of the quadruple bottom line of infrastructure development from governance, economic, environmental and social aspects.

ISCA Chief Executive Officer Ainsley

Simpson noted how the scheme has helped achieve tangible results in the industry.

“Some of the tangible impacts of the IS Rating Scheme include lifecycle stage savings such as 68 per cent in energy and energy consumption, 34 per cent in water consumption and 11 per cent in diversion of waste from landfill. And that’s just across 38 projects. The impact extends to 1.2 billion customer experience improvements through transport, utility and social provision,” she noted.

ISCA offers IS Ratings for a range of infrastructure types across four rating phases, including at planning, design, asbuilt and operations phases. The aim of the scheme program, among other goals, is to provide a framework for consistent application and evaluation of sustainability in tendering processes and to foster innovation and continuous improvement in the sustainability outcomes from infrastructure. *This article is part of a series featuring key messages delivered at the ISCA Connect Conference 2021 in May. The next edition will feature excerpts from the panel session titled ‘Towards Net Zero.’

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part of the Victorian Government’s Level Crossing Removal Project, the recently completed Coburg Station in Melbourne’s north features a new station building and public space development.

Exemplifying the changing light conditions throughout the day as the sun angle changes, the new station building uses a complex diamond-stamped façade manufactured from precast concrete. With its strong civic gestures, its contemporary impact creates a strong new cultural identity for the area.

The design of the new building integrates perfectly with an existing refurbished heritage station building which was built in the 19th century in late Victorian Gothic style and is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register. Both are surrounded by a landscaped plaza, and together they reflect the vibrancy and diversity of the local surrounds.

Working with the project team, renowned architectural firm Wood Marsh employed precast concrete to realise the textured façade. The stamped façade features circular windows and circular cutouts in elevated platform screens that extend the structure’s theme beyond the building as trains arrive and leave the station.

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The many precast concrete panels that comprise the new station building’s façade were supplied and installed by National Precast Master Precaster Advanced Precast.

Advanced Precast employed custom formliner technologies to achieve the complex diamond embossed façade panels for the new Coburg station building and used a white oxide concrete mix to ensure the station’s façade had a bright and welcoming appearance to commuters.

Precast concrete is highly suited to precision, architectural-grade applications such as this. It is perfect for facades which require intricate detailing, or in structural applications that require accurate tolerances. As precast concrete elements are manufactured offsite in factorycontrolled environments, architects, designers and engineers can achieve tight specification of colour, finish and tolerance.

Prefabricated construction methods such as precast offer benefits in construction and for the structure’s lifetime. Manufacturing in safe, purpose-built factories allows elements to pass thorough a quality control check before their transport to, and installation on site, where precast greatly reduces the burden of onsite trades and waste.

According to National Precast Chief Executive Officer Sarah Bachmann, the consistently high-quality precast elements evident in the Coburg Station project are indicative of Master Precasters and the high calibre elements they manufacture.

“Offsite manufacturing easily facilities the use of purpose-built moulds and form liners, which offer architects complete design freedom and an opportunity to achieve the most ambition shapes and finishes, all whilst maintaining tight manufacturing tolerances of panels, parts or voids,” says Bachmann.

“Using Master Precasters like Advanced Precast ensures an outstanding result.”

The clever architectural vision combined with Advanced Precast’s technical experience has ensured a striking realisation of the station’s design intent and has greatly increased the time and cost efficiency of the project, when compared to traditional, onsite construction methods.

Precast concrete has breathed new life into the site, rendering the new station building as a standout feature amongst the public space and landscape upgrades that compose the site, with the station marking another successful level crossing for Victoria and a greatly improved experience for many generations of commuters to come.

A SNAPSHOT OF WORK FROM THE MASTERS Master Precaster is a new standard in the manufacture of precast concrete introduced

by National Precast. It’s an initiative that has come about in response to discussions with government and industry.

“Master Precaster is a vital safeguard when awarding a precast contract,” says National Precast CEO Sarah Bachmann.

“Awarding precast contracts based purely on price can be fraught with danger. We have seen the negative results that this kind of short-sighted thinking can have on the quality, safety, timing and cost of a project,” says Bachmann.

“This new standard has a clear aim – to make those in the industry who meet and exceed best practices, easily identifiable to the people that specify precast concrete.

And importantly, our Master Precasters have a genuine interest in the longevity of the industry. They are engaged and committed to raising standards.”

Below is a snapshot of some of the works delivered or being delivered by National Precast’s Master Precasters.

To find a Master Precaster for your next project, visit www.nationalprecast.com.au.

Project: Coburg Station Location: Coburg, VIC Master Precaster: Advanced Precast Architect: Wood Marsh Construction: John Holland Group

Project: Cross River Rail Location: Exhibition Station, Brisbane, QLD Master Precaster: Reinforced Earth Client: Queensland Government Architect: Hassell

Project: Edzell House Location: Toorak, VIC Master Precaster: Hollow Core Concrete Builder: Surrey Developments

Project: West Dubbo Gross Pollutant Trap Location: West Dubbo, NSW Master Precaster: Rocla Client: Dubbo Regional Council Builder: Whittaker Civil Project Management: Optimal Stormwater

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ROADS REVIEW ROAD SAFETY IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY. BUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE SECTOR, IN PARTICULAR, HAS A KEY ROLE TO PLAY. FOR THE AUGUST ROADS REVIEW COLUMN, ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE ASKS INDUSTRY LEADERS: ‘WHAT CAN WE DO BETTER IN AUSTRALIA TO IMPROVE ROAD SAFETY?’

RUSSELL WHITE, FOUNDER AND CEO, AUSTRALIAN ROAD SAFETY FOUNDATION Whilst we need to continue all our current road safety efforts, we also need to explore other areas including work related road safety, education and community ownership.

By improving the focus on work related road safety, we could potentially make significant reductions in road trauma generally. Education needs to start much earlier with a series of learning opportunities for school students to discover how to be better road users, well before getting a licence.

Strengthening community ownership is also a vital ingredient.

Increased efforts must be made in engaging greater awareness and community involvement in improving road safety.

STEVE VERITY, PRINCIPAL ADVISER ASSET MANAGEMENT, IPWEA Local government is responsible for approximately 678,000 kilometres or 77 per cent of the total road length in Australia. Two thirds (460,000 kilometres) of local government-controlled roads are managed by 360 councils that serve populations less than 30,000. These councils are predominately in the rural and remote regions and arguably carry the greatest burden in reducing all road crashes due to their resource constraints. It should therefore be an imperative that adequate numbers of people with enough expertise and experience in the engineering, scientific and other professional areas relevant to road safety are engaged in improving road safety outcomes.

MICHAEL CALTABIANO, CEO, AUSTRALIAN ROAD RESEARCH BOARD (ARRB) Integrate safety. Safety has been seen for many years as an afterthought – a bolt-on product that is added at the end of the process. It is time to start embedding safety throughout the road life cycle, to consider safety and innovation when we first build a road. What is the ideal road stereotype for this type of road that will result in zero harm? When we build the road, should we consider high friction surfaces at critical locations? When we maintain and resurface an existing road, can we widen and add a painted wide centreline and new edge lines at the same time? When we work on the road, how can we support road safety initiatives in construction and maintenance activities, keeping our road workers out of harm’s way? We can all do better by starting with safe outcomes as the performance goal every time we design, construct, maintain and rehabilitate our road system.

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ROADS AUGUST 2021

ROADS REVIEW

JAIRUS HOUGHTON, GROUP MANAGER - TRANSPORT LOGISTICS, COATES One area that needs more focus to improve road safety is load restraint. There is significant variability between companies and industries nationally, and what we see is freight falling off trucks. Coates has developed a Load Restraint Guide specific to our operations and has been running training sessions for our own people and our transport partners to great success. Creating a standardised safe approach and training operators is critical to gaining ground. Each industry segment knows what works best for them practically and when this experience is coupled with technical expertise, we can collectively solve this problem – load by load.

SEBASTIEN CHATARD, GENERAL MANAGER, SAMI BITUMEN TECHNOLOGIES Road safety is a top priority for the roads industry in Australia as deaths and injuries on our roads generate significant social and economic costs. SAMI Bitumen Technologies is continuously striving to contribute to road safety through innovation of its bituminous products partnering closely with the asphalt contractors. The cooperative work is reflected in designing more durable and safer asphalt surface courses such as high friction and porous water draining asphalt mixes and also supplying bituminous binders with improved aggregate retention for spray sealing applications. Better aggregate retention will improve the skid resistance in roads, with consequential benefits for the road users’ safety.

DR JAMES CAMERON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AUSTRALIAN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY FORUM As someone that has worked for the Australian Automobile Association, it is my view that road safety depends on safer roads, safer cars and safer drivers. The AusRAP program shows us how to achieve the most effective engineering improvements to roads to save lives in the most cost-effective manner. The ANCAP program, likewise, encourages vehicle manufacturers to constantly improve vehicle safety, and driver education and enforcement measures ensure safer drivers.

BRANDON HITCH, CEO, CRANE INDUSTRY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA (CICA).

Certain states in Australia are better than others at working with the heavy vehicle industry to find workable solutions for road safety. Tasmania has a sophisticated Heavy Vehicle Access Management System which uses engineering formulas to automatically assess structures and cranes and presents one road network to industry with a set of conditions of access throughout the state. In stark contrast, the Queensland ‘single trip’ permit application process is unreasonably difficult and burdensome. Road assets in Queensland are deteriorated to such an extent that heavy vehicle access is inefficient, putting road users at greater risk as heavy vehicles need to navigate ‘work arounds.’

If you or someone at your organisation is an industry leader and would like to be a part of this monthly column in 2021, please get in touch with Editor, Tara Hamid: tara.hamid@primecreative.com.au

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InEight’s virtual design and construction solution standardises disparate models and project data into one common data environment.

FORGING TRUE OWNER-CONTRACTOR

PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS PLACING THEIR BETS ON AN UNPRECEDENTED INFRASTRUCTURE PIPELINE FOR A POST- COVID ECONOMIC RECOVERY, INEIGHT ACCOUNT DIRECTOR DEREK GRIFFITHS SAYS GENERATING A STRONG ROI ON INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS HAS NEVER BEEN MORE CRITICAL.

A

ustralian governments are committing to a record number of ‘mega’ infrastructure projects and with that comes greater risk of budget blowouts, as some industry observers have warned.

Grattan Institute’s 2020 report, ‘The rise of megaprojects: counting the costs,’ found that the value of work underway on road and rail projects for Australian governments exceeded $120 billion for the first time in March 2020. Not only is the amount of work at an all-time high, so are the size of projects being delivered. The same report found that the value of an average road or rail project being built in Australia has more than doubled between 2015 and 2020; from $430 million to $1.1 billion.

The sheer scale of these mega projects has raised concerns within the industry regarding massive budget overruns, which in the case of government-owned projects, leads to taxpayers bearing the brunt.

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A May 2021 report by the Grattan Institute, ‘Megabang for megabucks: driving a harder bargain on megaprojects,’ estimated that roughly 25 per cent of projects in Australia end up costing more than what was initially signed between the government and contractor, with reasons ranging from lack of competition to lack of transparency and old procurement practices.

And while the Australian Government is looking to improve its procurement practices, with a parliamentary committee set up in June to investigate the issue, InEight’s Queensland Government Account Director, Derek Griffiths, believes there is more that project owners – governmental or non-governmental – can do to improve on the transparency front.

Despite having common project goals, differences often arise between contractors and owners as budgets balloon out that, at the heart of it, come from a lack of information being shared at crucial times.

STARTING AT PRE-PLANNING Successful pre-planning for any project, Griffiths points out, starts with accurate cost estimation.

“One of the big reasons any project fails to meet its budget targets is because people don’t estimate the values correctly,” he says. “What tools like InEight’s project management software provide is a platform where you can have access to the historical record of materials used, labour, and everything else you need for a realistic estimation.”

Equipped with an Augmented Intelligence feature, the InEight project management software can store information such as historical material costs and rates of productivity from similar projects delivered in the past to provide a more defendable, realistic estimate based upon past performance.

“It’s quite a simple thing,” says Griffiths.

“By getting all the information upfront and

SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS

putting it into a system, you can minimise the changes down the track as the project progresses through different stages. It also creates an open communication channel between the owner and the contractor, so that unexpected changes down the line can be avoided.”

A COMMON DATA ENVIRONMENT So what does the contractor stand to gain from pulling back the curtain on project details for the owner?

“From the contractor’s point of view, it’s all about transparency and building a stronger relationship with the project owner. And from an owner’s perspective, obviously they would want to have as much information as possible available to them because they have a responsibility for maintenance and operation of the projects throughout their lifecycle,” Griffiths says.

To elaborate further on how an integrated data platform benefits both contractors and project owners, he uses an example from a project delivery model introduced last year by Sydney Water, known as the P4S – Planning for Success – framework.

“As part of this platform, all of the contracting parties delivering projects to Sydney Water are obliged to provide information on the Common Data environment (CDE), which acts like a hub by which Sydney Water can simplify procurement, drive better outcomes for customers and optimise value throughout the supply chain,” he explains.

“As an owner, you should be able to oversee all of the project’s data because you own the asset. And at some point, you would want to go towards building a digital twin for your project, and you can’t really do that unless you have clean data.”

‘Clean data’ is the term Griffiths uses to describe correct, accurate information fed into the CDE. To further explain how the InEight CDE platform model works, he uses the example of a LEGO model.

“With InEight, you have your platform, your CDE, and then you’ve got all these modules which fit into it. Like a LEGO model, you can take the modules out and exchange them.

But the point is, if you have all the data in one place, like a hub, you can use that information through the life of the project, from inception to decommissioning.”

This digital platform becomes particularly critical as the size of data being fed into it gets bigger, Griffiths explains.

“Everywhere, we are seeing the rise of mega

data, which is data you acquire from sensors and SCADA systems that form part of the internet of things technologies. In the case of water projects, this could be sensors that measure pressure in the pipes and detect the changes in pressure.

“Eventually all of this data could be stored in the asset’s digital twin, which is a 3D model of the project. But unlike conventional 3D models, the digital twin is alive and active. For example, if you have a perfect model of your water system and you have the location of all the pipes and equipment marked on it, so you can ‘play god.’ You can pump in the data from all the sensors and breathe life into the model.”

A SINGLE SOURCE OF TRUTH Eventually, what a digital twin offers asset owners and project stakeholders is a single source of truth, Griffiths says.

“When everything is stored on the CDE and it’s accessible in real time, you can access the information from anywhere, anytime.

Since the InEight CDE is cloud-based, you can access the most up-to-date information about your project at any given time.

“In an alternative scenario, it’s quite common for people working on a project to access different versions of the designs, which can be disastrous sometimes. For example, in the water sector, there are situations where the maintenance guys have had the wrong information and dug down and hit a gas pipe because they were unaware of the changes.”

Using the example of InEight’s Document and Model solutions, Griffiths further explains how the collaboration between all involved parties works in action.

“Document control and model management are the spine of a project.

It’s like the nervous system where all the information flows through and is directed to be allocated correctly. With the InEight Document and Model solutions, you can store models, information, documents, visual styles, and much more on the InEight server and sync it to your local hard drive whenever you’re online.

“What this does is it takes the complexity of managing different file types out of the equation. You can sync the data on your tablet and bring it to the field. You can then mark up any changes that are necessary and once verified, this information can be put through the drawing officially. The owner can see and verify the design reviews as they happen. So, it’s an ongoing design

review process between the owner and the contractor.”

With all the above aspects, what Griffiths says is the ultimate outcome for asset owners is better accountability.

“It all comes down to liability. Owners are liable for their assets throughout the asset life. If a contactor installs a pump and if the pump explodes, it’s the owner who’s liable for it. That’s why information is important.”

WHAT’S THE END GAME? Building a living, breathing, digital twin for mega infrastructure projects might seem like a considerable feat in itself considering the varied opportunities it offers to ongoing project maintenance and owner liability. But it does not stop there, Griffiths says.

The end game, in his vision, is when the in-coming data can feed into automated maintenance processes.

“Where we would want to get to is a point where we take all this incoming data and learn from the data and apply that to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the robots can go out and do the maintenances tasks.

I’ve nicknamed it ‘Dual Time’ because in this scenario, things are happening simultaneously; data is flowing one way and maintenance is happening at the same time.

“So, the ideal for the future is that we’ve got this digital transformation done, we’ve got the model, and we’re using the data that’s being fed into the model. How do we go about doing the maintenance and use the AI to learn from everything to run things more efficiently? That’s something that comes from having a central platform like InEight. You cannot process that data if you’ve got a jigsaw of programs in your IT system.”

But the motivators for stepping into the digitalisation journey are already here, as Griffiths concludes.

“There is opportunity for gains and improvement to benefit all stakeholders.

Don’t expect that to be easy, though.

Operating in a true partnership is often difficult when constructing a capital project. Owners are left feeling like they are being held at arm’s length and are not true stakeholders in their own projects. But while it may feel like contractors are intentionally withholding information, the truth is they both absolutely want the project to succeed. After all, it’s in everyone’s best interest that it does.” roadsonline.com.au

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SRIPATH ON PATH TO Sripath’s products are used to enhance the performance of bitumen for paving and roofing applications.

BITUMEN ENHANCEMENT

WITH DEMAND FOR MODIFIED BITUMEN INCREASING WORLDWIDE, SRIPATH TECHNOLOGIES IS ENSURING BITUMEN MANUFACTURERS AND CONTRACTORS HAVE ACCESS TO QUALITY ADDITIVES TO ENHANCE BITUMEN PERFORMANCE.

T

he global market for polymer modified bitumen (PMB) is projected to witness significant growth in the coming years. This, as a recent global polymer bitumen market outlook by research firm Goldstein Market Intelligence suggests, is mainly due to the enhanced characteristics of such bitumen, including extra strength, high cohesiveness, and resistance to fatigue, deformations, and stripping.1 Addition of polymer or crumb rubber to bitumen has shown to improve resistance to temperature variations, weather, and high traffic loads, while reducing maintenance costs and offering excellent driving comfort.

The ‘Asia Pacific Bitumen Market Forecasts 2027’ report by Graphical Research suggests the market for PMB in the Asia Pacific region is likely to grow remarkably through to 2027, driven mainly by higher demand from countries such as China, India, and Indonesia.2 With that growth comes demand for quality bitumen additives, including rejuvenators, polymers and oils that help enhance the properties of native asphalts.

Sripath Technologies has been actively developing such products, investing heavily in research and development for innovative solution-oriented bitumen additives.

Established since 2006 in New Jersey, US, Sripath’s products are used by customers in North America, Asia, Europe and South America to enhance the performance of bitumen for paving and roofing applications.

The company has recently launched Sripath Asia-Pac with an office in Melbourne 32

ROADS AUGUST 2021

to better serve the Australian and New Zealand bitumen and asphalt markets. Roads & Infrastructure caught up with Sripath’s management team to find out more about what the company has on offer.

EXPANDING THE TEMPERATURE RANGE PGXpand is one of the most globally soughtafter products in Sripath’s paving portfolio, according to Ravi Rajagopalan, General Manager of Sripath Asia-Pac. “PGXpand was developed as an easy to make, easy to use and easy to handle modifier for bitumen,” he says.

“The role and benefits of polymers in bitumen is clearly demonstrated. However, customers using the conventional polymers available in the market often struggle with issues such as easy dispersion of the polymer in the bitumen, the stability of the PMB and the difficulty in laying down such a high viscosity mix.”

To help overcome those practical challenges, the team at Sripath investigated the base chemistry and characteristics of the bitumen and set out to engineer an innovative polymer which is easier to disperse into the bitumen for the manufacturers and to lay down for the contractors. Out of that research, PGXpand was born.

“The key in developing PGXpand was to develop a user-friendly PMB additive that increased the high temperature stiffness of bitumen, while maintaining the low-temperature performance of the

paving binder. PGXpand is also an efficient workability and compaction aid in paving formulations, particularly in those stiffer mixes incorporating high amounts of recycled asphalt pavement (RAP),” Krishna Srinivasan, President, Sripath USA, explains.

More importantly, Srinivasan says, PGXpand is dosage-efficient and consumes minimal energy during production.

“Dosage efficacy is a big advantage with PGXpand that our global customers greatly appreciate. For a project in Andhra Pradesh, India, which experiences high summer temperatures of 40-42 °C, PGXpand was selected primarily for its dosage-efficiency.

In addition, rigorous testing showed that PGXpand also provided very good rutting resistance and a high softening point,” says Srinivasan.

“The time to manufacture a mix with PGXpand are also vastly lower than when using alternate polymer technologies.

PGXpand can be incorporated into a mix at significantly lower temperatures of production, which leads to increased energy efficiency in dispersing polymer into bitumen.”

While that’s beneficial for the manufacturer, the end-user is also benefited.

“From the end-users’ point of view, the viscosity of bitumen modified with PGXpand is significantly lower than that of conventional bitumen mixes. That helps with easy lay down, easy compaction and longterm storage stability of PMB,” says Deepak Madan, Chief Marketing Officer of Sripath.

ASPHALT NEWS A WELL-BALANCED SOLUTION ReNUBIT is another highly popular product in the Sripath paving portfolio and among the first products the company developed. The key here, Rajagopalan says, was to develop a proprietary blend of petrochemical oils which enable easy dispersion of polymers and crumb rubber in bitumen, while improving the low temperature properties of bitumen, including cold adhesion, cold bend, cracking and flex properties.

“With ReNUBIT, we set out to engineer an oil that was broadly compatible with a wide range of bitumen products and made dispersion of polymers and crumb rubber in bitumen easy. We also wanted to develop something that helped improve the low temperature cracking, fatigue, and failure properties of bitumen. ReNUBIT is a well-balanced bitumen additive that also functions as an effective cutter in bitumen,” he explains.

From the early days of being launched in the market, Madan says ReNUBIT was well-received in both the paving and roofing communities in North America.

“ReNUBIT is easily our best-selling product tonnage-wise,” he says, noting that ReNUBIT’s popularity owes to its high compatibility with a wide range of bitumens.

A ‘GREEN’ OPTION Sripath also offers NuMIXER, an innovative green bio-oil that, in addition to providing many of the same benefits as ReNUBIT, delivers greater dosage efficiency and ease of use.

“ReNUBIT was remarkably successful in the oil additive segment for bitumen modification, so we set about thinking what the next-generation oil for the marketplace could be. We learned a lot from our experience of developing bio-oil bitumen rejuvenators, so we used the findings to create a green, sustainable, non-bituminous oil that would serve the same segment,” says Rajagopalan. Out of this thinking, NuMIXER was born, giving Sripath customers an option to choose between two types of oils.

“NuMIXER is very effective in aiding polymers and crumb rubber to be compatible with bitumen, while improving low temperature cracking, fatigue and failure and adhesion properties of bitumen. This is particularly useful in more demanding applications. It also helps lower the viscosity of the base bitumen,” says Srinivasan.

“Add to that the fact that NuMIXER is a ‘green’ product with sustainable chemistry and better dosage efficiency than petrochemical oils. It’s also a product with zero volatile organic compounds (VOCs), so it’s completely worker friendly. Moreover, NuMIXER is effective in bitumens used world-wide,” says Madan.

“Despite a small premium, NuMIXER is more dosage efficient, has a lower carbon footprint, and delivers overall cost-savings compared to petrochemical oils. It is not surprising that NuMIXER has been well received in various markets around the world,” says Rajagopalan.

“The larger users in the market are migrating towards bio-oils and they prefer such products over petrochemical oils.

There are also changes occurring in bitumen supply patterns and quality worldwide that are increasing demand for additives like NuMIXER. These changes have created a tailwind that we were able to capitalize upon resulting in many success stories,” says Digital Marketing Director, Kate Brough.

With an eye for problem-solving, Sripath Asia-Pac is already engaging with universities in Australia to identify the gaps in the market to ensure that Sripath products meet local compliance requirements utilising materials available locally.

Madan says the team has already received a warm welcome from major industry players. “We are looking to repeat our success stories from the European, Asian and North American markets. We are ready to bring our innovative product portfolio to Australia,” he says.

“We are used to identifying pain points and then finding the solutions for them. This is our core strength, as our product history clearly shows. Our team of industry veterans have a strong track-record for delivering top-notch technical support, and we stand behind our products, 100 per cent of the time,” says Rajagopalan.

References: 1 Global Bitumen Market Outlook 2017-2030, Goldstein Market Intelligence 2 Bitumen Market Size and Share 2021-2027, Graphical Research * All of Sripath Technologies’ product names are trademark registered and properties of Sripath Technologies.

Sripath products meet local compliance requirements utilising materials available locally.

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SUSTAINABILITY,

ONE ROAD AT A TIME

ALEX FRASER HAS BEEN SUPPLYING THE QUEENSLAND CONSTRUCTION MARKET WITH SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVES SINCE 1995. MANAGING DIRECTOR PETER MURPHY SAYS THE INDUSTRY’S RELATION WITH RECYCLED PRODUCTS CONTINUES TO EVOLVE.

A

lex Fraser cemented its position in the Queensland construction market as the leading recycler and provider of sustainable construction materials, pioneering and setting the standard for the use of recycled material in projects.

With long established, sustainable production facilities throughout the Brisbane City Council and Moreton Bay Regional Council areas, Alex Fraser supplies civil construction projects with tonnes of highly sustainable, recycled products, like roadbase, aggregates and asphalt.

Alex Fraser Managing Director Peter Murphy says the evolving specifications within the civil construction industry have further increased recycled material supply, with more and more contractors motivated to seek out sustainable alternatives.

“The latest specifications make it much easier for contractors to use recycled materials. It means that when a contractor is pricing up work, they can look for the most competitive supplier,” he says. “ The specifications are clear on where they can use recycled materials for their project.”

This clarity is provided in the latest specifications from Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads and has enabled contractors to confidently use recycled materials, avoiding the confusion of separate specifications.

“It lets the contractor choose whatever material best suits the job and their client’s needs, as long as it meets the specifications, and it arrives on time. It helps them find the best product at the best cost and allows them to put in the most competitive bid possible for a project,” Murphy says.

Using recycled materials not only reduces environmental impact of Queensland’s construction projects through carbon and landfill savings, it also reduces project costs and the number of trucks required to deliver materials.

Contractors can reduce their carbon footprint when using material such as recycled concrete roadbase or aggregates, and asphalt with high recycled content including RAP, glass and HDPE plastics.

Substantial research conducted by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads demonstrates that the material performs very well when compared with

traditional products.

Alex Fraser’s recycled concrete roadbase was used on sections of the Bruce Highway Upgrade project, where it helped reduce carbon emissions by 47 tonnes.

Murphy says Alex Fraser clients have experienced exemplary results when using recycled product for their projects.

“Contractors are now more confident when using recycled material, as they are now familiar with the specifications required for projects. They know that the product itself will perform as well, if not better, than conventional materials.”

The benefits are very clear in projects opting for recycled materials, as Murphy explains. “The main benefit for contractors using recycled roadbase is the density savings, as this sustainable alternative is 10 per cent lighter than quarried materials,” he says. Such results have seen demand for recycled materials grow throughout Queensland since Alex Fraser entered the market, 25 years ago.

“Major contractors are under more and more pressure these days from clients to deliver their projects on time and on budget.

Additionally, their clients are interested

Alex Fraser’s recycled concrete roadbase was used on sections of Bruce Highway.

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ROADS AUGUST 2021

TECHNOLOGY & EQUIPMENT

in the environmental benefits that can be achieved during the construction and completion of the project,” Murphy says.

“Contractors, in private and government sectors, want to be on the front foot when it comes to delivering sustainable outcomes.

There’s also an increasing group of asset owners who want to find innovative ways maximise on environmental returns of their new infrastructure.”

THE DEPARTMENT’S VIEW Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads has welcomed the use of recycled products in construction and infrastructure projects across the state.

“Using recycled materials has the potential to deliver significant benefits, including reducing landfill, protecting the environment and our lifestyle, network performance, creating a circular economy and reducing emission,” a spokesperson from the Department tells Roads & Infrastructure.

“We have already identified ways to reduce waste and emissions to deliver sustainable infrastructure by including glass, tyres, reclaimed asphalt, construction and

demolition waste into our roads.”

The Department is aiming to further encourage the industry’s uptake of recycled materials by releasing resources for contractors and operators to educate them on sustainable alternatives.

“To support the wider use of recycled materials, we also launched the ‘Building Sustainable Roads’ initiative, aimed at improving awareness of the potential uses of recycled materials on our projects,” the spokesperson said.

“The Department is sending a strong signal to the market to encourage the use of recycled materials, while allowing contractors the ability to adopt the best approach, adjust and change according to local availability, local skills and cost effectiveness.”

The statewide initiative aligns with Alex Fraser’s vision of ‘Building Greener Roads’ Murphy believes that the actions taken by Moreton Bay and Brisbane City Councils are examples of the necessary innovation that can happen for the rest of Queensland’s construction industry.

“These are two major asset owners who

have not been afraid to be innovative to achieve sustainable infrastructure throughout their municipalities,” he says.

“They have set a great example for others in the industry on how to approach infrastructure sustainability.”

The introduction of recycled material suppliers has also resulted in more competition for construction projects in the Moreton Bay and Brisbane City Council areas, benefiting the local economy.

“Both councils were very forward thinking; having established recycled materials outlets to service the growing Queensland construction market,” says Murphy.

For Alex Fraser, this momentum towards sustainable infrastructure only fuels their drive to invest in and innovate sustainable construction materials; to help Queensland build greener roads.

“We’ve been in Queensland for over 25 years and we’re continuously investing in making our product greener. By increasing the capacity of our plants, we’re ensuring the Queensland market has access to a reliable supply of quality, sustainable materials to build greener roads.”

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JCB’s 525-60 IND Telehandler features a 2500-kilogram weight lift capacity.

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the last machine you see on the site. It comes in first to move materials to the site, and it’s also used to assist with the clean-up and removal of materials when a job has been completed,” he says.

In its portfolio, JCB offers a broad range of Telehandlers, with the range having expanded over time based on JCB’s experience with civil contractors and the construction industry in general.

With a range including 21 different Telehandler model variants from 2.5 to 5.5 tonnes in lift capacity and available in six- to 18-metre height options, it’s easy to understand JCB’s market leadership in this segment.

Following 525-60 IND Telehandler’s success when operating in confined spaces throughout the United Kingdom, JCB is introducing the 525-60 IND Telehandler as the ideal machine for the civil construction industry in Australia.

“I think a key reason why the machine has been so successful in the UK market has been because of its terrific manoeuvrability,” Withell says.

“Demand for telescopic handlers has been growing in Australia as the average space in work sites gets tighter. In the last seven to ten years, we have seen cities expand further out towards regional towns, so we are starting to see more projects that

TECHNOLOGY & EQUIPMENT

The 525-60 IND Telehandler requires servicing every 500 hours, twice the competitors’ service intervals.

“THE MACHINE IS EXTREMELY VERSATILE. YOU CAN PUT MORE THAN A SET OF FORKS ONTO THE 525-60 TELEHANDLER, SO YOU CAN RUN BUCKETS, FORK ROTATORS, SLIPPER FORKS, TRENCHES AND POST HOLE DIGGERS.”

reflect the European living conditions.”

The 525-60 IND Telehandler comes with a six-metre lift height, making it capable of lifting up to 800 kilograms of loads at a 3.5 metre forward reach.

As Withell adds, applications for the 52560 IND Telehandler are extensive.

“The machine is extremely versatile. You can put more than a set of forks onto the 525-60 IND Telehandler, so you can run buckets, fork rotators, slipper forks, trenches and post hole diggers with the one machine,” he says.

If materials need to be loaded on the site, operators can use the machine’s 2500-kilogram lift capacity as well as its four-wheel drive capabilities to ensure that materials are appropriately loaded.

The four-wheel drive capabilities of the machine also include a two-speed hydrostatic transmission, ensuring that the vehicle can meet the mobility requirements of the operator.

“With a machine like that, the operators do not have to travel all the way to a site to deliver materials. They can instead

deliver the material while remaining on the roadway where there is firm ground, not only saving time but also reducing any potential mess created from operating on soft or muddy ground,” Withell observes.

HIGH-LEVEL VISIBILITY The adaptability and manoeuvrability of 525-60 IND Telehandler is matched with an elevated level of visibility. Featuring a large roof screen, low-level sloping bonnet and low-profile chassis and boom, the machine’s design ensures the operator can remain vigilant at all times.

The 525-60 IND Telehandler also guarantees operator comfort, with intuitive controls and tinted cab glass. A range of seating options can also be selected depending on the operator and the application.

For safety, the machine features a Roll-Over Protection System (ROPS) and Falling Objects Protection Structure (FOPS) certification. The primary purpose of the ROPS and FOPS is to reduce the possibility of an operator, who is wearing a seat belt,

from being crushed or otherwise injured should the machine roll over or be struck by a falling object.

The features do no stop there, however.

JCB’s exclusive Adaptive Load Control system provides Total Load Management that proportionally slows the boom lower or engages the extend functions as boom motion nears its maximum load point. This ensures that the machine is not stopping with high levels of inertia, making the process of nearing the machine’s maximum load point much smoother.

Increased balance and less vibration are also taken into consideration in design, once again producing greater confidence in operators.

For serviceability, the machine features low maintenance and highly durable components. All grease points are easily accessible for daily checks.

Additionally, the 525-60 IND Telehandler’s service intervals are every 500 hours. In comparison, Withell says similar machines from some other brands require servicing every 250 hours.

Extensive safety, comfort and ease of operation that instil greater operator confidence and straightforward servicing are what Withell believes really set 525-60 IND Telehandler apart from competitor machines. roadsonline.com.au

37

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TECHNOLOGY & EQUIPMENT

LAYING DOWN THE

FOUNDATION

WHETHER MILLING ON HORIZONTAL, VERTICAL OR SLOPED SURFACES, THE SIMEX PLB300 PLANER FROM WALKERS HAMMERS OFFERS RELIABILITY EVEN FOR THE MOST DIFFICULT PROJECTS. BILBOA CONSTRUCTION’S MITCH WALLEY TALKS TO ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCE.

W

ith its multi surface mill design, the Simex PLB300 planer was built to create the perfect surface when excavating hard layers of asphalt and cement. By combining constant planing depth and RH-LH depth adjustment, operators such as Mitch Walley have seen exemplary results on projects.

Using the Simex PLB300 planer, Mitch, who is the Director of Melbourne-based construction company Bilboa Construction, says he has seen an increase in the efficiency and quality of projects his company has undertaken.

“As part of our projects, we work with civil and power companies to complete infrastructure projects,” he says.

“Every project is different, but whether the material on the site is asphalt or footpath material, the Simex PLB300 planer has been great.”

What he most likes about using his PLB300 planer, Mitch says, is the ease with which he can mill the surfaces to meet project requirements.

“Before the trenches are installed on a road, we go in with our Simex PLB300 planer and we profile down to the exact road or council requirements for the project.”

The Simex PLB300 can mill pre-set sections on a range of surfaces, with options to adjust to different gradients and surface compaction levels.

The design of the planer allows the swinging support pivot to be on the same rotation axis as the cutter drum.

This enables the attachment to maintain a consistent planing surface when attached to an excavator or mini excavator.

Mitch says he has seen this consistency first-hand, when attaching the Simex

The Simex PLB300 planer features independent RH-LH depth adjustment.

PLB300 planer to his Bobcat E35i excavator.

“Compaction rates are different on projects, so it is essential that you use attachments that can suit different environments,” he says.

“It works fantastic in soft asphalt and footpaths. We do those projects by attaching the planer to our smaller excavator. We could achieve even higher flow rates if we used the planer with larger machinery.”

EASY MANOEUVRABILITY For tunnelling, roadworks, demolition and port works, adaptability and manoeuvrability are key.

Mitch says using the Simex PLB300 has enabled him to execute sharp turns when operating close to kerbside.

“I love the versatility of having an attachment which allows you to work in tight areas and come around kerbside corners,” he says.

“On tight spaces against the kerb you’ve got more control with the machine and the arm, allowing better transitions when using the mill attachment. We have been able to operate in environments where you can’t get around with other products and equipment. It has given us a level of operational freedom.”

Mitch has also seen similar results when using the planer on harder surfaces such as concrete.

“We are focused on operating at around 40 millimetres in depth, and the attachment operates through that depth with ease,” he says.

Mitch adds that the attachment has held its own on even the most peculiar of civil projects. “We used the Simex planer on a tilt panel wall which had blown out. With the attachment we were able to profile 20 millimetres off the wall, while it was still standing,” he says.

“In very specific jobs such as that we are able to use the one attachment without changing vehicles or accessories.”

And when it comes to maintenance, operators can rest assured that the attachment will survive even the harshest of surfaces and environments.

“We take out regular maintenance very seriously to make sure our machines are spinning when they should. Apart from that, we are yet to replace any major components on the planer,” Mitch says.

Simex planers are available across the country throughout the Simex dealership network which includes; Walkers Hammers in Victoria and Tasmania, Groundtec in New South Wales, QLD Rock Breakers in Queensland and Northern Territory, Total Rockbreaking Solutions in Western Australia and Renex Equipment in South Australia. roadsonline.com.au

39

CATCHING THE RAIN,

THE ACO WAY

FROM HIGHWAYS TO PORTS AND AIRPORTS, ACO AUSTRALIA’S DRAINAGE SYSTEMS OFFER SOLUTIONS TO ENGINEERS AND ASSET OWNERS. ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE CAUGHT UP WITH THE COMPANY’S HEAD OF MARKETING AND PRODUCT MANAGEMENT, JOHN SORDO, TO DISCUSS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE ROAD SURFACE DRAINAGE OPTIONS.

E

fficiently removing stormwater runoff is top of mind for engineers as they design new highways and motorways or plan for road upgrades. With a variety of vehicle types travelling at high speed under varying weather conditions, the drainage system plays a key role in safety and comfort for road users.

There are several ways to remove runoff from roads, from drainage inlet pits to side entry inlets and kerb openings. But, as is often the case, the ultimate decision on the best drainage option comes down to cost and effectiveness, as ACO Australia’s John Sordo explains.

Established in the 1940s in Germany, ACO has been pioneering on many fronts new designs and materials for road drainage systems. In the 1970s, ACO was the first company to introduce modular drainage ACO’s TraffikDrain efficiently captures water from road surfaces.

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ROADS AUGUST 2021

channels and to use polymer concrete for drainage products.

Today, ACO has expanded throughout Europe, The Americas, Asia and Australasia with subsidiaries and manufacturing facilities in over fourty countries. In Australia, ACO manufactures drainage systems, as well as a host of other water management products for different industry sectors, from its factory in Emu Plains, Sydney.

The company’s global mission is to collect, clean, hold and release stormwater sustainably back to the environment. This explains the multiple product lines, from trench drains to stormwater tanks and access covers.

With a 25 year manufacturing history in Australia, ACO’s brands in Australia include ACO Drain, which covers commercial drainage for urban areas and ACO

Infrastructure, which cater to drainage requirements for transport infrastructure such as roads, airports, ports and light rail.

TRENCH DRAINAGE SYSTEMS Two of the most popular trench drain systems in the ACO portfolio, according to Sordo, are TraffikDrain and KerbDrain. ACO’s grated trench systems are either monolithic in construction for optimum safety in highspeed traffic or are available with removable grates that are locked with boltless mechanisms into integrally cast ductile iron edge rails with anti-shunt mechanisms.

Sordo elaborates on how the two drainage systems compare with the conventional kerb inlet pit and pipe systems from a cost perspective.

“Other advantages aside, cost is always an important factor for contractors. So we ran a comparison between the traditional kerb pit and pipe drainage system, ACO’s TraffikDrain grated trench drainage and ACO’s KerbDrain integral kerb and drainage channel.

We found that the cost of installation of TraffikDrain, including trench excavation, backfilling, product price and kerb installation was 15 per cent cheaper than the kerb inlet pit and pipe installation.

Furthermore, KerbDrain’s installation was 36 per cent lower than the conventional installation,” says Sordo.

Though important, cost is not the only advantage with these ACO solutions.

Continuous capture of runoff by TraffikDrain grates or KerbDrain inlet slots minimises the width of flow which produces ponding and gutter flow from encroaching into the traffic lane. This is contrasted against the kerb inlet pit and pipe system where runoff can flow out on to the road between pits creating hazards to road users and pedestrians.

TECHNOLOGY & EQUIPMENT

TraffikDrain and KerbDrain channels also require a shallower trench excavation compared to the kerb inlet pit and pipe system, which minimises the risk of interference with other services. Ease of maintenance is another advantage as trench drain blockage can be easier and quicker to remove in grated systems compared to underground pipe systems. In some cases, cleaning can take place without the grate needing to be removed.

CASE STUDIES These advantages were demonstrated in a recent application where ACO’s TraffikDrain solution was adopted in the Bruce Highway upgrade in Queensland between Cooroy to Curra. The 62-kilometre realignment and road widening project involved the inclusion of several turning lanes in the section running through the town of Gympie. Designers wanted to ensure that during storms, all surface runoff could be effectively captured so that there would be no ponding against the centre median As Sordo explains, the large openings of the Hi-Flo grate ensured runoff was efficiently captured, eliminating the hazard of gutter flow to motorists. Anti-shunt lugs also ensured the grates remained firmly in place and were not dislodged by excessive wheel movements and braking.

In another project, ACO provided KerbDrain as a solution to the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) for the upgrade of the Pialba-Burrum Heads Road intersection. Installation of centre medians to separate traffic was a key part of the safety upgrade.

Sordo says KerbDrain helped transform the kerbs into continuous capture inlets requiring minimal excavation, with KerbDrain’s compact design fitting neatly into the shoulder of the carriageway.

“Installing KerbDrain reduced the cost compared to conventional kerb inlet drainage, due to fewer pits and pipes resulting in less excavation,” says Sordo.

“Additionally, installing KerbDrain reduced the cost compared to conventional kerb inlet drainage, due to fewer pits and pipes resulting in less excavation.”

A MULTI-FACETED SERVICE With over 50 years’ experience in providing drainage solutions worldwide, Sordo says what sets the ACO service offering apart is the ability to make documented recommendations for individual projects.

ACO has provided drainage solutions to five types of problems commonly faced by designers.

These being wide roads with flat grades (Intersections), restricted depth applications bridges, super elevated transitions, medians/ kerbs built close to roads thoroughfare and containing the contaminated runoff (WSUD).

“There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to drainage systems. So, our engineers study site-specific catchment hydraulics and they provide designers with hydraulics recommendations,” Sordo explains.

“This may include anything from determining the size of a trench drain to advising on optimum pit spacing. We base all of our hydraulic calculations on the correct approach and this is backed by university testing.”

Specialists in stability management

To further support designers and contractors, ACO has developed “askACO”, a corporate initiative designed around advice and industry education. ACO’s qualified technical team can provide them with free advice to make daily work easier for designers and help them select the right product for their application.

“It’s essentially a landing page where designers can submit project-specific questions or to get training,” he says.

And with a fully Australian manufacturing facility, there’s nothing the team should worry about in terms of supply during global disruptions, as seen in the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

“We actually had an interesting story recently on a Western Sydney road project. A contractor decided to pick one of our competitors because their offer came to be about three per cent cheaper. But because of delays on the supplier side, the project ended up costing a lot more,” says Sordo.

“That’s an issue we don’t need to worry about as our product is manufactured in Australia, which means we can offer short supply times, customised solutions and a technical support team familiar with the Australian standards.” To visit the landing page go to www.askACO.com.au.

“In addition to this we have launched a free web-based software program to assist engineers and contractors select the most hydraulically efficient trench drain for their projects,” Sordo says.

The program can be accessed at: www.acodrain.com.au/hydrolite.

Hummingbird Electronics are specialists in electronic vehicle and machinery safety solutions.

We offer a suite of safety focused products designed to protect operators and equipment in the mining, civil, industrial, machinery hire and agriculture industries.

Designed and manufactured in Australia to the highest standards, Hummingbird is a brand you can trust to improve safety on your worksite.

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HMDS8000 We offer a range of digital inclinometers that provide operators of machinery with highly visible pitch and roll measurements.

Our Elite model features configurable warning and alarm levels for pitch, roll and speed. It’s also capable of data logging these events to its internal memory.

HMGT range Our GPS trip meters are a popular choice for councils and road authorities. Easy to install and operate, they are used for marking road locations for repair, measuring sign and cone positioning for lane closures and traffic control as well as road length measurements.

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ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY

COMING TOGETHER

FOR NET ZERO

GOING THE EXTRA-MILE ON THE ROAD TO NET ZERO AND A CIRCULAR ECONOMY IS A MUST TO ACHIEVE THE OUTCOMES SOUGHT BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR TYRE RECYCLING IN AUSTRALIA, ACCORDING TO TYRECYCLE CEO JIM FAIRWEATHER.

W

ith the waste export bans on whole tyres coming into effect on December 1 this year, harnessing the power of collaboration will be key to the success of increased tyre recycling efforts.

Over the years, leading Australian tyre recycling company Tyrecycle has invested heavily to recover more materials from end-of-life tyres (ELT), but admits continued progress will require a genuine commitment right along the supply chain – from consumers and retailers to recyclers.

Tyrecycle Chief Executive Officer Jim Fairweather says it will be critical to lift consumer awareness on “what genuine recycling looks like” and why it costs more to do things sustainably.

“We need to support the efforts of those retailers who are committed to ensuring end-of-life tyres are appropriately recycled and re-purposed into other usable materials,” says Fairweather.

“It’s important that consumers are conscious of where their used tyres end up, ensuring they are not inadvertently supporting irresponsible disposal practices including stockpiling, use of landfill or unregulated pyrolysis plants. The environmental and human health impact of such practices is well documented,” he adds.

EVERYBODY’S RESPONSIBILITY “In this context,” Fairweathe says, “we all play a pivotal role in progressing that conversation to raise awareness around the importance of backing sustainable solutions rather than the lowest value disposal into the environment.

“We are definitely encouraged by the commitment of our retail business partners across the sector in playing their part.”

While the governments’ efforts to invest

Tyrecycle is launching a new tyre recycling plant in Sydney, while bolstering operations in South Australia, Victoria, and Queensland.

and expand the resource recovery sector has given a much-needed impetus to grow the local tyre recycling industry, building domestic demand for tyre-derived product will be equally important.

Fairweather, who is also the Chair of the Australian Tyre Recyclers Association (ATRA) and a board member of the Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR), says we need to see a scaling up of research and development with a view to commercialising new technologies and progressing innovative solutions.

“Again, it’s about genuine partnerships.

Industry needs to work with government to identify those opportunities and to accelerate the development of national standards and specifications for locally made tyre-derived products.

“There is plenty of upside in progressing high value tyre reuse applications including rubber crumb as a binder for road construction and permeable pavements, which can assist in managing flood risks.”

LOCAL CAPABILITIES Fairweather says that requires bold procurement targets and also consistency

in policy across the states to ensure that regulatory barriers to growing the Australian market for the use of tyre-derived products are removed.

“This is especially critical given the continued volatility in the international commodity markets, and the ongoing uncertainty tied to COVID-19.”

“If we are to meet and support the Council of Australian Governments’ (COAG’s) waste export bans, we need to invest in building local processing capabilities by recapitalising the tyre recycling sector through appropriate gate fees and commercial returns.”

As an Australian owned and operated company, Tyrecycle is committed to playing its part through a $40 million capital expansion program, including a new tyre recycling plant coming online in Sydney, a second new plant in Western Australia, and the bolstering of its operations in South Australia, Victoria, and Queensland.

“It’s about being future ready,” says Fairweather. “We want to ensure we are ahead of the curve in meeting growing demand, both domestically and internationally.” roadsonline.com.au

43

TAKING RISK OUT OF

EQUIPMENT INSURANCE THINGS DON’T ALWAYS GO AS PLANNED IN CONSTRUCTION WORK. WHEN THE UNEXPECTED HAPPEN, HAVING THE RIGHT PEOPLE BY YOUR SIDE IS KEY, AS CLAIMS AND UNDERWRITING MANAGERS FROM UNDERWRITING AGENCIES OF AUSTRALIA EXPLAIN.

I

n June, Underwriting Agencies of Australia (UAA) opened its new office in Newcastle for its Australian National Claims and NSW Underwriting Team.

Newcastle is the birthplace of UAA, which has been insuring cranes and other mobile equipment for the construction industry since 1972.

While UAA today boasts underwriting and sales offices across all major cities in Australia and other parts of the world, the UAA executive team of Michael Murphy (Murf), Stan Alexandropoulos, George Grasso and Jane King are very proud to announce the opening of their new office in Hunter Street, in a complex which towers over the working Newcastle Harbour.

“It is a huge step up in a modern building after almost 30 years in the former office in Scott Street and most deserving to the incredible team in NSW,” Murphy says.

A deep understanding of the industry and a responsive approach to incidents are key reasons UAA remains the number one insurer for the construction equipment sector.

Michelle Morrissey, National Claims Manager and Keith Palmer, Regional Manager for NSW and ACT explain the importance

UAA places on every team member understanding the challenges faced by the construction sector.

Morrissey has been with UAA for 11 years and she oversees claims for all of Australia.

She manages a team of 12 Claims Consultants who manage claims across every state in Australia from start to finish for everything from a small Elevated Work Platform (EWP) to some of Australia’s largest cranes as well as machinery across all other industries inbetween.

Palmer is the Regional Manager for New South Wales and ACT and he looks after his team of underwriters. Within his team there are nine underwriters and two business development managers. He has been with UAA for 14 years having started in 2007 as a business development manager himself.

He has over 40 years of experience in the insurance industry.

Palmer explains how UAA assesses individual clients and prepares an insurance schedule and premiums to suit individual business needs.

“UAA provides insurance products and services through licensed insurance brokers.

As underwriters we don’t deal with clients UAA has a brand new office in Newcastle’s CBD.

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ROADS AUGUST 2021

directly. When a broker comes to us with a new client, they will present a quotation slip which outlines the covers required and a schedule of cranes and other equipment.

We obtain information regarding the client’s experience and ascertain the type of works they are involved in. We have ratings for various types of cranes including mobile cranes to Frannas, tower cranes and crawlers.

Premiums are determined on the mix of the schedule and also based on the client’s claims history and experience.”

Palmer then explains how premiums are determined in accordance with risk.

“We will examine the type of work the insured is undertaking and in which area, taking into account if it is metro or regional areas. We examine the high risk work they may undertake such as wind farm work which means they have a higher exposure to risk.

We also examine some of the additional issues such as whether the client dry hires the equipment, and if so, what the formal terms of the hire arrangements involve and whether there are damage waivers provided.”

MITIGATING THE RISKS But what happens when there is an incident?

Morrissey explains how UAA works with the broker to quickly get resolutions in place.

“Our response to an incident begins with the initial notification of claim, but sometimes with our ‘high severity incidents’ we may end up notifying the broker. As you can imagine, if say a crane rolls over, it can be big news, so we monitor social media and news outlets to ascertain if it is one of our mutual clients and if so, we will initiate the claims process as an immediate response to assist the client.

“Depending on the severity of the incident, the initial process will be to mobilise assessors to the site and see if they can assist in anyway with the potential recovery process of the crane. It also provides them

EQUIPMENT INSURANCE

with the ability to mitigate any potential additional damages to the crane and assist with controlling costs to save on the clients’ claims experience and reduce any unnecessary loss of time. The assessor will begin interviewing all the parties and depending on the severity of the incident we might have investigators accompanying the assessor to the site to collect additional evidence associated with the event that may assist the client and UAA deflect liabilities to other responsible parties,” she says.

But the underwriter’s job does not end there, as Morrissey further explains.

“Once the item is recovered, we assess the severity of the damage and determine if it is a total loss or a repairable situation.

In the background, we are always trying to mitigate any potential loss of income for the client by reducing down-time. If we are in a position where the item is repairable, we have the repairs done to the highest quality and as quickly as possible. We want to get the equipment back into the hands of the insured and back working as soon as possible,” she says.

“If needed, and if possible, we will see if we can source, repair or manufacture required parts locally instead of going overseas and therefore dependant on shipment time frames. The assessment and examination of a damaged machine and its causation assists in streamlining the indemnity process. Once all costs are finalised and paid, whether it is repaired or a total loss, UAA further examines subrogation actions required and continues to manage the claim until it is finalised. We are one of the only insurers in Mobile Plant and Machinery in Australia that has the authority to act quickly, lodge, pay and finalise claims in house, here on shore in Australia.”

TAILORED POLICIES Palmer explains how policies are tailored to individual businesses taking into account the profile of the equipment in the fleet and the industries they are servicing.

“Fundamentally, tailoring insurance packages to meet the requirements of individual clients is the job of the broker.

Though we do assist the broker in ensuring all appropriate covers are considered in accordance with client risk profile. The broker is the clients’ insurance advisor and they need to discuss with the client their particular circumstances. We need to ascertain all types of information received, such as, what type of income the equipment

Keith Palmer and Michelle Morrissey (centre) flanked by the Underwriting and Claims teams in Newcastle.

is generating and also consider the potential repair period for the equipment if there was an incident. For example, for cranes you can be looking at a six month period or longer particularly in the current climate. Indemnity periods also needs to be calculated, what level of lost income the equipment potentially has and also what potential alternatives might be available in the market to hire another equipment to minimise the loss.

“These are some of the factors the broker needs to consider with the insured and quite often the broker will consult with us to discuss what might be appropriate in certain circumstances. Right now, the economy is travelling well with a lot of infrastructure work, for example, and a lot of the cranes and mobile plant equipment are constantly out working so there might not be too many alternatives in terms of replacement options, and there might be times when you can’t hire an equipment, even though you want to. Potentially, we would see this as a loss of revenue situation and appropriate cover to consider. So, there are many factors to take into account,” he says.

For UAA to be able to accurately assess the risk involved with a new or renewing client and then set premiums accordingly, the broker works closely with his team providing information that the premiums will be based on, says Palmer.

“The important information is generally included in the claims experience. If it is a well-managed company with experienced and competent staff that reflect low frequencies in incidents and claims experiences, this will then favourably impact the clients’ premiums over time. The types of

equipment they use can also be a factor. The articulated pick and carry cranes for example, seem to have a higher frequency of incidents and have a different (higher) underwriting rating compared to other types of cranes.

If there are a number of this type of crane in the fleet schedule, then it is obviously reflected in the premium and deemed a higher risk,” he says.

Morrissey then discusses the various steps that follow an incident.

“The key is to get the right people and experts on the claim as soon as an incident occurs. Our reputation as a viable insurance partner to our mutual clients is based on how quickly we can respond, the experience of our experts we appoint, and how quickly we can assist a mutual client in getting their machine back to work again. This is so critically important to us and extremely imbedded into the culture of our claims team,” she says.

There are nine underwriters in the UAA underwriting team. The team members come from various backgrounds with varying experience. There is over 60 years of combined underwriting plant and machinery experience in our team. The claims side of the business features a solid team with various degrees of experience and expertise, all within the insurance industry.

There are 12 claims staff that manage all claims nationally from UAA’s Newcastle office, each individual with the responsibility of managing claims for each designated state.

Their responsibilities also include managing the relationships with Insurance Brokers and mutual clients in their respective allocated state, claims cycle time, quality and cost and quick outcomes for clients. roadsonline.com.au

45

WOMEN IN INDUSTRY

2021 FINALISTS

ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE LIST OF FINALISTS FOR THE WOMEN IN INDUSTRY AWARDS 2021.

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he contributions of women to major industries in Australia will be celebrated through the Women in Industry Awards 2021 in August this year, with the shortlisted candidates for each category now announced.

The Awards recognises and rewards the achievements of women working within the mining, engineering, manufacturing, process control industries and commercial road transport industries, and aims to raise the profile of women within industry, as well as promote and encourage excellence.

Winners are chosen across 10 categories: Excellence in Engineering, Excellence in Transport, Excellence in Manufacturing, Excellence in Mining, Mentor of the Year, Safety Advocacy Award, Industry Advocacy Award, Business Development Success of the Year, Rising Star of the Year and Social Leader of the Year.

Women in Industry has also introduced a special category, Woman of the Year, which is sponsored by ifm in 2021. All category winners are automatically finalists for the Woman of the Year category.

Rachael Ashfield, winner of Business Development Success of the Year in the 2020 Awards and the Women in Industry Ambassador this year, congratulates the nominees.

“Women bring alternative viewpoints and experiences to a business which often fosters creativity and change. Yet the career pathway for women can be quite challenging, especially in an industry that is not highly represented by women. The Women in Industry Awards give women an opportunity to highlight key aspects and career defining moments of their many years of success and dedication,” says Ashfield, Marketing Manager at ifm. “ifm Australia is extremely proud to be a major sponsor of the Women in Industry Awards for 2021. We feel the importance is not only nominating but participation 46

ROADS AUGUST 2021

by openly discussing and celebrating all women in industry.”

While Weir Minerals, Komatsu Mining and ifm are new sponsors on the Women in Industry 2021, long-term partners Atlas Copco, BOC and BAE Systems have all come back this year as sponsors.

Komatsu is sponsoring the Social Leader of the Year category, recognising an individual who has significantly affected positive change within their local or regional community. In regions across the globe, Komatsu continues to provide products and solutions which address social needs and give back to communities where they do business by leveraging skills and passion of their people.

Weir Minerals, sponsor of the Excellence in Mining category, is a global leader in the provision of mill circuit technology and services, as well as in slurry handling equipment and associated aftermarket support for abrasive high wear applications.

Its differentiated technology is used in mining, oil and gas and general industrial markets around the world.

“We are very excited and proud to be supporting the Women in Industry’s Excellence in Mining category, highlighting inspirational female leaders, pioneering initiatives and exceptional talent of today and tomorrow,” says Melissa Davison, Regional Strategy Director APAC at Weir Minerals.

BOC has been supporting the Women in Industry awards for the past seven years.

The company is dedicated to fostering and recognising excellence across the industrials sector and is committed to industry safety, sponsoring the Safety Advocacy Award.

Internally, BOC supports its employees to achieve success, with several members of its staff recognised as finalists and winners of the Women in Industry Awards in recent years.

Atlas Copco Compressors has also supported the program for a number of years, first sponsoring in 2016. As a global company, they are committed to maintaining diversity within their business. Atlas Copco believe diversity is a critical driver of success and leads to unstoppable innovation.

“Atlas Copco sponsors the Women in Industry Awards as a part of our specific strategy to address diversity in our business and within the broader industry in which we operate,” says Fiona Halliday, Human Resources Business Partner at Atlas Copco.

“For us, it shows we are not just serious about our commitment to celebrating the diversity, but also set ourselves Group wide diversity targets such as having 30 per cent of females in our organisation by 2030.”

The Rising Star of the Year Award, sponsored by Atlas Copco, recognises some of industry’s up-and-comers and future talent that are making a difference already.

Atlas Copco and BOC are joined by BAE Systems, which has renewed their sponsorship for a consecutive year. As one of the world’s largest security, defence and aerospace companies, BAE Systems has one of Australia’s largest teams of engineers and as such, sponsors the Excellence in Engineering award.

“The Women in Industry Awards provide a unique platform to recognise and celebrate the achievements of women in engineering in Australia. BAE Systems is committed to progressing women and addressing gender diversity and balance in the industry,” says Kirsty Bateman, BAE Systems Director, Engineering Capability.

This year’s candidates have been shortlisted from among 83 total nominations. Since the 2020 Awards ceremony was held online due to COVID-19 restrictions, all of last year’s winners are invited to attend this year’s ceremony – which will be held in the Arts Centre in Melbourne on Thursday 19 August.

EVENTS

The Awards recognises and celebrates women in traditionally male-dominated industries.

FINALISTS FOR THE 2021 WOMEN IN INDUSTRY AWARDS: BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SUCCESS OF THE YEAR Finalists: • Louise Johnson, BOC • Puneeta Chellaramani, KPMG Australia • Katherine Walton, Weir Minerals • Kylie Hollonds, GF Oats Australia • Lacey Webb, Resource Hub

INDUSTRY ADVOCACY AWARD Finalists: • Megan McCracken, National Association of Women in Operations • Gina Rinehart, Hancock Prospecting • Jo Sainsbury, Kickass Women • Hermione Parsons, Deakin University • Kylie Ward, Stantec

EXCELLENCE IN ENGINEERING Proudly sponsored by BAE Systems Australia Finalists: • Narelle Dobson, Department of Transport and Main Roads, QLD • Brownyn Evans, Engineers Australia • Ashleigh Fulcher, Viva Energy Australia • Rachel Barrett, Bosch Australia • Amelinda Ilardi, ANCA

MENTOR OF THE YEAR Finalists: • Larissa Rose, Glowing Green Australia • Lidia Trehane, Bosch Australia • Christine Morris, Komatsu Mining • Angela Wiggins, BAE Systems Australia • Kylie Fraser, Linfox

EXCELLENCE IN MANUFACTURING Finalists: • Heidi Bergman, Seqirus • Noelle Parlier, PACCAR Australia • Cori Stewart, Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Hub • Julie Jones, Matrix Composites and Engineering Ltd • Shay Chalmers, Strategic Engineering Australia Pty Ltd EXCELLENCE IN MINING Proudly sponsored by Weir Minerals Finalists: • Carrie Heaven, Glencore • Christine Morris, Komatsu Mining • Carly O’Loughlan, Ore Contracting WA Pty Ltd EXCELLENCE IN TRANSPORT Finalists: • Merry Manton, Transport Women Australia Limited • Penny Ford, Department of Transport and Main Roads, QLD • Kirstyn Glass, Trapeze Group Asia Pacific • Catherine Baxter, Metro Trains Melbourne • Heather Jones, Pilbara Heavy Haulage Girls

RISING STAR OF THE YEAR Proudly sponsored by Atlas Copco Finalists: • Monique Yap, Weir Minerals • Louisa Jansen, Fulton Hogan • Kirstie Looke, Viva Energy Australia • Deanne Heier, Norske Skog • Isabella Freeman, RoadTek / Department of Transport and Main Roads, QLD SAFETY ADVOCACY AWARD Proudly sponsored by BOC Finalists: • Grace Kube, Norske Skog • Merry Manton, Transport Women Australia Limited • Ainsley Fish, RoadTek / Department of Transport and Main Roads, QLD • Stephanie O’Dwyer, BlueScope Steel • Sabrina Sequeria, Lighting Protection International SOCIAL LEADER OF THE YEAR Proudly sponsored by Komatsu Mining Finalists: • Anne Williams, John Holland • Penelope Twemlow, KPMG Australia • Jane Tiller, Monash University • Pranjal Pawar, Development Victoria • Jo Withford, Transport for NSW

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SHAPING OUR TRANSPORT FUTURE

AN ENGINEERED APPROACH

TO ROAD SAFETY DAVID MCTIERNAN, NATIONAL LEADER FOR TRANSPORT SAFETY AT AUSTRALIAN ROAD RESEARCH BOARD, SITS DOWN WITH ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE TO TALK ABOUT ARRB’S ROLE IN INTEGRATING SAFETY WITH ROAD CONSTRUCTION.

T

he Australian national government is spending record funding on improving road safety. The 2021 federal budget raised the national government’s contribution to the Road Safety Program to $3 billion, bringing the fund to represent, for the first time, 10 per cent of what road crashes cost to the country each year.

A revision of the National Road Safety Strategy is currently underway based on comments received from key industry players. The strategy aims to achieve Vision Zero (zero deaths and serious injuries) by 2050, starting with halving road fatalities and reducing serious injuries by 30 per cent to 2030.

The state governments on their parts have also increased their commitments to road safety projects, with the Victorian Government Department of Transport establishing this year a dedicated team to lead the delivery of the Victorian Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030.

With such emphasis on road safety improvement, Australian Road Research Board (ARRB) National Leader for Transport Safety, David McTiernan says there’s a critical role to be played by local governments in achieving the ambitious Vision Zero goal.

“Of the approximately 880,000 kilometres of public roads in Australia, local governments, that is the 537 councils across the country, have responsibility for over 660,000 kilometres of the road length.

That is nearly 75 per cent of the total road network falling under the local governments’ jurisdiction,” he observes.

Having worked in local government for 16 years prior to joining ARRB, McTiernan knows first-hand about the challenges faced 48

ROADS AUGUST 2021

by local governments. He says despite such grave responsibility, local councils often lack the funding and access to the specialised knowledge to take a holistic approach to road safety.

That’s where ARRB’s expertise comes into play. As an advisor to all levels of government and to other road managers, ARRB plays a key role in helping asset managers understand road safety risks present on their networks, then assisting them to plan and prioritise road infrastructure improvements that address their local road safety issues.

“Despite such a diverse coverage of road infrastructure, from city roads to regional centres and remote communities, councils don’t always have the funding or access to the expertise to address their local road safety issues. So instead, they tend to focus on maintaining the roads under their jurisdiction to the best condition that they can afford. But, as we know, maintaining a road to the required standard does not necessarily guarantee maximum road safety.

Road safety has its own specialty area, which is road safety engineering,” he explains.

“Asset managers certainly have safety in their minds, but it’s the road safety engineer who can look at the projects from a ‘safe system perspective’ and make sure that every aspect of the road transport system is considered to produce the safest outcome for all road users” he adds.

ARRB’S ROLE As an advisor in the road and infrastructure sector, ARRB is able to help all road agencies and managers to understand the level of road safety risk present on their networks.

Having this knowledge will then assist them

David McTiernan, ARRB National Leader for Transport Safety.

to plan and prioritise road infrastructure improvements that address their local road safety issues.

McTiernan recalls an example where the ARRB Transport Safety team, a nearly 20-strong group of safety engineers and experts based at ARRB centres nationally, helped a client in a regional local government area adopt an innovative approach to road safety and in the process, gain better risk assessment ratings.

“The local road was anticipated to have large increases in daily movement of heavy vehicles. So the client and the local council consulted ARRB to seek the best way to manage the increased traffic while keeping the local rural community safe.

After reviewing the road safety risks of the existing and proposed road formations, ARRB proposed an alternate road formation which kept the narrow traffic lanes but combined it with a one-metre-wide centreline, wider sealed shoulders and reduction in speed limits.”

The result, as McTiernan explains, was a “more forgiving road” that increased the separation between traffic and the heavy vehicles and provided space where it would be needed for drivers to regain control of their drifting or errant vehicle.

“It is through such holistic analysis of the network that ARRB helps road managers better understand the potentials with

their road, and this also places the local governments in a better position to access funding from the record national and state government funds to reduce road safety risks and their liability.”

Another area where ARRB actively plays a role is through development of best practices and guidelines for a safe road industry. In this role, McTiernan says, ARRB experts take lessons from around the world and adapts them to the Australian road conditions.

“Not everything can just be transplanted from another country to Australia. We saw this happen in Dubai where they picked up American and UK standards, but these did not necessarily result in safe practice there.

So, at ARRB we look at what happens across Australia and around the world, and we then write guidelines and best practice materials that local industry practitioners can take and implement.

In 2021, ARRB will produce a new Best Practice Guide to help local government build and manage safer road infrastructure.

ARRB’s next Local Government series will be focusing on Safer Road Infrastructure and will be developed specifically to assist local government practitioners to integrate the latest available best practice road safety principles and tools when managing their road assets so they meet community obligations while at the same time improve travel mobility.

IMPROVING CONSTRUCTION SAFETY Where it directly involves the construction industry, ARRB is also busy doing research and proposing solutions that help improve the safety of construction workers on road projects, as well as to ensure infrastructure upgrades are not endangering other road users such as cyclists and pedestrians.

One such initiative that ARRB has been involved with as part of the National Road Safety Partnership Program is CLOCS-A or Construction Logistics and Community Safety – Australia.

“CLOCS-A has been inspired by the success of the CLOCS Program originally developed in the UK to reduce road trauma and ensure safe construction vehicle journey when the City of London was undergoing heavy upgrades,” McTiernan explains.

“We now have a similar situation in Australia with all the infrastructure upgrades in major cities, which increase the risk of pedestrians and cyclists getting knocked over by construction traffic. The primary goal of

CLOCS-A is that a similar reduction in lives lost and serious injuries can be achieved locally on our roads in Australia.”

EYE ON THE FUTURE McTiernan is optimistic about the national and state governments adopting a broader view of road safety in recent years, particularly with regards to lowering the cost of road trauma.

“Over the past two years, the federal government has started looking at the cost of road trauma on the broader economy – which in Australia is about $30 billion per year – and how that requires a greater investment in road safety.

“COVID-19 has been a catalyser for that and this year we have seen the record $3 billion commitment from the national government on road safety. It will be interesting to see if the funding continues in the coming years, but at the moment, the trends in all tiers of government is to focus on spending the money to prevent road trauma rather than having to spend that on recovery. This has triggered positive initiatives in adopting road safety technologies such as tactile line marking and designing wider shoulders for roads, as well as investing on better barriers and guard rails.”

On its part, McTiernan says ARRB will continue to train and guide practitioners, including those in the local governments, to adopt the latest guidelines on road safety.

“It’s what we’ve been doing for the past 60 years,” he says. “We often engage with local government employees to help them understand causes of crashes in their area and then supporting them to amend any shortfalls. With the record funding from the national and state governments for developing safer road infrastructure, armed with analysis of risk on their networks, road managers will be better placed to access this funding to implement the much-needed road improvements to reduce road safety risk and their liability.”

With more push from state governments to encourage the purchase of electric vehicles, ARRB is also keeping an eye on the future through its Future Transport Systems Group.

“As technologies like autonomous vehicles and electric vehicles evolve, there’s so much to learn about how these vehicles will contribute to the road safety mix over the next ten years and what infrastructure will be needed to support them. That will bring a new set of challenges for local government and ARRB will be working with them side-byside to figure those out.”

ARRB proposed to the council an alternate road formation which kept the narrow traffic lanes but combined it with a one-metre-wide centreline.

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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.

VICTORIA Preferred bidder selected for North East Link Project Spark, a consortium involving Italian firm Webuild, South Korea’s GS Engineering and Construction, Cimic subsidiary CPB Contractors, Chinese state firm China Construction Oceania, Australia’s Capella Capital and Britain’s John Laing Investments, has been selected as the preferred bidder to deliver the tunnelling package for North East Link project in Melbourne.

The selection by the Victorian Government followed a worldwide search for constructing the twin three-lane tunnels and key interchanges since late 2018, with the tunnelling work estimated to cost $7-9 billion. The tunneling package will provide three-lane twin tunnels that will finally close the missing link in Melbourne’s freeway network. Up to 135,000 vehicles will use the North East Link every day, reducing congestion in the city’s north-east while maintaining local roads for local trips and the environmental impact.

Following the finalisation of the bidder, the project will now go out to market for other project key elements including a massive overhaul of the Eastern Freeway, Melbourne’s first dedicated busway, the completion of the M80 and more than 25 kilometres of new and upgraded walking and cycling paths.

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NEW SOUTH WALES Acciona awarded New England Highway upgrade contract Transport for NSW (TfNSW) has awarded Acciona Construction Australia the contract for the construction of the Belford to Golden Highway Upgrade Package.

The NSW Government has provided $97 million funding for the upgrade to improve traffic flow, travel times and safety for motorists. The upgrade involves building two travel lanes in each direction from Belford to the Golden Highway, and a flyover for vehicles turning right from the Golden Highway towards Maitland and Newcastle.

Early work, including utility relocations, has been completed and main construction work will start later this year. Work is expected to take three years to complete, weather permitting.

The construction contract also includes the Mudies Creek Bridge project on the Golden Highway. The Australian and NSW governments are jointly funding a $16 million bridge over Mudies Creek to improve travel reliability during flood events.

The upgrade will involve building a new 30-metre-long bridge over Mudies Creek, five metres above the current road level and high enough to withstand a one-in-100-year flood.

Work is expected to start in 2022, subject to environmental approval.

Veris Australia wins Sydney Metro surveying contract Veris subsidiary, Veris Australia, has been awarded a contract to provide surveying services to Sydney Metro’s Southwest metro upgrade.

As part of the contract, Veris will provide surveying services to the John Holland and Laing O’Rourke joint venture – contractors on the $227 million project to upgrade the 125-year-old Bankstown Line between Sydenham and Bankstown.

The contract is expected to generate $2.5 million in revenue for Veris Australia over a two-year period.

Work includes upgrading 15 bridges and underpasses, civil construction on walls, track drainage and culverts, fencing, track crossovers and upgrading overhead wiring.

The contract follows Veris Australia’s involvement in the $6.7 million Sydenham Station and Junction upgrade, where the company offered a range of surveying and spatial services.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA Ventia lands $300m-a-year service contract for South Australia Infrastructure services provider Ventia stands to earn $300 million a year in a multi-year deal with the South Australian Government to manage schools, hospitals, police stations and other facilities.

The Across Government Facilities Management Arrangement (AGFMA) initially lasts five years and seven months, with the potential for three two-year extensions.

Transition activities for the contract will begin in July and operations will commence in December 2021. Ventia will carry out work for some 30 government agencies across the state.

Formed in 2015 by the merger of Leighton Contractors Services, Thiess Services and Visionstream, Ventia is a 50:50 investment partnership between CIMIC Group and Apollo Global Management.

AGFMAs are integral to the South Australian Government’s role in the maintenance, management and improvement of government building assets.

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