What's News In Construction & Infrastructure? - 6 November 2013

IN THE MEDIA

NBN Co given approval to connect 150,000 more homes to minimise impact on construction industry NBN Co has been given the green light to connect another 150,000 homes to the national broadband network by fibre optic cable, to try to minimise disruption to contractors while the future of the network is reconsidered (31 November 2013). More...

Revived construction watchdog would get tough on unions The chairman of the Abbott government's construction industry watchdog says tougher laws cracking down further on building unions are needed to tackle ''coercion and intimidation'' on work sites (31 October 2013). More...

Infrastructure Departmental Annual Reports released The Department's Annual Reports for 2012-13 are now available. The reports detail departmental programmes, activities and finances for the past financial year (30 October 2013). More...

Call for CMC inquiry into alleged Barrier Reef conflicts of interest There are calls for a Queensland Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) inquiry into alleged conflicts of interest within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) (30 October 2013). More...

Federal Government releases laws to repeal mining tax Draft laws to abolish the Minerals Resource Rent Tax (MRRT) have been released ahead of their expected introduction to parliament next month (24 October 2013). More...

King rebuffs bribery allegations Former chief executive officer of Leighton Holdings Ltd Mr King said he actively sought to avoid working in countries were bribery was commonplace and pushed his successor David Stewart on why he did not alert the Leighton board if he was aware of specific bribes (21 October 2013). More...

NSW

ICAC recommends tighter controls to minimise coal mining corruption The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has made a series of sweeping recommendations to tighten up the process for managing the state's coal resources and reduce the likelihood of corrupt conduct, including by improving the accountability and scrutiny of ministers and members of Parliament. (30 October 2013). More...

Statement on ICAC recommendations The NSW Minerals Council broadly welcomes the recommendations outlined in the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) Report released today. The report recognises the strategic economic importance of coal mining for NSW, and acknowledges some of the key challenges the industry has faced in recent times, including sovereign risk (30 October 2013). More...

Baird proposes tax changes for NSW infrastructure The NSW Treasurer has proposed a new taxation practice that would direct company tax revenue on infrastructure back to state governments. The proposal is part of the NSW Government's policy of harnessing superannuation and other institutional investment to 'recycle' infrastructure assets, using the proceeds to start new infrastructure projects which will themselves eventually be privatised (30 October 2013). More...

Tenders Called to Complete the Moree Town Centre Bypass The $30 million second stage of the Moree town centre bypass is one step closer, with tenders now called for its construction. Tenders to build the southern section of the Moree town centre bypass are now open, closing on Wednesday 11 December. A contract for this work is expected to be awarded in March next year, with building due to start mid next year and completed by early 2016 (29 October 2013). More...

Queensland

Origin: LNG projects on track in Queensland Origin Energy Ltd's $25 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Queensland is now more than half finished. Australia's largest energy retailer says drilling of coal seam gas wells in central and south west Queensland was 50 per cent complete at the end of September (31 October 2013). More...

Commonwealth Games Village a step closer The Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning announced that Grocon Pty Ltd and Village Park Consortium - comprising Australand Holdings Limited and Citta Property Group - are the two remaining developers being considered for this exciting redevelopment project (30 October 2013). More...

Work to start on $16 million D'Aguilar Highway upgrade Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Jamie Briggs and Federal Member for Longman Wyatt Roy today announced that safety upgrades on the D'Aguilar Highway would start next year. The funding announced today is provided under the Infrastructure Investment Programme, with works anticipated to begin in 2014-15. (29 October 2013). More...

Bruce Highway Upgrade Project Underway Construction is underway south of Townsville on the $137.5 million Vantassel Street to Cluden Bruce Highway duplication project, with the major upgrade to improve safety and traffic flow for motorists on the highway (29 October 2013). More...

Leighton wins $249m coal mine contract Leighton Holdings has won a $249 million contract for work on the Isaac Plains coal mine in central Queensland. The three-year contract includes the operation of a dragline and the supply and maintenance of mobile plant and equipment (31 October 2013). More...

QCA undertakes CSG Regulatory Review The Queensland Government has asked the QCA to undertake an investigation into the Queensland Government's regulation of the coal seam gas industry. The QCA intends to release its draft report on CSG regulation on 7 November 2013 (29 October 2013). More...

State farmers in final battle over Qld mega mine Farmers fighting the massive Alpha coal mine project fear the Queensland government will try to silence opposition to similar, future projects. A group of farmers (the (CCAQ) has gone to the Land Court of Queensland to challenge approvals for the multi-billion-dollar joint venture between Gina Rinehart's Hancock Coal and GVK (25 October 2013). More...

Cash tenders for new coal land released in Bowen Basin The Newman Government is calling for tenders to explore for coal in the Bowen Basin of central Queensland, with the first ever non-cash tender for coal exploration. The seven areas of land being made available for coal exploration by the Department of Natural Resources and Mines collectively cover more than 1,292 square kilometres in the northern Bowen Basin (24 October 2013). More...

Contract awarded for Queensland pilot solar plant The University of Queensland (UQ) has signed an engineering, procurement and construction contract with First Solar (Australia) for...