BHP Billiton is seeking approval from the Australian, South Australian and Northern Territory governments to significantly expand its mining and processing operations at Olympic Dam in northern South Australia. The company says that the main objective of its proposed expansion is to unlock the full potential of the deposit to meet increasing world demand for copper and uranium.Each Tuesday and Friday, CIN brings you the latest updates on major infrastructure projects – current and planned – across the nation. By tracking these updates, you can build your own database of substantial infrastructure projects about to commence or on the drawing boards.AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORYURBAN DEVELOPMENTBelconnen Town Centre Redevelopment, Canberra (Proposed)Principal: Territory and Municipal Services, WestfieldScope: Expand Westfield mall along Lathlain Street and over Joynton Smith Drive, decommission existing bus interchange on May 25, 2009, and construct new bus interchange, relocate red bridgeStatus: Public information session to be held at Community Room, Belconnen Library, 12 Chandler Street, Belconnen, on May 12, 6-8pm; project completion end 2010Purpose: Revitalise Belconnen’s shopping precinct to create new opportunities for small businesses and provide locals with greater choice and variety in retail shopping, improved public transport facilitiesValue: $124 million(Update: NT government announcement of public information session, May 2009)NEW SOUTH WALESWATER/WASTEWATERFairfield Recycled Water Plant, Western Sydney (Proposed)Principal: Veolia Water, Aquanet SydneyScope: Construct, maintain and operate new recycled water plant at Fairfield as part of the Rosehill Recycling Scheme, which will initially provide 4.3 billion litres of recycled water a year Status: Veolia Water has been issued with the first licence under the Water Industry Competition Act 2006, permitting Veolia to construct and operate the plant; second licence issued to Aquanet Sydney to allow high-quality recycled water to be transported to users through network of retrofitted gas pipes; new Veolia recycling plant to be operational by 2011, paving the way for increased distribution via retroffited gas pipes, May 2009Purpose: Provide recycled water to industrial and irrigation customers in Western Sydney and create 64 construction jobsContractors: NAValue: NA (New project: State government announcement of project, May 2009)QUEENSLANDWATERWyaralong Dam, near Beaudesert (Current)Principal: Queensland Water InfrastructureScope: 103,000ML dam on Teviot Brook, recreational facilities, upgrade Boonah wastewater treatment plant, includes 500m-long wall with maximum height of 48m, 10.6km section realignment of Beaudesert-Boonah Road, 5.5km dam access road, relocation or raising of Old Beaudesert Road and Knethers RoadStatus: Construction contract awarded to Queensland Dam Consortium, May 2009; major construction work to commence end 2009; Fulton Hogan appointed to construct 10.6km realignment of Beaudesert-Boonah Road, May 2009, project completion 2011Purpose: New dam on Teviot Brook in Logan River catchment to produce 21,000ML a year to SEQ water grid Contractors: Water Infrastructure Solutions Alliance (preconstruction works including 5.5km access road, water pipeline); Queensland Dam Consortium – Macmahon Contractors, SMEC Australia, Hydro Tasmania, Wagners Quarries, ASI Constructors, Rizzo Australia (dam construction); Fulton Hogan (Beaudesert-Boonah Road)Value: $348 million (Update: State government announcement of successful shortlisted bidder for construction contract and contract award for Beaudesert-Boonah Road, May 2009)SOUTH AUSTRALIARESOURCESOlympic Dam Expansion (Proposed)Principals: BHP Billiton Scope: Mine, infrastructure, processing plant expansion to double production capacity possibly involving open pit mine, coastal desalination plant at Upper Spencer Gulf and pipeline, airport relocation, additional power transmission line or natural gas pipeline to onsite power generator, rail line to Pimba, road-rail transfer facility, export infrastructure at East Arm (Darwin), doubling of Roxby Downs townshipStatus: Draft Olympic Dam expansion environmental impact statement and Roxby Downs development planning amendment are both available online and from local council offices for community consultation. Free stakeholder kits prepared by BHP Billiton are available through the Department of Planning and Local Government, ph: 08 8303 0724; and Roxby Downs, Port Augusta and Whyalla councils, May 2009. Copies of the free kit will also be available at public meetings being held in: Roxby Downs – Roxby Auditorium Leisure Centre, Richardson Avenue, May 25, 2009, at 2-8pm; Pt Augusta – Cultural Precinct, Institute Building, Commercial Road, May 27, 2009, at 2-8pm; Whyalla – Westlands Hotel, Oasis Function Room, May 29, 2009, at 2-8pm; Adelaide – Convention Centre, North Terrace, June 2, 2009 at 2-8pm; Darwin – Crowne Plaza, 32 Mitchell Street, June 3, 2009, at 7pm; and Alice Springs – Crowne Plaza, 82 Barrett Drive, June 4, 2009, at 7pm. Community consultation period ends August 7, 2009Purpose: BHP considering five-stage expansion to increase capacity from 200,000tpa to 500,000tpa copper, 4300tpa to 19,000tpa uraniumValue: $6.7 billion(Update: State government announcement of draft Olympic Dam EIS and Roxby Downs DPA on display for public comment, May 2009)TASMANIABUILDINGLauderdale Quay, Ralphs Bay (Proposed)Principal: Walker CorporationScope: 52ha mixed-use waterfront housing and marina development includes parks, public spaces, community facilities; new public waterfront and marina including public jetty, walkways, waterfront cafes and restaurants, foreshore walks, revitalisation of Lauderdale Canal, South Arm Road realignment Status: Declared project of state significance, May 2009; directions hearing to assist Resource Planning and Development Commission prepare for a public hearing into proposal to be held at 10am on May 19, 2009, at Rydges Hobart, Argyle Street, Hobart, contact Commission on: 03 6233 2795Purpose: Residential and recreational infrastructureValue: $300 million(Update: Resource Planning and Development Commission announcement of directions hearing, May 2009)TASMANIABUILDINGBruny Island Community Health Centre (Proposed)Principal: HealthScope: Construct health centre includes consultation rooms, meeting areas, accommodation facilities, emergency treatment room, day centre, administration and nursing officesStatus: Construction contract awarded May 2009; construction commencing mid-May 2009, completion early 2010Purpose: Replace substandard facilitiesContractors: Hazell Brothers Value: $3 million(Update: State government announcement of contract award, May 2009)VICTORIAROADSUnique Urban Design for West Gate Freeway (Current)Principal: VicRoads-CityLink-TransurbanScope: Construct two portal structures at Montague Street intersection and construct way finding walls consisting of two elongated triangular blocks on freeway alignment between Bolte Bridge off ramps and West Gate FreewayStatus: State government announcement of commencement of project, first portal to be completed end July 2009, second portal completion end September 2009; work on way finding walls commencing June 2009, completion later in 2009Purpose: Provide focal point of urban design architecture with portal structures to cover and visually shield vertical concrete structures that support the ramps’ location, while providing a marker for freeway traffic with the way finding walls to help direct driversContractors: NAValue: $9 million (included in, not additional to, the $1.39 billion West Gate (M1) upgrade)(New project: State government announcement of project, May 2009)VICTORIABUILDINGMount Clear Maths and Science Specialist Centre, Ballarat (Proposed)Principal: EducationScope: Construct specialist maths and science learning centre at Mount Clear Secondary CollegeStatus: State government announcement of funding allocation, May 2009Purpose: Specialist maths and science learning centre to provide students and teachers across the region with access to top-quality resources for a 21st century educationContractors: NAValue: $4 million(New project: State government announcement of funding in 2009 state budget, May 2009)WESTERN AUSTRALIAWATEROcean Reef Marina, Joondalup (Proposed)Principal: City of JoondalupScope: 850 boat pens and residential and commercial facilities, marine museum, includes artificial reef, children’s water playground, ocean pool and two internal beachesStatus: City of Joondalup endorsed concept plan for development and has given the green light to public consultation for its plan, May 2009Purpose: Create world-class development, stimulate investment, create construction jobs and boost the economyContractors: NAValue: $800 million (New project: City of Joondalup announcement of project, May 2009)
