A formal heads of agreement is to be signed that will see the commencement of negotiations to develop an indigenous land use agreement. The government will work with traditional owners to identify the exact location and will involve them in the design and construction of the precinct.The site will be subject to an environmental impact assessment, which should be finalised in 2010.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.NORTHERN TERRITORYROADSPlenty Highway and Tanami Road Upgrade (Proposed)Principal: NT governmentScope: Upgrading these two roads, includes clearing, resealing, widening and drainage worksStatus: Federal funding brought forward to accelerate upgrade, April 2009; construction commencing May 2009, completion 2011Purpose: Upgrade infrastructure which is vital to long-term economic prosperity, provide jobs Contractors: NAValue: $14 million (part of $81 million under Nation Building program)(Update: Federal government funding announcement, April 2009)QUEENSLANDENERGYFisherman’s Landing LNG Project, Gladstone (Proposed)Principal: Gladstone LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd) 40%, Golar LNG 40%Scope: Stage 1, 1.5Mtpa natural gas liquefaction plant, infrastructure and facilities, wharf loading facilities upgrade; Stage 2, expansion to 3MtpaStatus: Environmental impact statement approved, April 2009; recommendations to be immediately implemented to obtain five specific approvals and enable final investment decision to be made by end 2009; working with Gladstone Ports Corporation to obtain access to site so early site preparation works can commence in October 2009, first production 2012Contractors: WorleyParsons and Arup (engineering design), SK Engineering and Construction (engineering and construction services), Laing O’Rourke Australia (proposed EPC contractor under JV)Value: $US400 million (Update: Arrow announcement of EIS approval (Arrow has 10% stake in LNGL and has an option to take a 20% interest in proposed LNG plant), April 2009QUEENSLANDROADSPacific Motorway Nerang South Interchange Upgrade (Current)Principal: Main RoadsScope: Widen and duplicate overpass bridge to accommodate eight lanes of traffic across motorway; construct new combined off-ramp connection from M1 providing direct access to Spencer Road and Nielsens Road, convert both roundabouts on each side of motorway to synchronised signalised intersections, new on-and-off ramps to motorway to accommodate long-term plan to widen motorway to six or more lanesStatus: Federal government fast-tracked funding of $22.5 million to ensure project is completed by mid-2009, April 2009; construction commenced February 2009Purpose: Start of progressive plan to upgrade Pacific Motorway between Nerang and Tugun, aimed at reducing congestion and improving safetyContractors: Seymour WhyteValue: $45 million(Update: Federal government announcement of fast-tracked funding, April 2009)QUEENSLANDPORTSNorth Shore Boulevard Project, Townsville (Proposed)Principal: Townsville City CouncilScope: Design and construct two-lane road to commence at intersection of Shaw Road/Bruce Highway and link up with Mt Low Parkway, road to go through Stockland’s North Shore Development, capacity to increase to four lanesStatus: Contract awarded March 2009, construction commencing August 2009Purpose: Provide alternative access route to cater for rapidly growing northern beachesContractors: Seymour WhyteValue: $40 million (Seymour Whyte $1.6 million)New project: Townsville City Council call for tenders, February 2009(Update: Seymour Whyte announcement of award of tender, March 2009)QUEENSLANDBUILDING‘The Edge’ Digital Centre, Cultural Centre, South Bank (Current)Principal: Arts, State Library of QueenslandScope: Creative spaces for designing, showcasing, learning and playing; auditorium for large-scale performance and exhibition; workshop spaces; media labs focused on film, music and community publishing and accommodation facilitiesStatus: Construction commenced April 2009, completion September 2009Purpose: Encourage young people to master new technologies and generate bright ideas of the future; part of major series of building enhancements at Cultural Centre in 2009Contractors: Abigroup (managing contractor) m3architecture, Deicke Richards (architects)Value: $7.9 million(New project: State government announcement of commencement of project, April 2009)SOUTH AUSTRALIAPORTSPort Bonython Fuels Project, Port Bonython (Proposed)Principal: Port Bonython Fuels (Stuart Petroleum (85%), Scott Group JV (15%)Scope: 500ML diesel fuel per annum. Stage 1 includes use of existing jetty and infrastructure at Port Bonython to land and transport diesel to storage onshore, distribution initially via road transport potential for rail and pipeline delivery. Stage 2 comprises diesel refinery and expanded tankageStatus: Stage 1 awarded “Crown Sponsored” development status, terminal facility layout and land defined, unexploded ordnance clearance complete, native vegetation and fauna survey complete, Aboriginal heritage and archaeological consultation/survey complete, existing infrastructure (pipelines) reviewed and risk assessed, utilities and services available assessed; progress in commercial engineering arrangements completion September/October 2009Purpose: Tank farm and imported diesel distillation refinery with initial capacity of 500ML of diesel fuel a year, utilising existing port facilities, to overcome critical shortages in diesel fuel supplies to northern SAValue: NA(Update: Stuart Petroleum announcement of project status, April 2009)VICTORIABUILDINGPuckapunyal Military Area Upgrade, near Seymour (Proposed)Principal: DefenceScope: Headquarters building, training facilities, chapel, expanded entry precinct, 120-person lecture facility, 40-person briefing room includes 2.2km extension to safe driving training areaStatus: Architects appointed April 2009; Parliamentary approval December 2008, construction commencing mid-2009, completion late 2010Purpose: Upgrade facilities including headquarters for Road Transport Wing of Army Logistic Training CentreContractors: Bligh Voller Nield (architects)Value: $41 million(Update: Defence announcement of appointment of architect, April 2009)WESTERN AUSTRALIAURBAN DEVELOPMENTThe Link, Perth (Proposed)Principal: Planning, City of PerthScope: Redevelop 13.5ha CBD site includes sinking railway line, five new pedestrian friendly north-south connections, five urban plazas, new civic space at Horseshoe Bridge called Celebration Place, three new mixed-use precincts including commercial, entertainment and residentialStatus: Scheme of amendment approved marking final stage of planning before start of further development works and release of land for sale, April 2009; first stage of project to be developed is Perth Arena-Milligan Street precinct, as sporting and entertainment hub, approval also allows Channel 7 to finalise its plans for 2ha Perth Entertainment site; lead agency EPRA to finalise design guidelines for The Link and Celebration Place, April 2009Purpose: Sinking of rail line to link central business district more closely with nearby Northbridge entertainment precinct and deliver social, economic and environmental benefits to community in form of more housing, jobs and office spaceContractors: EPRA (lead agency)Value: $2 billion (Update: State government announcement of final stage of planning approval, providing project certainty required by industry to bring about investment in The Link, April 2009)WESTERN AUSTRALIAENERGYLNG Precinct, James Price Point, Kimberley (Proposed)Principal: State developmentScope: 3,500ha high-technology onshore liquefied natural gas processing precinct to process natural gas pumped from offshore fields into LNG, includes accommodation, ancillary services and land and sea bufferStatus: State government reached broad agreement with Kimberley Land Council and Woodside about establishment of site for precinct at James Price Point on Kimberley coast, April 2009; next step in process is development of indigenous land use agreement in negotiation with traditional owners to be registered by early 2010; environmental approvals process to be completed by late 2010; construction commencing mid to late 2011Purpose: Future LNG processing precinctContractors: NAValue: NA(Update: State government announcement of broad agreement on site, April 2009)WESTERN AUSTRALIABUILDINGNational School Pride Program, Various Schools – Statewide (Proposed)Principal: Education & TrainingScope: Maintenance and minor building works for 594 schools in Gascoyne, Goldfields/Esperance, Great Southern, Kimberley, Mid West, Peel, Perth Metropolitan, Pilbara, South West and Wheatbelt, with each school receiving between $50,000 and $200,000 worth of works; further 195 schools to be added by end April 2009Status: Call for tender closes May 14, first round of projects commencing end June 2009Purpose: First stage of federal Building the Education Revolution program to provide improvements to schools and give opportunities for businesses to tender for works. Tender process is not limited to major building companies but has been designed to allow tradespersons and small and medium-sized companies, which may not have previously undertaken work for the state government.Contractors: NAValue: $100 million(New project: State government call for tender, April 2009)
