By Neve Surridge, Corporate & Customer Graduate – Reputation and Media | Corporate Affairs, Powercor Australia For any major project, getting community engagement right is essential to a smooth delivery. Here we take a look at two major power upgrades in regional Victoria this year, and how they have shown how proactive engagement with households and businesses can help teams […]
Civil Construction
The latest project news, developments and opinion pieces from industry experts from Australia’s utility construction sector.
Busting myths in the HDD industry
Utility Journalist Ask an Expert, Civil Construction, Features, Pipelines 0In this article we explore some of the most frequently asked questions and debunk common myths about horizontal directional drilling (HDD). We’ll discuss the benefits it provides when assessed against other pipe installation methods, and focus on the environmental upside, flexibility of design and how the technology supports construction in congested, urban, industrial and sensitive environments. Do I need to […]
How to safely and efficiently locate underground utilities
Utility Journalist Civil Construction, Condition Assessment, Projects, Sponsored Editorial, Utility location, Water 0Accurate utility location is vital for many types of construction and development projects, as well as for routine maintenance and repair of utilities. Failure to locate and properly mark utilities can result in damage, costly repairs, service disruptions, and potential safety hazards. That’s why utilities and local governments are looking for solutions that can help them get the job done […]
Are we ready for digital by default?
Utility Journalist Asset management, Civil Construction, Digital Utilities, Features, Projects, Renewable Energy, Sustainability 0By Frank Zeichner, CEO IoT Alliance Australia The transformative power of digital technologies discussion is happening in every boardroom and on every construction site in Australia. Yet despite well-established business cases, we’re lagging and slow in our uptake and use of the smart data that is essential for Australia’s future prosperity. At stake is our economic productivity and net zero […]
Meeting measurement demands
Utility Journalist Asset management, Civil Construction, Digital Utilities, Projects, Sponsored Editorial 0VEGA Australia, bolstered by its parent company’s global presence and innovations, is ensuring that the local construction industry has reliable, next-generation measurement technology to optimise assets and boost operational efficiency. For more than 60 years, sensor and measuring instrument manufacturer VEGA has been developing the measurement solutions of the future, building upon a passion for innovation and transformation. In recent […]
Transforming assets for the next generation
Utility Journalist Civil Construction, Features, Projects, Renewable Energy, Stormwater 0The Wharf Street Basin Next Generation Community Park is a key project for the Canning City Centre Regeneration Program, which is a ten year, $76 million program that aims to transform Canning’s City Centre into Perth’s southern CBD. Wharf Street Basin has been reimagined as a new smart park and is one of the City of Canning’s centrepieces of urban […]
To dam or not to dam
Chris Bland Civil Construction, Dams, Features, Land access, Maintenance, Spotlight, Water 1Over the long term, dams can provide the cheapest source of bulk water for the urban environment, and dam water is easier to treat than other sources, such as seawater desalination. However, their construction can involve significant costs, and environmental impacts. The Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) has prepared a detailed study into dams. Surface water dams have long […]
Major WA underground power project complete
Kody Cook Civil Construction, Electricity, News, Powerlines, Projects, Spotlight 0Western Power has completed a major underground power project, removing 821 poles and 34km of overhead cable, and installing 542 new streetlights and around 53km of underground cable throughout St James, East Victoria Park and Bentley. Residents and businesses in the areas will now enjoy improved safety and reliability and transformed streetscapes. Western Power worked with the City of Canning […]
VIC water utility claims two top honour awards
Yasmin Isaacs Civil Construction, Events, Maintenance, News, Projects, Sustainability 0Two of a Victorian utility’s projects have taken home top honour at the annual Australian Institute of Landscape Architects Awards (AILAA) for 2023. Melbourne Water has won both the Victorian Award of Excellence for Land Management for its Lower Werribee Waterways Amenity Action Plan and the AILAA 2023 Victorian Landscape Architecture Award for Infrastructure for its Reimagining Tarralla Creek project. […]
NSW launches Namoi Regional Water Strategy
Kody Cook Civil Construction, News, Pipelines, Projects, Spotlight, Water 0The New South Wales Government has launched the Namoi Regional Water Strategy, which is set to improve water supply and reliability for Tamworth and the Namoi as climate change threatens more droughts. New South Wales Minister for Water, Rose Jackson, said it puts a range of options on the table to diversify water sources, improve town water supply, support agriculture, […]
CopperString 2032 allocated $1B funding
Kody Cook Batteries & Storage, Civil Construction, Electricity, News, Powerlines, Projects, Spotlight 0Powerlink’s CopperString 2032 project is set to receive $1 billion in funding from the Queensland Government, with $594 million allocated to start construction over the 2023-24 financial year. The announcement was made at the official opening of Vecco Group’s $26 million Townsville Vanadium Battery Manufacturing Facility, which also received support through the Queensland Jobs Fund. A $20 million early works […]
QLD Gov allocates $116.4M to Paradise Dam
Kody Cook Civil Construction, Dams, Maintenance, News, Projects, Spotlight, Water 0The Queensland Government has allocated $116.4 million to support pre‑construction activities for the Paradise Dam Improvement Project, which is set to begin major construction in late 2023. In one of the most complex engineering projects in the region’s history, these major dam improvement works will deliver long-term water security for the Bundaberg region by restoring the dam’s capacity and will […]
Tender awarded for NT wind generation study
Kody Cook Civil Construction, Electricity, News, Spotlight, Sustainability, Wind 0The Territory Government has awarded a tender for a wind generation study that will identify prospective locations for large-scale wind generation in the Territory. Global consulting company Jacobs will deliver the study from its office in Darwin, with a clear commitment to deliver local benefits and initiatives to support local employment and industry development. The final study is expected to […]
$10M big battery for Phillip Island
Kody Cook Batteries & Storage, Civil Construction, Electricity, News, Renewable Energy, Spotlight 0Phillip Island has switched on the Phillip Island Community Energy Storage System (PICESS), a joint $10 million 5MW/10MWh project which can power 8,000 homes and secure energy supply during peak periods. The PICESS is located in a 38m x 34m fenced high voltage compound and is connected to the electricity grid via underground cables. The battery will replace diesel generators […]
New data shows lack of Q1 financial closes for energy projects
Kody Cook Civil Construction, Electricity, News, Renewable Energy, Spotlight 0Clean Energy Council’s new data reveals a mixed start for 2023, with eight large-scale generation and storage projects commencing construction, but only one new project reaching financial close in the first quarter. The new construction projects equate to $1.3 billion in value – nearly double what was under construction in Q4 2022 – with three of those projects located in […]
The next generation of energy storage
Utility Journalist Batteries & Storage, Civil Construction, Digital Utilities, Features, Projects, Renewable Energy, Sustainability 0By Shane Rattenbury, Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction ACT has become a leader in energy storage with the successful completion of the Next Generation Energy Storage program and investment in large-scale batteries. The ACT is electrifying and shifting to a zero emissions future. Creating a strong and stable distributed energy system is a critical focus for this work. […]
Concrete solutions for Australia’s future pipelines
Tess Macallan Asset management, Civil Construction, Features, Sustainability, Water, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0Aging infrastructure and rising sewerage temperatures pose increasing risks for corrosion of concrete sewerage pipes around the world. Failing pipes are a significant threat to utility operations, public health and the environment. However, there could soon be a solution. Professor in Structural Engineering at the University of South Australia STEM, Yan Zhuge, is leading a project focused on a self-healing […]
Upgrade for 90-year-old Bendigo pipeline
Tayla Oates Civil Construction, Disaster Management, Irrigation, Maintenance, News, Pipelines, Projects, Spotlight, Sustainability, Water 0Coliban Water has completed slip-lining works onf a historic 90-year old pipeline in Eaglehawk, Victoria, as part of ongoing works to enhance water security for rural customers in the area. The pipeline stretches over two kilometres, extending from Upper California Gully Road to Butts Road. Coliban Water Manager Infrastructure, Corey Bourne, said the works are part of an upgrade which […]
Increasing Australia’s digital capabilities and sustainability
Katie Livingston Asset management, Civil Construction, Condition Assessment, Digital Utilities, Electricity, Features, Projects, Retail, Sponsored Editorial 0NBN Co is taking action to address the inherent risks climate change poses to its operations, network continuity and service obligations. By embedding sustainability in all its activities, it aims to deliver on its purpose to lift the digital capability of Australia, while enabling long-term social, economic and environmental value for all stakeholders. The company has committed to a target […]
Gippsland Water powers towards a 100 per cent renewable future
Utility Journalist Asset management, Civil Construction, Features, Pipelines, Projects, Pumps, Water, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0Gippsland Water’s latest $3 million project sees the utility switching on more than 2,000 solar panels at its largest wastewater treatment plant, the Gippsland Water Factory in Morwell. The site treats 20 million litres of wastewater from nine towns and major industries each day, servicing the needs of more than 48,000 customers and 300 local businesses. The latest solar panel […]
Overcoming challenges in Port Melbourne network augmentation project
Utility Journalist Civil Construction, Features, Maintenance, News, Pipelines, Projects, Safety and Training, Sponsored Editorial 0A new innovation precinct in Fishermans Bend is set to position Victoria as a global leader in engineering, manufacturing and design. However, before the redevelopment work could start, there was the complex task of augmenting the existing power network. Daly’s Constructions had to innovate to combat weak ground conditions, traffic management constraints and to navigate 150 existing underground services. The […]
New MoU for WA hydrogen production facility
Tayla Oates Civil Construction, News, Projects, Renewable Energy, Spotlight, Sustainability 0Infinite Green Energy (IGE) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Samsung C&T to develop the Arrowsmith Hydrogen Plant – a renewable hydrogen production facility located in Western Australia, 30km south of Dongara. The wind and solar-powered plant is forecast to produce up to 300t of green hydrogen per day, or 100,000t per year. The primary focus of […]
Upgrade for Melbourne’s oldest water main
Tayla Oates Asset management, Civil Construction, Disaster Management, Maintenance, News, Pipelines, Projects, Spotlight, Water 0Greater Western Water (GWW) has announced an essential upgrade to a 2km section on one of Melbourne’s oldest water mains – the Royal Parade water main in Parkville. Greater Western Water’s (GWW) General Manager Growth and Infrastructure, Amanda Smith, said the existing water main was built in 1889 and was in need of an upgrade to maintain a safe and […]
Achieving renewable-first controls
Utility Journalist Civil Construction, Digital Utilities, Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, News, Renewable Energy, Solar, Sponsored Editorial, Sustainability, Wind 0By Daniel Watson, Automation Solutions Innovator, Yokogawa Distributed energy resources such as solar and wind are pivotal for reaching net zero energy goals, however, the intermittent nature of these renewables can cause an influx of many un-coordinated distributed energy resources that can threaten the reliability of a power grid. However, the solution lies in intelligent and advanced control platforms that […]
Creating innovative solutions to mitigate flood damage
Utility Journalist Asset management, Civil Construction, Features, Sponsored Editorial, Stormwater, Telecommunications, Water, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0Across Australia and the globe, EJ is relied upon to design, manufacture and distribute exceptional access solutions for vital infrastructure projects. These projects support the stormwater, wastewater and telecommunications networks necessary in modern society. Each day, EJ solutions play a vital role in the development and maintenance of public and private infrastructure. In early 2022, a series of floods hit […]
Innovative new excavator GPR technology
Utility Journalist Asset management, Civil Construction, Digital Utilities, Features, Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, Sponsored Editorial 0Across Australia and the globe, EJ is relied upon to design, manufacture and distribute exceptional access solutions for vital infrastructure projects. These projects support the stormwater, wastewater and telecommunications networks necessary in modern society. Fully integrated into an excavator bucket, the LDR Excavate brings RodRadar’s unique high-resolution, ground-penetrating radar imaging into the operator’s cabin during excavation and earthworks projects. Available […]
Green light for Gladstone renewable gas project
Tayla Oates Civil Construction, Gas, News, Projects, Renewable Energy, Spotlight, Sustainability 0Australian Gas Networks’s (AGN) Hydrogen Park Gladstone (HyP Gladstone) project has received development approval from the Gladstone Ports Corporation, and is a key step in decarbonising existing natural gas supply and transitioning to a renewable energy future. HyP Gladstone – located on the corner of Morgan and Rooksby Street, Gladstone – will produce renewable gas in the form of hydrogen […]
Federal Gov announces National Net Zero Authority
Tayla Oates Asset management, Civil Construction, Digital Utilities, Electricity, News, Projects, Renewable Energy, Spotlight, Sustainability 0Ahead of the 2023–24 Federal Budget, the Federal Government has announced it will establish a new Net Zero Authority to help workers, industries and communities benefit from Australia’s net zero transformation. The Net Zero Authority will: Support workers in emissions-intensive sectors to access new employment, skills and support as the net zero transformation continues Coordinate programs and policies across government […]
Milestone for $25M Ballarat Sewer Build project
Tayla Oates Asset management, Civil Construction, Irrigation, News, Pipelines, Policy, Spotlight, Sustainability, Water, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0The second stage of Central Highlands Water’s Ballarat Sewer Build is now well underway, crossing the Yarrowee River last week. The $25 million sewer project will provide for another 100 years of growth and safe sanitation for the city, with 6km of duplicated sewer running from Ballarat East to Ballarat South. Stage 1 of the project – completed in early […]
Local water utilities trialling W-Lab technologies
Tayla Oates Asset management, Civil Construction, Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, Sponsored Editorial, Sustainability, Water, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0W-Lab is a technology program, created in partnership with the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA), Isle Utilities and ThinkPlace, to identify the key challenges and to unite the local water industry in strategic problem solving. A W-Lab Roadmap was originally created in 2020 to present solutions to the local water industry, using innovative technologies. This roadmap was revitalised and […]
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Assess for success: geotechnical assessments for HDD November 29, 2023
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Monitoring equipment safeguarding assets when disaster strikes November 29, 2023
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$700M renewable energy network boost for WA November 20, 2023
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How recycled water can make green energy even greener November 10, 2023
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A game changer in electrical safety: integrated automated racking devices October 24, 2023
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