The Western Australian Government has announced a new trial program which would see utilities implementing an electricity pricing structure similar to mobile phone plans, giving customers more control. WA Energy Minister Mike Nahan said Horizon Power would trial the Australian-first research pilot which explores a new way of charging for electricity that embraced emerging technology, with up to 500 residents […]
Features
Pyne and Albanese debate NBN
Jessica Dickers Features, News, People and appointments, Telecommunications 0Federal Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Christopher Pyne has appeared alongside the Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Anthony Albanese on ABC program Q&A, defending the Coalition government’s nbn rollout plans. After an audience member asked Mr Pyne if the Coalition regrets not pursuing Labors original plans for the nbn rollout, Mr Pyne said, “Absolutely not, and there has […]
EPA to assess proposed Water Corporation pipeline
Jessica Dickers Features, News, Pipelines, Projects, Trenchless technology, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0The Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) will assess a Water Corporation proposal for an underground wastewater pipeline that crosses through Bush Forever bushland in Armadale. EPA Chairman Dr Tom Hatton said significant enquiries by the EPA during the referral stage of the Balannup Wastewater Pressure Main, a 4.5km pipeline running from the Collared Street Pump Station to the Waterworks […]
AWA award winners announced
Jessica Dickers Company news, Features, News, People and appointments, Projects, Water, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0The Australian Water Association (AWA) has announced the winners of the 2016 National Water Awards, which recognise innovative projects and people across the Australian water industry. The awards were announced at the 2016 Ozwater conference and acknowledged a number of fields within the water industry, including advocacy, research, infrastructure, programs and safety. Australian Water Association CEO, Jonathan McKeown, said, “The […]
Power station overhaul to create 350 jobs
Jessica Dickers Electricity, Features, Maintenance, News, Projects 0The Queensland Government has approved a $31million upgrade to CS Energy’s Callide B Power Station, which will create 350 direct jobs in the region. Treasurer Curtis Pitt said the $31million investment would bring enormous flow-on economic benefits to Central Queensland. “We promised to be a Government that delivers jobs, a Government that invests in our regions, and we’re able to […]
Australian project innovation award winner announced
Jessica Dickers Company news, Features, News, People and appointments, Projects, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0A Queensland water and sewage utility has won a national Infrastructure Project Innovation Award at the Australian Water Awards, for a project that involved the decommissioning of a significant treatment plant. Unitywater’s winning project was the reconfiguration of the Coolum, Suncoast and Maroochydore sewage treatment plants, which resulted in the closure of the Suncoast plant at Bli Bli. This project […]
nbn has announced growth in all key area for the quarter, with 902,948 premises now having an active nbn service and 166,896 new homes and businesses signed up to the network over the last quarter. During the last quarter, the number of homes ready-for-service surpassed two million, reaching 2.01million with a further 338,287 homes and businesses added to the nbn […]
APA Group’s gas delivery deal
Jessica Dickers Coal seam gas, Company news, Contracts awarded, Features, Gas, News, People and appointments, Pipelines, Projects 0APA Group has entered into a non-binding memorandum of understanding with a CSG explorer for the delivery of gas from the Galilee Basin to the east coast. APA Group has agreed to work with Comet Ridge to facilitate options for the delivery of gas from Comet Ridge’s gas resources in the Galilee Basin in north eastern Queensland to the east […]
Connecting regional towns to VIC water grid
Jessica Dickers Features, News, Pipelines, Projects, Water 0A new pipeline connecting Aireys Inlet and Fairhaven to the Victorian Water Grid has been turned on, delivering a more secure water supply to the state’s regional communities. Victorian Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water Lisa Neville visited the Aireys Inlet Water Treatment Plant to mark the start of flows to the towns from the greater Geelong supply system. […]
Australia has a new Shadow Minister for Resources and Shadow Assistant Minister for Resources, following Gary Gray’s announcement that he will not contest the next election. Jason Clare has been appointed Shadow Minister for Resources, and Dr Jim Chalmers was announced as the new Shadow Assistant Minister for Resources. The appointments follow the retirement from Shadow Cabinet of Mr Gray […]
nbn launches Sky Muster satellite
Jessica Dickers Company news, Features, News, Telecommunications 0nbn’s broadband satellite service Sky Muster™ is now available to be sold by broadband retailers in Australia. Since blasting 36,000km into space in October 2015, the satellite and ten nbn ground stations have undergone extensive testing and monitoring, including end-user trials. Around 200 homes in regional and remote areas have trialled the Sky Muster satellite service and have been […]
Parliament passes changes to the Water Act
Jessica Dickers Features, Irrigation, News, Policy, Water 0Parliament has passed the Water Amendment (Review Implementation and Other Measures) Bill 2015, which aims to streamline water operations and support the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Barnaby Joyce, said the amendments to the Water Act would give effect to the recommendations of the recent review into the operation of the Act, and ensure it better […]
Sewer reliability for Lakes Entrance
Jessica Dickers Civil Construction, Features, News, Pipelines, Projects, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0East Gippsland Water has begun works on a $1.4million upgrade to Lakes Entrance’s sewerage system, which includes the installation of a new major pipeline. Contractors operating on East Gippsland Water’s behalf, and managed by engineering consultants MWH, are installing a new 1.1km pipeline in the North Arm area – along Marine Parade, around the sports and recreation reserve, along North […]
Push for Australian electric cars
Jessica Dickers Company news, Electricity, Features, News, People and appointments, Projects, Renewable Energy, Sustainability 0TransGrid, Ergon, AGL, Tesla and Renault have teamed up to call on the Federal Government to support an emerging energy initiative. The companies are co-signatories to a submission that has been prepared to increase the uptake of electric vehicles (EV) in Australia. The Path Forward for Electric Vehicles in Australia was created by ClimateWorks, with input from Transgrid, NRMA, AGL, […]
Potential second interconnector for Tasmania
Jessica Dickers Civil Construction, Condition Assessment, Electricity, Features, Maintenance, News, Projects, Sustainability 0The Federal and Tasmanian Governments are exploring the possibility of building a second interconnector between Victoria and Tasmania, after the Basslink Interconnector was damaged in early 2016. Former Member for Bass, Warwick Smith AM, will conduct a feasibility study to determine if a second interconnector would help address Tasmania’s long-term energy security issues. The study will also provide advice on […]
nbn board shake up
Jessica Dickers Company news, Features, News, People and appointments, Telecommunications 0nbn has appointed the founder and former CEO of iiNet to its board, following the departure of non-executive director Simon Hackett. Mr Michael Malone has been appointed a non-executive director on the nbn board, commencing immediately. nbn Chairman Dr Ziggy Switkowski said, “Michael is a long-standing and respected member of the telecommunications industry. “His experience will complement the diverse backgrounds […]
The Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) will consult with the Australian Labour Party on its Climate Action Plan to ensure policies do not undermine the viability of Australia’s gas industry. APPEA Chief Executive Dr Malcolm Roberts said there were significant challenges ahead in meeting Australia’s emissions reductions targets while recognising the energy-intensive nature of Australia’s economy, and APPEA […]
Major water investments for Victoria
Jessica Dickers Civil Construction, Features, Irrigation, News, Projects, Water 0The Victorian Government has released its budget for 2016/2017 which includes $468million in new investments for water infrastructure in the state. These investments will help extend Victoria’s water grid, improve waterway health and secure water supplies for homes and businesses. This funding will continue to be sourced from the Environmental Contribution Levy in support of the Government’s soon to be […]
Multi-million dollar SA sewer upgrade
Jessica Dickers Civil Construction, Contracts awarded, Features, News, Pipelines, Projects, Pumps, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0SA Water has begun installing 6km of underground mains and three pump stations in Victor Harbor, as part of a multi-million dollar sewer network upgrade. Fulton Hogan has been contracted to undertake the early works, and at this stage has engaged six local sub-contractors, with more jobs to come once the overall contract is awarded in coming months. The underground […]
AusNet launches mini grid trial
Jessica Dickers Batteries & Storage, Digital Utilities, Electricity, Features, News, Powerlines, Projects, Renewable Energy, Solar 0AusNet Services has launched Australia’s first mini grid trial, which will see 14 homes store and share renewable energy through residential solar systems and battery storage. The trial will take place in the Melbourne suburb of Mooroolbark, and aims to demonstrate how the homes can use these technologies to generate, store and share renewable electricity with each other as a […]
Future outlook for Australia’s east coast gas
Jessica Dickers Coal seam gas, Features, Gas, News, Pipelines, Policy, Projects 0The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has released its recommendations from the East Coast Gas Inquiry which include improved market transparency, changes to pipeline regulation and new approaches to gas development. The Federal Government has released the East Coast Gas inquiry 2015 report, which examines the competitiveness of wholesale gas prices in eastern and southern Australia. The report has […]
New technology to improve sewer assets
Jessica Dickers Asset management, Big Data, Digital Utilities, Features, IOT, Maintenance, News, Projects, Telecommunications, Water, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0A Victorian utility has begun testing a new technology aiming to improve the reliability, efficiency and safety of its sewer and water assets by extending the use of real-time monitoring. South East Water has teamed up with global ICT providers to trial Narrowband-Internet of Things (NB-IoT) technology on its network infrastructure on the Mornington Peninsula, Dandenong Ranges and Melbourne’s CBD. […]
FTTN milestone for Western Australia
Jessica Dickers Features, News, Stakeholder Engagement, Telecommunications 0Minister for Communications, Mitch Fifield has announced that the first nbn fibre to the node (FTTN) services have been launched in Western Australia. “The use of FTTN to deliver superfast broadband is an integral part of the Government’s multi-technology mix approach to the nbn, which uses the most appropriate technology to deliver the nbn sooner and at less cost,” Mr […]
New drainage project to reduce flood risk
Jessica Dickers Civil Construction, Features, News, Pipelines, Projects, Safety and Training, Stakeholder Engagement, Water 0Melbourne Water has laid the final pipes for its Glenroy Drainage Improvement Project, which will reduce the flood risk to 456 local properties. The pipe, located in Murrell Street, is part of 1,520m of stormwater drainage pipe being installed through the streets of Glenroy. The new drain consists of varied size reinforced pipes and culverts, 18 pits and eight grated […]
Contractor takes over recycled water plant upgrade
Jessica Dickers Civil Construction, Features, News, Projects, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0Western Water has handed over the management of its $53million Sunbury Recycled Water Plant upgrade to a major construction company. Downer has a 10-year contract to design, build and operate the plant, which will remain in Western Water ownership, with construction to begin mid-2016 and take three years to complete. The Sunbury Recycled Water Plant upgrade is the biggest infrastructure […]
nbn signs deal with Telstra
Jessica Dickers Company news, Contracts awarded, Features, News, People and appointments, Telecommunications 0nbn has signed a contract with Telstra to manage the design and construction of the broadband network for homes currently in the footprint of Telstra’s pay TV cable network (Hybrid-Fibre Coaxial or HFC cable). Under the new arrangement, Telstra will carry out the design, part of the construction and the construction management of the remainder of the work required to extend […]
Companies urged to reconsider future strategies
Jessica Dickers Features, Gas, News, Projects, Renewable Energy 0A new report has urged oil and gas companies to reconsider their long-term strategies if they want to adapt to the industry’s transition to a low carbon system. The PWC report, New Energy Futures, perspectives on the transformation of the oil and gas sector, has found the sector’s long-term outlook and market dynamics have changed and the use of fossil […]
Advance water available for irrigators
Jessica Dickers Features, Irrigation, News, Projects, Water 0Murray Irrigation will make up to 200GL of water available to irrigators in advance, prior to the commencement of the 2016/2017 irrigation season allocations. Farmers can now apply to participate in the Snowy Advance Project, which allows farmers time to consider their options while regulatory approval is pending. Murray Irrigation and Snowy Hydro will make the water available as an […]
Energy trial to integrate storage into the network
Jessica Dickers Batteries & Storage, Electricity, Embedded networks, Features, News, Projects, Renewable Energy, Solar, Stakeholder Engagement 0The Western Australian Government has announced a four-year battery storage trial to explore the benefits of integrating solar and energy storage into a traditional electricity network. The $6.7million trial is a collaboration between Synergy and development partners LandCorp and Lendlease. The trial is partly funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) who invested $3.3million in the project. Western Power […]
Bi-partisan support needed for onshore gas
Jessica Dickers Features, Gas, News, Pipelines, Policy, Projects 0NT Deputy Chief Minister and Business Minister, Peter Styles, will meet with the Northern Territory Chamber of Commerce to discuss the possibility of the state government providing additional funding to the North East Gas Interconnector (NEGI) pipeline. The sit down follows the announcement that Jemena, the contractor for the NEGI pipeline, has been forced to reduce the pipeline’s diameter after […]
Balancing act: future-proofing Australia’s electricity network
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