Archived News for Engineering Professionals - June, 2011
Downer EDI has won a $50 million contract for work at Rio Tinto's Warramboo project in the Pilbara.
The work involves earthworks, concrete works, road surfacing and bridge construction, electrical and communication works, as well as a diversion of the North West Highway near Warramboo, 165 kilometres south of Karratha.
Downer EDI chief executive Grant Fenn said the contract win demonstrated Downer's ability to provide customers with comprehensive design and construct services for civil mine infrastructure including roads, bridges, buildings and utilities.
Adelaide Desal Project reaches milestone
Adelaide’s $1.83 billion Desalination Project has reached a milestone with seawater flooding the plant via the 1.4 km intake tunnel, connecting ocean and land for the first time.
Innovative coal to diesel plan announced
Petroleum and minerals explorer, Central Petroleum Ltd, and Allied Resource Partners (ARP) have announced agreement to undertake a feasibility study on a $7.5 billion plan to convert coal deposits in the Pedirka Basin in Central Australia to diesel by gasification.
Queensland targets biofuels technologies
Researchers in Queensland are preparing to make a bid to provide the US Navy with biofuels for ships and planes by 2020.
Queensland Government announces Smart State fund allocations
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has announced how the Queensland government will allocate $100 million in a new round of Smart State funds.
DSTO works on innovative personal battery technology
The Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) is helping advance an innovative power generation and harvesting system, as part of the Capability and Technology Demonstrator (CTD) Program.
Smart Grid Newcastle trial to get under way
NSW energy distribution company, AusGrid, is gearing up for its first trial under the Australian Government’s $100 million Smart Grid, Smart City project, inviting 250 selected households in the Newcastle area to be part of the project.
Infrastructure NSW legislation passed
Legislation to establish Infrastructure NSW has been passed in the NSW Parliament, and the former Premier, Nick Greiner, has been appointed as its chair. Paul Broad, currently chief executive of AAPT, has been appointed chief executive of the new body.
Mechanical pressure to electricity breakthrough
A co-operative team from RMIT University and the Australian National University (ANU) have developed a method that will allow mechanical pressure into electricity.
300,000 workers needed in resource states
Queensland and Western Australia are set to experience a massive demand in skilled labour over the coming years, with 300,000 workers required to continue economic growth.
Oakajee port and rail in strife as skills shortages loom
Western Australia’s Oakajee iron ore port and rail project has taken another serious blow after one of the two main developers announced it was struggling to raise the required funding for the site’s construction.
Roundtable addresses engineering skills shortages
Victorian Minister for Manufacturing, Exports and Trade Richard Dalla-Riva has chaired a roundtable forum of engineering industry leaders aimed at developing a national strategy to address the sector’s increasing skills shortage.
Rio speeds up Pilbara development with $637.8 million
Rio Tinto has announced a $637.8 million investment in its Pilbara expansion plans, aimed at fast tracking the development of the company's iron ore production capacity.
Leighton Contractors and GE to build Geraldton windfarm
A Leighton Holdings Ltd and GE consortium has been awarded a $130 million contract to build the Mumbida wind farm south-east of Geraldton in Western Australia.
$750 million for solar power stations
The Federal Government will provide more than $750 million to help build two of the largest solar power stations in the world.
John Holland awarded Warriewood STP contract
John Holland has been awarded the contract for the $34.5 million upgrade to Sydney Water’s Warriewood Sewage Treatment Plant (STP).
Rail future to be planned through roadmap partnership
A partnership between the Australian, New South Wales, Victorian and Queensland governments and the Australiasian Railway Association has been established to develop a Rail Manufacturing Technology Roadmap.
Space research projects funded
Three new collaborative research projects have been allocated funding totalling $6.1 million under Round 4 of the Australian Space Research Program (ASRP).
Penrice Soda Holdings and GE strike deal over water technology
Penrice Soda Holdings Ltd and General Electrics have struck a deal to provide the coal seam gas (CSG) industry with a new process to remove brine from wastewater.
Offshore LNG projects vie for world first status
Royal Dutch Shell’s recently announced bid to be the first to build a floating liquefied natural gas operation may be thwarted by rival projects in Malaysia and Papua New Guinea, according to a report in the Australian Financial Review.
Sandvik Australia joins AusAMRC
High-tech engineering group Sandvik Australia has become the latest Tier 1 industry member of the Australian Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AusAMRC).