Archived News for Engineering Professionals - September, 2011
Mining giant Rio Tinto has announced a $299 million project to construct sustainable water supply for its iron ore operations in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The plant will have a planned capacity up to the 333 million tonnes (Mt/a).
The coastal water supply project, which involves construction of a new borefield and pipeline system, will be completed by mid-2013, coinciding with the first ore from the planned increase in production capacity to 283 Mt/a.
Rio Tinto will build, own and operate the new borefield, located in the lower Bungaroo Valley, 35 kilometres south east of the town of Pannawonica, with an annual capacity of 10 gigalitres (GL/a).
WA Government releases desalination findings
The Western Australian Government has released a study which assesses the opportunities for desalinating saline or brackish groundwater reserves in the state’s Wheatbelt region.
$63 million for Victorian manufacturing
The Federal and Victorian Governments have announced a joint $63 million round of funding for automotive company Nexteer Australia.
QR National announces new $900 million rail project
Rail freight group QR National will expand its coal haulage capacity by more than 70 million tonnes after agreeing with a consortium of coal companies to build a rail link to the new Gladstone export terminal.
NSW Budget outlines infrastructure spend
The New South Wales State Government has allocated $5.4 billion in road building and maintenance of key road assets in the state's Budget.
NBN Co signs construction agreements
The National Broadband Network Co (NBN Co) has announced two separate agreements with major construction companies to conduct work in Western Australia and Victoria.
Queensland announces road reconstruction funding
Federal and State Governments have announced $195 million in joint funding for reconstruction of key road infrastructure in Queensland's north west.
Pipe management project launches
A consortium of local and international university and industry bodies have launched the Advanced Condition Assessment and Failure Prediction Technologies for Optimal Management of Critical Pipes project. Considered one of the world's largest water infrastructure projects, the system will work towards improving the accuracy of current condition assessment tools for detecting portential failure in Sydney's major water pipes.
BHP funds Newcastle port expansion
BHP Billiton has announced the company has approved a US$367 million investment for the third stage of development of the Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group’s (NCIG) coal handling facility in Newcastle.
New vision for rail supply industry released
A new vision for the Australian rail supply industry to deliver more effective, more efficient, higher quality service to its customers has been released as part of a collaboration involving The Australian National University, the CRC for Rail Innovation and the University of Cambridge Institute for Manufacturing and Strategic Connections group.
Desalination research centre opens
Australia's first desalination research facility has opened in Rockingham, Western Australia. The research facility, a joint venture between State and Federal Governments, was launched by local and international specialists.
Carnegie announces breakthrough tidal energy research
Western Australian renewable energy company Carnegie Wave Energy has announced a breakthrough technological development in wave energy generation that the company says will catapult Australia into international leadership in the field.
WA approves Wheatstone LNG project
The West Australian government has given final environmental approval for the $25 billion Chevron-led Wheatstone liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in the state's north-west.
South Australia developing STEM strategy
The South Australian Government is developing a cross-government strategy to increase the supply of people taking up careers in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields to meet the future needs of local industry.
$1.3 billion to construct South Australian wind farm
Suzlon Energy Australia has announced plans to invest $1.3 billion building one of the world’s largest wind energy projects on the Yorke Peninsula.