Engineers Australia eNews contains the latest news from Engineers Australia and
a calendar of events.

2008 – Year of the Engineering Team

Engineers Australia
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Daily engineering news

More accountability needed for infrastructure assets

Engineers Australia wants governments to keep better information on the value of their infrastructure assets. Shown here is the Gateway Bridge duplication project in Brisbane.

Transparency and accountability more in line with business principles is needed for Australia’s public infrastructure, according to Engineers Australia (EA).
This was one of several arguments in EA’s latest government submission entitled “Australia’s infrastructure requirements” which was given to Infrastructure Australia.
Earlier this year, Infrastructure Australia did a comprehensive audit on Australia's infrastructure. The next stage will be to create a list of priority projects for infrastructure investment to be considered by the Council of Australian Governments before the end of the year.
The EA submission pointed to principles and directions to follow rather than press for support for specific projects. One of these principles is to treat government infrastructure assets similar to how a business entity would account for its capital assets.
“With some exceptions, little information is available about the current depreciated value of different infrastructure asset types, where these assets are located, the recurrent and capital operating costs of these assets, including maintenance, and the remaining economic lives of assets,” the submission said.
“The result is that most infrastructure investment is undertaken as crisis management to address the latest calamity and/or pressure.”
The full submission can be downloaded from the Government Liaison > Government Submissions section of the Engineers Australia website or by clicking here.

Nation building put on the fast track

In response to the US financial crisis, the federal government has announced it will accelerate the implementation of its three Nation Building Funds.
Ministers will bring forward interim infrastructure reports to December 2008 so work can commence in 2009 on projects in transport and communications (the Building Australia Fund) education and research (Education Investment Fund); and health infrastructure (Health and Hospitals Fund).
Financial commitment to the three new funds total more than $26 billion.
The federal government recently asked Infrastructure Australia to produce an interim report on the National Infrastructure Priority List by December.
To fast-track these projects, the federal government will be seeking referral of the legislation for the Nation Building Fund to a senate committee this week.
The federal government also committed to accelerate the establishment of boards for the Health and Hospitals Fund and the Education Investment Fund.
It has begun the first funding round of the Education Investment Fund, receiving about 14 submissions for new research facilities and capital expenditure in Australia’s universities. 

Queensland sports stadium takes top prize

Judges were impressed by the engineering innovation displayed in the design and construction of Skilled Park Stadium in Robina.

Skilled Park has won the overall prize in the Engineers Australia Queensland Division Excellence Awards which took place in Brisbane last Friday. The companies involved in the project were Sinclair Knight Merz, HOK Sport Architects, Project Services and Watpac.
The 27,000-seat stadium at Robina, Gold Coast features curved 35m cantilevered steel box rafters covered by 2.3ha of PTFE fabric.
SKM provided the engineering services for all civil, structural and services engineering including hydraulics, lighting, mechanical ventilation, fire safety, communications as well as the traffic/transport design for the stadium.
The judges were impressed by the application and integration of research into new materials and the adoption of a high standard of sustainability principles in water conservation and reuse, lighting, electrical energy, natural ventilation, PA systems, fire risk assessment and construction.
Runners up in the awards were the Cherrell Hirst Creative Learning Centre and the Kuranda Range Rail Rockfall Barrier.

Showcase of structure at Brisbane exhibition

An exhibition of the structural engineering history of Brisbane is on display in the foyer of Brisbane City Hall until 13 November.
Called "Realising dreams: Structural engineering in Brisbane", the exhibition is produced by the Museum of Brisbane in conjunction with the Australia Division of the Institution of Structural Engineers and the Structural Branch of Engineers Australia Queensland Division.
The exhibition features four themes:

• Realising Dreams, a history of structural engineering in Brisbane and how it has benefited the community
• Building High, showing the early days of Ascot Chambers, Craigston and Torbrek through to the high rise of Riparian Plaza and Aurora
• Enclosing Spaces, about structures that create spaces, including Brisbane City Hall, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Suncorp Stadium and the Gabba
• Spanning Voids, which discusses the history of Brisbane’s bridges, including the Story Bridge, Indooroopilly bridges and Victoria Bridge.

Notices

Have a say in where Engineers Australia is going

Members are invited to contribute to the development of the next strategic plan for Engineers Australia (EA). The plan will provide the framework for EA's activities over the period 2010 to 2015.
Planning sessions will be undertaken in Divisions, College Boards, and special interest groups over the next few months. 
A final planning forum will be held next July, with the intention of recommending a new plan to Congress in November 2009.
The strategic plan must represent the interests of EA members and the community at large.
For more information, or to submit suggestions or comments, visit www.engineersaustralia.org.au/strategicplan2010.

Notice of annual general meeting 2008

The 88th annual general meeting of Engineers Australia will be held in the Members Dining Room 2 of the Old Parliament House in Parkes on 20 November.

Electronic voting for division elections

Following a successful trial last year, Engineers Australia will be providing electronic voting for all division elections in 2008.
Voting has already opened for members of Sydney Division and will close on 21 November. For members of Victoria Division, voting opens on 6 November and closes on 26 November.
Eligible members of these divisions will be sent voting information by email, and will be able to vote online. Postal voting information will be sent to eligible members who are not able to be reached by email.
Check and update your member contact details online now, to ensure that you can vote online. Look for “update your contact details” on the Engineers Australia home page.

Get in early for Christmas event

The Christmas Networking Event for Engineers Australia South Australia Division will be held at Jolleys Boathouse on the banks of the Torrens on 27 November. The cost is $15. Prior to the Christmas Networking Event there will be a short AGM which will be free.
To attend either event, RSVP by 20 November to Norma Cowan, fax 8239 0932, email ncowan@engineersaustralia.org.au.

Technical tour of Japan announced

Engineers Australia is inviting expressions of interest for the 2009 Technical Tour to Japan.
On this 21 day tour, participants will fly Singapore Airlines into Tokyo spending four nights there before visiting Hakone, Nagoya, Matsumoto, Takayama, Nara, Hiroshima, Kyoto and Osaka.
Projects in mind include the International Airport, a motor vehicle manufacturing plant and the Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway Control Centre. Other initiatives include latest developments with solar energy and exhibition centers.
Both members and their partners are welcome to join in the tour, credits may be earned towards continuing professional development and costs incurred should qualify as a tax deduction for practising engineers.
Members interested in the tour who would like to receive further information should contact Maria McNamara 02 6270 6568 / 0402947725 or email pmcnamara@engineersaustralia.org.au.

Publications

Handbook of Project-based Management

Rodney Turner       
Usual price: $109.09 + GST = $120
Order online and pay: $98.18 + GST = $108.00

This 3rd edition features a major change in focus from delivering corporate objectives to achieving strategic change, including embedding corporate change after a project is completed. Read more...


What Every Engineer Should Know About Career Management

Mike Ficco            
63.63 + GST = $70

By focusing on the importance of human and social interactions in the workplace, this book helps engineers navigate the seemingly random whims of those around them who affect and sometimes control their lives. Read more...



Environmental Aspects of Dredging

The International Association of Dredging Companies (IADC) & the Central Dredging Association (CEDA)       
$190.91 + GST = $210

Predicting and assessing all possible effects of a planned dredging activity in a scientifically-sound and reliable manner is essential, so that appropriate control measures can be taken to avoid or mitigate unwelcome impacts. Read more...

Calendar

Engineering Education Australia will run the following short courses:

• Sustainable energy market solutions (1 day) Melbourne 3 Nov, Perth 5 Nov
• Breakthrough strategies for women engineers (1 day) Perth 5 Nov, Melbourne 12 Nov, Sydney 19 Nov, Newcastle 20 Nov, Townsville 26 Nov;
• Process improvement through total quality management and lean (2 days) Sydney 5 Nov, Perth 20 Nov
• Writing winning technical documents (2 days) Perth 6 Nov, Darwin 13 Nov, Sydney 26 Nov
• Time management (1 day) Sydney 7 Nov, Adelaide 13 Nov
• Contract management (2 days) Sydney 10 Nov, Melbourne 17 Nov, Brisbane 24 Nov
• Financial management (2 days) Adelaide 10 Nov, Melbourne 24 Nov
• Managing cultural differences (1 day) Sydney 10 Nov, Melbourne 24 Nov, Brisbane 27 Oct
• Coaching skills for leaders (2 days) Sydney 11 Nov, Melbourne 18 Nov, Brisbane 21 Oct, Perth 25 Nov
• Relationship management in project delivery (2 days) Adelaide 11 Nov, Melbourne 18 Nov, Perth 25 Nov
• Negotiation skills (2 days) Adelaide 11 Nov
• Relate to Aussies (1 day) Perth 12 Nov, Adelaide 21 Nov
• Personal time management (1 day) Sydney 12 Nov, Melbourne 19 Nov, Brisbane 26 Nov
• Project management (2 days) Sydney 13 Nov, Melbourne 20 Nov, Brisbane 27 Nov
• Creating and managing networks for successful business relationships (2 days) Perth 13 Nov, Adelaide 24 Nov.