Archived News for Industry Professionals
Infrastructure supply specialist UGL has announced it has secured $190 million in new orders to supply and maintain freight locomotives to a number of blue-chip Australian customers.
Under the new contracts, UGL will deliver 38 new locomotives to customers including:
- GE Evolution locomotives to support Rio Tinto’s Pilbara iron ore operations in Western Australia
- C44ACi locomotives to supplement Xstrata Coal Australia’s locomotive fleet operated by Freightliner Australia in the Hunter Valley. The order includes an eight year maintenance support program for these locomotives and associated wagons
- C44ACi locomotives to QR National
- C44ACi locomotives to PN Rail in Victoria.
“These significant new locomotive orders reflect UGL’s market leading position in the rail freight market and are testament to our capabilities in comprehensive rolling stock delivery and asset management,” UGL’s CEO and Managing Director Richard Leupen said.
SA to fund new TAFE mining centre
The South Australian Government has announced it will invest $38.3 million for the construction of a dedicated centre of training excellence for the mining, engineering, defence and transport industries.
Alpha Coal gets the green light
The Queensland Government has given conditional approval for the $6.4 billion Alpha Coal Project in Queensland’s Galilee Basin, the first mine in the region.
Queensland gives the nod to Gladstone pipeline
The Queensland Government has approved a major 44 kilometre sector of pipeline within the Callide Infrastructure Corridor State Development Area (CICSDA), a major section of the 435 kilometre gas transmission pipeline for the Gladstone project.
Tasmania locks in new iron ore mine
The Tasmanian Government has granted a mining lease for the long awaited Livingstone project near Tullah, in the state’s north-west.
Port Hedland iron ore berth opened
The Western Australian Government has officially opened Fortescue Metals Group’s (FMG) new iron ore berth in Port Hedland.
Proclamation confirms continental shelf claim
The United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf has confirmed Australia’s limits of 11 million square kilometres of continental shelf, providing clarity over areas which Australia has exclusive rights.
Government opens Pilbara to skilled migrants
The Federal Government has approved the first Enterprise Migration Agreement (EMA), granting permission to the new iron ore mining Roy Hill to seek skilled overseas labour.
Record capital investment in mining industry: BREE report
Committed investment to increase the capacity of Australia’s mining industry at the end of April 2012 was a record $260.8 billion, an increase of 12 per cent from October 2011 according to the Mining Industry Major Projects - April 2012, released by the Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics (BREE).
Queensland green lights Cape York extension
The Queensland Coordinator-General has announced the approval of Rio Tinto’s planned $1.45 billion South of the Embley bauxite mining extension on Cape York. The project is expected to enxtend the life of the bauxite mining operations for another 40 years.
Report predicts turbulent years ahead for engineering sector
Australia’s consulting engineering, architecture and associated industries are set to experience a chaotic next three years with continual restructures required in order to remain globally competitive, according to Consult Australia’s 2012 Economic Forecast report.
The Report, written by former BHP Chief Economist, Geoffrey Bills is considered one of the industry’s most valuable economic predictors and is used by many of Australia’s largest firms, including Parsons Brinkerhoff, SMEC, Hyder, GHD and AECOM.
In the short-term, the Report forecasts a fairly rosy future for the industry.
The backlog of work in engineering construction is set to sustain high levels of activity until 2016 with firms operating in this space expected to experience 22 per cent growth over the next 12 months.
Consult Australia CEO, Megan Motto said this signifies a welcome commitment to infrastructure development in the short-term but warned it wasn’t all good news.
Walker steps down as Cougar's CEO
Cougar Energy has announced that its CEO, Dr Len Walker, will step down from his position, but will remain as the company’s Executive Director.
Boral CEO steps down
The Chief Executive of Boral, Mark Selway, has stepped down, effective immediately, after two years in the position. Ross Batstone, currently Division Managing Director Boral Building Products, has been appointed Acting Chief Executive Officer while a successor to Mr Selway is recruited.
Newcrest announces new appointment
Newcrest Mining, the country’s largest gold mining company, has announced the appointment of Scott Langford as the company’s General Counsel and Company Secretary, effective from the start of July.
Newcrest crowned most attractive employer
Gold mining company Newcrest Mining has taken top honours as the country’s most attractive employer at this year’s 2012 Randstad Awards. Coming in second place was national broadcaster ABC, while Virgin Australia took third place.
Qld moves to scrap Abbot Point MCF
The Queensland Government has announced it will move to scrap the proposed expansion of the Abbot Point multi-cargo facility (MCF) after it has become ‘abundantly apparent’ that industry does not support the move.
WA EPA approves state's first uranium mine
The Western Australian Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced it has granted approval to Toro Energy to construct the state’s first uranium mine, after the proposal was ‘meticulously examined by the board.’
Yarwun declared significant
The Queensland Coordinator-General has declared the $2.2 billion coal terminal at Yarwun in the Port of Gladstone a ‘significant project’, meaning the project will now undergo an environmental assessment.
Construction starts on Ichthys
The Northern Territory Government has announced construction has started on the $34 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.
Leighton wins Isaac Plains contract extension
John Holland, a wholly owned subsidiary of Leighton, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Isaac Plains Coal Management group to extend its existing mining services contract.
WA approves transmission line
The Western Australian Government approved the construction of a new $443 million transmission line for the state’s Mid-West region.