July 1, 2022
Welcome to the July edition of Projects & Construction Monthly.
This edition addresses:
- Budget backs infrastructure for a growing Queensland;
- Update: QBCC contractor licensing exemption here to stay;
- Stage one of the Parramatta Light Rail track works complete;
- Recent major projects;
- LPC Lawyers’ ‘State of the Nation’ series; and
- LPC current ‘Getting Paid – What you need to know about the BIFA’
Budget backs infrastructure for a growing Queensland
Infrastructure for Queensland is again prominent in the 2022-23 State Budget.
The State Government has committed almost $350 million in capital purchases and grants to further develop Queensland, with $200 million allocated for housing and land supply shortages in the south-east.
This funding includes the continuation of existing Government programs and Fund initiatives all designed to develop communities and address populating growth in areas of south-east Queensland.
Update: QBCC contractor licensing exemption here to stay
LPC Lawyer’s newsletter dated 6 May 2022 previously discussed that the abolition of the head contractor exemption would not be proceeding, and that a Bill had been introduced to Parliament on 20 March 2022 proposing to preserve the head contractor exemption.
As an update, the head contractor licensing exemption under section 8, Schedule 1A of the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991 (Qld) has officially been confirmed as remaining in force, with the Building and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2022 (Qld) receiving assent on 19 June 2022.
Stage one of the Parramatta Light Rail track works complete
Stage 1 of the $2.4 billion Parramatta Light Rail project has reached an important milestone with the completion of its two-way track installation.
Installation of the 12-kilometre stretch of track began in November 2020 at Westmead, with the final section completed last month at Tramway Avenue in Parramatta.
Stage 1 is expected to open to passengers in 2023.
Planning and development work is underway for the $600M Stage 2 of the Parramatta Light Rail, which will connect Parramatta to Sydney Olympic Park.
Recent Major Projects
Contract awarded for new children’s hospital
The NSW Government has announced John Holland will deliver the $658 million redevelopment of Sydney Children’s Hospital Stage 1 and Australia’s first Children’s Cancer Centre in the Randwick Health and Innovation Precinct.
The new children’s hospital and research centre aims to transform paediatric health as a whole. Services in the new building will include a children’s intensive care unit, neurosciences centre, a paediatric pharmacy and more.
The main works are due to commence in the coming months, with the facility is expected to open in late 2025.
$219M for Mickleham Road Upgrade
The Federal and Victorian Governments are investing $219 million to upgrade Mickleham Road in Greenvale in Melbourne’s north.
The upgrade will aim to improve safety and reduce congestion along the busy road, currently carrying around 25,000 vehicles each day.
Stage 1 of the upgrade will involve building extra lanes in both directions between Somerton Road and Dellamore Boulevard, adding new traffic lights at the Aitken College intersection and more.
CIMIC’s CPB selected for $130M Wind Fences Project
CIMIC Group’s CPB Contractors has been selected by BHP to deliver its $130M Wind Fences Project.
The project involves the construction and installation of dust mitigation fences at Nelson Point and Finucane Island at Port Hedland, in Western Australia’s Pilbara region. The 30-metre-high fences, which span a length of two (2) kilometres are the first of their kind in Australia.
Construction of the wind fences is expected to start in August 2022 and take 14 months to complete.
LPC Lawyers’ ‘State of the Nation’ Series
LPC Lawyers’ has just finished the publication of a three-part series on the state of the nation.
‘The State of the Nation’ – Part 1
The first part of the series provides an overview of government investment and insights into some of Australia’s most significant infrastructure projects and programs. Read more here.
‘The State of the Nation’ – Part 2
Part two considers the implications for Australian infrastructure under an incoming ALP government. Read more here.
‘The State of the Nation’ – Part 3
The final part of the series explores delivery risks across the national infrastructure pipeline. Read more here.
LPC Lawyers’ current ‘Getting Paid – What you need to know about the BIFA’ Series
LPC Lawyers’ current series focuses on the Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Act 2017 and what you need to know about payment claims and the adjudication process to recover payments.
‘Getting Paid – How to make a payment claim and how to respond to a payment claim’ – Part 1
The first part focuses on how to properly make a payment claim and respond with a payment schedule. Read more here.
‘Getting Paid – The adjudication process’ – Part 2
The second article looks at the adjudication process to recover monies that are owed to you. Read more here.
Stay tuned for part three of this series to be posted next week.