Luke Messer

Another proud moment for the Mackay Region in 2024 🤩 After a lengthy review of our fees and charges we’re proud to be able to say Mackay saw the largest decrease in DA fees across QLD. This is due to internal improvements resulting in more simple and faster decisions 🤌 Per the recent UDIA findings, “Mackay had the largest reduction in average fees across all Councils with a decrease of 29%”💪 The most notable reductions were a 43 percent decrease in reconfiguration of a lot fees and a 45 percent decrease in combined reconfiguration of a lot and operational works fees 🙌 Others include: MCU home base business -61% 🏠 MCU dwelling house and granny flat - 30% 🏡 MCU duplex -53% 🏠 ROL 10-100 lots -42% (approximately)🏡 We’re listening and doing all we can to be the best DA team in QLD 🙏

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Brisbane Civil Engineers.......Are these three things important to you? ◾ The environment you work in ◾ The people you are supported and mentored by ◾ A management team who leads by example Then this opportunity could be for you; 👉 They value continuous training and development and clear career path mapped out for all employees no matter your position 👉 Directors and leaders in the business are hands on and have an active role shaping and mentoring future leaders 👉 Design and project management of infill, brownfield, urban development projects all around QLD

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Engineering and AI At Engineering New Zealand, we are proud of our Engineering and AI initiative, aimed at supporting our members to embrace and integrate AI technologies into engineering practices to drive innovation and efficiency. Our focus is on leveraging AI to help our members solve complex engineering challenges, improve workflows, and stay ahead in the ever-evolving tech landscape. We are grateful for our committee of AI experts who have volunteered to guide us on this initiative. Dive into our latest Monthly AI newsletter, "AI in June," to explore insightful links to articles, case studies, and expert opinions. Whether you haven't started your AI journey or use it every day, there's something here for everyone. 📰 Check out "AI in June": AI in June https://lnkd.in/gsRU8pSn 🔗 Discover more about our initiative here: Engineering and AI Initiative https://lnkd.in/gvBjQ4Kr 📄 Read the Summary Report: Artificial Intelligence, Engineering and the Engineer by Dr. Ron McDowall ONZM chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https:/https://lnkd.in/gqYPCfJV 📄 Explore the Supplementary Board Paper: Navigating AI's Future in Engineering chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https:/https://lnkd.in/gMTAUsP9 #EngineeringNZ #AI #Innovation #EngineeringAndAI #DigitalTransformation #FutureOfEngineering

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In the absence of case law, I’m looking for anecdotes (if you've come across this before) or alternative views in case I'm being a blinkered contractor 👷‍♀️ Under an unamended NZS3910:2013, there is a Variation. The Contractor values the Variation, per the Contract, with a Net Cost Base Value plus On and Off-site Overheads & Profit at the percentages contained in the Contract. The Engineer asks the Contractor to demonstrate an increase in Costs and/or a loss of profit in respect of Off-site Overheads & Profit to determine compensation. The Engineer says that it is inequitable (under clause 9.3.12) for the Principal to pay for Off-site Overheads & Profit unless there is a demonstrated increase in Off-site Overhead Cost (or a loss of profit) directly associated with the individual Variation. So my questions (and to be clear, this is in relation to Off-site Overheads & Profit only); 1. Can you think of any circumstances where it might be equitable or otherwise permissible under the Contract that a Variation valuation excludes Off-site Overheads and Profit due to a lack of demonstration of loss? 2. If the Engineer is able to challenge the equitability of a percentage contained in the Contract on this basis then does it follow that this could be applied to all Variations and the Contractor has no certainty of a fair return by way of the tendered or otherwise agreed Off-site Overheads & Profit percentage? My answers (which I'd like you to challenge); 1. No. 2. Well, yes, that's exactly where I can see that leading. And I can't believe that that would ever be in the contemplation of the parties when entering into a NZS3910:2013 Contract and so cannot accept that position. Thanks in advance for all and any views 🙏 Looking to the future, as NZS3910:2023 doesn't improve matters, maybe we need to go back in time, to NZS3910:2003 which provided a bit more guidance such that there must be "...an extreme case, so different from the nature of circumstances which could reasonably have been contemplated by an experienced Contractor when preparing the Tender..". That might be helpful to our contract administrators who may otherwise burden themselves with the equitability question way more often than the actual parties to the contract ever expected them to.

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🚀 Road to Chartership: Becoming a Member of Engineering New Zealand Becoming a professional engineer is an incredible milestone, but what happens when you realize your recognition is limited internationally? For me, that was the spark to pursue something bigger i.e. becoming a member of Engineering New Zealand (ENZ). Why ENZ? 🌏 New Zealand is a phenomenal destination in terms of water and geotechnical engineering. 🏝 Living on an island has made me passionate about resilient infrastructure and sustainable water management. 🏉 And, of course, my admiration for the All Blacks made this decision even more personal! This journey isn’t just about professional recognition it was also part of my plan to meet requirements to attain more exposure and take the first step toward attaining chartership. At the end of 2023 and over three months, I completed the qualifications assessment, skills assessment, and credential check, and became a proud member of ENZ. This isn’t just a title, it’s a gateway to international recognition, professional growth, and connecting with a network of engineers tackling global challenges. 💡 Are you curious about how this process works? I’ve broken it all down in my latest blog post: “The Road to Chartership: Becoming a Member of Engineering New Zealand.” 🔗 Read the full post here: https://bit.ly/4g9VOIH This is the first step of many, and I’m excited to share my experiences to help others navigate their own path to professional growth. Let’s build our careers and connections together! #EngineeringNewZealand #RoadToChartership #ProfessionalGrowth #EngineeringLife #EngineeringNuggets

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🌍PM QUTCS: Pioneering Contracting and Engineering Services Overview🌐 PM QUTCS is an innovative contracting and engineering services company dedicated to balancing Quality, Time, Cost, and Sustainability in every project we undertake. With a commitment to excellence and a vision for a sustainable future, PM QUTCS empowers organizations across various sectors to achieve their construction and engineering goals while minimizing their environmental impact. Our Mission✅ At PM QUTCS, our mission is to redefine the contracting and engineering landscape by integrating sustainable practices into the core of our operations. We believe that successful project delivery is not just about meeting deadlines and budgets, but also about creating lasting value for clients, communities, and the planet. Core Values✅ 1. Quality First We prioritize quality in every aspect of our work. Our team adheres to the highest standards in construction and engineering, ensuring that all deliverables meet or exceed client expectations. We implement rigorous quality control measures to guarantee exceptional results. 2. Timely Delivery Time is critical in the contracting and engineering sectors. Our structured planning and agile methodologies enable us to meet deadlines while remaining flexible to adapt to changing circumstances, ensuring projects are delivered on schedule. 3. Cost Efficiency We understand the importance of staying within budget. By employing effective cost management strategies and value engineering, we optimize resource allocation and minimize waste, delivering projects that provide excellent value for money. 4. Sustainability Commitment PM QUTCS is committed to sustainable practices that protect our environment. We integrate eco-friendly solutions into our projects, from using sustainable materials to implementing energy-efficient technologies, ensuring that our work contributes positively to the planet. #PM_QUTCS #Project_Management #Green_Building #Sustainability #Digital_Construction_Management #BIM

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The question to be asked: 1. Does the $150 million spend on this initiative mean $150 million less spent on #publictransport improvements. We will likely find out on Tue 11 June in the Qld budget. This will delay the 'so-called' Smart ticketing rollout, which is really only a smart payment system with no plans for discounted travel options at this time. It still does not allow for concession fares. This initiative is not seen as sustainable, given that public transport is currently 80% subsidised by the state government. It will end in February 2025. The data analysis from this exercise will be extremely valuable to planners. That is one great positive in this cost of living electoral experiment.

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Cowi signed to design works on Victorian tunnels for Transpennine Route Upgrade COWI has signed a #contract with Network Rail to design tunnelling works to three Victorian era tunnels as part of the The Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU). The works will include preparing the three #tunnels, built by the #Victorians, #Stalybridgetunnel, #Scouttunnel and #Standedgetunnel, to be able to accommodate W12 #freight gauge clearance and #electrification of the line. These works will take place between #Stalybridge and #Huddersfield, a section of the wider #TRU scheme, which is being delivered to bring improvements to the #railways across the Pennines and between #Manchester, Huddersfield, #Leeds and #York. As part of its new contract, #Cowi will develop #engineering solutions to conduct the works on the route while ensuring minimal #impact is inflicted on local #communities and existing #transport routes. To facilitate the work, Cowi will also have to include 1.7km of track slab installation within its designs to allow for the track to be lowered to allow larger freight #trains to pass through. The #contractor will also be delivering off track #drainage and #geotechnical work. Providing #specialist teams, the geotechnical work will focus on #retaining walls and #earthwork stability while the off- track drainage enhancements will increase #flood resilience. At the start of the year, the next phase of Huddersfield station’s redevelopment as part of TRU began. While work had already begun to improve facilities for passengers inside Huddersfield station, this next phase of work will involve work on the outside of the building. This news followed an announcement from government a further £3.9bn would be injected into TRU rail project, taking the total Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom funding to £6.9bn. The upgrade of the 122km-long rail link in the north of England was earmarked to cost £2.9bn in 2018, but the #DfT has most recently predicted it will cost between £9bn and £11.5bn. Cowi UK managing director Andy Sloan said: “We are looking forward to collaborating closely with TRU and its supply chain through its new hub and spoke model. “The work presents unique challenges due to the age of the #infrastructure, requiring a balance between #modern engineering solutions and the #preservation of #historical integrity. “Our teams have been working on the TRU project for over seven years so we are delighted to continue our involvement on this additional section of the programme."

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🚨 𝗚𝗢𝗦𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗗 𝗕𝗬𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗦 𝗨𝗣𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗘!! 🚨 Planning works are progressing on the proposed upgrade in NSW and the State Government has invested $40 million towards the planning and design development of this project. #civilinfrastructure #civilconstruction #civilengineering

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The driving force behind WSP in Australia Australia's onboarding software success. The secret to seamless onboarding isn’t just automation. It’s having the right support every step of the way. Quick answers when you need them. Real-time issue resolution. Experts by your side. Onboard Express isn’t just about technology. It’s about human-backed assistance that makes the difference

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How insane is this? I started on this project as a fresh graduate in 2022 at post-demolition stage. Fast forward 2 years and it’s crazy to think that we are now on Level 4 out of 6 and the structural aspects are almost complete! #buildings #structures #engineering #construction

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Referring to the latent conditions adjudication decision I highlighted in another post this article dealing with notice requirements is very revealing. One of the problems with adjudication in Australia is there is no time or provision allowed under the legislation for a right of reply by the claimant to an adjudication response. Had this been the case the contention that a time bar existed on a secondary notice could have been challenged by reference to the VicUrban & BMD case.

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The papers in the picture were I believe what I had requisitioned from The Institution of Engineers Australia years ago and at probably no cost as I have been a corporate member of it. The book is Theory of elasticity by Timoshenko et al. Truth be told, I’ve been on the topic of buckling these days. I’d often felt uneasy about not having truely put my finger on the concept of buckling. So I went into the process of the derivation of buckling loads. It’s a problem of unbounded deformation when buckling occurs. And such deformations signify collapse, and are unacceptable for serviceability. The evaluation of buckling loads do not involve yield strength but stiffnesses, load distributions and restraint conditions. Therefore buckling moment capacity can be higher than sectional moment capacity in a beam for example and we take the lower of the two as governing. Trahair’s publications are my main anchor in exploring buckling, and Timoshenko’s Theory of Elastic Stability my main cross reference.

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I feel for the people of Wau-Waria and Bulolo when I see this critical infrastructure under threat. It’s a lifeline and the livelihoods of people, small SMEs in the informal sectors and services will be disconnected if this bridge is gone. It’s a national concern now. We’ve experienced similar threats or even worse than this in most part of the country recently. Well, these threats can be remediated and prevented if we can apply the correct engineering controls at the earliest. One of the key controls is River Training. Roads and bridges played a pivotal role in the growth of this country for years. Care and maintenance for the existing infrastructures should be priority. If we can’t look after the existing roads and bridges in the country, there’s no point in constructing new roads and bridges. Its a waste of tax payers money.

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Calling on my network to assist with any information or comments on the potential pedestrianisation of Illawarra Rd, Marrickville. I've sent an email to Jo Haylen, Clr Mat Howard, and Darcy Byrne regarding this. Is this something that the traffic engineers and the planners can help accelerate or provide more insight? Even evidence of an investigation (if it happened) and its findings, or reasons it wouldn't work. Jo Haylen's advice has advised that Jo has sent a letter regarding this to the roads minister. See email below: Has TfNSW and local council ever looked into the pedestrianisation of Illawarra Rd, Marrickville? I understand this to be a tricky location being a state road and multiple bus routes using it. However, Marrickville is well overdue for its own pedestrianised high street, and I think Illawarra Rd has great potential to be that. The existing footpaths on Illawarra Rd are already too narrow. Restaurants and eateries are in high demand from locals and people all over Sydney. They are bursting at the seams, even with footpath seating. The footpath at the narrowest sections can only accommodate the movement of a pram and one other person. The street sees hundreds of pedestrians who are shopping, eating, going to the gym, and relaxing at cafes. The road lanes are very narrow as well, it is only a matter of time until someone slips and falls in front of a 50km/h vehicle. I think there is a good opportunity to look into some options here, especially with the Sydney Metro conversion completing some time next year. There may be potential for bus-only between Byrnes St and Marrickville Station, with the buses using Byrnes, O'Hara, Calvert, and Gladstone. Regular traffic could divert through Livingstone Rd or Myrtle St. Again, understand this to be a tricky problem. But if we can get some brains to start to take a look at this, we may have some very good options to look into next year. PS Yes, I live in Marrickville. #sydney #pedestrianisation #innerwest #transportfornsw Bicycle NSW Committee for Sydney Akanksha Balakumar Sara Stace Tim Sullivan Taylor Gouge Todd D. N. Ten-Zen Guh David Levinson Emily Moylan

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Encourage you to have a read of the cabinet paper shared by NZPI. Some good insights of current thinking by Government.

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The first month of results are in from the 50c public transport trial across Queensland. Network trips have increased 15% with substantially higher percentage increases on weekends. Will be interesting to continue to watch this space across the rest of this year. https://lnkd.in/g4czxi_g #queensland #publictransport #fares #transport

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