Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue’s Post

RailNews // Light Rail has been a hot topic last week, with much welcomed news that the second stage of Parramatta's multibillion dollar rail project given the green light. In contrast, in our nation's capital, claims are being made that the Light Rail Stage 2B Commonwealth Park to Woden (Stage 2B) is not cost-effective. These claims simply do not take into consideration the huge, long-term economic benefits light rail delivers well beyond providing an efficient public transport solution. Light rail projects in Australia and across the globe have consistently shown to dramatically transform communities, driving urban renewal and growth along its corridor, supporting better housing and job opportunities. Light rail delivers the kind of significant economic, social and environmental benefits that buses cannot, whose routes can easily be stopped or altered at any time. The revitalisation of Northbourne Ave and around Dickson interchange due to the first stage of the Canberra Light Rail were testament to the positive impact that permanent public transport infrastructure has on investment and urban development. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gsw4FhEV #rail #news #comments 

Major works have commenced on the $430 million New Swan River Crossings project in Fremantle, marking a significant milestone in improving connectivity and safety in the region. This transformative infrastructure project will deliver new road and rail bridges, easing congestion and enhancing access for both commuters and freight. The project is a key part of Western Australia’s METRONET program and aims to future-proof transport links across the Swan River, while also preserving the heritage-listed Fremantle Traffic Bridge. Once completed, the new crossings will improve safety, reduce travel times, and support economic growth by providing vital transport connections for the region. With construction underway, this project represents a significant investment in Western Australia's infrastructure and will play a crucial role in supporting local jobs and the economy. https://lnkd.in/giTfKDMR #Infrastructure #Transport #WesternAustralia #CivilEngineering #Construction #UrbanDevelopment #WAInfrastructure

🚆Green light for the extension of the Dart+ to the west 🚆. Approved project to extend commuter line to Maynooth in County Kildare with a budget of €1bn and a 5 year timescale. Dart+ West is the first phase of Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail's plans for a major extension of Dart services, which also includes electrification of the rail line to Drogheda, Co Louth, Celbridge, Co Kildare and a significant capacity upgrade to Greystones, Co Wicklow. Once completed, the full Dart+ program aims to triple the current network from 53km to 150km, and the number of people living within one kilometer of a Dart station would increase from the current 250,000 to 600,000. More info here: https://bit.ly/3WuAeGw SEOPAN, Construcción, Agua y Concesiones de Infraestructuras TECNIBERIA #Transport #Infrastructure #Ireland #SpainIreland #DART #Investment #Sustainability

Road and Freight Priorities 🚚🚗🚌 The Perth South West Metropolitan region is a vital hub for Perth’s port infrastructure and heavy industry, making a contemporary and safe #freight network essential to support the local and national economy. While the industrial road network has served the region well since its development in the 1950s, it now requires significant upgrades. Key road intersections need improvement, and staged widening of roads is necessary to ensure the industrial area remains efficient, ahead of the development of the #Westport project. Other key linkages are needed to ensure that Perth has an efficient freight network that meets the long-term needs of the region and prioritises safety for our communities. Plans to run Perth’s freight along an already congested freeway system for the first decades of Westport’s operation create an unsafe and unreasonable approach. The plan also fails to open up key development ready industrial estates in the south eastern corridor. The #AUKUS agreement is increasing the demand for efficient transportation of people and freight between key sites such as Garden Island and Henderson. Expanding capacity in this network is crucial. With Australia’s largest naval base accessed through a residential suburban road network, it’s essential to find a long-term solution. The Commonwealth must commit to funding the necessary road upgrades to meet its strategic aspirations for the region. The Kwinana Freeway faces daily congestion and is currently operating well beyond its capacity. While Mitchell Freeway saw widening projects funded at much lower volumes, the Kwinana Freeway widening is presently unfunded and overdue. It is essential to secure funding to fix this broken road network and support the growing demands of the region.

This will be of interest to keen watchers of #Northland #infrastructure rehabilitation: The government policy statement (GPS) on land transport has been published today: https://lnkd.in/ggcrrURb. In the plan, the Government has confirmed a spend of $22 billion (approx. $7b a year for the next three years). Of particular interest to Northlanders: * The GPS "includes investment to reverse recent speed-limit reductions, enabling people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely. This includes making it easier for the NZTA to increase speed limits to 110 km/h on roads that are engineered to that safety standard." * Investment in Roads of National Significance includes specific reference to the following sections between Whangārei and Auckland: - alternative to Brynderwyns - Whangārei to Port Marsden (presumably the junction between SH1 and ‘Port Marsden Highway’) - Warkworth to Wellsford * The Government aims to adopt a more forensic approach to supporting rail. “This Government’s focus will be to invest in maintaining the network between the busiest and most productive parts of the existing rail network – between Auckland, Hamilton, and Tauranga.” * The GPS makes only this reference to the proposed Marsden Point Rail Spur: “The Crown is committed to funding... the Marsden Rail Spur investigation” (page 35). * The draft GPS published in March for consultation contained no references to coastal shipping. In the final GPS published today, the activity has been reinstated through a dedicated coastal shipping resilience fund of $30 million over three years. The money for this is to be diverted from Crown rail funding.

Dramas all round ! The NZ Herald reporting today over potential (yes potential) delays to City Rail Link (CRL) delivery in Auckland - mean while across the ditch in Australia on almost the exact same day the same thing happens with Melbourne Metro One (Melbournes larger version of Aucklands City Rail Link), with target completion pushed out there 9 months from March 2025 to December 2025. https://lnkd.in/erBtch4D - the Melbourne project is three times longer in distance length and three times more expensive in cost (but not necessarily in complexity) compared to Aucklands! The main concern I have here is the loss of goodwill towards the industry, along with political capital loss risk, to get things done on budget and on time. I am sure all round there will be smiles on opening. Needless to say I am sure everyone will be doing their very best to get both projects finished on time and within current budget - good luck and Kia kaha industry colleague’s. #cityraillink #Auckland #newzealand https://lnkd.in/ePEvNajB

Exciting updates from the #FederalBudget! Strengthening infrastructure foundations paves the way for sustainable growth. 🏗️💼 #InfrastructureGrowth #EconomicDevelopment

The New Highway to Success: Khánh Hoà – Buôn Ma Thuột Expressway Fast-Tracks Its Way to the Finish Line https://ift.tt/ZYTEgqu With the dry season setting in, contractors have mobilized additional machinery and personnel to accelerate construction. Over 500 workers and 410 pieces of equipment are simultaneously constructing the 48km-long Khanh Hoa – Buon Ma Thuot expressway section in Dak Lak province. To ensure timely completion, construction is taking place in three shifts, with four teams working continuously through the day and night. The contract, which involves challenging mountainous terrain, is entering its final phase. The Phoenix Pass tunnel is taking shape. Contractors are accelerating their efforts to “carve through the mountains.” Several sections of the route have already received cement-reinforced base layers. The road surface is expected to be laid as early as this December. Land clearance for the third component project of the Khanh Hoa – Buon Ma Thuot expressway has reached 98.6%. Local authorities in Dak Lak are working diligently to hand over the remaining land to the contractors. Challenges related to material sources, such as soil, stone, and waste disposal sites, have been reported and are being urgently addressed by the provincial government to expedite the project’s progress. The investors and contractors of the third component project of the Khanh Hoa – Buon Ma Thuot expressway are determined to complete the project by August 30, 2025. You may also like The Prime Minister’s Fifth Inspection of the Long Thanh Airport Project Site On December 3rd, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited Dong Nai to inspect the progress of two key infrastructure projects: the Long Thanh International Airport and the Bien Hoa-Vung Tau Expressway. With a keen eye for detail, the Prime Minister assessed the development of these projects, which are expected to boost economic growth and connectivity in the region. No Delays for the Expressways in the Mekong Delta Due to Sand and Stone Shortages Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has instructed the Ministry of Transport, relevant agencies, and contractors to proactively coordinate with local authorities to expedite the supply of fill materials. He emphasized that there should be no delays in the construction of expressways in the Mekong Delta region due to a shortage of sand and rocks. “The Troubling Financial Woes of Trung Nam Group: A Daunting Reality” As of the end of 2023, Trung Nam Construction Investment Joint Stock Company (Trung Nam Group) had accumulated a debt of over VND 65,000 billion, 2.68 times their equity. The Prime Minister Approves...

Royal HaskoningDHV in collaboration with the Torres Strait Island Regional Council has secured a significant infrastructure project to safeguard the Torres Strait Island community’s vibrant fishing and maritime industry. The project is part of the Australian and Queensland governments’ $80 million investment towards improved marine infrastructure which includes overhauling jetties, wharves and barge ramps across the archipelago. We have been commissioned to design and restore numerous jetties across Saibai, Dauan and Boigu Islands that have become severely degraded and unsafe due to collisions from vessels, weather, and degradation of materials. This project will not only rebuild these structures, but also provide crucial modernisation upgrades including wider access ways to support larger barges and more durable materials such as low slip plastic slats, and stairs to significantly improve accessibility. The Torres Strait, also known as Zenadh Kes, is home to some of Australia’s most remote communities. As some of these Islands are difficult to access, maritime planning and infrastructure are of vital importance to the people that live there. This revitalisation project will seek to dramatically improve the lives of local communities who rely on maritime logistics, safeguarding their transport systems and livelihoods. https://ow.ly/ZeL750UlkAo #InfrastructureDevelopment #MarineInfrastructure #TorresStrait #Australia Stuart Bettington Jasvinder Pantlia Arnout Fleer Sally Hunton Sina Rahmani Alan Rotsey Bas van Dijk

Wellington, NZ / July 5, 2024 / RNZ / – Seven significant #roading projects across New Zealand are now underway, according to Transport Minister Simeon Brown. This development is part of the government's plan to prioritize 17 Roads of National Significance (#RoNS) outlined in the recent Policy Statement on Land Transport (#GPS). While cost concerns remain, the government intends to utilize alternative revenue options such as public-private partnerships, road #tolling, equity finance schemes, and value capture. The Northland Roads of National Significance will be treated as a single strategic corridor, with Warkworth to Wellsford being the initial focus. "Delivering on commitments in our coalition agreements, we are moving at pace to progress a new generation of RoNS across the country to support economic growth and get people and freight to where they want to go, quickly and safely," Brown stated. Investigations and planning for the remaining eight projects will commence in the next three years. Brown emphasized the need for fast-track legislation to maintain a pipeline of consented #infrastructure projects. "Investments in these essential corridors will make it easier for New Zealanders to get where they need to go, create a more productive and resilient transport network, drive economic growth, and unlock land for thousands of new houses," he concluded. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver