Archived News for Industry Professionals - January, 2013
The Western Australian Government has granted final approval for the construction of a multi-user iron ore export facility at the Port of Esperance.
ALC hands in Pre-Budget Submission
Improving productivity, efficiency and safety in freight logistics are at the forefront of goals outlined by the Australian Logistics Council’s (ALC) 2013-14 Pre-Budget Submission it handed to the Government.
New home sales up at the end of 2012
New statistics released by the Housing Industry Association (HIA) shows a hearting increase in new home sales, recording December as the third consecutive month of growth in the sector.
Pipeline runneth dry in 2013
The investment pipeline of mega-resources projects is set to begin to decline after a report released by Deloitte shows that such projects are ‘hurtling towards a peak, likely in 2013’.
Virgin cleared to snap up Skywest
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has announced it will not oppose Virgin’s proposed acquisition of Skywest Airlines.
Building code set to harmonise sector
The Federal Government has announced the Building Code 2013 will take effect from the beginning of February, codifying the current Implementation Guidelines for the National Code of Practice for the Construction Industry.
Sherwin Iron secures port agreement
Sherwin Iron has announced it has reached an agreement with Darwin Port Corporation to use East Arm Wharf facilities to export its iron ore from the company’s Roper River mine site.
Commodore Nairn takes the helm at Shipping Australia
Shipping Australia has announced the appointment of Commodore Rod Nairn as interim CEO in the lead up to Llew Russel’s retirement this year.
Construction downturn eases
The latest Australian Performance of Construction Index has shown that the nation’s containing construction downturn has eased off in the final month of 2012 to end at 38.8, 1.8 points stronger than the previous reading, with readings below 50 points indicated a contraction, where the distance from 50 indicating the strength of the decline.
Downer wins NSW rail work
Engineering firm Down EDI has announced it has been awarded a new rail infrastructure tender in New South Wales, valued at over $90 million.
Inquiry calls for building industry reforms
The New South Wales Government has announced it has received 44 recommendations from an inquiry into insolvencies in the state’s construction industry.
Kickstart program gets the tick
Australian Rules Football legend Kevin Sheedy has joined Government and industry heavyweights in the launch of the Federal Government’s Kickstart program, which aims to encourage employers to sign up over 21,000 apprentices by the end of February. The program triples the incentive paid in the first year to small and medium business owners who take on a new apprentice.
QRC hits out at cash bidding
The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has reiterated its staunch opposition to cash bidding for exploration tenures.
SA sitting on $20 trillion worth of shale oil
South Australia is on the verge of a shale oil boom after two separate prospective resource reports confirmed a massive reserve of oil, which initial estimates value at in excess of $20 trillion.
Supply chain coordinators in demand
A new report released by global recruitment specialists, Hays, has found that supply chain coordinators, transport managers and supply chain managers are all enjoying a boom in employment demand.
Survey predicts gloomy 2013
A new survey of over 400 builders and contractors conducted by Master Builders Australia (MBA) shows little confidence that 2013 will see a lift from the sector’s downturn.
Tarrawonga expansion gets the nod
Whitehaven Coal has welcomed the announcement by the New South Wales Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) that it has approved the proposed expansion to the Tarrawonga Coal Mine Expansion Project in north west New South Wales.
Western Interstate terminal receives planning funding
The Federal and Victorian Governments have announced planning funding will be made available for the proposed western Interstate Freight Terminal (WIFT), a facility that has the potential to take over 700,000 trucks off the city’s rouads.
WorkSafe Victoria flags housing blitz
WorkSafe Victoria has called on the state’s housing construction industry to make sure their sites and work practices are up to scratch ahead of a safety blitz due to start early next month.
Apprentice Kickstart expanded for engineering trades
Nine additional key engineering trades are now eligible for Kickstart payments, which triple the incentives made to employers in the first year of taking on an apprentice.
National transport safety regulators open for business
The new National Heavy Vehicle Regulator located in Brisbane and the new, Adelaide-based National Rail Safety Regulator, are both open for business.