A MID-YEAR  update to the Queensland Major Projects Pipeline report has shown that state revenue from major construction projects is expected to rise by 140 percent by 2021.

The report, released by the Queensland Major Contractors Association (QMCA), Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ) and the Infrastructure Association of Queensland (IAQ), suggests that public infrastructure and local procurement preferences will deliver a major boost to Queensland’s economy over the next five years.

It also confirmed that the increased number of civil construction workers recruited during the mining construction boom period between 2003 and 2013 meant demand could be met if projects do not suffer serious delays or obstructions.

The first of its kind in Australia, the report detailed a five-year pipeline and forecast of both public and private sector engineering projects in excess of $50 million across Queensland. The half yearly report update identified the need for continuous access to up-to-date information. Its authors said the infrastructure industry’s outlook could change quickly, based on whether or not a major project was on track. 

QMCA president Iain Ward said he was pleasantly surprised by the findings.

“Things are really looking up for Queensland,” Mr Ward said.

“I’m encouraged by the mid-year results and look forward to seeing further improvements as new opportunities are identified and funded.

“I’m also excited by the progress some of our larger projects are making, such as Inland Rail, Cross River Rail and Adani that are all great wins for the state.

“Now what we need is surety so we don’t lose momentum,” he said.

“Our industry is closely tied to Queensland’s economy so we’re vulnerable to a range of external factors. As well as influences such as commodity prices and the Australian dollar, there’s also the very real threat of damaging global trade sanctions, which have the potential to be devastating.

“We need to build a sustainable industry that is confident and resilient to political change which means making a commitment to future projects and securing funding in a more timely manner.” 

IAQ CEO, Steve Abson, said funding announcements for major projects had improved the outlook for the infrastructure sector, and members were reporting more confidence in Queensland.
“The biggest challenge we now face is the ability of all levels of Government – Federal, State and Local – to commit to future project funding,” Mr Abson said.

“There are some significant projects in the pipeline, particularly for regional Queensland, and considerable question marks over how they will be funded.”

CSQ CEO Brett Schimming said since the original report was launched in April, the value of the major funded Queensland engineering construction projects had increased.

“Specifically, funded work in the pipeline has increased by 17 percent to $25.1 billion, work under construction has lifted 19 percent to $19.6 billion and announced work has increased 47 percent to $3.9 billion,” Mr Schimming said.

“While it has been a difficult transition from the sharp falls which followed the historic highs reached in 2012/13, increased funded and committed projects have reduced the risks to the industry and it would appear the worst has now passed for Queensland.”

Mr Schimming said the outlook for Queensland’s construction workforce continued on the path outlined in the April report with the civil construction workforce expected to focus on delivering public infrastructure for the next few years.

http://csq.org.au/csq/media/Common/publications/QMCA-2017-MPR-Update.pdf

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MORE THAN 18,000 sites across New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and the Northern Territory have been identified as possible locations for pumped hydro energy storage.

The sites have been identified as part of work being carried out by the Australian National University which is supported by a $449,000 grant through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). 

The aim of the study is to develop a nationwide map of potential sites for establishing off-river pumped hydro storage and builds on the 5,195 potential sites identified in South Australia, Queensland, ACT and in and around Alice Springs earlier this year.

“Investing in renewable storage technologies, such as pumped hydro and batteries, will play a key role into securing an affordable and reliable energy network in Australia,” Environment and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg said.

“The Turnbull Government is already supporting a major expansion of the Snowy Hydro scheme and looking at further hydro-electricity and pumped storage opportunities in Tasmania, the Upper Spencer Gulf in South Australia and Kidston in Queensland.”

Pumped hydro energy storage involves using renewable energy systems to pump water uphill to a storage reservoir and releasing it through a turbine to provide additional energy into the electricity grid when it is needed. Pumped hydro accounts for 97 percent of energy storage worldwide. The potential sites have only been assessed on a geographic basis at this stage.

“As the Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel noted in his review of the National Electricity Market, pumped hydro storage systems are the most mature electrical energy storage systems available,” Mr Frydenberg said.

www.arena.gov.au

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THE NEW McDONALD’S restaurant at Eagleby, accessible off the M1 Motorway mid-way between Brisbane and the Gold Coast beaches, has thrived since it opened on November 17, providing more than 100 new jobs in the area.

The development of this particular McDonald’s restaurant is significant not only for its location at Eagleby, a quiet residential community on the eastern side of the M1 opposite the better-known regional township of Beenleigh on the western side, but also for its being able to draw upon the multi-cultural local community for staff.   

It also incorporates a range of innovations that are attuned to the local community and the adjacent motorway location, including an air-conditioned private meeting boardroom, available free of charge and complete with data screen and wifi.

Licensee of McDonald’s Eagleby, Janelle MacGinley, said the 24/7 restaurant had the advantage of being able to draw upon the multi-cultural richness that differentiates Logan from many other South-East Queensland cities. From the outset, Ms MacGinley said the McDonald’s Eagleby had been positioned to draw upon family values and emerging social themes of collaborative economic sustainability, supporting local employment opportunities across broad ethnicities and age groups.

“The interest for employment in our new Eagleby restaurant has been astounding, we had approximately 700 applications and interviewed approximately 300,” Ms MacGinley said. “The new restaurant will now provide more than 100 jobs in Eagleby which is fantastic for all age groups and all skill levels. 

“We are particularly excited about deepening our links into the local education community, giving local young people pathways into hospitality futures through work experience to gain employment program.  We worked closely with Beenleigh State High and in fact did a hiring session at the school. This provided an opportunity for many students to apply for a position, experience the interview process and hiring requirements,” Ms MacGinley said.

 “We are proud to harness the talents and enthusiasm of the local talent to diversify our Eagleby crew by creating jobs and energising the local community.”

McDonald’s Eagleby is the fifth restaurant in the Logan region for Janelle MacGinley, who is supported in the business by her husband, Peter, a local accountant.

“We know as a McDonald’s licensee that success comes from challenging the norm, from adapting and innovating, from creating new trends and pioneering different solutions.”

Ms MacGinley is now in charge of about 500 full-time and part-time crew and managers across her restaurants, including the new Eagleby operation.

Her staff is comprised of a diverse  range of people, from those who are still in high school or further education through to managers, including a number of graduates.  and she is well supported in the business with her accountant husband Peter.

“McDonald’s has changed and grown, but it still prides itself on being a first job for many, a community partner, and ready to serve its customers 24 hours, seven days a week,” she said.

A much-spoken about innovation is the air-conditioned private meeting boardroom at McDonald’s Eagleby, with its data screen and wifi. The room is available to all in the local community and businesses.

“We expect mothers groups, home-led retail enterprises, prayer groups, sporting groups, in fact any group will be welcome to utilise this facility,” Ms MacGinley said. “We recommend the meeting be pre-booked to avoid disappointment.  Establishing meeting spaces at no cost to the user is a bonus to the community as we strive to bring together students, community, and industry in the Logan region.

“To quote an important McDonald’s slogan, McDonald’s has good food, good people and is a good neighbour,” Ms MacGinley said.

www.mcdonalds.com.au

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THE economic impact of major flooding in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Debbie in April was bad enough without the economic hit that evolved from inaccurate and sensational media coverage of Queensland’s Capricornia region.

That was the overwhelming view of business leaders in the Rockhampton region, from a business survey conducted by Capricorn Enterprise with its members. Nominated as “the one thing that must be done better in future” was correct media reporting of the situation. 

The survey suggested sensationalist media reporting did more economic damage to businesses than the actual flood waters “and media outlets need to be held to account”.

Survey recipients also said the Rockhampton Airport closure had huge financial impacts on all businesses.

About 90 percent of survey respondents stated that they were able to trade during the Fitzroy River flood with all respondents stating they suffered income loss during the event. 

About 80 percent of survey respondents were Capricorn Coast – Yeppoon, Emu Park, Great Keppel Island – businesses and 20 percent were Rockhampton businesses.

During the two week period from March 27 to  April 9, 25 percent of businesses surveyed lost between $50,000 to $200,000 in revenue, with 50 percent suffering losses of between $10,000 and $50,000. Another 25 percent of businesses surveyed lost up to $10,000 in trade.

Surveyed businesses stated that the two main reasons for loss of trade and financial hardship was due to cancellation of flights because of the Rockhampton Airport closure and “media mis-information and/or sensationalism”.

“These results accurately reflect the public comments made by Capricorn Enterprise during the event as our peak holiday season was greatly affected by both southern media sensationalism and closure of the Rockhampton Airport,” Capricorn Enterprise chief executive Mary Carroll said.

“Not surprisingly, additional marketing is the major request from our members following the Fitzroy River flood,” she said.

Capricorn Enterprise worked closely with tourism operators and took part in a whole-of-state $2 million Tourism and Events Queensland campaign during April and May in the key markets of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and regional Queensland.

Ms Carroll said, “Studio 10 (Channel 10 network) was the only prime time breakfast program that helped us get the correct message out on Friday April 7, 2017, to a national audience, with their four-minute story then being viewed on Facebook 118,000 times with 1,424 shares and 100 affirmative comments.

“Channel 7’s Sunrisestated on air that they would return to our destination to deliver a positive news story and we will keep them to that promise. My comment demanding factual reporting on the Sunrise Facebook page on Saturday, April 1, received over 100,000 Likes, 267 shares and over 100 affirmative comments.  When is mainstream metropolitan media going to listen to the people?”

www.capricornenterprise.com.au

www.capricornholidays.com.au 

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