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August 29, 2012

$700m Perth Stadium Master Plan Revealed

Filed under: Buildings,Civil — Tags: , , — tom @ 7:25 am

perth stadium masterplan

The long-awaited master plans for the new Perth Stadium and the surrounding sport and recreation precinct on the Burswood Peninsula have been unveiled.

Under the plan, key elements of which were outlined by Premier Colin Barnett on August 24, the new stadium will have the third-largest capacity in Australia and will be the second-largest home stadium for AFL football.

The stadium will initially have capacity for 60,000 seats, with the potential of increasing this to 70,000.

The plan also includes a new pedestrian bridge to give fans from East Perth a direct link to the stadium.

Sports and recreation minister Terry Waldron says the master plan was designed to integrate land use and transport planning, allow for flexibility to accommodate future major events, allow for multi-purpose events and further develop Perth as a ‘river city.’

“With careful planning, the State Government is ensuring the delivery of a world-class stadium in a sports precinct, which will provide sport and recreational opportunities for the whole year, not just on major event days at the venue,” Waldron says.

According to the plan, geotechnical investigations have confirmed that the Burswood Peninsula, where the stadium is to be constructed, presents challenging ground conditions.

Artists impression field club eagles

Despite this, planners remain confident that construction of the stadium on the northern portion of the site, which has previously been used in the Burswood Resort and in the Peninsula Residential development, can be achieved without significant problems.

The Peninsula was chosen for the site because planners because of its size, its status as an ‘iconic’ site, lack of constraints in the area relating to residential development and its proximity to other significant redevelopments.

Pre-construction works are slated to start in the middle of next year and construction is due to start in 2014. The government hopes to have the stadium ready prior to the 2018 football season.

The most recent cost estimate for the project, based on the work of the original Stadium Taskforce in 2007 and updated to 2011 dollars, is $700 million.

Mining to End, Building to Lift

Filed under: Buildings — Tags: , , , — tom @ 3:49 am

mining and construction boom

The mining boom is set to end earlier than anticipated but activity in building and construction in Australia is expected to pick up, industry research firm BIS Shrapnel says in its latest report on the Australian economy.

In its Long Term Forecast Update, BIS says it expects the overall Australian economy to grow by around three per cent over the next few years.

For now, however, growth will remain uneven throughout the economy as mining accounts for a disproportionate share of growth while firms in many sectors outside of resources continue to pare back on investment and focus on cost reduction.

Beginning in 2014, however, that balance will change as investment in mining projects peaks and non-mining investment stabilises. Beyond that, non-mining investment is expected to start to pick up and take over as an engine of growth.

While BIS has always maintained that resource sector investment will peak around the middle of the decade, its latest forecast comes amid growing pessimism over how long the mining boom will run. Such sentiments were reinforced in recent days by moves on the part of BHP Billiton to mothball its Olympic Dam expansion plans and abandon its controversial Yeelirrie uranium project in Western Australia.

On the positive side, however, BIS has singled out property, building and construction as a key area in which a recovery is expected.

The forecasting firm says the property industry will benefit from a strengthening in the broader economy, which should boost service industries.

Building and construction, which BIS names as one of a number of ‘domestically-focused industries that have been held back by low confidence and weak demand, rather than the weak dollar,’ should now join stronger-performing sectors such as wholesale trade and the parts of the business and financial services industry which have benefited from strong mining activity in generating growth.

BIS Shrapnel chief economist Dr. Frank Gelber says home building activity should benefit from a combination of lower interest rates, population growth and shortages of stock, while an increase in private sector investment should help pick up the slack left from the end of public sector stimulus measures.

“BIS Shrapnel expects the building industry to gradually improve, supported by a recovery in dwellings building from late this year,” Gelber says. “Next year, non-dwelling building should also pick up as supply tightens after many years in the doldrums. This increase in private sector building will help offset the decline in public sector building that is occurring now that the Building the Education Revolution program is nearly complete.”

Gelber adds that mining investment is still currently on the rise, which demonstrates that “overall investment in the construction industry should grow strongly over the next year, but employment will remain subdued.”

In terms of other sectors, BIS expects continued strong activity in wholesale trade, strong growth in telecommunications, a recovery in retail and a stabilisation in education.

BIS adds, however, that the strong dollar will continue to weigh on manufacturing, while subdued conditions are expected to persist going forward in public administration and safety, utilities, and administration and support services.

February 8, 2012

Gunns shoots up after billionaire takes stake

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , — tom @ 10:35 pm

Billionaire investor Richard Chandler will inject $150 million into revamping forestry company Gunns, as part of a $280 million capital raising.

The New Zealander’s private Richard Chandler Corporation confirmed today it was taking a stake in Gunns, and would seek to “catalyse” the long-planned $2 billion plus Bell Bay pulp mill.

Gunns shares skyrocketed by as much as 60 per cent on the news, before closing up 36 per cent at 17 cents.

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RCC will become Gunns’ major shareholder, with 39 per cent of the company.

Gunns also plans to raise about $130 million in a 1.3 for one share rights issue at 12 cents a share.

“In combination with the company’s current asset sales program, the proposed recapitalisation will facilitate a further signification reduction in company debt,” Gunns said in a statement.

RCC is to subscribe a $75 million bond with attaching convertible warrants, and gain the balance of its investment through fully paid ordinary shares in Gunns also at 12 cents.

“Gunns has been restructured over the past few years into a  world scale plantation forestry company,” said RCC senior adviser Alan Kelly.

“We see its future as building a foundation for sustainable development and economic growth which will provide a future for the Tasmanian forestry industry,” Mr Kelly said.

“The Richard Chandler Corporation proposes to work with Gunns management to catalyse the Bell Bay pulp mill.

“The pulp mill project is expected to create over 3,000 jobs, significant bio-energy power generation, strong export revenues and approximately $1 billion in federal and state taxes.”

The re-capitalisation follows renegotiation of Gunns’ $340 million senior debt facility last week.

A series of asset sales is also under way, including the Heyfield native forest sawmill in Victoria, Gunns’ $85 million Managed Investment Scheme loan book,  and the sale of its woodchip ship, Orana.  FIRB approval is also outstanding for Gunns’s $120 million Green Triangle forest estate assets.

The deal is conditional on approvals, including from a shareholders’ extraordinary general meeting, within 90 days.

November 21, 2011

Cancer Centre | Revolutionise VIC Healthcare

Filed under: Victorian Projects 2011 — Tags: , , , , , — tom @ 5:47 am

The latest release of the UN’s 7 billion population estimate, really puts into perspective just how varied this world is becoming. Although connected through communication modes more now than ever before, individuals of this world seem to be increasingly disconnected. We have different jobs, goals and fundamental beliefs; but there is perhaps one sad reality that we can all relate to, cancer.

In the fight against this disease, which took 7.6 million lives in 2008 alone, the Victoria government and industry have banded together to progress to the next generation of cancer research and care.

Cancer is Victoria’s number one killer. It is only logical that steps must be taken in order to develop world class means of “prevention, detection and treatment” as stated by the government.

Their mode of defence has been the construction of a state cancer centre with a project value of $1.07 billion. The Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) located in Parkville on the site of the former Royal Dental Hospital (which was demolished in August 2010 pending the VCCC’s construction) will become one of the country’s greatest healthcare projects, with a huge budget and even greater consortium of collaborative partners. These include the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne Health, The University of Melbourne, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Walter and Eliza Institute of Medical Research, The Royal Women’s Hospital, The Royal Children’s Hospital and Western Health.

In order to cater to the hospitals extensive capabilities, the construction efforts are to be in the extreme; as to be expected of a billion dollar plus budget project.

The cancer centre will include 196 inpatient beds, 110 same-day patient treatment places, eight medi-hotel beds, 25,000 plus sqm of specialised cancer research space, 24 treatment places in a clinical trial facility, education and training spaces, outpatient clinic and treatment centre, eight radiation bunkers a 700 space car park.

What the industry and government partners are aiming for is a central treatment centre for cancer patients, state and country wide. It is also planned to facilitate growth, research and inpatient support.

It is incredibly positive to see infrastructure developments of this nature. As the population expands, it has been noted (in our recent article ‘Can Global Infrastructure Cater to 7 billion people?’) that it is becoming paramount that the industry and government alike provide facilities that deal with healthcare, increase longevity and quality of life.

The final stages for architecture and contractor tenders are underway, with the official statement regarding both as yet to be released.

http://designbuildsource.com.au/victoria-billion-dollar-cancer-centre?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=victoria-billion-dollar-cancer-centre

September 25, 2011

Healthcare Construction On the Move

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , — tom @ 10:45 pm

After a year of subdued conditions, the healthcare construction sector in Australia is set to recover as a strong increase in construction starts drives growth in activity from 2012/13 and beyond.

In its latest report on the Australian building sector, industry research firm BIS Shrapnel predicts that construction starts on health related facilities will increase by 73 per cent in 2011/12. Driving this increase are starts on the new Royal Adelaide Hospital ($1.7 billion) and the new Princess Margaret Hospital for Children ($1 billion).

In the near term however, conditions look set to remain subdued with a dearth of major project starts prior to the Royal Adelaide Hospital in 2010/11 (refer to chart) feeding through to soft conditions in 2011/12.

Not surprisingly then, in the twelve months to March next year, the Construction Forecasting Council (CFC) expects the value of work done on health and aged care facilities to drop by 11.9 per cent from $3.966 billion to $3.494 billion.

By 2012/13, however, the CFC expects the value of work done to bounce back to $3.970 billion as momentum from starts on Royal Adelaide and Princess Margaret flows through to stronger activity. Beyond that, subsequent years will see modest growth as work on the first stage of the Sunshine Coast University Hospital ($940 million) gets going.

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State by State
Despite South Australia and Western Australia both receiving boosts from Royal Adelaide Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital, larger states are expected to be the best performers going forward.

In significant statewide developments, according to CFC forecasts:

• Victoria is expected to defy national trends and record a marginal increase in activity from $892.7 million to $910.6 million in the twelve months to March next year. Beyond that, the value of work is expected to reach $966.5 million in financial year 2012/13 and $1.028 billion in 2013/14.

• Activity in New South Wales is expected to drop back from $1.102 billion to $1.049 billion in the year to March 2012 before bouncing back to $1.179 billion by financial year 2012/13.

• Likewise in Queensland, after an 11.7 per cent contraction ($868.0 million) in the twelve months to March next year, the value of work will reach $1.114 billion in 2012/13 as work on Sunshine Coast gets going.

• Despite the boost from the Royal Adelaide Hospital, the value of work done in South Australia is set to contract from $257.8 million to $232.2 million in the year to March. Beyond that, however, activity is set to bounce back to $259.7 million in 2012/13 and reach $287 million by 2014/15.

• Despite the relocation of the Princess Margaret Hospital, activity in Western Australia is expected to drop back from $658.7 million to $339.7 million in the twelve months to March. Beyond that, activity is set to remain flat in 2012/13 before returning to moderate growth shortly thereafter, reaching $406.3 million by 2014/15. Activity in WA has been abnormally strong in recent years as a result of work on the $2 billion Fiona Stanley Hospital.

• Thanks to work on the Royal Hobart Hospital, activity in Tasmania is expected to hit $74.7 million during the next financial year – up more than threefold on the $21.9 million recorded in 2009/10.

St Kilda Triangle Proposal Back on Agenda

Filed under: Victorian Projects 2011 — Tags: , , — tom @ 10:43 pm

A LEANER, greener proposal to redevelop the 1.5-hectare St Kilda Triangle site should be unveiled by next year – allowing construction to start soon after.

The City of Port Phillip, which includes many new councilors elected on the back of protesting a controversial 2007 proposal – has started a community consultation program designed to create a new vision for the blue ribbon asset, next door to the Palais Theatre, opposite St Kilda Beach.

Its recently released Toward a Shared Vision document summarises feedback from a public ideas forum held about the redevelopment in June. Amongst the 40 attendees were architects, planners, council staff and members of the Acland and Fitzroy street traders’ associations.

Unchain St Kilda – the community group that failed to stop the 2007 proposal dubbed by critics as Chadstone Shopping Centre by the Sea was also represented at the forum.

Various new ideas discussed for the site include sinking car parking underground, creating a new public square and re-engineering Jacka Boulevard, which was described as “a physical barrier for everyone”. The poor connection between The Esplanade and foreshore was also discussed.

Building new entertainment structures or a new arts-based community were also brainstormed, as was a “heritage-themed” option that would aim to retain the Palais as the dominant building in the area.

Council said engaging the theatre with the Triangle site is a priority. In late 2010 the state government announced a $2.5 million restoration of the Palais. Council also said climate change impacts would be factored highly in any design outcomes for the site bound by Jacka Boulevard, The Esplanade and Cavell Avenue.

The St Kilda Triangle redevelopment was one of Melbourne’s highest profile disputes eventually costing many councilors their former seats, amongst them Janet Cribbes, a former Mayor, and Dick Gross, who was president of the Municipal Association of Victoria.

A consortium led by Sydney-based Citta Property Group was awarded the tender to build a mixed use commercial village in mid-2007, but various factors surrounding the economic downturn meant construction didn’t start before the next council elections.

Incoming councilors scuttled the project in December 2009 paying $5 million compensation to Citta which reportedly invested $12 million on its scheme.

An Ombudsman report regarding the contentious 2007 approval, released in June 2010 found the former council kept poor record, and did not identify conflicts of interests. The report questioned whether the former council had the expertise to manage the tender process.

September 21, 2011

VCCC Preferred Consortium Negotiates Contract

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , — tom @ 3:36 am

Progress on the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (7 September 2011)

Planning for the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) has progressed, with a decision being made by the Victorian Government to enter into an Exclusive Negotiation Phase (ENP) with the currently first-ranked tender Respondent. This decision has been communicated to all three Respondent Groups.

Appointment of the Preferred Bidder has not yet taken place, and as such the Victorian Government has reserved the right to open up (if necessary) the exclusive negotiation to include one or more of the other Respondents to the public tender.

The VCCC project therefore remains under tender until the contract has been awarded, after which time a public announcement of the tender outcome will occur. Details of the tender, including the structured ENP, are confidential.

Construction of the VCCC, on the site of the former Dental Hospital in Parkville, is scheduled to commence following the appointment of a preferred bidder and to be completed by the end of 2015.

The VCCC aspires to be among the best comprehensive cancer centres in the world through the collaboration of recognised leaders in cancer research, treatment and care.

It will be the new home for a relocated Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and will link with existing cancer services at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, the Royal Women’s Hospital and the Royal Children’s Hospital, allowing all patients access to the best services and facilities.

The Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre project is jointly funded by the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments with contributions also from philanthropic donations and the sale of surplus land.

Is it really 20 years since the Southern Stand was built?

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , — tom @ 2:08 am

WORK to refurbish the MCG’s Great Southern Stand will begin immediately after the AFL Grand Final is completed.

The $55 million project will include a new ticketing system to get fans into the ground faster, as well as plasma TVs, new function rooms, and improved food outlets and toilets in the 20-year-old stand.

The facelift is intended to raise the standard of “the people’s stand” to those of the newer Northern Stand, with an emphasis on open light spaces and improved entries at gates four, five, six and seven.

A 500-seat function room will be created on the southern side of the MCG, although the construction will have a “minimal impact” on the Boxing Day Test as well as other cricket matches at the ground, according to MCC chief executive Stephen Gough.

The state government is chipping in $30 million for the project along with $25 million from the MCC to allow the entire stand can be upgraded.

Multi-Res Construction to Bounce Back in 2012/13

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , — tom @ 1:55 am

After subdued conditions in 2011/12, construction activity in the multi-residential sector in Australia is set to bounce back in 2012/13.

Despite weak conditions in the broader residential market, the multi-res sector has been experiencing strong levels of activity over recent years. In 2010/11, Housing Industry Association (HIA) puts the number of multi-residential dwelling starts at 57,790 – higher than at any other time over the past eight years (see chart below). Also, over the twelve months to March, figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) indicate that the value of work done in the sector grew 20.83% to come in at $13.615 billion.

For the moment however, conditions have turned ugly. The latest Performance of Construction Index report (PCI), published by HIA and Australian Industry Group (AIG) earlier this month, indicated that apartment building activity declined again in July. The apartment building sub-index registered 34.9, a slight improvement on the June figure (33.7) but still a significant contraction in activity (any reading below 50 indicates a decline in activity during the month in question).

Going forward, near term indicators are not encouraging. New orders for apartments, according to the PCI, have been in decline for eighteen months in a row, and declined in June and July at a faster rate than any other time in the past two years. In the six months to June, the value of flats, units and townhouses approved ($5.718 billion) was up on the same period last year ($5.647 billion), according to ABS figures – but not by much. Moreover, at $12,578 billion the total value of multi-residential dwellings approved over the twelve months to June was less than the current value of building activity, meaning that new work is not quite coming in as fast as existing work is being done.

Not surprisingly then, forecasters are not optimistic about near term prospects. In 2011/12, HIA sees the number of dwelling starts in the sector dropping back to 49,320 – down 14.66 per cent from 2012/11 but still well above lows of 39,190 experienced in 2008/09. The Construction Forecasting Council (CFC), too, sees the value of work done easing back by 3.3 per cent to $13.176 billion in the twelve months to March next year.

Beyond that however, activity looks set to pick up from mid next year as projects such as The Landing in Gosford ($1 billion) get going. In 2012/13, HIA expects the number of starts to bounce back to 54,890. In the same year, the CFC expects the value of work done to reach $15.479 billion. Beyond that, the CFC is optimistic, expecting activity to reach $17.860 billion by 2014/15.

New South Wales/Queensland to lead the recovery
New South Wales is expected to lead the anticipated recovery.

In significant statewide developments, according to HIA forecasts:

• The number of starts in New South Wales will increase from 15,430 to 15,750 in 2011/12 before surging to 18,380 in 2012/13 once projects like The Landing and a mixed use redevelopment of Penrith Panthers’ landholdings ($800 million) get into full swing.

• After strong activity in 2010/11, the number of starts in Victoria is set to drop back from 22,690 to 16,070 this year before recovering mildly to 16,590 in 2012/13.

• In Queensland, after dropping back from 9,310 to 8,900 in 2011/12, the number of starts is expected to bounce back to 9,950 in 2012/13.

• Flat conditions are expected for South Australia, where the number of starts is set to ease back from 2,560 to 2,430 this year before rising again to 2,520 in 2012/13.

• Western Australia is expecting a strong rebound, with the number of starts reaching 4,400 in 2012/13 after contracting from 3,650 to 3,450 in 2011/12.

• Subdued conditions are expected in Tasmania, with the number of starts dropping back from 820 to 640 in 2011/12 before rising back to 710 the following year.

September 15, 2011

Melbourne Wins Big at Master Builders Awards

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — tom @ 4:49 am

AAMI Park Melbourne

Melbourne has yet again proven its industry excellence at the 2011 Master Builders Excellence in Construction Awards. While many of the night’s big winners were obvious favourites, lesser known projects stole the show, proving that the city’s industry only has further to grow.

The awards are judged by a range of top industry associates including members from the Royal Australian Institute of Architects, Engineers Australia and the Master Builders Association. The judging is varied and project winners are awarded in different categories according to their strongest features.

Not surprisingly, the overall winners were Grocon for their AAMI Park development scoring the top Master Builder of the Year award. The highly acclaimed 30,000 seat sporting stadium was designed by Cox Architecture and completed in 2010. While the project is host to a barrage of design and construction intricacies, it is the lightweight bio-frame roof that separates it from traditional stadiums worldwide.

Another big winner included McCorkell Constructions who took home the title of Excellence in Construction of Commercial Buildings $10 million to $12.5 million for their work on the State Library of Victoria’s ’Wheeler Centre’ development, designed by peckvonhartel and architects Ancher/Mortlock/Wooley the development was officially opened in 2010. The southern wing of the city library was completely redeveloped into the Wheeler Centre as part of Melbourne’s “City of Literature” initiative, the construction team using great skill and expertise in order to blend the addition with the original historical building.

Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication at Monash University Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication Lab

Tertiary and research institutions were a common theme as winners on the night included: the Melbourne Brain Centre and the Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication at Monash University Science Research Park Clayton, both constructed by Cockram Construction Limited; the Monash School of Rural Health by Joss Constructions; and the Swinburne University ATC Hawthorn, constructed by Kane Constructions, all taking home the top wins in their respective categories.

The latter project by Kane Constructions took home the prize for Excellence in Construction of Commercial Buildings $30 million to $80 million, with their $75 million research and learning centre development. In association with H20 Architects and Waterman AHW Consultants, the construction team were able a complete the world class facility that boasts state of the art interiors and an iconic white circular patterned façade. Due to this striking design the project and construction team were also the proud winners of the Australian Institute of Architecture’s award for Public Architecture.

Additional winners included Upgrade Commercial Interiors for the Myer Melbourne Redevelopment, FDC Construction & Fitout for their OPSM Eye Hub fitout and of course Grocon’s carbon-neutral Pixel building, which unsurprisingly took home the award for Best Sustainable Energy Project.

The 2011 Master Builders Excellence in Construction Awards has set a benchmark that can only offer to promote positive growth and excellence on an industry level. Next year’s competing projects will have to reach an incredibly high standard in order to wow the judges of this year’s competition.

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