Nick Campion

Preferred bidder named for #Australia’s T2D project A consortium of John Holland, Bouygues Construction, Arcadis Australia, Jacobs and Ventia has been selected as the preferred alliance partner for Australia’s Torrens to Darlington (T2D) project. More than half of the 10.5km T2D will be tunnels The T2D Project is the final 10.5km section of the North-South Corridor, and will complete 78km of non-stop, traffic light-free motorway between Gawler and Old Noarlunga. It comprises twin three-lane tunnels, lowered and ground-level motorways, as well as overpasses and underpasses and upgrades at key intersections. More than half of the project will be tunnels. The consortium plans to procure three TBMs, instead of the two previously anticipated – which will mean both north and south tunnels can be constructed concurrently. The additional TBM will speed up construction so the project so the project could be completed earlier than the stated 2031 deadline. The consortium has also proposed plans for “innovative tunnel portal arrangements” that enable improved and lowered motorway sections with faster construction times and reduced costs; improved tunnel design and shorter cut and cover tunnel sections to reduce energy use and costs, and minimise impacts to local communities; and innovation for the construction of tunnel cross passages, and other systems elements of the tunnels. Main construction works on what is the biggest infrastructure project in South Australia’s history, are proposed to start in 2025, with TBM works for the southern tunnels planned to begin in the second half of 2026. https://lnkd.in/eKNsB2es

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Couldn't agree more, the need for High Speed rail (at least Faster Rail). For too long we have kicked this can down the road for a future government to solve. And the result of inaction has been living with 19th century transport commute times, in the 21st century. Did you know the current rail trip between Gosford and Sydney is at a paltry average of ~58km/h, in carriages built over 30 years ago. This type of service will always incentivise car travel.... or no travel. Yes, there are engineering and topography challenges. Yes there are financing and budget constraints. All good arguments for careful and innovative planning. But they are not good arguments for not doing anything. Not in today's world with today's technologies and PPP financing structures, among the many other innovative techniques being used throughout the world for faster rail travel. Providing the future generation (our children and children yet to be born), an opportunity to access the economic and service powerhouses that stem from capital cities, to and from regional areas, will be one of the defining make or break actions that support our urban growth and expansion in sustainable ways. Over to you Federal Government. https://lnkd.in/dPt7CcPf

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𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱. Feedback on NSW Transport Impact Assessment Guidelines closes today at 5pm. At 165 pages, it's a lot to work through if you haven't already started! Having written hundreds of TIAs over the years, my key recommendation is: > Stop prioritising traffic growth due to undefinable development over and above known development that is proposed now. > Then set clear responsibilities as to who mitigates what, and when. This mistake is repeated across TIA guidance (nearly) everywhere. It delays and restricts development, and it needs to stop. I say nearly - the UK stopped doing this for national highways in or around 2010. Victoria stopped doing this at least as far back as 2006. Other thoughts: > local or state guidance should provide examples of what developers can expect in a variety of situations as a model for both developers and approval authorities. > The trip rate information is valuable nationally. If someone put all the data in a structured format and published it, that would be a good thing. > Travel plans need to be enforced to have benefit. By and large, they are not. https://lnkd.in/gfUxTRdk

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Not too late to highlight this insightful opinion piece from Dr. Christopher Standen, here are some excerpts: "the inquiry heard evidence that the traffic forecasting undertaken for the planning application was manipulated to underestimate the volume of surface traffic entering the interchange" "the former Coalition government declared WestConnex and the Rozelle Interchange to be 'State Significant Infrastructure', having quietly changed our planning laws to block legal scrutiny of such projects" "evidence of how the former government misled the public about the purported benefits of the Rozelle Interchange and broader WestConnex scheme" "the government sold off WestConnex at a multibillion-dollar loss. It then spent $4 billion on the Rozelle Interchange before gifting it to WestConnex’s corporate owners" "motorists and businesses will pay an estimated $65 billion in WestConnex tolls over the next 37 years, much of which will be paid by taxpayers through toll subsidies" https://lnkd.in/gmZ2uJYg

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