the building economist - september 2012 - the mega issue

Building Economist

The

THE mEga ISSUE

FEaTURINgREacHINg FoR THE Sky

woRkINg THE boom

NoRTH wEST RaIl lINk

doES SIzE REally maTTER? P10

THE FUTURE oF THE mININg INdUSTRy P19

IS IT THE RIgHT aNSwER FoR SydNEy? P24 SEPTEmbER 2012

THE JoURNal oF THE aUSTRalIaN INSTITUTE oF QUaNTITy SURvEyoRS

The Infinite Value Awards Gala Dinner Awards Presentation CeremonySupported by Brookfield Multiplex

Mark the date in your diary for the Construction Industry event of the year

Thursday 15th November 2012Maia, Docklands, Melbourne VIC

Tickets go on sale Thursday 4th October 9.00am (EST) Visit www.infinitevalueawards.com for more information and to purchase your tickets.

PRINCIPAL PARTNER SPONSORS

Brookfield BM MULTIPLEX ..

WALTON' COVERFORCE

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~ BWESCOPE

snEL

SEPT 2012c o N T E N T S

Building Economist

The

REgUlaRSContributions Articles relevant to construction economics and related subjects, pictorial material, letters etc are welcome. No responsibility is accepted for unsolicited material. All contributions should be addressed to the editor: Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, National Office, Level 6, 65 York Street, Sydney NSW 2000.

Tel: (02) 9262 1822 Fax: (02) 9279 1400 Email: [email protected] www.buildingeconomist.com.au

The Institute does not, as a body, hold itself responsible for statements made and opinions expressed in this Journal. All rights of translation and reproduction are reserved.

Subscriptions Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, National Office, Level 6, 65 York Street,Sydney NSW 2000.

Tel: (02) 9262 1822 Fax (02) 9279 1400

Published quarterly $110.00 (including GST) annual subscription (Airmail rates on request). Visit our website www.aiqs.com.au and order your annual subscription online.

Circulation Over 4,500 copies

General and Advertising Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, National Office, Level 6, 65 York Street,Sydney NSW 2000.

Tel: (02) 9262 1822 Fax (02) 9279 1400 Email: [email protected]

Artwork as a PDF is preferred.

ISSN 0007-3431

Designed and printed for the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (ACN 008 485 809) by Nose to Tail Pty Ltd

Managing Editor Jenna Harfield

Executive Editor Emma Marshall

Art Director Julian Brown - Nose to Tail

Chief Executive Officer Michael Manikas

Cover: 1 Bligh, Sydney. Architect: Architectus and Ingenhoven QS: Rider Levett Bucknall

INSIgHT REacHINg FoR THE Sky


IS mININg THE SavIoUR?

woRkINg THE boom

1024

1619The cultural phenomenon of keeping up with the Jones is worldwide and is highlighted by the need to have the title of worlds tallest building. More and more buildings are reaching unprecedented heights

but is there such a thing as too tall?

Emma Marshall investigates whether

size really does matter when it comes

to building up.

The chequered history of the proposed

rail link to Sydneys north western

suburbs mirrors that of the citys wider

struggle to solve its transport woes.

It is a history littered with the failure

of government to deliver solutions to

increasingly congested roads and an

inadequate public transport network.

Lynne Blundell investigates.

Is there a massive skill shortage in

the mining and resources industry?

Has this industry saved Australia

from a recession? Adam Walker

explores the sector that has put

Australia on the map.

Bonnie Rando Leys chats to some of

the faces behind the mining industry

to discover what it is really like to

work the boom and what the future

holds for one of Australias most

profitable industries.

02 0708

3530

SNaP SHoT

FRom THE cEo

NUTS & bolTS

bUIldINg coST INdEX

SocIal

32 QS kIT

tHE Building Economist sEptEmBEr 2012 1

snApsHot

mElboURNE NamEd moST lIvEablE cITyPerfect scores for infrastructure, education and healthcare have helped Melbourne hang on to the title of the worlds most liveable city for

the second year in a row.

The survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit put

the Australian city above 140 others, with Vienna

taking second place.

The Economist Intelligence Units liveability rating

quantifies the challenges that might be presented

to an individuals lifestyle and each city is assigned

a score for over 30 qualitative and quantitative

factors across five broad categories stability,

healthcare, culture and environment, education,

and infrastructure.

2 tHE Building Economist sEptEmBEr 2012

snApsHot

A funding agreement between the federal and Northern Territory

governments has enabled the planning work on the final stage of the

largest ever road construction project in the Northern Territory.

The construction work on widening a 12-kilometre section of

Tiger Brennan Drive between Berrimah Road and the Darwin

CBD will begin next year, with the federal government stumping

up $70 million for the project while the territory government will

contribute the remaining $33 million.

Referring to the federal investment as a vote of confidence in the

territorys future, federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese

says completion of the fourth and final stage will reduce congestion

and travel times between Darwin and Palmerston, and provide

better access to the port.

Building surveyor firm EC Harris Built Asset Consultancy has

ranked Australia as the third costliest nation for building and

construction in its 2012 International Construction Costs report

behind Switzerland and Denmark.

Moving up the list from last years fifth position, the change is

partially due to large-scale cost blowouts in resource projects,

and that both wages and input costs have risen every month for

at least the past two years, reflecting the trends in the broader

global economy.

Outside of economic factors, the report indicates another significant

issue impacting cost rankings was the need to respond to natural

disasters. Costs in Australia, New Zealand and Japan rose by

13 per cent, seven per cent and 20 per cent respectively following

the devastation caused by earthquakes, tsunamis and major floods.

View the full report at echarris.com/publications

FINal STagE oF NTS bIggEST Road coNSTRUcTIoN To STaRT

coNSTRUcTIoN coSTS IN aUSTRalIa THIRd HIgHEST IN THE woRld

Australias Monash University has short listed five firms in a

competition to design a $150m Law, Business, and Economics

Complex at the Universitys Caulfield campus. The five finalists,

drawn from nearly 40 submissions, are ARM Architecture, Denton

Corker Marshall, OMA and Donovan Hill, Grimshaw Architects

with NMBW and Kerstin Thompson Architects, and McBride

Charles Ryan.

Submissions were assessed against the selection criteria, which

included the demonstration of high-quality building and urban

design, the delivery of high levels of functionality and environmental

sustainability, and sound project management and practice

resourcing. A winner will be announced in October.

According to the UAE Government, work on Dubais first green

building in the public sector is near complete. Housing the Dubai

Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), the building takes up

around 340,000 square feet and is equipped with high efficiency

insulation features and smart building systems.

With the ability to generate 600kW of electricity using solar power,

a water saving of up to 45 per cent by recycling the buildings

sewerage water, and a 50 per cent energy saving through the use

of LED lighting, the building aims to raise the profile of green

buildings in a luxury city.

moNaSH UNIvERSITy dowN To FIvE

dUbaIS FIRST gREEN bUIldINg NEaR comPlETIoN


Rice Daubney and Woods Bagot have

announced that they will jointly tackle

masterplanning, architecture and interior

design services for Defence projects set to

cost over $100 million. The joint venture

aims to provide a greater access to key

resources such as specialist staff and

technology.

When two firms of this calibre work

together it is not just the client who

benefits from the combined experience

but there are things to be learned from

one another in order to build upon our

own knowledge of the defence field, said

Graeme Smith, Principal, Rice Daubney

recently.

Both Woods Bagot and Rice Daubney

have worked in collaboration with other

practices on major facilities such as in

health projects, convention centres, retail

projects, but this is their first foray in to the

area of defence.

RIcE daUbNEy & woodS bagoT JoINS FoRcES FoR dEFENcE PRoJEcT

snApsHot

in BriEF

bHP PoSTPoNES olymPIc dam EXPaNSIoNAround 6,000 construction jobs, 4,000 ongoing jobs and 15,000 indirect jobs have been affected by the recently

announced postponement of BHP Billitons

proposed $US30 billion expansion of the

Olympic Dam open pit in South Australia.

The company says, however, that the

postponement does not mark the end

of the project, and BHP Billiton adds

they will investigate an alternative, less

capital-intensive solution involving new

technologies to substantially improve the

economics of the project.

Abigroup, in partnership with Western

Australias Department of Indigenous

Affairs, the David Wirrpanda Foundation,

RMS, Ochre Personel and GLH, have

launched a new initiative that will

provide end-to-end training, support and

employment opportunities for indigenous

individuals in the Pilbara.

Meaning go forward in the Aboriginal

Noongar language, Kwadjet Koorl will

recruit, train and provide support to

around 20 trainees across diverse roles

in the construction industry each year

ranging from plant operators to business

administration personnel.

Abigroups participation in the initiative

includes on-site training and supervision

for the participants as well as the

opportunity for on-going employment when

the program is completed.

abIgRoUP JoINS FoRcES To laUNcH kwadJET kool


Australian architects BVN are showing

just what Australia can do, recently taking

home five International Architecture

Awards in just one month.

The BVN designed Monash Student

Housing complex at the Clayton campus

of Monash University was the only

Australian building to receive a prestigious

International Architecture Award when the

Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)

recently announced the winning projects

in their 2012 International Award program.

The Brain and Mind Research Institute

(BMRI) in Sydney and the Puckapunyal

Military Area Memorial Chapel in

Puckapunyal, Victoria were announced as

winners at the awards conducted by the

Chicago Athenaeum and The European

Centre for Architecture Art Design and

Urban Studies.

In addition BVNs Robina Hospital

Expansion was awarded two Design and

Health International Academy Award High

Commendations, one for interior design

and the other for sustainable architecture

at the Design and Health World Congress in

Kuala Lumpur.

Mr James Grose, BVN National Director,

noted It is a tremendous confidence

booster for Australian architects, to have

Australian designs being recognised at the

highest levels internationally.

bvN wINNINg INTERNaTIoNal awaRdS

snApsHot

in BriEF

UNIvERSITy oF kENTUcky oPEN NEw lEEd gold bUIldINgA LEED Gold energy research building at The University of Kentucky has been declared open. The 43,000 sq ft volume was

funded by $US11.8million in federal funds,

$US3.5million from the Commonwealth

of Kentucky, $US1.9million from the

University itself and $US3.5million from the

Department of Energy Development and

Independence to ensure that sustainable

design features were incorporated into the

concept.

As well as providing a base for research

into renewable energy, the design is highly

sustainable, with an exterior and roof with

twice the amount of insulation normally

used and windows with a nanogel material

that diffuses sunlight and provides the same

insulation as brick walls.

Home sweet HomeMonash University Student Housing complex, Clayton


Conduit Recruitment - The Preferred Choice Conduit Recruitment are the preferred recruitment agency for the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors and the NSW Master Builders Association. In partnership with these organisations we provide:

Recruitmentservicestobuilders,consultantsanddevelopersseeourwebsiteforoursectorsandstrengths

AdviceonrecruitmentmattersandHRsolutionswithintheconstructionindustry

SalarysurveyswithinNSW-2012salarysurveytobereleasedsoon

SponsorshipofvariouseventsincludingAIQSAnnualDinners,AIQSCPDEvents,theNSWMBAExcellenceinConstruction&ApprenticeAwards,NSWMBAExcellenceinHousingAwardsandmanyothers

SeminarsonreleventindustryissuessuchasOH&S,StaffRetention,RecruitmentStrategies,EmergingTrends,EconomicForecastsetc

For further information on our services or any sort of advice please call us we are here to help. Ask for Adam Walker or Greg Ford.

For all our current vacancies see our website www.conduitgroup.com.au

Call: 02 9929 7224 [email protected]

efficientproductiveconduit

May 2012 Ad_FINAL.indd 1 16/05/12 3:32 PM

Master Builders Association NEW SOUTH WALES

Is big always better? Well at the moment it seems that big projects in particular in the infrastructure and

resources sectors are the only thing

keeping the global economy afloat.

This is generally only due to the fact that

China has maintained GDP growth around

10% since it dropped from its recent peak

in 2007 of 14.2%. For Australia that has

meant that our economy is being buoyed

by the continued strong growth in China.

China is Australias No.1 export market

with approximately 27% of all exports

heading to China. The main goods being

exported to China are Iron Ore and Coal.

Similarly many other resource- rich

nations have a strong economy backed

by exports to countries such as China.

The USAs main exports to China are

Food, Electronics and Transportation

Equipment, but these items have not been

strong enough to soften the crash of their

economy over the last few years.

These mega projects have brought with

them some inequality into the global

markets in relation to the cost to build as

well as the cost of skilled labour. Many

countries are suffering from a two or

more speed economy. There is a strong

infrastructure and/or resource sector but

other traditional building sectors such

as commercial, residential, retail and

industrial are struggling to make projects

stack up. Labour costs and wages in the

mining sector are pushing up wages in the

other sectors but this growth is currently

unsustainable. Similarly the demand on

materials in this sector is also pushing up

material prices for traditional projects.

The main issue with this is that residential

prices are flat or falling as well as office

rents and retail rents. Therefore the income

for the developer is falling and the costs

are still rising.

This situation is forcing builders to submit

tenders with extremely low margins to

try and get projects off the ground, which

in turn increases the risk of further

subcontractor and head contractor

insolvencies.

The AIQS belIeveS IT IS The rIghT TImIng for CoAg To AnnounCe

They Are ConduCTIng A revIew on ConSTruCTIon CoSTS And produCTIvITy

And hopefully by The ConTInued lobbyIng by The AIQS we wIll hAve A QuAnTITy Surveyor AS

one of The Three people SeleCTed for ThIS pAnel.

The fact that non resource based projects

are not as buoyant as the resource sector is

even more of a reason for clients to ensure

they use the services of an AIQS Quantity

Surveyor. Best value for the client needs to

be a top priority to make the project stack

up. This can only be achieved by in depth

involvement of the Quantity Surveyor from

the inception of the project brief.

Some councils choose to create their own

version of Gross Floor Area (GFA) in lieu

of that mandated by the AIQS. If a developer

chooses to carry out early estimates based

on rates out of Rawlinsons, or some other

cost guide that refers to the true GFA of

a project but then use the rate against

an alternate version of GFA created by a

local council, they may find themselves in

a situation where they have excluded any

allowance for basement car parking or

areas excluded from the council version of

GFA. Costs guides can be useful resources

but can also be very dangerous in the

hands of the uneducated.

This is why the AIQS have been lobbying

all the state and territory governments on

the importance of the Quantity Surveyors

role in achieving the best value in a project

whether it is a government or private

client. We have also been highlighting the

ways in which a Quantity Surveyor can

reduce the risk on a project and create a

more certain outcome.

Based on the rich and diverse projects and

professionals that have come through the

nomination process for the Infinite Value

Awards, it is clear to see that our members

have been adding value to some of the

countrys most impressive projects and

builds. Its about time, therefore, that we

give QS the voice they deserve.

Regards,

Michael Manikas

Chef Executive Officer

THE mEga ISSUE

From tHE cEo


nuts And Bolts

TallEST bUIldINgS IN aUSTRalIa

TallEST bUIldINgS IN THE woRld

This graph shows Australias tallest buildings in comparison to the

worlds tallest buildings. There is no absolute definition of what

constitutes a tall building. The Council of Tall Buildings and Urban

Habitats (CTBUH) uses three categories to classify what is tall:

height relative to context, proportion, and tall building technologies.

aUSTRalIaN Tall bUIldINgS vERSUS THE woRldS

120 COLLInS STREETLocation Melbourne

Completion 1991

Height 265m

Storeys 52

EUREkA TOWERLocation Melbourne

Completion 2006

Height 297m

Storeys 92

Q1Location Gold Coast

Completion 2005

Height 323m

Storeys 78

TAIpEI 101Location Taipei, Taiwan

Completion 2004

Height 509m

Storeys 101


coNTINENTS wITH THE moST SkyScRaPERS

ToP 10 cITIES wITH THE moST SkyScRaPERS

MAkkAH ROyAL CLOCk TOWER HOTELLocation Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Completion 2012

Height 601m

Storeys 120

BURj kHALIfALocation Dubai, UAE

Completion 2010

Height 828m

Storeys 163

1,22

4

569

344

282

236

229

155

134

123

120

HOnG KOnG

nEw YOrK CITY

TOKYO

CHICAGO

DUBAI

SHAnGHAI

TOrOnTO

SInGAPOrE

BAnGKOK

SEOUL

800

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

AfRICA

83 [ 1% ]

EUROpE

554 [ 7% ]

SOUTH AMERICA

300 [ 4% ]

OCEAnIA

299 [ 4% ]

ASIA

4,245 [ 52%]

nORTH AMERICA

2,653 [ 33% ]


insigHt

REacHINg FoR THE Sky


THE cUlTURal PHENomENoN oF kEEPINg UP wITH THE JoNES IS woRldwIdE aNd IS HIgHlIgHTEd by THE NEEd To HavE THE TITlE oF woRldS TallEST bUIldINg. moRE aNd moRE bUIldINgS aRE REacHINg UNPREcEdENTEd HEIgHTS bUT IS THERE SUcH a THINg aS Too Tall? Emma maRSHall INvESTIgaTES wHETHER SIzE REally doES maTTER wHEN IT comES To bUIldINg UP.

REacHINg FoR THE Sky


In downtown Dubai the worlds tallest building, Burj Khalifa, stands at an impressive 828 metres (2,716 feet)

and more than 160 stories tall. It is a

world record holder from the tallest

free-standing structure in the world and

highest number of stories, to the highest

outdoor observation deck in the world

as well as the elevator with the longest

travel distance needless to say it now

stands as the one to beat.

Is it really a competition? It seems to be.

Look around the world and find numerous

buildings springing up and reaching

new heights previously believed to be

impossible. In fact, the competition is so

fierce that there is even a debate in what

constitutes a tall building.

Take the composition of the One

world Trade Centre, currently under

construction to replace the world Trade

Centre that was destroyed in the terrorist

attacks on September 11th. There are

some who will say that once finished, it

will be the tallest building in the U.S and

third tallest in the world, but only if you

count the 408 foot tall needle that will sit

on top of the tower. If you dont, then it will

have to settle for second place behind the

willis Tower in Chicago.

There is no absolute definition of what

constitutes a tall building. The Council

of Tall Buildings and Urban Habitats

(CTBUH) uses three categories to

classify what is tall: height relative to

context, proportion, and tall building

technologies.

Height relative to context focuses on

the perspective of the building to its

surrounding areas, whilst proportion

considers the height of the building in

comparison to its floor area. Finally,

if a building contains technologies

such as structural wind bracing that

are attributed to tall buildings, then

this building can be classed as a tall

building.

now great heights are being achieved

within the built environment, with

more and more buildings reaching

in excess of 800 metres (2,600

feet) and grabbing the label of

supertall, but is there such a

thing as too tall?

insigHt

Petronas Towers, Malaysia


Credit: Gensle

Shanghai Tower, China

According to the recent recipient of the

CTBUH Awards Fazlur r. Khan Lifetime

Achievement Medal, richard Tomasetti,

(Consultant and Founding Principal of

Thornton Tomasetti), tallness is in the

eye of the beholder. As the structural

engineer behind some of the worlds

tallest buildings including Taiwans

Taipei 101, the world Financial Centre

in new York, Plaza 66 in Shanghai, and

Malaysias Petronas Towers, he does not

believe that restrictions need to be placed

on how tall we can go.

The tallest building currently being

designed is the 1,000 meter Kingdom

tower in Jeddah, by Adrian Smith+Gordon

Gill Architects and Thornton Tomasetti

as structural engineers. Structurally we

could still go somewhat higher. But lets

remember that limitations are a function

of time, dependant on current knowledge

and materials. Todays limitations may be

tomorrows starting points.

However, limitations do present

themselves in the form of restrictions

from local zoning regulations.

A lesson learnt by another winner

at the 2012 CTBUH Awards, 1 Bligh

in Sydney, created in partnership

between DEXUS Property Group,

DEXUS wholesale Property Fund

and Cbus Property. named the

regional winner of best tall

building the first in Australia

1 Bligh was restricted from going

taller by the protection of some

public spaces in Sydney from

overshadowing.

The CompeTITIon IS So fIerCe ThAT

There IS even A debATe In whAT ConSTITuTeS A TAll buIldIng.


So building up makes economic sense.

with space in major cities getting tight

and increasing the urban land costs, as

well as the knock on effect of attracting

large tenants, the dollars stack up. with

more and more tall buildings popping up,

and the competition for the worlds tallest

building heating up, is it all for economic

gain or is ego involved?

Typically you can justify building up to

60 to 70 story buildings on economic

analysis alone. Above that usually

requires some other reasons, says

Mr Tomasetti. Development reasons

to bring attention to a city and attract

commerce and tourists; and ego!

Looking at the latest tall building,

The Shard in London, it is a fine

balance between so called ego and

the attraction of commerce. now the

tallest building in western Europe,

standing at 310 metres (1,016 feet), its

95 stories - comprising of office space,

residences, restaurants, a five star hotel

and a viewing gallery have already been

labelled an icon.

insigHt

whilst planning controls determine

maximum height, they also

determine maximum area, and Tony

Gulliver, regional General Manager,

Developments at DEXUS recognises this

as just as important.

Land in the core of CBDs is a very

valuable commodity, Tony tells BE.

Tall buildings respond to the need

of maximizing the income that can be

derived from a piece of land in prime

locations. Certain large tenants want to

be in the core of a CBD and tall buildings

are the result.

wITh more And more TAll buIldIngS poppIng up, And The CompeTITIon for The worldS TAlleST buIldIng

heATIng up, IS IT All for eConomIC gAIn or IS ego Involved?

1 Bligh Street, Sydney

1 Bligh Street, Sydney


Tall bUIldINgS RESPoNd To THE NEEd oF maXImIzINg THE INcomE THaT caN bE dERIvEd FRom a PIEcE oF laNd IN PRImE locaTIoNS. cERTaIN laRgE TENaNTS waNT To bE IN THE coRE oF a cbd aNd Tall bUIldINgS aRE THE RESUlT

with these sort of challenges facing

them, it is no surprise that many of the

impressive tall buildings changing the

landscape of cities all over the world

are a culmination of years of design and

construction. whilst The Shard was a 12

year journey, 1 Bligh was the result of ten

plus years hard work.

Tony Gulliver recognises that 1 Bligh was

a difficult build and took a substantial

amount of time and planning, involving

a design competition and a focus to

push the boundaries of sustainability.

All competition entries had to provide

a robust and viable cost plan, and the

projects Quantity Surveyor had to check

compliance with the established budget

parameters.

However, he also believes that it has set

a new benchmark for premium quality

CBD office space in Australia and even

the world!

And that is what it is all about. Setting

a new benchmark that the rest of the

world can admire and drive an industry

to keep moving forward and up. when it

is completed in 2018, Kingdom Tower in

Jeddah will become the tallest building

in the world and once again shake the

foundations of an evolving sector.

what does the future of the tall building

look like? well, it definitely hasnt peaked.

Speaking at the inauguration of The

Shard on 5 July 2012, current Mayor of

London Boris Johnson called the building

a towering illustration of Londons

determination to beat the recession

and spur economic growth ... a huge

commercial magnet, pulling in scores

of new businesses and offering vital

employment opportunities for thousands

of people.

Maybe a little bit of ego is needed to build

up. whilst it might make financial sense,

it is also not without big challenges. From

cross wind accelerations causing the

uncomfortable perceptibility of motion for

its residents, to the dynamic behaviour of

elevators and creep and shrinkage effects

for concrete and mixed construction, the

list of challenges can seem endless.

In spite of this, engineers and architects

are working together to overcome

these possible setbacks. One of the

best examples of this is the 632 metre

Shanghai Tower. To minimise the dynamic

effects of wind the shape of the building

was tuned and this tapering, twisting

shape reduces crosswind overturning

moments by 60% compared to an

equivalent prismatic box tower design.

Its also about building down. The

foundations of the fifth tallest building in

the world Petronas Towers in Malaysia

are 30 percent of the total height of the

building to overcome the predicament

of constructing on a non rock type of

soil conditions.


IS There A mASSIve SkIll ShorTAge In The mInIng And reSourCeS InduSTry? hAS ThIS InduSTry SAved AuSTrAlIA from A reCeSSIon? AdAm wAlker exploreS The SeCTor ThAT hAS puT AuSTrAlIA on The mAp.

IS mININg THE SavIoUR?

offsHore gas platformSunrise over an offshore platform, off the north west Shelf


There is no doubt that the resource industry is a big part of Australias GDP and it is what we are known for. Put in simple terms, other countries want our stuff, especially China. Despite

all of its media attention, however, the mining industry on its own

doesnt actually employ that many people. Is the so-called mining

boom nothing more than hot air and if so, what does that mean for

the wider construction community? Well, if you consider the below

data, mining clearly does not rate highly in the grander scheme of

employment in Australia:

In fact its position is somewhere down toward the bottom of the

list. It must be said, however, that these figures dont take into

account the people employed by the companies that support

the mining organisations like; EPCM contractors, consultants

and project management companies, but still as an industry the

people pull is small.

That does change, however, when you include all the support

companies, the supply companies, and the industries that grow as

a result of the mining profits (such as the real estate and developer

businesses in WA and QLD, for example). When you take into

consideration all the flow on scenarios, including the infrastructure

that grows around the projects, then the employment picture is

actually pretty substantial.

The point is that on its own mining doesnt employ that many

people but as an economy generator and economy supporter, it

does. In fact on the recruitment website, seek.com.au a significant

20-30% of all the jobs advertised are related to the mining, resource

and associated industries. The trickledown effect, it seems, is what

makes this sector such an influential one.

Our biggest employers:

HEALTH AnD CARE: 1.2 million

RETAIL TRADE: 1.18 million

COnSTRUCTIOn: 1.0 million

MAnUfACTURInG: 972,000

Our smallest employers:

REAL ESTATE AnD REnTAL: 197,400

ARTS AnD RECREATIOn: 193,400

MInInG AnD ExpLORATIOn: 179,400

ELECTRICITy, WATER & GAS: 136,300


THE SkILL SHORTAGE

Conduit recently spoke to the National HR

Manager of a global EPCM company that

supports many engineering based sectors

including mining in Australia.

On the subject of skill shortages in the

resource sectors he said that it is no

more pronounced than other industries

or other instances in the past, where

quality skilled technical personnel are

required. Its that old adage, good people

are always hard to find. He added that

there are certain professions such as

Project Control Engineers (or Planners as

they are also called) that are particularly

difficult to source, but this is also the case

across other non mining industries, as

these specialist skills are scarce generally.

However, these positions are always

eventually filled as offshore candidates or

candidates from other non mining sectors

can be utilised.

He went on to elaborate that a major factor

affecting the staffing of mine sites was

their remote location. Most of the jobs that

are difficult to source are from the age

groups 32 to 45 and this age demographic

will usually be settled into family life. Not

many people will want to uproot the family

to live in a remote location or commute via

a Fly in and Fly out arrangement (FIFO

for short) which would be just as unsettling

to family life. This is always going to be a

problem as resource sites and projects are

not located near large cities.

Another medium sized mining company

we spoke to commented that more than

60 per cent of the companys 59 staff are

FIFO workers, and added that they will

have to continue attracting staff from

elsewhere in the country to keep pace

with the rapid expansion. That is a very

particular staffing problem as they

consequently have a whole administration

team dedicated to dealing with the

accommodation and flights of the entire

staff base! Once again this demonstrates

the spin offs from the mining expansion

are numerous and GDP generating.

ARE SALARIES HIGHER?

The remote locations are one reason the

salaries are higher within these positions

compared to commensurate positions in

the city. Its got to be worth the hardship.

The hours are much longer; if you are going

to work a 12 hour day non stop for 4 weeks,

with only a week off in between, then you

will want to be well compensated.

This is not to say that salaries in the

mining industry are not at a level above

the building and non mining sectors.

For certain scarce professionals, large

resource companies can afford to pay

salaries above those offered by builders

and consultancies. With certain hard to

find technical positions there is definitely a

large disparity in the potential earnings.

The shortage in these particular

professions drives up the salaries but the

large mining companies can take it to

another level. They cannot afford to NOT

have that person in that seat!

The disparity between mining and building

is also widening because the building

industry is shrinking at the moment. Its

time for another stimulus for the building

industry perhaps!

jOB MARkET DISpARITy

This skill void is apparently being filled

by offshore workers and the government

has been running Skills Australia Needs

job fairs in a dozen countries, including

America, UK, India, China and the

Philippines, since 2005 and pre-screens

applicants to certify theyre qualified

for the job, justifying their visa. Most of

these workers come to Australia via a

temporary skilled migrant program and

would be sponsored by companies. The

government currently is issuing about

90,000 such visas a year, allowing a

worker in for up to four years.

This job market disparity issue should

surely be on the federal governments

radar, we would hope. Surely Australias

mining industry should not fix the

unemployment problems of the world at

the expense of its own population.

The perks and downfalls of Australias

mining profession are well documented and

as an industry its influence on the economy

cannot be ignored. It offers roles that

are diverse, exciting and in many cases,

financially beneficial to the individual, but

like with all things, this does not come

without its drawbacks. Whilst not quite the

saviour it certainly has given the Australian

profile a much needed leg-up, and if there

is anything to be learnt from its model it is

that in the end getting your hands dirty

and hard work always prevail.

on ITS own mInIng doeSnT employ ThAT mAny people buT

AS An eConomy generATor And eConomy SupporTer,

IT doeS.


wITh profITAble ouTpoSTS In Some of The TougheST loCATIonS on The plAneT, AuSTrAlIA IS A mAjor plAyer In The globAl mInerAlS InduSTry. mInIng TheSe mInerAlS hAS kepT ThIS CounTry STAble In whAT Are unSTAble TImeS. be ChATS To Some of The fACeS behInd The mInIng InduSTry To dISCover whAT IT IS reAlly lIke To work The boom And whAT The fuTure holdS for one of AuSTrAlIAS moST profITAble InduSTrIeS.

By Bonnie Rando Leys

woRkINg THE boom


Love it or loathe it mining represents a huge part of Australias identity. Since gold was first discovered in a waterhole near Bathurst, new South wales in 1851, the countrys mineral wealth

has been uncovered in volume. As exploration continues to be

fruitful, it seems Australia truly is the lucky country.

According to the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA), Australia is

the worlds leading producer of iron ore and bauxite; the second

largest producer of alumina, manganese and lead; the third

largest producer of brown coal, zinc, nickel, uranium and gold;

the fourth largest producer of black coal, aluminium and silver;

and the fifth largest producer of tin.

The export of all of these minerals was worth $136 billion to

Australia last financial year, whilst technical innovation has also

placed Australia at the forefront of mining system supply, with

an estimated 60 per cent of the worlds mines operating with

Australian-made and designed software.

now a major pillar of our economy, directly employing 187,400

people in mining projects around Australia, and a further

599,680 in support industries, mining contributes approximately

$18 billion in national wages and salaries, $35.2 billion on new

capital investment, $5.7 billion on exploration and $4.2 billion on

research and development.

with a skills shortage on the horizon, it is predicted the industry

will require an additional 77,500 workers by 2015, including

professionals, managers, tradespeople and operators.

The developing world transformation continues to deliver

sustained demand growth, but capturing this means growing

volumes ... Its widely accepted ... that price declines are more

likely than further price increases. Therefore, delivering new

volumes will be key to capturing the benefits of future demand

growth, notes MCA Chief Executive, Mitchell Hooke.

CreATIng hIghly SkIlled profeSSIonAlS And fuTure

leAderS IS A CrITICAl prIorITy for An InduSTry

wITh So muCh AT STAke.

Creating highly skilled professionals and future leaders is a

critical priority for an industry with so much at stake. The growth

of Australian mining then, is not isolated to the deposits under

the earth, but to the people working to retrieve them. So what it

is like for those who work in mining?

Hard at workDrilling at Binjour, Queensland


WHAT IS THE BEST pART Of yOUR jOB?

We are fortunate that AECOM has a wide

range of projects in Australia and around

the world. One week Ill be in a clients

office in Mongolia, the following week

Ill be putting together a proposal for a

project in Argentina.

Were busy with local mining projects, and

are fortunate that global mining clients

have respect for Australian capability and

so steer expressions of interest here.

WHAT ARE SOME Of THE CHALLEnGES

Of WORkInG In MInInG?

Initially, it was understanding the business

as there are many differences between

mining projects and traditional building

projects. As ever, finding skilled resources

can be hard; recruiting the right Quantity

Surveyor for traditional projects is difficult,

let alone one with a mining background.

WHAT IS THE BEST pIECE Of ADvICE yOU

COULD OffER SOMEOnE WAnTInG TO

GET InTO MInInG?

If you get the chance give it a go, no

matter what your level of experience. Most

companies will be interested in anyone

from grad level onwards. If you put the

effort in, you should see the rewards.

HOW HAvE yOU SEEn THE MInInG

InDUSTRy CHAnGE OvER THE LAST

COUpLE Of yEARS?

Mining top level management seems

to have put a greater emphasis on cost

management, its importance in any

given project and overall the value for

money cost management offers. Most

mining clients are dealing with project

construction costs in the millions and

billions of dollars. Its imperative that

their funding is accurate and managed

professionally. AECOMs traditional

planning and design services provide

a strong foundation of knowledge for

expanding our cost management services

to mining.

HOW DO yOU SEE THE fUTURE Of

MInInG?

Generally, I see mining companies

elevating cost management to a far higher

position and possibly managing projects

for clients. I also see it becoming less

labor intensive. In 1015 years, I see

mining heavily influenced by environmental

management with most top-tier mining

companies having strong environmental

teams as part of core management.

Since James joined AECOM as part of the

Davis Langdon merger, hes been helping

mining clients better manage their costs.

The merger has seen both companies

extend their traditional services with

Davis Langdon expanding into the mining

sector and AECOM clients having access to

Davis Langdons proven cost management

services as part of its integrated offering.

James cost manages a variety of projects in

Australia and abroad. when Davis Langdon

was acquired by AECOM, he was given

the opportunity to work within its mining

business and he hasnt looked back.

In 1015 yeArS, I See mInIng heAvIly InfluenCed by

envIronmenTAl mAnAgemenT wITh moST Top-TIer mInIng CompAnIeS hAvIng STrong

envIronmenTAl TeAmS AS pArT of Core mAnAgemenT.

James sneatHLEAD ESTIMATOR fOR MInInG nSW,

DAvIS LAnGDOn, An AECOM COMpAny


WHAT DOES yOUR jOB EnTAIL?

In my current role I report to the Chairman

and CEO, however I mostly communicate

with the companys geologists and review

projects from an operational viewpoint.

I investigate resources from a mining

perspective, looking at every aspect of

potential operations the operating

and capital costs ... development and

production schedules, [as well as]

manning and supply requirements.

HOW DID yOU GET InTO MInInG?

When I was a high school student my

family took in young men that came

to Broken Hill to gain experience. One

of those chaps spent time with me

explaining all that he thought I needed

to know about geology and the mining

industry in general. I was a bit of an earthy

person anyway. I felt most comfortable

underground.

After graduating as a mining engineer,

I was asked by the company to come up

from underground and join the mining

engineering team in the office. I did

the rounds in order to gain practical

experience in surveying, ventilation, rock

mechanics (geotech), mine planning

(design and scheduling) and assisting and

supporting the Underground Managers

in their roles of running the mine. Then

the time came for me to step into the

Underground Managers role. It was a

steep learning curve.

WHAT DOES THE fUTURE HOLD fOR THE

MInInG InDUSTRy?

Someone once said if you are already

thinking about something then its already

invented. So with society expecting more

of zero harm in industry, then that is

what it will get. With greater innovation

in communications and mechanics I see

less and less exposure to harm than we

have now.

Non-entry methods of mining, along with

a huge advancement in remote mining

technology will be the target. Play Station

scenarios that our kids find so easy and

natural will be the way people will be mining

in the future. All this is with us now but the

crude bits will be knocked off in the future,

to be much more refined.

raised in Broken Hill and surrounded

by out-of-town mining students eager to

break into the industry, Lee has always

been interested in mining. As a child

he built his cubby houses underground,

while friends constructed theirs in trees.

Graduating from Flinders University as a

Mining Engineer in 1978, Lee has worked

in mining for 40 years. During that time he

has seen the industry evolve as he took on

different roles below and above ground.

lee rossettiSpECIAL pROjECTS MAnAGER,

CARpEnTARIA ExpLORATIOn LIMITED


WHAT CHALLEnGES DO yOU fACE

WORkInG In THE MInInG InDUSTRy?

Political and community opposition towards

mining an industry that helped build our

nation and better our standard of living

can be challenging. So is operating in a

scientifically-managed and responsible

manner, under the strictest controls of any

industry, but its a something worth doing

and worth doing right.

HOW HAvE yOU SEEn THE MInInG

InDUSTRy CHAnGE OvER THE LAST

COUpLE Of yEARS?

Bulk commodities have been the big

growth story. Rising prices due to Chinas

industrialisation led to massive growth in

profit margins during late 2005 to mid 2008.

Since 1980, I kept saying China is coming

and when Wen Jiabao became Premier

of China in late 2002, I knew he was a

mine geologist who believed China had to

secure a supply of raw materials from the

Pacific Basin. That was the day the global

mining industry changed and now when

Wen Jiabao retires later this year after

10 successful years, it will be a watershed

moment for the Australian Mining Industry.

We watch with baited breath.

HOW DO yOU SEE THE MInInG InDUSTRy

In THE fUTURE?

We have some surprises ahead. The

mining industry peaked in the first half

of 2012 and will steady-up over the next

5 years as projects get delayed. Some

mines are currently losing money and

need to be modified or closed completely.

Construction of petroleum and major

infrastructure will remain fairly solid

but nothing like the levels predicted

by government figures. Exploration in

Greenfields projects is waning strongly,

just as governments are making it harder

to explore in a vain attempt to appease the

vocal minority in the farming sector.

Business executives have to sense what

is really happening in business now and

in the medium-term. Thankfully, we

have a reserve bank that looks at leading

indicators so we should watch it closely.

with profitable outposts in some of

the toughest locations on the planet,

Australia is a major player in the

global minerals industry. Our pool of

high quality and skilled construction

professionals will continue to position

Australia ahead of the game, and help the

country to continue to fight back against

the GFC. The future of mining is changing

and it is time to unearth the talent.

As Chief Executive and Managing

Director, Ian Levy oversees the strategic

plan, implementation and management of

Australian Bauxite Limited (ABx). Holding

the core of the Eastern Australian

Bauxite Province 29 tenements across

Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria

and Tasmania totalling more than

7,000km2 ABx is one of Australias

largest mineral exploration companies.

ian levyCEO & MAnAGInG DIRECTOR,

AUSTRALIAn BAUxITE LIMITED

ConSTruCTIon of peTroleum And mAjor InfrASTruCTure wIll remAIn fAIrly SolId buT noThIng

lIke The levelS predICTed by governmenT fIgureS


IS IT The rIghT AnSwer for Sydney?

By Lynne BLundeLL


The CheQuered hISTory of The propoSed rAIl

lInk To SydneyS norTh weSTern SuburbS

mIrrorS ThAT of The CITyS wIder STruggle

To Solve ITS TrAnSporT woeS. IT IS A hISTory

lITTered wITh The fAIlure of governmenT

To delIver SoluTIonS To InCreASIngly

CongeSTed roAdS And An InAdeQuATe publIC

TrAnSporT neTwork.

nortH west rail linkThe new system is expected to work alongside suburban double deck trains and intercity trains


Now, after numerous incarnations, the North West Rail Link is

once again on the agenda, the NSW government making it a central

platform for its long term transport plan for Sydney and NSW.

Following his victory in the NSW state election in March 2011,

Barry OFarrell announced that one of his key priorities was to start

construction of the North West Rail Link.

Described by the NSW government as the biggest Sydney

transport project since the Harbour Bridge was built 90 years ago,

the North West Rail Link project will cost between $7.5 and $8.5

billion and take five to six years to build once the tunnel borers are

in place. It includes:

Eight new railway stations in the North West at Cherrybrook,

Castle Hill, Hills Centre, Norwest, Bella Vista, Kellyville, Rouse

Hill and Cudgegong Rd

15.5km of twin tunnels between Bella Vista and Epping the

longest and deepest rail tunnels ever built in Australia

A 4km Skytrain viaduct section from Bella Vista to Rouse Hill

4,000 car parking spaces for commuters.

There was a design consortium selected for the project, which

includes AECOM Australia, Parsons Brinckerhoff Australia, Cox

Architects and Grimshaw Architects. This provided a team of more

than 100 civil engineers, architects and transport experts to flesh

out and test the design options for the project. The consortium

also includes Cox Architects, Grimshaw Architects and Parsons

Brinckerhoff Australia.

NSW Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian told BE that the North

West Rail Link will, for the first time, deliver a heavy rail transport

service to Sydneys fastest-growing region.

The population of the North West is expected to grow by more

than 200,000 to more than 600,000 over the next 40 years, Ms

Berejiklian said.

One of the clear aims of the North West Rail Link is to get people

out of their cars in the heavily congested North West, which has one

of the highest rates of car ownership per household in Australia.

Ms Berejiklian said the new line will offer a fast commuter service

with a train every five minutes at peak times and modern, fast,

single deck trains between Cudgegong Rd and Chatswood. About

one third of customers are expected to get off before Chatswood at

major employment and education precincts like Macquarie Park,

Macquarie University, Norwest and Chatswood itself.


The new system is expected to work

alongside suburban double deck trains and

intercity trains. The Epping to Chatswood

rail line will be converted for the new single

deck trains and customers will interchange

with the existing network at Chatswood.

From Chatswood, there will be a peak hour

train every three minutes to the city.

Planning work to extend the line from

Chatswood to the Sydney CBD via a second

harbour crossing has also started.

Ms Berejiklian said the project would

support more than 16,200 jobs during

construction and inject $25 billion into the

NSW economy, with the NSW Government

investing $3.3 billion in the North West Rail

Link over the next four years.

But the project has met resistance from the

federal government and the independent

advisory body Infrastructure Australia.

The NSW Greens have also been critical of

the governments plans to use single deck

trains on the line, citing capacity issues

and incompatibility with the rest of the

rail system.

So far Commonwealth funding has not

been forthcoming and the project was

not included on Infrastructure Australias

2012 priority list for infrastructure funding.

More recently, Infrastructure NSW has

raised questions about the likelihood of the

second harbour crossing being built.

The federal government also knocked

back Premier OFarrells request that $2.1

billion worth of federal funding, previously

allocated to the Epping to Parramatta rail

link, be diverted to the North West Rail Link.

In its recent report to COAG, Infrastructure

Australia said there needed to be further

analysis of options for Sydneys north west

public transport strategy.

National Infrastructure Coordinator,

Michael Deegan, told BE that until further

details of the project are received from

the NSW Government, Infrastructure

Australias would not recommend the

project for federal funding. He hoped the

NSW governments forthcoming transport

plan would provide this.

Infrastructure Australia recognises there is

a transport challenge in north-west Sydney

that requires attention. As yet, we have not

seen enough to be convinced that the North

West Rail Link is the right response to that

challenge, Mr Deegan said.

One sticking point is having an interchange

at Chatswood, which Infrastructure

Australia says could risk reduced

patronage of the line.

nortH west rail linkMap showing the proposed railway stations in the north west

The AIm of ThIS ppp IS To delIver beTTer ServICeS for

CuSTomerS And beTTer vAlue for money for TAxpAyerS.


The tender process has started for the

first major construction contract the

multi-billion-dollar tunnel construction

between Epping and Bella Vista. Early

construction work starts later this year so

the major construction sites are ready for

the delivery of the tunnel boring machines

in 2014 as scheduled, Ms Berejiklian said.

Three major contracts are planned for the

project. They are:

Tunnelling

Surface construction works

Rail systems, trains and operations.

Ms Berejiklian said the first two contracts

would be design and construct contracts

funded by the NSW Government. The

contract for rail systems, trains and

operations is planned to be a Public Private

Partnership, subject to ensuring it delivers

value for money for the taxpayer.

The aim of this PPP is to deliver better

services for customers and better value for

money for taxpayers. The NSW Government

has always stated that fares on the North

West Rail Link will be determined the same

way as the rest of the Sydney rail network,

Ms Berejiklian said.

One option to deal with this issue might

be to extend the project further down the

north shore, although this would add to

the cost of an already very large project.

We would want to see well documented

patronage, operational, cost and other

studies to assess the value for money

of such a proposition, Mr Deegan said.

With Sydney growing to a population of

between 67 million in the next 30 years,

and much of that growth occurring in

western Sydney, Mr Deegan said the city

might be better served by a north west

link that can build up Parramatta as a

second CBD.

Ms Berejiklian said the North West Rail

Link would go ahead with or without

federal support. The NSW government

has clearly stated that this project is a

fully-funded priority infrastructure project

which is not dependent on any federal

contribution, Ms Berejiklian said.

Community interest in the project has

been strong, she said, with more than

4000 people visiting the project information

centre or phoning the information line over

the past year and 51,000 people logging

onto the project website.

More than 500 people attended eight

community information sessions during the

public exhibition period earlier this year

and over 40,000 locals received invitations

to make a submission.

A dedicated project office has been set up

within Transport for NSW to prioritise the

project, with more than 17 major tenders

and 37 key contracts awarded so far.

Counting tHe CostsPart of the integrated north west rail Link project team, Darren Munton,

Director at Turner & Townsend, talks about the role of the Quantity Surveyors

on this project and what this means for Sydney.

WHAT IS THE ROLE Of TURnER & TOWnSEnD On THIS pROjECT?

Our role in the team is cost manager for the project. We are preparing the capital

cost estimates for inclusion in the business case, carrying out a quantitative

risk assessment, establishing expenditure profiles and assessing the impact of

escalation over the duration of the project.

WHAT HAS BEEn THE HIGHLIGHT Of THIS pROjECT fOR yOU?

North West Rail Link is one of the biggest and most exciting infrastructure projects

currently happening in Australia. Playing our part in helping to overcome the

challenges that all projects of this size and complexity present is a key highlight for

Turner & Townsends team.

WHAT HAvE BEEn SOME Of THE CHALLEnGES On THIS pROjECT?

Working with the rest of the project team to find the most cost effective solution and

getting maximum value for money from the governments investment. This means we

are continually assessing the commercial impact of different design considerations

as the design is evolving. In addition, the project is progressing rapidly so making sure

we hit the project milestones for our key deliverables is critical.

WHAT WILL THE nWRL MEAn fOR SyDnEy?

The project will contribute significantly to the continued social and economic

growth of North West Sydney. It will provide businesses, residents and visitors with

improved travel choices, reduce the reliance on private transport and improve the

environmental sustainability of the area.

CommunITy InTereST In The

projeCT hAS been STrong.


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16TH aNNUal PaQS coNFERENcE710 July, BrunEi dArussAlAm

Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors Conference Opening Ceremony

National President, Gary McDonald presenting Dato Isahak (representing RISM), with an AIQS boomerang at the gift ceremony

Team Building Exercise at the PAQS YQS Group Conference

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AIQS QUANTITY SURvEYORSADDING vALUE

TO vIEW THE A-LIST, vISIT OUR PUBLICATIONS PAGE ISSUU.COM/AIQS_BE

cv~s now used in all continents except Antarctica.

International AUSTRALIA -.ex.c:tal.com +61 (0) 7 3300 6222 sales.AUOexactal.com

Pacific NEW ZEALAND www.exact;~.l.co.nz +64 (0) 9 309 2026 s&les.Nzexactal.co.nz

Europa UNITED KINGDOM -.exactal.co.uk +44 (0) 191 267 7342 sales.UKOexaaal.co.uk

Asia HONG KONG www.e;uctal.com.hk +852 5804 4622 sales.HK.,exactal.com

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Singapore SINGAPORE www.exactal.com.sg +65 3106 2322 sales.SG.,exactal.com

the building economist - september 2012 - the mega issue

Documents

sydney nsw

national office

york street

mining industry p19

resources industry

construction industry

skynorth west rail linkis

proposed rail link