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THIESS LAUNCHES NEW VISION AND VALUES • 6 JUGGLING CONSTRUCTION WITHOUT DISRUPTION • 16MACHINE GUIDANCE SYSTEM IMPROVES PERFORMANCE • 21HARBOUR VIEW INSPIRES REMEDIATION EFFORTS • 30
VICTORIAN DESALINATION PROJECT • 10
LANDMARK PROJECT NEARS COMPLETION
2 3IN BRIEF | SUMMER 2012–2013 | DIRECTIONS DIRECTIONS | SUMMER 2012–2013 | IN BRIEF
DIRECTIONS • SUMMER 2012–2013
9 Building sets new environmental benchmark
14 Awe-inspiring project on the road to completion
18 Brighton Bypass reaches final milestone
CONSTRuCTION
22 Reaching new depths at Burton
25 Mapping tool plots smarter course
26 Safety message hits the airwaves
MININg
28 Expertise extended to mining industry
29 Mining community powers up
32 Water experts shine
SERvICES
PPPs UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT PaGE 17ThINK PIECE
BRUCE MUNROManaging Director, Thiess Pty Ltd
AS 2012 COMES TO A CLOSE, I’M PROUD OF THE SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS
THIESS HAS MADE IN WHAT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGING YEAR FOR OUR
INDUSTRIES AND THE BROADER ECONOMY.
The completion of AirportlinkM7 provides
Brisbane with a world-class, integrated
road network reducing travel time and
improving safety while positioning the
city for future growth. The nearly-completed
Victorian Desalination Project (VDP)
is an exceptional engineering feat that
future-proofs the State’s water supply while
rehabilitating 253 hectares of parkland.
Beyond these landmark projects, Thiess
has reached its objective of returning to
profitability in less than one year. In the
last quarter alone, we secured more than
$3 billion in new and extended contracts.
Our move to position early in the LNG
sector is paying off with more than
$4 billion of contracts underway. We
have invested in specialist resources
to grow our capability and have
partnered with international experts
to meet the growing demands of this
multi-disciplinary sector.
The resources sector is undergoing rapid
change. It’s imperative that as we grow
our mine planning and technical capability
we remain agile, flexible and responsive
to our clients’ needs.
We must work together to
improve Australia’s productivity and
competitiveness on the global stage.
Thiess is working hard to advance this
agenda by embracing technology,
implementing smart solutions and
driving efficient work practices.
This year our services business marked
its 25th anniversary. With the sale of
the waste division and the adoption
of the Thiess logo, the team can work
more closely with our company’s
construction and mining streams to
provide specialist engineering-related
services and integrated offerings in a
seamless delivery model.
You will read more in this issue about
our new vision and values, which underpin
our recruitment and retention strategy.
Initiatives like our inaugural Safety Summit,
environmental efficiency trials and the
launch of our Reconciliation Action Plan,
are just some of the ways we are advancing
our multi-faceted sustainability agenda.
To echo our vision, as we enter 2013,
we are intent on working alongside our
clients, industry partners, governments,
communities and our people to create
a brighter future.
Directions is published by Thiess Pty Ltd. It is published with due care and attention to accuracy. If you do find information that is inaccurate, incomplete or out of date, please contact us.
Head OfficeLevel 5, 179 Grey Street South Bank Queensland 4101T: +61 7 3002 9000 F: +61 7 3002 9689
Copyright Thiess Pty Ltd 2012. All rights reserved.
NOTE Cover Image has been digitally enhanced to show the future landscape design.
5IN BRIEF | SUMMER 2012–2013 | DIRECTIONS 4 DIRECTIONS | SUMMER 2012–2013 | IN BRIEF
IN BRIEF
Thiess has formalised its partnership with MEGT Australian
Apprenticeships Centre to equip its apprentices and trainees
with the skills to meet future project commitments.
This follows the Queensland Energy and Telecommunications
Industry Skills and Workforce Development Report 2012, which
revealed more than 40,000 skilled workers would be required
in the energy and resources sector in the next five to 10 years.
Thiess says the shortage of skills is a serious issue across all of
its operations and is continuing to make significant investment
in building capabilities through employment and training of
Australian apprentices.
The program provides apprentices and trainees with cross-
departmental and multi-site work experiences, which is ideal
for young people starting their careers, giving them invaluable
experience while increasing their qualifications.
Thiess and MEGT Australian Apprenticeships Centre operate
across Australia, an important factor in the streamlining of
systems and processes of state-based education qualifications
within a federal Australian Apprenticeships framework.
Thiess has won national engineering acclaim for the
Toowoomba Range rail recovery works following the
devastating 2011 Queensland floods.
The Thiess, Queensland Rail and Golder Associates team
effort has already been recognised with a Queensland
Excellence Award and now the project has been honoured
with a national Engineers Australia Engineering Excellence
Award.
The project team deployed innovative engineering and
construction methods to recover 262 damaged sites,
including five which were critical to reinstating railway
operations. The project was delivered in two and a half
months, a phenomenal three months ahead of schedule.
The already highly-acclaimed Thiess John Holland Toombul
Jacked Box operation associated with AirportlinkM7 received
an Excellence Award in the research and development
category at the Queensland Excellence Awards.
In the awards category for infrastructure above $50 million,
the Hinze Dam Alliance of which Thiess was a member also
received a High Commendation for Hinze Dam Stage Three,
which saw the dam’s water storage capacity almost doubled.
TRAINING PROGRAM TO BOOST SkILLS
NATIONAL HONOUR
WASTE SALE FINALISED
One of the world’s largest waste management
companies REMONDIS Australia has bought
the Thiess Services Waste Management
business unit.
The sale was finalised at the end of September
and provided waste employees with the
opportunity to be part of a global waste
company focused on extending its market
presence in Australia.
DIVERSITY MAkES BUSINESS SENSE
CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS WON
Thiess’ business case for diversity is about
having the right people in the right jobs, and
fostering an environment that encourages and
values different perspectives and backgrounds.
That’s the view of Lisa Morgan, who recently
joined Thiess as the new Group Manager,
Diversity.
Ms Morgan brings more than 20 years of
experience leading diversity and organisational
transformation programs for numerous public
and private sector organisations in Canada and
Australia, and joined Thiess from her most recent
role as Director in Deloitte Consulting.
“Leveraging the unique styles and abilities of our
employees makes business sense, and it’s a socially
responsible way of operating in our communities,”
Ms Morgan said.
She believes that organisations that value, and in
fact leverage, the diverse backgrounds, perspectives
and contributions of their employees are better
placed to deliver increased profits and improved
client service through greater operational
efficiency and innovation.
“Understandably, great effort has been put into
programs that focus on women and Indigenous
employees at Thiess, and this commitment will
continue and grow,” she said.
“We will build on the efforts already underway
and identify more holistic diversity opportunities
that respond to workplace, behavioural, structural
and global diversity requirements. We are also
very excited about our upcoming launch of the
Reconciliation Action Plan,” she said.
Transport for New South Wales contract to build a pedestrian link between Wynyard Station (Sydney CBD) to the western CBD and the multi-billion-dollar development at Barangaroo
Queensland Health contract to construct stages three and four of the Townsville Hospital Redevelopment
Contract by Saipem Australia to construct a tunnel for the Santos GLNG Project in Gladstone
Queensland Health contract to upgrade the Logan Hospital in the State’s south-east
$205 MILLION$154
MILLION$134 MILLION$108
MILLION
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND vIDEOS vISIT ThIESS.COM.Au/NEWS
TOP OF STORY Members of the Thiess team formalise their partnership with MEGT Australian Apprenticeships Centre General Manager Jan Griffin
ABOVE Work on the Toowoomba Range Project was completed three months ahead of schedule
6 DIRECTIONS | SUMMER 2012–2013
WHAT DOES THE CHANGE SIGNAL TO THE MARkET?
We believe the transactional contract-based approach
to projects, ‘get-in, get-out’, has limitations. It restricts
the continuity of learning and the benefits of collaboration.
Greater success can be gained by going beyond a
contractor mentality and embracing a partnership
approach. For us, this relates on a number of levels –
working together with industries, suppliers, governments
and, importantly, clients to build a value-creating network
that drives greater productivities, innovation and
efficiencies.
IS THERE ANYTHING SPECIAL ABOUT THE TIMING?
More than a year ago I took over the role as Managing
Director and I knew that making such a major change in
a hurry wouldn’t add value. Thiess is a company steeped
in history with a strong culture. It’s our way of celebrating
our past as we deliver today and position ourselves for
the future.
Thiess has launched a new vision and values statement
to refocus and reinvigorate the business for growth.
We’re focused on core competencies in key sectors
while being open to new opportunities. With this in
mind, Managing Director Bruce Munro explains his
new vision and values for Thiess.
SUMMER 2012–2013 | DIRECTIONS 7
WHAT DOES THE CHANGE MEAN FOR CLIENTS?
We’ve reset the bar for what we deliver – our behaviour
and results. Our vision and values represent the
standard to which our clients and partners can hold
us accountable. This is what you can expect from our
people day-in, day-out, on each and every project.
WILL IT CHANGE THE WAY THIESS OPERATES?
Fundamentally, it won’t change how we operate.
But it does bring to the fore the increasing importance
of collaboration. For our people, we want to empower
them in their work. For the market, Thiess is intent on
cementing our leadership in whole-of-life infrastructure
delivery and that means leveraging the strengths across
our construction, mining and services businesses to advance
the standard and scope of our work for, and with, clients.
WHY IS COLLABORATION SO IMPORTANT TO THIESS?
Delivering excellence through innovation and partnerships
is paramount to the way we do business. Our success is
often linked with our relationships with suppliers, sub-
contractors and technology partners. Together we
succeed and deliver greater value for clients.
Ultimately, our vision and values are a message to our
employees, clients and industries that we are more than
a collection of projects and contracts. Our work extends
beyond the immediate to deliver sustainable benefits
for generations to come.
OUR VALUES
Creating a brighter future , together.OUR VISION
8 DIRECTIONS | SUMMER 2012–2013 | CONSTRUCTION
PARTNERINg AgREEMENTS BuILD ENERgy ExPERTISEThiess has signed historic agreements with two of the
world’s leading hydrocarbon and LNG specialists – Chiyoda
Corporation and Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC).
In Yokohama, Japan, Thiess Managing Director Bruce Munro
and president and CEO of Chiyoda Corporation, Takashi Kubota,
signed a partnering agreement to jointly pursue hydrocarbon
and related infrastructure projects in Australia and Indonesia.
Chiyoda is one of the world’s leading international LNG
technology providers having built the world’s largest LNG
trains in Qatar.
Part of the agreement also provides for the exchange of
engineers between the companies for 12 months.
An immediate outcome is that Thiess has been nominated,
on an exclusive basis, to support Chiyoda in the Front End
Engineering Design (FEED) works associated with the Shell
Arrow LNG project in Queensland and the Woodside Browse
LNG project in Western Australia.
Mr Munro also signed a partnering agreement with President of
CCC Samer Khoury in Greece to jointly pursue LNG mechanical
installations in Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. The
first project to be pursued off the back of this agreement is the
Ichthys LNG project for Inpex in Darwin. CCC has built most of
the LNG trains in the Middle East.
These agreements further build Thiess’ capabilities in the
specialist LNG sector and provide clients with access to world-
leading technologies and industry best-practice.
ABOVE Thiess Managing Director Bruce Munro (centre) with Executive General Manager Construction (Resources) Ric Buratto (left) and Executive Manager Business Development Jim Aquino (right) with Chiyoda executives including CEO Takashi Kubota (directly behind Mr Munro).
CONSTRuCTION
ABOVE Mr Munro signs a partnering agreement with CCC President Samer Khoury.
9
BuILDINg SETS NEW environmental benchmark
kING GEORGE CENTRAL IS A LANDMARk PROJECT THAT WILL
REVITALISE BRISBANE’S WESTERN CBD AND SET A NEW BENCHMARk
IN ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP.
The team, which at its peak reached 300 workers, has finished building the
29-storey high rise in a tight workspace with busy, one-way street frontage,
while minimising disruption to vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
King George Central has already attained a Green Star – Office Design rating,
and is targeting a 6 Star Green Star – As Built rating from the Green Building
Council of Australia, a 4 Star NABERS water rating and a 5 Star NABERS
energy rating.
Senior Project Manager Chris MacDonald says it’s the first project in
Australia to be publicly supported by the Heart Foundation, with its ‘Healthy
by Design’ features.
“There’s a cycle centre and user-friendly stairwells running to all floors from
the ground level,” he said.
“This puts the needs of people, their health and their community at the
centre of the design and construction of urban environments.”
King George Central showcases the latest in environmentally sustainable
design. Initiatives include facade shading to reduce heating and cooling
loads, rainwater collection and re-use, on-site cogeneration to reduce
emissions and interior finishes that reduce toxicity.
Thiess constructed the building on behalf of client Leighton Properties.
CONSTRUCTION | SUMMER 2012–2013 | DIRECTIONS
10
CELEBRATING VDP
victorian DeSalination ProJect
11
CELEBRATING VDP
The landmark completion of the $3.5 billion Victorian Desalination Project by the Thiess Degrémont Joint Venture will provide a rainfall-independent source of water for Melbourne and surrounds.
Expected to be completed by the end of the year, the plant has capacity to produce 150,000 gigalitres of drinking water per year – a resource that will be valued in times of future drought.
In the process, the project has created thousands of jobs and boosted the local economy.
15,000 VISITORS THROUGH THE
COMMUNITY INFORMATION CENTRE
NEARLY
200 PRESENTATIONS DELIVERED TO
COMMUNITY GROUPS AND SCHOOLS
4,500 WORkED ACROSS THE PROJECT
AT ITS PEAk IN JULY 2011
25% OF CONSTRUCTION WORkERS
SOURCED LOCALLY
MORE THAN
$400,000 INVESTED LOCALLY
THROUGH THE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM
NEARLY
18,000,000 HOURS WORkED ON PROJECT TO DATE
MORE THAN
16,000 JOB APPLICANTS FROM
ALL AROUND THE WORLD
NEARLY
200 SITE VISITS HOSTED
DIRECTIONS | SUMMER 2012–2013 | CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION | SUMMER 2012–2013 | DIRECTIONS
DIRECTIONS | SUMMER 2012–2013 | CONSTRUCTION12 CONSTRUCTION | SUMMER 2012–2013 | DIRECTIONS 13
WATER TRANSFER PiPeline84kM LONG
2-WAY CONCRETE-LINED STEEL PIPELINE
6,787 13-TONNE PIPES
1.93M DIAMETER
Power SuPPly87kM UNDERGROUND POWER
SUPPLY: (LONGEST OF ITS kIND IN THE WORLD)
220kV HIGH VOLTAGE ALTERNATING CURRENT (HVAC) CABLES
CO-LOCATED IN WATER TRANSFER PIPELINE EASEMENT
2 POWER COMPENSATION STATIONS
3 FIBRE OPTIC CABLES FOR MONITORING POWER SUPPLY
AND PIPELINE
CELEBRATING VDP
REvERSE OSMOSISDeSalination Plant
72 DUAL MEDIA PRESSURE FILTERS
55,482 REVERSE OSMOSIS (RO) MEMBRANES
40.9M2 SURFACE AREA OF EACH RO MEMBRANE
2 x 35 MILLION LITRES TREATED WATER STORAGE TANkS
1,200kM ELECTRICAL CABLING
29 BUILDINGS
gREEN rooF
CELEBRATING VDP
VDP IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN VICTORIA’S HISTORY.
It incorporates four major projects, a significant living green roof
and a new 225-hectare ecological reserve that represents one of
the biggest restorations in the State.
4 MAJOR PROJECTS = 1 vDP 100,000
INDIGENOUS PLANTS ON GREEN ROOF
SYSTEM
25 PLANT
SPECIES
marine tunnelS AND STRuCTuRES
1.2kM INTAkE TUNNEL
2 INTAkE STRUCTURES
1.5kM OUTLET TUNNEL
2 OUTLET STRUCTURES
4M TUNNEL DIAMETER
15 TO 20M BELOW SEABED
2 TUNNEL BORING MACHINES
10,676 CONCRETE TUNNEL SEGMENTS
26,000M2
GREEN ROOF AREA: LARGEST IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE
14 DIRECTIONS | SUMMER 2012–2013 | CONSTRUCTION
awe-inSPiring ProJect on the
roaD to comPletion
THE AMBITIOUS M80 RING ROAD UPGRADE IN MELBOURNE IS NOW BEING
RECOGNISED AS SETTING NEW INDUSTRY BENCHMARkS IN TRAFFIC
MANAGEMENT AND SAFETY FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
Tulla Sydney Alliance is delivering a section of the $2.25 billion upgrade in
Melbourne for VicRoads and Project Manager Anthony Moran says the
project often invokes the ‘wow factor’.
“A lot of people don’t get the opportunity to work on a project of this scale
and complexity – you don’t think about it until you get that reaction from
friends and family,” he said.
The Alliance is delivering a 10-kilometre section of the 38-kilometre M80
Ring Road upgrade between Calder Freeway and Sydney Road. The upgrade
has numerous challenges, including minimising disruption to surrounding
communities and safety implications of working on a live major arterial road.
“We’re often working only a few metres away from residents and businesses.
We have major works happening on the route to Melbourne Airport and we
need to cater for 140,000 road users a day – no small feat,” Mr Moran says.
“It requires complex staging and close liaison with multiple stakeholders such
as Melbourne Airport, local councils, community groups and bike path users
across a large area.”
And, delivering this huge project is a team of more than 700 workers, spread
across several sites.
The team passed another milestone with the opening of a new additional
Altona-bound traffic lane between Melrose Drive and Steele Creek in
Tullamarine. The new lane capacity is part of the progressive completion of
the project which will deliver at least three lanes in both directions by early
next year.
ANTHONY MORAN PROJECT MANAGER
CONSTRUCTION | SUMMER 2012–2013 | DIRECTIONS 15
ABOUT THE PROJECT
• $2.25 billion project is jointly funded by
the Victorian and Australian governments
• The Tulla Sydney Alliance is a partnership
between VicRoads, Thiess, Parsons
Brinckerhoff and Hyder
• The upgrade will improve the 38km
Western and Metropolitan Ring Roads,
from the Princes Freeway at Laverton
North to the Greensborough Highway
at Greensborough
“The upgrade is for the community’s benefit [increasing safety and reducing
traffic congestion] and our role is to minimise as much of the construction
pain as possible, while delivering this huge gain for the people of Melbourne,”
Mr Moran says.
“At the end of the day, it comes down to planning, collaboration and
communication with all of the stakeholders.”
VicRoads M80 Ring Road Upgrade Project Director for Operations David
Teague commended the Alliance for its innovative approach to working
close to homes and traffic in a challenging, construction environment.
“The Alliance has a high regard for safety and has set the bar high in terms
of the look, feel and quality of the traffic management on site,” he said.
ThE ALLIANCE hAS A hIgh REgARD FOR SAFETy AND hAS SET ThE BAR hIgh IN TERMS OF ThE LOOK, FEEL AND quALITy OF ThE TRAFFIC MANAgEMENT ON SITE.DAVID TEAGUE PROJECT DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS
16 DIRECTIONS | SUMMER 2012–2013 | CONSTRUCTION
Juggling conStruction without DiSruPtion
Combined with the potential nightmare of
serious clinical disruption in an existing hospital
which shares the same campus, you have one
of the greatest organisational challenges on any
construction project.
It’s exactly the challenge Jim Tragotsalos juggles
daily in his role as Project Director for Thiess on
the $1 billion Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH)
and Community Health Services Redevelopment
Project in Sydney.
The hospital reached an important milestone
recently with the issuing of a certificate of
occupancy heralding the opening of its front
doors to patients, which occurred in October
this year.
“We have a lot of interface with existing facilities
that support the hospital and that means a lot of
areas every day where we could potentially stop
that hospital operating clinically, so we have to be
very careful,” Mr Tragotsalos said.
The secret to the success at RNSH has been
communication. Thiess has adopted a system of
Method of Works Plans for every interface where
there is a risk of disruption to a clinical service.
Each plan is submitted to all stakeholders who
double check and triple check it before inserting
their own comments. It’s a process which has
been repeated more than 180 times since the
project began.
Mr Tragotsalos says the system ensures nothing
is left to chance.
“All parties are always aware of what we’re doing
and what the risks are at any point in time. Their
combined input ensures the risk is minimised and
managed, and enables everyone to have clear
insight,” he said.
“The system had a great structure from the outset
– everyone knows what’s going on.”
Some of the more delicate interfaces include the
relocation of the Patient Transfer Lounge, a vital
hub of activity in any hospital and one where
disruption could potentially cause significant
disquiet and anxiety. This complex move has
been required twice.
Equally delicate has been the need to change the
route by which ambulances approach emergency,
a change required not once, but three times.
“A change of this magnitude required the usual
planning within the project, but additionally the
Ambulance Service itself, and other interfaces
including the council and public transport.
We’ve managed all of that,” Mr Tragotsalos said.
As an expert provider of integrated health
solutions, Thiess is in the unique position
of effectively handing the hospital’s facilities
management and maintenance over to Thiess’
services business.
“This is where Thiess has a real coordination
advantage,” Mr Tragotsalos explains.
“From the client’s perspective, they only have to
worry about the provision of the services, but
when it comes to the building, no matter what
happens, Thiess is fixing it.”
The project has another 18 months to run during
which the old RNSH will be demolished and
replaced with a multi-level car park. The risk of
disruption won’t be as great, but the methodical
planned approach will continue to ensure the
absolute minimisation of risk.
IN THE HIGH-TECH WORLD OF HEALTH CARE IN THE 21ST CENTURY, THE COMPLExITY
OF BUILDING A STATE-OF-THE-ART HOSPITAL IS IN ITSELF AN ExTRAORDINARY CHALLENGE.
Photo courtesy of NSW Health
17
FOR MORE THAN 78 YEARS, THIESS HAS
BEEN THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND MANY OF
AUSTRALIA’S MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
INCLUDING ROADS, RAILWAYS, TUNNELS,
DAMS, PIPELINES, HOSPITALS AND PRISONS.
Each state and territory has a long list of such
public infrastructure waiting to be built to boost
productivity and improve our quality of life, yet
funding for these projects is currently scarce.
Government priorities, at a federal and state level,
are focused on fiscal responsibility and restoring
their current account surpluses, and some states
have moved to protect or improve their balance
sheets to retain or regain their AAA credit ratings.
ThIESS IS COMMITTED TO IDENTIFyINg ALTERNATIvE FuNDINg MODELS TO ASSIST gOvERNMENT DELIvER MORE INFRASTRuCTuRE. As one of the most experienced project sponsors
in Australia, Thiess can apply its experience to
maximise transaction efficiency. However, a
fundamental question remains...“who will pay for
the infrastructure needed today, and in the future,
and how?”
In the past, the private sector funded some projects,
such as Lane Cove Tunnel and EastLink, on the
back of anticipated toll charges. Unfortunately,
the revenue from these projects has often
disappointed and the private sector now has
little appetite for taking on this ‘demand’ risk.
There’s been a groundswell of support for
a national debate on equitable, efficient and
sustainable user-charging and network pricing,
with Thiess contributing via direct dialogue
with governments and representation on various
industry bodies.
Even for social infrastructure, such as schools and
hospitals, the old PPP (Public Private Partnership)
model is also under question. This is due to the
steady increase of private sector costs in raising
finance, since the onset of the global financial
crisis, relative to the cost of the government
raising finance itself.
Despite this shift away from PPPs, governments
want to retain the advantages of on-time, on-budget
delivery, optimisation of whole-of-life costs,
innovative design outcomes, shorter design and
construction times, and risk transfer. To bridge the
gap, solutions are being developed including
government funding co-contributions.
Thiess is actively exploring options to reduce the
impacts on government balance sheets, through
our support of ‘warehousing’ as a more efficient
method for governments to deliver economic
(ie demand risk exposed) public infrastructure.
This is where governments deliver infrastructure
with the intention of selling it to the private sector
once the project is complete and its revenue is
known – an approach sometimes described as
‘capital recycling’. Our analysis shows it to be a
very efficient model; governments can achieve
materially the same risk transfer via Design Build
and Maintain (DBM) or Design Build Operate and
Maintain (DBOM) procurement as on a Social PPP.
Similarly they can review their existing brownfield
assets to assess whether the public interest might
be served in raising funds from their sale to direct
those funds toward the delivery of new
infrastructure.
The benefits of infrastructure delivery are well
known and Thiess will continue to play its part in
helping to solve future funding challenges so that
we can continue our proud record of delivering
world-class infrastructure.
BY MARk LYNCH, EGM STRATEGY AND DEVELOPMENT
PPPs uNDER ThE SPOTLIghTCONSTRUCTION | SUMMER 2012–2013 | DIRECTIONS
BELOW As one of the largest PPPs undertaken in Australia, a Thiess John Holland Joint Venture designed and constructed the $2.6 billion EastLink project in Melbourne for client ConnectEast. The project opened five months ahead of schedule.
SEAFORD CELEBRATIONS IN FULL SWING
18 DIRECTIONS | SUMMER 2012–2013 | CONSTRUCTION
THE BRIGHTON BYPASS NORTHERN SECTION
PROJECT IN TASMANIA HAS BEEN COMPLETED
THREE MONTHS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.
Constructed by the VEC Thiess Joint Venture,
the $120 million project has set new industry
standards.
At 166-metres long, the bridge includes a 70-metre
long main span over the Jordan River Levee.
Thiess’ VIC/SA/TAS/NZ Business Unit General
Manager Rod Heale said the achievement was
testament to a disciplined program.
“The project saw the team successfully implement
the longest single bridge span ever launched in
Australia, protecting an Aboriginal heritage site
along the way,” he said.
“In a challenging context like this, early completion
is particularly impressive.”
The new bypass, predominantly funded by the
Australian Government, will improve traffic man-
agement around the towns of Brighton and Pontville.
Combined with the associated Transport Hub
Project, the bypass is part of the largest road
infrastructure project in Tasmania’s history.
BRIghTON ByPASS REAChES Final mileStone
19CONSTRUCTION | SUMMER 2012–2013 | DIRECTIONS
Recently celebrating its 10th anniversary, the
Thiess Sedgman Joint Venture (TSJV) is being
hailed as one of the most successful Engineer
Procure Construct (EPC) companies operating
in Australia’s coal sector.
The partnership began in 2002, when Rio Tinto
saw the value in the two companies coming
together in joint venture to deliver the Hail Creek
Coal Handling and Preparation Plant (CHPP).
Years of hard work and a willingness to leverage
each other’s strengths have since resulted in the
TSJV successfully delivering 10 CHPPs for various
clients worth more than $2 billion.
TSJV Manager Martyn Raymont says its future
lies in both companies continuing to leverage
their joint strengths.
“Sedgman has design capability in CHPPs, which
creates enormous opportunities for the TSJV.
We’re also investigating how we apply our design,
processing and construction capability to other
sectors.
“What won’t change is our commitment to
offering a value-add service that ensures our
facilities are commissioned, tested and ready
for operation,” he said.
The TSJV is currently finishing the extension to
the Lake Vermont CHPP near Dysart in Central
Queensland for client Lake Vermont Resources.
The expansion will increase coal production
from 800 to 1,600 tonnes per hour with Thiess’
Australian Mining team taking over operations
once complete.
MORE THAN 6,000 PEOPLE FLOCkED TO THE
SEAFORD RAIL COMMUNITY DAY RECENTLY TO
GET A FIRSTHAND LOOk AT THE $291 MILLION
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN PROJECT WHICH IS SET
TO BE FINISHED WITHIN WEEkS.
The 5.7-kilometre Seaford Rail Extension has been
constructed by the Thiess McConnell Dowell Joint
Venture. It extends the dual track rail line from
Noarlunga Centre Railway Station to the Seaford
District Centre, significantly improving public
transport rail services in Adelaide’s expanding
southern suburbs.
A display featuring mega construction equipment,
water education activities linked to the adjacent
Onkaparinga River, and the chance to be part of
planting 1,000 trees, ensured there was fun to be
had for all ages.
Several community services and groups threw
their support behind the event with local
Federal Member Amanda Rishworth and State
Member Leon Bignell taking part in the official
proceedings.
Local police, metro and country fire services, local
service clubs, South Port Surf Lifesaving Club,
South Coast Flying Club, performance groups
from local schools and community centres, and
cultural leaders from the Ramindjeri people, took
part in the day.
Project team members also volunteered their
support to deliver the large-scale community event.
The Australian Government is funding the extension
as part of the Nation Building Program.
1.2kM RAIL VIADUCT
21 PIERS
48 SEGMENTS
10,300M3 TOTAL CONCRETE
2,250 TONNES STEEL REINFORCEMENT
THIESS SEDGMAN JV STANDS THE TEST OF TIME
2002–03 HAIL CREEk COAL
2010–12 LAkE VERMONT
ExPANSION
2004–06 SARAJI CHPP ExPANSION
2010–12 BENGALLA CHPP
ExPANSION
2005–06 HAIL CREEk ExPANSION
2007–09 LAkE VERMONT CHPP
2005–07 DAWSON CHPP
2006–08 LAkE LINDSAY
PROJECT ALLIANCE
2005–08 DAWSON OVERLAND
CONVEYOR
2005–07 WILPINJONG COAL
PROJECT CHPP
THE PROJECT INCLUDED:
• Twin 166-metre bridges over the
Jordan River Levee
• A-grade separated interchange
• 170 super T-beams manufactured in the
dedicated on-site project precast yard
• Two rail underpasses
• Two local road overpasses
• 10 major structures were built along
the alignment
• A roundabout to connect the
Midland Highway
The VEC Thiess Joint Venture was awarded the People’s Choice Award and received a Highly Commended award
at the 2012 Crane Industry Council of Australia Lift Awards. The complex lift, in Category A Lift (over 130 tonnes)
section, involved the 70-metre long single span over the National Heritage listed Jordan River Levee.
The Premier of Tasmania, Lara Giddings (inset), has officially opened the Brighton Bypass (above).
SCAN THIS QR CODE TO VIEW A TIME LAPSE
VIDEO OF THE PROJECT
20 21DIRECTIONS | SUMMER 2012–2013 | MINING
Thiess was recently awarded a $2.3 billion
contract to extend mining operations at the
Jellinbah Group-owned Lake Vermont Coal
Mine, continuing its responsibility for mine
operations and maintenance.
The new six-year agreement significantly
expands operations and positions the
project to ramp up production from
4 to 8 million tonnes per annum.
Thiess has been involved since Lake Vermont’s
inception, planning, building and then
managing ongoing operations. The current
team of 350 will nearly double in size to
deliver the new contract.
PERFORMANCE REWARDED
MININg
MINING | SUMMER 2012–2013 | DIRECTIONS
It allows the industry’s biggest gear to
achieve centimetre-accurate positioning
and significantly reduces their dependence
on survey and grade checking.
Australian Mining Technology Projects Manager
Jeremy Bliss said there had been big
advances in the technology over recent years.
“We first used Automated Positioning
System’s (APS) software guidance systems
in 2003 on machines at our Collinsville
Mine operations and since then its
sophistication has evolved significantly,”
he said.
Mine plans can now be directly loaded into
the guidance system on the machine,
giving operators improved visibility.
Sensors located on the bucket, stick, boom
and chassis relay exact movements to the
system receiver, which then accurately
plots and transmits the bucket and
machine position back to the operator’s
touch screen.
The Liebherr 9800 excavator operators at
Burton Coal Mine are reporting significant
benefits, including improved coal grades
and reduced re-work caused by over-
cutting and under-cutting or filling. The
site team is also using the machine-based
production reports to continually refine
operations.
The team is working with other major
technology suppliers to develop initiatives
that maximise machine availability and health.
A current project with IBM is streamlining
systems for advanced condition monitoring
to better understand machine health. This
will increase reliability and improve cost
efficiencies by maximising component use.
Thiess is also finalising a project to deliver
real time data acquisition and analysis of
equipment health into a central database
and control centre to deliver world-class
maintenance scheduling and service
dispatching.
IN A WORLD FIRST, THE LIEBHERR 9800
ExCAVATORS AT THE LAkE VERMONT COAL
MINE IN CENTRAL QUEENSLAND ARE NOW
USING THE mineAPSTM HIGH PRECISION
MACHINE GUIDANCE (HPMG) SYSTEM.
Improves performance
MACHINE GUIDANCE SYSTEM
ThIESS hAS ALWAyS BEEN AN INDuSTRy LEADER WhEN IT COMES TO TRIALLINg AND IMPLEMENTINg
NEW TEChNOLOgIES ThAT IMPROvE PRODuCTIvITy AND DELIvER gREATER
CERTAINTy FOR ITS CLIENTS.APS CHIEF ExECUTIVE OFFICER
DUSH WIMAL
22 23
Thiess has operated the Burton Coal Mine in Central Queensland
for the past 15 years, creating hundreds of local jobs and
significantly contributing to local economies through
employment, engaging with local suppliers and implementing
community initiatives.
In January last year, the company was awarded a six-year
$1.3 billion contract to extend mining operations at the Peabody
Energy-owned mine site. The contract saw operations return to
the original mining area started in 1996, to mine the deeper seams
of high grade coking coal.
General Manager Mining Danny McCarthy says another milestone
was reached in June this year when Thiess mined the first coal
from the Burton Widening Pit.
“This pit will be one of the deepest pits in the Bowen Basin with
a high wall of some 230 metres, and will use some of largest
excavators and trucks available globally,” he said.
“An additional 800 tonne Liebherr R9800 – one of the world’s
largest mining backhoe excavators – has been mobilised to work
in tandem with the first R9800, which has been operating at
Burton for nearly two years.
“And a fleet of Caterpillar 797 360 tonne trucks, the largest in the
Cat range, is working with the two big excavators, emphasising
the scale of the work.”
Australian Mining has other fleets of 600 tonne 996 excavators
and Cat 793 240 tonne trucks that complement the Burton
operations.
“This is certainly a great opportunity to make a success of this
challenging and large scale project, the biggest in our portfolio,”
Mr McCarthy said.
ThIS PIT WILL BE ONE OF ThE DEEPEST PITS IN ThE BOWEN BASIN WITh A hIgh WALL OF APPROxIMATELy 230 METRES ...
DIRECTIONS | SUMMER 2012–2013 | MINING
A five-year, 1,963-hectare rehabilitation program has been
developed for the Burton Coal Mine.
Wet seasons have caused significant issues to the delivery
of the program. However, last year, Thiess undertook a record
500-hectare rehabilitation effort – the largest conducted by
the company in Australia – to ensure the program remained
on track.
Mr McCarthy says the company achieved the target – a Bowen
Basin record for rehabilitation – while maintaining open-cut
mining operations of more than 2.7 million tonnes per year.
“A rehabilitation project of this scale demands a rigorous quality
assurance program to ensure landforms are built to specification
and comply with the site’s environmental licence,” he said.
“Thiess has developed inspection and test plans that manage
critical stages of the rehabilitation program, including
landform design, landform and drainage construction,
topsoiling, and rip, seed and fertiliser application.”
While this is considered core business and operating practice,
World Environment Day presented the company with the
opportunity to communicate and acknowledge our achievements
over the past year to the broader Burton project team.
In June, Thiess and Peabody Energy planted 75 trees across
the site. The lasting result is a corridor of native trees standing
as a reminder of the commitment and environmental ownership
of every person at the mine.
“2012 has been a year of transition for our environmental
management in mining,” Australian Mining Environmental
Manager Mischa Traynor said.
“Our approach has moved beyond compliance and we are now
delivering world-class support services to our operations. One
of our clients recently sent 30 of their environmental teams
from around the world to understand our approach to
rehabilitation.”
GENERAL MANAGER MINING DANNY McCARTHY
MINING | SUMMER 2012–2013 | DIRECTIONS
24 25DIRECTIONS | SUMMER 2012–2013 | MINING
BLESSINGS RAIN ON
MELAK’S LATEST ExPANSION
ON ShOW IN Vegas
A TRADITIONAL MELASLATI RITUAL SEEkING
THE PERMISSION AND PROTECTION OF
ANCESTRAL SPIRITS HAS TAkEN PLACE PRIOR
TO WORk STARTING ON A NEW PIT AT THE
MELAk COAL MINE IN EAST kALIMANTAN.
Attended by client Bayan Resources, Indonesian
Government officials and local community
members, the traditional ritual celebrated the
beliefs of local groups and called for blessings
for the duration of the project.
The Kinong Pit is part of the five-year contract
extension awarded to Thiess Contractors
Indonesia. It covers an area of 167 hectares
with an estimated deposit of 9.8 million tonnes
of coal and 149 million BCM of overburden.
The project team is currently working on cons-
tructing a new five-kilometre haul road and is on
track to achieving its mining target of 3.2 million
tonnes of coal and 38.2 million BCM in 2012.
THIESS’ MINING CREDENTIALS WERE
RECENTLY ON DISPLAY AT MINExpo
INTERNATIONAL – THE WORLD’S LARGEST
MINING ExHIBITION – IN LAS VEGAS.
Staged every four years, this year’s exhibition
attracted 60,000 delegates and 1,800 exhibitors
from around the world, who showcased the latest
in mining equipment, products and services.
Thiess worked closely with key suppliers including
Caterpillar, Hitachi and Liebherr. The company
stand proved popular with industry representatives
and prospective employees keen to learn more
about Thiess and future mining opportunities in
Australia, Indonesia and India.
ABOVE The Thiess team in action at MINExpo.
ABOVE The Melaslati ritual begins with the reading of prayers and mantras by tribal leaders, followed by the giving of offerings and the sprinkling of holy water on heavy equipment units.
MINING | SUMMER 2012–2013 | DIRECTIONS
MAPPING TOOL PLOTS
SMARTER COuRSE
AUSTRALIAN MINING IS CONTINUALLY
ADAPTING GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM
(GIS) TECHNOLOGY TO DELIVER BETTER
WHOLE-OF-MINE MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS.
Traditionally, mining operations have used this
technology – historically available only with
specialist software – to manage environmental
and cultural information.
Australian Mining’s focus has been on using the technology to collate mine planning,
environment, geotechnical, cultural, drill and blast,
land, tenure, geology, water engineering, safety
and community data in one central location, and
making it accessible to all mining personnel via
the web.
Spatial Systems Specialist Matthew Langley says
repurposing the technology is delivering significant
cost savings, increased efficiency, and improved
planning, communication and collaboration.
“Whether you’re trying to understand the latest
mine plan and its impact on the environment and
the community, or determining how to move
water around the site, this technology enables
you to access spatially-integrated information
required to make informed decisions,” he said.
“For example, using GIS to better inform long-term
mine planning has enabled us to assess years in
advance if the pit dumps we are planning to build
will impact our neighbours.”
Thiess Civil Engineer and water management
specialist Sam Waldron agrees the tool is proving
invaluable.
“Mine site operations are constantly changing, as
are the regulatory environmental conditions we
must comply with,” he said.
“We now have a virtual link to a raft of information
specific to catchment areas, water release points,
environmental monitoring sites, sensitive
receptors and areas of cultural significance.
“On-site and off-site personnel can now quickly
refer to regulatory documents, relevant standards,
monitoring results or benchmark studies, confident
in the currency of the information. From this
background data, our ability to manage water on
the mine site is greatly enhanced.”
The future of GIS in the mining business is looking
bright. Australian Mining will continue to leverage
this technology and identify ways to exploit and
integrate existing data to extract more value.
GREATER EFFICIENCIES
IMPROVED COST SAVINGS
INTEGRATED DATA MANAGEMENT
IMPROVED COMMUNICATION
INFORMED DECISION MAkING
TEAM COLLABORATION
GIS BENEFITS
ABOVE Spatial Systems Specialist Matthew Langley, Environmental Manager Mischa Traynor and Civil Engineer Sam Waldron.
26 DIRECTIONS | SUMMER 2012–2013 | MINING
SAFETY EFFORTS RECOGNISED
SaFety meSSage hITS ThE AIRWAvESDETERMINED TO IMPROVE SAFETY ON
ITS MINING SITES, THIESS INDONESIA’S
INDEPENDENT NETWORk OF RADIO STATIONS
IS DELIVERING AN INNOVATIVE SAFETY
CAMPAIGN WITHIN EARSHOT OF
ITS WORkFORCE.
In 2008, the company introduced a pilot radio
station concept to help build the team’s safety
culture and ensure safety remained front-of-mind
for its mine operators on a 24/7 basis.
By 2010, it had launched four community FM
radio stations at Melak, Sangatta, Satui and
Senakin to communicate and reinforce health
and safety information, and address fatigue,
particularly during late shifts.
Thiess Indonesia’s Executive Manager Safety
Azlan Ismail attributes the program’s ongoing
success to broadcasting serious safety messages
in an engaging way.
“Each radio station employs a professional DJ,
who brings the work environment to life through
simulated safety role plays, and broadcasts
important environmental and community
information,” Mr Ismail said.
“These broadcasts enable us to create a continual
presence throughout people’s working day.”
According to Mr Ismail, the initiative has
contributed to the progressive reduction in
incidents. The Recordable Injury Frequency Rate
(RIFR) fell from a high of 1.9 in 2009 to 0.6 in 2012.
The broadcasts are also proving popular with
neighbouring mine workers and local residents.
Supported remotely by the Jakarta office’s audio
production team, the on-site radio station teams
are responsible for ongoing program development
which features employees, visitors and client
interviews during broadcasts.
As many as 100 employees participate at some
level each day with music also used to help combat
fatigue. Every aspect of programming is anchored
around a safety-first objective. The ability to
communicate with the entire workforce at a
moment’s notice is proving to be an added bonus.
Sangatta mine’s safety achievements
have been recognised at the national
occupational health and safety awards
hosted by client PT Kaltim Prima Coal.
The Sangatta mine team achieved zero lost
time injuries over an 8.6 million hour period
– a record in the operation’s history.
The team also secured first and second
place in the audio visual category for its
‘Message From Employees’ Families’ and
‘Prevent Fatigue While Working’ video
presentations.
The awards were presented by the
Governor of East Kalimantan, Dr H Awan
Faroek and the Buptai of East Kutai Timur,
H Isran Noor.
ABOVE Broadcasters Novian Hafiandhy Hanafiah and Ika Mayasari also write scripts, record voiceovers, create ads and select songs.
27MINING | SUMMER 2012–2013 | DIRECTIONS
SENIOR RESIDENTS NEAR THIESS
INDIA’S PAkRI BARWADIH COAL PROJECT
HAVE HAD THEIR EYESIGHT RESTORED,
THANkS TO VITAL CATARACT SURGERY
MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE
PROJECT’S COMMUNITY HEALTH
PROGRAM.
Treatment was provided to 28 people in
October through a partnership between
Thiess India and local aid organisation
Nav Bharat Jagriti Kendra (NBJK).
According to the World Health
Organisation, cataracts are responsible
for 51 per cent of world blindness and can
only be cured through an operation.
For many elderly people in the
community near Pakri, the cost and
lack of access to suitable health care,
put surgery out of their reach until the
project’s General Manager, Mr Dilip Kunar,
took up their case.
“We held a screening camp at our
Community Health Centre to identify
patients whose health could handle the
operation,” he said.
“The eye hospital run by NBJK at
Chouparan successfully performed
the operations, with our health centre
providing follow up checks and support.
“We are already planning to carry out
additional screening camps in the future.”
So far, more than 3,650 patients have
visited the health centre – a key feature of
the community services offered at Pakri –
since it was established in December 2011.
The centre aims to provide affordable
and accessible health care facilities in and
around the project and includes up to
eight mobile medical camps that travel
to nearby villages each month.
Access to general physicians, specialists
such as gynaecologists, an ambulance
service, pathology facility and free
medicine, all help to ensure the medical
needs of the community are met.
a new leaSe on Sight
ABOVE A patient undergoes a screening test at the Community Health Centre near Thiess India’s Pakri Barwadih Coal Project.
28 29DIRECTIONS | SUMMER 2012–2013 | SERVICES
eXPertiSe eXtenDeD
TO MININg INDuSTRyTHIESS MAY BE A NAME SYNONYMOUS WITH THE MINING
INDUSTRY, BUT THE CONNECTION HASN’T BEEN SO OBVIOUS
FOR THE COMPANY’S SERVICES BUSINESS, WHICH HAS
SPENT 25 YEARS HONING ITS AWARD-WINNING SkILLS ON
PROJECTS ACROSS AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND AND THE UAE.
The business has built an extraordinary portfolio in fields as diverse
as remediation, water management, energy distribution services
and infrastructure, telecommunications and facilities operations
and maintenance.
Today, the capability aligns perfectly with the growing needs of the
mining industry.
“Being able to offer ancillary work in the mining sector is a reflection
of the expertise we have in numerous disciplines,” General Manager
for Remediation and Infrastructure Doug Moss said.
“We’re a one stop shop and we’re open and ready for business.”
Mr Moss says he’s targeting the work that distracts from the core
operation of a miner, but which sits at the heart of the services
business.
“I can’t think of any aspect of our current operations that doesn’t
have some application to mining,” he said.
The business is currently undertaking a range of construction
works at the Thiess-operated Mt Owen Complex in the Hunter
Valley and is delivering facilities management, environmental and
occupational health and hygiene services at the Collinsville Coal
Mine in Central Queensland.
“We are also constructing energy infrastructure at a number of
mines and ports across Queensland,” Mr Moss said.
Thiess is expanding its operations and has recently opened a new
office in Newcastle to provide a focus on the Hunter Valley. It’s in
the process of establishing facilities in the Bowen Basin in Queensland
and Western Australia’s Pilbara region - both crucial growth
centres for mining.
SERvICES
SERVICES | SUMMER 2012–2013 | DIRECTIONS
MININg COMMuNITy PowerS uP
The Energy business has responded to Ergon Energy’s
urgent request to present options on how to best deliver
the 980-metre, 11kV power line necessary for a proposed
residential development.
Project Manager Mike Wereta said planning the project
logistics was similar to gearing up for an emergency
response.
“At a moment’s notice, we mobilised resources from
Townsville to South East Queensland with additional
support from trusted and experienced subcontractors.
“A 64-strong crew, supported by a fleet that collectively
travelled 23,000 kilometres, remained focused on the
task and delivered the project in 12 days with only one
power outage,” Mr Wereta said.
To overcome the challenges of securing accommodation
in a town booked out months in advance, the project
team enlisted the help of Thiess Australian Mining.
“Having our team centrally based in a mining camp
enabled us to undertake comprehensive briefings on
safety regimes and logistics planning – essential for
successful project delivery,” Mr Wereta said.
General Manager Energy Russell Ash said the team
recognised the importance of the Moranbah project and
delivered a solution that best served the requirements
of Ergon Energy and its customers.
FAST-TRACkING THE INSTALLATION OF VITAL ELECTRICITY INFRASTRUCTURE HAS BROUGHT THE MORANBAH MINING COMMUNITY IN CENTRAL QUEENSLAND A STEP CLOSER TO ADDRESSING ITS CRITICAL HOUSING SHORTAGE.
Installed a new, 950-metre, 3-phase 11kV power line including:
– 23 x 15-metre-high power poles
– 66 new service lines
– two 11kV air break switches
and one 11kV power transformer
Relocated an existing
950-metre low voltage
power line and then removed
redundant power lines and
associated equipment
Installed 100 metres of new
11kV underground cable
Mobilised 44 vehicles to site,
including 12 Elevated Working
Platforms (EWPs), nine borer
trucks and eight line trucks.
MORANBAH
31
ALL ExCAvATION AND REMEDIATION ACTIvITIES WILL OCCuR uNDER ThE COvER OF A 4,000M2, SINgLE-SPAN, ODOuR CONTROL STRuCTuRE
AIR LEAvINg ThE STRuCTuRE WILL BE FILTERED ThROugh A SOPhISTICATED ThIESS SERvICES DESIgNED-BuILT-AND-
OPERATED EMISSION CONTROL SySTEM
CONTAMINATED WATER WILL BE TREATED uSINg A ThIESS SERvICES DESIgNED-BuILT AND-OPERATED ON-SITE WATER TREATMENT PLANT
30
The site has been home to a whaling station, farm,
gasworks, naval torpedo workshop and most
recently a submarine base.
Handed over to the Sydney Harbour Federation
Trust in 2005, remediation works are well under-
way and planning is proceeding to rehabilitate the
prime waterfront site for a mix of commercial use
and parkland.
Project Manager Jim Cole is delighted with the
opportunity to work in what is arguably one of the
world’s most beautiful locations.
As Area Manager on the award-winning Hunter
River Remediation Project (HRRP) in Newcastle,
Mr Cole and his team bring a wealth of expertise
and knowledge to the project.
“We have worked on HRRP, as well as the Rhodes
remediation and Orica Projects in Sydney, where
we developed and implemented several industry-
leading technologies including a contaminated
water treatment plant, an emission control system
and the introduction of a stabilisation process.
That experience gives our client, the Sydney Harbour
Federation Trust, further confidence in the
remediation program we’ve developed,” he said.
harbour view inSPireS remeDiation eFFortSTHANkS TO THE WORk OF THE REMEDIATION TEAM IN THIESS’ SERVICES BUSINESS, THE FORMER HMAS PLATYPUS SITE AT NEUTRAL BAY IN SYDNEY WILL BE RE-OPENED TO THE PUBLIC FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN 130 YEARS.
SERVICES | SUMMER 2012–2013 | DIRECTIONS
During the project, the team will excavate and
treat around 30,000 tonnes of contaminated
waste. The 120-metre sandstone sea wall that
abuts the site has already been sandblasted and
re-pointed. A below-ground (jet grout) wall is
also being built behind the sea wall to limit the
amount of water entering the site.
Mr Cole says strict environmental controls and
REAL-TIME MONITORINg SySTEMS WILL BE SET uP ON ThE BOuNDARy PERIMETER TO
MONITOR DuST, NOISE AND vIBRATION
extensive community consultation are critical to
the project’s success.
“We are working on a relatively small footprint that
shares boundaries with a residential community
and a spectacular harbour. Public safety and
environmental protection are our priorities,” he said.
Excavation work is expected to start in early 2013
and will be wrapped up by the end of the year.
32 DIRECTIONS | SUMMER 2012–2013 | SERVICES
water ExPERTS ShineMembers of the highly-regarded Thiess
Hydrographics team took centre stage at an
industry conference recently to share the latest
advances in water management.
The five team members joined 240 water industry
experts from around the country in Melbourne for
the Australian Hydrographers Association’s (AHA)
biennial conference.
Hydrographic Services Manager Matthew
Potter said the three-day conference included
a field trip which allowed hydrographers and
client representatives to experience the latest
innovations and technologies firsthand.
“Our Maribyrnong River test site was on the
itinerary, enabling us to showcase the application
of wireless rain gauge systems, camera
technology and smart radio networks,” Mr Potter
said.
“Together with Melbourne Water, at Merri Creek,
we could also demonstrate the challenges of
maintaining water quality in urban landscapes
vulnerable to acts of vandalism.”
AHA Chairman Bill Steen said Thiess Services had
been a key supporter of the AHA over many years,
and its technical presentations contributed to the
success of this conference.
Thiess’ Hydrographic Services group is a leading
provider of water measurement, environment
monitoring and data management.
The group also works at the Thiess-operated
Collinsville Mine in Central Queensland and other
sites across the country.
33SUMMER 2012–2013 | DIRECTIONS
RIVERPRIZE SHOWCASES
environmental eXcellence
Willamette River in the US state of Oregon and
a promising young Australian professional, were
among the winners at this year’s Riverprize Gala
Dinner.
The Thiess International Riverprize, presented
annually by the International RiverFoundation, is
recognised as the most prestigious environmental
prize in the world.
The 2012 prize was awarded to the Meyer Memorial
Trust’s Willamette River Initiative for excellence in
river management.
The initiative had tackled challenges including
toxic chemical threat, high water temperatures,
a confined channel, dam-altered flows, loss of
floodplain forests, population growth and climate
change.
The first International Riverprize was awarded
in 1999 – made possible by a major multi-
year sponsorship from Thiess that created the
world’s only cash prize at the time. Today, the
International RiverFoundation is one of Thiess’
ongoing charity partners.
The Thiess Services-sponsored River Management
Young Achievers Award, which is promoted by the
International WaterCentre Alumni Network, was
also presented at the same gala dinner.
The 2012 award went to Celine Steinfeld of the
Australian Wetlands, Rivers and Landscapes
Centre at the University of New South Wales,
for her research in aquatic ecosystem science
and management.
For more than a decade, the Thiess name
has been synonymous with the International
RiverFoundation and programs such as the
Thiess International Riverprize, the International
Riversymposium and scholarships to study
and apply solutions to the water challenges in
developing countries.
Thiess has touched the neediest, in the most
water challenged parts of the world and inspired
excellence in river restoration projects in Europe,
Asia and North America.
The company and Thiess family are active in all of
these programs, making a huge difference both in
Australia and overseas.
34 DIRECTIONS | SUMMER 2012–2013
HUNTER LIFE EDUCATION Life Education program for 500 disadvantaged children
CAMP QUALITY NEWCASTLE Camp for families with a child living with cancer
GRETA PUBLIC SCHOOL A ‘boys to men shed’ providing knowledge and skills for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds
MUSWELLBROOk CARELINk Medical equipment for cancer and palliative care patients
WANARUAH LOCAL ABORIGINAL LAND COUNCIL Motion-activated cameras to monitor wildlife on community-held lands
BELLBIRD COMMUNITY PLAYGROUP Funding to subsidise memberships for families facing financial difficulties
TOY BOx Purchase of educational toys for isolated communities in the region
THIESS HUNTER VALLEY GRANT RECIPIENTS
DisaDvantageD teenagers anD chilDren
with cancer are among those to benefit
from seven community grants awarDeD
in the new south wales hunter valley.
The charities received grants of up to $10,000 in
the latest round of Thiess Community Grant funding,
part of our corporate social responsibility
program – care.
The company donated more than $42,000 for
initiatives as diverse as a life education program;
a camp for children with cancer; a program to
support disadvantaged teenage boys and medical
equipment for cancer patients.
The grants program attracted 49 applications and
selecting the successful applicants was a tough
task for the judging panel.
Australian Mining Operations Manager David Vink,
who was on the judging panel, says the program
was a great way for the teams working in the
region to give back to local organisations.
“We have been working in the Hunter Valley for
more than 20 years and our employees live and
work here, so it’s important that we support
organisations that are providing essential
services,” he said.
Camp Quality Fundraising Coordinator (Newcastle)
Donna George says the grant will be used to run
a camp for families with a child recently diagnosed
with cancer.
“You made our year – this money will have such
a positive impact on our kids and their families,”
she said.
Our local project teams were so impressed with
the calibre of applications they have decided to
support seven additional organisations that
narrowly missed out on funding.
Our Hunter Valley works include the mine
operations at Mt Owen and constructing the
eastern section of the Hunter Expressway.
Thiess’ services business has remediation and
energy contracts in the region.
cSr Program FunDS
hunter valley charitieS
SUMMER 2012–2013 | DIRECTIONS 35
SChOOL NuRSERIES leave a legacy
On behalf of Thiess, Greening Australia delivered
mobile nurseries to eight primary schools in New
South Wales, Queensland and the ACT earlier this
year. The nurseries taught students about growing
native plants and restoring habitat for wildlife.
Students potted more than 2,100 plants
which are now growing in Greening Australia’s
community nurseries for future use in major
restoration projects, such as the Great Eastern
Ranges Initiative (GER), which is one of Australia’s
largest conservation efforts.
The children also received their own plants to take
home, with students at some of the schools
donating their seedlings to create community
gardens.
Greening Australia CEO Brendan Foran said staff
welcomed the opportunity to teach children about
the importance of the environment.
“Through Thiess’ support we connected local
communities and schools with practical and
engaging environmental training,” Mr Foran said.
“The schools’ feedback has been outstanding and it
was fantastic to see the teams go above and
beyond by getting involved personally.”
Team members joined in a number of the nurseries,
working alongside staff and students to train the
next generation.
Executive General Manager Richard Kelleway
said the business was delighted to be part of
the initiative.
“We are committed to the environment and
rehabilitation, and educating younger generations
like this, and supporting major conservation
initiatives, are great ways to leave a longstanding
legacy,” Mr Kelleway said.
“It is a fitting tribute to 25 dynamic years of growth
and evolution as a business and a reminder that
sustainability means being an active part of our
communities to make a difference.”
A FREE SCHOOL NURSERY PROGRAM, SPONSORED BY THIESS’ SERVICES BUSINESS AS PART OF ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS, HAS GIVEN MORE
THAN 1,000 STUDENTS NEW SkILLS TO SUPPORT A HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT.
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SERVICES
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