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Keeping up with the infrastructure boom

The explosion of new infrastructure projects across Australia sets up the nation for an exciting 2018, and new supply chain trade show MEGATRANS2018 is aiming to bring industry together to make the most of the boom.

The explosion of new infrastructure projects across Australia sets up the nation for an exciting 2018, and new supply chain trade show MEGATRANS2018 is aiming to bring industry together to make the most of the boom.With a significant pipeline of infrastructure projects in development across Australia, from the $9.3 billion Inland Rail to Melbourne’s $11 billion Metro Tunnel Project, Boral CEO and Managing Director Mike Kane’s comment to the Australian Financial Review last August “the infrastructure boom is on us now” is apt.

The Boral chief further told the publication that he expects the nation’s infrastructure boom to last up to a decade.

Similar sentiment is being experienced across the country, with the term ‘infrastructure boom’ being used, and justified, by the extensive federal and state government investment in infrastructure outlined in respective state budgets.

The 2017-18 Federal Budget outlined major investment in Australia’s air, road and rail infrastructure over the next 10 years with approximately $75 billion allocated to infrastructure. Darren Chester, then-Federal Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, also dubbed the “once in a generation” $20 billion investment in the nation’s passenger and freight rail the “centrepiece” of last year’s Federal Budget.

In New South Wales, the state government continues to make record investments in infrastructure, committing $72.7 billion over the next four years. The Queensland Government outlined $42.75 billion over four years for infrastructure projects and even the South Australian Government’s $2.2 billion spend was its highest on record, exceeding the state’s annual $1.5 billion investment in infrastructure.

Western Australia exceeded previous investments in infrastructure with a $2.7 billion spend on the state’s roads alone, incorporating 20 key projects in the region.

With infrastructure and the immense projects shaping Australia’s future front and centre in 2018, understanding new developments and disruptive technology will become key factors in how Australia’s infrastructure is best designed, built and optimised to cater for what the future will bring.

MEGATRANS2018, a new multimodal trade show, will bring together those who plan, implement and control the efficient forward flow and storage of goods and services between the point of original and the point of consumption for the first time. As the backbone to the supply chain, the infrastructure industry and the myriad sectors that comprise it – including road, rail, energy, utilities – has an important role to play, and is a key component of the new trade show.

Taking place over Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre’s entire 30,000-sqare-metre floor space, the event comprises house four main sections – Logistics & Materials Handling/Warehousing & Storage, Road Transport, Air, Sea & Rail, and Infrastructure – with an emphasis on technology throughout.

MEGATRANS2018 is supported by the Australian Government, the Victorian Government, the Port of Melbourne and Isuzu Trucks, with Australia’s peak national civil construction industry body, Civil Contractors Federation (CCF), as the Major Partner for the Infrastructure section of multi-modal supply chain event.

“Infrastructure is a key piece of the supply chain and freight equation, so backing this show is an important step for us and our 2000-strong membership,” says CCF CEO Chris Melham.

“CCF members construct Australia’s civil infrastructure thereby shaping the Australia economy – asphalt and pavement, road, rail, bridges, tunnels, pipelines and port construction along with intelligent transport systems and other aspects of infrastructure development.

“We look forward to being a part of MEGATRANS2018 and its dedicated Infrastructure space.”

Infrastructure construction, roadworks and aggregate supplier Fulton Hogan is another key industry name to join the infrastructure contingent of MEGATRANS2018, joining the likes of concrete and infrastructure provider Gough Industrial Solutions, industrial automation products specialist Daanet and tyre recycler Tyrecycle.

MEGATRANS2018 also incorporates a number of key industry events, including a Victorian Government Ministerial Breakfast, the Australian Logistics Councils Technology Forum, the Australian Road Transport Suppliers Association Global Leaders’ Summit, the Global Shippers Forum and the ninth annual Logistics & Materials Handling Mercury Awards.

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