Conference Agenda

MINISTERIAL ADDRESS

Hon. Jacinta Allan, Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Victoria

Speed Networking
This speed networking session will allow delegates to introduce themselves and swap business cards with other conference attendees.

Growing and Maintaining Port Capabilities to Support Victoria’s Economy

• Contributing to the enhancement of the economic and social prosperity of the people of Victoria by providing vital infrastructure and services for national trade and tourism.

Caryn Anderson, Executive General Manager Port Growth and Planning, Port of Melbourne

Exploring Transport Network Pricing

• Evaluating user schemes that require payment based on network usage.
• Analysing potential benefits; reduced road congestion, improved health and environmental outcomes, fairer costs for users and a more sustainable revenue stream for government.
• Infrastructure Victoria’s research into identifying best practice solutions to address current and future key problem areas on Melbourne’s transport network.
• A look at Infrastructure Victoria’s 2020 Transport Network Pricing Paper.

Dr Jonathan Spear, Chief Operating Officer, Infrastructure Victoria

Modernising the Regional Network

• A joint initiative of the Victorian and Australian governments, the $4 billion Regional Rail Revival Program is upgrading every regional passenger line in Victoria and creating 3,000 jobs and supplier opportunities. 
• Program Director Mark Havryluk will provide insights into how Rail Projects Victoria is delivering this massive program of works right across the state.
• This presentation will cover the program’s expansion and progress to date, including the completion of the Ballarat Line Upgrade.

Mark Havryluk, Director, Regional Rail Revival, Rail Projects Victoria

Road Project Updates – Improving Reliability and Safety Across the State

This presentation will explore major road projects currently underway and in the pipeline for the State of Victoria. Delivered by Director of Business Strategy, Andrew Williams, this keynote session will provide the latest in project updates.

Andrew Williams, Director, Business Strategy, Major Road Projects Victoria

Melbourne’s Biggest Rail Project in 50 Years

• Incorporating twin rail tunnels, five underground stations from Arden through to Anzac south of the CBD, the Metro Tunnel will create a true turn up & go system.
• Allowing for a seamless commuter connection between the City Loop and Metro Tunnel services at the two new city stations, the project also takes trains out of the existing City Loop tunnels, freeing up space for more trains to run between the suburbs and the city.
• Maximising capacity and revolutionising Victoria’s network, the Metro Tunnel will be the first in Victoria to use High-Capacity Signalling technology.

Damian Brizzi, Package Director, Rail Systems, Rail Infrastructure and Sunbury Line Upgrade Projects, Rail Projects Victoria

Fireside Chat: COVID-19 and the Victorian Transport Sector 

• As part of the billion dollar Building Works package to support Victorian projects and jobs in the state COVID economy recovery, $328m has been allocated to roads, public transport, jetties and piers, with critical maintenance and upgrades that will support more than 600 jobs.
• This discussion will take a look at Victoria’s transport infrastructure projects and how they have been impacted by the Coronavirus. 
• Sli.do inclusive session – use code #VICTR2021 to ask participants questions!
  

Graham Currie, Professor, Transport Engineering, Monash University
William McDougall, Independent Transport Planner, Victoria

Level Crossing Removal Project – Southern Program Alliance Innovating to Support Economic Return

Stephen Litterick, Senior Executive, Acciona Geotech

Transport Projects as a Catalyst for Great Placemaking Outcomes 

We can all imagine a future where the demand for world-class public transport is far greater than anyone could have imagined in recent years. As Australian cities become denser and more urbanised, our communities have higher expectations of liveability. Great place-making is now front of mind when we plan, design and deliver transport infrastructure. The transport infrastructure ecosystem is becoming more complex than ever before.

A decade or two ago, public transport projects sometimes followed a delivery approach where complying with a ‘contract’ was an adequate outcome. Increasingly, our society expects transport projects to do more than move people around. They need to achieve a higher order of community outcomes. For example, the Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP) brings about greater safety and reliability but also a coordinated place-making approach across many locations.

Complex transport projects like LXRP require careful planning and collaborative and multidisciplinary professionals to develop robust procurement tactics. Implementing lessons from local and international urban transport projects is key to minimising risk, delivering return on investment and creating lasting community benefits. 

Mikel Alonso, Transport Market Leader - Australia, GHD

Keynote Presentation

First Works Package on the Sunbury Line

• The Sunbury Line Upgrade will deliver major track, power and station platform upgrades to enable High Capacity Metro Trains to run all the way from Sunbury to Cranbourne and Pakenham when the Metro Tunnel is operational in 2025.

• These works are being delivered by the Rail Infrastructure Alliance (RIA), a partnership between CPB Contractors, John Holland, AECOM, Metro Trains Melbourne and Rail Projects Victoria.

• RIA is working on the first two stages of the $2.1 billion project, delivering platform extensions, stabling upgrades and traction power upgrades along the western rail corridor to increase the capacity of and future proof the network.

• Engineering Manager, Colin Craney is leading the project’s engineering, design and systems assurance teams working to develop and align technical solutions for the complex connection between the Sunbury Line Upgrade, the new Metro Tunnel and the existing operational surface level metropolitan rail network.

• This involves managing the intricate interfaces between project requirements and stakeholder needs, successfully balancing the technical challenges of design with the realities of construction.

Colin Craney, Engineering Manager, CPB Contractors

Echuca-Moama Bridge Project

• Jointly funded by the Australian, Victorian and NSW Governments, the $323.7m investment will connect the Murray Valley Highway and Warren Street at Echuca with the Cobb Highway at Perricoota Road in Moama, making it quicker and easier to travel across the Campaspe and Murray Rivers.
• Part of the largest infrastructure project in northern Victoria, Stages 1 – 3 will be delivered by Major Road Projects Victoria, with Stage 4 to be delivered by NSW Roads and Maritime Services.
• Major works are planned to get underway in early 2020 with the project expected to be completed in 2022.
• Project overview.

Tony Carecos, Director, Delivery, Major Road Projects Victoria

PANEL DISCUSSION

Identifying and Prioritising Key Transport Infrastructure Projects

• How do you prioritise transport infrastructure projects when no single project is capable of solving the enormous pressure population growth can place on a community?
• Investigating the financial and environmental feasibility of various transport methods to create a pipeline of well-structured and economically viable transport infrastructure projects that will enhance the movement of people, services and goods.
• Projects that will aid the support and growth of the economy.

Owain Emslie, Senior Associate, Grattan Institute
Rachel Dapiran, Executive Director, Planning Infrastructure and Technical, Victorian Planning Authority
William McDougall, Independent Transport Planner, Victoria

PANEL DISCUSSION

Engaging Communities in the Delivery of Major Projects

• Community pressure has contributed to the cancellation, delay or mothballing of more than $20 billion in Australian infrastructure projects over the past decade.
• This panel will feature Communications and Engagement leaders involved in the delivery of some of the largest transport projects in Australia to talk about managing ever-increasing community expectations in the planning and delivery of major projects.
• The panelists will share their challenges and successes in supporting the delivery of transport projects in Victoria and New South Wales, including how they kept the wheels turning during COVID-19, and talk about emerging trends in managing communications and community engagement on high profile projects.

Jennifer Kaye, Director Strategic Communications, Level Crossing Removal Project
Mandi Davidson, National Lead – Communications and Engagement, RPS
Megan Cusack, Deputy Director Communications and Stakeholder Engagement, Melbourne Airport Rail Link (Rail Projects Victoria)
Romina Cavallo, General Manager Strategic Development, RPS
Trent Woodberry, Director Strategic Communications, Major Road Projects Victoria

Keynote Presentation

SPEED NETWORKING

This speed networking session will allow delegates to introduce themselves and swap business cards with those they are seated with and other summit attendees.

The Use of Digital Engineering in Infrastructure Projects

We discuss how state governments are increasingly turning to digital engineering modelling to avoid an era of infrastructure overruns and avoidable contractual disputes with concerning outcomes.

Andrew Loh, Director of Infrastructure, Donald Cant Watts Corke (DCWC)

ARTC: Inland Rail and the North East Rail Line Upgrade

• In Victoria, ARTC is delivering two major rail projects between now and 2025 – the North East Rail Line Upgrade and the Victorian section of Inland Rail from Tottenham to Albury.
• The upgrade project will bring much anticipated improvements to rail travel throughout North East Victoria while Inland Rail is set to transform the way freight is moved around the country.
   

Ed Walker, General Manager Victorian Projects, ARTC

Liveable Cities in the Post-COVID Era – A Public Transport Network for Everyone

Dr Tony Morton, President, Public Transport Users Association

PANEL DISCUSSION

Modernising Outer-Suburban and Regional Network Availability.

• How to improve delivery of available services – what is needed to modernise existing framework and how to allow for more facilities and services.
• What road, rail and transport infrastructure projects should be prioritised to ensure ALL of Victoria is equipped with a well-functioning and complete transport network?
• Identifying opportunities and challenges with current available services.

Bernadette George, Strategic Planner, Mildura Rural City Council
Mark Dixon, Chief Executive Officer, City of Wodonga
Nicola Ward, National Research and Policy Lead, National Growth Areas Alliance
Peter Anderson, Chief Executive Officer, Victorian Transport Association

Delivering Roads Across the Pipeline

• Supporting a return to a new-normal, the Victorian Government has allocated a $3 billion pipeline going towards implementing vital road upgrades and creating local jobs