MAJOR PROJECTS CONFERENCE SHOWS THE WAY FORWARD

Queensland’s continuing boom in infrastructure will be under the spotlight when leading public and private sector providers gather in Brisbane on October 14.

More than 1000 delegates from dozens of industries are expected to attend this year’s Major Projects Conference, run by the Department of Infrastructure and Planning.

Now in its sixth year, the state’s top infrastructure conference is notable for updates and for the release of Projects Queensland, a publication which details projects worth more than $30 million.

This year Projects Queensland will outline around 600 new, existing and just completed projects with a combined value of more than $250 billion.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Paul Lucas said the conference would assume extra importance in the “Year of Infrastructure Delivery” and following the State Government’s record 2008-09 infrastructure budget of $17 billion.

“Queensland is a great place for business with strong population growth stimulating the economy and leading to higher standards of living,” Mr Lucas said.

“Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show construction was the standout contributor to Gross State Product Growth in 2006-7 with nearly thirty percent of Queensland’s total.

“The Bligh Government is playing its role with a massive $107 billion infrastructure investment in south-east Queensland over the next 20 years and $36 billion for the regions over the next decade.

“Our capital works investment for this financial year will support more than 119,000 jobs and more than half of the investment will occur outside Brisbane.”

Themed ‘Looking forward. Delivering now’ the 2008 conference will include a special 90-minute interactive forum on financing and innovation with key speakers from industry and government.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh will officially open the conference and the Deputy Premier will close proceedings.

Speakers, including Tony Bellas from The Seymour Group, Graham Dooley from Surat Basin Railway, John Richards from Brisbane Airport Corporation and other energy, transport and resources industry chiefs, will outline challenges and opportunities around their projects.

The conference, held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, will run from 7am until 4.30pm followed by a 90-minute networking function.

Major sponsors include Conics, Hanson Construction Materials, Minter Ellison Lawyers, Piling Contractors, Rowland, SKILLED and Turner and Townsend.

The cost, including a copy of Projects Queensland Issue 27, is $450 per delegate.

For more information visit www.mpc.qld.gov.au or contact (07) 3854 1611.

On October 15 the Department of Infrastructure and Planning will also host a one-day technical conference on the $9 billion South East Queensland Water Grid.

The conference, Securing Our Water Future – Building the South East Queensland Water Grid, will focus on the Queensland Government’s pioneering strategy to secure water supplies for the region.

Speakers will examine the design, delivery, innovations and lessons learned in building the water grid. There will be presentations on each of the water grid projects and the conference will also address the management of the region’s water supply for the next 50 years.

It will be held from 8am to 4.45pm at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Merivale Street, South Brisbane, at a cost of $300 per delegate. For registrations contact 3854 1611, free-call 1800 814 611 or visit waterconference@dip.qld.gov.au

Media contact: Chris Bishop (07) 3227 8425