2020 Conference Agenda

09:00 - 09:30

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

09:30 - 10:00

Eliwana’s Iron Ore Mine and Rail Project

• Located in Pilbara, WA, this $1.8 billion project will encompass the development of 143km of rail and a 30 million tonnes per annum dry ore processing facility and accompanying infrastructure
• Projected to generate 1,900 jobs during construction and 500 full-time permanent positions once open and operational

Warren Harris, Project Director Eliwana, Fortescue Metals Group

10:00 - 10:30

Perth’s Most Ambitious Public Transport Program

• Connecting Perth with more transport, housing and employment opportunities, the ambitious METRONET rail project will deliver approximately 72 kilometres of new passenger rail and up to 18 new stations.

• METRONET is the catalyst that will transform 5000 hectares of land surrounding new stations into desirable living, working and investment space
• WA will experience a higher level of connectivity by creating cohesive communities with a universally accessible range of housing, jobs and services to the growing population

Anthony Kannis, Project Director, METRONET

10:30 - 11:00

Subi East: Creating a City Village

• On the edge of Perth’s CBD, one of the State’s largest inner-city redevelopment projects will see 35 hectares of historic suburb reimagined for a new century of growth
• This transformational project will deliver over 2,000 new dwellings, creating 2,700 jobs during construction and 650 thereafter. Subi East will meet the needs of new generations and lay foundations for a strong future
• It will feature a diverse range of higher density housing options, transport links, walking and cycling paths and a network of high-quality landscaped open spaces
• Demolishing significant landmarks to create a dynamic urban village, spark economic activity and cultural regeneration, requires innovative planning and a bold vision
• DevelopmentWA is demonstrating how, through its unique combination of planning and delivery expertise, a suburban-scale renewal project has been conceived
• With history and heritage front and centre, the master planning process respects and celebrates the area’s indigenous and non-indigenous past, while creating a walkable, vibrant new gateway to Subiaco

Frank Marra, Chief Executive, DevelopmentWA

11:30 - 12:00

Preparing for The Future

• The rapid growth of smart technology, mainly electric vehicles and battery-based energy storage systems is driving the demand for lithium-ion batteries
• WA is uniquely placed to become a world leader in the battery industry with its substantial reserves of all the battery minerals used in the manufacturing of rechargeable batteries – incl. lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese and alumina. 

Rebecca Brown, Director General, Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation

12:00 - 12:30

The Australian Vanadium Project

• High-grade vanadium deposit south of Meekatharra in the Mid-West with markets in steel and renewable energy storage
• The project was awarded Federal Major Project Status in September 2019
• Estimated to generate 500 jobs during construction and 240 jobs for ongoing operation

Vincent Algar, Managing Director, Australian Vanadium Limited

12:30 - 13:00

The Outlook for the WA Economy and the Role of Infrastructure

• The WA economy continues to adjust to a ‘new normal’ of lower growth following the end of the era of supercharged commodity-linked investment
• Several opportunities and headwinds lie on the path ahead, with infrastructure and major project investment still a key determinant of our economic future

Noel Richards, Partner, Deloitte Access Economics

14:00 - 14:30

Bunbury Outer Ring Road

• Consisting of three sections – northern, central and southern – the proposed Bunbury Outer Ring Road is a 27-kilometre section of highway connecting Forrest Highway to Bussell Highway
• Identified as a priority initiative with a medium-term timescale (5-10 years) by Infrastructure Australia in 2018

Dominic Boyle, Project Director – Planning & Technical Services Directorate, Main Roads Western Australia
Mark Hazebroek, Project Director – Infrastructure Delivery Directorate, Main Roads Western Australia

14:30 - 14:50

Plan, Manage, Grow: WA’s Freight Strategy

Nicole Lockwood, Independent Chair, Westport Taskforce

14:50 - 15:10

Material Supply Chain: Getting it Right

• The challenges of non-compliant products and the risk in not demonstrating compliance.
• Update on the recent changes made to AS / NZS 4671.
• How to reduce risk with a sustainable steel supply chain. Companies are being held accountable for choices made across their supply chains, which means trust, transparency and traceability are more important than ever.

Rob Johnson, Customer and Market Relationship Manager, InfraBuild

15:40 - 16:10

Perth Airport’s Preliminary Draft Master Plan 2020

• The 2020 master plan outlines the steps that will be taken towards the consolidation of all commercial airline services to a central location
• Developing necessary infrastructure that coincides with the State’s anticipated population growth and the fostering of a better economy

Kevin Brown, Chief Executive Officer, Perth Airport

16:10 - 16:50

PANEL DISCUSSION

Promoting Successful Urban Growth and Development in Our Cities and Regions

• Identifying projects that will provide a better quality of life for commuters and deliver a stronger economy through more efficient freight and transport links
• How to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of decision-making and planning of major infrastructure projects

Planning for WA’s growing population: with the increase in investment within the State, there is a large focus on creating a longer-lasting liveable and sustainable environment

John Gelavis, Executive Director, Master Builders WA
Peter Hobbs, WA Chapter President, Australian Institute of Architects
Sandra Brewer, WA Executive Director, Property Council of Australia
Sarah Macaulay, Senior Manager Public Policy, RAC WA
Susan Kreemer Pickford, General Manager Western Australia, Engineers Australia
Tanya Steinbeck, Chief Executive Officer, UDIA (WA)

09:00 - 09:30

WA’s 20-Year Infrastructure Blueprint

• The newly established and independently run Infrastructure WA will provide expert advice on the States Infrastructure needs and priorities
• Infrastructure WA will be responsible for assessing and reporting on major government infrastructure proposals prior to investment decisions being made, providing advice on infrastructure priorities and funding and financing options, and co-ordinating the State’s submissions to infrastructure WA
• A 20-year plan will outline necessary infrastructure within the growing State

John Langoulant AO, Chair, Infrastructure WA

09:30 - 10:00

Critical health infrastructure funding

• Following a decade of unprecedented infrastructure development that included the opening of two tertiary hospitals – Fiona Stanley and Perth Children’s – Western Australia’s public health system continues to upgrade the State’s hospital infrastructure
• Planning is now underway to replace WA’s ageing women and newborns facility, King Edward Memorial Hospital 
• The State Government’s $9.1 billion health service investment – which includes $6 billion for health infrastructure development – will help ensure Western Australians’ continued access to world-class healthcare

Dr David J Russell-Weisz, Director General, Department of Health

10:00 - 10:30

The Influential Yanchep Rail Extension

• Providing essential transport links to connect residents in the northern suburbs of Alkimos, Eglinton, Two Rocks and Yanchep with the rest of Perth, this rail extension project caters to the growing population within the area
• Addressing key problems in the area: congestion due to lack of transport options, continued land development to accommodate demand within the area, and creating an accessible and affordable option for residents of a lower socio-economic status

Steve Marmion, Manager Advocacy & Economic Development, City of Wanneroo

10:30 - 10:50

Gearing up for an Impending Boom in the Engine Room of the Nation

• The Pilbara is humming once again: the City of Karratha has identified $65 billion worth of projects planned to reach FID in the next two years which are either based in our City or which will use our facilities
• This new tranche of projects are diverse in content with LNG and iron ore developments being joined by lithium, gold, salt, magnesium, urea, methanol, potash and renewable hydrogen
• Karratha house prices and rentals, have accelerated in the last 6 months and the median rental is now $620 per week, up 38% for the year, while the median dwelling price rose 18% in 2019
• Housing is once again becoming an issue and the Council is trying to implement some of the lessons it learned during the last, incredibly hectic boom period
• Council is hoping this new group of mega-projects will diversify the region’s economy and solidify it as the renewable energy hub of the nation

Cr Peter Long, Mayor, City of Karratha

11:20 - 11:40

Indigenous Economies and infrastructure Projects in WA: It Doesn’t Stop with Heritage Agreements. 

Margie will consider some of the significant opportunities for partnership provided as a result of the recent agreements reached between traditional owners and the State Government in the Mid-West and South West of WA. She will also speak to her work in delivering pro bono legal services to regional communities for small business development and educational enterprise. 

Margie Tannock, Partner, Squire Patton Boggs

11:40 - 12:00

Pluto to NWS Interconnect

• Developing a major pipeline project on the Burrup Peninsula.
• Managing a difficult construction environment with environmental and heritage sensitivities.

Jon Cleary, General Manager Commercial, Australian Gas Infrastructure Group

12:00 - 12:40

PANEL DISCUSSION

Understanding the Trends Funding the Future of WA

• The outlook of the WA economy and its influence on major infrastructure projects.
• Examining the significance of the growing utilisation of technology in mining.
• Promoting job growth in regional communities.

Adam McHugh, Director, Power & Utilities, Ernst & Young
Cath Hart, Executive Director, Housing Industry Association WA
Gavin Treasure, Chief Executive Officer, Mid West Development Commission
Noel Richards, Partner, Deloitte Access Economics
Ray Wills, Managing Director, Future Smart Strategies

13:40 - 14:00

Innovation in Supply Chain Delivers Low Risk Safety Wins

• Innovation as a tool to providing a safer supply chain
• Sharing data to provide better commercial outcomes
• Real partnership approaches – moving away from traditional buyer/supplier relationships 

Neil David, Group Manager Business Development, Western Australia & Northern Territory, LINX Cargo Care Group

14:00 - 14:30

Lithium Valley Supply Chain, Microgrids and Standalone Power Systems

• Discussion about the competitive advantages in WA.
• Critical raw materials downstream processing.
• Microgrids and standalone power systems.

Cameron Edwards, Director, InfraNomics

14:30 - 15:00

Population or Connectivity?

• Architecture begins with questions. Is Perth population a problem or is it lack fixity and connectivity?
• Is Perth’s most satisfying challenge being to find freedom amidst restrictions, striking a balance between constraint and opportunity?
• Is Perth’s proposed Designs now a new capitalism where creativity is separated from production.
• Is Perth future masterplan missing curiosity and attitude - in the past design was about rebuilding the connections between consumers and producers, which has been forgotten nowadays in financial and management circles?
• Is Perth becoming a misbehaved teenager with no sense of direction for growth and connectivity?

Fariborz Hatam, Founder, FHSI Architects