Author Archive
Bridges shine brightly for Carers Week
16 October 2017
This week Transurban Queensland, owner and operator of the go via network, is proud to be raising awareness of the significant contribution made by unpaid carers in our community by changing the lights on the Sir Leo Hielscher bridges to coral for National Carers Week.
This is the fifth consecutive year Transurban Queensland has supported Carers Week.
Transurban Queensland Public Affairs Manager Ruth Moody said Transurban Queensland was proud to continue its support of National Carers Week to help educate and promote the important role carers play in the community.
“By changing the colours of the Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges, we hope to raise awareness of the outstanding contribution unpaid carers make to our community, and the diversity of carers and their caring roles,” Ms Moody said.
Transurban Queensland also promoted Carers Week on electronic message signs along the Logan and Gateway Motorways.
Show your support for Australia’s 2.8million unpaid carers and find out more about Carers Week at www.carersweek.com.au/make-a-pledge/
National Carers Week is an initiative of Carers Australia, with primary activities funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services.
Future transport leaders get hands on experience with Constructionarium
16 October 2017
Transurban Queensland graduate engineers have joined fellow up and coming engineers to build a replica of Brisbane’s Story Bridge as part of a Constructionarium event in early October.
Constructionarium is a not for profit organisation which provides hands-on construction experience for early-career engineers.
The event provided undergraduate and graduate engineers with the opportunity to get valuable hands on experience building a scaled 1:20, 24m replica of the iconic bridge.
Transurban Queensland Group General Manager Wes Ballantine said Transurban Queensland was proud to sponsor the event as part of its commitment to support future transport leaders.
“We are committed to investing in our future transport leaders and this initiative is a great opportunity for some of our up-and-coming engineers to gain hands-on experience delivering a successful project,” Mr Ballantine said.
“The confidence they will gain from this valuable initiative will no doubt help to prepare them for the challenges they will face as they progress in their careers.”
Over eight days the team had to plan, develop and present a tender to the client, develop and track cost and quality, procure and undertake earthworks and landscaping, construct the bridge, and give a hand-over presentation to industry stakeholders.
Transurban Queensland Graduate Engineer Emma-Lee Wood was the Project Manager and said the experience was a great opportunity to learn more about teamwork, leadership, delegation and establishing and maintaining a strong team culture.
“It was a fantastic experience and I was grateful to be given the opportunity to be challenged and work with my fellow graduates in the construction industry,” Ms Wood said.
“During the program I realised how much Transurban’s Graduate Development Program had equipped me for the role. From my experience working in Transurban Queensland’s Business Development and Project Delivery teams, and in the construction team on the Gateway Upgrade North Project, I was able to answer questions about the tender process, as well as construction, safety and quality issues.”
Transurban Queensland Graduate Engineer Emmaline Clark also participated in the challenge and said she would highly recommend the experience to other early engineering professionals and undergraduates.
“Working in a team of 18 people from five different companies representing varying industry sectors was a great opportunity to develop collaborative skills,” Ms Clark said.
“Having such a diverse range of people brought great knowledge to the team, which contributed to the overall successful completion of the build.”
The 5 tonne Constructionarium version was built at the Construction Training Centre site at Salisbury.
Clem7 Control Centre opens its doors for Brisbane Open House
10 October 2017
Transurban Queensland was pleased to open the Clem7 Tunnel Control Centre (TCC) to the public over the weekend as part of Brisbane’s Open House festival.
The sold out event saw around 100 visitors get an exclusive behind the scenes look into how a tunnel operates. The tour included exclusive access into the control room, which monitors the tunnel 24/7, the emergency response vehicles and the Northern Ventilation Outlet.
Transurban Queensland Stakeholder Manager Tony Meredith said Transurban Queensland was proud to take part in the event.
“This is a rare opportunity for the public to learn more about what goes on behind-the-scenes of a tunnel and to see what it takes to keep motorists moving safely through the tunnel,” Mr Meredith said.
“The safety of motorists is our number one priority, so we’re delighted to be able to demonstrate how our tunnel operators use systems such as closed circuit television cameras and automatic incident detection systems to ensure motorists have a fast, efficient and safe trip.”
Brisbane Open House is a free public festival that celebrates Brisbane’s architecture and offers behind the scenes access to 100 buildings across the city.
Clem7 Tunnel Control Centre open for Open House Brisbane
About Clem7 TCC
The Clem7 TCC, located in Bowen Hills, manages all aspects of the tunnel’s operation including traffic control, environmental system management and incident response. The centre is operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to ensure motorists have a safe, quick and reliable journey through Clem7.
The TCC site also houses the Northern Ventilation Outlet. It’s big, bold and iconic, with a colour palette inspired by the natural environment of Brisbane and represents a Poinciana Tree. Its twin, the Southern Ventilation Outlet, is located in Woolloongabba and represents a Jacaranda Tree.
These buildings house large exhaust fans, critical to the safe operation of the tunnel. The northern outlet building is linked to the northbound Clem7 tunnel via an air off-take tunnel, which runs underneath the RNA showgrounds.
Transurban Queensland raises $175,000 for children’s charity
19 September 2017
On Friday 15 September, Transurban Queensland hosted its annual Charity Challenge which saw more than 300 guests, business partners and stakeholders from the transport/infrastructure industry embrace their inner child at a carnival themed event, which raised $175,000 for children’s charity Ronald McDonald House South East Queensland.
Transurban Queensland Group General Manager Wes Ballantine said Transurban Queensland was proud of its ongoing partnership with Ronald McDonald House as part of its commitment to invest in communities.
“We are overwhelmed with the support and generosity shown today by all of our sponsors and business partners who have supported this worthy event,” Mr Ballantine said.
“To raise $175,000 for Ronald McDonald House is an incredible achievement and we hope the money will make a real difference for families who need a home away from home when a seriously ill child requires hospital treatment.”
A very special thank you to the Charity Challenge major sponsor UBS and gold and silver sponsors CPB Contractors, Mi Electric, PWC, King & Wood Mallesons, Lendlease Services, Morgan Stanley, EGIS, Ventia, McDonalds, Aurecon, Accenture, Credit Solutions & SLF lawyers, KPMG, Deloitte, Kapsch and SMEC.
Bridges shine yellow for Queensland Road Safety Week 2017
20 years of supporting the Bridge to Brisbane
8 August 2017
This year marks the 20th consecutive year the go via network has supported the iconic Sunday Mail Bridge to Brisbane day.
On Sunday 27 August, 30,000 community members will come together to take part in Queensland’s largest community fun run and raise much-needed funds for charity.
As a major supporter of the event, the go via network is pleased to be providing safe access for runners across the Go Between Bridge for the event.
As part of our commitment to keep traffic moving safely and efficiently, tolls on the Clem7 and Go Between Bridge will be waived for motorists from 2am – 1pm on the day to account for major road closures.
For more information and to register, visit bridgetobrisbaneday.com.au
go via network lights up for NAIDOC week
Transurban Queensland recognises community grant recipients
9 June 2017
This week Transurban Queensland, operator of the go via network, recognised the successful recipients of its latest round of community grants.
At a special morning tea hosted by Transurban Group General Manager Queensland Wes Ballantine, representatives from each organisation spoke about the significant difference the grant would make to their local communities.
Transurban Group General Manager Queensland Wes Ballantine, with representatives from each organisation awarded a community grant.
The Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Sport and Recreation Association of Qld – to purchase specialised equipment for use in its fitness and rehabilitation facility. Over 230 individuals access the gym for a total of over 7900 visits per year.
Cerebral Palsy League of Queensland – to purchase a Meywalk Walker for use within the Walkways Mobility Program and the statewide Equipment Loans Library service, which allows mobility equipment to be trialled, borrowed and shared across any of CPL’s nearby regions.
Preterm Infants Parents Association Inc – to extend the Family Project to the Logan and Ipswich hospitals. The project provides financial assistance to families with a premature baby.
Kuraby Special School – to help transform a space within the school to build a butterfly garden where all members of the school community can enjoy watching butterflies and other insects. Memorial plaques which celebrate previous students who have died will be relocated into the butterfly garden.
Endeavour Foundation VLE Road Safety – to support the development of road safety software specific to Cooper Plains. Through the use of virtual reality technology, people with a disability will be taught appropriate actions and road safety.
The Edge Youth and Community Service Limited – to recruit and train ten new volunteer mentors and purchase resources for the Building Blocks Mentoring Program, which provides one-on-one mentors for students who are identified and referred by local schools.
FSG Australia – to fund a 9-week Health and Wellness Program for 15 students in year 11 or 12 at Park Ridge High who are at risk of disengaging with secondary schooling and the community.
Life’s Little Treasures Foundation – to purchase six Britax Unity Car Seats, the only car seat specifically designed and tested for low birth weight babies, for families with a premature baby at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Brisbane.
World Access For The Blind Australia Ltd – to support three school-based workshops run by Daniel Kish, renowned expert and certified mobility specialist visiting Australia during April/May.
Since early 2015, Transurban Queensland has awarded 48 grants to local community groups along the go via network, totalling $121, 810.
Adding value to local communities is a key part of Transurban vision ‘to strengthen communities through transport’ and our commitment to be good neighbours.
The Community Grants Program operates on a six monthly basis, providing organisations with a regular opportunity to receive funding to support initiatives that generate social and environmental benefits for local communities.
Transurban Queensland announces Indigenous Traineeship program
2 June 2017
This week Transurban Queensland was proud to launch a new Indigenous traineeship program in partnership with Aboriginal Employment Strategy (AES) as part of Transurban’s second Reconciliation Action Plan, Innovate RAP.
The program was announced at a special National Reconciliation Week event held on Wednesday 31 May with Transurban Queensland employees, AES representatives and a special performance by students from the Aboriginal Centre for Performing Arts (ACPA).
Transurban Queensland General Manager Jackson Ross said the traineeship program aimed to create career development opportunities and pathways for people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island descent in our local communities.
“This program will help Transurban Queensland deliver real opportunities for Indigenous communities and supports our vision of strengthening communities through inclusion, respect and valuing difference,” Mr Ross said.
We want to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment outcomes and create a workplace where all employees feel comfortable expressing their heritage and feel proud of Transurban’s contribution to the reconciliation journey.”
Transurban Queensland will recruit two trainees as part of the 12-month traineeship program.
Transurban Group General Manager, Queensland Wes Ballantine (left) and Transurban Queensland General Manager Jackson Ross (far right) with students and representatives from the Aboriginal Centre for Performing Arts at a National Reconciliation Week event.
At the celebration, students from ACPA, previous recipients of a Transurban community grant, performed a Welcome to Country and a contemporary Indigenous fusion performance.
Mr Ross said it was great to experience the rich traditions of Indigenous dance, music and storytelling performed by young and emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.
“We’re delighted to experience the outstanding talent of these young artists and find out more about how ACPA is helping the students pursue their creative careers.”
Transurban also supported National Reconciliation Week by lighting the Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges red, yellow, blue and green. Electronic message signs across the go via network also reminded motorists about National Reconciliation Week and this year’s theme ‘Let’s Take the Next Steps’.
For more information about Transurban’s Reconciliation Action Plan visit transurban.com/rap
go via network celebrates National Reconciliation Week
30 May 2017
The iconic Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges will shine red, yellow, blue and green this week in recognition of National Reconciliation Week from 27 May – 3 June 2017.
Transurban Queensland, operator of the go via network, is proud to be supporting this important national event that celebrates and builds on the respectful relationships shared by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians.
National Reconciliation Week is an important opportunity to reflect and celebrate the contributions and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and focus on what must still be done to achieve reconciliation.
This year’s event marks two significant anniversaries in Australia’s reconciliation journey – 50 years since the 1967 referendum, and 25 years since the historic Mabo decision.
In addition to bridge lighting, electronic message signs across the go via network will remind motorists about National Reconciliation Week and this year’s theme ‘Let’s Take the Next Steps’.
Transurban will also host a number of internal events to reflect on our ongoing commitment to the reconciliation journey and making a positive difference to the communities in which we operate through our Reconciliation Action Plan.
For more information about National Reconciliation Week, visit www.reconciliation.org.au/nrw/
