Invitation to Offer

Status:	Current
Number:	67817
Released:	Mon, 23 Jan 2012 at 1:31PM Brisbane, Queensland
Closing:	Fri, 17 Feb 2012 at 2:00PM Brisbane, Queensland
UNSPSC:	Building and Construction and Maintenance Services - (100%)
Region/s:	Cairns & Far North Queensland source:https://secure.publicworks.qld.gov.au/etender/tender/display/tender-details.do?id=5539&action=display-tender-details

Invitation to Offer

Status:	Current
Number:	67556
Released:	Tue, 24 Jan 2012 at 8:43AM Brisbane, Queensland
Closing:	Wed, 15 Feb 2012 at 2:00PM Brisbane, Queensland
UNSPSC:	Building and Construction and Maintenance Services - (100%)
Region/s:	South East Queensland source: https://secure.publicworks.qld.gov.au/etender/tender/display/tender-details.do?id=5523&action=display-tender-details

Tourism, Manufacturing and Small Business
The Honourable Jan Jarratt
24/01/2012

Mining industry jet-powered by local firms

Major mining companies are looking to Queensland manufacturers for innovative solutions to their supply needs.

Minister for Tourism, Manufacturing and Small Business Jan Jarratt today visited Mackay firm Jet Engineering, which has gained a competitive advantage in the marketplace by providing ingenious solutions and quality products superior to overseas rivals.

"While the manufacturing sector in other states has remained flat, Queensland companies have remained ahead of the pack by looking to innovative ways to outmanoeuvre competitors China and India," Ms Jarratt said.

"Jet Engineering has undertaken some business improvement programs offered by the Government and used Government support programs to become a successful local leader as a specialist in the fabrication of industrial products.

"The company's business strength is in delivering a complete service by providing design, drafting, fabrication and installing innovative, user-friendly industrial products.

"The firm has only been in operation since 2006, but has quickly forged strong partnerships with local mining and engineering companies to ensure it is well positioned to benefit from Queensland's resources boom and ride out challenging global economic conditions.

"Jet Engineering employs twenty people and the owners pride themselves in being locally owned, employing local people and supporting local suppliers.

Jet Engineering has accessed DEEDI and QMI services and events to improve production efficiencies including:

• Probe Benchmarking exercise;
• Pro-edge Manufacturing Excellence workshop run by QMI Solutions in Mackay; and
• QMI Manufacturing Specialist spending two days with the company to assist, identify and select a suitable Enterprise Resource Planning system to integrate the planning, financial management, manufacturing and sales components of the business.

Last year the Bligh Government enacted the Queensland Industry Participation Policy Act, which requires all Queensland governments to have a local industry participation policy in place.

This requires Queensland Governments to explicitly detail how local companies will be provided with the opportunity to secure work in the supply chains associated with large Government projects or directly participate in delivering the project.

Ms Jarratt said the Government now plans to extend the Queensland Industry Participation Policy to include major private sector developments, as well as large Government projects.

"This will drive more opportunity for local companies, create more jobs and help communities share in booming investment in major infrastructure and resources projects," Ms Jarratt said.

"The LNP has criticised the Bligh Government for moving to increase local participation in major projects through our Queensland Industry Participation Policy Act, arguing it is anti-competitive to emphasise the participation of local firms.

"I reject that criticism. Our industry is working smarter and harder than ever, so I believe it is entirely responsible for this Government to be delivering policies which support and encourage industry innovation."

The proposed changes will require major project proponents, such as mining companies, to develop Local Industry Participation Plans and Workforce Development Strategies as part of the Environmental Impact Statement process.

Ms Jarratt said proponents will be required to articulate their strategies for maximising the participation of local suppliers.

"It'll make it easier for local firms to identify supply chain opportunities associated with major projects, so they can get their piece of this action," she said.

"We've already adopted this as standard for all major public sector-funded projects under the Local Industry Policy and these changes will see the same approach for major private sector investments.

"Queensland companies are engaging in Government programs to arm themselves with the knowledge and skills they need to continually improve their operations and they're getting better at identifying and capitalising on new opportunities.

"Having successfully charted a path to economic recovery in 2011, I believe the history books will record 2012 as Queensland's triumph and our Queensland Industry Participation Policy will play a large part in that story."

The ingenuity of Queensland manufacturers was reflected in the latest national Performance of Manufacturing Index published by the Australian Industry Group and Price Waterhouse Coopers.

It showed manufacturing activity remained flat everywhere except in Queensland in December, thanks largely to the servicing and supply of transport equipment.

Contact: 3224 2002

Premier and Minister for Reconstruction
The Honourable Anna Bligh
23/01/2012

PREMIER: ONE CONTRACT WILL SLASH RED TAPE IN THE HOUSING MARKET

Premier Anna Bligh has announced a plan to slash red tape in the housing market by creating a single contract for the sale of a home.

The move, which is expected to be finalised by the end of February, could decrease legal costs and reduce the number of forms that homeowners needed from up to six down to a single document.

"We have listened to the industry and they have been telling us loud and clear that this is what they want," said the Premier.

"Simplifying the paper work involved in a residential property contract will not only help conveyance lawyers and real estate agents but we believe the public will benefit from less paperwork and associated costs."

Ms Bligh said that currently, requirements in a house contract may include the need for a Sustainability Declaration, a Pool Safety Declaration, a Warning Statement, an Information Sheet, Disclosure Statement and of course the contract of sale.

"At the moment each one of these means a separate form, each with a fee, and often repeating the same type of information," said the Premier.

"We intend to rid the industry of unnecessary complications making it easier to buy and sell a home in Queensland."

The Premier said the Government would also look at phasing out the current 'sustainability declaration' needed to sell a home.

"Many of the measures contained in it are increasingly being covered by building code requirements," she said.

The Premier said her Government would now work very closely with Real Estate Institute Queensland (REIQ) and the Queensland Law Society (QLS) to structure the 'one contract' in the most simple and effective way possible.

"Additionally, we also propose to discuss with REIQ and QLS the potential to incorporate flood mapping data into the 'One Contract', pending the recommendations of the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry."

The decision to move to a 'one contract' system follows a range of submissions to the Parliamentary Legal Affairs, Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Committee and following discussions between the Queensland Law Society, Real Estate Institute of Queensland and the Attorney-General.

MEDIA CONTACT: Premier's Office - 07 3224 4500

These issues will see home owners facing household running cost increases in the next few months that will continue to rise and to generate demand by consumers for "Green" issues to be addressed through innovative design and construction.

Archicentre ACT & NSW State Manager Ian Agnew said, "people buying new homes and those undertaking renovations have a major opportunity to cut their future energy and water costs by running the 'green ruler of sustainability' across their future home or renovation".

"An accurate assessment of the sustainability of an existing home also provides the purchaser with an indication of future energy and water costs and an opportunity to get an understanding of what it would cost to improve its sustainability".

"Buying a lemon these days not only refers to purchasing a property with structural faults but also one with poor environmental credentials."

Agnew said, due to consumer and local government demand Archicentre, whose architects have a combination of design and sustainability skills, has introduced two new sustainability services as people recognise that once the energy and water (money saving) environmental features are built into the design they continue to work day after day for ever.

The Archicentre Sustainable Reports have four categories designed to help renovators, people using a building contractor tobuild a new home, owner builders and home owners.

Agnew said the service would also provide new home builders and renovators with professional guidelines and information to brief builders and specify requirements in contracts.

Building Product News 19 Jan 2012

The HIA - JELD-WEN New Home Sales report, based on a survey of Australia's 100 largest builders, showed a significant bounce for sales in November 2011.

Total seasonally adjusted new home sales increased by 6.8 per cent in November last year following a downwardly revised 2.8 per cent gain in October.

Detached house sales increased by a relatively healthy 9.8 per cent, driven primarily by a stronger showing in New South Wales and Victoria.

Multi-unit sales placed a dampener on the good news party, dropping by 17.0 per cent.

The volume of detached house sales improved in four out of five mainland states in November 2011, rising by 22.8 per cent in New South Wales, 11.6 per cent in Victoria, 5.7 per cent in Western Australia, and 4.7 per cent in Queensland. Sales fell by 11.3 per cent in South Australia.?

"This is a healthier but not unexpected result," said HIA chief economist, Dr Harley Dale.

"Only two months earlier in September 2011, detached house sales plumbed an 11 year low," said Dale.

"From this parlous starting position, and with speculation regarding a rate cut mounting and then delivered upon, anything other than some recovery in sales volumes would have been surprising, not to mention highly disturbing."

"With falling interest rates, a competitive building market, and a greater availability of skilled trades amidst still very soft overall demand conditions, now is clearly a good time to build a new home for those who are financially set to take that decision," noted Dale.

"There is, however, a long way to go to restore new home sales volumes to acceptable levels. At present sales volumes are running at least 20 per cent below what you could conservatively call healthy," Dale said.

"Interest rate cuts, both those we've had and those that are still warranted, provide a starting catalyst for a sustained and strong recovery in new home building conditions. Such a recovery won't emerge, however, without well-targeted government stimulus and without a re-engagement of the policy reform process to reduce the high and inefficient barriers to new housing supply," added Dale.

Building Product News 10 Jan 2012

Edwards says the price adjustments in 2011 were necessary, because markets were overvalued and affordability remained a problem.

This correction, he says, should ensure “we avoid the speculated housing ‘bubble bust’”.

“Our housing markets ended 2011 in a better position to where they started and I am confident that the year ahead will be better for residential property owners compared to last year,” he says.

He bases this view on the fact that in December 2010 house prices declined by 1.10% while they only declined by 0.72% in December 2011.

“Most owners should see their assets hold value or increase and this year could in fact be a good time for investor activity provided the world economy doesn’t move into severe recession as a consequence of the problems in Europe.

According to Edwards, examining the monthly trend for house and unit prices in Australia over the past two years suggests markets are “exiting a period of negative adjustment”.

“However, in my view, we should not expect any rapid uplift in housing values because current economic conditions are not capable of supporting strong consumer activity. Retail activity during the Christmas period certainly suggests that consumers are cautious,” he says.

Looking at the monthly growth trends on a capital city basis shows that Melbourne, Hobart and Perth are improving while the Canberra, Darwin, Sydney and  Brisbane markets heading down.

The bottom line, according to Edwards, “is that we have achieved a good result, and it looks like an overall improving position may be the trend in the coming year.” 

“Overall, the outcome for the year ahead will depend on interest rates, the eurozone crisis, inflation, the employment level and the carbon tax,” he says. 

Edwards says even further housing price falls in 2012 would provide opportunity. 

“Australians are much better placed than many other people in the world, and the adjustment period we have recently seen, with a clear upswing in our markets in the last few months, means that there is a reasonable chance that our markets will advance positively, albeit by a relatively small amount, in the current year,” he says. 

“Additionally, in this situation there will be bargains for the astute house hunter along with quality growth in many suburbs,” he says

http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/8731.0?OpenDocument

Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for State Development and Trade
The Honourable Andrew Fraser
22/01/2012

Economic reports highlight blockbuster growth in Qld, importance of Building Boost

Two economic reports released today say Queensland's economic growth is powering up and powering on, Deputy Premier and Treasurer Andrew Fraser said today.

"Deloitte Access Economics' Business Outlook has said Queensland has the strongest expected growth for both 2011-12 and 2012-13, ahead of every state and territory," Mr Fraser said.

"Another report, from CommSec, has ranked Queensland as having the second strongest economic growth and marked Queensland's sharp improvement and positive outlook while pointing to weakness in the housing industry.

"That's why the Bligh Government has extended the Building Boost and that's why we have called on Campbell Newman to support it.

"As the housing sector, still hung over from the GFC and tough leading conditions, catches up with the rest of the economy the $10,000 Building Boost is playing an integral role in stimulating activity.

"Industry has thrown its weight behind our 3-month extension out to 30 April. The Property Council, Master Builders and Housing Industry Association have all backed the Bligh Government's move.

"Only Campbell Newman and the LNP refuse to provide support and in doing so are refusing to support construction workers, builders and potential new home buyers.

"I wrote to Campbell Newman on Tuesday last week seeking bi-partisan support for the initiative, but a response hasn't been forthcoming.

"We know Tim Nicholls opposes the extension which can only mean Mr Newman is backing his politically focused Treasury spokesperson over the good of the housing industry.

"Campbell Newman should put politics aside and announce today that he will support the Bligh Labor Government's effort to stimulate activity and create jobs in Queensland's housing industry

Mr Fraser said he remained concerned about the methodology of the CommSec report despite its conclusion that "Queensland has been the big improver over the last three months".

Copy of the text of Mr Fraser's letter to Mr Newman:

Dear Mr Newman

I am writing to you today to seek clarity from the LNP about their position on the decision by the government to extend the Queensland Building Boost Grant of $10,000 through to 30 April 2012 in response to industry calls for an extension.

This is a move which has been formally welcomed by industry - they see the critical role the boost has been playing in assisting to restore activity and to promote confidence in this vital sector of the Queensland economy.

The only reported comments of your Shadow Treasurer of which I am aware are to the effect that the LNP believes the money should be spent elsewhere. This reported position has also raised concern in the industry in their reported comments.

Clearly the property industry deserves certainty. Prospective purchasers and investors require certainty and the jobs of people in the industry also deserve certainty.

Today you have indicated you believe the property industry to be important and jobs growth to be a priority. You could demonstrate that your sincerity by today overruling your Shadow Treasurer and committing the LNP to the extension of the Building Boost through to 30 April 2012.

To risk jobs and the recovery in the property industry on the basis of politicking would be potentially disastrous for the broader property sector.

I look forward to your early reply, as I am sure the industry does also.

Yours sincerely
ANDREW FRASER


Media contact: 07 3224 5982

Tourism, Manufacturing and Small Business
The Honourable Jan Jarratt
23/01/2012

Whitsunday eco-resort and fauna park step closer

A $30 million eco-resort and fauna park proposed for the Whitsundays is closer to becoming a reality, thanks to the Bligh Government's Growing Tourism Investment Grant program.

Tourism, Manufacturing and Small Business Minister Jan Jarratt said the project would be a huge boost for the region, filling a growing demand for high-quality, environmentally-sustainable resort accommodation and showcase the fantastic diversity of our unique fauna and flora.

"I'm delighted to announce that Ozone Whitsundays will receive $75,000 in Government funding as part of the Growing Tourism Investment Grant program to help get this exciting new project off the ground," Ms Jarratt said.

"This concept has a real point of difference from other resorts in that it will include a native fauna park and also provide outdoor activities which are not available elsewhere in the region.

"The resort is planned to include 149 accommodation rooms, central reception, restaurant, bar, shop, two conference centres, wedding area, stables and arena, high ropes course, beach volleyball and tennis courts, swimming pool and children's water activities, outdoor cinema, and walking tracks.

"The proposal also aims to offer guests a unique native-animal experience, a range of soft adventure activities, and opportunities to be involved in endangered species conservation.

"Ozone Whitsundays has already secured development approval and has been working hard to source funding to help get the project off and running.

"This grant will help the project managers to cover some of the costs of hiring an investment specialist, who will assist with attracting vital investment needed for the project to progress."

The resort's proponents Wendy Bradley and Chris Weigand said the funding would be a real game changer.

"We are delighted to receive this Grant from the Bligh Government. Since our approval in late 2010, we have been working hard to raise the capital we need to construct the Resort," Ms Bradley said.

"Unfortunately, as is the case with most tourism developments at the moment, we hit the GFC and to date have not been successful. This funding will enable us to engage a specialist with the contacts and skills that we do not have.

"With this assistance we are hopeful that before too long we will be able to deliver a world class resort to the Whitsundays which will make a major contribution to the continuing growth of tourism in the region."

Ms Jarratt said the development would be a welcome addition to the region's tourism offering, which would benefit from having a diversified product for the family and nature-based tourism market - in particular, land-based attractions and alternative accommodation.

The resort could create around 30 jobs when it opens for business.

Media contact: 3224 2002

Hansen Yuncken
Dale Steele, North Queensland Regional
Manager, Hansen Yuncken will provide an
overview of the $35 million Clinical Practice
Building project being delivered at James
Cook University’s Douglas campus together
with an insight into opportunities for suppliers
and subcontractors.  ‘Early works’ have
commenced on site and completion is
scheduled for mid-2013

Townsville Airport
Isabelle Yates, Business Development
Manager, Townsville Airport will provide an
overview of the Townsville Airport Master
Plan.  Some of the key work activities include:
 
o Terminal redevelopment
o Internal road network improvement
o Apron expansion

The Townsville Industry Business Breakfast
series is supported by the Department of
Employment, Economic Development and
Innovation, Industry Capability Network,
AusIndustry, Townsville Enterprise Limited and
Building Industry Online.