Conference Agenda

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.

People, Place and Pulse – Re-energising Launceston

• Northern Tasmania's most populous urban centre, Launceston, is a city in transition.
• Thanks to the ten-year Launceston City Deal, Launceston has a renewed focus on jobs and skill growth, education, new industries and inner-city revitalisation.
• In recent years, Launceston has leveraged its location at the junction of three rivers to create new tourism and recreational developments, and to build on its reputation as one of Australia's most family friendly cities.
• Through the Launceston City Heart Project, the city has embarked on a transformation of its CBD public spaces — many of which had not seen significant upgrades since the 1970s — to make them more navigable, accessible and pedestrian friendly.
• Exciting projects like the delivery of Riverbend Park — Tasmania's newest and best all-abilities playground — and infrastructure upgrades at the Cataract Gorge have showcased Launceston's liveability and lifestyle offerings to new audiences.
• The city is also bringing education to the fore, with the University of Tasmania's Northern Transformation Project relocating elements of its campus closer to central Launceston.
• As a city undergoing significant change and renewal, Launceston has encountered a wide range of challenges and opportunities in recent years and has learned many lessons along the way.

Councillor Danny Gibson, Deputy Mayor, City of Launceston

Examining Tasmania’s Southern Growth Area

• Created in collaboration with the Tasmanian Government and the Clarence, Glenorchy, Hobart and Kingborough Councils, a legislative framework has been established to drive strategic decision making across the region and develop a blueprint for future strategic infrastructure investment.
• The Hobart City Deal is a partnership between Federal, State and the Hobart metropolitan councils to embrace the budding opportunities for growth within the areas whilst also addressing emerging challenges.
• Affectionally known as one of the Greater Hobart Councils, Glenorchy is a growing urban community that boasts numerous housing, employment and investment opportunities.

Bec Thomas, Acting Mayor of Glenorchy, Glenorchy City Council

Shining a Light on Innovation in City Government

There is a traditional view that local governments administer civil and waste projects, yet the complex problems facing cities today aren’t resolved with “rates roads and rubbish” solutions. So, how do city managers pivot to embed innovation as “the thing we now do” to make change, scale and speed the new normal?

The City of Hobart has enacted broad structural changes over the last two years. These changes have initially set the foundation for delivery of its Connected Hobart smart cities program. However, importantly, these changes will also allow Council to consider the impacts of the relocation of UTAS into the city centre and to collaborate through a range of strategic partnerships on the activation of Macquarie Point and the implementation of multiple city-shaping initiatives within the Greater Hobart City Deal.

Peter Carr, Director City Innovation, City of Hobart

Address by Infrastructure Tasmania

Martin Blake, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Infrastructure Tasmania

The Road Ahead – Mac Point on The Move

• Mac Point is moving ahead with plans underway to release the first parcel of land for permanent development.
• Mary will look at the year ahead and the major milestones that will take place for the precinct as well as discuss the complexities that the Corporation has faced in getting it to this stage.
• This is an exciting time for the Macquarie Point Development Corporation and the legacy we will leave will be one that is well considered, responsible and something to be enjoyed for generations to come.

Mary Massina, Chief Executive Officer, Macquarie Point Development Corporation

Tasmanian Tourism Responding Strongly

The last year has been incredibly challenging for the tourism and travel industry globally. In Tasmania, tourism directly and indirectly supports approximately 15% of the total employment and drives substantial flow-on effects to other industries. 

A healthy Tasmanian visitor economy delivers social, cultural and economic benefits for our visitors, industry and the Tasmanian community. In responding to the immediate challenges, industry recovery planning has not lost sight of ambitious vision for the future where Tasmania is a global leader in responsible and sustainable tourism.

John Fitzgerald, Chief Executive Officer, Tourism Tasmania

Future-proofing Tasmania’s Multi-port System  

TasPorts’ Port Master Plan delivers a coordinated vision for the future of Tasmania’s ports.

Through the provision of greater capacity and capability at Tasmania’s primary ports, these initiatives will ensure a network of fit-for-purpose infrastructure to facilitate future growth and demand. 

Priority Initiatives under the plan include:

• Devonport East Redevelopment: The Port of Devonport is an integral part of TasPorts’ Port Master Plan. The requirement to ensure fit-for-purpose infrastructure to meet future demand remains a high-order priority for the company.
• Burnie Export Gateway: following industry engagement during the last two years, TasPorts has evolved its planning for the Port of Burnie, culminating in the development of the Burnie Export Gateway. This initiative will lay the foundation for exponential growth in Tasmanian mineral exports to global markets over a 30-year horizon.
• Macquarie Wharf Redevelopment: as a key component of the Port Master Plan, significant opportunity has been identified to enable growth in tourism, trade and Antarctic sectors at the Port of Hobart.

In February 2021, Infrastructure Australia included two of these initiatives, at the ports of Hobart and Burnie, in their Priority List 2021, thus recognising them to be nationally significant.

Stephen Casey, TasPorts Chief Operating Officer, TasPorts

TasWater’s Long Term Strategic Plan: 2018 – 2037

In August 2017, TasWater published its first Long Term Strategic Plan (LTSP) covering the period from 2018 to 2037.

The objective of the LTSP was to provide long-term strategic direction to the business by identifying the key outcomes to be delivered to Tasmanian customers over a 20-year period. As part of its development, TasWater engaged heavily with its customers and stakeholders to identify and prioritise the outcomes that mattered to them the most. To support delivery of the outcomes, TasWater also undertook a complete review of its delivery model and implemented changes to its resourcing and recruitment strategies.

In the four years since the LTSP was developed, TasWater has made considerable progress towards achieving its targeted outcomes. All Public Health Alerts have been removed, full microbiological compliance has been achieved for two years in succession and environmental compliance outcomes have improved.

By focusing on the customer and improving customer service outcomes, TasWater has also delivered a significant increase in customer satisfaction during this time.

More broadly, TasWater’s strategic focus has grown since the first LTSP was published, with a greater focus on customer experience, embedding an innovative mindset, embracing opportunities from advances in digital technologies and better understanding TasWater’s impact on the environment and issues such as climate change.

The LTSP is currently being refreshed to take into account the progress that has been made since 2018 and TasWater’s broader strategic focus. As part of this refresh, a new Vision 2050 statement is also being developed to support TasWater’s long-term strategic focus.

Mr Brewster will provide an overview of the history of the LTSP, its key elements, what progress has been made, key lessons learned to date and where to from here.

Mike Brewster, Chief Executive Officer, TasWater

The University of Tasmania’s Transformation Projects: Exploring What Truly Tasmanian Major Projects Might Be

• Northern Transformation Project ($300M) at West Park, Burnie (due mid-2021) and Inveresk, Launceston (due late 2021 to 2024).
• Southern Transformation Project will see the University consolidate its presence in the Hobart CBD over the next decade.
• These projects are key to our strategy to improve Tasmania’s educational attainment, health, economic performance, social inclusion, cultural participation and environmental sustainability.

Professor Rufus Black, Vice- Chancellor, University of Tasmania

Making Tasmania Renewable: Robbins Island and Jim’s Plain Renewable Energy Park 

• The $1.5b Robbins Island Renewable Energy Park is located in the NW of Tasmania in area exposed to some of the best wind resources in the world.  
• The 1000MW development will provide low-cost energy for Tasmanians, support Battery of the Nation and assist in reducing Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions.
• The project involves the development of infrastructure such as transmission lines, roads, a bridge and a wharf in addition to the installation of wind turbines, batteries and solar panels. 
• The presentation will cover the challenges in developing a project of this scale, where it’s at, and where to next.

David Pollington, Chief Operating Officer, UPC\AC Renewables

The TasWater Capital Delivery Office – An Alliance Presents Challenges and Opportunities

Established in July 2019, the TasWater Capital Delivery Office (CDO) manages major elements of TasWater’s ambitious 10-year, $1.8 billion Capital Works Program from inception to completion.

• The CDO remit includes planning, design, procurement and delivery phases of projects identified for delivery within TasWater’s Long Term Strategic Plan (LTSP).
• The CDO is an Alliance. Often expectations within the Alliance partners and external stakeholders are that a large quantity of projects will be constructed within months of setup. History shows this rarely happens. The early period of every Alliance is always challenging. The CDO has been no different.
• Overcoming these challenges should not deflect or distract from the many benefits the CDO brings to Tasmania and the opportunities it presents for those choosing to work with it.
• Mr Penman will talk about what the CDO does, the progress made delivering TasWater’s Capital Works Program and summarise the future opportunities for current, and prospective, supply chain partners to work together with the CDO to deliver infrastructure for the Tasmanian community.

Ian Penman, Alliance Program Manager, TasWater Capital Delivery Office

Marinus Link: Delivering Low-Cost, Reliable and Clean Energy

Marinus link and the supporting North West Transmission Developments supports Australia’s continuing transition to a clean energy future. Together they will create billions in economic growth, thousands of jobs, and be a source of skills, training and workforce development in regional Tasmania and Victoria.

TasNetworks on behalf of the State of Tasmania and the Australian Government is progressing investigation into a new interconnector between Victoria and Tasmania, known as Marinus Link. Together with supporting transmission developments in Tasmania, Marinus Link has a strong business case. This major national infrastructure project has now entered the design and approvals phase working towards a ‘shovel ready’ project by 2023-24.

Hear an update from Bess Clark, General Manager of Project Marinus, on where the project is at and the significant benefits Marinus Link can contribute in terms of jobs, economic stimulus and enabling the transition to a green energy future.

Bess Clark, General Manager, Project Marinus, TasNetworks

PANEL DISCUSSION

Intergenerational Infrastructure: Exploring Implementation and Influence

• How to effectively deliver major infrastructure projects to best serve the state.
• Ensuring the economic benefits of major projects flow on to all regions of Tasmania.
• What infrastructure should be prioritised to promote urban development and economic growth?

Cedric Hodges, Director, Deloitte Access Economics
Craig Perkins, Chief Executive Officer & Director of Regional Development, Regional Development Australia - Tasmania
Emily Jeffrey, Director - Government Grants and Incentives, PwC Australia
Phil Gee, Managing Director, Sugden & Gee

Irrigation Infrastructure Growth in Tasmania

• Tranche 3 program of Irrigation scheme developments across the state.
• The Increasing levels of demand for highly reliable irrigation water.
• Project design and delivery approach being implemented.
• Potential economic and other benefits from these developments.

Andrew Kneebone, Chief Executive Officer, Tasmanian Irrigation

New Bridgewater Bridge – Balancing Scope with Community Expectations

• A critical part of the transport and freight link between the northern and southern regions of Tasmania, the new Bridgewater Bridge will assist Hobart’s booming outer suburbs and help improve safety and reduce congestion.
• Under the Hobart City Deal, the Australian and Tasmanian Governments have made a joint commitment of $576 million– representing the largest ever investment towards a single transport infrastructure project in Tasmania.
• The New Bridgewater Bridge Project continues to gain momentum with funding committed, procurement and planning approvals processes underway and a dedicated project team working hard towards construction starting in 2022.

Ben Moloney, Project Director, Bridgewater Bridge, Department of State Growth
Kevin Bourne, Deputy Project Director, Bridgewater Bridge, Department of State Growth

Moving Tasmania Closer to Battery of the Nation (BotN)

• The vision for the Battery of the Nation: a significant contribution to Australia’s transition to a clean energy future
• A comprehensive hydropower portfolio response to more interconnection
• Virtual storage and commercial mechanisms for the future market

Caroline Wykamp, Executive General Manager, Commercial, Hydro Tasmania

Granville Harbour Wind Farm - Bringing Clean Energy to Tasmania

Late last year, Granville Harbour Wind Farm became the catalyst for Tasmania reaching its goal of 100 percent renewable energy two years ahead of schedule.  Now operational, the wind farm supplies 46,000 homes across the State.

Construction of this $280 million asset proved to be one of the most complex engineering projects in the State.  This presentation will cover:

• Complexities of delivering large infrastructure projects in Tasmania's remote West Coast.
• Critical value of building social licence to support renewable energy developments - and add to investment value.
• Understanding project risks and impacts in context and overcoming challenges to deliver best-practice outcomes.

Lyndon Frearson, Project Director, Granville Harbour Wind Farm

Data-informed Decision Making: Modelling the Labour Market to Support Workforce Development Activity and the Infrastructure Pipeline

SOFIA (Statistical Optimisation for Industry Advancement) is an online labour market needs analysis tool developed in 2020-21 by Deloitte Access Economics, on behalf of Keystone Tasmania.

This major project brings together a range of data sources to:

• Present a contemporary picture of infrastructure and construction activity, and the projected pipeline, in Tasmania.
• Forecast labour market demands in key trades, and across each sector and region.
• Add depth to our understanding of likely peaks and troughs in the local labour market.
• Facilitate evidence-based decision-making and advocacy by, and for, industry.
• Provide accessible, reliable contemporary labour market data and forecasting in a central online location.

Stage one of this project provides contemporary labour market ‘demand’ data across all sectors of the industry. In 2021, Stage two will map relevant ‘supply’ data (i.e., training and development capacity, and potential shortfalls).

Dr Karin Mathison, Chief Executive Officer, Keystone Tasmania

Transforming Australia’s Blue Economy

• The Blue Economy CRC will bring together national and international expertise in aquaculture, marine renewable energy and marine engineering in one collaborative project.
• The project will develop technology to increase productivity and efficiency of production systems.
• Project insights.

Dr John Whittington, Chief Executive Officer, Blue Economy CRC

PANEL DISCUSSION

Bringing the Project Pipeline to Fruition

• Exploring the challenges and solutions to deliver public and private infrastructure currently in the Tasmanian pipeline.
• What role does land use planning and design play in the conception of major projects and how does it impact quality of life and liveability?
• How to prioritise infrastructure to best benefit current and future Tasmanians.

Dr Karin Mathison, Chief Executive Officer, Keystone Tasmania
Emma Riley, Director and Principal Planner, ERA Planning and Environment
Joe Luttrell, Chief Executive Officer, Shaw Contracting
Mary Haverland, Technical Executive, Transport Advisory and Planning, WSP
Robert Mallett, Executive Officer, Small Business Council

Infrastructure Investment: A Regional Development Perspective

Craig will provide an overview of the current and recent infrastructure expenditure in Tasmania, and what opportunities and lessons can be applied for the future planned investment.

Craig Perkins, Chief Executive Officer & Director of Regional Development, Regional Development Australia - Tasmania