Conference Agenda

Ministerial Address

Hon. Kerry Vincent, Minister of Infrastructure, Minister for Local Government

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.

Updates and priorities at Infrastructure Tasmania

• Capital Project and Infrastructure spending Outlook to 2025.
• Hear key updates and priorities on its 10-Year State Infrastructure Strategies and Pipeline Projects.

The Northeast Wind Project

• The Northeast Wind Project has an estimated construction cost of $4 billion.
• The project is focused on the construction phase of the transmission line, to connect the wind farm to the national electricity grid.
• The project is situated in the Northeast region of Tasmania, primarily on agricultural land, and is expected to involve a significant amount of local employment during construction.
• Project update

David Pollington, Managing Director, ACEN Australia

Selfs Point Sewer Transformation Project

• TasWater is investing AUD 1.9 billion across its asset portfolio over the coming five years to ensure it can continue to deliver outstanding water and sewerage services.
• TasWater is preparing to commence the Selfs Point Sewer Transformation Project, marking the largest sewerage infrastructure investment in the history of Hobart, the capital of the state of Tasmania.
• The AUD 314 million (about USD 215 million) initiative aims to overhaul the city's sewage management system, improving environmental health and supporting future urban development.
• Project update

Tony Wilmott, General Manager - Project Delivery, TasWater

Power Smart for Small Business Program

• The objective of the Government’s “PowerSmart for Small Business” initiative is to help Tasmanian small businesses save money by becoming more energy efficient
• The Government has allocated $450,000 per year for PowerSmart for Small Business over four years ($1.8 million in total), from 2024-25 to 2027-28

PANEL DISCUSSION: Community Involvement in Construction

• Projects that actively involve the community often face fewer delays and opposition. They benefit from the practical insights of residents, leading to infrastructure that is better suited to the local context.
• Hear from a panel of experts about the good, the bad and the ugly.
• A discussion of the best practice and the risks of getting it wrong.

Catherine Searle, Director, Amazonian
Craig Limkin, Secretary, Department of State Growth
David Clerk, Chief Executive Officer, Master Builders Tasmania

Tasmania Report Vision 2028

• Discover valuable insights into Tasmania’s challenges and opportunities. 
• Look at Tasmania’s economy and roadmap of Tasmania becoming the best place in Australia to do business.

Michael Bailey OAM, Chief Executive Officer, Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Hobart Airport Upgrade 

• The project will enable the airport to accommodate larger freight and wide-body aircraft like the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350.
• The upgrade will allow for direct flights between Hobart and Asia, opening up new markets for Tasmanian businesses and producers.
• Project update

Norris Carter, Chief Executive Officer, Hobart Airport

Women in Construction - Attracting the Next Generation of Women to Construction

• This session will delve deep into Women in Construction. 
• Key Challenges and Solutions 
• Attracting more women to Construction

Catherine Rae, President Tas Chapter, NAWIC

Investing in Tasmania’s Housing Initiatives

• This session will explore innovative options for social and affordable housing, discuss the capacity constraints within the residential construction sector and explore ways to boost housing supply and housing diversity around existing infrastructure and activity corridors.

David Fisher, Chief Executive Officer, Housing Choices Australia

Investing in Bell Bay

• Outlook for Bell Bay – Economic Growth and Opportunities

Susie Bower, Chief Executive Officer, Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone (BBAMZ)

Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Construction Sector

• Unfortunately, two workers take their own lives every working day in the industry. With large workloads and long working hours on top of financial precarity in the cost-of-living crisis, stress at work can result in many construction workers struggling with their mental health.
• Not only this, but engineers and architects struggle with similar concerns - faced with pressure to work on 'impossible' projects, unhealthy work-life balances, and resource cuts - that result in mental health problems across careers.
• The session will focus on areas to improve and prevent mental health crises, including how managers can identify and support those in need.

Brad Parker, Executive Director, WorkSafe - Tasmania

Northern Cities Major Projects

• The Northern Cities Major Development Initiative is a Tasmanian Government plan designed to align workforce upskilling with local industry needs, foster innovation and entrepreneurship as well as revitalise northern cities into vibrant places to live and work in.
• This session will look at the different major projects within the region

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.

FIRESIDE CHAT: Meet the Experts in Green Hydrogen and Renewable Energy

• The latest plans for Tasmania’s energy and future industries
• Tasmania's latest energy plans focus heavily on increasing renewable energy production, aiming to double the state's renewable energy output by 2040 through the "Tasmanian Renewable Energy Target" (TRET), which includes developing Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) and establishing a Renewable Energy Services Hub at Bell Bay to support the growing sector with manufacturing, logistics, and maintenance services; this strategy also includes exploring the potential for green hydrogen production for both domestic and international markets
  

Catherine Searle, Director, Amazonian
Geoffrey Drucker, Managing Director, Countrywide Hydrogen
Kim Enkelaar, Director, Future Industries and Communication, Department of State Growth
Rachel Watson, Chief Executive Officer, Hydro Tasmania

Major Hydropower Project Developments – Tarraleah and Cethana

• Project update

Erin Van Maanen, Executive General Manager - Strategy, Hydro Tasmania

Tranche Three Program update – Tasmanian Irrigation

• Tranche Three of the Changing Places program is currently underway and will run from 2024–2025.
• Tranche Three of the Tasmanian Irrigation program involves the development of irrigation schemes around the state.
• Project update

Jacob Gerke, General Manager Program Development and Delivery, Tasmanian Irrigation

Building Tasmania’s Health Infrastructure Projects and Programs

• The Tasmanian government has invested about $650 million for major health projects which include:
• Stage 2 of the Launceston General Hospital Redevelopment and the St Johns Park Health and Wellbeing precinct
• Construction of the New Devonport Mental Health Hub The new purpose-built mental health precinct at the Launceston General Hospital

Dale Webster, Secretary, Department of Health

Arthur Highway Road Improvement Strategy

• The Arthur Highway is a vital gateway and link for residents, businesses, and people visiting Port Arthur, the Eaglehawk Neck area, and the Tasman Peninsula.
• Improving safety on the Arthur Highway to meet the current and future needs of local communities and support economic growth
• The Tasmanian Government has committed $50 million to upgrade the Arthur Highway with the Australian Government committing a further $200 million.

Overview of the Tasmanian Economy and the impact of Climate Change

• Tasmania's economy is diverse, with strengths in agriculture, tourism, and forestry. However, climate change presents significant risks, impacting agriculture, coastal areas, and potentially the entire economy.
• The state is actively working on adaptation and mitigation strategies

Cedric Hodges, Lead Economics, Deloitte Tasmania

ABEL Energy Project Update

• Bell Bay Powerfuels is a green methanol production facility located in Bell Bay, Tasmania.
• The project aims sustainably produce 300,000 tonnes of green methanol to be used as an alternative fuel for hard to abate sectors such as shipping or aviation.
• The project will complement and expand the renewable resources of Tasmania, including world-leading low-emissions renewable power and harvest residues from certified forestry plantations, to produce net-zero methanol.
• Project update

PANEL DISCUSSION: Better, Faster, Stronger: Unlocking the Potential of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC)

• Experts discuss how MMC enhances building projects through offsite manufacturing, standardized components, and advanced technology, resulting in quicker construction, superior quality control, and less waste. This makes buildings "better, faster, and stronger" compared to traditional methods.

Chris Hawkens, Tasmania State Director, WT Partnership
Max Möller, President, Engineers Australia - Tasmania
Ross Mannering, General Manager - Transport (Tasmania), Senior Principal Roads and Traffic Engineer, Pitt & Sherry
Tim Johns, State Director, Lockton Tasmania Corporate

Ministerial Address

Hon. Eric Abetz MP, Leader of the House, Minister for Transport, Minister for Business, Industry and Resources

Tasmanian Defence Industry Strategy 2029

• Understanding the capabilities of the industry and Defence’s requirements.

Strategic plans for the Port of Bell Bay

• The Port of Bell Bay is a major deep-water industrial Tasmanian port located in the north of the state.
• Look at future projects in and around the Port.

Michel de Vos, Group Executive Major Projects, TasPorts