Department of Public Works

DPW

Brisbane home to Australia's greenest building
The $44.5 million Zillmere Joint Contact Centre today (18 November 2009) received the highest Green Star design rating ever given to an office building in Australia. The departmental-owned building received a 6 Star Green Star - Office Design v2 rating from the Green Building Council of Australia. The planning, coordination and design of this project was undertaken by the Department of Public Works in cooperation with Queensland Police. Construction is currently underway by Glenzeil Pty Ltd at Cambewarra Street, Zillmere. The completed project will provide 24 hour, seven day, contact centre facilities for Smart Service Queensland and Queensland Police.
Applications closed for 2010 apprentices
Applications are now closed for apprenticeships with Queensland’s construction and maintenance organisation, QBuild. Some of the trades QBuild will be offering include: carpentry, plumbing, fitting and turning, electrical mechanics, painting, refrigeration mechanics, shop fitting, glazing and cabinet making. In order to promote regional growth, 65 of the 100 apprenticeships will be located outside the Brisbane Metropolitan area. QBuild is continuing to work closely with schools across Queensland, offering 15 school-based apprenticeships within the positions.
$600 000 for community memorials
$600 000 has been made available in 2009-10 for the Community Memorials Restoration Program to assist restoring valuable community memorials. Through the Program, the Queensland Government provides dollar-for-dollar grants of up to $25,000 to local councils and other organisations to restore and repair significant local memorials. Up to $15 000 is offered for cemetery related projects. For further information, click here.
New members for Public Records Review Committee
Nine members have been appointed to the Queensland Government's Public Records Review Committee. The Committee was established in 2003 and helps manage the State's official records. It is a statutory body, established under the Public Records Act 2002, to advise the Minister and the State Archivist on the administration of the Act. The following new Committee members have been appointed: Chairperson Mr Miguel Diaz, Business Development Director, Minter Ellison Lawyers Ms Robyn Hill, Director of Courts, Department of Justice and Attorney-General Ms Lyn Botsman, Senior Manager, Public Service Commission. Continuing Committee members are: Mr Chris Rose, Chief Executive Officer, Logan City Council Ms Margaret Strelow, small business owner from Rockhampton Professor Malcolm Thomis, Professor Emeritus and Honorary Research Consultant, University of Queensland Ms Leonie Short, Senior Lecturer in Oral Health Therapy, Griffith University Gold Coast Dr Jennifer Harrison, Research Historian and Research Advisor, University of Queensland Researcher, Australian National University Mr Chris Gorry, Director of Group Advantage Pty Ltd.
Queensland’s newest bridge opens
On 4 October 2009 Queensland Premier Anna Bligh officially opened the $63.3 million Kurilpa Bridge linking the cultural precinct with the Brisbane CBD. The design of Kurilpa Bridge is a world-first for Brisbane and an exciting new landmark for the State which is celebrating its 150^th anniversary. It is the world’s largest tensegrity pedestrian and cycle bridge which balances tension and compression components to produce a light but incredibly strong structure. It is anticipated that around 36,500 people will use Kurilpa Bridge each week. The bridge is 425 metres long with a width of 6.5 metres and a deck thickness of 25 centimetres. It is built from more than 1500 cubic metres of concrete, 550 tonnes of steel and extensive cabling in excess of 6.8 kilometres in length. Baulderstone Pty Ltd constructed the bridge, which was managed and delivered by the Department of Public Works. Local design consultants Cox Rayner Architects and ARUP Engineers, formed part of the company’s design team and worked closely to finalise the design with the Department of Public Works’ project team.
Work planned for Mooloolaba State School
More than $33 000 in funding has been allocated for the replacement of guttering at Mooloolaba State School. The funding will include the removal of existing guttering and its replacement with stainless steel guttering, the replacement of timber supports, fascia boards and downpipes, as well as the repainting of the new additions at the school.
Historic windmill unveiling takes place in Toowoomba
After seven months of intricate reconstruction work, a 19th century Tustin Economy Windmill has been given a permanent home at the Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE. The 13 metre high timber windmill reconstruction was begun by QBuild, with nine skilled workers - including four Toowoomba apprentices - undertaking the project. It's been a hugely challenging task, using recycled timber to recreate a massive structure with a tower that alone weighs about three tonnes. A major challenge was moving pieces due the sheer size of some of the components - for example, the legs are 408 kilograms each, and are 6.3 metres long.
Date set for Kurilpa Bridge opening
Brisbane residents and visitors are invited to the official opening of Kurilpa Bridge on 4 October 2009. The official ceremony will begin at 10:30am and will include a plaque reveal, balloon release and the first official walk across the bridge. Following this, community celebrations will be held at Kurilpa Park until 2.30pm, and will include performances from local entertainers and children's activities. Kurilpa Bridge is the Queensland Government's newest cycle and pedestrian bridge, linking the city centre and South Brisbane, completing a pedestrian and bicycle loop linking the city and South Bank via the Goodwill Bridge.
Kurilpa Bridge lights turn on
The pyrotechnic extravaganza of Riverfire had a special addition this year when the Kurilpa Bridge lights were turned on for the first time on Saturday (12 September 2009). Revelers saw the sophisticated LED lighting scheme in action as it produced different lighting themes and effects adding to the colour of the event. Against the night sky, the bridge was spectacularly lit with various lighting effects displayed on the white masts adding a modern, dynamic addition to the CBD skyline. In the majority of standard lighting modes, 100% of the power required is provided by solar energy, with any surplus power being returned to the main grid. No other bridge in the world supplements its power to such a degree.
Toward Q2 through ICT
Two new strategies outlining how ICT can help deliver a stronger, greener, smarter, healthier and fairer Queensland were launched today (9 September 2009). The strategies – Toward Q2 through ICT and ICT for tomorrow’s Queensland – directly support the Queensland Government’s overarching 2020 vision for the state, Toward Q2: Tomorrow’s Queensland. The strategies will drive better performance in service delivery and community outcomes, and help build a strong local ICT industry as the engine room to support the growth and continued success of Queensland’s businesses and economy. Visit the Queensland Government Chief Information Office website to find out more.