Congestion today for a better VIC future

Playing host to the inaugural Local Jobs First Commissioner Don Matthews, the 11th Annual Victorian Transport Infrastructure Conference will take place on the 1st – 2nd May at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Administered in 2003 by the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR), the Local Jobs First Act is the nation’s longest-standing industry participation legislation. Local Jobs First (LJF) was implemented in Victoria to support the utilisation of the states’ businesses and workers, ensuring that all involved are given a fair opportunity to compete for any government contract, small or large.

LJF is dedicated to improving the lives of all Victorians through the delivery of increased employment and business growth opportunities. Comprised of the Victorian Industry Participation Policy (VIPP) and the Major Projects Skills Guarantee (MPSG), Local Jobs First is about both local industry development and growing the next generation of skilled workers in Australia. Matthews will speak to the importance of Local Jobs First and his position as the groups’ first commissioner.

Over the coming years Victoria is investing more and more into transport infrastructure upgrades, with the state’s Major Transport Infrastructure Program (MTIP) including 41 major road and rail projects that combine to hold an estimate value of $38b. The MTIP provides employment for upwards of 12,000 personnel through various projects currently in the pipeline; including the Level Crossing Removals, the North East Link and the Melbourne Metro Tunnel Project.

Senior leaders and Administrative offices will be placed in a position of actively overseeing and supporting the safety management of key projects through the ‘active client’ safety management model applied via the MTIP. 

Anne Taylor, Director of Strategy Safety from the Major Transport Infrastructure Authority, Office of the Director-General, will provide a unique look into the key elements that form part of the MTIP Active Client Safety Management Model. Taylor will explore the model’s position in insuring the safe delivery of major transport infrastructure.

With Melbourne’s population anticipated to reach an overwhelming 8 million by 2050, the city’s existing transport infrastructure will not be able to carry its weight. In order to successfully deliver large-scale infrastructure projects, there must be an initial disruption to the system. To best serve the state we must undergo comprehensive infrastructure planning that will produce sustainable results.

The conference will bring together Cr Nicolas Frances Gilley, Councillor, Chair Transport Portfolio from the City of Melbourne, Bryce Prosser, General Manager of Public Policy & Corporate Affairs at RACV, Craig Richards, CEO of Bicycle Network and Peter Anderson, CEO of the Victorian Transport Association, in a panel discussion that will address the need for Congestion Today for a Better Tomorrow.

The panel of experts will discuss the pros and cons of implementing a congestion tax during peak travel hours, how to determine the necessity of a major transport infrastructure project, and which projects in the pipeline should be prioritised to keep Victoria shifting forward.

The above panellists will join Commissioner Don Matthews and Anne Taylor at the 11th Annual VIC Transport Infrastructure Conference held on the 1st & 2nd May at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

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