<span class="" id="parent-fieldname-description"> </span> <p><strong>Transport sector leads falling jobs market in April</strong><br />By Rob McKay<br />Uncertainty over the economic rebound was put into focus yesterday, with the Advantage Job Index for April showing online transport job advertisements leading falls in other sectors. <br />Formerly the Olivier Job Index, the survey showed the job market faltering in April, with transport (-10.9%) trades and services (-8.3%) administration, clerical and office support (-5.6%) building and construction (-4.2%) and sales and marketing (-3.1%) ahead of the rest.<br />“While unexpected, it’s not surprising," Advantage Professional director Robert Olivier said.<br />“Interest rates hikes, the withdrawal of the stimulus package and uncertainties around the Henry Review and the Federal Budget have taken their toll.<br />“Employers appear to be taking a ‘wait and see’ approach so the May/June Indexes will be critical in determining if the drop in April is just a blip on the radar or if this is the beginning of a plateauing job market.”<br />Western Australia was the only state to record and increase in overall job advertisements, at 2.6%, while Tasmania led the falls with -10%.<br />Source: Lloyd’s List Daily Commercial News – <a target="_blank" href="http://www.lloydslistdcn.com.au">www.lloydslistdcn.com.au</a></p><p><strong>Rail travel in China “through the roof”<br /></strong>Patronage on the China’s passenger railways has increased 6.2% year on year, with a whopping 132.7m passengers travelling on rail in the country in the month of April alone.<br />The country’s rail freight throughput has been estimated to have increased 14% to 299.5 million tonnes for the same month, it was reported.</p><p><strong>“Mega projects” Masterclass</strong><br />The Project Management Institute (PMI) Sydney and the Women in Project Management group are hosting a half day workshop on Megaprojects and the challenges of delivering them.  Within the next few years, Australia is set to spend billions of dollars on improving transport, education, IT and electrical related infrastructure. Some of these projects will be "mega" meaning that the large size, complexity and risks associated with these projects will create a significant delivery challenge.<br />High profile speakers and projects will present unique perspectives of what it takes to deliver billion dollar projects for Sydney and outline some of the key challenges associated with delivering large scale projects including Carl Scully (former Transport Minister for NSW) and Scott Lyall (Executive Project Director, Epping to Chatswood Rail Line).<br />Held on May 28th at the Zenith Theatre, Chatswood, from 9am to 1pm. Cost is $40 (PMI Australian Member), $50 (PMI Member) and $60 (Non-members/General Public). Morning Tea and Lunch is included.<br />Register at the PMI Sydney Chapter website: <br /><a target="_blank" href="http://sydney.pmichapters-australia.org.au/ ">http://sydney.pmichapters-australia.org.au/ </a><br />Or email: <a href="mailto:wipmevents@sydney.pmi.org.au">wipmevents@sydney.pmi.org.au</a> <br />Or call: +61 2 9200 0910</p><p><strong>Important step for Xstrata’s $1bn coal terminal</strong><br />By Sineva Toevai<br />Xstrata Coal’s proposal to build a $1bn coal export terminal between Rockhampton and Gladstone is a step forward with the Queensland Coordinator General declaring it a “significant project”.<br />In December, Xstrata sought a “significant project” declaration from the Queensland government under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 to build at the Balaclava Island.<br />“The declaration of a significant project signals the beginning of a rigorous assessment” of the proposal, Queensland minister for infrastructure and planning Stirling Hinchliffe said.<br />“If approved, the project could export up to 35m tonnes of coal per annum from the Bowen and Surat Basins.”<br />The first step was to prepare draft terms of reference for the environmental impact statement to consider any environmental, social and cultural impacts of the proposed project, which includes a 13.5 km rail spur, Hinchliffe said.<br />Source: Lloyd’s List Daily Commercial News – <u><font color="#000000"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.lloydslistdcn.com.au">www.lloydslistdcn.com.au</a></font></u></p><p><strong>EPA backs Rio Tinto plan to build Pilbara port<br /></strong>By Sineva Toevai<br />Rio Tinto’s proposal to build a second port at Cape Lambert in the Pilbara has been given conditional support by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). <br />The port would be unlikely to compromise the environmental objectives, EPA chairman Paul Vogel said.<br />If approved, the new port will have the capacity to export 130m tonnes of ore a year.<br />Source: Lloyd’s List Daily Commercial News – <a target="_blank" href="http://www.lloydslistdcn.com.au"><u><font color="#000000">www.lloydslistdcn.com.au</font></u></a></p><p><strong>ACCC runs its eye over latest toll acquisition</strong><br />By Rob McKay<br />The proposed Toll Holdings takeover of Victorian freight forwarding and logistics firm Concord Park will be subject to an informal review by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).<br />The ACCC said two weeks ago that it had started the review under the Merger Review Process Guidelines.<br />Closing date for submissions is May 20th, with findings due to be released by June 10th.<br />Toll and Concord Park refused to comment on the transaction when approached by Lloyd’s List DCN early last week.<br />Concord Park is part of the Barrot Group of Companies, which includes warehouse and distribution operation Concept Logistics, CP Haulage, Concord Park Express, Concord Park Metro, Concord Park Linehaul and Barrot Logistics, all of which are owned and operated privately.<br />The company has 400 staff and fleet of 180 B-double and B-triple trucks combinations and drop deck mezzanine tautliner configurations supplemented by subcontractors, according to its website.<br />It also has a national metropolitan pick-up and delivery fleet of 110 vehicles.<br />The purchase price has not been disclosed but could be up to $10m.<br />Source: Lloyd’s List Daily Commercial News – <a target="_blank" href="http://www.lloydslistdcn.com.au"><u><font color="#000000">www.lloydslistdcn.com.au</font></u></a></p><p><strong>Siemens wins Auckland rail electrification contract</strong><br />Siemens has been awarded a NZ$7m contract to build six traction power switchrooms needed on Auckland’s commuter rail network, as part of KiwiRail’s NZ$500m rail electrification project. <br />Each facility will distribute the 25kV power to the overhead catenary and will incorporate the latest Siemens protection systems to ensure the equipment and the overhead lines are not compromised in cases of overload or faults in the network. <br />“The 8DA11 is the most compact indoor 25kV GIS for rail applications with over 40 000 panels installed worldwide. It is globally recognised as the most reliable operating equipment in its class with very low maintenance requirements.  Their compact design makes it perfect for trackside applications” Siemens  (NZ) mobility business development manager Fred Grace said.<br /> </p>
