IPWEA Vic Blog

Take a look at the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government Newsletter by following this url

http://sendstudio.itd.uts.edu.au/sendstudionx/display.php?M=283225&C=bdfb36931c42d991de2a91a58661837e&S=1816&L=401&N=1142

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MUNICIPAL ENGINEERING FOUNDATION VICTORIA – 2011 OVERSEAS STUDY TOUR SCHOLARSHIPS

MEF Victoria is making scholarship awards available to engineers who are working within local government in Victoria.  Up to four overseas study tour places are being offered and it is proposed that the four recipients will participate in a Victorian group focused tour.

Nominations are now being invited for these scholarships.

MEF Victoria has formed the view that there are a number of important community issues regarding project management, storm water and waste management, impact of climate change, and the planning and delivery of public works where the results of research overseas may significantly benefit the municipal engineering profession.  The Foundation would welcome and give priority to nominations that address these important topics.  This is not to exclude other study topics of choice that has been a successful feature of the program in the past and particularly if the topic is important and has specific application to municipal engineers.

These scholarships provide for the selected recipients to attend the APWA Congress in Denver, Colorado, USA from 18^th to 21^st September 2011 followed by a further two weeks study on an itinerary prepared by the study tour group that may include USA, Canada and UK.  The Foundation will provide grants of $10,000 to each engineer selected.

Closing Date

The closing date for scholarships is Friday 4^th February 2011 and applications are to be forwarded to the MEF Secretary by email to mefvic@ozemail.com.au.

Further Details

Requests for conditions and specifications and all other enquiries regarding scholarships should be made to the Secretary, Municipal Engineering Foundation Victoria, Telephone (03) 9699 1599 Fax (03) 9682 8977, (PO Box 5175, South Melbourne  3205).  E-mail: mefvic@ozemail.com.au or are available on the MEF Vic website at www.mefvic.org.au.

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Presentations from the speakers at the recent Procurement Excellence Conference are now availalbe on the IPWEAvic website and can be accessed via this url  http://www.ipwea.org.au/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Procurement_Excellence_Conference_2010&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=11247

Conference Program
This full day conference was held at the Darebin Arts Centre, Preston on Thursday 14 October 2010. Download a copy of the conference program here.

Conference Presentations
The conference presentations are available for download

Importance of Procurement, Findings From Investigations into Best Practice Procurement in Local Government Ronald Mak, Sector Director Local Government, Financial Audit, Victorian Auditor General Office. File size: 144KB.

What is the Municipal Inspector’s Role in Procurement? Jason Young, Senior Manager, Municipal Inspector’s Office. File size: 226KB.

What the Contract Industry is Saying About Procurement. Claude Cullino, CEO Civil Contractors Federation Victoria. File size: 1.78KB.

10 Tips and Processes that Procurement Professionals Should Use to Avoid Problems. John Taylor, Acting Ombudsman. File size: 560KB.

Procurement Excellence Program, Government Directions and the Role of Local Government. Chris Newman, Manager Councils Reforming Business, Local Government Victoria, DPCD. File size: 1.14MB.

Procurement for a Sustainable Outcome Hugh Wareham, CEO Eco-Buy. File size: 3.74MB.

The Role of Probity Auditors & Advisors, & Where to Use Them in a Practical Sense Michael Shatter, Partner, RSM Bird Cameron, Probity Advisors. File size: 690KB.

Social Procurement Guidelines: What are They & How Can They Be Used Effectively in Local Government? Mark Daniels, Manager Learning and Development, Social Traders. File size: 900KB.

Case Study: What is Excellence in Local Government Procurement? City of Greater Geelong – New Procurement Thresholds & Evaluation Methodology. City of Greater Geeong. File size: 2.54MB.

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Expressions of Interest are sought from councils that would like to be part of the Expert Support Program: Social Procurement

To be eligible to apply, interested councils must:
• be able to commit to the time required to participate in the project
• attend regular meetings
• be project-ready and willing to commence the project development as early as December 2010
• have support from all the areas of council required to complete the project.

Submissions are due by Thursday, 11 November 2010.
The EOI form is also available online at www.localgovernment.vic.gov.au.

Download details and application form here
All further questions to be directed to Chris Newman Chris.newman@dpcd.vic.gov.au Phone: (03) 9651 7280

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Local Government Victoria invites you to participate in the Sustainable Procurement Working Group planned for Friday 29 October 2010 9:30am – 11:30pm Level8/55 Collins St Melbourne Vic 3000.

The purpose of the group is to guide and inform how local governments in Victoria can better achieve positive social, environmental and local economic outcomes through procurement, as it relates to the roll-out of the Procurement Excellence Program.

RSVP to Amelia Chapman, Senior Project Officer, Local Government Victoria ph 03 9651 7772 amelia.chapman@dpcd.vic.gov.au by Friday 22 October 2010.

More info here

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Calling for nominations for an engineer as a recipient for the 2011 MEF Vic Award for Excellence in Engineering.

Award Criteria

2011 MUNICIPAL ENGINEERING FOUNDATION VICTORIA

AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN ENGINEERING

 GUIDELINES FOR ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION FOR THE AWARD

 The Award is made by the Municipal Engineering Foundation Victoria in recognition of outstanding engineering service within local government in Victoria.

 Name of the Award

The Award is known as the Municipal Engineering Foundation Victoria Award for Excellence in Engineering and honours the distinguished career of Cedric Tuxen, an eminent Municipal Engineer and first Chairman of the Foundation.  The medal is duly inscribed with the recipient’s name and year of the award.

 Eligibility

The Award is to be for an engineering professional within local government in Victoria who, as a member of IPWEA (Victoria), has:

1.             Throughout his/her career given outstanding service to local government in Victoria, or;

2.             Been responsible for the successful execution of a Victorian Local Government project considered to be of special significance.

 Nomination

Nominations for the Award:

1. Will be made by one of the following:

• the professional engineer on his/her own behalf
• an individual on behalf of an engineering professional
• a Council on behalf of an engineering professional

1. Must contain:

• full particulars of the person nominated
• brief details of the outstanding service, or brief details of the significant project and his/her role

1. Must be lodged with the Secretary of the Municipal Engineering Foundation by email to mefvic@ozemail.com.au by 14^th January 2011.

 If further supporting information is required, this will be sought from the nominee. Nominations are valid only for the year of nomination and will not be rolled over.

 Selection

The manner of selection of the Awardee will be at the sole discretion of the Trustees of the Foundation.

 Trustees Responsibilities

It shall be the practice of the Trustees to make a biennial award available, however the Trustees reserve the right to determine from year to year and either before or after calling for nominations of the award if an award is to be made.

 Presentation of the Award

The award shall be presented by the Chairman of the Foundation to the successful nominee at an appropriate event as may be agreed by the Trustees.

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IPWEA has been invited by Engineers Australia Geelong Group to visit the Barwon Heads Bridge site, followed by a presentation on the project and dinner at Thirteenth Beach Golf Links. The bridge project is reaching completion and this will be the last chance to visit the bridge while the works are still underway.This is joint event with Engineers Australia Geelong Group and the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia (IPWEA)

 Date: Thursday 28^th October 2010 at 6pm 

 SITE VISIT

Meet At: Car Park at the bridge on Ewing Blyth Drive (refer attachment for picture) at foot of bridge.

Time:Arrival at 5.45 pm for 6.00 pm start

 PRESENTATION, DRINKS & DINNER

Meet At:            Thirteenth Beach Golf Links, Barwon Heads Road, Barwon Heads,                              (Melway Map 482 D12)

Time:                   Start 7.15 pm with dinner served at 7.45 pm.

Cost:                    $20 (Price includes two course meal, drinks at bar prices)

Speaker:            John Clinch, Team Leader Delivery, VicRoads

If you are attending, please reply to Piyush Jain at Email: engaustgeelong@gmail.com or  Mob: 0414391584 by 25/10/2010 advising of any dietary requirements and if you need protective equipment (for those interested in site visit).

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The very successful MWOA National Works & Engineering Conference sponsored by Downer EDI Works was held on 23 and 24^th September at Bendigo Exhibition Centre.  The well received opening address was given by Rob Spence from MAV around the topic of Working Closer Together followed by a heart rendering account from Jason McCarthy – the man who refused to quit.

There were presentations on such things as Alliance Contracting, Second Generation Alliance Model, Road Safety and Level Crossings , Roadside Safety, Procurement , Disaster Management to name a few.  For those that wanted a more hands on approach the toolbox series offered a range of advice presented by many of the exhibitors on such things as managing your whole of life cost, fire safety awareness training, road maintenance using alternative products, using geogrids to advantage, retroflective technology, live web demos to find underground assets.    Using the facility to the full enabled demonstrations of machinery such as Crash testing road furniture, Excavator demo, grader demo  and road sweepers demos.

The conference dinner was a time to catch up with colleagues and enjoy the conference atmosphere.  Some the presentations will be available on the MWOA website shortly. More info contact Stephen Robertson CEO MWOA

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The latest version of the Infrastructure Design Manual is now availalbe on the internet.  It can be found at www.designmanual.com.au

DPCD are holding workshops in the reigonal areas for those interested in the IDM.  The workshops provide information about adopting the standard and assistance with implementation and training available through the DPCD.  A great opporuntity for those from councils that mayuse the standards to attend. 

Please contact Angelo D’Costa if you would like more informaton or like ot attend.

 Angelo D’Costa – Senior Project Officer  Councils Reforming Business – Local Government Victoria Department of Planning and Community Development  T: 03 9651 7051  F: 03 9651 7629  angelo.d’costa@dpcd.vic.gov.au

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The CCF in conjunction iwth EPA are holding a Contaminated Soil Forum on Thursday 21st October at Manningham Function Centre. Details are in the brochure downloadable here

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