1. From President's Desk
The Chapter has been progressing well in its activities at a reasonable pace and I am sure you would be interested in a summary of our achievements since the inception of the Chapter in January this year. Accordingly, I am pleased to provide the following recap of the engagements and activities we have successfully undertaken so far this year:
- Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
We conducted our maiden CPD event on 25 June 2017 in Brisbane. The topic was ‘Riverside Expressway Major Rehabilitation: Challenges and Opportunities’. The Co-Presenters were Mallika Dayananda and Gamini Siriwardana. The event was well attended by engineers who had an opportunity to network amongst peers in the social gathering that followed.
The second CPD event was held on 24 September 2017 focusing on an innovative achievement titled ‘Medical Diagnosis through Smart Phone Applications’. The Presenter was Dr Udantha Abeyratna, Associate Professor at the University of Queensland. For the first time, the registration was managed through Eventbrite and it was another successful event by the Chapter.
- Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Projects
The Chapter website (www.ieslqld.org) was unveiled on 24 September 2017. Please feel free to visit the website and I invite your feedback (info@ieslqld.org) enabling us to improve the site further. The link is provided below.
http://www.ieslqld.org/
As a facility of this website, the ICT Sub Committee has generated position based email addresses for the Chapter officials (President, Secretary) and arrangements have been made for archiving documents using technology with appropriate levels of security.
The Chapter still maintains the ‘Database’ of Queensland engineers which we established in the early stages of chapter formation. My expectation is that it will soon contain details of more than 150 Sri Lankan engineers living in Queensland.
At present the Chapter has 40 members. This membership includes 1 Honorary Fellow, 1 Fellow, 13 members, 9 Associate Members and 16 Provisional Members. If you are not a member of IESL Colombo or hasn’t maintained your financial membership, you can initially join the Chapter as a Provisional Member which is free. Please visit the website or contact secretary@ieslqld.org for any inquiry.
The Social Sub Committee organised a raffle to raise funds for the Chapter and this was conducted as per Queensland Government’s Charitable and No-Profit Gaming Act of 1999. The tickets were priced as $5 each and 93% of tickets were sold and the draw was held on 22 October 2017. The event was the first social event after the incorporation and it was attended by raffle sponsors, members and well-wishers of the Chapter.
I met IESL President Eng Jayavilal Meegoda in Colombo in August this year and we had a cordial discussion about progress of the Chapter and its future plans. I am pleased to say that Council is proud of what we have achieved in the last few months. I look forward to working with the IESL new Council and you to deliver more for the Chapter.
Jayantha Wickramatunga
President - The Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka Queensland Chapter
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2. The Management Committee
(Photographed on 14 May 2017)
(Seated from L to R: Ajith Wickramaratne (Secretary), Preba Nadarajah (Vice President), Jayantha Wickramatunga (President), Senarath Weerakoon (Treasurer), Asoka Tittagala (Editor))
(Standing from L to R: Committee Members: Sharmil Markar, Michelle Fernando, Chandramali Pethigoda, and Kesawan Sivakumar) and Absent: Ziyath Abdul (Committee member)
If you want to go fast – go alone
If you want to go far – go together
African proverb
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3. Editorial
A thorough and up-to-date understanding of the economic criteria and trends currently impacting the state of Queensland and the government’s strategic plans that will influence the sector growths is essential for career planning of engineering professionals in both the public and private sectors.
It is a well-known fact that Western Australia and to a lesser degree Queensland are the two states of Australia that would be most severely impacted in a world resource demand down turn owing to their dominant dependence on mining as a significant sector of the economy. Those that migrated to Australia in the 90’s decade would have firsthand experience of the 1991 recession that impacted for several years up to 1997.
The $ 300 billion magnitude Qld state economy is currently in a state of flux with the challenges imposed by the resources down turn that started impacting in 2013. Having experienced a steady growth in the international demand for minerals and coal export in the period 2006-2013 the multinational investors have now adopted a cautious and conservative approach to further growth in the face of dropping commodity prices.
The resulting reality in the Central & North Qld economies has been a transition from growth to a sustenance mode with a consequent cancellation or stalling of major projects. Job losses in engineering and allied fields have been significant. (in a recent visit to Townsville I was personally informed that last year alone over 20,000 people left this predominantly coal mining dependent major township of North Qld due to a lack of job opportunities).
http://landing.deloitte.com.au/rs/761-IBL-328/images/DAE_Queensland_Business_Outlook.pdf
The Qld State Government is currently dealing with this realistic challenge and in the most recent May budget has announced measures and fiscal principles to transition the economy to be more innovative, diverse and productive. Infrastructure development projects in South East Qld continue to be high on the agenda.
https://s3.budget.qld.gov.au/budget/papers/2/Overview.pdf
There is reported to be a current resurgence in coal mining that can benefit North Qld – but the longer-term impact is yet uncertain. The multibillion dollar Adani Coal Mine which received approval to go ahead is the talk of the town but the specifics of the job generation capability and the construction strategies are yet to be announced
Despite the ongoing environmental and clean energy debate on the suitability of coal as a source of energy the Qld Premier Hon Anastacia Palaszczuk has recently announced that coal will continue to play a major role in the Queensland economy into the foreseeable future. The energy crisis facing Australia has also begun to occupy centre stage in the current debate between the federal and state governments.
As the major Liquified Natural Gas [LNG] exporter of Australia, Queensland has been advised by the Federal Government to lift the current moratorium Queensland has imposed on further Coal Seam Gas [CSG] developments to ease the burden on local consumption.
http://www.news.com.au/finance/business/federal-government-distances-itself-from-claims-approval-of-coal-seam-gas-projects-was-rushed-through/news-story/5539362e8de03d1a78233f425b3e1693
New policies aligned with the above changes focussing on jobs growth in Queensland are being rapidly formulated and debated to address the urgency of need in the economic transition but the number of engineering and allied jobs that would be created and in which disciplines cannot be speculated with any certainty. Transient trends and snapshots should not be relied upon too heavily to base career decisions, transitions and job search
Asoka Tittagala
Editor
If you intend to move mountains tomorrow start by lifting stones today
African Proverb
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4. Engineers Australia Extends Support
(From L to R: Dr Peter Ho, Jayantha Wickramatunga, Sharmil Markar and Chris Neilsen)
The IESL Queensland President Jayantha Wickramatunga and the Technical Subcommittee Co-Chair Sharmil Markar met Engineers Australia Queensland Division President Chris Neilsen, and Dr Peter Ho (Ex Queensland Division President) on 15 May 2017 to discuss matters mutually beneficial to both Institutions.
The salient outcomes of the meeting were:
- Mutual recognition – EA has a Mutual Recognition agreement with IESL that provides mutual recognition for Chartered Engineers
- Use of Engineering House Auditorium for IESL presentations – EA would be happy for IESL to use their auditorium. There are hire fees and EA would be happy for us to offer ‘Friends of EA’ rates similar to Sydney Division model.
- Presentations by IESL members at the EA House Auditorium – EA policy is that if a CPD event is organised by EA then non-members are subjected to additional entry fee of $30. However, if we were to hold a joint event, EA would be happy to waive $30 fee on a case-by case basis.
- Promotion of IESL Events through EA networks - Limited capability.
- IESL speakers at the EA CPD events in Brisbane – EA welcomes IESL speakers at their forums.
- EA Speakers at IESL forums in Brisbane and Sri Lanka – They agree with this approach.
- Maintain CPD Events at IESL Events – It was agreed that in principal IESL QLD Chapter events would be eligible by EA members for their CPD assessments. However, it would be still up to an individual to asses such event for relevance and claim in their CPD learning log.
Work for a CAUSE not for APPLAUSE
Strive to EXPRESS not to IMPRESS
Don’t strive to make your PRESENCE noticed, just make your ABSENCE felt.
Author unknown
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5. Inaugural Continuous Professional Development Event (CPD) of the Chapter
This event was successfully held on 25 June 2017 at the Brisbane City Council (BCC) library meeting room, Mt Ommaney. Gamini Siriwardana (Construction Manager, Roadtek – the construction arm of TMR) and Mallika Dayananda (Project Manager, TMR), co-presented their recent work on the topic “Riverside Expressway Major Rehabilitation – Challenges and Opportunities”. Thirty engineers from diverse engineering backgrounds participated in this lecture, which also acted as a platform for networking of Sri Lankan and fellow engineers working in Queensland. The presenters delivered their content within the given time remarkably well.
Both, management and technical aspects of the project were explained. The challenges faced in terms of the given budget and time frame, safety of workers and road users, traffic management, environmental management and access to the bearings and headstocks were explained. They explained how these challenges were overcome through agreements made with the relevant stake holders, constant monitoring of every step of the construction activities and the construction innovations achieved through a cohesive and skilled workforce where the bottom to top line of the workforce was engaged in the problem-solving process. These led to a cost-saving of about 8 million, which was 40% of the expected project total cost. This demonstrated the need to discuss and accept ideas generated from all parties involved in a project for its successful completion in terms of money and time. The innovative cleaning method adopted, the old and new joint layouts, the adopted joint cleaning and installation methods in the bridge were clearly explained, and provided more technical insight of the project to the attendees. The success of this event was evident from the lively discussion among the participants and presenters that ensued.
I also take this opportunity to thank all the technical and management committee members for organizing this event, 4EB Sri Lankan Radio Group for media coverage, BCC for their continued support and importantly the presenters for sharing their knowledge and experience.
Dr Sivakumar Kesawan
(A Member of Technical Sub Committee)
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6. Living and Working in the Regions
Being geographically the second largest state of Australia Queensland offers a variety of life styles and cultural activities unique to each of its regions. Moving for work to these regions is very much a personal decision of an individual based on the family circumstances, educational opportunities for children and cultural, sports and community interests. Engineering professionals working in these regions are predominantly engaged in infrastructure development, coal, mining, light metals and services industries. For any job aspirants intending to relocate to these regions for living and working it would be best to consult colleagues or members who are currently working or have worked in these regions to enable informed decisions to be made on such moves.
Read more in the following web sites:
https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/invest/regional-opportunities/queensland-regions
http://statistics.qgso.qld.gov.au/qld-regional-profiles
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7. Regional Growth and Job Generation
The general socio-political commentary from regional centres of Queensland recently reveals that there is a feeling of neglect for funding of infrastructure projects in the regions at the expense of the heavy investment in South East Queensland (SEQ). Addressing this complaint/concern the State Government has launched the $130 million Jobs and Regional Growth Fund early this year as part of its $1 billion plan to create jobs outside the State’s south-east.
Read more details here:
If you cannot explain something in simple terms – you have not understood it well enough
Albert Einstein
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8. Appreciation – Jaya Jayaratne
Jaya Jayaratne from Toowoomba Queensland passed away peacefully on 4 July 2017 after battling a prolonged illness. He was a civil engineer graduated from the University of Moratuwa. Since graduation, he had worked in several organisations both in Sri Lanka and overseas, including Australia with Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads where he held the position of Principal Engineer.
Jaya was a well-regarded engineer, efficient, practical, knowledgeable and helpful. While acknowledging his loyalty and dedication to his profession, it is his human qualities of humility, sincerity, friendship and helpfulness that endeared him to many. He was trustworthy and dependable. He considered work as a sacred duty that required to be fulfilled with a sense of commitment and loyalty.
He was a person with a deep religious conviction. He lived in the present and accepted that everyone is destined for old age and decline. Growing in maturity, is the acceptance of this realty. He never took refuge in illusions. He learned to live through pain and suffering and to remain close to his religion. Towards the end of his life, as pain and suffering became a daily reality he bore the inevitable with strength, courage and acceptance. He believed that life on earth was a temporary assignment, brief and transient in nature. He rested in the assurance of that reality.
Jaya was a deeply committed Buddhist, devoted father and an exemplary husband. The pride of his life was his children and grandchildren. He fulfilled his responsibilities to his family, kept his promises to his religion and his commitments to his friends, society and indeed to the Sri Lankan community.
I mourn the passing of a friend and above all a humble human being who knew how to love and respect another human being. I feel his loss but the example he left behind is the legacy that many will strive to follow in serving fellow human beings with humility, commitment and reverence.
May he receive peace and blessings!
Derrick Fernando
(A Member of Editorial Board)
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This would be the last issue of the Chapter Newsletter for the current year and the next issue is planned for release early next year. The Chapter intends to release newsletters at approximately three or four-month intervals dependent on the level of activities to report and other priorities.
With the successful launch of the Chapter website in September the role of the Newsletter would transition to be more complementary in nature to the web content in future. Please check the website regularly for updates.
Your feedback is warmly welcome.
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