Latest news with #CGU
The Guardian
28-06-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Could the M6 be Sydney's unbuildable motorway due to sinkholes and a reverse fault?
A 245-metre section of a new Sydney motorway tunnel plagued by sinkholes and a 'challenging' geological feature will bring a $3.1bn transport project to a grinding halt unless an eleventh-hour deal is reached. The M6's new twin 4km tunnels, connecting Sydney's south to the wider motorway network, were approved in 2019 and scheduled to open in 2025. That date was pushed back to 2028 after two large sinkholes opened above the tunnel and below an industrial estate in Rockdale in March 2024. But even that extended timeline is now in doubt after the consortium charged with the tunnels' construction between Kogarah and Arncliffe has said it will down tools from 30 June after the discovery of a 'high-angle reverse fault' in the bedrock close to the sinkholes. In an email to staff published by the Sydney Morning Herald in May, David Jackson, the director of the first stage of the M6 project – a joint venture of CPB, Ghella and UGL, known collectively as CGU – said CGU was pulling out. Jackson stated the design and construct contract had become 'frustrated' and was 'terminated by operation of the law'. He wrote that the tunnel 'excavation … has been on hold for almost a year now due to the impact of unique adverse ground conditions caused by a complex faulting zone, including a high-angle reverse fault (never seen before in the Sydney basin)'. 'The presence of such ground conditions could not have been anticipated by anyone,' he said, adding that they were only discovered once tunnel excavation was carried out. 'It is now apparent that a compliant design solution cannot be achieved to overcome these challenging ground conditions.' The government was made aware of CGU's intention to walk away before the email was sent to staff, a Transport for NSW (TfNSW) spokesperson told Guardian Australia. The project is otherwise 90% completed. Above-ground work by CGU in Kogarah may continue and could be completed by the end of the year. The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, has criticised the unilateral move, claiming that the contractor remains responsible for designing and building the tunnels. 'My best advice to the contractor today is to send the lawyers home and bring back the engineers,' he told reporters in May. 'I'm not going to allow NSW taxpayers to be put over a barrel for these big projects.' Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email A TfNSW spokesperson says the department remains 'optimistic' about reaching an agreement with CGU. They previously said the government was working with the contractor 'to identify a technical solution to the issues encountered' on the project and claimed the consortium had not demonstrated it had exhausted all technical options to move forward with the works. 'It is unfortunate CGU now appears to have determined it is in their commercial interest to down tools instead. We're considering Transport's position in relation to the contract given the unilateral steps taken by CGU,' TfNSW said. As part of the tender process for the major project, potential contractors were given geotechnical reports of the ground where the works would be carried out, TfNSW says. It was unable to provide geotechnical reports from any stage of the project to Guardian Australia. CPB, as lead contractor for CGU, says it cannot comment further. Grahame Campbell, an engineer who project managed the M4 – which was finished in half the forecast time and budget – has written a paper for the Centre for Independent Studies about 'bungles' that lead to cost and time blowouts on major infrastructure projects in Australia. He is confident the M6 will be completed eventually, but believes it will be over budget – like other major projects including Sydney's metro and light rail builds and Melbourne's North East Link. 'Of course it can be finished and it's a matter of doing it correctly and doing it with the right team,' he says. Speaking generally, Campbell says blowouts have not always been so common. They can be caused by various factors, including contractors starting construction before finishing designs, changes to designs, governments handing responsibility for risks to contractors, and a lack of expertise within government or at the contractor level. 'A contractor is pretty good at throwing concrete in the ground and putting pitching on the soil,' he says. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion 'But they're [sometimes] not particularly good at project management. Keep your mind open and understand the broadest issues and deal with them. Unfortunately, those concepts aren't very big in government … at the moment and they get into these messes. 'You would think that having lost billions of dollars over decades, [governments] would have learned by now – but unfortunately it doesn't seem like they have.' Setting up and decommissioning work sites is expensive but it's not unusual for contractors to change midway through builds, Campbell says. Stakeholders should learn from previous large projects, he argues. 'Thousands of projects have been built in the Sydney basin. You know, you could go back and see how they were managed.' Soil or geological abnormalities should ideally be discovered before works begin. Water management – which can lead to sinkholes – is 'always the biggest problem' in major projects, Campbell says. Prof Behzad Fatahi, a professor of civil engineering at the University of Technology Sydney, says the city is home to fault zones, most of which are classified as 'normal'. 'Reverse faults', where a layer of rock is forced upwards and over another layer, are less common and hard to detect because the fault angle is often very steep. Boreholes drilled into the ground five to 10 metres apart may miss a reverse fault, the professor says. Fatahi says survey techniques, including seismic surveys, are not 'bulletproof … There is always a chance of missing things.' The danger of building a tunnel at the site of a rock fault stems from potential movement at the fault zone. While Sydney is not a highly seismic area, even a tiny amount of rock movement could compromise a tunnel, he says. A novel way to protect underground pipelines from land movements involves cushioning pipes with foam, his research has shown. Solutions to prevent sinkholes include grouting, tunnel lining and freezing the ground before excavating. All civil geotech designs come with some unknowns, he says. 'There is no zero-risk … but this doesn't mean that there will be big surprises'. The two sinkholes that opened up above the M6 tunnel were not a normal risk associated with digging, Dr Francois Guillard says. The senior lecturer in the school of civil engineering at the University of Sydney says sinkholes can happen anywhere water penetrates the ground, although karstic regions – often made of soluble limestone – are typically more prone to sinkholes. Sydney is not especially prone to the phenomenon, given its mainly sandstone geology, Guillard says. For a sinkhole to develop, material under the ground's surface needs to be removed, usually by water erosion or chemical decomposition. In urban areas, disturbance of usual water drainage patterns can lead to sinkhole formation under the surface of tarmac. He agrees that investigations of soil and geology from the surface are 'not perfect'. Guillard says human-made sinkholes, triggered by engineering or building works, are 'rare' – as are urban sinkholes generally. 'I would not recommend people be worried, it's low risk,' he says.
The Citizen
11-06-2025
- The Citizen
Child protection week: Learn how to report child abuse in Gauteng
As SA marked Child Protection Week (May 29 to June 5), the Child Guardian Unit (CGU) celebrated its first anniversary by intensifying efforts to protect children and raise awareness about their rights. The event brought together teachers, NPOs, social workers, legal professionals, police officers and the community. 'We've decided to mark our anniversary every year during Child Protection Week because it's a crucial time to shine a light on children's safety. 'Many are vaguely aware of it but don't fully understand what it means, where it fits, or how they can get involved,' said Delani Hollhumer, the co-founder of the CGU. ALSO READ: Child Protection Week 2025: It's in our hands to safeguard children's rights Hollhumer emphasised the importance of Child Protection Week, stressing that children need to understand their rights. They need to know they have a voice and, more importantly, that they are not alone. Hollhumer added that the week offered a platform for critical conversations. 'We're trying to raise awareness not just among children but among adults, too, parents, family members, community members, so they speak up when something isn't right. We can never have enough hard conversations about child protection. 'The statistics are grim, but the rise in reporting also shows more people are speaking out,' she added. ALSO READ: Bedfordview Police highlight child protection week The CGU was founded almost by accident, Delani recalls, after she met Janine Dalgleish at the Bedfordview police station. Janine had brought in a teenager in crisis, and the two began talking about gaps in the system. 'She asked me, 'Where do we go? Who do we report to?' and I said, 'I honestly don't know.' That was the start,' said Delani. Together with local stakeholders, the Bedfordview SAPS, the Department of Social Development and community members, they began creating a network of support and reporting channels for children in crisis. 'One of the biggest challenges was that people simply didn't know where to go to report abuse or neglect. That's where we come in. We help guide people to the right organisations,' she explained. Looking back on the first year, Delani said there's a lot to be proud of but also much more to do. 'Networking has been vital. It's not just about departments, it's about community organisations, NPOs and individuals working together.' She added, 'Ninety per cent of my day is spent on the phone with people I've never even met. So having events like this – celebrations that double as networking opportunities – is priceless.' Despite dealing with heartbreaking cases, the CGU staff celebrate small victories. ALSO READ: Child Protection Week: A call to end violence against children 'We ask ourselves each day: What was our small win today? It could be a successful report or finally getting help for a child after months of trying,' said Delani. 'We know these are long processes, and we focus on reaching that end goal – safety and justice for the child.' She urged the community to be vigilant. 'If something feels off, a child looks neglected or something just doesn't sit right, report it. People often don't know where to go and feel intimidated, but don't stop. 'If it's serious and you're unsure, keep trying until you find someone who can help. And yes, you can contact us.' The CGU, though based in Bedfordview, Edenvale, and Primrose, supports cases as far as Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, and Mpumalanga. 'People reach out and we walk them through the steps. Our network grows each year,' she said. The organisation has just launched its website, and she encourages the public to visit to learn more or get involved. 'We've launched the CGU Ambassadors – businesses and individuals who offer their expertise. Maybe someone owns a stationery company and can help with printing. Maybe an attorney wants to offer pro bono advice. Every little bit helps.' ALSO READ: Gauteng leads child protection efforts with accredited care centres They've also introduced Safer Adults, carefully screened and trained volunteers, and plan to launch a new initiative called CGU Mommies. 'We're working with hospitals so volunteers can provide love and care to abandoned babies. It's about being there in those critical early days. Nothing is too big or too small. 'Maybe someone wants to host a children's party or help with the next event. Whatever it is, we're open to collaborating.' Arlene Zlotnick, representing the Impilo Foundation, echoed the urgency of raising awareness about protecting children, 'Children are our future. 'At Impilo, we say children are born to be. Every child deserves the chance to grow into who they were meant to be, even those abandoned at birth.' She called attention to the country's crises, including GBV and teenage pregnancy. 'We're not doing enough. One of those abandoned children could be the next president or the person who finds a cure for cancer. But they have no voice; we must speak for them.' Arlene also raised concerns about the rising risks linked to technology. 'Online grooming and sextortion are serious threats. Children are being coerced into sending explicit photos and then blackmailed. It's a massive crisis.' Both organisations emphasised that Child Protection Week is not a once-off campaign but a reminder of work that continues year-round. ALSO READ: Edenvale police focus on child safety during Youth Month The event on May 29 also celebrated the stakeholders who have helped the organisation make a difference, including the Primrose SAPS. They received a champion award. 'The first time I worked with them was with a Grade One child I came into contact with. They assisted me with all the legal matters around working with children because it's not that we are uneducated at the police station, but there's a lot of information we don't have,' explained a Primrose SAPS representative. 'They've assisted me many times, and I've assisted them many times as well. If they have a query about a child, we do welfare checks. I've done welfare checks outside my area. 'The biggest challenge we face is widespread child abuse, often in poverty-bound households where frustrated parents take it out on their children or, in some cases, sell them for sex,' they added. Hollhumer stressed the importance of collaboration beyond the evening's dialogue. She said the organisation is big on networking and calls on other NPOs and groups doing similar work to join them. While the unit has made great strides in securing legal support for children in crisis, they are now expanding their focus. 'We've worked incredibly hard to secure assistance from legal teams. We're now focusing on medical and mental health support. If there are counsellors or psychologists who want to assist, we would greatly appreciate it.' The event at the Italian Club was made possible by many sponsors, including Efficient Engineering. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Express Tribune
14-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
K-P launches integrated IT portal
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has achieved a significant milestone with the launch of an Integrated IT Portal for public sector entities, aimed at ensuring strict financial discipline, transparency in the utilization of public funds, and improved public service delivery. Developed with technical support from the FCDO-funded Sub-National Governance (SNG) Programme, the Integrated IT Portal is set to revolutionize financial oversight and governance across 181 public sector entities (PSEs) in K-P. This centralized platform features real-time financial and operational Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), interactive dashboards, and automated reporting mechanisms. It empowers the Corporate Governance Unit (CGU) of the Finance Department to monitor, manage, and enforce fiscal discipline effectively. The formal launch of the portal took place in Peshawar, with Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur as the chief guest. The event was attended by Advisor to the Chief Minister on Finance, Muzammil Aslam, senior government officials, and representatives from partner organizations. Currently, the K-P government oversees 183 public sector entities, including autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies, universities, teaching hospitals, municipal service delivery units, and other public organizations. This new portal enhances financial oversight and operational efficiency across these entities, making K-P the first province in Pakistan to implement such a system. With its launch, the use of the IT portal is now mandatory for all public sector entities in the province. The system offers advanced financial performance indicators, interactive dashboards, and an automated reporting mechanism to facilitate better decision-making, monitoring, and governance. During the event, the first-ever Service Delivery Performance Monitoring Report was also presented. Initially piloted in three departments, the report has now been extended to all government departments and subordinate entities.
