OPINION

A Concrete Foundation For Infrastructure Investment

By Rob Gaimster – Cement & Concrete Association of New Zealand (CCANZ)

A great deal of discussion has taken place over recent months about the best way to combat the current global financial crisis. In New Zealand, there has been a general call for immediate and coordinated investment in large-scale infrastructure development. This is a position thoroughly supported by CCANZ.

CCANZ also recommends, along with others, that any infrastructure investment should cater for short, medium and long-term considerations, and be facilitated by the removal of legislative and compliance barriers that have restricted development in the past.

Indicative of the collective view, Business NZ has made an urgent call for infrastructure investment to be brought forward where possible, while the New Zealand Council for Infrastructure Development (NZCID) has added its voice to the debate by releasing the discussion document Policy Priorities for Advancing Economic Infrastructure Development in New Zealand.

The NZCID advance a range of priorities that need to be addressed to improve infrastructure delivery in New Zealand. These include strong leadership and governance across and within the infrastructure sectors, coordinated national infrastructure development strategies supported by detailed investment plans and programmes, and reformed regulatory and environmental approval processes.

These priorities are accompanied by a suite of initiatives aimed at achieving a broader and deeper vision for New Zealand’s infrastructure requirements that will underpin future productivity and growth.
Based on their policy document National’s Infrastructure Plan: Building for a Brighter Future, it would appear that the new Government is of the same mindset as business.

few policies the National Party launched with a degree of publicity, its infrastructure plan was summarised by John Key as: “More capital funding, balanced by more efficient approvals, to give Kiwis better bang for their buck.”

National’s pledge to increase infrastructure investment is designed to provide some much-needed stimulus to New Zealand’s flagging economy, and move us out of recession and into a period of growth. This will be achieved by rolling out a range of new inrastructure initiatives, based upon roading projects such as the Waikato Expressway.

The implementation of these projects will, under a National led Government, be assisted by the recent appointment of a Minister of Infrastructure, the drafting of a 20-year National Infrastructure Plan, and the introduction of a Priority Consenting process, and a new Roads of National Significance category for state highways.

In addition, the Local Government Act, Transport Management Act and Resource Management Act have all been earmarked for review and possible reform.

If increased investment in infrastructure is indeed implemented as a means to facilitate New Zealand’s economic recovery (as it must), then concrete is well positioned to be the construction material of choice.

Concrete’s unparalleled durability offers any investment in New Zealand’s roading infrastructure the biggest potential return. The extended service life, low maintenance, relatively low carbon footprint and reduced fuel consumption benefits associated with rigid concrete roads can no longer be overlooked. Furthermore, concrete road safety barriers save lives, while concrete acoustic barriers offer proven and aesthetically pleasing solutions to traffic noise.

The specification of concrete roads makes even more sense in the wake of the recent amendments to the New Zealand Transport Agency’s (NZTA) Economic Evaluation Manual.
Based on recommendations from the New Zealand Treasury, the NZTA has adjusted to eight per cent per annum (from ten per cent) the discount rate by which the cost and benefits of infrastructure projects are determined over time. The evaluation period for infrastructure has also been extended from 25-years to 30-years.

Both these economic assessment factors for infrastructure now more accurately consider the range of advantages offered by concrete’s durability. Even so, they are still out of kilter with overseas practice, much to the detriment of New Zealand’s infrastructure. For instance, the current discount rates used by the UK Highways Agency are 3.5 per cent up to 30-years, and then 3.0 per cent from 31 to 60-years.
It is clear that concrete has an important role to play as key decision makers look toward increased infrastructure investment to offset the effects of recession. This investment can be maximised by the creation of a level playing field for all construction materials, through a further reduction in the discount rate and an extension of the evaluation period.

 

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OPINION

The absorbing facts about concrete and CO2

By Patrick McGuire – Cement & Concrete Association of New Zealand (CCANZ)

An important issue often overlooked in the sustainability debate is the absorption of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere by concrete and other cementitious materials.

Concrete technology ascribes the term ‘carbonation’ to this mechanism.

Research into carbonation has been ongoing for decades. However, in light of growing concern over greenhouse gases and climate change this research has taken on a new emphasis. As a result, it is emerging that concrete is being unfairly blamed for a larger share of CO2 emissions than is warranted.

The carbonation of concrete is the reaction between atmospheric CO2
and calcium oxide, which is an alkaline present in hardened concrete. The product of this reaction is calcium carbonate, which is of the same chemical composition as a primary raw ingredient of cement – limestone.

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