For the first time Awards for Excellence, announced each year at the Annual Conference of the Institute of Municipal Engineering Australia – NSW Division, have included a category for Environmental Initiatives. This reflects the extent to which Local Government engineers are now being increasingly called on to rectify environmental problems and protect natural resources for future generations.
The inaugural award was won by Campbelltown City Council for a $2.63 million project designed to reduce discharge and flooding from the Smith’s Creek and Bow Bowing Creek systems. In the event of heavy flooding, this posed a threat to the local Leumeah Shopping Centre and an industrial estate further downstream.
The Project involved three separate construction works to withstand a one in 100 year discharge from stormwater drains or twice the previous capacity. The work included the need to protect an area of highly sensitive urban bushland, precious to local residents and with several significant species.
During the work some vegetation was removed while seeds were collected from others to return the area to its natural state on completion of the work.
Geoff Fowler, Director Engineering Services at Campbelltown, said that a lot was learned in the process, particularly about the value of keeping local residents and environment groups informed about the progress of the work. He said Campbelltown was delighted to receive the Award.
“For engineers to get an Environment Award is a major achievement,” he said. “It is a feather in our cap to have our environmental awareness recognised.”
Other major Awards for Engineering Excellence were won by Rockdale City Council and Tweed Shire Council. Rockdale won its award for completion of a cycleway linking Ryde to Botany Bay and redevelopment of its Monterey Foreshore.
Tweed earned its Award for a 30 year $120 million capital works program that will continue to provide infrastructure in this fast growing area. The Rockdale cycleway completes a 12 kilometre ride between Cooks River at Arnecliffe and Georges River at Sans Souci.
It also joins an existing cycleway providing a direct link to the Olympic site at Homebush. The $900,000 Monterey Bay Project involved the construction of terraced keystone walls built behind a pre existing seawall allowing three undermined car parks to be restored. The Tweed project anticipates population growth in this beautiful region requiring extensive infrastructure investment including sewerage, water, community facilities and open space.
By developing a far reaching and comprehensive plan for the area, rezoning and development applications can now be made with confidence and knowledge regarding the impact of growth on Council services.
