The Victorian Division of the Institute of Public Works Engineering, Australia (IPWEA) is re-establishing itself as a separate entity after having amalgamated with two other organisations in 1996.
IPWEA Victoria President, Maurice Stabb, said the reformation heralds a new era for addressing engineering skills shortages in Local Government and more broadly, in the public works sector in Victoria.
Prior to the Kennett Government’s amalgamation of Victorian Councils in the mid 1990s, IPWEA was the leading engineering professional group in Local Government. However, with the considerable reduction of engineers immediately following amalgamation, IPWEA joined the Institute of Municipal Management, and the Victorian Municipal Community Services Association to form the Local Government Professionals.
“With the consolidation of Council structures and faced with the challenge of addressing the serious engineering skills shortage in Councils and public works, it was time for the IPWEA Victorian Division to re-establish itself as a separate entity,” Maurice Stabb said.
IPWEA (Victorian Division) is:
- reforming active regional groups across Victoria
- staging civil engineering conferences and seminars
- ensuring public works and particularly Local Government engineering interests are adequately represented in appropriate stakeholder groups developing sector policy and legislation
- hosting the International Public Works Conference in Melbourne in 2009
- providing tangible benefits to members, particularly new entrants to the sector
- targeting the involvement of civil engineers working in all government agencies including transport and water
- communicating widely IPWEA objectives and achievements to the Local Government sector, public works agencies, stakeholders and the wider community.
“Clearly, the people of Victoria will benefit from these initiatives,” Maurice Stabb said. “The enhancement of engineering skills in Councils and public works agencies will in turn drive identifiable improvements in the delivery of capital works and management of major public infrastructure assets.”
For further information contact Maurice Stabb on 0400 780 666.
