Public Works Professionals: Getting on with the job
The IPWEA NSW Engineering Excellence Awards were presented at the Annual Conference Gala Dinner on 22 May 2006. These awards provide members with the opportunity to receive recognition for their projects in front of their peers as well as providing the opportunity for resource sharing among Councils. The award categories included:
- Design and/or Construction of a Local Government Public Works Project
- New or Improved Techniques (sponsored by the Roads & Transport Directorate)
- Innovation in Water Supply and Wastewater (sponsored by the Water Directorate)
- Occupational Health and Safety (sponsored by Komatsu Australia)
- Resource Efficient Construction
- Environmental Award.
The category winners are listed below.
Airport reconstruction at Orange
Following its recent success in being named the winner of the Australian Airports Association (AAA) Australian Rural Airport of the Year 2004/2005, Orange City Council has won the Resource Efficient Construction Award for its Orange Aerodrome Reconstruction. Orange City Council’s project incorporated Stage 1, the reconstruction of the 11/29 runway and main taxiway, and Stage 2, construction of a taxiway from the main regular passenger transport (RPT) apron to the end of runway 11 and realignment of the general aviation taxiways. This project was achieved under budget and allowed limited RPT operations to continue during the construction. Coordination of the work was critical given that at certain stages the gravel was being added and compacted, stabilising and compaction were underway and sealing was being carried out all on the same day. At the peak of construction, 43 items of plant were working onsite at the one time. For further information contact John Boyd on (02) 6393 8312 or email jboyd@orange.nsw.gov.au
Fairfield’s 80% diversion rate
Fairfield City Council was awarded the Environmental Award for its “80% Diversion is Fairfield City’s Reality” project. Fairfield City Council is proud to be the foundation with WSN Environmental Solutions and Global Renewables Ltd of UR-3R (Urban Resource – Reduction, Recovery and Recycling), a world-class, environmentally friendly, waste management facility enabling 80 per cent of Fairfield City’s domestic waste to be diverted from landfill. The facility is designed to divert up to 48,000 tonnes of waste from landfill, recover up to 7,280 tonnes of extra recyclables from household garbage collected by Council, turn garden and kitchen wastes into high quality compost and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the same amount as taking 20,000 cars off the road every year. The facility uses cutting edge technology and is completely self sufficient in energy and water, using liquid captured onsite and generating enough green energy to meet its own needs and feed the rest back into the power grid. For further information contact David Nixon on (02) 9725 0222 or email mail@faifieldcity.nsw.gov.au
Forbes Central West Livestock Exchange
Forbes Shire Council was awarded the New or Improved Project Award for its Central West Livestock Exchange. Forbes Shire Council officially opened its new Central West Livestock Exchange Cattle Selling Centre in February 2006. This clearly demonstrated the new standard for livestock selling that several other centres will undoubtedly strive to achieve in the future. The new centre provides a highly efficient facility for the sale of stock, using the latest technology and addressing key animal welfare issues. Provision of soft floor and weather protection, reduces animal stress, ensuring optimum stock condition. The facility also addresses the wide range of environmental concerns associated with saleyards, with no liquid effluent generated from the yards themselves and the cattle waste incorporated into a reusable compost material. All site water is recycled for dust suppression, watering stock and washing out trucks. OH&S issues have become a key issue in saleyards in recent years. The new complex fully addresses these workplace issues, through the separation and/or protection of the public attending the sales and staff conducting and running sales. For further information contact Bruce Morris on (02) 6850 1333 or email brucemo@forbes.nsw.gov.au
Port Macquarie-Hastings three village water treatment plants
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council was awarded the Innovation in Water Supply and Wastewater Project Award for its Three Villages Water Microfiltration Plants project. Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has recently constructed three water treatment plants using innovation technology designed to provide Hastings villages with clean, safe, high standard drinking water. The state of the art water microfiltration plants now service the drinking supply needs of residents in the villages of Comboyne, Long Flat and Telegraph Point. Water, enough to supply these villages for between three and five days, is stored in small reservoirs and disinfected before being piped to homes and businesses. Traditionally, during times of heavy rain when the river experiences increased turbidity – higher concentration of soil particles – Council was forced to halt pumping until the river water cleared, even using water trucks to supply residents. The microfiltration plants, which are fully automated with continuous quality monitoring, now allow Council to pump water from the river 365 days a year, if required. This award winning technology removes impurities leaving only crystal clear drinking water for residents – in fact, it is that good, Council has even bottled it! For further information contact Murray Thompson on (02) 6581 8563 or email murrayt@pmhc.nsw.gov.au
Shellharbour’s Illawarra Regional Airport upgrade
Shellharbour City Council was awarded the Design and/or Construction of a Local Government/Public Works Project Award for its Upgrade of Illawarra Regional Airport. The recent upgrade of the airport has been the culmination of many years of determined negotiations, flexible planning processes and above all, faith in the airport as a facility which should be developed for the benefit of the Illawarra community. During the past year, a Light Aeronautics Industry Cluster was developed with financial assistance from DOTARS Regional Partnership Program. This project attracted four new aviation related businesses to the airport. The airport runway has been upgraded to cater for the introduction of Regular Passenger Transport (RPT) operators. The upgrade works enabled Qantaslink to commence in 2005 seven return flights per week between the Illawarra region and Melbourne, opening up new tourism markets and improving transport links for corporate travellers. For further information contact Arthur Webster (02) 4221 6111 or email arthur.webster@shellharbour.nsw.gov.au
Clarence Valley’s safe operating procedures
Clarence Valley Council won the Occupational Health and Safety Project Award for its Safe Operating Procedure #19: Use of Plant and Equipment during Rural Fire Service Operations. The Safe Operating Procedure #19 document is based on risk management principles and has resulted in staff being adequately trained and equipped. The award judges agreed that it is very pleasing to see the two agencies working so closely together to improve the safety of an inherently dangerous working environment. There is no doubt that procedures such as these will reduce the risk to staff and equipment and, if adopted throughout New South Wales, will result in a significant reduction in injuries to those staff involved. Clarence Valley Mayor, Ian Tiley, said he was very pleased with the award and that Council’s commitment to consultation with its emergency agencies and the community has resulted in major improvements for the area. For further information contact David Andrews on 0427 664 863 or email david.andrews@clarence.nsw.gov.au
