Port Macquarie Link Road.
The Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia (IPWEA) NSW Division recently conducted the 2008 NSW Excellence in Engineering Awards. Held in conjunction with the Annual State Conference of Local Government and Public Works Engineers, the awards were presented in front of a capacity crowd of 300 peers, Councillors, sponsors and guests.
The Excellence in Engineering Awards have become a major activity of the IPWEA NSW Division and showcase the talent and achievements
of the industry.
By necessity, public works engineering is dispersed, with engineers and other officers working in separate units throughout the State. Without the awards program it would be difficult to appreciate and to demonstrate the scope, innovation and range of the work undertaken by members of IPWEA.
The Awards, therefore, represent an opportunity to keep abreast with best practice and to study projects from different councils.
Judges Geoff Fowler and David Abbott said that it was most encouraging to see the renewed interest in the awards this year.
The number of projects entered this year was significantly up on last year and the spread was almost evenly split up between metropolitan and country councils.
“It is important to showcase the capacity of the people in our industry as a reminder to the community of the expertise that is applied on their behalf,” said IPWEA NSW President, John Truman. “The awards are also about sharing ideas and successes with your peers”.
Award winners for 2008
Category One
Design and/or Construction of a Local Government/Public Works Project
Winner: Steve Finlay from Port Macquarie Hastings Council. The Port Macquarie Link Road. This project connects Ocean Drive to Hastings River Drive and major intersections at Lake Road and Gordon Street/Oxley Highway.
Highly Commended: Jason Gordon from Coffs Harbour City Council, Hogbin Drive Extension.
Category Two
New or Improved Techniques
Winner: John Truman from Ballina Shire Council, The Solid Waste Landfill and Baling facility.
This project evolved out of necessity to act quickly and responsibly to resolve a problem created by the forced closure of Council’s landfill operation, for environmental reasons.
Highly Commended: Leon Patterson from Gundagai Shire Council, Build a Bridge and Get Over It, and Peter Coventry from Newcastle City Council, Natural Disaster Recovery System.
Category Three
Innovation in Water Supply and Wastewater
No winner awarded for 2008.
Highly Commended: John Maxwell from Tumut Shire Council, Brungle Sewerage Scheme.
Highly Commended: Carmel Krogh from Shoalhaven Council, Conjola Regional Sewerage Scheme.
Category Four
Occupational Health and Safety
Winner: Mahbub Hossain from Campbelltown City Council, Risk Based Asset Management.
This project takes integrated asset management systems further, introducing the concept of risk management as a significant factor in prioritising the allocation of resources and the minimising of risk.
Highly Commended: Anne-Maree Burke from Kempsey Shire Council, Hat Head vacuum sewerage system.
Category Five
The Three Rs: Recovering, Recycling
and Reusing
Winner: Neil Hannington from Mid Coast Water, Wingham Reuse Scheme.
This project has discharged treated effluent into a brackish section of the Manning River since its inception many years ago.
Highly Commended: Garry Hemsworth from Lismore Council, Lismore Integrated Waste System.
Category Six
Excellence in Road Safety Enginnering
Winner: Stan Antczak from Holroyd City Council, Flashing School Zone Alert Lights.
This project uses flashing lights and a lit 40k annulus to make it obvious to motorists, thus improving road safety for children.
Highly Commended: Stuart Small from Great Lakes City Council, Main Road 111-Bungwhal-Reconstruction 2.7km of the Lakes Way.
Category Seven
Environmental
Winner: Greg Morgan from Blacktown City Council, Investigation into Unauthorised Landfilling in Blacktown LGA.
This project has allowed Council to identify over 400 illegal sites and to take legal action to rectify against a number of offenders.
Highly Commended: Amit Chanan from Kogarah City Council, The Beverley Park Water Reclamation Plant.
Category Eight
Local Government Excellence in
Road Safety Awards
Winner: Melanie Suitor from Lachlan Shire Council, Catch Ya Later Condo. See page 8 for further deatails.
Alongside the Excellence Awards, a Special Community Award was presented. These Community Awards recognise projects that have been largely initiated and funded by the community in conjunction with Local Government. The recipient of the Special Community Award for 2008 was Eurobodalla Shire Council, with two projects: The Dalmeny to Narooma Shared Pathway and the Redevelopment of the Nelligen Boat Ramp.
