IPWEA announced Australia’s and New Zealand’s most outstanding public works engineering projects and professionals at its Australasia Excellence Awards on 28 August in Hobart.

The winners were announced at the Komatsu Grand Platinum Gala Dinner at the 2019 IPWEA International Public Works Conference. The event highlighted the wealth of innovation, skill and dedication within the public works industry and celebrated the professionals who have delivered outstanding service to community infrastructure.

Our finalists represented the industry’s best, with each nominee having already won their category in IPWEA Divisional awards held prior to the August conference.

“It was said during the conference that public works engineers ‘hold the world together’ while remaining quietly in the background,” said IPWEA CEO Cathy Morcom.

“The IPWEA International Public Works Conference Excellence Awards publicly recognises the contributions by these professionals to outstanding project design and innovation; high quality results and dedicated community service.

“Congratulations to all IPWC award finalists and winners on their dedication, hard work and achievements.”

The biennial conference drew a total of more than 500 delegates from Australia, New Zealand, Finland, Malaysia and the USA.

“The fact that so many attended our conference during winter in the beautiful city of Hobart shows the strength of our membership’s engagement with current issues and professional development,” said Morcom.

“Whilst technology has assisted IPWEA in providing services and daily interaction between members and divisions through training and community forums, it is our conferences, workshops and other events in the field that provide active connections and invaluable networking opportunities.

“Until the next conference in 2021 in Adelaide, IPWEA will apply the input and interests relayed in Hobart to building and strengthening value for our members. I believe that together, we can collaborate, consult and be transparent in our intent in order to fulfil our vision.”

Five of the 15 awards went to Queensland projects, with Somerset Regional Council’s Brisbane Valley Rail Trail (Toogoolawah to Moore) taking out both the Best Public Works Project $2.0m to $5.0m and the prestigious IPWEA Australasia Public Works Medal for Project of the Year 2019, which was sponsored by Engineers Australia. The 161km recreational trail follows the disused Brisbane railway line and it has become a substantial local asset helping to drive tourism in south-east Queensland.

New Zealanders won three awards, including Best Public Works Project over $5.0m for the rebuild of a Christchurch family playground after the major earthquakes of 2010; Excellence in Asset Management, for the Wellington Water Supply Resilience Study and Best Conference Paper for the Temuka Water Event (Asbestos).