Darling Downs talent shines in IPWEAQ awards

Darling Downs locals have starred at this week's Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia Queensland (IPWEAQ) awards in Cairns, taking six of the awards on offer. Thirty projects and people around the state were recognised for delivering outstanding outcomes for Queensland communities in the 2021 awards, announced in front of 450 delegates at a gala at the Cairns Convention Centre. IPWEAQ chief executive officer Leigh Cunningham. “Public works engineering resolves the issues that impact our lives and creates more connected communities,” IPWEAQ chief executive officer Leigh Cunningham said. “Infrastructure projects such as these will contribute an estimated $32 billion a year to the Queensland economy every year for the next five years. “With the state’s continuing growth and the lead-up to the 2032 Olympics, Queensland’s public works engineering sector will be at the forefront over the coming decade enriching our lives further. “Public works engineers deliver solutions for transport and road safety, water supply and security, recycling, to recreation at football stadiums, parks and walking trails.” Accolades for Toowoomba Regional Council Of the awards claimed in the Darling Downs, four went Toowoomba Regional Council, one to a Transport and Main Roads’ local office staff member and one to GHD Toowoomba. Toowoomba Regional Council took out the award for best project over $20 million for the $67 million new principal depot (pictured below) and the best project valued between $10 million and $20 million and the Environmental & Sustainability awards for the Kleinton waste management facility. Toowoomba Regional Council’s Nathan Whittaker was awarded team member of the year. Mr Whittaker, coordinator for the council’s Construction and Maintenance North branch, was honoured for his technical and management skills, and his 22-year commitment to local government since starting out as a trainee at Booringa Shire Council. Bernie-Ann Freeman was named IPWEAQ Woman in Engineering. Nicholas Delaney, a principal project manager with the council, won emerging professional of the year. His portfolio includes the new Highfields Library and associated roadworks, the Toowoomba Railway Goods Shed heritage restoration, and work on the heritage-listed Soldiers Memorial Hall. Bernie-Ann Freeman, a 28-year-old senior engineer with the Department of Transport and Main Roads Darling Downs district, was named IPWEAQ Woman in Engineering. Ms Freeman, who started her career as a cadet designer, recently led a $50 million infrastructure works package and was appointed principal engineer for resurfacing and rehabilitation for the district. GHD named Employer of the Year GHD Toowoomba office employs 15 to 20 permanent, full-time local engineers, scientists and technicians catering to clients across Toowoomba and south-west Queensland. The firm was recognised as private sector Employer of the Year for their broad range of career development and wellbeing programs, for graduates, young professionals, emerging leaders, and women. The Department of Transport and Main Roads won Employer of the Year (Public Sector). TMR is one of the largest employers of engineers in Queensland, with almost 750 professional engineers and this year recruited more than 40 graduate engineers. Cassowary Coast Regional Council received a highly commended award for Tully’s new grandstand and multiuse sporting complex project in the $5 million to $10 million category. Tablelands Regional Council received a highly commended award for projects in the $2 million to $5 million category for Atherton’s water quality improvement plan. Win for water cooling project Bulloo Shire Council’s $2.8 million Thargomindah Water Cooling Project won the $2 million to $5 million project category. Bulloo Shire Council developed the solar-powered water-cooling system to address long-standing concerns over bore water temperatures. The system produces potable bore water temperature at a cool drinkable level and reduces the degradation of existing water supply and reticulation infrastructure. Bundaberg Regional Council’s stormwater management strategy claimed the Best Asset Management Project award. The collaborative project between Bundaberg Regional Council and AECOM creates an overarching Stormwater Management Strategy with best practice asset management that caters for future growth while maintaining and improving existing stormwater infrastructure. Related: Awards honour leading lights of local government Townsville’s Southern Suburbs Rising Main project was highly commended in the Environment & Sustainability category. The Townsville City Council and Queensland Government-funded project, delivered in conjunction with BMD, has helped reduce pressure on the city’s sewerage network. The project increased capacity for the key defence and economic precincts of Lavarack Barracks, the Townsville Hospital and James Cook University, supporting future population growth in the southern and western suburbs to cater for an expected 20,000 new residents.

Darling Downs talent shines in IPWEAQ awards

Industry Queensland

Related News

‘Coal not dead’, deserves support says McDonald

AIC increases copper-gold inventory for Eloise operation

Key components taking shape in $983m pipeline project

Get access to breaking mining news, now.