The bar for civil construction excellence in Western Australia has been raised again, with seventeen impressive infrastructure projects contesting the 2022 Civil Contractors Federation WA Earth Awards and seven category winners named.
CCF WA CEO Andy Graham said the Earth Award judges commented on the high calibre of entries this year and said they consider 2022 presented a significant milestone in civil construction excellence.
Transport infrastructure projects featured strongly on the night – five of the seven category winners were Main Roads WA projects, underscoring the importance of the State Government’s massive transport infrastructure program to the civil construction sector.
Water Corporation projects also featured strongly, with four finalists and one category winner. A special Judges Award was awarded to another Water Corporation project.
The seven category winners and Judges Award winners are listed below with information about the projects. More information, and high resolution images of the award presentations, are available on request.
Earth Awards for Excellence in Civil Construction Winners –
Project Value more than $150 million: Armadale Access Alliance (comprising Laing O’Rourke, BG&E and Main Roads Western Australia) for its Armadale Road to North Lake Road Bridge project.
This project comprised two grade separated roundabouts at Tapper Road and Solomon Road to create a duck and dive alignment, a new bridge over Kwinana Freeway, new freeway on- and off-ramps and collector-distributor roads, upgrades to Armadale Road, and improved access and parking for Cockburn Station. Major enabling works were required for the threespan bridge across Kwinana Freeway. The western abutment works required an anchored sheet pile wall to retain an existing high-pressure gas main, and the eastern abutment works required a diversion of a major telecommunications service. The bridge beam lifts and superstructure works were also particularly challenging.
Project Value $75 million to $150 million: Downer for its Denny Avenue Level Crossing Removal project.
Downer to completed a multidisciplinary project involving the removal of the Denny Avenue Level Crossing, construction of a rail bridge and road underpass, upgrade of the surrounding road networks and revitalisation works in the Kelmscott town centre. After award, the client requested a program change, bringing forward the closure of the dangerous level crossing.
Through innovative products and working methods, Downer achieved this key milestone four months ahead of schedule, even with the challenges of complex service removals and COVID-related logistical issues. Downer’s collaborative approach not only delivered a high-quality project; the company also successfully trialled new products and working methods – increasing safety, sustainability and efficiency; and leaving a lasting legacy for the local community, the Public Transport Authority and the wider civil construction industry.
Project Value $30 million to $75 million: Georgiou Group and Main Roads Western Australia for the Karel Avenue Upgrade project.
The project involved the widening of Karel Avenue, over Roe Highway and the freight railway, to create a dual carriageway. From a design and construction perspective, the most challenging aspect of the project was widening the existing grade separation over rail, to accommodate the Thornlie to Cockburn passenger lines next to the existing freight lines. Another significant consideration was the interface with live services, including a high-pressure gas main and a fuel line servicing Perth Airport. Through clear communication with the client and the key stakeholders, coupled with regular planning workshops and programming meetings, Georgiou delivered the programmed works without any impact on these assets.
Project Value $10 million to $30 million: Georgiou Group for its Kwinana Freeway Pedestrian and Cycle Path project.
This path not only allows an uninterrupted journey between Mandurah and Perth CBD, it also improves safety by eliminating conflict between traffic and path users. Georgiou constructed 700 metres of new shared path, including a new 45-metre underpass, and upgraded a further 455 metres of existing path. The project site was approximately 800 metres long and 20 metres wide, with the busy Kwinana Freeway to the east and residential properties to the west. Georgiou overcame numerous challenges, such as protection of an existing water sewer main, live services and the tight project boundary. The company’s innovative approach not only influenced the final design, but also the construction methodology, saving the client time and money.
Project Value $5 million to $10 million: Rob Carr and Water Corporation for the Gnangara Branch Sewer Section 2 project.
As part of significant upgrades to the sewer network in Perth’s northern suburbs, Rob Carr was engaged by Water Corporation to construct a new branch sewer along Lancaster Road in Wangara. The location and proximity of the existing infrastructure, of in-ground services and of structures along the alignment itself created a number of site access and constructability challenges. Rob Carr overcame a number of site access and constructability challenges created by existing infrastructure, in-ground services and structures along the alignment. Though the conditions were very challenging, the project was completed successfully and well ahead of the contract schedule.
Project Value $2 million to $5 million: Enviro Infrastructure for its Hector Street Footbridge Refurbishment project.
Main Roads engaged Enviro Infrastructure as head contractor to undertake remedial works to this footbridge, which spans the Mitchell Freeway and Joondalup rail line in Osborne Park. Enviro’s scope of works included protective coating maintenance, weld inspection testing and repairs, and deck plank end repairs. To deliver these essential remediation works, Enviro and its key subcontractors worked almost 7 months onsite, all works being nightshift, with no impact on road and rail users or assets.
Project Value up to $2 million: Foundation Engineering for its Multi-Unit Development, 147 Hastings St Scarborough project.
Foundation Engineering provided an alternate shoring system using steel piles and chemical grout injection for the development of a series of dwellings on the Scarborough beach front. Due to the sloping nature of the site, some piles were required to support the existing structures either side of the property during the excavation. However, there were other sections of the site that required the piles be exposed up to several metres. The installation rig required was able to handle the tricky site conditions resulting from having such a steep, sandy surface. In comparison, a traditional CFA pile installation rig would have struggled to install concrete piles along such a steep run.
2022 WA Judges’ Award: SRG Global for its 20ML Karratha Water Tank and Associated Works.
The Judges Award is a discretionary award for a project which scores highly and which the judges consider to be worthy of special recognition. SRG demonstrated commendable planning, design and execution of the works to build a staged concrete structure with an expected lifespan of 100 years in a region where extreme weather events are prevalent.
The seven 2022 WA Earth Award category winners will represent the state at the CCF National Earth Awards on November 11 in Canberra.
