Major government transport, water and maritime infrastructure projects have been honoured at the Civil Contractors Federation WA’s annual Earth Awards for excellence in civil construction.
The Earth Award in the highest value category, for projects over $150 million, was a tight three-way contest between major transport projects Tonkin Gap, Yanchep Rail Extension, and the New Fitzroy River Bridge, with the Tonkin Gap project just prevailing.
In the $75 million - $150 million category, State-owned land developer DevelopmentWA’s Ocean Reef Marina Breakwaters project just edged out the Thomas Road Over Rail Bridge, while Water Corporation’s Quinns Main Sewer project claimed the Earth Award in the $30 million - $75 million category.
CCF WA Chief Executive Officer Andy Graham said the dominance of State Government projects in the high-value project categories underlined the importance of public infrastructure to the civil construction sector.
“Civil contractors love building iconic public infrastructure, and if that involves some unique challenges, then all the better,” Mr Graham said.
“Friday night’s Earth Awards gala dinner was a celebration of infrastructure achievements big and small, with 21 finalists across the seven categories.
“Congratulations to all the WA Earth Award winners and we wish them well at the National Earth Awards in Canberra in November.”
2024 WA Earth Award winners
Project Value up to $2 million: Neo Civil – Ocean Beach Seawall (Client: Shire of Denmark)
Works for the seawall included installation of 38 circular hollow steel piles; installation of a 75m retaining wall incorporating vinyl sheet piles with timber and steel walers and approximately 1000m of jarrah cladding. 1200 tonnes of core and armour rock were used. Local conditions and unforeseen delays in supply of materials presented challenges in staging the works, and the onset of winter necessitated acceleration of the construction programme for the seawall.
Project Value up to $2 - 5 million: DJ Mac Cormick Constructions – Baldivis Stillwater Drive Type 350 Pump Station (Client: BMD Constructions for Water Corporation)
Custom fabricated formwork, with an integrated safety platform, allowed working on each liner from the middle of the caisson up to the final pour height, ensuring safety and quality and allowing a fast-paced concrete pour sequence. Caisson shafts were constructed over 11m deep, with 10.4m being below the groundwater table, presenting significant engineering challenges. DJMC’s innovative approach included sacrificing entrance rings to prevent shaft flooding post micro-tunnelling, and a custom-manufactured pick attached to the clamshell excavator to prevent the caissons from sinking on an angle.
Project Value $5-10 million: Maritime Constructions – Carnarvon Dredging and Babbage Island Spit Stabilisation (Client: Department of Transport)
Access to the Carnarvon Fascine had become restricted following a cyclone in 2017. Dredged material was pumped to an outfall point on the Babbage Island Spit and directed through a network of temporary earthen bunds before the return water was released into the ocean. The design called for a dune shape mimicking a natural dune, including out-of-phase undulations along the dune. Operators were provided varied target levels with relatively large tolerances, so that the final surface appeared to have been shaped by nature.
Project Value $10-30 million: DM Civil – ATCO East Perth Power Station Pipeline (Client: ATCO Gas Australia)
DM Civil constructed around 7.6km of DN250 steel high pressure gas pipeline in two packages, using a mixture of horizontal directional drilling, pilot boring and open excavation. Significant challenges included simultaneous construction operations with many third parties, including major transport projects and another ATCO gas pipeline project; and works on extremely busy arterial roads and in tight suburban and industrial areas, requiring intensive traffic management. Innovative construction methodologies expedited the works and reduce the impact on stakeholders and the built environment.
Project Value $30-75 million: Quinns Main Sewer Extension & Associated Works – Rob Carr and Water Corporation (Client: Water Corporation)
This design and construct project featured 1.8 kilometres of tunnelling, including a technically challenging curved drive over 500 metres long beneath a freeway and railway. With shafts reaching depths of up to 27 metres, and the incorporation of two vortex structures, the engineering precision showcased was exceptional. Stakeholder management was crucial, involving coordination with schools, residents, and multiple government bodies to minimise impact and enhance community relations. Safety and environmental stewardship were paramount, constantly managing risk for the team, the public, and the national park.
Project Value $75-150 million: WA Limestone and Italia Stone Group Joint Venture - Ocean Reef Marina Breakwaters (Client: DevelopmentWA)
The JV constructed the breakwater and revetment structures with a combined length of 2km of seawall and 1km of revetment wall. The work scope included reuse of existing breakwater material; placement of geotextile, limestone core armour and granite armour; and excavation of dredging areas. Material supply was the biggest challenge for the project, with the management of importing 1.25 million tonnes of rock across more than 30 delivery sites impacting the delivery schedule. Working with inclement weather and completing significant trucking and earthworks within an urbanised area were also challenges.
Project Value >$150 Million: Tonkin Gap Alliance – Tonkin Gap Project and Associated Works (Client: Main Roads WA and Public Transport Authority)
The Tonkin Gap Alliance, comprising of BMD Construction, Georgiou Group, WA Limestone, BG&E and GHD, worked with Main Roads and Public Transport Authority to deliver a project that removed a well-known bottleneck and created thousands of jobs and better connectivity. The project delivered improved traffic flow and safety, and enhanced facilities for cyclists, pedestrians, and the community. Its supply chain involved over 300 subcontractors and suppliers delivering packages of work with a focus on local spend and supply, emerging and Aboriginal-owned businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises.
Judges' Award: Fitzroy Bridge Alliance – The New Fitzroy River Bridge Project (Client: Main Roads Western Australia)
The original bridge was damaged beyond repair by floods in January 2023. Delivered by the Fitzroy Bridge Alliance comprising BMD Constructions, Georgiou, and BG&E for Main Roads Western Australia, the project began in February 2023 and the bridge opened to all traffic in December 2023, six months ahead of schedule. Strong collaboration with government, local and national suppliers and contractors, and the community contributed to the high quality and speed of the project delivery. Key outcomes included improving the safety and climate-resilience of the transport link and supporting social and economic development of the Fitzroy Valley.
For photos of projects and presentations, contact Emily Giglia egiglia@ccfwa.com.au
