Griffith City Council was recognised at the 2023 IPWEA NSW & ACT State Conference Engineering Excellence Awards held in Sydney last week, for two Council projects.
The IPWEA NSW & ACT State Awards, held annually, aspires to endorse and recognise excellence of Local Government and Public Works Projects. This is achieved through inspiration, innovation, collaboration, development and completion of projects and technical management by their members.
Council nominated four projects in total, being the Merrigal Street Pedestrian Bridge, Hanwood Shared Pathway, 50m outdoor Pool, and the Cemetery Portable Working Platform, with the Cemetery Platform winning the Workplace Health and Safety Category, and the 50m Pool project taking home the coveted Minister for Local Government's Award for innovation in Local Government Engineering.
In 2016 the Minister for Local Government's Award for Innovation in Local Government Engineering was introduced and has since been endorsed by the Minister for Local Government. All nominated projects are eligible and potential winners of the Minister's Award.
Director Infrastructure and Operations, Mr Phil King said receiving these two awards is an honour and great recognition of the hard work which goes on behind the scenes to ensure Council is delivering high quality infrastructure.
"Winning the Workplace Health and Safety Award for the Cemetery Portable Working Platform is excellent recognition for a staff-initiated solution, manufactured by Council staff to make a workplace task safer," said Mr King.
"There were so many high calibre award nominations to the 2023 Excellence Awards from incredible public spaces, to multi-million dollar airport upgrades, and to have the new Griffith 50m pool recognised as one of the premier project nominations in the engineering excellence awards is fantastic.
"The installation of the Myrtha pool by contractors Hines Constructions during Covid has provided the Griffith community with a FINA compliant, 10 lane 50m pool," he added.
Griffith Mayor, Councillor Doug Curran, said he is delighted to see Council do so well.
"To be considered among the top councils in NSW and have our projects recognised at this level with the Engineering Excellence Awards is a wonderful achievement," Councillor Curran said.
"Our projects benefit the community and these awards acknowledge we are on the right track to further grow our city and provide a great lifestyle."
General Manager Brett Stonestreet congratulated staff on their efforts.
"I am extremely proud of staff as they continue to work tirelessly and go above and beyond for our community," he said.
