Finalists announced for Roading Excellence Awards

25 August 2006

Finalists announced for Roading Excellence Awards Industry celebrates best practice and industry growth

The importance of infrastructure growth and top quality roading projects has been highlighted with the announcement of the finalist projects for this year's Roading Excellence Awards.

Eleven projects from throughout the country have been named finalists in the awards programme that was established in 2005, across three categories that recognise excellence in the planning, design and construction of significant roading projects, as well as the development and implementation of roading best practice.

Roading New Zealand chief executive Chris Olsen is impressed by the quality of finalist projects in the second year of the competition. "Roading projects of this nature are needed to cultivate growth within the industry and Roading New Zealand's Roading Excellence Awards are designed to promote excellence and help the industry prepare for ongoing infrastructure redevelopment in the coming years," he says.

The awards, sponsored by Shell Bitumen, Goughs and InfraTrain NZ, aim to promote excellence and best practice in the provision of land transport infrastructure.

Mr Olsen said the awards are the first of their kind to celebrate companies that excel in all aspects of roading projects and best practice.

Winners will be announced on Monday 28 August at a gala dinner at the Duxton Hotel in Wellington, with Minister of Transport, Hon. Annette King in attendance.

The Minister will also open the Roading New Zealand 'Better Value Roading' conference to be held at the Duxton Hotel the following day, where roading industry innovation, cost pressures and tendering procedures will be discussed. Keynote speakers include Don Ward, chief operating officer of the UK Constructing Excellence in the Built Environment, and Steve Roswell, Procurement Director for UK Highways Agency.

2006 Roading New Zealand Conference Keynote Speakers

Don Ward
Chief Operating Officer, UK Constructing Excellence in the Built Environment
Don is one of the leading fifures in procurement in the UK. He has over twenty years experience of best practice in the construction industry specializing in industry changer, supply chain integration and collaborative working. As chief executive of the Construction Industry Board, he worked with Sir Michael Latham, UK industry's representative bodies and other stakeholders to implement the 1994 "Latham report" and latterly the 1998 "Egan report".

Steve Roswell
Procurement Director, UK Highways Agency
Steve has spearheaded the Agency's drive towards Best Value Tendering using a partnering approach with new initiatives such as the Agency's new Procurement Strategy, the introduction of Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) contracts, the Capability Assessment Toolkit (CAT) and new developments in performance specification and management. He has led the development of new processes to speed up the delivery of major road profects as part of the 10 Year Plan proporals. He is a chartered Civil Engineer and has worked for the Department of Transport, latterly the Highways Agency, for 30 years.

Shell Bitumen and Goughs Supreme Awards Finalists:

Fulton Hogan Ltd East Coast for Highway Pavement Recycling, Gisborne 2005/06:
The Highway Pavement Recycling project involved full width paving of 23km over 60 sites situated on State Highway 2 and 35 in the Gisborne Region. Fulton Hogan developed new methodologies which have set a new benchmark for best practice and which will go on to benefit both Transit New Zealand and the community long term.

Blacktop Construction Limited for State Highway 1 Newmarket Viaduct Resurfacing:
The Newmarket Viaduct is a six land bridge structure carrying 200,000 vehicles/day, equivalent to 6 stories above the commercial, retail and residential area of Newmarket.

The substantial thermal stresses caused in the viaduct due to the sun and a black road surface meant that only white asphalt could be used to resurface it. This created a huge challenge because it meant using blond bitumen and white aggregate.

Opus International for Waianakarua North River Bridge Widening:
The 130-year-old bridge was substandard and traffic safety and structural bearing both needed attention. As one of the few remaining stone arch bridges in the country, the appearance of the bridge needed to be preserved whilst achieving a wider road base and structural reinforcement to ensure the bridge remained a viable traffic route.

Opus International used technical innovation to successfully expand an existing structure using current design to upgrade its safety and structural standard whilst restoring the original façade.

Hiway Stabilisers NZ Ltd and Works Infrastructure joint entry for Foamed Bitumen Recycling Pavement Rehabilitation:
The pavement rehabilitation of the Coronet Peak Road for the Queenstown Lakes District Council was difficult considering the challenges of the alpine environment. The skill of the Works Infrastructure draining, trimming and compaction crews allowed them to integrate seamlessly with the Hiway stabilising team, resulting in construction being completed in time and on budget, and with excellent ongoing road quality.

Foamed bitumen recycling is an innovative technique that has been developed by Hiway Stabilisers, and has maintained its reputation as a reliable recycling treatment option. In just three years this technique went from the research and development stage through to successful application. Best value was achieved by the short design and construction period allowed by this technique, as well as the high strength of the result.

Infratrain NZ Best Practice Award Finalists:

MWH NZ Ltd for their Highway Highlanders Rotational Graduate Secondment programme (Dunedin):
In an industry where we are frequently being reminded that too few professional engineers are available to service New Zealand's transport industry, MWH NZ Ltd to this into their own hands and implemented their Rotational Graduate Secondment Programme.

This initiative is an agreement between Transit NZ, Works Infrastructure and MWH, and has been developed under an existing hybrid contract - Highway Highlanders - to provide graduates with a three year, fully mentored rotation, through very distinct work environments of each organisation.

Successful implementation of this principle means it is also be considered for development of engineering cadetships that are increasingly on offer by consultants, contractors and local authorities.

Works Infrastructure Limited for the 'There's a Hole in My Bucket' - Improving Tourist Route Reliability project (Fiordland):
The tourist route from Manapouri to Deep Cove Road in Fiordland National park, managed by the Department of Conservation, Meridian Energy and local tourism companies, was regularly cut off by extreme flows from the Stella Burn Falls.

Works constructed a 'holey bucket' made entirely from locally available materials such as natural rock that managed to divert and control the water flow from the falls sideways, and provided a best possible solution despite a number of environmental and location challenges.

This effective and aesthetically pleasing solution has not only preserved the natural character of the area but greatly reduced flood effects in the park.

Northern Gateway Alliance for the project management, design and construction of the SH1 Northern Motorway Extension for Transit New Zealand (Auckland):
At $359 million, the construction of this 7.5 kilometre State Highway extension is thought be to the largest single engineering contract ever awarded in New Zealand. This project involves construction of five culverts, twin tunnels, six bridges and three viaducts, shifting over three million cubic metres of earth.

To grow its size and skill base, Northern Gateway Alliance have development personal development and growth programmes covering everything from safety to software application training. At last count 674 staff had attended training courses over the last 6 months.

Given at its peak 300 people will work for Alliance, their exceptional safety record is a testament to their safety culture and training programmes.

Opus International Consultants Ltd for their Opus Civil Engineering Cadetship Scheme (Pukekohe):
The Opus 2006 cadetship scheme was the culmination of several attempts to develop a Civil Engineering cadetship scheme which would provide both opportunity to young people interested in a Civil Engineering career and benefits to Opus by providing a skilled resource to supplement its existing resources servicing clients throughout New Zealand and overseas.

The scheme is now a fixed component of Opus International's annual recruitment and personnel development programme. Many recent cadet recruits will complete their Diploma in Civil Engineering or Surveying in the next few years and many will progress to University to complete a University engineering degree.

NZ Institute of Highway Technology for development and delivery of the Batchelor of Engineering Technology degree (New Plymouth):
The Batchelor of Engineering Technology at the NZIHT is unique, providing students and employees who have gained, or will gain, Diploma status in civil engineering the opportunity to study for a degree whilst in full time employment.

The degree specializes in road design, construction, maintenance and management, and may be offered anywhere throughout New Zealand or even overseas. It is also positioned to provide further study opportunities for the NZ Certificate of Engineering and the Diploma of Civil Engineering.

With the recent announcement by the Government of substantially increased funding for infrastructure, and especially highways, it will be essential to improve the skills and knowledge of existing employees. With this initiative, employers within the roading sector will be able to employ suitably skilled and qualified personnel who have been short in supply in the past.

City Care Limited for the Behave Safe Increasing Safe Behaviour at City Care project (Christchurch):
City Care implemented this project to achieve best practice management systems to structure health and safety within the organization. They embarked on a journey to create and implement a behavioural based system that aimed to change the culture by getting all staff involved in a positive approach to health and safety.

City Care have produced a DVD of health and safety best practice and behavioural based system that is used in the company's induction and training programmes. Through a gradual process, the change to culture within the organization has led to a "sphere of influence" with the incorporation of safety at home, involving families in the launch of the DVD, and actively making the DVD available to the wider community.

The DVD has been made available to contractors working for City Care, suppliers, clients, local authorities, schools, ACC, and Site Safe.

Tai Poutini Polytechnic for the Development of Bronze Card Health, Safety and Environment Training Programme (Greymouth):
Tai Poutini Polytechnic has developed cultivated niche markets both within the West Coast region and nationally. Their experience in working closely with various industries has enabled them to develop new qualifications that span a number of industry partners.

The Bronze Card training course forms part of the National Certificate in Civil Infrastructure, Health, Safety and Environment (Operations) and was designed to ensure that the programme was flexible, of high quality and "fit for purpose". It was also developed to assist and support the Civil Infrastructure Industry to adopt and demonstrate best practice in relation to health and safety.

Tai Poutini also offers the opportunity for staff within this industry to gain the full National Certificate in Civil Infrastructure, Health, Safety and Environment (Operations) and/or Supervision

ENDS

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