The six project finalists for the 2015 Australian Construction Achievement Award (ACAA) have been announced by organisers the Australian Constructors Association and Engineers Australia.
The projects and contractors vying for the overall prize at a gala dinner on Thursday May 14, 2015, at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre are (in alphabetical order, with judges’ comments):
Adelaide Oval Redevelopment, South Australia
“This $535 million project by Lend Lease has transformed the existing facility into a 50,000 seat world-class multi-sport and entertainment venue that represents the forefront in structural and building services engineering. Many of the Oval’s iconic features have been retained in the development, including the heritage-listed scoreboard, the grassy northern mound seating and the Moreton Bay figs.”
Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG) Project, Gladstone, Queensland
“This $1.12 billion joint venture between McConnell Dowell Constructors (Aust) and Consolidated Contracting Company Australia delivered the 360km large-diameter, high-pressure main export pipeline, associated facilities and 146km of lateral pipelines running between the coal seam gas fields in the Surat Basin and Curtis Island, off Gladstone in Queensland.”
Fiona Stanley Hospital, Perth, Western Australia
“A $1.63 billion project by Brookfield Multiplex (BM), this is the largest design and construct project by BM and the largest building infrastructure project ($2 billion) ever undertaken by the WA State Government. Delivered ahead of schedule and within budget the hospital consists of seven buildings and two decked car parks.”
Gold Coast Light Rail (GCLR), Queensland
“A $1.2 billion project constructed under a joint venture between McConnell Dowell Constructors and Bombardier Transportation Australia as part of the GoldLinQ consortium. The project is an ambitious, city-changing infrastructure project aiming to integrate new and existing transport systems, stimulate urban regeneration and facilitate sustainable transit oriented development.”
One Central Park, Sydney, New South Wales
“A $596 million project constructed by Watpac as part of the $2 billion Central Park precinct consisting of five residential towers on top of five levels of retail space including five basement levels of car park. A total of 1421 luxury apartments,1200 car spaces and 15,000 square metres of retail space. The developments iconic features include a Skygarden, heliostat and vertical green walls.”
Victorian Regional Rail Link
This is a $3.9 billion project comprising six integrated Alliance and Design/Construct components headed by contractors John Holland, Thiess, Baulderstone, Lend Lease, Leighton Contractors, Downer EDI and UGL Limited. The project removed major bottlenecks in Melbourne’s rail network, expanded the regional network and created significant extra capacity for metropolitan and regional services.”
Australian Constructors Association executive director Lindsay Le Compte says the finalists of the Australian Construction Achievement Award, together with the construction companies and consortium members behind them, “represent world-class expertise and innovation in the development and delivery of Australia’s major construction projects. These projects play a critical role in the daily lives of Australian society.
“This year the ACAA judges were particularly impressed by the complexity of each of the projects and their exceptional construction work, which often took place in difficult or highly sensitive environments. Each of the projects involved multifaceted construction techniques, which were delivered to the highest standards.
“Australia’s construction industry employs around one million people and is the country’s third largest industry,” Le Compte adds. “The aim of ACAA is to showcase the people and the projects within the construction industry that are succeeding in setting brand new benchmarks around the world.”