Awards, Earthmoving News

Queensland Project of the Year announced

The Rookwood Weir project team moved more than 800,000 cubic metres of soil and poured 131,000 cubic metres of concrete as part of the project

The Rookwood Weir project, a collaboration between Sunwater, Acciona, GHD and McCosker, has been named Queensland Project of the Year at the recent 2024 Engineers Australia Excellence Awards.

The awards, which recognise Queensland’s most innovative engineers and engineering projects, were held at voco Brisbane City Centre on September 12.

Engineers Australia says the major infrastructure development “demonstrates excellence in engineering and social responsibility”.

“The project has delivered significant environmental benefits through innovative design improvements, reducing the need for excavation.

“The Alliance construction model fostered collaboration, with a strong focus on safety, well-being and mental health.

“The project also promoted Indigenous and female employment, offering apprenticeships and supporting local agriculture.

“Recognised with an ‘Excellent’ rating from the Infrastructure Sustainability Council, the Rookwood Weir project sets a benchmark for sustainable, world-class projects in regional areas.”

Local winners will go on to represent their division at the national awards’ gala dinner on November 21 at Brisbane City Hall.

Background

Located 66km southwest of Rockhampton, the Rookwood Weir provides Central Queensland with an additional source of water for its agriculture, urban and industrial needs.

After plans to build the weir received federal government approval in February 2017, the Queensland government-owned Sunwater partnered with designer GHD and construction joint-venture partners McCosker Contracting and Acciona to build the weir.

The project team moved more than 800,000 cubic metres of soil and poured 131,000 cubic metres of concrete before construction was completed in November 2023.

The project contributed more than $270 million to the Central Queensland economy and is expected to create approximately 500 full-time and seasonal jobs to support agriculture growth.

Achievement

The Rookwood Pier Project team was also recently presented with the 2024 Australian Construction Achievement Award.

The award was presented at a black-tie award dinner at The Doltone House in Sydney, held in conjunction with the Foundations and Frontiers forum (FF24), in August this year.

Speaking at the event, Australian Constructors Association CEO Jon Davies said: “This award is one of the highest honours a project can receive, recognising not only construction excellence but also the forward-thinking initiatives that contribute to a more sustainable industry.

“The Rookwood Weir project is a worthy winner. Constructed on the Fitzroy River, the second largest seaward catchment in Australia, the project was a highly complex build with significant risks. These risks were minimised thanks to the exemplary collaboration of the alliance.”

Collaboration

Engineers Australia CEO Romilly Madew added that the project, with many others, showcased the power of collaboration and creativity.

“By integrating sustainable practices and cutting-edge engineering and technology, they have shown that the construction industry can lead the way in environmental responsibility and innovation,” she said.

“One of the standout features of the Rookwood Weir Project is its technically complex fishlock and the world-first design turtle passage.

“Informed by the largest freshwater turtle telemetry project in the world, it is the first passage in Australia to provide safe upstream and downstream movement for turtles.”

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