Creators of the Clutha Gold Trail selected as finalists

Creators of the Clutha Gold Trail selected as finalists in the New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards

The community-lead project to create the 73km walking and cycling trail is in the running for one of New Zealand’s prestigious Engineering Excellence Awards.

The trail, which runs alongside the Clutha Mata-Au River from the Lake Roxburgh dam to the town of Beaumont and then on to Lawrence, presented numerous design challenges for its engineers.

“The nature of the terrain meant a variety of engineering approaches were needed in the construction. These ranged from creating a cantilevered boardwalk (using beams that are anchored only at one end), modular safety fences, flood tolerant bridges and a range of other approaches,”explains Tim Dennis, Director of Southern Land – the project managers for the trail construction.

The project concept began in 2006 and was officially opened by the Prime Minister, the Right Honorable John Key, in October 2013. The Clutha Gold Trail Charitable Trust, the Central Otago and Clutha District Councils worked closely together with local communities throughout the development of the trail, creating a finished product that is a world leader in it’s field.

The trail, an outstanding tourist attraction and one that is well known among New Zealand’s cycling community, provides ever changing views of the mighty Clutha Mata-Au River, the largest river in the South Island.

“The New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards are a great opportunity to acknowledge outstanding leadership and innovation in the field of engineering. The Clutha Gold Trail is a wonderful example of how New Zealand’s creative engineers not only overcome the many practical challenges they face on a daily basis, but do so with a flair for preserving the aesthetic value of the environment around us,” explains Kieran Devine, Interim Chief Executive of IPENZ, one of the eight partner organisations hosting the awards.

“The awards have been running since 2005 and being selected as a finalist is a great achievement in itself. This year we have 19 finalists in the Projects, People, and Practice categories of awards and six other finalists for community engagement and safety in engineering. It’s going to be tough on the judges!” Kieran adds.

The awards take place on Friday 28 November 2014, with winners being announced that evening at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland. Wellington Cable Car Limited and Greater Wellington Regional Council will be competing against 17 other finalists from around New Zealand for the Engineering Excellence Awards.

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