Hirepool Construction Excellence Awards

Community projects dominate 2015 Hirepool Construction Excellence Awards

Projects providing major benefits to communities have dominated the 2015 Hirepool Construction Excellence Awards.

The awards, organised by Civil Contractors New Zealand (CCNZ), were presented at the CCNZ/Hirepool Construction Excellence Awards Dinner held at the CCNZ conference in Taupo.

CCNZ Executive Officer Malcolm Abernethy said: “The winners were chosen from a very strong field of finalists, and all are exceptional projects with the contractors working closely with stakeholders and developing often innovative solutions to complex challenges, providing superb outcomes for their clients.”
The awards have four categories: Category One, for projects with a value of less than $500,000; Category Two for projects with a value of $500,000-$5m; Category Three for projects of $5m-$30m, and Category Four for projects of greater than $30m.

Category Four was won by the Tauranga Eastern Link, by Fulton Hogan/HEB Construction Alliance for NZ Transport Agency (NZTA). The link provides a vital 21km connection from Tauranga through to Paengaroa Junction and is a Road of National Significance.

Category Three was won by the Waitaki Bridges Replacement, by McConnell Dowell Constructors Ltd, also for NZTA.

The project involved replacing two 19th century single lane wooden former rail bridges across the Waitaki River at Kurow with two modern two-lane, plus walk/cycleway, structures. Expert removal of the bridges allowed NZTA to donate the hardwood timbers and steel components for use in other projects.

Winner of Category Two was the Kotuitui Whitinga bridge across the Waiarohia Stream, developed and built by Steve Bowling Contracting (SBC) for Whangarei District Council.

SBC developed a unique bridge design to meet the needs of the project, including an ‘s’ shaped design and central 10 metre opening span.

Category One winner was the McLaren Falls Pedestrian Bridge for Western Bay of Plenty District Council by bridge specialists Bridge It NZ.

Bridge It NZ worked with designers Tiaki Engineering, to develop an innovative solution to a long-standing need to provide a visually-appealing bridge, spanning 33m, at an affordable price.

Highly Commended awards also went to a sewer and storm water renewal by Construction Contracts Ltd for Wellington City Council, in Category Two, and to the Vodafone Building on Auckland Waterfront, in Category One, by Groundfix Ltd for project managers Watts & Hughes.

ENDS

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