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Artwork & Design by: Rural Business GuidePrinted by: Hollands Print Solutions

ContentsOur Sponsors inside front cover

President’s Message 2

Director’s Message 3

About The Awards 4

About Engineers Australia 5

Message From The Chair 6

Meet The Judges 8

Winner - Engineering Excellence Award 10

Winner - Environment & Sustainability 12

Winner - Solar Energy Society Award 12

Engineering Excellence Award - Highly Commended 13

Winner - People’s Choice Award 14

Winner - President’s Award 15

2010 Winner’s Postcard 16

Professional Engineer Of The Year 17

Young Professional Engineer Of The Year 18

Highly Commended Young Professional Engineer 19

Engineering Associate of the Year 20

Highly Commended Reports, Procedures & Systems 21

Project Entrants 21

Produced on behalf of:

Engineers Australia Northern Division

14 Shepherd Street Darwin NT 0800 Ph: 08 8981 4137 Fax: 08 8941 3449

nt@engineersaustralia.org.au www. engineersaustralia.org.au

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President’s MessagePresident’s Message2011 is the Year of Humanitarian Engineering and I believe that this is reflected, in various ways, in many of this year’s Excellence Award entries.

We only have a

small number of entries this year, however they are all quality entries reflecting the high engineering standards which abound in the Territory. The range of projects, reflected in the entries, gives us a small glimpse of the diversity of engineering throughout the Territory.

Those of you who attended the recent Excellence Awards technical presentations, held at Darwin City Council Civic Centre, will appreciate the quality of this year’s entries and the effort that has gone into both the projects and the entry presentations.

Tonight we also recognise members of the Northern Division engineering team who have achieved significance in their profession in the People in Engineering Awards. I congratulate all of them.

It is my privilege to nominate a project for the President’s Award. This award is granted to a project which has not won a major award however it is a project which the President considers a worthy entrant. My choice for this award is the ‘Palmerston Boat Ramp Upgrade’. This is a project which, I believe, has surpassed the expectation of the Client brief. The design team included extensive stakeholder consultation throughout the design phase ensuring that the finished product met the requirements of all stakeholders. The land based fishing jetty extends the use of the facility to members of the public who don’t own boats and the innovative, pump out fish cleaning facility should ensure that the area will remain clean of debris and safe from crocodiles.

I would like to thank all those involved in the Awards including the judges, our divisional staff, and our sponsors, all of whom make these awards such a success. Special thanks to all of the entrants and my congratulations to each of the winners.

Len Chappell President

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Director’s MessageDirector’s MessageThis year we celebrate the Year of Humanitarian Engineering. Some of our projects this year fit this category and it is amazing to see the innovation that contributes to successful outcomes in very challenging circumstances. The judges have been impressed with the standard of entries again this year and it has been a difficult task coming to a decision. Whilst the entry numbers are low, the quality is still high and we continue to marvel at the solutions that are found by our committed engineering teams.

Congratulations to all of the winners today. We have worthy projects to forward to the National event as well as outstanding individuals who have been recognized by their peers.

Northern Division finalists continue to impress in the national arena with last year’s winner, the Alice Springs Water Reuse Project, winning a national award. It is an outstanding achievement receiving an award in front of Engineers Australia Members from all around Australia in the Great Hall at Parliament House. I am constantly reminded about the high standard of work and the people that provide it in our Division.

A big thank you to the judges who donate their time to visiting sites and having vigorous debate when making their decisions. Also thanks to the companies who submit their projects for judging as I appreciate the time and effort that goes into the process.

We continue to be supported by a large range of committed sponsors. We can’t thank you enough as it would not be possible to run these events without you. The ability to recognize excellence in the Division is an important part of what we do and we welcome you to this year’s prestigious event.

Again I thank staff and volunteers who make the Awards possible and all of the events we hold each year. Karen, Keely, Kristy and Chris have all contributed significantly over the past few weeks and I thank them for all of the work they do over and above what they are required to.

Bronwyn Russell Director

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About the AwardsAbout the Awards2011 will see Northern Division celebrate 30 years of Engineering Excellence when the first Award was presented in 1981 for the “Bagot Road Fly Over”.

The Awards have grown in stature since this time with many interesting entrants over the years. The winner of the 2010 Awards “Water Reuse in the Alice” project went onto to win a Environmental Award at the National 2010 Awards in Canberra.

The Australian Engineering Excellence Awards acknowledge the world-class standing of Australian engineering and provides the engineering profession and its clients, industries and regulators, with an opportunity to demonstrate skills and achievements publicly.

The projects in 2011 have been very diverse ranging from regional, suburban, and remote entrants. This year’s challenges

included overcoming the weather, environmental issues and transportation logistics.

Again, the projects highlight the way Engineering affects our every day lives.

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Engineers AustraliaAbout Engineers AustraliaEngineers Australia is the national forum for the advancement of engineering and the professional development of members.

With more than 97,000 members embracing all disciplines of the engineering team, Engineers Australia is the largest and most diverse professional body for engineers in Australia. Our chartered members are regarded as trusted professionals not only in Australia, but worldwide.

Engineers Australia seeks to:

engineering

members

profession as widely as possible

conduct

engineering

and learn from their creativity and innovation

outcomes

heritage

profession

Engineers Australia underpins the quality and credibility of engineers in Australia by accrediting tertiary engineering courses, managing national competency registers and meeting its obligations to create and maintain standards accepted world wide, via its association with engineering bodies in other countries.

The organisation promotes its Chartered Professional Engineering status as an internationally recognized symbol of quality and reliability in engineering.

Engineers Australia is among the few bodies in its category that can speak with authority on behalf of the entire engineering team – professional engineers, engineering technologists and associates, and engineering managers.

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Message fromMessage from the ChairThe number of projects submitted this year was down on previous years and is perhaps a reflection of the overall tempo of the construction industry. The standard was high however with two projects standing out.

All the projects were visited where proponents expanded on their written submissions and answered probing questions from the judges. It must be emphasized that all proponents went to extra efforts to present their projects and the judges would like to thank them for the time, energy and expense they have incurred in supporting their submissions.

The proponents also gave a 10 minute public presentation at a plenary session generously hosted by the Darwin City Council. The two Alice Springs based projects also were able to present to an Alice Springs audience at a dinner hosted by Engineers Australia.

The most outstanding project was the Bushlight India project submitted by CAT Projects. This dedicated group from Alice Springs has built on their previously successful Bushlight endeavours throughout remote Australia to develop, design and construct two pioneering self sustaining community power generation projects in two remote Indian villages. They have successfully implemented two solar powered village generation systems that are self managed and commercially accountable giving light and power to two remote and previously non electrified villages in India involving many and complex consultative arrangements and invention of a unique power monitoring distribution box. This system has potential to be used in most underprivileged communities throughout

the world and CAT Projects are currently negotiating expansion of this system with representatives of United Nations.

This project is a worthy winner of the Northern Division Excellence Award for 2011.

The Solar Power Station developed and installed at the Alice Springs Airport is another project that impressed the judges and this project has been awarded an Engineering Excellence Award in the category of the Environment and Sustainability.

This project, developed under the Alice Solar City program, has produced a major solar array power station that now provides in excess of 20% of the airport’s daily needs. The use of US developed concentrator photovoltaic cells arranged in 28 dual axis racking arrays is new for Australia and whilst many groups were instrumental in the successful completion of this project special tribute is made to the board of Northern Territory Airports for their unwavering support in pursuing this project and to CAT Projects for their project management and technical input.

The Alice Springs Airport Solar Power Station also justly deserves the Australian Solar Energy Society award for sustainability being awarded this year.

The McArthur River Bridge has been recently completed near Borroloola and provides improved wet season accessibility to communities east of the river, the mining and pastoral industry and tourists on the Savannah Way.

This $7m, 180 metre single lane bridge incorporating pedestrian walkway, included after community consultation, is an impressive pre-stressed beam concrete bridge constructed under challenging time and location conditions. Its finished

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the ChairMessage from the Chairexcellence is a tribute to its planners and constructors, the Department of Lands, Planning, Construction and Infrastructure and Steelcon Construction.

The judging panel would like to recognise this project with an award of High Commendation.

A High Commendation award is also made to Dept of Lands and Planning for Bridging the Gap, a submission made in the Reports, Procedures and Systems category. This well presented and illustrated report was written in support of a Federal funding submission to upgrade and maintain rural roads in a 50 kilometer radius around 20 growth towns nominated to assist indigenous self development.

The People’s Choice award followed a weeklong display of posters at Casuarina Shopping Centre where interested public were encouraged to cast a vote for the project of their choice. This award was won by Tiger Brennan Drive Extensions.

The President’s Award this year has been won by The Palmerston Boat Ramp project.

I would like to thank the nominees for People in Engineering Awards and I am pleased to report that this year these awards were well supported. The judging panel were impressed by the achievements of people working in our profession in the Northern Territory. The panel had no hesitation in recommending the following awards to:

Professional Engineer of the Year

Professional Engineer of the Year

Professional Engineer

Engineering Associate of the Year

I would like to thank Bronwyn Russell and her team at Engineers Australia for their hard work and organisational assistance to the judges. I also thank my fellow judges for their valuable time, their expertise, their company on our travels and their robust contribution to our deliberations.

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Meet the JudgesMeet the Judges

Clalia MarRegional Manager AusIndustry

Clalia holds the position of Regional Manager NT with AusIndustry, the specialist program delivery division

within the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.

Clalia joined AusIndustry in 2006 and her role is to encourage regional businesses to recognise the importance of innovation as a driver of business growth. As Regional Manager, Clalia works across the Northern Territory to assist business owners to access programs that can help to stimulate activity, collaboration and innovation.

Prior to joining AusIndustry, Clalia was with the Chamber of Commerce as Executive Officer for the Top End Region as the Sales and Marketing Manager. Clalia came to the Territory from Sydney fifteen years ago for a two-year hotel contract and decided the lifestyle was too good to go home!

Clalia is the panel’s non-Engineer and over the past few weeks has had an interesting insight into the industry and what makes Engineers tick.

Alan GroveMIEAust CPEng Civil Engineer

Alan Grove graduated from UNSW with BE and M Eng SC in 1965 and has worked in Darwin ever since. After three years with the Department

of Works, he worked in the private contracting business for 14 years building pipelines, sub divisions, high construction, marine works and concrete constructions.

As part of the Palmerston Development Authority he oversaw the start of construction of the City of Palmerston. Then, as Construction Manager for the Trade Development Zone Authority, he was

responsible for the construction of this industrial zone at East Arm, and assisted manufacturers in the construction of their specialised factory requirements.

During the last 10 years of his career, until his retirement in 2001, his main responsibilities were to the Department of Lands for their capital works programs and management of the private development of urban land throughout the Northern Territory.

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Meet the JudgesMeet the Judges

I grew up in Darwin and attended Darwin High School before going on to Adelaide to complete my Engineering studies

Chris LuggMIEAust CPEng

from which I graduated in 1978.

I got a job, on my way home from my final exam, at Tecalemit A/Asia, a leading components supplier to the car industry. I led a team in a successful product development project which received an Australian Design Award. I was appointed Chief Engineer at Tecalemit and was responsible for the Australia/Pacific region, a position I held for four years.

I then moved to ROH Wheels as General Manager of the Alloy Division . At the time ROH produced about 95% of all wheels made in Australia , mostly as an original equipment supplier. The Alloy Division was making about 25000 wheels per month but losing money as margins were slim and overheads were high. I reorganised this

division to become much more efficient and return to profitability producing more than 40,000 wheels/month; the majority of which were exported.

I returned to Darwin after that and took a position as Senior Business Advisor with the NT Government. I then moved back to the private sector running my own Engineering Company and diversifiying into agriculture and property development. I entered the NT Parliament in 1997 and in 1999 was made a Minister holding several portfolios. I returned to business in 2001 and continued until 2008 when the Engineering and Agriculture sections of our business were sold. I started as a Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at Charles Darwin University in 2011, to pass on some of the things I have learnt to the Engineers of tomorrow.

Adam JamesMIEAust CPEng

Adam graduated from Central Queensland University in 2003 and moved to the Territory that same

year as a graduate Structural Engineer for Wallbridge and Gilbert RFP. He is now a Structural Engineer and Director of Wallbridge and Gilbert RFP.

His work experience is predominately the structural design of residential, commercial and institutional buildings in both the government and private sector.

Adam has served on the Young Engineers National Committee representing Northern Division in the past and currently sits on the Engineers Australia Regional Special Interest Group. This is Adams first year as a Judge for the Engineering Excellence Awards.

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2011 Engineering Excellence2011 Engineering ExcellenceBushlight India ProjectCAT Projects

The Bushlight India Project collaboratively developed and demonstrated a highly replicable model for the implementation of sustainable, reliable renewable energy systems for remote village electrification in India.

As part of the project development CAT Projects worked together with an integrated network of project partner organisations representing grassroots NGOs, renewable energy industry leaders, government agencies involved in renewable energy promotion and system development, and private sector rural energy specialists and consultants.

By combining community engagement and education around the nature of energy services and the capacity of these services to meet full livelihoods related energy needs with appropriate technology the Bushlight India Project has provided 95 households, nine commercial establishments and four community buildings with equitable and affordable power.

Key outcomes of the project were:

India Model: a comprehensively documented and resourced set of processes covering initial village selection and financial modelling through to community energy planning, system design and the establishment of post-installation system support structures.

to implement the Bushlight India Model (implementing partners), and local capacity to manufacture and support the hardware specifically developed for the project (technical partner and hardware manufacturing partners).

through to production) of project specific hardware: the Urja Bandhu (an electrical energy metering unit providing a programmable fixed,

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Award WinnerAward Winneragreed amount of electricity each 24 hour period to each consumer); and the System Control Board, a central distribution board which segregates the different load types within a community into different lines. These were designed by CAT Projects and engineered and manufactured by companies in India.

systems: Successful demonstration systems were commissioned in two remote villages in the states of Orissa and West Bengal in September 2010 and March 2011 respectively.

This project received funding from the Australian Government, Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, as part of the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate.

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Award WinnerEnvironment & Sustainability

Alice Springs Airport Solar Power StationNT Airports, Department of Climate Change, Alice Solar City, CAT Projects, Ingenoro, Solfocus

In 2010, Alice Springs Airport became the first Australian airport to have a large scale (over 100KW) photovoltaic system providing a direct source of renewable energy to its internal grid.

The first of its kind in the southern hemisphere, the Solar Power Station comprises 28 SolFocus arrays, each eight metres wide and seven metres high.

The Solar Power Station now supplies approximately 28% of the airport’s energy needs, reducing its carbon emissions by about 470 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, the equivalent of about 70 Alice Springs households per annum.

are an emerging solar technology that offer greater opportunities for cost reductions in photovoltaic systems. They are more efficient as they track the sun throughout the day, whereas traditional solar power systems are most efficient only when the sun is shining directly onto the solar arrays.

The project was completed on time, and on budget.

& Australian Solar Energy Society Award

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Highly CommendedHighly CommendedMcArthur River Bridge

Dept of Construction & Infrastructure, Dept of Lands & Planning, SteelconThe McArthur River Bridge provides a vital link between Borroloola and surrounding communities in the Roper Gulf Shire. The project, managed by the Department of Construction and Infrastructure for the Northern Territory Government, was driven by the need for better access across the McArthur River, 670km south-east of Katherine, during the wet season. Prior to the construction of the bridge on Wollogorang Road, residents were often forced to make the hazardous journey across the fast-flowing river by boat. There have been a number of vehicles washed off the old crossing, including one fatality. A high level bridge over the McArthur River will improve flood immunity for communities east of the river and significantly reduce the period of isolation during the wet season.

The bridge will also improve access for a number of outstations in the region, Indigenous communities along the Gulf of Carpentaria, the mining and pastoral industries, as well as tourists driving the Savannah Way. The $7 million McArthur River Bridge is a single lane bridge featuring pedestrian access, with the provision for two lanes in the future.

The project was constructed efficiently over one dry season, and also featured a high level of quality control. It also helped to boost skills in the region, by employing Indigenous workers during the construction phase.

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People’s ChoicePeople’s Choice Award

The East Arm Port Access Route program is a three staged program aimed at providing better access to the growing East Arm Port and trade development zone as well as improving the overall road network capacity and safety. The Tiger Brennan Drive Extension was the second and largest stage of the program.

Extension of Tiger Brennan Drive involved extending Tiger Brennan Drive from Berrimah Road to the Stuart Highway and included a grade separated interchange with the Stuart Highway, Roystonea Avenue and the new Tiger Brennan Drive Extension. Works included design and construction of 7.5 kilometres of dual lane carriages, two overpass bridges and associated ramps as well as a pedestrian and cyclist facility.

As this project was the largest road and bridge contract ever undertaken by the Northern Territory Government, an innovative contract model was sought to ensure the large scope could be delivered within a reasonable timeframe. The Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) procurement model has the benefits of both an alliance style contract and a design and construct contract.

Macmahon Contractors were the successful tenderer for the Tiger Brennan Drive Extension project, along with their main consultant - Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM).

The project faced many challenges which through teamwork, good engineering and planning, were overcome. Relocation of many different services including water, electricity and two telecommunications lines was a large challenge overcome by the project. Largely variable fill materials (totalling almost half a million cubic metres)

Tiger Brennan Drive ExtensionDept of Construction & Infrastructure, Dept of Lands & Planning, Sinclair Knight Merz, Macmahon Contractors

presented road construction challenges. Construction of a large interchange and management of the 34,000 vehicles per day travelling through the site presented traffic management challenges.

Milestones achieved throughout the project include opening of the Northbound Bridge (14 July 2010) and Southbound Bridge (31 July 2010). The entire project was opened to traffic on 20 December 2010.

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President’s AwardPresident’s AwardPalmerston Boat RampDept of Construction & Infrastructure, Dept of Lands & Planning, Macmahon

The new Palmerston Boat Ramp and associated infrastructure are excellent recreational facilities that will cater to the growing number of Territorians who fish in Darwin Harbour.

Built by the Northern Territory Government in partnership with Macmahon, the four million dollar upgrade is already attracting large numbers of anglers at the weekends during peak fishing periods. These new facilities are also expected to discourage unsafe fishing practices along the Elizabeth River and Channel Island Bridges.

The existing boat ramp has been expanded to fit a floating pontoon down the centre, ensuring the maximum number of vessels can use the facility at once. The floating pontoon is extremely stable and is built to withstand the movement of strong currents and severe weather. The boat ramp upgrade also includes a state-of-the-art aluminium fishing jetty for land-based fishers, which is high quality, low maintenance and corrosion-resistant.

The project features extensive car parking, security lighting and a disabled access ramp to ensure all Territorians can enjoy the facilities. The Northern Territory Government (through its Department of Construction and Infrastructure) and Macmahon have demonstrated ingenuity, originality and innovation in overcoming significant budget, weather and tidal issues to produce an outstanding facility.

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2010 Winners Postcard2010 Winners PostcardWater Reuse in AlicePower & Water Corporation, Northern Territory GovernmentPower and Water Corporation is justifiably proud of its Dissolved Air Floatation Plant. The plant enables the community to make best use of valuable water resources in Alice Springs with a completely new wastewater facility with state of the art technology. The plant works to improve wastewater services in the town and is capable of clarifying and disinfecting effluent drawn from the Alice Springs wastewater stabilisation ponds at a flow rate of three to six million litres per day. By reusing water we help reduce pressure on valuable water resources while adapting to climate change and acknowledging a growth in population.

The benefits of using the Soil Aquifer Treatment system include:

water as it is naturally purified to a better standard because it is filtered through the earth

can’t breed

years.

In November 2010 Power and Water Corporation’s ‘Water Reuse Project’ in Alice Springs was announced as the overall winner of the NT 2010 Engineering Excellence Awards.

The project went on to win the coveted Environmental Engineering Excellence Award category in the Australian Engineering Excellence Awards.

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People in EngineeringProfessional Engineer of the YearProfessor Friso de BoerPhD FIEAust CPEng

Friso is the Head of the School of Engineering and IT and has significantly contributed to Charles Darwin

University with the growth of engineering programs from about 40 students in 2003, all in the Bachelor of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, to almost 400 students currently. Courses have expanded to include the Diploma, the Bachelor and the Masters of Engineering across Civil, Electrical and Electronics and Mechanical Engineering. As part of this, he has continually strived to find and employ staff with appropriate skills and attitudes to be a part of the engineering team at CDU. He has demonstrated excellent people management skills and careful financial management, all of which are competencies required of any engineering manager.

As well as the management of the Engineering School, Friso has continually taught several engineering units at both Bachelor and Masters level, personally supervised about eight postgraduate students and co-authored technical papers for inclusion at engineering conferences.

Friso’s creativity and passion has made it possible to attract students from outside Darwin and overseas with the introduction of distance learning and courses that are relevant to make the school self-sustaining. He has convinced Government and Industry to support students with scholarships that enable study in Darwin thus providing graduates for the future. He is an inspiration to the Northern Territory and his contribution will be ongoing.

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People in EngineeringYoung Professional Engineer of the YearLyndon FrearsonBEng (Elect) MIEAust

Lyndon is the General Manager of CAT Projects and has been part of a number of award winning projects in recent years in Central Australia.

Prior to this, Lyndon spent 6 years working in heavy industry and manufacturing. Lyndon also has extensive experience implementing medium to large scale infrastructure projects, including 3 of the largest solar power plants in Australia and latterly as the Superintendent and Principal Project Manager for the $18M Alice Springs Aquatic Centre.

In recent times Lyndon has been part of the Bushlight India project which has attracted the attention of International NGOs. He also designed and managed installation of the solar power station at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Alice Springs and was the project manager and principal engineer for the Desert Knowledge Australia Solar Centre.

Lyndon is a national board member of the Australian Solar Energy Society, and represents Australia on the International

Systems program. Lyndon is also a respected advisor to Commonwealth and State/Territory governments on alternative energy policy development.

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People in EngineeringHighly Commended Young Professional EngineerNerida Beard

BEnv Eng (Hons) MIEAustIn her current position as Project Manager of Community Water Planning in Remote Operations for Power and Water Corporation, Nerida leads a team of 5 people in implementing the

sustainable management of water with Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory. The dual focus of this role is in appropriate Indigenous engagement in water resource management and water conservation, starting in 8 priority Indigenous communities and a program of improved assessment and monitoring of water resources across all 72 communities. The aim is to ensure reliable water supplies into the future to underpin the healthy development of residents in those locations.

Nerida has worked in a range of water related research areas including with the

Centre for Appropriate Technology and the Australian Rivers Institute. She has worked closely with Aboriginal people to develop ways to address real water quality and water supply problems together in remote settlements.

Nerida represents Northern Division as the national Women in Engineering representative. She has been instrumental in lifting the profile of this group by hosting various events during the past year.

Nerida continues to study a Masters program in Applied Anthropology to further her knowledge and has been involved with Engineers Without Borders. Nerida can recently be remembered as contributing to the community by going bald for a Shave for a Cure!

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People in EngineeringEngineering Associate of the Year

Jaswant Deo has 30 years experience in variety capacities including Management, Engineering, Design, Construction, Manufacturing,

Project Management and Dispute Resolution.

He is currently employed with RP Project Management.

Jaswant current membership and involvement with professional bodies includes:

Australia Northern Division

Consult Australia (formerly know as Association of Consulting Engineers Australia) and a Member of the National Board of Directors

Practising Project Manager

Refrigeration Air Conditioning and Heating

Mediators Australia

Grade 3 accreditation

Industry participation includes:

Business and Employment on the 13th of April 2011, on TOPIC of, Major Projects - Industry Development Program - Project Management and Control Seminar

Project Management on the 13th of April 2011, on TOPIC of, Alternative Dispute Resolution in Project Management.

the Department of Justice in coaching new student Mediators who are aspiring to get Nationally Accredited

Leadership of the Charles Darwin University for their Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme (ITAS)

Jaswant is heavily involved with Palmerston Crocs Rugby Union club by assisting the club and other volunteer parents in various capacities, such as carrying out Water Carrier Duties during games or as a

He has assisted Northern Territory Rugby Union in fund raising for NT Junior Representatives who visited Sydney in 2010 for the national championships.

He is also involved with Palmerston Magpies Football Club by assisting club and other volunteer parents in various capacities, such as carrying out Water Carrier Duties during

Junior games.

Mr Jaswant DeoOMIEAust CEngO

Highly Commended Reports, Procedures & Systems

Indigenous Mothers & Short Term Patient Accommodation Facility, RDHUNO Management Systems, Townes Chappell Mudgway, AWS, QS Services

Territory Growth Towns ‘Bridging the Gap’Dept of Construction & Infrastructure, Dept of Housing, Local Govt & Regional Services, Dept of Lands & Planning

Project Entrants

In an attempt to provide accommodation to patients and families who require a place to stay locally, whilst receiving treatment at the Royal Darwin Hospital, a Short Term Patient Accommodation will be built to provide 50, short-term rooms within the campus.

In response to a request for the production of a detailed design for two new buildings at Royal Darwin Hospital an Engineering Alliance was formed incorporating six local companies.

Whilst alliancing is not uncommon in Australia it is relatively new to the Northern Territory. The project team worked together with the client and nominated Aboriginal stakeholders to create a common vision.

The use of the alliance methodology provided project benefits including using an all Darwin highly skilled and experienced team. Despite the project being delayed it was able to be completed on time so that it could go to tender to ensure construction during the dry season. The design also attained a six star building rating.

As part of the Northern Territory Government’s Working Future – Closing the Gap strategy to address indigenous issues, the Government has identified 20 remote towns to be developed as strategically important. Fifteen of these twenty Growth Towns are under the Council of Australian Governments National Partnership Agreement with the Commonwealth Government.

A key objective of the Territory Growth Towns policy is to improve transport services and infrastructure provision in and around the Towns. This submission proposes a significant program of works to bring roads up to a standard that would be expected elsewhere in regional Australia. Towards this objective, the Northern Territory Government have completed a transport infrastructure survey and a gap analysis of multi modal transport assets and infrastructure in each of the Territory Growth Towns.

The gap analysis has included an inventory survey and assessment of the condition, capacity and usage of roads, barge landings and aerodromes across each of the Territory Growth Towns and their surrounding regions. Whilst all of these assets were examined the submission to the Australian Government was only for the road infrastructure.

This report was endorsed by Cabinet and submitted for funding to the Australian Government.