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Our Sponsors inside front cover

President’s Message 2

Director’s Message 3

About The Awards 4

About Engineers Australia 5

2011 Winner’s Postcard 6

Message From The Chair 8

Meet The Judges 10

Engineering Excellence Award Winner 12

Engineering Excellence Award Winner 14

Engineering Excellence Award Project Management Winner 16

Engineering Excellence Award Highly Commended 17

People’s Choice Award 18

President’s Award 19

Australian Solar Energy Society Award Winner 20

Professional Engineer Of The Year, Highly Commended 22

Young Professional Engineer Of The Year Winner 23

Young Professional Engineer Of The Year HIghly Commended 24

Project Entrants 25

Produced on behalf of:

Engineers Australia Northern Division

14 Shepherd StreetDARWIN NT 0801

Ph: 08 8981 4137

Fax: 08 8941 3449

nt@engineersaustralia.org.auwww.engineersaustralia.org.au

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

Contents

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President’s Message

The Engineering Excellence Awards are a fantastic chance to celebrate the achievements of our people and projects in the Territory. This year we have had a large number of entries - all of a high calibre. We have a good record of winning National Awards in Northern Division due to the excellence in engineering displayed by our Engineering Teams which have worked so hard to accomplish so much.

As the Year of the Regional Engineering Team, the judges and I were fortunate enough to visit some of our regional members to share their projects with them. Electricity flowed in the Alice Springs Region with two power projects, both with their unique challenges. Katherine Region saw some interesting work for Defence at Tindal and the new Cullen River Bridge. A cycle path with recycled bridges, the new Park and Ride bus interchanges, the Defence of Darwin Experience and Berrimah Road Rail Overpass also added to the variety of projects the judges had to review.

Those of you who attended the recent Excellence Awards technical presentations, held at City of Darwin 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.

I would like to say a big thank you to 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.

Louise McCormick President

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Director’s MessageBronwyn Russell

Director

Last year I commented on the high standard of Northern Division projects and this was borne out at Parliament House , Canberra in November when the winning project from here went on to win the highest accolade a project can win, the Sir William Hudson Award. How exciting it was to hear that Bushlight India by CAT Projects was perceived to be the very best in Australia for 2011! Congratulations to all of the people involved in the project and also to the Centre for Appropriate Technology in Alice Springs, a progressive Aboriginal organization, for having the faith and tenacity to develop and construct projects that make a real difference in the world. Not only did this project meet the Year of Humanitarian Engineering but it lead neatly into the Year of the Regional Engineering Team. The night wasn’t over however as Jaswant Deo went on to win the National Engineering Associate of the year, another great feat for the engineering team in Northern Division. Congratulations to Jas for achieving this high honour.

So, this year we have the highest number of project entries ever in Northern Division. What an interesting range of projects there are, all meeting the high standards that we have come to expect from the Northern Territory. The judges were able to visit Alice Springs, Katherine and Maningrida as part of the process and in the larger centres a regional dinner was held. Well done to the winners tonight as we acknowledge your expertise working outside the heavily populated Eastern seaboard of Australia.

I continue to appreciate the efforts of our judges who willingly contribute their time and expertise leading up to the Excellence Awards. It is a big task taking time out from work to visit the sites but it certainly makes a difference to the decisions that are made. Seeing what is on the ground is often far more inspiring than what can be presented on paper. Thank you once again.

Well done to the winners of the People in Engineering awards. You have been judged by your peers to be worthy of these accolades. It is always a hard decision to make as the standard of the entries was also high.

Thank you to staff, sponsors and all of the people who have made this event possible. Enjoy the evening and congratulations once again to all of the entrants and in particular the winners.

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About The Awards2012 will see Northern Division celebrate 31 years of Engineering Excellence,

Cat Projects in 2011 went onto win the “Sir William Hudson” Award for the Bushlight India Project, the highest accolade at the National Awards held in the Great Hall of Parliement in Canberra. A remarkable achievement for a small engineering firm based in Alice Springs.

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.

Celebrating “The Year of the Regional Engineering Team”, 2012 projects have been diverse and range from regional, rural, remote and suburban entrants. The scope and range of projects certainly help us celebrate this year’s theme.

The projects this year highlight the way Engineering affects our every day lives.

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

With more than 100,000 members embracing all disciplines of the engineering team, Engineers Australia is the largest and most diverse professional body for engineers in Australia. Our chartered engineers are regarded as trusted professionals not only in Australia, but worldwide.

Engineers Australia seeks to:

• Advancethescienceandpracticeofengineering

• Cultivatelifelonglearningbyourmembers

• Promotethecontributionoftheprofessionaswidelyas possible

• Championprofessionalandethicalconduct

• Welcomeallthosewhowishtopractiseengineering

• Allowmembers’aspirationstoflourish,andlearnfrom their creativity and innovation

• Celebrateexcellenceinengineeringoutcomes

• Drawinspirationfromourengineeringheritage

• Sustaintheintegrityoftheprofession

• Taketheleadinadvocacyoftheprofession

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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2011 Winner’s PostcardBushlight India ProjectCAT Projects

The year since winning the Northern Division Engineering Excellence award for the Bushlight India Project has certainly surpassed our expectations!

On a cold Night in Canberra in November, we sat at a table with our project team and a number of our key stakeholders in the project and watched in awe as the 50 finalists were profiled. The quality of the finalists was extremely impressive.

As the night progressed, our hopes for winning an award dimmed, until, by the end of the evening with only one award left to announce, the table did look somewhat dejected. Suddenly we heard the words “the 2011 Sir William Hudson Award for Engineering Excellence is awarded to …. CAT Projects for the Bushlight India Project”.

Amidst enormous screams from our Northern Division supporters from the adjacent table (if there was any doubt about Bronwyn’s enthusiasm for Northern Division Engineering it has certainly been removed now!), we walked to the stage to collect our award.

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2011 Winner’s PostcardThe true significance of what we achieved really only dawned on us in the days and weeks following the awards night. The Sir William Hudson Award is the most prestigious award conferred by Engineers Australia each year, and we were in good company, with previous winners including the Beijing Olympic Pool, and the Sydney Olympic Stadium.

The Sir William Hudson Award has been a great recognition of our work, and has helped establish CAT Projects credibility both nationally and internationally and we are now expanding our work to include a project in the Cook Islands and Tonga as well as developing further projects in South Asia with the Asian Development Bank.

As much of an honour as it was for us to receive the award personally, of greater significance is what the award says about the quality of engineering and innovation that occurs in Northern Australia, and particularly the NT.

The work that we undertook in India was built on the back of thirty years of partnerships with indigenous communities throughout the NT, and was influenced by lessons learned from a variety of significant projects

undertaken by the Centre for Appropriate Technology and other organizations and firms.

In the Year of the Regional Engineering Team, the winning of this award has been a salient reminder to our whole team, and to a large number of our external partners and stakeholders, that remoteness and isolation does not have to be a barrier to good engineering or innovation, indeed as we are sure most engineers in Northern Division would realize, it is our very remoteness that forces us to think differently about the work we do, the impact on the communities around us and the way we are able to achieve first class technical outcomes in harsh environments.

We trust that each and everyone one of the members of Northern Division share our pride in this award, and in the work conducted by Engineers throughout the NT: We have no doubt that this years finalists reflect the fine tradition of engineering excellence in the NT and look forward to seeing their successes advertised over the coming months and years.

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Message From The Chair

The most pleasing aspect of this year’s award submissions was the quantity and quality. Twelve projects were submitted for Excellence Award consideration and six nominations were received in the People in Engineering category. Universally the professionalism in design and construction and the quality of all the completed projects was a standout feature this year. The judges were most impressed with the presentation of all the projects.

The judging panel had the pleasure of visiting each project including trips to Alice Springs, Katherine and Maningrida. These project visits gave each proponent ability to speak for their submission and to answer questions from the panel. All proponents had a further opportunity to support their submissions at a plenary session hosted by the Darwin City Council. In addition Alice Springs and Katherine projects were presented to local based engineers at Engineers Australia dinner functions held in these regional centres.

With such a high overall standard of the submissions this year the panel had much vigorous debate on the merits of each and comparison between a wide range of competing submissions.

Eventually it was agreed that the 2012 Engineering Excellence Award for the NT Division of Engineers Australia would be awarded equally to the project ‘Delivering housing, infrastructure and essential services in remote communities – Maningrida and Wadeye” and to the project “Defence of Darwin Experience.”

The Remote Indigenous Housing Program is the largest indigenous housing and infrastructure program ever undertaken in the Northern Territory. New Futures Alliance and Territory Alliance along with Essential Services Pty Ltd delivered new subdivisions, upgraded infrastructure and essential services and completed 215 new and 247 rebuilt and refurbished houses in the remote communities of Wadeye and Maningrida. What particularly impressed the judges was the exhaustive consultative process, the attention to unique site and cultural requirements and the

Alan GroveMIEAust CPEng Civil Engineer

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Message From The Chairresultant appropriate subdivision and housing product. Aspects of this built project along with appropriate living support services gives a real chance that attitudes to responsible living may improve long term social outcomes in these communities.

The Defence of Darwin Experience is a project where a purpose built building has been equipped with a state of the art multimedia experience to commemorate the 1942 bombing of Darwin and complement the existing East Point Military Museum. Built alongside the existing museum at East Point to provide an exacting climate controlled environment for war heritage items it is equipped with purpose built and designed multimedia equipment to provide a highly immersive, interactive and emotive experience of what it was like in Darwin in 1942 when the first Japanese bombs fell. The Department of Construction and Infrastructure, the Department of Natural Resource, Environment, The Arts and Sport and Victorian specialist providers, DRM Audio Visual and The Pod are congratulated on bringing together this complex and groundbreaking technological project in record time.

The panel recommends that the Darwin Tunnelled Gravity Sewer be awarded an Engineering Excellence Award in the Project Manager category. Macmahon Contractors assembled a wide ranging team of subcontractors and expertise to accomplish what is considered a highly complex engineering feat using new tunnelling technology to Darwin in a hazardous environment and having to work in the centre of the CBD. This project, utilising micro tunnelling equipment to construct gravity sewers was adapted for use in Darwin using some unique problem solving techniques and achieved within time and budget with minimal traffic disruption and without personnel injury. The whole project provides a solution to allow the Doctors Gully outfall to be decommissioned and the sewage diverted to the Ludmilla treatment plant.

The Berrimah Road Rail Overpass is awarded Highly Commended in the general category. This bridge over the North-South rail line along Berrimah Road improves the availability and safety for all traffic accessing the Business Park and the East Arm Port. The site constraints were considerable but innovative design, early contractor involvement and competent site management has produced a quality finished overpass and improved traffic

management to the port and the weighbridge. Department of Construction and Infrastructure, Macmahon Contractors and Aurecon Australia deserve recognition in delivering this major project with minimal complication.

The judging panel had the pleasure of an onsite inspection of the Uterne Power Plant at Alice Springs. This is currently the largest photovoltaic tracking system for solar power delivery in the southern hemisphere. It was designed and built by SunPower Corporation Australia and its efficient design allowed for quick construction and minimum maintenance over a long period. We are pleased to nominate it for the AuSES award for sustainability.

The People’s Choice Award followed a weeklong display of posters at Palmerston Shopping Centre and a further week display at Casuarina Shopping Centre. This award was won by Alice Springs Power Network Upgrade.

The President’s Award this year has been won by the project to Raise the Full Supply Level of Darwin River Dam.

The panel was heartened by the number of submissions received for people in Engineering Awards but a little disappointed that some categories had no submissions. I would encourage all engineering establishments to put forward the names of their valued employees.

The panel has recommended a High Commendation in the Professional Engineer of the Year category to Sumesh Dhir. His outstanding contribution to our profession is appreciably recognised.

In the category of young Professional Engineer of the Year the award this year goes to John-Paul Foster with a High Commendation to Andrew McLeod.

My many thanks to Bronwyn Russell and the staff at Engineers Australia for their very hard work in organising the judges and this premier event of the year.

I also thank all my fellow judges who give generously of their time and for their considered judgement in the evaluation of all our entries. It is an activity we are honoured to be selected for.

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Meet The Judges

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 contacting business for 14 years building pipelines, sub divisions, highway 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 2003, 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.

Alan’s retirement includes improving his golf skills.

Alan GroveMIEAust CPEng Civil Engineer

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

Len ChappellTFIEAust CEng T

Len is a Director and senior electrical engineer with local Consulting Engineering practice Townes Chappell Mudgway Pty Ltd. 9TCM). He moved to Darwin in 1987 as an electrical Engineer with the Meinhardt Group and was made a Director of Meinhardt NT in 1995. Len, along with Graeme Townes and Kerrin Mudgway, purchased the Meinhardt NT Practice in 1998 and changed the name to Townes Chappell Mudgway Pty Ltd.

Len’s work experience is in electrical building services including lighting systems, distribution systems, communications systems, automatic fire alarm systems and URD subdivisions.

Len is the immediate past president of Engineers Australia Northern Division and is the Northern Division representative on the National Electrical College Board and the National Committee for Engineering Technologists

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 second year as a Judge for the Engineering Excellence Awards.

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Meet The Judges

Debbie graduated with a PhD in Zoology from the University of Cape Town in 1993. Filling her childhood ambition to be a game ranger, her early work experience was in environmental education and interpretative roles in nature reserves and wildlife parks. An overseas adventure in 2003 provided an opportunity for reinvention when she moved to Papua New Guinea, and then to Darwin, with her young (now nearly 10 years older) family.

Debbie holds the position of General Manager Northern Territory for CPA Australia, one of the world’s largest professional accounting bodies. Her role is focussed on member service and being an active and vocal advocate for members, the profession and the business community more generally.

While in Papua New Guinea, Debbie worked for SAGRIC (now Coffey International), first in project management roles and later as part of a monitoring and evaluation team examining the delivery of large infrastructure projects funded through AusAID. This introduction into road and bridge building, water systems, sewage treatment and the challenges of EIAs and social impact was a useful reference point for her in the role of the panel’s non-engineer. The past weeks have provided an interesting view of what is happening around the NT in the engineering field, and has yielded a greater appreciation for the level of ingenuity and innovation employed in the delivery of the assets many of us take for granted.

Dr Debbie HallMSc, BSc(Hons)

Chris grew up in Darwin and attended Darwin High School before going on to Adelaide to complete his Engineering studies, graduating in 1978.

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

He 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. The Alloy Division was making about 25000 wheels per month but losing money as margins were slim and overheads were high. Chris 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.

Returning to Darwin, he then took a position as Senior Business Advisor with the NT Government.

Later, moving back to the private sector and running his own Engineering Company, Chris diversified into agriculture and property development . Chris entered the NT Parliament in 1997 and in 1999 was made a Minister holding several portfolios. Chris returned to business in 2001 and continued until 2008 when the Engineering and Agriculture sections of his business were sold.

As a Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at Charles Darwin University in 2011, Chris was able to pass on some of the things he has learnt, to the Engineers of tomorrow. Chris is currently an Assessor with Engineers Australia as well.

Chris LuggMIEAust CPEng

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2012 Engineering Excellence Award WinnerDefence of Darwin ExperienceDept of Construction & Infrastructure & Dept of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts & Sport

The Defence of Darwin Experience, opened in time for the 70th anniversary of the first Japanese bombs falling on Darwin, uses technology to enhance understanding of the events leading up to the bombing of Darwin, the actual bombing and its aftermath.

Located adjacent to the existing East Point Military Museum, the new facility is an interactive exhibition space that includes the immersive Bombing of Darwin Gallery, iconic objects from that time, firsthand accounts and multimedia presentations.

The target was to provide Darwin with a facility that educates and provides a memorable visitor experience. This project has excelled on both counts: the facility and its technology have inspired other institutions to replicate similar displays in Perth and overseas.

The development and construction of the Defence of Darwin Experience was a unique collaboration between the Department of Construction and Infrastructure, the Department of Natural Resources, Environment, The Arts and Sport, and a team of creative and technical experts.

The Defence of Darwin Experience was opened to the public on 18 February 2012 after a construction period of just 10 months: the project was completed on time, well under budget and to a high quality.

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The Top End’s wartime heritage is under the spotlight thanks to a unique project completed earlier this year in time for the 70th anniversary of the first Japanese bombing raid on Darwin.

Officially opened on 18 February 2012, the $10 million Defence of Darwin Experience at East Point provides visitors with an immersive, interactive, multimedia experience that extends beyond the traditional museum format.

Project Director Mark Dodt said the facility involved a collaboration between the Department of Construction and Infrastructure, the Department of Natural Resources, Environment, The Arts and Sport, and a team of creative and technical experts.

“One of the aims of the project was to create a facility that educates and provides a memorable visitor experience,” he said.

“The Defence of Darwin Experience has achieved that aim through the physical environment, the heritage items on display and the tailor-made technology that has been integrated throughout.

“A number of visitors said they have experienced just what it was like to be standing in Smith Street on 19 February 1942 when the first bombs fell.

The project encompassed the construction of two linked buildings housing artefacts, displays and supporting services. It also involved integrating an array of technological features and creating a complementary application for smartphones and tablets, making the Defence of Darwin Experience a hub through which people can access the Territory’s World War II heritage. Visitors can even share their own experiences, helping to further build the Territory’s archive of World War II stories and memories.

Construction took place adjacent to the existing East Point Military museum and was completed within just 10 months of the tender being awarded.

“Spotlight on the Defence of Darwin”

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The National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing is the largest Indigenous housing and infrastructure program ever undertaken in the Northern Territory. In Maningrida and Wadeye, the program has improved the lives of over 450 families who now live in safer, healthier houses.

Housing and infrastructure projects undertaken at Maningrida and Wadeye have developed 143 fully serviced allotments in three new subdivisions and delivered 215 new and 247 rebuilt or refurbished houses. Headworks have included 1.6MW increases in electrical generation in each township, and the construction of new 1.8 ML and 2.4 ML water storages. Training and employment, a key program requirement, has been provided for more than 260 Indigenous people living in Maningrida and Wadeye.

Project scope included engineering design, site survey, geotechnical investigation, approvals, documentation and procurement of housing, construction of subdivisions, and major upgrades to the electrical, water and sewerage infrastructure in each township.

The Australian and Northern Territory governments are investing $1.2 billion to 2013 across 73 remote communities and a number of town camps to deliver 934 new houses, 415 rebuilds and 2500 refurbishments. Employment has been provided to over 1300 Indigenous people across the program or around 30%, significantly in excess of the 20% employment target set by government.

National Partnership on Remote Indigenous HousingNew Future Alliance, Territory Alliance & the Northern Territory Government

2012 Engineering Excellence Award Winner

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“Delivering housing, infrastructure and essential

services in remote communities:

Maningrida and Wadeye.”

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Engineering Excellence Award Project Management Winner

Mitchell St to Dinah Beach Tunnelled Gravity SewerMacmahon, PowerWater, SKM, Jacobs Associates

& Winslow Infrastructure

For the last 45 years the Larrakeyah Sewer Outfall has been releasing untreated raw sewage into Darwin Harbour.

In order to cease this controversial system of sewage disposal and at the same time increase the capacity of Darwin’s sewer to accommodate expected population growth Power Water developed the Darwin Region Sewerage Strategy

As part of this strategy PWC invited tenders for the design and construction of a tunnelled gravity sewer between Mitchell Street and Dinah Beach and in July 2010 awarded the contract to Macmahon.

This project is the largest ever carried out in the Northern Territory using micro-tunnelling methods and was completed in February 2012 by which time 90% of raw effluent flowing into Darwin Harbour through the Larrekeyah Outfall, had been redirected to the Ludmilla Waste Water Treatment Plant.

Tunnelling works were carried out in a busy city centre location with high densities of residential complexes and

business with minimal impact to the community.

Despite a backdrop of high risk activities being carried out in densely populated and trafficked environment, the project provided for an outstanding health and safety performance.

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Engineering Excellence Award Highly Commended

Berrimah Road Rail OverpassDept of Construction & Infrastructure, Dept of Lands and Planning,

Aurecon & Macmahon Contractors

The $17.4 million Berrimah Road-Rail Overpass is Stage Three of the Tiger Brennan Drive project and was jointly funded by the Northern Territory and Australian Governments.

The overpass, from the intersection of Wishart and Berrimah Roads to the nearby Weighbridge Station, carries just over 1 km of dual lane carriageway over the Alice Springs-Darwin railway. It improves access to the Darwin Business Park, East Arm Port, rail terminals and surrounding businesses and means an end to the traffic interruptions previously experienced at the railway crossing.

Construction of the overpass began in late 2010. Early works included drainage and road detour construction. Works on the precast, prestressed concrete bridge planks began in May 2011. The overpass was completed on time

and within budget in December 2011.

Designed by Aurecon Australia, the overpass was officially named the Neville Walker Bridge in honour of road builder and co-founder of Territory mining and engineering company Henry Walker Eltin.

The construction by Macmahon Contractors was managed by the Department of Construction and Infrastructure on behalf of the Department of Lands and Planning.

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Alice Springs Power Network UpgradeGHD, Sitzler Bros, PowerWater

As part of Power and Water Corporation’s continuous planning strategy, it was identified that the existing Ron Goodin Power Station (RGPS), located at Sadadeen Valley, Alice Springs was reaching the end of its economic lifespan.

Power and Water Corporation’s Sadadeen Valley complex is the primary generation facility in Central Australia, leaving Alice Springs residents susceptible for long periods without power should a catastrophic fault occur on that site. This made it necessary to develop a new power station, decide on a new future proof location and transmission system.

Through a scoping study undertaken by GHD Darwin in 2008 it was confirmed that the optimum location for a new gas-fired power station is within the existing Brewer Industrial Estate and following development of an EPC specification, the initial contract was let to design and build a new, efficient and reliable power station at the selected location.

The Alice Springs Power Network System Expansion Project which is the subject of this nomination is the first major power system project for Alice Springs for more than 15 years. This project incorporates the first use of 66kV as the transmission voltage in the Alice Springs region, thereby introducing new equipment and technologies and skills to the community of Alice Springs.

People’s Choice Award

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President’s AwardDarwin River Dam, Raise Full Supply

PowerWater

Darwin River Dam, some 85 kilometres south east of the city was constructed in 1972 as the main drinking water supply source for Darwin and surrounding areas. Some 40 years later, it has been necessary to increase the capacity of the dam to meet the increasing demands of a growing and developing region.

Power and Water has successfully increased the storage of potable water by increasing the full supply of the dam by 20 per cent.

Raising the full supply level of Darwin River Dam consisted of three major components of work:

• Embankment works - extension of the embankment filter zone with fine and coarse filter layers to protect the dam core against piping and construction of a 550 metre long concrete wave wall to protect against storm surge.

• Spillway works - construction of a 1.3 metre high, 270 metre long concrete Ogee crested spillway to increase the volume of the dam.

• Intake tower works - upgrades to the existing intake tower to accommodate the new full supply level including the replacement of five intake gates and screen modifications.

Works commenced on site in May 2009 and were completed in January 2012.

With various challenges including environmental impacts, extreme seasonal weather and materials supply, the project has been a resounding success.

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Australian Solar Energy Society Award WinnerUterne Power Plant, Alice SpringsSunpower Corporation Australia, PowerWater, Alice Solar City & Dept of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency

The Uterne Solar Power Plant in Alice Springs is the largest solar tracking facility in the southern hemisphere and has the capacity to provide clean energy to approximately 288 local homes. 3,048 high-efficiency SunPower solar photovoltaic panels are installed on SunPower’s proprietary single-axis T20 Tracker system. The Solar Power Plant has a peak capacity of 969.263kW with an expected annual generation of 230MWH.

Uterne Power Plant is the most iconic and notable example of efficient photovoltaic technology in Australia and boasts several innovative products and advanced engineering practices: Most notably:

• Stable,reliableandefficientphotovoltaiccelltechnology

• Advancedtrackingtechnology

• Cuttingedgesystemcontrolfunctionality

• Modular,efficientdesign

The installation of the system was executed in record time with ultimate respect for all safety protocols and detailed attention to quality resulting in a solar power plant that is performing without fault and surpassing original generation expectations.

The ultimate beauty of this system is its simplicity. Proven technology guarantees reliability. Innovative engineering solutions ameliorate performance. Robust components ensure long term operation.

Uterne is not only the largest solar tracking system in the country it is also a testament to sound design principles and meticulous manufacturing technique – a real world example of Excellence in Engineering.

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Professional Engineer of the Year Highly Commended

Sumesh DhirMIEAust CPEng

Sumesh Dhir is a post graduate Civil Engineer with 30 years of experience in civil engineering and infrastructure projects both in private and public sector.

He was elected as a Member of the College of Civil Engineers, Institution of Engineers, Australia in July 1999. Sumesh is also a Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) of Engineers Australia for the last 13 years since July 1999. He is currently working with Road Network Division of NT Department of Lands and Planning (DLP) for the last eight years, since March 2004.

Sumesh did his Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering with honours in 1982 and Masters in Water Resources Engineering in 1987 in India. He has worked in South-East Asian countries from 1982 to 1995 in hydro power sector, both in design and construction in various capacities as Design Engineer, Assistant Manager and Deputy Manager.

Sumesh migrated to Australia in 1996 and has worked on City-Link Project in Melbourne, Nabalco Bauxite-Alumina plant (now Alcan) at Gove (NT), Queensland Nickel Refinery at Yabulu (Townsville) and Fraser-Osborne Consultants in Townsville. Sumesh came to Darwin in October 2001 and worked as Senior Civil Engineer with Acer-Forester Consultants Darwin for two and half years before moving to NT Department of Planning and Infrastructure (DPI) in March 2004.

Sumesh is a hard working, pro-active, dedicated person with easy adaptability and has established himself as a team-participant who love challenges. He is also the Member of the Management Committee of the Northern Division of Engineers Australia continuously for the last nine years since 2004. He is also involved with the running of a Laughing Club in Darwin.

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Young Professional Engineer of the Year Winner

John-Paul FosterMIEAust CPEng

Originally from the blue half of Liverpool, John-Paul started his engineering career in the UK, studying at the University of Birmingham and then working for engineering consultancy Peter Brett Associates in their main office in Reading, just outside London. After a brief stint as a structural engineer, he was asked to help out the civil engineering department on the award winning M4 Motorway improvements at Junction 11, and has remained a civil engineer ever since. His projects have mostly been in Reading, from local traffic schemes, through to high profile projects at Reading Station and in the town centre. Further afield he has lead design teams on the 2,500 house development at Kilnwood Vale, one of the few large scale housing projects that is going ahead in the UK, and the Abberton Project that will supply the South East of England with a further 15 million litres of drinking water.

John-Paul was heavily involved in the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), undertaking the role of the region’s Vice Chair and the Chair of the Graduate and Student Committee. After achieving Chartered Status with the ICE in 2009, John-Paul found that the time was right for a new challenge and was able to fulfil a lifelong dream by moving to Australia by securing a four year visa to work for SKM. So he said good-bye to his friends, family

and his beloved Lotus Elise that had taken him on some driving holidays around Europe, including a lap at the infamous Nürburgring, and moved to Darwin in June 2010.

John-Paul has quickly settled in at Darwin, describing his time as just like being on holiday (when not at work or course). He soon became involved in the Young Engineers Australia committee by becoming the President for the Northern Division. The group has gone from strength to strength, holding their first gala dinner, and significantly increasing the number of professional events for graduates and students.

Work in the Northern Territory has included the Tiger Brennan Drive extension, the new city of Weddell and the Ichthys Project.

His experience has enabled John-Paul to take on a role at Charles Darwin University, volunteering to take the tutorial classes for the Road and Traffic Engineering course, passing on his knowledge and advice to the students. In addition he is currently helping all ten graduates at SKM’s Darwin office work towards Chartered Status by running workshops on their Career Episode Reports.

In his spare time John-Paul plays (badly) in a weekly mixed doubles tennis competition, and loves to cook, having also previously accepted an invitation to cook at a food festival in Germany, and watching his favourite soccer team Everton.

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Young Professional Engineer of the Year Highly Commended

Andrew McLeodMIEAust

Andrew grew up in the Central coast region of NSW and graduated with Honours in a Bachelor of Engineering (Environmental) from Newcastle University in 2001.

Andrew didn’t always want to be an engineer, he originally wanted to be a ‘stunt-man’, but at aged 15 he decided, that he ‘wanted to be part of how things that came to be’. This is when Andrew set a course for a career in engineering.

After graduating Andrew worked for the Wyong – Gosford Council’s Water Authority as a Headworks Project Officer. It was in this role he developed and managed the implementation of water supply catchment aquatic environmental monitoring program which was independently reviewed by a panel of aquatic monitoring and assessment academics. The monitoring program

scope covered Mangrove Dam and Creek, Wyong River, Ourimbah Creek and Mooney Mooney catchments which served a resident population of 300,000 people, thus making a significant program for generations to come.

It was in 2004 that Andrew decided to travel to the UK, his first job in the UK was as a Civil Engineer in the Southern Water Sector of the Mouchel Parkman under Holleran Mouchel Parkman Joint Venture. Andrew worked as a civil design engineer where he was involved in various projects, one of which was finding innovative solutions to a repeating operational failure in ductile sewerage rising main.

In 2007 Andrew moved to the home of his ancestors – Scotland. Andrew worked on several significant water and waste water infrastructure projects for twelve months, one such key project was the Sewer Renovation Program for Scottish Water.

By 2008 Andrew had met his future fiancé Jess and decided to head back to Australia, it was here that Andrew started with GHD, and his association with Indigenous communities began.

Since moving to the NT in 2008, Andrew has become a member of local sporting groups and developed his passion for improving the lives of Australia’s Indigenous people through improved provision of remote community infrastructure.

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Project EntrantsPalmerston - Howard Springs Cycle PathDepartment of Construction & Infrastructure and Lands & Planning

The Department of Lands and Planning in conjunction with the Department of Construction and Infrastructure, completed the Palmerston to Howard Springs cycle path within the old disused North Australia Railway Corridor. The path starts at the existing cycle path adjacent to the Yarrawonga industrial area and ends at the cycle path on Whitewood Road, Howard Springs.

Railway heritage features were preserved in building the 5.4 km cycle path. In November 2010 the project was awarded to BMD Constructions, a Territory construction company. It was officially opened on 11 September 2011. The project includes:

• ThreeroadcrossingsatTulagiRoad/ThorngateRoad/ Wallaby Holtze Road intersections, Howard Springs Road and Whitewood Road (adjacent to the elevated Power Water tank).

• Fourbridgesalongtherailwaytrack.Theexistingrailbridge foundations and steel substructure, including piers and beams, have been retained in the new bridges.

• Twosheltersareconstructedalongthebikepathoneadjacent to the intersection of Wallaby Holtze Road and Tulagi Road on the eastern side of Tulagi Road and the second adjacent to Whitewood Road within the disused section of the road reserve.

The path retains many heritage conservation features from the North Australia Railway including hand excavated cuttings, embankments, culverts and bridge structures dating from the 1880s and development of the project included working closely with heritage specialists.

Cullen River Bridge & Overtaking LanesDepartment of Lands & Planning, and Construction & Infrastructure, Ostojic & Steelcon

Following a major upgrade to the Stuart Highway, motorists travelling between Katherine and Darwin can expect fewer wet season delays. The $9 million federally funded new high level Cullen River Bridge and 3.5 kilometres long overtaking lanes project was completed in November 2011. The NT Department of Lands and Planning, the NT Department of Construction and Infrastructure, Ostojic Group Pty Ltd (as main contractor) and Steelcon Constructions (as bridge subcontractor) were venture partners.

The Stuart Highway is a key link from Darwin to the rest of Australia and is important for road freight access to deliver food and other important goods to the Top End. It is also the main route for military operations based in Darwin. Being the only north-south route available, high levels of flood immunity are essential to provide a viable access route from Darwin in times of cyclones. The newly completed project retains the existing bridge. It involved building a new high-level bridge downstream that is trafficable for a 100 year Average Recurrence Interval (ARI) flood.

More than 35 Territorians were employed during construction of the new high level bridge crossing and overtaking lanes on the Stuart Highway, 60km north of Katherine. This project also provided employment and training opportunity for 11 Indigenous workers. With high benefit cost ratio of 4.13, this highway upgrade project also supports the Territory Government’s Territory 2030 Plan, where Katherine is being developed as a regional hub with a focus on tourism, transport, agriculture, mining and government services.

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Project EntrantsRAAF Base Tindal Airborne Early Warning & Control Facilities Aurecon Australia Pty Ltd

RAAF Base Tindal AEW&C Facilities project is the second component of a combined project that incorporates new facilities to support the AEW&C capability and a general base-wide redevelopment project.

The requirement of the AEW&C Facilities component of the Project was initiated with the announcement of the acquisition of the AEW&C Aircraft in December 2000. As part of this approval for the acquisition, open and enclosed Hangars, aircraft hardstands, and technical support facilities were included for RAAF Base Tindal.

While the AEW&C Aircraft are to be home based at RAAF Base Williamtown, RAAF Base Tindal is to be utilised as a forward operating base for exercise, training and contingency purposes. Even though RAAF Base Tindal currently possesses many of the required facilities for operation of the aircraft, further dedicated facilities are required to ensure safe and effective operations.

The aircraft will be operated by No 2 Squadron who are home based at RAAF Base Williamtown.

In April 2009 Aurecon were ‘novated’ from our contract with Defence to work with Leighton Contractors who were appointed Managing Contractor for the Airborne Early Warning & Control Aircraft Facilities Project – being the design and construction of new facilities to support 2SQN and the AEW&C capability through a Forward Operating Base at RAAF Base Tindal.

The Park and Ride facilities, Department of Lands and Planning projects, managed by the Department of Construction and Infrastructure, allow passengers to transfer to-and-from public transport buses. Commuters can park their vehicles and secure their bicycles onsite. Park and Ride centres introduce significant flexibility into public transport servicing these areas.

Park and Ride facilities in the rural areas of Coolalinga and Humpty Doo were opened to the public on 26 September 2011and 9 January 2012 respectively.

The Coolalinga Park and Ride is adjacent to the proposed Girraween Road roundabout. Existing commercial and retail development is located on the south side of the Stuart Highway. These are directly opposite (north side) of the existing service road, immediately to the west of the site.

The environmentally friendly hub is the first in the Northern Territory. There is scope to expand the Park and Ride in the future to meet increases in demand. The facility includes: 12 m x 13.5 m shaded bus/drop-off terminal, CCTV surveillance, a self-cleaning toilet, a water bubbler, irrigated landscaping, secure bicycle enclosure, 60 car park bays, three disability car park bays, four motorcycle parking bays.

The Humpty Doo Park and Ride is accessed off Challoner Circuit. The facility includes: 14.4 m x 13.1 m shaded bus/drop-off terminal, CCTV surveillance, a self-cleaning toilet, a water bubbler, irrigated landscaping, secure bicycle enclosure, 41 car park bays, two disability car park bays, four motorcycle parking bays.

Park & Ride Facilities, Rural DarwinDepartment of Construction & Infrastructure and Lands & Planning

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Project EntrantsRoyal Darwin Hospital Master Lock & Management System UNO Management Services Pty Ltd

The existing Security Lock Management System at Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH) consists of a number of departmental manual recording lock systems which work in isolation of each other. The system is extremely complex and fragmented with various departments reacting to the frustration by engaging their own lock management system. Individual departments keep their own records of which keys are issued to team members. As a result a number of keys have been allocated to team members and entered into digital databases without the knowledge of the Royal Darwin Hospital’s Campus Security Department.

Discussions with internal stakeholders at the hospital suggest the current Security Lock Management System is insufficient to manage the security and safety of its team members, patients, visitors, equipment and the buildings. It has also been suggested that the current system has resulted in a number of unnecessary incidents which are costly to the hospital.

The Department of Construction and Infrastructure Construction Division engaged UNO Management Services (UNOMS) to assist Royal Darwin Hospital in the development and implementation of a Master Security Lock Management System (MLMS).

The resulting MLMS contains the following key elements of engineering excellence:

• Auditof2,635locksacrossthewholeRoyalDarwinHospital for 70 buildings.

• Stakeholderconsultationwith38teammembersfromvarious areas and departments.

• ExceededtheexpectationsoftheClientwiththeoutputs of the MLMS going beyond the scope of the brief.

• Developmentofadatabasewithcurrentassetinformation for every lock.

• Implementationofasustainablemasterlockmanagement system.

• Productionofafinanciallyviablesolution.

• Providingthemostcurrenttechnology.

• Provideadesignwhichwillcreateasafeandhealthyenvironment for patients, visitors and team members.

• Considerationofsafetyindesignandtacklingchallenges as they arose.

Science and Engineering ChallengeThe Science & Engineering challenge is a joint project managed by Engineers Australia Northern Division and Charles Darwin University. Conducted in Alice Springs and Darwin, the day is aimed to inspire students from years 8-10 to consider a career in the sciences, engineering and other related areas. A range of design and build projects are set up for teams of students to complete as they compete against the other schools. An overall state winner then participates in the national Grand Challenge competing against other school from around Australia.

SunChaseSunChase is an initiative of Engineers Australia and its primary purpose is to invigorate the imagination of Primary school students to visualize the ways the community can benefit from solar energy now and in the future. A series of inter-school solar kit car races are run over the one day.

SMARTThe SMART Program (Science, Maths And Real Technology) is an interactive road show that specifically targets Indigenous Community primary school students to experience the benefits of science and maths first hand. The science show is a fun 30 minute live presentation that uses audience interaction, demonstrations, drama, stories and multimedia.

Eng QuestTargeted to primary school students, Eng Quest is an all year round, web based program to provide a hands on way for students to achieve key learning outcomes in science, maths and technology without even leaving the classroom. Fun and interactive student projects combined with comprehensive resources and teacher support make Eng quest the perfect package for primary school teachers across Australia.

Youth ProgramsAre you aware of the engineering programs conducted for the Youth of the NT?