Leading Australian businesses, government and organisations across various sectors and industries have won at the Australian Institute of Project Management’s (AIPM) Project Management Achievement Awards 2013 in Perth, Western Australia.

The Department of Transport took out the top award, Project of the Year, for the Esperance Cleanup and Recovery Project in Western Australia.

The project sought to address the environmental contamination that had posed a significant health risk to the Esperance community – a risk that has since been eliminated after the project was implemented.

“The ECRP’s success at the AIPM awards flowed from outstanding project management of the project and our Total Quality Management (TQM) approach,” said WA Department of Transport Director, Wayne Winchester.

“This approach was adopted in recognition of the dual need to provide not only high quality deliverables but also a high quality project management framework which allowed the core processes to be strategically designed, developed, aligned and implemented.”

Also winning an award in the regional category, the Esperance Cleanup and Recovery Project employed hundreds of locals, providing training, skills and transferrable qualifications that increased their future employment opportunities.

The investment in local trained personnel and efficiencies increased as the project progressed, bringing the cost of quality back under control. Adhering to the government’s ‘buy-local’ policy, the project injected approximately 80 per cent of the budget, of $20 million, back into the community.


 

Azure Blue Redcliffe Project. Image: azureblue.com.au

Winning the Engineering and Construction under $100 million category was Aurecon and Blue Care for the Azure Blue Redcliffe Project.

Commencing in 2008, Azure Blue Redcliffe involved the construction of a retirement campus that offered three accommodation options – 122 independent-living apartments, in-home care services and a residential aged care facility with 96 high-care beds.

To create a sense of community and promote active lifestyles, the development includes subtropical landscaped grounds, a swimming pool, hair salon, barbeque facilities, gymnasium, café, and function and meeting rooms.

“By providing independent living and aged care on the one campus, residents have the opportunity to age in one place as their needs change,” said Aurecon senior project manager, Lavinia Buckley.

“This is also important in providing for couples where a spouse has differing care requirements.”

SA Water and Waterlink SA won the Construction and Engineering over $100 million for the North South Interconnection Systems (NSIS) Project.

This $403 million upgrade of Adelaide’s water supply system links Adelaide’s water sources to deliver a single supply network, combining new and existing infrastructure and integrating bulk water transfer into the same water distribution network that delivers to homes and businesses across the entire city.

Facing several challenges during the largest upgrade ever undertaken in Adelaide, the project team had to construct four new pipes totalling 32km, three new pump stations in residentially zoned areas and five new valve stations and upgrades to 120 existing water network sites.

The team also had to manage stakeholder expectations of the disruption that would ensue.

“The calibre of entries into this year’s awards was extremely high and demonstrates the growth and maturity of project management across the industry,” said Margie O’ Tarpey, CEO of AIPM.

“As an Institution for project management, AIPM is proud to profile project management excellence and the improvement of processes and practices it brings to the industry.”

The winners are now eligible to compete internationally at the Asia-Pacific Federation of Project Management (APFPM) Awards in New Delhi on 2 December 2013.

Full list of winners

CONSTRUCTION / ENGINEERING < $100,000,000
Organisation: Aurecon and Blue Care
Project: Azure Blue Redcliffe Project
 
CONSTRUCTION / ENGINEERING > $100, 000, 000
Organisation: SA Water / Waterlink SA
Project: North South Interconnection System (NSIS) Project
 
DEFENCE / AEROSPACE
Organisation: Airservices Australia
Project: Paraburdoo Secondary Surveillance Radar Project
 
ICT / TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Organisation: Telstra Corporation & Qantas Airways
Project: Qantas Domestic Network & Voice Program
 
ORGANISATIONAL / CHANGE MANAGEMENT
Organisation: CBH Group
Project: One CBH Project
 
DEVELOPMENTAL
Organisation: Pacific National
Project: Greta Train Support Facility Project

REGIONAL
Organisation: Western Australian Department of Transport
Project: Esperance Clean-up and Recovery Project
 
COMMUNITY SERVICE AND/OR DEVELOPMENT
Organisation: City of Ryde
Project: Livvi’s Place Inclusive Playground Project
 
SUSTAINABLE
Organisation: Water Corporation
Project: Groundwater Replenishment Trial Project

PROJECT MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Matthew Devenish from the Department of Transport

PROGRAM/PROJECT DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Brendan Bilston for his part in the QLD Reconstruction Authority Project and the development of the Defence Communications Facilities

TEAM MEMBER OF THE YEAR
Matthew Ford for his role in the National Training Areas and Ranges Improvement Program (NTARIP)