New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards

Two Ruapehu projects finalists in NZ Engineering Excellence Awards

17 October 2007

Two projects in the Ruapehu area were announced finalists in the 2007 New Zealand Engineering Excellence (NZEE) Awards.

The Makatote Viaduct outside of Ohakune and the reconstruction of State Highway One at Hihitahi Bluffs, Waiouru were among the 22 projects making the final cut.

David Elms, Convenor for the NZEE Category Awards judging panel said the calibre of finalist projects highlighted the contribution that professional engineers make to New Zealand on a social, economic and environmental scale.

“These projects made the finalist cut because they each are outstanding examples of engineering innovation”, says David Elms, Convenor for the NZEE Category Awards judging panel. “This year’s finalists impressed the judges by demonstrating how their projects contributed to the national economy and the reputation of New Zealand engineering and impacted on quality of life in their communities”.

Makatote Viaduct – Just shy of its 100th anniversary, Makatote Viaduct was identified as one of the highest structural risks on the New Zealand Railway Network. The Makatote River, which flows under the viaduct, had eroded the banks that supported two of the viaduct’s concrete feet. Completing the project in a National Park meant ONTRACK had to take special care that its work didn’t impact on a rare blue duck habitat or a trout spawning stream, both located at the park.

SH1 Hihitahi Bluffs – Completed by Opus International Consultants, the Hihitahi realignment on State Highway 1 is a 3.5 km section between Taihape and Waiouru and a notorious accident blackspot. The route was realigned and taken across the Hautapu River, eliminating dangerous corners, improving sight distances and reducing the ice problem. It required two new highway viaducts and the old Hautapu Bridge was replaced. Later, a new passing lane just north of the Hihitahi Bluff project was incorporated into the project.

The third New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards are the premier awards for the engineering professionals of New Zealand. The awards are presented in two major areas: Individual Awards, that recognise leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, and our young engineers; and Category Awards, that recognise achievement in the various industry areas, together with a Supreme Award for the best of the Category winners.

Winners will be announced at a black tie gala dinner hosted by legendary entertainer Frankie Stevens. This year’s event will take place on Wednesday, 21 November 2007 at TE PAPA, Wellington.

The New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards are hosted by a consortium of five partners and 10 contributing organisations. The partners are: Centre for Advanced Engineering (CAE); Association of Local Government Engineering New Zealand Incorporated (INGENIUM); Electricity Engineers Association of New Zealand (EEA); Association of Consulting Engineers New Zealand (ACENZ); and the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand Inc (IPENZ).

Media enquiries contact:

Verona-Meiana Putaranui, NZEE Awards Media Co-ordinator

Email: media@ipenz.org.nz

Phone: +64 4 473 2028 or Cell: +64 21 479885