New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards

Two Waikato projects make NZ Engineering Excellence Awards finals

17 October 2007

Hamilton Water Treatment Station and the Mercer to Longswamp Expressway development were announced as finalists in the 2007 New Zealand Engineering Excellence (NZEE) Awards.

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”.

Mercer to Longswamp Expressway – The Mercer to Longswamp Expressway is a key link in the State Highway 1 Waikato Expressway. It runs from the township of Mercer and continues south for 12 km. The project objectives were to improve the undesirable historic crash record associated with this length of state highway and provide more efficient access to South Auckland from the Waikato region.

Hamilton Water Treatment Station – A glimpse of the Hamilton Water Treatment Station (WTS) provides little indication of the powerful, state-of-the-art features that lie within its walls. Step inside, and the futuristic vision of Australasia’s largest drinking water ultraviolet (UV) disinfection facility becomes evident. Setting a new benchmark in water treatment plants in the region, the Hamilton WTS is New Zealand’s largest drinking water UV and Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) plant.

The projects are two of 22 projects making the final cut.

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