Strong Entry Numbers In Roading Excellence Awards

MEDIA RELEASE
21 July 2009

Strong Entry Numbers In 2009 Roading Excellence Awards

The 2009 Roading Excellence Awards have attracted a strong number of entries, with 26 projects vying for the five category awards.

The awards, organized by Roading New Zealand, recognise best practice in the provision of land transport infrastructure and promote the collaboration and transfer of innovation within the roading industry.

Roading New Zealand chief executive Chris Olsen is impressed by the number and scope of the projects entered in the awards, which is in its fifth year.

“It’s great to see entries across a range of regions in New Zealand – it’s projects like these that will be provide a strong stimulus for economic growth.”

The wide range of entries this year include the $336 million Northern Gateway project north of Auckland, the Mangatawhiri Deviation to replace a treacherous stretch of SH2, Whangarei Airport’s runway extension and resurfacing, and a road on Auckland’s North Shore paved with recycled concrete.

__Mr Olsen says it is pleasing to see an increase in entries relating to health and safety in the InfraTrain New Zealand industry best practice – people category.

“It’s fantastic to see the number of entrants involving improvements in health and safety best practice in the workplace. We believe this is a positive reflection of the sector’s ongoing efforts towards making the industry safer for workers,” Mr Olsen says.

John Wills, chief executive of the awards’ principal sponsor, InfraTrain New Zealand, says the organization is proud to again be associated with the awards.

“The Government’s planned investment in infrastructure is pivotal to the regeneration of the New Zealand economy. The right skills and knowledge, combined with industry best-practice, are crucial to the delivery of this infrastructure.

“It’s encouraging to see a number of companies developing these areas, and the Roading Excellence Awards are an important celebration of the achievements of the industry.”

Finalists in the competition will be announced on 10 August, and the winners will be announced at a gala dinner at the Duxton Hotel in Wellington on 7 September.

For more information about the awards, go to www.roadingnz.org.nz

ENDS

About the Roading Excellence Awards:

It is the fifth year that the Roading Excellence Awards have been run by Roading New Zealand – the industry representative body for a wide range of contracting companies whose core business involves building and maintaining the country’s roading and land transport infrastructure.

The competition is open to all organizations that administer roads, such as Transit NZ or local authorities, as well as contractors and consultants. Entries must be a road or pavement that vehicles drive on, or is used by pedestrians, including sports and race tracks, and airports. Projects must have been completed between 20 July 2007 and 10 July 2009. Marks will be awarded in the areas of innovation, uptake of the initiative, results of the initiative, and benefit to the sector.

The five award categories for 2009 are:

• The Shell Bitumen Excellence Award for a Major Road Project is awarded for excellence in the planning, design and construction of projects greater than $4 million in value.

• The Goughs Excellence Award for a Minor Road Project is awarded for excellence in the planning, design and construction of projects less than $4 million in value.
• The InfraTrain New Zealand Industry Best Practice Award – People is awarded for excellence in the development and implementation of industry best practice concerning a company or organization’s roading employees.
• The InfraTrain New Zealand Best Practice Award – Procurement is awarded for excellence in the development and implementation of industry best practice in delivery of roading projects.
• The InfraTrain New Zealand Industry Best Practice Award – Environmental Sustainability is awarded for excellence in the development and implementation of best practice in environmental sustainability within the roading sector.

Each category award winner is eligible for the Roading New Zealand Supreme Award, which will be awarded to the most outstanding entry across all categories based on the three key themes: innovation, best practice and collaboration.

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