During a resoundingly successful evening of celebration in Sydney, the winners of the 2018 Infrastructure Sustainability (IS) Awards were announced.
Four of the awards were adjudicated by a panel of five highly esteemed judges, and the Outstanding Achievement awards were based on the projects that achieved the highest IS Score in the previous 12 months.
The event was hosted by Logie-award winning comedian Dilruk Jayasinha and catered by Doltone House Hyde Park. To start off the evening, Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA) presented IS Rating certificates to:
- Canberra Metro Light Rail (Design, Excellent)
- Citylink Tulla Widening (As Built, Excellent)
- Level Crossing Removal Project: Mernda Rail Extension (Design, Excellent)
- Level Crossing Removal Project: Hurstbridge Rail Line Upgrade (Design, Excellent)
- Level Crossing Removal Project: Bayswater Alliance (As Built, Leading)
- Metro Tunnel Early Works (Design, Leading)
- Rail Network Operations (Operations, Commended) – the first IS Asset to receive an operations rating
- Port Drive Upgrade (As Built, Excellent)
- Sydney Metro North West: Program (Design, Leading) – the first program to receive an IS Rating
- Sydney Metro North West: Surface and Viaduct Civils (As Built, Leading)
- WestConnex M4 East (Design, Leading)
- WestConnex Stage 1a: M4 Widening (As Built, Excellent)
- Wickham Transport Interchange (As Built, Excellent)
The IS Organisational Leadership Award was presented by John Holland. The three finalists for this award were:
- CPB Contractors & EIC Activities (CIMIC Group)
- Main Roads WA
- Sydney Metro
The winner of the 2018 Organisational Leadership awards was Main Roads WA. In collecting the award, Leo Coci congratulated his team for their hard work, perseverance and great achievements this year. This is the second time Main Roads WA have won this award, having previously won it in 2014.
The IS Individual Leadership Award was presented by Lendlease. The three finalists for this award were:
- Jim Appleby (Downer Group)
- Rebecca Miller (AECOM)
- Treven Cohen (Downer Group)
The winner of this award was Rebecca Miller. Infrastructure resilience expert Rebecca acknowledged AECOM in the acceptance of her award. In the past 12 months, Rebecca has been pivotal in the development of the resilience category of the ISv2.0 rating scheme, and has worked on Parramatta Light Rail, Sydney Metro and Parkes Water Treatment and Sewage Treatment Plants. Rebecca has been involved with ISCA since the very beginning and has shown leadership across the sector.
The IS Emerging Young Leader Award was presented by McConnell Dowell. This was the first time this award has been presented and celebrates the person aged 30 years or younger best demonstrating leadership in IS. The three finalists for this award were:
- Duncan Blackburn (Arup)
- Sam Donaldson (Laing O’Rourke)
- Laura Pritchard (Sydney Metro)
The winner was Laura Pritchard, Sydney Metro’s sustainability officer. In her acceptance speech, Laura acknowledged the amazing mentoring from Jo Haggerty and the team at Sydney Metro, and recognised the importance of female leaders as role models and mentors for the next generation. Laura was nominated for her work in streamlining the application of the ISCA rating tool to Sydney Metro City & Southwest project and because she goes above and beyond in driving innovation including partnership with Social Traders, research into low carbon concrete and research into modern slavery.
The IS Innovation and Impact Award was reimagined this year, having previously been the IS Impact Award. This award now celebrates the project that has best implemented an innovation. With 13 submissions, this award saw the greatest uptake from the community. The three finalists for this award were:
- Metro Tunnel Early Works (The Energy Foundations Pilot Program)
- Level Crossing Removal Authority (Training for The Future)
- Western Program Alliance (Reuse of PFAS impacted soils)
The winner of this award was the Level Crossing Removal Authority. Training for The Future is an innovative Victorian government skills and industry development program creating a sustainable and inclusive talent and supply-chain pipeline for major rail infrastructure projects in Victoria. Capitalising on the infrastructure boom to maximise impact for prosperity, people and planet, the program was created in response to the impending labour requirements and opportunity for economic inclusion of our most disadvantaged communities.
Due to member demand, the IS Outstanding Achievement Award was split in two this year. The first of these awards was the Design Award, and these three projects achieved the highest Design score this year:
- Metro Tunnel Early Works
- Northwest Rapid Transit: Operations, Trains and Systems
- WestConnex – Stage 1b: M4 East
The winner was Metro Tunnel Early Works. The project achieved a Leading IS Design Rating and demonstrated great sustainable outcomes with a predicted energy reduction of 39 per cent, showed a creative approach to heritage assessment and interpretation, and demonstrated a forward-thinking supply-chain engagement strategy. The $324 million Early Works Package for the Metro Tunnel Project is the first major expansion of Melbourne’s underground rail network since the City Loop was constructed 30 years ago.
The Outstanding Achievement Award (As Built) celebrates the completed project, which achieved the highest IS Rating score in the past 12 months. The three finalists for this award were:
- Level Crossing Removal Project: Bayswater Alliance
- Port of Brisbane: Port Drive Upgrade
- Sydney Metro Northwest: Surface and Viaduct Civils
The winner was Level Crossing Removal Project: Bayswater Alliance. The project achieved a Leading IS As Built Rating. Highlights included a 44 per cent reduction in energy use, a comprehensive approach to climate change risk and adaption measures and the successful implementation of indigenous heritage through the collaboration of three local groups into a beautiful mural. The Bayswater Level Crossing Removal Project involved the construction of a brand-new Bayswater station and the removal of two dangerous and congested level crossings at Mountain Highway and Scoresby Road. This project also won the Outstanding Achievement Award in 2016, with its leading design score.