Excellence Awards previous winners
Excellence Awards previous winners
2008 Winners
Category 1 - Domestic
Winner: Synergy Integrated Systems, New South Wales
Project: Work on a private residence, Sydney
In a project that took some three years to complete, Synergy Integrated Systems project-managed all electrical, audio, video, data, pay and free to air TV, security and automation in the building of a private residence. A key feature of the house is automated ground-floor windows to take full advantage of the seaside location. Future-proofing as the design evolved was managed with forethought, anticipating the client's needs by providing cabling to locations before additions and alterations were requested.
Category 2 - Small Contracting Business
Winner: Trifield Electrical Engineering, Western Australia
Project: Coal Fuel Handling
Trifield Electrical Engineering completed all electrical and instrumentation work (with hazardous area classification) to enable a manufacturing plant to accommodate an alternative fuel to gas (coal) to heat one of its existing lime calciners. The project included a complex coal transport and grinding system with an innovated gas burner management system (to heat the coal to the desired temperature) and the modification of electrical plant and equipment located in the way of the pipe that feeds the heated coal into the calciner. Trifield employees were specially trained to install the certified equipment required on this project. Testament to ensuring a committed, satisfied and productive workforce, the project was completed efficiently and safely.
Category 3 - Environmental and Energy Efficiency
Winner: VIP Electrical Services Pty Ltd, South Australia
Project: Royal Adelaide Golf Club storm water treatment and storage installation
VIP Electrical Services was engaged by the Royal Adelaide Golf Club to design, build, install and program a control system to harvest and treat storm water. The new control system is essential in managing the flow of 280 megalitres of water, to be harvested, treated and stored in an underground aquifer before being pumped back to the surface and used for irrigation on the property throughout the year.
Ensuring that the control system itself was also energy efficient was a challenge that VIP Electrical overcame through the use of smart design, which included a PLC control system with Ethernet communications network that integrated radio link monitoring and electrical control of the scheme. The existing watering system was to remain operational throughout the project with the new system to be integrated with the existing SCADA/PLC based central control system. VIP Electrical's innovation and quality workmanship throughout this project has ensured a high class installation for the Royal Adelaide Golf Club.
Category 4 - Occupational Health & Safety
Winner: Downer EDI Engineering, Western Australia
Project: OH&S Certification
This award recognises the importance of staff consultation and the commitment of the management team to create a safe working environment for all at Downer EDI Engineering. It is judged on a company's OH&S systems and commitment to achieving an optimal OH&S environment. Downer EDI Engineering has a policy of zero harm regarding the health and safety of its employees, contractors, clients, visitors, the public and the environment in which they work. Safety is the company's number one priority with the belief that all incidents are preventable. Ensuring a zero harm environment is a fundamental pillar of Downer EDI Engineering's leadership philosophy. Legal obligations and industry benchmarks are the minimum standards for Downer EDI Engineering meeting health and safety requirements. Safety systems and procedures are integrated into management processes and systems so that health and safety management, along with all other business activities, is monitored and controlled at all stages. Employees are trained to have the necessary skills and resources to develop an incident free workplace using the company's robust risk management processes.
Category 5 - Industrial
Winner: Electrical Construction and Maintenance, Western Australia
Project: Pilbara Port
Electrical Construction & Maintenance (EC&M) had the challenging electrical and instrumentation contract to enable Fortescue Metals Group to construct a new mining operation at Cloud Break, 260km south east of Port Hedland, and move mined ore on the world's heaviest haul rail system to Point Anderson (now Herb Elliot) Port. With a strong commitment to the project and expertise in material handling, the EC&M construction team started on site in June 2007, initiating the first stages of the HV Reticulation Package. With delivery of 22kV to the plant and pre-commissioning of the conveyor system, the port facility rolled on from there, with all staged commissioning meeting target dates to allow 'first ore on ship' in May 2008. EC&M and its sub-contractors worked in excess of 145,000 man-hours on a round-the-clock schedule, with no time lost to injuries. The team also innovated to save approximately six weeks in installation time by developing a unique method to install cable directly from a truck mounted cable stand into a HV trench. This is equal to a 50 percent reduction on the industry standard unit rate for installation.
Category 6 - Voice/Data - Small Project
Russell-Smith Electrical and Communications, Tasmania
Project: Telecommunications installation at Vaucluse Gardens
Vaucluse Gardens is a retirement village of 87 one- to three-bedroom homes. Russell-Smith Electrical & Communications was contracted to re-design and restructure an existing telecommunications network to service more than 140 residents. A benchmark in technological installations for aged care, the installation includes a PABX on a new telecommunications platform that provides residents with a unique in-dial number to call each other without incurring connection fees and the ability to contact internal carer staff via emergency buzzers, monitored 24 hours a day.
Category 7 - Voice/Data - Large Project
Winner: Downer EDI Engineering, Western Australia
Project: SmartRider automated fares collection system
SmartRider is a smartcard automated fares collection system covering all stations, buses and ferries operated by the Public Transport Authority in the wider Perth / Mandurah area. Downer EDI Engineering was the prime contractor for this project and was responsible for the design, construction and ongoing maintenance of the system which provides tag-on and tag-off capability as well as some banking functions delivered across buses, rail stations, bus depots, ferries and associated infrastructure. Downer EDI Engineering worked with the Public Transport Authority to develop the project business requirements and then source and customise equipment from a number of specialist international and Australian suppliers to provide back-end computer, card tracking and GPS systems, banking solutions, card readers and ticket vending machines. SmartRider is the first Multi-Modal Tag-on Tag-off system to be completed and operating in Australia and only the second in the world. It delivers to the commuters of Perth a world class ticketing system that is the envy of all other capital cities in Australia. With quick uptake, 70 percent of commuters now use smartcard tickets - a level of support exceeding expectations. The SmartRider project was delivered in approximately three years and transport authorities from around Australia, New Zealand and Canada have visited Perth to see at first hand how the SmartRider system operates.
Category 8 - Commercial - Small Project
Winner: Niramar Pty Ltd, South Australia
Project: Oriental Hotel at Kent Town
Niramar was contracted by the Lasseters Hotel Group to undertake the electrical refurbishment of the Oriental Hotel at Kent Town. With the heritage stone building undergoing a major renovation to bring it up-to-date, the installation of new services required careful planning to ensure the historical characteristics remained. The new part of the renovation involved a complete fit-out of interiors and car parking areas, including the installation of specialised lighting and control systems. The dedicated and committed team at Niramar executed careful planning to ensure the hotel could remain operational throughout the renovation period. This high end installation by Niramar has provided the Oriental Hotel with an automated and expandable system that will last well into the future.
Category 9 - Commercial - Medium Project
Winner: The Butler Did It, South Australia
Project: Southern Ocean Lodge at Kangaroo Island
The Butler Did It was invited to provide input with the owner, James Baillie, and architect, Max Pritchard, to build a six star Eco Lodge at Hanson Bay on Kangaroo Island, now known as the Southern Ocean Lodge. The Butler Did It became the primary contractor for the project, by demonstrating the ability to meet the high quality standards expected and the very strict environmental guidelines. Specific energy efficient solutions involved using 35 watt low voltage globes running at 90% on dimmers, as well as T5 fluros for non-public areas. This world first installation employed unique control strategies that were designed and programmed by The Butler Did It, with the project proving itself by achieving all forecast energy reductions and complying with all specified comfort conditions. Exceptional professionalism and remarkable problem solving skills were displayed throughout this entire project by the team at The Butler Did It.
Category 10 - Commercial - Large Project
Winner: Stowe Australia Pty Ltd, Queensland
Project: Skilled Park Stadium at the Gold Coast
With a ground capacity of over 27,000, Skilled Park's new world-class stadium in Robina, on the Gold Coast, is home to the Australian Rugby League's Jetstar Titans. A high profile project, delivered under pressure, the contract covered design development, supply, installation and testing of the complete electrical services.
Certificates of Commendation also went to the following organisations in the listed categories:
- Adrian Webb Electrical Pty Ltd, New South Wales, in the Small Contracting Business category.
- Totalec Pty Ltd, New South Wales, in the Environment and Energy Efficiency category.
- O'Donnell Griffin Pty Ltd, South Australia, in the Industrial category.
- Stowe Australia Pty Ltd, New South Wales, in the Voice/Data - Large Project category.
- Rutledge Engineering (Aust) Pty Ltd, New South Wales, in the Commercial - Medium Project category.
- Nilsen NT Pty Ltd, Northern Territory, in the Commercial - Large Project category.