Teamwork pays off at IPWEA NZ excellence awards

Collaboration with other organisations was a key factor for an award entry submitted by Waikato District Council to the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia NZ Asset Management Excellence Awards.

Council teamed up with Waikato Tainui, KiwiRail, and Waka Kotahi to deliver the long awaited 60-metre single-span arch bridge across the Mangawara Stream in Taupiri.

And effective teamwork paid off as this project was judged the winner of the Best Public Works Project $2 Million - $5 Million category at IPWEA’s awards ceremony held last week.

The same project was runner-up in the Excellence in Road Safety category.

Other key parties involved in the project were the Waikato District Alliance, Emmetts Civil Construction, Holmes Consulting, Waikato River Authority, Beca, Taupiri Marae, Taupiri Urupa Komiti and Taupiri Community Board.

The new bridge is the result of years of collaboration by these stakeholders to provide safe vehicle and pedestrian access to Taupiri Maunga – a site of great national significance.

The completion of this bridge also enabled KiwiRail to close a dangerous level crossing and has stopped trespassing on the railway bridge.

And Waka Kotahi were able to close an unsafe accessway from a busy main road.

The project has also improved rail freight efficiency and enhanced the immediate environment.

Consultant project manager on behalf of Council, Luke McCarthy of LMC, said the national recognition showed the value of working effectively together with other major organisations and the local community.

“This award is recognition for the mahi of a core group of people whose passion for this project has culminated in a significant community asset and safe outcomes for generations to come. Awesome people make for awesome projects,” he said.

Council’s General Manager Service Delivery Roger MacCulloch congratulated all parties involved with the project.

“The award is so well deserved – the bridge is a magnificent asset for our community, the rest of the Waikato and beyond,” he said.

“Our thanks go to Luke McCarthy for managing this important project and to everyone else who contributed so well. Team Up is one of our council’s values and this project certainly demonstrated that.”