The 2015 IPWEAvic Public Works Conference has been run over the 25th and 26th March and was a success.

The event attracted over 120 conference registrations over the two days  and 130 attended the Gala Awards Dinner on the Wednesday evening.

A wide range of topics were comprehensively covered and all were very relevant to the situation that our sector finds itself in at the present time. Project Management, Service Planning and Customer Service were just some of the key issues covered.

President Ross Goyne welcomes The Honorable  Minister Luke  Donnellan

The Hon Luke Donnellan Minister for Road Transport and Ports opened the conference and outlined the Government’s Infrastructure program for the coming years. Clearly the successful delivery of the comprehensive program of Rail Grade Separations ( 50 planned for the next 8 years) and a number of arterial road upgrades will involve a significant number of councils and their communities and will require infrastructure managers in those councils to be on top of their game to make sure all the potential benefits of these projects can be realised in a timely way.

The Hon Jeff Kennett – former Premier of Victoria and founding Chair of Beyond Blue Foundation then warmed the crowd with a very provoking presentation on the financial challenges confronting Local Government due to the combined effects of unmet Infrastructure Funding Gap requirements and the current government’s commitment to Rate Pegging.

The Hon Jeff Kennett           Brian Negus

Brian Negus RACV Manager Public Policy was key note speaker and provided a very comprehensive overview of the major road transport and traffic safety priorities for Victoria and his presentation again provided a sharp focus on the key roles Public Works Engineers particularly those working for Urban and Regional LGAs will play in the effective delivery of these projects.

 

          

 

         

 

 

         

The support of our Conference Sponsors was essential to the success of the event and it is a pleasure to thank them for their support.

CT Management Group, BIOSIS, Downer, Sovereign Financial, Dry Treat 

 

GALA DINNER AND AWARDS NIGHT

The Gala Dinner on Wed night 25th March was a wonderful night which was lifted by the dinner speaker Jeremy Scott whose story of his recent  solo bike ride from London to Auckland over 2 years was highly motivational. Jeremy had some wonderful stories of the trials and achievements of his ride and provided some terrific photographs  which captured the enormity of the effort and grandeur of the scenery he travelled through.

 

AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE

 

Capital Project – Under $1m – was won by Warrnambool City Council for the Warrnambool Nth Flood Mitigation Works

 

 

Capital Project – Over $1m – was won by Melton City Council for its Business Centre for Excellence project

 

Asset Management Award – was won by Ballarat City Council – for its Tree Protection System

 

 

Innovative Service or Practice  Award – was won by Monash City Council  -for its Passive Irrigation System

 

 

PEOPLE AWARDS

 

Engineer Practitioner of the Year was won by

 

Samantha Krull – Project Manager

Wyndham City Council

 

YOUNG Engineer Practitioner of the Year – was jointly won by

 

Kim Sedgwick  –  Operations Manager

Australian Road Research Board

 

and

 

Justin Hinch – Project Engineer

Warrnambool City Council.

 

Awards Sponsors – Sovereign Financial, UMS, BIOSIS

 

 

CEDRIC TUXEN MEDAL – 2015

MUNICIPAL ENGINEERING FOUNDATION – VICTORIA

 

The Gala Dinner was also the scene for the Municipal Engineering Foundation of Victoria’s

CEDRIC TUXEN MEDAL.

 

MALCOLM STYLES

Foundation Chairman – Warren Roberts, CEO for the City of Stonnington made the presentation of this award which is only made every second year and this year Malcolm Styles was honoured with the Medal.

Warren also  presented a scholarship to Justin Hinch to attend the 2015 IFME International Public Works Conference in Rotorua New Zealand in June.

 

The MEFV also sponsored 12 students from Melbourme’s Universities  to attend the IPWEAvic Public Works Conference and the following photo shows President Ross with some of the student guests.