Infrastructure Partnerships Australia has announced the winner of its 2020 Infrastructure Project of the Year at the National Infrastructure Awards held in Sydney.
Sydney Metro Northwest was named the Project of the Year. The winning contractors included; AECOM, Clayton Utz, CPB Contractors, Dragados, EY, Jacobs, John Holland Group, Sydney Metro, Turner & Townsend, Webuild, and Northwest Rapid Transit comprising CPB Contractors, John Holland Group, MTR Corporation, Plenary Group, UGL Rail Services.
The National Infrastructure Awards are convened by Infrastructure Partnerships Australia each year, recognising excellence in public administration and business, across major projects. The Project of the Year is the most prestigious of the awards.
The Awards were overseen by an independent judging panel, comprising:
- Leilani Frew, Chief Executive Officer, Infrastructure Project Financing Agency (Chair)
- Kim Curtain, Deputy Secretary, NSW Treasury (Chair)
- Jason Loos, Deputy Secretary, Victorian Department of Treasury and Finance
- Neil Scales OBE, Director-General, Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads
- Mike Mrdak AO, Former Secretary, Department of Communications and the Arts
- Sir Rod Eddington AO, Chair, Infrastructure Partnerships Australia
Infrastructure Partnerships Australia Chief Executive, Adrian Dwyer, said, “It is exciting to see Sydney Metro Northwest win the Project of the Year Award as it truly has been a game-changer for Sydney’s transport network.
“Sydney Metro Northwest provided an unparalleled catalytic investment in Australia’s largest city and redefines the future of rail in this country.
“This project is not just concrete and steel – it is a continental first – and will be long admired in the history of Australian infrastructure projects.”
Sydney Metro Northwest was responsible for delivering Australia’s first driverless trains, first fully accessible railway, and an Australian-first customer safety technology.
“The Judging Panel recognised the project for the complexity of its engineering construction, including a range of unprecedented and elegant solutions to major challenges,” Mr Dwyer said.
“The success of the project built a strong social licence for future stages of the Sydney Metro program, and paved the way for other major metro projects in other parts of the country.
“The judges also recognised the complexity of the project’s innovative approach to solving challenges, and genuine partnership between government, contractors, operators, and advisers.
“I pass on my congratulations to the winners of the Project of the Year Award.”
The finalist projects and contractors were:
Bankwest Stadium
- Aurecon
- Infrastructure NSW
- Lendlease
Canberra Light Rail
- ACT Government: Major Projects Canberra, Transport Canberra & City Services Directorate
- AECOM, Allens, Arup, Clayton Utz, EY, Herbert Smith Freehills, SMEC
- Canberra Metro Consortium: Aberdeen Infrastructure Investments, CAF CPB Contractors, DB Engineering & Consulting, John Holland, Mitsubishi Corporation, MUFG, Pacific Partnerships, UGL
The National Infrastructure Awards celebrated a number of other achievements, which are listed below.
Chairman’s Prize
The Chairman’s prize was awarded to Mike Mrdak AO for his substantial contribution to the sector over the course of his career and his dedication to the pursuit of excellence in infrastructure.
Mr Mrdak joined the Australian Public Service as a Graduate at the Department of Transport and Communications, as it was then known. Mr Mrdak ultimately served as Secretary of that Department in the later years of his career and then served as Secretary of the Department of Communications and the Arts from 2017.
Mr Mrdak spent three decades working at the forefront of Australia’s iconic partnerships and was involved in some of the most fundamental reforms to the way infrastructure is regulated and managed.
Women’s Achievement in Infrastructure
The 2020 Women’s Achievement in Infrastructure award was presented to Anna Squire.
Ms Squire was recognised for her extraordinary work over a 25-year period in infrastructure design and construction. Ms Squire is currently Project Director for Arup’s Technical Advisor role on the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport.
Ms Squire leads the strategy and growth of Arup’s Rail Business in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
Future Infrastructure Leader of the Year
The winner of the Future Infrastructure Leader of the Year award was Jayne Longstaff.
Now in its second year, Ms Longstaff received the Future Infrastructure Leader of the Year award for the instrumental contribution she has made to the strategic vision of the Future Infrastructure Leaders Steering Committee and mentoring of young and upcoming members of the infrastructure sector.
Ms Longstaff is currently the Senior Commercial Development Manager at TransGrid. Prior to beginning her role at TransGrid, Ms Longstaff worked as an Analyst and Commercial Manager at Transurban on the transition and integration of WestConnex from public to private ownership. Ms Longstaff is the second winner of this award following its introduction in 2019.
Industry Choice Award
Winner:
Westconnex M4 East
- CPB Contractors
- John Holland Group,
- Samsung C&T
- WestConnex Transurban
Finalists:
Newcastle Integrated Transport
- Aurecon
- Keolis Downer
- Transport for NSW
- WSPJoint Venture
Opal Network Contactless Transport Payments (CTP)
- Transport for NSW
Riverine Recovery Project
- Federal Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment
- South Australian Department for Environment and Water
Great Northern Highway–Muchea To Wubin Stage Two
- GNH Integrated Project Team: Main Roads WA, Arup, Jacobs
Advisory Excellence Award
Winner:
Cross River Rail
- Advisors to the Queensland Government: Arup, Clayton Utz, KPMG, MinterEllison, RPS
- Advisors to the Consortium: Allens, Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Herbert Smith Freehills, Macquarie Capital
Finalists:
Regional Rail Fleet Project
- Advisian
- Herbert Smith Freehills
- King & Wood Mallesons
- KPMG
- SMEC
- WSP
South Australia Schools PPP
- Aurecon
- EY
- KPMG
- MinterEllison
- White & Case
Sydney Metro City and Southwest Augmentation
- Allens, Ashurst
- EY
- Herbert Smith Freehills
- MinterEllison
- Plenary Group
University of Melbourne – Student Accommodation
- Ashurst
- Flagstaff Partners
- MinterEllison
Financial Excellence Award
Winner: Ravenhall Refinancing
- Tetris Capital
Finalists:
Cross River Rail – Tunnel Stations and Development PPP
- EY
- KPMG
- Macquarie Capital
- Pacific Partnerships
East Rockingham Resource Recovery Facility
- Tribe Infrastructure Group
Sydney Metro City and South West Augmentation
- EY
- Plenary Group
Government Partnership Excellence Award
Winners: Sydney Metro City and Southwest Augmentation
- MTR Corporation, NSW Treasury, Sydney Metro
- Northwest Rapid Transit: Alstom Transport, Gilgen, Plenary Group, Thales, UGL
Finalists:
Logan Enhancement
- The Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland,
- Transurban
Queensland Schools Project
- Queensland Department of Education
- Plenary Schools Consortium: Delta FM, Plenary Group and Watpac
Riverine Recovery Project
- Federal Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment
- South Australian Department of Environment and Water
Telecom Tower to Archer River Project, Peninsula Developmental Road
- The Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland
- QH&M BIRT
Contractor Excellence Award
Winner/s:
Telecom Tower to Archer River Project, Peninsula Developmental Road
- QH&M BIRT
- The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads
Finalists:
Sydney Metro Northwest – Tunnels and Stations Civil Works Package
- CPB Contractors, Dragados, John Holland Group
Gudgenby Homestead Remote Area Power Supply
- Solarhub
Bankwest Stadium
- Lendlease
Operator and Service Provider Excellence Award
Winner:
Canberra Light Rail
- Canberra Metro Consortium: Aberdeen Infrastructure Investments, CAF, CPB Contractors, DB Engineering & Consulting (formerly Deutsche Bahn International), John Holland Group, Mitsubishi Corporation, and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Ltd (MUFG), Pacific Partnerships and UGL.
Finalists:
The Ponds On-Demand Bus Service
- Busways
- Via
Queensland Schools Project
- Plenary Schools Consortium: Delta FM, Plenary Group, and Watpac
Innovation Excellence Award
Winner:
Haughton River Floodplain Upgrade Project
- Arup and HDR
Finalists:
Open Data & Car Park APIS
- Transport for NSW
Supplier Relationship Management for Success Program
- Sydney Water
Lower South Creek Treatment Program
- Sydney Water
- UGL and WSP Joint Venture
Cross River Rail Experience Centre
- Cross River Rail Delivery Authority
