Excellence Awards 2009 winners

Congratulations to our 2009 winners.

Cat 1 - Domestic Residence
Winner – New Wave Electrical Contractors Pty Ltd, Rowville VIC
Project – Private Residence, Chirnside Park VIC

New Wave Electrical Contractors was briefed to design the smart-wiring for a ninety-square family home that combined the latest technology and energy saving ideas. The home now has everything that opens and shuts in the electrical, communications and security areas of a private residence. Televisions installed in the children’s bedrooms are wired to PCs and used as monitors. High quality audio visual equipment in the home theatre is controlled by a colour touch-screen remote control and there is a multi-room audio installation, including for outside, that ensures access to radio, CD and iPod from anywhere in the house. Integrated smoke and security alarms are centrally located as are touch screen controls for motorised blinds and the sophisticated lighting system. Solar panels and clever lighting settings result in significant energy savings.

Cat 2 - Small Contracting Business
Winner – A-Phase Electrical, Moorabbin VIC
Project – The Buchan Caves, Buchan VIC

This lighting project at the Buchan Caves was carried out for Parks Victoria. A-Phase Electrical installed hundreds of LED lights in new locations within the caves to achieve special effects for visitors. The use of LED lights reduced the wattage load in each cave by 70 per cent and will help to prevent ongoing damage to the cave features. The work undertaken on this project was extremely difficult because of the location and a range of non-electrical issues. The contractor worked in a confined space with ventilation problems and needed to move all materials through the caves by hand, at distances of sometimes up to one-and-a-half kilometres.

Certificate of Commendation – Power and Drive Solutions, Willunga Park SA
Project – BHP Bore Field Generator Upgrade, Roxby Downs SA

Cat 3 - Environment and Energy Efficiency
Winner – PSG Boffa Russo Electrical Contractors, Klemzig SA
Project – SA Water Office Accommodation, Adelaide SA

SA Water House is one of the State’s most prominent buildings and is the largest commercially developed building in Australia to receive a 6 Green Star Office Design rating from the Green Building Council of Australia. This high profile multi-storey office fit -out, worth $11 million for the company, came with its own challenges for the PSG Boffa Russo team, which judges said managed the entire process exceptionally to achieve a first class installation that included features pivotal to the building’s successful energy rating. This extremely large project covered a diverse scope of works, including energy-saving C-bus lighting controls, sub-main reticulation throughout the building, internal and external lighting, monitored exit and emergency lighting systems, two main switchboards, standby diesel generators, telephone and data cabling, security, remote access, MATV and CCTV systems.

Cat 4 - OH&S
Winner – Southern Cross Electrical Engineering, Naval Base WA
Project – Cape Lambert Upgrade 80MTPA Project, Karratha WA

Southern Cross Electrical Engineering adopted a simple philosophy to complete jobs on time and to the highest standards, while maintaining exemplary safety standards, when it was established in 1978. This philosophy remains evident today and was central to its electrical upgrade for the Cape Lambert stock yard and ship loading facility. The project required management in a complex multi-disciplined environment. Southern Cross won six out of ten ‘Contractor of the Month’ awards on site for its enhanced OH&S systems. From the outset of the project, the management systems and procedures were reviewed, updated if necessary and monitored for effectiveness. The company continually improved its prevention practices and completed the project on time without any lost time injury, despite arduous construction conditions. Through their work on the project, employees increased their general awareness and understanding of Occupational Health and Trade Safety requirements, including higher recognition and control of hazards.

Cat 5 - Industrial
Winner – Southern Cross Electrical Engineering, Naval Base WA
Project – Cape Lambert Upgrade 80MTPA Project, Karratha WA

Southern Cross Electrical Engineering was the sole electrical contractor for the Cape Lambert 80MPTA upgrade to its stockyard, wharf and ship loading facilities, located in the West Pilbara, 40km from Karratha and 1,600km north of Perth. Southern Cross removed and deconstructed redundant electrical plant and equipment then installed and pre-commissioned new facilities. It modified, extended, removed or reallocated existing plant for load centres. Power, instrumentation and lighting cabling and fixtures were also supplied, installed and pre-commissioned over 34 different facilities across the site. Southern Cross saved more than 7,000 man hours by undertaking some works offsite.

Cat 6 - Voice/Data Small Project
Winner – Intravision, Fyshwick ACT
Project – National Gallery of Australia CCTV, Canberra ACT
The Intravision crew developed a whole new appreciation for art when they upgraded the CCTV camera system at the National Gallery of Australia. The technicians faced multiple challenges including working at heights and in concealed spaces, working around expensive and irreplaceable art works and undertaking installation while the premises remained open to the public. The uniqueness of the job required substantial innovation and new processes to be developed. Judges were impressed with the efficient approach and excellent finish – and they weren’t the only ones. The curators and gallery staff were delighted when each of the 12 galleries was closed for just three days at a time rather than the projected week-long building-wide closure originally estimated.

Cat 7 - Voice/Data Large Project
Winner – Nilsen (SA), Ferryden Park SA
Project – Port River Expressway, Gepps Cross SA
The Port River Expressway links Port Adelaide’s shipping and rail terminals with the national highway and interstate rail network. Nilsen (SA) was commissioned to develop and install the control systems for the expressway’s two moveable bridge spans and traffic management systems. Both bridges provide 30 metre wide by 10 metre high shipping channels. When open, their spans stand near vertical. The counterweighted controls are raised by electrical motors, reduction gear box and rack and pinion gears. This project required much more than electrical installation – the integration of communications and control systems with multiple levels of redundancy and safety controls ensure the bridges’ safety and continued functionality. The innovation in this installation incorporated many Australian firsts such as the ability for the bridges to be controlled remotely from the Norwood Traffic Management Centre.

Cat 8 - Commercial Small Project
Winner – Barnwell Cambridge Pty Ltd, Rockdale NSW
Project – Emu Plains Railway Station Upgrade, Emu Plains NSW

Barnwell Cambridge was contracted to supply and install electrical services for an easy access upgrade to the heritage listed Emu Plains Railway Station for RailCorp. The upgrade included a new 415v kiosk substation, power supply and controls for new platform lifts, lighting for new platform canopies and cable management systems for CCTV, PA, clocks, TV monitors and communications. Preservation of the heritage building presented a number challenges for Barnwell Cambridge and included the removal of previously surface-mounted power supplies to enhance the building’s appearance. Barnwell Cambridge successfully completed the project to RailCorp’s design brief and standards and the team’s work was considered exemplary by the client.

Certificate of Commendation – Rutledge Engineering (Aust) Pty Ltd, Northcote VIC
Project – Melbourne Cricket Ground Digital MATV Upgrade, East Melbourne VIC

Cat 9 - Commercial Medium Project
Winner – Downer EDI Engineering Electrical, Port Melbourne VIC
Project – Alfred Hospital ICU Redevelopment, Prahran VIC

Downer EDI Engineering Electrical was contracted to supply, install, test and commission all electrical services to complete the installation of the new Alfred Hospital Intensive Care Unit (ICU) which is the largest in the southern hemisphere. The project required disconnection and isolation of all electrical services within the existing ICU demolition zone while maintaining services to departments around the ICU. The new extension involved installation of new sub mains, distribution boards and non-essential, essential and UPS power supplies to staff stations and bed bays, with facility for the bed bays to be shut down for maintenance without affecting other bed bays. Earthing in the cardiac protected areas required special resistance for the safety of patients. Special lighting is controlled by C-Bus and dynalite systems, with switchable glass between bed bays and above the staff stations to enable adjustable viewing between bays and to control outside lighting. The communication system has optical fibre cables and category 6 cabling for the local area networks.

Cat 10 - Commercial Large Project
Winner – PSG Elecraft, North Melbourne VIC
Project – Melbourne Convention Centre Development, Southbank VIC

PSG Elecraft was contracted to design, install, test, commission and handover the base power, lighting and other electrical components of the Melbourne Convention Centre development project. With a State Government brief for a world-class installation, the scope included incoming high voltage power supply, all major switchboards, an energy-efficient lighting control system, voice, data and MATV services, and interfacing with other services. The project was completed with tight time constraints and limited design detail provided. PSG Elecraft’s lighting design resulted in average power use of under three watts per square metre – a first for the entire commercial sector. The Melbourne Convention Centre achieved a six star green lighting design rating which is also a first for a convention centre anywhere in the world.

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