Wastewater station upgrade wins public works award

A project to upgrade the City of Logan’s largest wastewater pump station has been recognised at this year’s Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia Queensland (IPWEAQ) Excellence Awards.

The Alfred St pump station, located at Slacks Creek, has operated since 1984, taking sewage from residential and commercial properties to the Loganholme Wastewater Treatment Plant for processing. Now Logan City Council’s Logan Water Infrastructure Alliance has conducted a $7.7 million upgrade on the pump station, reducing the risk of overflows to waterways or the urban environment in the process.

“The project was delivered by 270 mostly local workers in 22,500 working hours and approximately 95% of the major construction and supply contracts were completed by Southeast Queensland companies,” said Councillor Phil Pidgeon, chairman of the Logan City Council Roads and Water Infrastructure Committee.

“We have increased capacity and improved efficiency to prepare for the significant population growth we are expecting in the next few years.”

The alliance’s achievements have led to the project winning the top accolade for water projects between $5 million and $10 million at the IPWEAQ awards. Cr Pidgeon said he was “excited to see that work recognised by our industry peers”.

Other winners of this year’s IPWEAQ Excellence Awards include the following:

• Public works projects under $2 million: Sunshine Coast Council — Jack Morgan Park Upgrade Project (Stage One)
• Public works projects $2 million to $5 million: Noosa Council and Tod Consulting and Marine and Civil Maintenance — Curing a cancer patient: Munna Point Bridge
• Public works projects $5 million to $10 million: Maranoa Regional Council and Roadtek — Pickanjinnie North Road Upgrade Project — government partnerships in action
• Public works projects over $10 million: Toowoomba Regional Council — Toowoomba City Library and Civic Square Project
• Innovation in public works: Sunshine Coast Council — Nambour Youth Activity Precinct and RSL War Memorial
• Road Safety: Western Downs Regional Council — Dalby CBD Road Safety Review
• Water Innovation: South Burnett Regional Council — Gordonbrook Water Treatment Plant Upgrade
• Water projects over $10 million: South Burnett Regional Council — Kingaroy Wastewater Treatment Upgrade
• Presidents Award: James D’Arcy, South Burnett Regional Council
• Engineer of the Year: Paul Keech, Gladstone Regional Council
• Woman in Engineering: Angela Fry, GHD
• Young Engineer: Craig Heck, Scenic Rim Regional Council
• Technical Officer: Steven Forbes, Western Downs Regional Council
• Works Supervisor: Michael Eastwell, Toowoomba Regional Council

Image caption: A new pump is installed at the Alfred St wastewater pump station at Slacks Creek.