Leading Queensland electrical and communications contractors were recognised Friday 14 September at the annual electrical industry Excellence Awards hosted by peak Australian industry body the National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA).

Five Queensland companies across seven categories received the top state award in front of industry representatives including contractors, educators and government representatives at the premier showcase event for Queensland’s electrical and communications industry at the Royal on the Park Hotel in Brisbane.

NECA Queensland Executive Director Guy Houghton said the winning companies were chosen because of their commitment to excellence, significant engineering achievements and importantly finishing the complex jobs on time.

“The electrical and communications contracting firms that have won an award are simply outstanding for what they have achieved during each project,” Mr Houghton said.

“The judging panel were privileged to view such high quality projects and as always, NECA members have played a critical role in some of the largest and most diverse construction jobs in the state.”

The winning companies and their projects are:

Category – Workplace Health and Safety
A business or project that has demonstrated commitment to achieving an optimal health and safety environment.

Winner: FREDON QLD

Project: Gold Coast University Hospital

Summary: The Gold Coast University Hospital (GCUH) project involved the supply and installation of electrical and data services to the Pathology, Education and Mental Health buildings. In all FREDON projects, tasks associated with the installation of electrical work are managed by the control measures detailed in the FREDON Safe Work Method Statement. Rodney Andrews, FREDON’s WH&S manager for the GCUH project, said, “To be recognised and awarded with a NECA award for safety in 2012 is an outstanding way to show that FREDON is a first class leader in the electrical industry throughout Queensland and is committed to maintaining the safety of our clients, the public and our employees. “Undertaking a project of this size and technical magnitude has provided FREDON with the opportunity to work closely with the many stakeholders involved within the project.”

Category – Industrial Project – Small
An industrial project which may include, but is not limited to, undertakings of a civil, mining, high voltage, manufacturing or process nature where the contract value is less than $2 million.

Winner: Blue Star Atlantic

Project: Project Greenacres XXXX Stage 3

Summary: The relocation works for Stage 3 of the Castlemaine Perkins production line upgrade included supply and installation of over 150 motors, hundreds of field and line control devices, and over 3 ½ million terminations and required multiple shifts to meet the client’s eight week deadline. Robert Johnstone from Blue Star Atlantic said, “Blue Star Atlantic feel that this project was a major milestone in our company’s growth and the efforts of both the management and onsite staff deserve this recognition of the excellent work done and the extreme quality of workmanship used on the project. “The project involved coordinating a large labour force over multiple shifts with multiple site supervisors as well as managing many work faces that could change at a moment’s notice. This was required to happen seamlessly so as to not cause any delay to the project.”

Category – Industrial Project – Large
An industrial project which may include, but is not limited to, undertakings of a civil, mining, high voltage, manufacturing or process nature where the contract value is greater than $2 million.

Winner: Stowe Australia

Project: Hinze Dam Stage 3 upgrade

Summary: The Hinze Dam upgrade is one of the largest dam projects undertaken in Australia. When complete the dam wall will be raised by 15m almost doubling its existing water storage capacity and significantly improving flood mitigation. The project had to be carefully scheduled to maintain the dam’s 24/7 operations and avoid potential water shortage problems. Les McMahon, Stowe Australia’s Gold Coast Branch Manager, said, “The Hinze Dam Upgrade project had to be carefully planned and programmed from start to finish, as the SEQ water grid generally had a maximum shut down time of 12 hours, or water shortage problems occurred. The end result has achieved a great water asset for the Gold Coast and South East Queensland for years to come. “Stowe Australia carried out their works with a professional approach from all concerned, and had a great working relationship with all the key stakeholders.”

Category – Voice/Data Project
A voice/data communications project of any contract value.

Winner: Stowe Australia

Project: National Secondary School Computer Fund (NSSCF)

Summary: Stowe Australia was appointed to implement the Queensland Government’s commitment to upgrade the laptop to student ratio. This was a massive logistics challenge involving 96 school sites across metropolitan and regional Queensland, and, covering approximately one million square kilometres, requiring the complete overhaul of the wireless computer networks within the existing education infrastructure. Kerry Meredith from Stowe Australia said, “Being a recognised winner within this category, displays Stowe Australia’s industry reputation for performance, quality and reliability. “The staff that were involved with this project deserve rewarding for achieving such a well planned and executed project which delivered far above the client’s expectations. Our strengths to overcome the difficulties that arose in areas such as working at remote sites and across large geographic areas were overcome by building team work and trust within a team environment.”

Category – Commercial – Small Project
A commercial project where the applicant’s contract value is less than $500,000.

Winner: Power-Comm Electrical & Communications

Project: Mains Switchboard Upgrade

Summary: The complete mains switchboard upgrade at 116 Adelaide Street in Brisbane was a major project with various integrated components. It involved the removal of all existing electrical services, design and installation of a new reticulated power system throughout the buildings common riser and to ensure that the new installations would meet current and future demands. Power-Comm Electrical & Communications Director Todd Kalpus said, “As a category winner it reflects the outstanding work performed by Power-Comm and demonstrates that we are recognised within our field of electrical contractors in Queensland. “The biggest accomplishment was reinstating power to the new switchboard on the Sunday and everything working for start of business on Monday morning.”

Category – Commercial – Medium Project
A commercial project where the applicant’s contract value is more than $500,000 and less than $2 million

Winner: Stowe Australia

Project: Project Odyssey

Summary: Project Odyssey was a three-part concurrent installation at Sanofi’s Medical Manufacturing Plant. This complex installation included complete electrical fit out for the plant’s café including all sub-main installation to support the kitchen equipment, and energy efficient lighting using daylight harvesting through PE cells, combined with the lighting management system. Kerry Meredith from Stowe Australia said, “Stowe Australia continues to display excellence in knowledge, practicality and experience within the electrical and communication industry. We provide this through rewarding long standing employees who gain industry experience that remains unmatched. “Completing a project of this complexity with varying requirements in a critical environment strengthened and reinforced our client services installation team. We recognised employees with skillsets determined to lead and drive the project in the correct direction, and enabling them in the appropriate job roles.”

Category – Commercial – Large Project
A commercial project where the applicant’s contract value is greater than $2 million.

Winner: Rutledge Engineering

Project: Rio Tinto Brisbane Regional Centre
Summary: Rio Tinto required a state-of-the-art digital signage and broadcast solution that could be site selective, or display different content to different levels of their building, plus a broadcast system to facilitate video conferencing anywhere in the world. This comprehensive project included the supply, installation and integration of a digital signage and display systems, audio visual and video conference systems into over 50 rooms, global streaming and broadcast function for video and audio presentations. David Millar, Rutledge Engineering Regional General Manager, said, “Access to cutting edge technology was a key requirement for Rio Tinto and a state of the art fully integrated workspace has been created to meet their operational and performance objectives. “We use the very best that technology has to offer and we deliver that technology using best practices. This philosophy has underpinned our work at Rio Tinto. This award recognises Rutledge for pioneering new standards for world class audio visual systems in what was one of Australia’s largest digital signage roll outs to date.”