Achievements of Main Roads staff celebrated at Excellence Awards

A project highlighting the need for safer driving around roadworks was one of seven award winners honoured at the 20th annual Main Roads Excellence Awards last night.

Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt attended the ceremony, where 17 project teams were acknowledged for their outstanding contributions to service delivery.

"There were 46 nominations across eight categories for this year's Excellence Awards, which confirms to me the extremely high calibre of work that Main Roads is doing for communities all across the state," Mr Pitt said.

"This awards ceremony, which has been running now for 20 years, showcases the hard work and dedication of Main Roads employees."

Mr Pitt said the Safety Around Roadworks – It's a Two-Way Street campaign, launched in March this year, won the Engaging with the Community category and also took out the prestigious Director-General's Relationship Award for best representation of the department's vision and goals.

"The campaign is the first of its kind in Australia and is cutting edge in its approach to educating the community on driving safely around roadworks,” Mr Pitt said.

"This successful campaign's aim is to keep motorists and roadworkers safe as Main Roads builds the roads to cater for Queensland's growing population.

"Latest population statistics show that 90,000 people became Queenslanders in the 12 months to March alone. This financial year Main Roads will spend $3.05 billion on capital works to support this growth, with another $13.3 billion allocated for Queensland roads over the next five years."

Mr Pitt said the seven winners and ten merit winners were judged on criteria that highlighted team work, innovation and the environment, as well as contributions towards communities, economies and quality of life in Queensland's rural and remote areas.

The other award winning project teams were:

• Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) Development, in the 'Business Innovation and Improvement' category – for developing design, program, budget and risk allocation models to deliver Main Roads' future program of works.

• Water Act 2000: Permit Exemption, in the 'Environmental and Cultural Awareness' category – for acquiring a riverine protection permit, which is compulsory under the Water Act 2000, for about 75 per cent of all road infrastructure projects on fresh watercourses.

• Safety Wish List, in the 'Focusing on our People' category – for identifying and improving the safety of workers when maintaining roadside landscape and vegetation.

• Transport Infrastructure Capability Scheme (TICS), in the 'Leadership and Management' category – for the successful scheme to attract and retain skilled and capable engineering, as well as technical, staff in the current national skills shortage.

• Woolcock Street Culvert Repair, in the 'Project Management' category – for their promptness in fixing a weak culvert in Townsville's central business district.

• Regional Airport Development Scheme ,in the 'Strengthening Rural and Regional Queensland' category – for helping councils in remote communities to upgrade and maintain airport infrastructure.

Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819