A racecourse, an airport runway and continuing research in foamed bitumen were just some of the projects and incentives recognised at the 2015 AustStab Awards of Excellence.
The 2016 Annual AustStab Awards of Excellence take place this July and like its previous instalments, it will put the high achieving individuals and companies within the Australian stabilisation sector in the spotlight.
Not only is it the place where progressive individuals can be acknowledged by their peers, but the awards are also indicative of the growth and acceptance of the country’s stabilisation sector in the wider Australian infrastructure industry.
The 2016 Awards will be presented at a Gala Dinner at Sanctuary Cove, Queensland on 27 July, as part of the association’s annual conference.
The categories for this year’s awards ceremony include: Occupational Health and Safety Excellence in Research or Education, Innovation or Excellence in Sustainability, Recycling in Local Government and the Young Stabiliser of the Year.
David Berg, AustStab’s President, explains that the awards are reflective of the evolving stabilsation market and are about commemorating the talent and success pushing that evolution.
“Moving into the fifth instalment of the awards, we’ve seen a growth in the industry. The significance of the awards comes with the increasing acceptance of stabilisation within the wider industry.
“AustStab is a national association. The members don’t see each other so much throughout the year and this gives them a great networking opportunity. There’s always somebody new and more people to meet.”
Last year’s award winners included a raft of road and infrastructure projects where the innovative application of stabilisation techniques played a crucial role. Flinders Shire Council’s innovation in foamed bitumen on the Hughenden Airport Rehabilitation and Stabilime Distributors’ health and safety initiative: Active Blind Spot Detection for ALL Mobile Plants, were just two of the major winners from the fourth year of the awards.
Damian Volker from Queensland Transport and Main Roads won the inaugural AustStab Young Stabiliser of the Year Award, an accolade that Mr. Berg asserts is essential to recognising the young up-and-comers in Australia’s growing stabilisation sector.
“It’s an industry that is not in the limelight all the time and we’ve got to work hard for what we achieve. For young people to come in and see the benefits and values
in stabilisation, such as environmental outcomes and sustainability, they’re seeing it as a thing of the future for the road construction industry, and they should be recognised as well,” he says.
Chris Powell from awards sponsor Caterpillar Australia agrees that it is important to acknowledge the outstanding individuals in the stabilisation industry within this unique setting.
“The AustStab awards are significant in that it provides the opportunity to recognise those in the industry who are up and coming and leading the way. It gives us the ability to celebrate their work in front of their peers,” he says.
“The awards night helps encourage the industry and individuals towards improving product quality, productivity, safety and technology adoption.
“For Cat, being able to support the industry at these awards is a great opportunity. It’s a great place to engage and network but also to be proud to be part of the industry.”
Nominations for the 2016 AustStab Awards of Excellence closed on 15 June, and the judging will be officially completed by 13 July in preparation for the Gala Dinner and Awards night.
Pictured: The 2015 AustStab Awards of Excellence winners