Engineering accolade for bridge team

The team behind construction of Horsham’s Anzac Centenary Bridge has won an engineering excellence award.

The accolade, from the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia, IPWEA, was for Victorian projects valued at up to $2-million.

Horsham Rural City Council technical services director John Martin said the IPWEA noted there was a significant risk the project would not be completed after the initial contractor for the bridge went into receivership. A Horsham council team, led by engineering and operations departments, ensured the project was completed with the help of Wimmera contractors.

Mr Martin said the excellence award was deserved recognition for the council staff involved.

“Jess Leslie and Josh Hammond from our engineering team, and Michael Mackley and David Puls from our operations team, were committed to this project from start to finish,” he said.

“Those staff were directly involved in hands-on work on the bridge and co-ordinating the input from local contractors and design consultants.”

Wimmera River Improvement Committee president Gary Aitken said he was delighted by the award.

“Our committee had been encouraging the council to build this bridge for many years,” he said.

“It is fantastic to finally have this connection between the two sides of the river. Not only is it an outstanding looking structure, but it is also being very well used, and is therefore very deserving of this award.”

Mr Aitken said the new bridge catered well for cyclists, walkers and joggers.

“It is great to see people using this part of the river at a much higher level,” he said.

“It also provides a great link for school children accessing schools in the western half of Horsham.” SCHUBERTS PEST SERVICES