2025 Engineering Excellence Awards Recipients
The Engineering Excellence Awards recognise the outstanding achievements in project delivery, as well as exemplary people leading change in the public works engineering profession.
2025 Winners
Winner - Robert Barbuto
Robert Barbuto has shown exceptional leadership in delivering sustainable, community-focused public works. As Chair of IPWEA NSW & ACT's Metro North Chapter, he’s championed collaboration and knowledge sharing among local professionals. His dedication and vision have left a lasting impact—earning him the Public Works Leader of the Year Award.
Highly Commended - Kerrie Murphy
Director Infrastructure - Coonamble Shire Council
Winner - Herman Lok
Herman is a chartered civil engineer with 12+ years’ experience across local government and the private sector. He’s led major stormwater and road safety projects, driven process improvements like Civil 3D, and held senior roles at Randwick, Ryde, and Strathfield councils. Now Manager Engineering, he’s known for his leadership and technical expertise.
Winner - Blacktown City Council
BEST - Blacktown Exercise Sports and Technology Hub
BEST has been reimagined into a connected, inclusive precinct linking local communities with Western Sydney Parklands. At its centre, the BEST Hub and Lodge delivers sport, health, education, and community services. Featuring public fields, aquatic facilities, physical literacy spaces, a café, and a 100-bed hotel with accessible rooms, the culturally inspired design supports both athlete performance and community wellbeing.
Winner - Bega Valley Shire Council
Tathra Wharf Upgrade
The restoration of the 1860 Tathra Wharf showcases public works excellence, preserving a key heritage asset while ensuring long-term stability. Funded by the NSW Government, works from October 2022 to July 2024 included replacing 54 in-water piles, structural elements, and applying protective treatments. Officially reopened in August 2024, the project balanced heritage, planning, and engineering to deliver lasting impact.
Winner - Shoalhaven City Council & NSW Public Works
Shoalhaven Landslip Rehabilitation
After major flooding in 2022, Shoalhaven City Council and NSW Public Works delivered landslip remediation across 38 sites using $40 million in disaster relief funding. Engineering solutions, piling, soil nails, and retaining walls, restored access and boosted resilience. Despite challenges, the team maintained continuity and communication, showcasing excellence in public works delivery.
Winner - City of Parramatta
PHIVE - Community Cultural and Civic Hub
PHIVE is Parramatta’s new civic and cultural hub—an award-winning, net zero carbon smart building that showcases excellence in sustainable public infrastructure. Spanning six levels, it features the City of Parramatta Library, Council Chambers, community spaces, a wellness studio, Smart Tech Lab, and Café Publique. Seamlessly connected to the heritage-listed Town Hall, PHIVE sets a new standard in public works design and delivery.
Winner - Lake Macquarie City Council
Rathmines Youth Hub and Playground
Rathmines Park is being transformed into a vibrant, inclusive space with new youth and play facilities underway from February 2024. Guided by Lake Macquarie City Council’s 2020 master plan, upgrades include a skate park, pump track, learn-to-ride area, exercise stations, accessible amenities, and improved pathways. Delivered through the Toronto Catchment Development Contributions Plan, this project enhances recreation, cultural services, and heritage—highlighting the value of strategic public works planning.
Highly Commended - Shoalhaven City Council
Huskisson Mangrove Boardwalk
Highly Commended - Bega Valley Shire Council
Barclay Street- Recreational and Sporting Precinct - Eden
Winner - Parkes Shire Council
Galing Gindhay - Water Play Space for Parkes
Highly Commended - Randwick City Council
Crafting Joyful Beach Themed Adventures at the Des Renford Splash Park
Winner - City Of Parramatta
Pedestrian Cyclist Walkway Bridge
The Alfred Street Bridge is a standout in public works engineering, enhancing the Parramatta Valley Cycleway as part of City of Parramatta’s Active Transport program. Completed in October 2023, the 82m diagonal arch bridge—the first of its kind in Australia—features a 4.5m-wide accessible path and creates a bold gateway to the Parramatta CBD. It’s a prime example of infrastructure that combines function, accessibility, and visual impact.
Highly Commended - Port Stephens Council
Port Stephens Council Smart Parking Scheme
Winner - Liverpool Plains Shire Council
Quipolly Water Project
The $36.9M Quipolly Water Project is Liverpool Plains Shire Council’s largest infrastructure investment, enhancing water quality, security, and drought resilience for Quirindi and Werris Creek. Delivered below budget, it features an upgradable treatment plant, 20 km of pipelines, pump stations, and dam upgrades—showcasing smart, collaborative public works engineering.
Winner - Campbelltown City Council
Enhancing Efficiency, Sustainability, and Asset Performance through Portfolio Prioritisation and Project Ranking
Campbelltown tackled challenges in managing $2.2 billion in assets by developing a capital works program with IPWEA, Sydney University, and Infrastructure NSW. Using a prioritisation framework—“must,” “should,” and “could be done”—and aligned with ISO 55001, the initiative improves planning, transparency, and service delivery. It sets a new benchmark for sustainable infrastructure management in local government.
Highly Commended - City of Canada Bay Council
‘Collating Our Canopy’ – Tree Asset Management with Forestree
Winner - Central Coast Council
Road Safety in Planning
This project showcases best-practice road safety integration across all planning stages, from rezoning to design and approvals, for a 500-lot development with 4 km of roads. Through early intervention, crash mapping, safety audits, and compliance with design standards, it reduces risk and avoids the “Swiss cheese” effect, delivering safer outcomes for all road users.
Highly Commended - Port Stephens Council
Caravan Towing Safety Workshops - Hunter Series 2024
Winner - Shellharbour City Council
Reddall Reserve Promenade
The Reddall Reserve Promenade Renewal is a strong example of public works delivering community-focused, sustainable infrastructure. This $3.77M upgrade replaced a deteriorating foreshore path with an ‘Icelandic berm’ concrete walkway, eco-friendly seawall, seating, and water access steps. Completed in September 2023, it improves accessibility, prevents erosion, and lowers maintenance—revitalising 19 hectares of Lake Illawarra’s foreshore in line with the community’s vision.
Highly Commended - Port Macquarie Hastings Council
Comboyne Land Slips Flood Repairs
Winner - Griffith City Council
Her Way
Griffith City Council partnered with Transport for NSW on the Safer Cities: Her Way Program to improve safety and inclusivity around transport hubs—particularly for women, girls, and gender-diverse people. Through creative workshops and community engagement, the initiative is shaping a safer, more welcoming CBD for all.
Highly Commended - Burwood Council
Grant Park Inclusive Playground
