Tasmania's engineering excellence award finalists announced

Projects that in total contribute more than $1 billion investment to the Tasmanian economy have been selected as finalists for Engineers Australia’s Tasmania Division Engineering Excellence Awards.

This year’s entries demonstrate Tasmanian engineers as leaders in the field and local projects have set new benchmarks in technological advancement, said the general manager of Engineers Australia’s Tasmania Division, Dr Vicki Gardiner.

“Without engineers, our critical infrastructure would fail. Engineers provide critical advice for decision-makers who are transforming the Tasmanian economy - they work to protect the communities they are invested in.

“Major projects listed include the $400 million Musselroe Wind Farm, $104 million Midlands Water Scheme, $191 million Brighton Bypass, $200 million Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery and $45 million Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies.

“The R&D and Innovation category contains seven entries, from Elphinstone Engineering’s Easysteer suspension system to Hydro Tasmania’s King Island Renewable Energy Integration Project and Aurora Energy’s Smart Network Strategy.

“The Smart Network strategy manages the Tasmanian electrical distribution network more efficiently and effectively; it supports multiple projects from large-scale heavy engineering projects to software-based IT projects.

“The Easysteer system allows a trailer to be built with longer deck space to carry longer loads or more pallets with larger payload, while still performing within the same turning radius as conventional trailers. The engineering disciplines used are transport engineering, automotive engineering and mechanical engineering.”

Dr Gardiner said many of the finalists were joint entries within the six categories: Project Management; R&D and Innovation; Environmental; Products and Manufacturing Facilities; Project Infrastructure; Control systems, Networks, Information Processing and Telecommunications.

The awards will be presented at a gala dinner at the Grand Chancellor Hotel on Thursday, 11 September.