Randwick City Council

04/30/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 04/29/2024 22:10

Heffron Centre takes out top gong in 2024 NSW Engineering Excellence Awards

Randwick City Council won three accolades at the recent 2024 NSW Engineering Excellence Awards - including an award for the recently opened Heffron Centre - home to the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

About 40 councils took part in this year's Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA) event, held in April.

Randwick Mayor Philipa Veitch said: "Given the recent efforts of our staff in 2023-24, Randwick City Council was nominated for nine of the Engineering Excellence Awards.

"Randwick Council was successful in winning three awards, including two of the major award categories."

The Council won the award dedicated to local government / public works projects less than $500,000, for its design and construction of Fitzpatrick Park Playground in Kensington.

The playground was upgraded in 2023 to include new play equipment, paving, fencing and rubber softfall, as well as bike hoops, picnic tables, and a drinking fountain. It officially opened in July 2023.

Randwick Council won the same award last year for its Coogee Fallen Lifesavers Memorial, which was built to honour Australian lifesavers who lost their lives during duty.

At the 2024 Awards, Randwick Council was also recognised for its multi-disciplinary project management of Heffron Centre, a community sporting facility at Heffron Park, Maroubra, that was 10 years in the making.

The centre was completed in April 2023 and features a multi-purpose stadium that is used for a variety of sports including basketball, netball, and volleyball. It also has dedicated gymnastics and dance facilities.

The centre is also home to the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Mayor Veitch congratulated all Randwick Council staff involved in the two major projects. "The wins are a testament to the skill, hard work, and commitment of Randwick Council's City Services division to developing and building outstanding facilities for our community.

"Congratulations to all the staff involved for these well-deserved recognitions."

Student Engineer Tatiana Castro-Cerneaz took home the third IPWEA Award for Randwick Council. Tatiana was named Young Engineer of the Year winning the David Abbott Award.

She is studying a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), majoring in civil engineering, at University of Technology Sydney. Her key achievements include developing an improved system for retaining wall and stair inspections and developing a design solution that improved drainage in high pedestrian areas.

Mayor Veitch said: "Tatiana has shown fantastic leadership in several Council projects, and has generously contributed to the professional development of other young engineers.

"She is an asset to both Council and our community, and we congratulate her on her recent success."

Randwick City Council 2024 NSW Engineering Excellence Awards

Category 1A- Design and Construction of a Local Government / Public Works Project (Less than $500,000)

Fitzpatrick Park Playground

Category 8 - Multidisciplinary Project Management Award

Heffron Centre

Category 9 - The David Abbott Award - Young Engineer of the Year

Tatiana Castro-Cerneaz

Last Updated: 30 April 2024

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