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20 September 2010
In a joint submission with Armistead Earthmoving, Department of
Sustainability and Environment, and Alluvium, leading
architectural, engineering and environmental consulting company GHD
has been awarded the Civil Contractors Federation Earth Award for
their involvement in the Lake Condah Water Restoration
Project.
The Earth Awards have the specific aim of recognising
outstanding work in construction and environmental excellence which
reflects development and use of the best technologies and practices
by Australian civil contractors.
Lake Condah, located near Heywood, Victoria, forms a key part of
the Budj Bim National Heritage Landscape and is identified as a
wetland of national significance from a cultural and ecological
perspective.
It has been established that the Gunditjmara
people at Lake Condah, and along the Budj Bim volcanic landscape,
were a highly-organised society with developed aquaculture systems,
at a time when most humans on earth were hunter-gatherers. There is
evidenced in their use of eel trap systems as far back as 8000
years BC.
During the 1950s, Lake Condah was drained as part
of major engineering works on the Wallacedale and Condah Swamps,
north of Lake Condah. Since then, Lake Condah temporarily retains
water during floods. This has hampered the function of eel trap
systems, leading to a deterioration of ecological value at the
site.
Trials conducted in 1990 determined that an
outlet water level regulator was required long-term to allow longer
retention of water from high rainfall events in the catchment
zone.
This project involved the design and construction
of an outlet water level regulator with the intent to effectively
restore water to the site. GHD was engaged to project manage the
design and supervise the construction of the project.
The project has many positive environmental,
indigenous community and training impacts. In association
with the Windamara Aboriginal Co-op, twelve unemployed indigenous
locals were trained and worked on the project. Each new
worker was given at least one full day on a 20 tonne
excavator. Others registered more than 300 hours on various
machines. In addition, the project teams were taught the basics of
pre-start checks, power and hand tool inspection, toolbox meetings,
and construction plant practices. To maximize safety, a buddy
system was introduced; the project was completed without accident
or injury. Ongoing training and potential opportunities for work in
the construction industry are now being afforded to this group.
“This project is an example of how a project team can work
together to create outcomes that exceed the original vision.
Through working with the client, contractor, designer and
Gunditjmara people the project has not only achieved the original
vision of restoring water to Lake Condah, but has resulted in a
sense of local ownership and development of skills that will
continue to benefit the community for years to come.” Project
Manager, Michael Scott said.
For more information please contact Kane
Dowsett