Deadline nears

With contractors finalising their submissions for the 2006 CASE Earth Awards "“ due May 31st "“ a 2005 national winner reflects on the submission process, the reasons for entering and the benefits of the win.

Cameron Hall, project engineer with Queensland's Hall Contracting, handled his company's first CASE Earth Awards submission last year.

The project saw the team help construct navigable waterways, civil infrastructure, road bridges and a lock and weir at Pelican Water Estate and won an award in the state section then went on to take out the national award in the Environmental Excellence section (category two).

Hall says the uniqueness of the project made him think they were in with a shot.

"We took an innovative approach, and without it the Environment Protection Authority would not have allowed the project to go ahead," he says of the excavation, which was completed thanks to the use of special recharge trenches to ensure that the area's water table was not drawn down.

"We thought the project was worth entering in the CASE Earth Awards. We'd seen the awards over the years and they're really the pre-eminent environment awards program. As a marketing tool they're fantastic for the winners, but they also represent recognition from within the industry that we can do things right."

Hall Contracting plan to enter the awards again this year and he is already planning the next submission.

From this year the CASE Earth Award categories will change slightly. The maximum project values in each category have been increased in recognition of the escalating values of the projects contractors are involved in.

The awards are separated into two divisions "“ Environmental Excellence and Construction Excellence. Within each division there are three categories:

• Category one is for projects valued at up to $5m
• Category two is $5m to $15m
• Category three is for the projects worth more than $15m.

For details on how to enter and the judging criteria, visit CASE Earth Awards