Council Takes Out Gold in Helsinki

Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) Infrastructure Committee Chair Cr Carol Taylor announced “TRC has taken out Gold in the Regional Development Projects Category of the International Project Management Association (IPMA) Global Achievement Awards 2018 for their submission Toowoomba Region Flood Recovery Program 2011 to 2016”.

International winners were announced and presented with their awards at a special function held in Helsinki, Finland on 30 October 2018.

Cr Taylor said “Councils submission was instigated as a result of a natural disaster, unprecedented in our region’s recorded history, covering off on the Toowoomba Region Flood Recovery Program, the Outer Circulating Road creek and bridge works, the Ruthven Street culvert upgrade and the Flood Early Warning Systems Projects”.

Winning this award is a huge coup for TRC, and brings international recognition that TRC is seen as a world leader in the field of Regional Development Projects.

The Toowoomba Region Flood Recovery Program also highlights the positive benefits to both the community and Council through significant infrastructure improvement, leveraged from the program.

By Council working closely with our communities across the region, and listening to their stories and suggestions, both the planning outcomes achieved and the infrastructure constructed, have all been well accepted by the community as a whole.

The Toowoomba Region Flood Recovery Program 2011 to 2016 has delivered around $300 million of works through more than 1800 projects, providing substantial benefit to Toowoomba’s regional community. Council has leveraged substantial organisational change and developed project management maturity as benefits realised from the Program.The Toowoomba Region Flood Recovery Program 2011 to 2016 has delivered around $300 million of works through more than 1800 projects, providing substantial benefit to Toowoomba’s regional community. Council has leveraged substantial organisational change and developed project management maturity as benefits realised from the Program.

Cr Taylor said “The 2011 floods had a profound effect on Council and our community but by undertaking the mammoth task of the ‘Toowoomba Region Flood Recovery Program 2011 to 2016’, Council and the community have learned from the past, and together have become more flood resilient and better prepared for the future”.

The improvements and their effectiveness have been evident through events such as preparation and monitoring of Cyclone Debbie and the mitigation of recent storm events.

The Toowoomba Region Flood Recovery Program 2011 to 2016 has delivered around $300 million of works through more than 1800 projects providing substantial benefit to the Toowoomba regional community.

Council was able to enter the IPMA Global Achievement Awards after having won the prequalifying awards which included the Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM) Queensland State Award followed by the National Award and the Asia Pacific Federation Award held in 2017. 

Submissions were judged on project management, achievement and excellence in delivering infrastructure for regional development, being able to demonstrate outstanding positive impacts on society and proving the application of effective and innovative solutions in project management.

The outcome of the program would not have been possible without the significant funding support of both the Commonwealth and State Governments, the guidance and support of the QLD Reconstruction Authority, the leadership of our program and delivery teams within Council and the support of consultants and contractors, AECOM, Evans and Peck, McCullough Robertson, FKG, CMC and Probuild.

TRC Infrastructure Committee Chair Cr Carol Taylor and TRC Manager Project Services, Infrastructure Services Steve Holland, were in Helsinki, to be presented with the Award on behalf of TRC.