SWQ Branch Conference Wrap Up

Andrew Johnson, Branch President CEO, Somerset Regional Council

Following two COVID enforced postponements, the Rural Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Forum kicked off in Dalby Monday 30 August with 145 eager road enthusiasts. Our thanks to host council, Western Downs Regional Council (WDRC) for providing the Dalby Centre for the Forum. If you were unable to make it to Dalby, the Forum Proceedings will soon be available in the IPWEAQ Knowledge Centre. See the event wrapup at page 95.

You’ll no doubt read plenty of comments in this issue of Engineering for Public Works encouraging you and your team to join us in Cairns, and I’ll add to that. It’s a great event for like-minded professionals experiencing similar challenges to come together to network, contribute ideas and knowledge and learnings, all of which makes all of us better in our roles.

And as a past winner of an IPWEAQ excellence awards for the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail (featured for January of the 2022 Every Community Needs an Engineer calendar), I particularly look forward to the awards night to learn about all the other great projects being delivered for Queensland communities.

From the SWQ Branch this year, we have two nominees competing for the inaugural Employer of the Year (Private Sector) award: Proterra Group and GHD Pty Ltd and proudly, Somerset Regional Council for Employer of the Year (Public Sector). These will be hotly contested categories with many deserving winners and our congratulations to the IPWEAQ team for this excellent addition to the awards program.

Last year, WDRC walked away with two people award winners (Emerging Professional and Team Member) and we wish them well as they attempt to repeat this feat again in 2021 but with competition from South Burnett in the Team Member category.

Good luck to other SWQ councils and organisations competing in the project categories including Toowoomba Regional Council, Bulloo Shire Council, Paroo Shire Council, South Burnett Regional Council, Quilpie Shire Council plus Proterra Group and GenEng Solutions. Unfortunately I won’t make it to Cairns in time for the award announcements but I’m sure there will be lots of celebrating with all nominees and winners from the south-west of the state. Good luck!

After more than a decade on the SWQ Branch committee, we say farewell to Seren McKenzie who heads to the tropics for an opportunity to appreciate our better climate in her new role as Director Infrastructure and Operations at Townsville City Council. Our best wishes for your ongoing success, Seren.

And on a personal note, thank you to the 205 members who took the time to vote at the recent IPWEAQ Board elections and for choosing me as your next Vice President (and hopefully President in due course). I look forward to further serving you on the IPWEAQ Board.