A DIVERSE group of project managers from private sector companies through to government agencies received multiple nominations in the Engineering Elite survey.
A DIVERSE group of project managers from private sector companies through to government agencies received multiple nominations in the Engineering Elite survey.
Of all the engineers nominated in this category, none has more experience and more achievements than GHD principal engineer Bob Wark.
Mr Wark has more than 40 years’ experience in the field of water resource development, particularly dam engineering and dam safety, through his years with Public Works, the former Water Autho-rity, consultancy Geo-Eng and more recently GHD.
He has acted as a dam expert for water utilities around Australia and overseas, and has worked on new dams as well as safety reviews and remedial works on existing dams.
Recent projects include the $43 million Canning Dam remedial works project, which was the largest post-tensioning dam project in the world.
It involved the installation of 2,100-tonne capacity post-tensioned anchors.
Other recent projects in Western Australia include the $52 million Harvey Dam project, the Serpentine Dam spillway upgrade and the remediation of Waroona Dam.
Mr Wark has an ongoing interest in RCC (roller compacted con-crete) technology.
Following early success with the use of high paste RCC, the technology has been used for concrete production for all WA dam projects over the past decade.
Another industry veteran is Connell Wagner senior associate, industrial Peter Moore.
He has nearly 40 years’ exper-ience in bulk materials handling and mechanical equipment design.
Mr Moore’s recent projects illustrate the diverse work he has conducted through his career.
He worked on the expansion of iron ore mining operations in the Pilbara, from managing a pre-feasibility study through to acting as team leader for the design review and construction of ore haulage, processing and conveying facilities.
Other recent projects include the design of conveyors, digesters and other mechanical plant for a waste management facility in Cairns, the design of coal handling facilities for power stations, and the design of process plant systems for the Lucas Heights replacement research reactor project in Sydney.
Offshore design projects have included a sugar refinery in Oman, a grain terminal in Indonesia and iron ore conveyors in India.
Noel Grunsell is presently senior project manager with Burns & Roe Worley joint venture, with responsibility for the $100 million Esperance power station project.
Mr Grunsell has been the owner representative for the build, own operate project from the signing of the power purchase agreement, and will take it through to commercial operations.
The project includes a 33MW gas-fired power station and a 340-kilometre gas pipeline from Esperance to Kambalda, which will connect with the existing Goldfields Gas Pipeline.
Mr Grunsell’s biggest project, for John Holland, was construction of BHP’s HBI project at Port Hedland.
The project had a peak workforce of 1,550 people and the work, over a period of three years, was valued at $450 million.
The HBI project had an outstanding safety record, with four million manhours with no lost time injury.
Other milestones in Mr Grunsell’s career included successfully project managing the mechanical erection of trains 1 and 3 on the North West Shelf project.
Macmahon Contractors’ Brian Turner is presently project manager for the $125 million Tonkin Highway extension project, the single largest road project in WA.
The three-year project, awarded to a John Holland Macmahon joint venture, involves design and construction of 18 kilometres of dual carriageway, as well as six bridges.
Mr Turner prepared for the Tonkin Highway project by being a member of the steering committee for Roe Highway stage six, which was also awarded to a John Holland Macmahon joint venture.
Prior to that he spent 18 months as deputy project manager for the Transfield Macmahon joint venture that completed $51 million of civil and marine works at the Australian Marine Complex at Jervoise Bay.
Other recent projects have included the Brookton Highway reconstruction, the RAAF air base at Learmonth and the southern expressway in Adelaide.
During a 25-year career Mr Turner has worked for several of Australia’s major engineering groups, including Leighton Contractors, Clough, Interstruct and Thiess.
