Aurecon shakes things up at IAP2 Australasia Conference

25 October 2018 – Aurecon’s Communication and Stakeholder Engagement team has again been recognised for its outstanding community consultation and engagement activities.

At the 2018 International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) Australasia Conference with the theme ‘Shake it up’, Aurecon produced a stellar performance, winning five Core Value Awards. 

Award wins

• Winner – Infrastructure Engagement Award – Batemans Bay Bridge Replacement, NSW, Australia
• Winner – Planning Project of the Year – Northern Corridor Improvements Project, Auckland, New Zealand
• Winner – Australasian Project of the Year – Northern Corridor Improvements Project, Auckland, New Zealand
• Winner – International Project of the Year – Northern Corridor Improvements Project, Auckland, New Zealand
• Highly Commended – Infrastructure Engagement Award – The WestConnex M4-M5 Link, Sydney, Australia

Kylie Cochrane, Aurecon’s Managing Principal ‒ Communication and Stakeholder Engagement, welcomes the awards as an opportunity to showcase the work Aurecon’s hand-picked leaders and consultants achieve when solving critical communication and stakeholder engagement challenges inherent in infrastructure projects. 

“This is a real honour. Our results in the IAP2 Awards reflect our passion for delivering infrastructure that lives within communities, rather than infrastructure that communities need to live with. We celebrate this achievement with our clients,” said Cochrane.

Winner – Planning Project of the Year, Australasian Project of the Year, International Project of the Year: Northern Corridor Improvements Project, Auckland, NZ

Aurecon is working closely with the NZ Transport Agency to ensure the community has an opportunity to contribute to the planning, design and construction of infrastructure projects. The Northern Corridor Improvements (NCI) project is a programme to build a key new connection in Auckland’s transport system. It is the final part of the NZ Transport Agency’s 48 km Western Ring Route, providing a second route around Auckland to connect the south and north through the west. 

The project will build on the improved travel times and resilience customers are experiencing since the opening of the Waterview Connection.

Importantly, the NCI will provide options for greater access and mobility for local communities. By putting the public interests at the heart of all decision making, Aurecon delivered a structured and meaningful approach to community engagement, which has contributed to design changes to suit stakeholders.

“The project team is proud of the results of community and stakeholder participation in the NCI project’s design and consenting phase,” said Cochrane.

Winner – Infrastructure Engagement Award: Batemans Bay Bridge Replacement, NSW

Roads and Maritime Services is replacing the existing lift span bridge over the Clyde River at Batemans Bay, a major regional centre on the New South Wales south coast, to provide a more reliable connection across the river and improve traffic flow conditions. Aurecon carried out the concept design and environmental assessment for the project, including community engagement and consultation.

Using a range of traditional and digital communication tools, Aurecon ensured the wider community had a chance to have their say. From face-to-face door knocking, information sessions and meetings, through to a fly-through animation and 360-degree video, Aurecon’s engagement programme enabled the community to ‘see’ the proposed new bridge and make a meaningful contribution to its design.

Highly Commended – Infrastructure Engagement Award: The WestConnex M4-M5 Link, Sydney

Aurecon delivered meaningful and crucial public participation and feedback on the M4-M5 Link project; the third stage of WestConnex, Australia’s largest road infrastructure project.

With extensive infrastructure project experience of working with the impacted communities and stakeholders, Aurecon’s team was well-positioned to lead the project team and communities on the best way forward and effectively respond to the social and political challenges presented.

Responses to challenges required the use of traditional and digital communication tools, including virtual and physical ‘postcards’, as well as social media engagement and targeted responses to challenge false rumours circulating in the community. Aurecon was also proactive in mobile and online engagement through an innovative online collaborative map to capture ideas and feedback on key aspects of the project’s design or points of interest to the community.

As a result of the community feedback and resultant refinements to design, adaptations were implemented including extra open space and a strategy being developed for active transport (walking and cycling).

Cochrane, along with other members of Aurecon’s Communication and Stakeholder Engagement team, Dominic Luddy, Maddy Carville and Nina Milinkovich, presented at the IAP2 Conference, held on the Gold Coast from 23-25 October 2018.

The significant representation from Aurecon at the IAP2 Conference and resulting award wins is testament to the quality and experience of the team.