ACT’s best electrical and communications contractors honoured at awards

The best ACT electrical and communications contractors were recognised at the annual electrical industry Excellence Awards hosted by peak Australian industry body the National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) last week. Six companies across eight categories received the top state award in front over 300 industry representatives including contractors, educators and government representatives at the pinnacle showcase of the electrical and communications industry.

The winning projects in 2011 included projects at the Australian National University, Canberra Institute of TAFE, University of Canberra, Parliament House, Canberra Airport, Deakin Telephone Exchange and a private residence in Reid. The winning companies were chosen because of their commitment to excellence, significant engineering achievements and importantly, their ability to integrate many different technologies into the one project, said Lindsay Le Compte, Chief Executive Officer of NECA ACT.

The winning companies and their projects are listed below:

Category - Domestic residence

A single residence project in the domestic sector where the applicant’s contract value is less than $1m.
Winner: Paul Archer Electrical
Project: Private residence, Reid
Paul Archer Electrical is a specialist in the renovation of high-value vintage homes as well as new residential construction. It was appointed to provide all electrical and structured cable works for this large residence in Reid. The highlights of the project included the fit-out of a small theatrette with projector, large screen and TV monitor, and installation of a large number of lights specifically to highlight artwork and memorabilia. Also, an automated programmable logic controlled backup generator system to multiple underground sump pumps, emergency lighting and essential services.

Category - Small contracting business

A small contractor, employing fewer than 10 technical employees, demonstrating a wide range of skills and may be a company or project based.
Winner: Canberra Connections
Canberra Connections is a locally owned company that has grown from a one-man band to a small corporation. The business is focused on the installation of security, voice and data, electrical and communication systems, for the government, commercial, retail and residential sectors. A variety of software programs are utilised to ensure all aspects of the business operate in an efficient manner.

Category - Industrial - small project

An industrial project which may include, but is not limited to, undertakings of a civil, mining, high-voltage, manufacturing or process nature where the contract value is less than $2m.
Winner: Shepherd Electrical
Project: Fairbairn Low Voltage Metering Works
Shepherd Electrical was contracted for a design and construct project in the Fairbairn Precinct at Canberra Airport. The work involved replacing High Voltage Metering with Individual Low Voltage Metering via the installation of ‘point of entry cubicles’ to various locations throughout the precinct. The project was a major civil works undertaking and required a two-year planning process before any site work commenced with the major challenge of avoiding existing services with little to no documentation of their existence. The final project has earned high praise from the client and Shepherd Electrical now has a skilled ‘stand alone’ civil crew.

Category - Industrial - large project

An industrial project which may include, but is not limited to, undertakings of a civil, mining, high-voltage, manufacturing or process nature where the contract value is greater than $2m. 
Winner: Martin Donnelly
Project: Central South Deakin Telephone Exchange Infrastructure Upgrade
Martin Donnelly won the tender for this difficult and complex Telstra project carried out over a 20-month period.
The Exchange’s ‘Electrical Infrastructure Upgrade’ was developed and designed to conform with Telstra’s unique ‘End to End’ standard for the reticulation of electrical services. Some of the work included survey of all existing power systems reticulation and the progressive replacement of six 1600-amp main distribution boards including 30 automatic transfer switches, installation of power factor correction on all main distribution boards and a new 100 kA unlimited fault containment generator supply switchboard. Many hours of survey, investigation and planning went into developing switching and power back-feeding procedures to achieve the outcome without any unplanned loss of supply.

Category - Voice/Data

A voice or data project of any contract value.
Winner: Shepherd Electrical
Project: Prime Minister’s Briefing Room
The fit-out for the Prime Minister’s Briefing Room in Parliament House required construction of a state-of-the-art crisis management facility, including concealed networks, to comply with ‘Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility’. Shepherd Electrical was contracted to install a 4-tiered segregated fibre communication network and parallel copper network within the 150 mm subfloor, and mounted on a 'work of art' cable tray support infrastructure. Critical to the installation was to maintain the separation of all services throughout the subfloor. The finished installation has set a new benchmark and earned Shepherd Electrical official recognition and a Certificate of Appreciation from the Attorney Generals Department.

Category - Commercial - small project

A commercial project where the applicant’s contract value is less than $500,000.
Winner: Electrical Solutions (ACT)
Project: Canberra Institute of Technology Sustainable Skills Training Hub
The sustainable skills training hub building was designed to provide a fully functioning teaching facility using a number of passive energy-efficiency measures, designed to minimise the requirement for heating and cooling and achieve a 6 star Green Star rating. Electrical Solutions was contracted to design, supply and install the complex electrical and mechanical and control works. The objective was to provide CIT engineering students with the opportunity to study and actively experiment with a variety of modern sustainable building designs. The final outcome is a showcase of the high-quality building and installation skills by Electrical Solutions.

Category - Commercial - medium project

A commercial project where the applicant’s contract value is more than $500,000 and less than $2m. 
Winner: Shepherd Electrical
Project: University of Canberra Micro Simulation Centre
Shepherd Electrical was contracted for all the electrical works for the University of Canberra Micro Simulation Centre. This complex multiservices project included all electrical mains, sub mains and distribution boards, all cabling and cable management, general power and lighting, emergency services, data and communication systems, MATV and security systems. Unique to the project was the requirement for three different lighting control systems. The successful completion of this project has reinforced Shepherd Electrical’s position as a preferred contractor to the University of Canberra. As a result they have been selected for an additional 12 building upgrade works.

Certificate of Commendation
Phase 4 Electrical and Data
Canberra Institute of Technology Electrotechnology Fyshwick Campus

Category - Commercial - large project

A commercial project where the applicant’s contract value is greater than $2m.
Winner: O’Donnell Griffin
Project: Canberra Airport Multi-User Terminal
The Canberra Airport Multi-User Terminal project is possibly one of the largest projects undertaken in the ACT. O’Donnell Griffin was contracted for the comprehensive electrical and communication package, which included a large scope of cable reticulation, main switchboards and distribution boards. Three power supplies are utilised including normal, generator and UPS systems. Also, the installation of an extensive range of general power, lighting and communications systems throughout the terminal. A very smart Qantas lounge fit-out completes the project.

Certificate of Commendation
Shepherd Electrical
National Gallery of Australia New Look Stage 1B.