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Port of Sale Wins Prestigious Commendation

The stunning first stage of the Port of Sale development has been awarded a High Commendation in the 2005 Victorian Engineering Excellence Awards of the Institution of Engineers Australia.

By Wellington Shire Council - 19th October 2005 - Back to News

The awards were presented at a glittering ceremony at Crown Palladium last Thursday night, 13 October.

The Port of Sale was one of five projects in the category of Engineering for Urban Regional Infrastructure (up to $10 million). The category winner, Richmond’s Palmer St drainage scheme took out the prize for the best project out of all 67 finalists.

Six adjudicators, led by Associate Professor Dr Kerry J. McManus AM, judged the awards and appeared to be very impressed with the Port when they visited Sale last August.

Wellington Chief Executive Officer Lyndon Webb said: "This is a real feather in the cap for the Shire’s engineering staff and for the contractors. The awards are the most prestigious in the engineering profession and the fact that Wellington Shire finished second in open competition is a terrific achievement."

Mr Webb said the first stage of the Port of Sale, which was opened by the Treasurer and Minister for State and Regional Development John Brumby in late 2004, has long been considered to be an excellent piece of engineering.

"Overall, this project has been an outstanding success in contemporary design, high quality construction works and development of landscape and lighting in a historically significant environment."

The $2.5 million stage 1 includes:

• 130 metres of new timber boardwalks and 500 metres of concrete paths to open up accessibility to the port area
• upgrade to the existing wharf, with connection to the boardwalks and pathways
• new floating pontoon and two fishing platform jetties
• dredging of the Port to improve water circulation and to increase access for water craft
• underground power provision into the precinct
• street lighting designed to add to the night-time ambience and safety of the precinct
• new picnic facilities, toilet block and barbecue area
• landscaping improvements with additional garden beds and trees, providing a contrast between the natural products used in the construction and the natural environment
• modified and resealed entry roads to the Port, along with upgraded car parking facilities, to improve access and visibility from the highway, provide direct access to visitor facilities and create maximum visual contact with the site from access roads and car parks.

Mr Webb says the Port of Sale is a significant historic and environmental asset in the centre of Sale and it has now become a major community and visitor destination for a range of leisure and tourism activities.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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