Clarence Valley Council walked away with two awards for the Clarence Regional Aquatic Centre project and Disaster Recovery Portfolio Management at the 2026 NSW and ACT Engineering Excellence awards.
The awards were held at the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia's (IPWEA) state conference in the Hunter Valley with the Clarence Regional Aquatic Centre winning the Design & Construction of a Public Works Project greater than $5m category.
The vital community asset is a hub for the whole community with swimming lessons, school carnivals, aqua fitness and a meeting place for family celebrations being a weekly occurrence.
Replacing the Grafton Olympic Pool, which was over 60 years old, the new facility includes three indoor pools opened year-round, an outdoor 8 lane, 50m pool, all with ramp access, greatly improving accessibility to the facility. The centre also includes a 600-seat grandstand, an all-ability splash pad, refurbished amenities, canteen, picnic facilities and is topped off with two brand new slides.
"It's wonderful to see this amazing project recognised by the industry," Clarence Valley Council General Manager Laura Black said.
"Community engagement has been at the heart of the project from day one, beginning with the masterplan design in 2016 and continuing through to the design and construction phase in 2024, with a community focus group actively involved along the way.
"It's so rewarding to see our community enjoy their facility."
Clarence Valley Council's Manager of Civil Services, Devin Simpson, was recognised at the awards, receiving a Highly Commended award for Disaster Recovery Portfolio Management.
"Devin's recognition is a strong reflection of the dedication and collaboration of the entire team that mobilises after a disaster event," Ms Black said.
"Unfortunately, natural disasters are not uncommon in the Clarence Valley, from fires to floods, we experience it all. The work undertaken before, during and after these events is nothing short of incredible, and it's fantastic to see Clarence Valley Council recognised for that effort."
Another proud moment for Council's General Manager was the awarding of an IPWEA Young Leaders grant to Council's Coordinator Asset Management, enabling attendance and participation in delivery of the conference as an MC of one of the technical streams at the conference.
"Tanvir Hasan joined us last year, with a wealth of experience in asset management across all asset classes, coupled with valuable experience in use of TechOne our corporate system, for asset management."
This year's awards aren't the first time Clarence Valley Council has been recognised by IPWEA, with the Ulmarra Precinct project taking the win in the Design & Construction category of a Public Works Project (<$5m) in 2024.
