The Cairns Cleaner Seas Alliance Project has received national recognition by seizing two awards for engineering.

The awards including the Engineering Excellence Award for Control Systems and Communications (Sydney Division) as well as the Process and Control Engineering (PACE) Zenith Award for Technological Leadership and Innovation.              

Cairns Regional Council won the categories which see a wide range of entrants from fields including mining, manufacturing, power generation, transportation infrastructure and other similar industries. 

CEO Lyn Russell said the Council was proud to receive both awards as recognition for the effort made by local consultants and companies in partnership with Council.

“The project has been a fantastic efficient team effort. The upgrades were undertaken with full participation and collaboration of all Cleaner Seas Alliance members,” Ms Russell said. 

General Manager of Water and Waste Bruce Gardiner said the Engineering Excellence Award was won in  the Sydney division as the nomination was  shared with major Alliance partner, the United Group, a Sydney based company.

“The project has now nominated to compete with projects from other states in a national competition to be held in Canberra later this year,” Mr Gardiner said.

“We were also awarded runner up in the environment category in the Queensland division of the Engineering Excellence awards. The Cleaner Seas Alliance will enter the national awards for that category as well." 

One of the aims of the Cleaner Seas Alliance Project is to make a significant reduction in pollutant discharge into the water surrounding the Great Barrier Reef.