Gold Coast light rail workers, employed by consortium partner McConnell Dowell, have been recognised for their work on the city-building project.

McConnell Dowell Project Director Simon Bradbury said it was a great achievement to win two awards from the three nominated categories at the Construction Skills Queensland Excellence Awards 2013.

McConnell Dowell Civil Construction Superintendent Jon Lea won the Civil Contractors Federation Award for Construction Professional of the Year.

Mr Lea and another staff member were nominated for Professional of the Year and one trainee on the project was nominated for the Laing O’Rourke Award for Construction Trainee of the Year.

Mr Bradbury said McConnell Dowell also won the Major Training Group Award for Employer Commitment to Training Excellence.

“The award nominations demonstrate the high calibre of staff working for McConnell Dowell on the Gold Coast light rail project,” Mr Bradbury said.

“Being recognised as a company for our commitment to training is also a great notch in the belt.

“Our training programs on the light rail project are giving trainees the chance to upskill and prepare for wider career options in the long term after Stage one light rail construction is completed on the Gold Coast.”

GoldLinQ CEO Phil Mumford said the industry award nominations were a testament to the project’s commitment to employing a strong local workforce.

“With more than 80% of project employees living at Gold Coast postcodes, the light rail project is committed to employing and training locals,” Mr Mumford said.

“It is great to see three local staff members and our consortium partner McConnell Dowell recognised by Construction Skills Queensland.

“A congratulations is in order for our hardworking Civil Construction Superintendent Jon Lea and also to McConnell Dowell for being recognised for its upskilling efforts on the Gold Coast project.”

MORE ON TRAINEES

The Gold Coast light rail project has had a unique opportunity during Stage one of construction to upskill more than 60 workers in a range of qualifications.

GoldLinQ consortium partner McConnell Dowell developed the Apprentice/Trainee Incentive program to recognise and encourage 62 civil apprentices and trainees, aged between 23 and 61, to complete their qualifications within a program timeline.

Qualifications achieved through the McConnell Dowell program include Cert II Civil, Cert III Pipe Laying, Road Construction & Maintenance and Bridge Construction & Maintenance, Plant Operations and Cert IV Civil Supervision.

Project trainee Dean Wicks will graduate with his fellow workers following a Construction Skills Queensland nomination for Trainee of the Year. Although he did not take home the award the civil works labourer said it gave him great pleasure to be nominated.

“It’s very rewarding to get recognised for the work I put in each day,” Mr Wicks said.

“I’m very honoured to be recognised as a finalist at state level and it means a lot to me that my efforts are recognised and appreciated.

“I think I was nominated for being the first to complete my traineeship on the project and for my commitment to completing my qualification.”

Mr Wicks said he was working towards being a leading hand and to be known as a valued employee at McConnell Dowell.