BOOMTOWN! Project of the year winners 2020

To recognise developments that have delivered excellence in infrastructure and transport, the BOOMTOWN! Project of the Year award was established to acknowledge completed (or near completed) major projects over the previous 12 months that have, or will, significantly contribute to the sustainable growth of Greater Western Sydney.

These are presented at our annual BOOMTOWN! Summits in November.

Outstanding Commercial Project

3 Parramatta Square
The 17-level, 3 Parramatta Square building will set a new benchmark for commercial offices in Parramatta and deliver over 45,000sqm of commercial space. Featuring a glass facade and central atrium, the tower will be the Western Sydney address of National Australia Bank. Financial services make up a significant part of Parramatta’s professional economy, attracting blue-chip talent to the area and providing 17,000 jobs.

Outstanding Health Project

Central Acute Services Building –
Westmead Redevelopment
The new state-of-the-art hospital building includes two new emergency departments and more than 300 patient rooms – and is the centre-piece of the $1 billion-plus Westmead Redevelopment. Health experts will be working alongside top medical and scientific researchers in this new 14-storey hub, which embeds staff from the University of Sydney, and includes research, education and training facilities.

Outstanding Transport Project

NorthConnex
The nine kilometre twin tunnel links the M1 Pacific Motorway at Wahroonga to the Hills M2 Motorway at West Pennant Hills in Sydney’s north west suburbs. The result has been 5000 fewer trucks per day, reduced traffic congestion and up to 15 minutes shorter travel times on Pennant Hills Road.

Outstanding Community Project

Murama Healing Space & Dance Ground
The Murama Healing Space and Dance Ground is a unique Indigenous Dance Ground dedicated to healing and belonging at Newington Armory, Sydney Olympic Park. The Murama Healing Space creates a dynamic Indigenous heritage hub that supports cultural revival, shared learning and social benefits. This is an inclusive and peaceful space where First Nations peoples can learn, lead, and share culture. It is a gathering place for the entire community, and a place to celebrate the rich Indigenous culture of Sydney Olympic Park with greater Sydney.

Outstanding Education Project

TAFE NSW Miller Upgrade 
Construction, carpentry and electrical engineering students will benefit from new learning spaces and specialist facilities following a $7.6 million upgrade at TAFE NSW Miller. The campus now includes an expanded workshop space for carpentry students, four modern classrooms, a student amenity area and pole rescue facilities. It is also home to the TAFE NSW’s second and largest electrical pole farm in the state, which will be used by students being trained in electrical supply. The new state-of-the-art facility will provide integrated specialist facilities to equip students with the job-ready skills local employers are calling for here in Miller and across western Sydney

Outstanding Sustainability Project

St Marys Water Recycling Plant Upgrade
With more than 300,000 new residents expected to move to Sydney’s north west by 2040, the program is delivering improved sustainability and significant energy and carbon savings within this growing area. The upgrades of St Marys and Quakers Hill have achieved a 42% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, earning the program an “excellent” design rating of 69.7 points from Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA). On-site renewable energy use is a core objective of the St Marys WRP upgrade. It’s anticipated that the biogas captured through co-generation will allow for 70-90 per cent self-supply of electricity at St Marys, which is approximately 115,358GJ/year of biogas generating 13.3GWh of electricity.

Outstanding Tourism/Activation Project

Sydney Motorsport Park Lights
The $33 million upgrade of Sydney Motorsport Park has commenced with the installation of the first light tower which will bring night racing back to Eastern Creek. 134 lighting poles have been installed around the circuit with world-class LED lighting set to provide broadcast-quality lighting for night racing. The investment package funded by the NSW Government for the upgrade of Sydney Motorsport Park also includes $11 million in enhancements for the adjacent Sydney International Dragway, $6.4 million to construct a Motor Sports Centre of Excellence and work to find an operations site for Motorcycling NSW.

Chairman’s Award

NSW Police Force Aviation Support Branch Bankstown Airport
Built to relocate NSW Police Force Aviation Support Branch (PolAir) into a purpose-built state-of-the-art facility, whilst remaining at Bankstown Airport, providing enhanced operational efficiencies and a seamless transfer of operations. Allowing the team can continue to protect and serve the community of New South Wales through vital police work. The 2.5 hectare site is now home to the entire NSW Police Force Aviation Support branch, including 80 police officers. The facility features one large hangar with 10 hangar bays to house a fleet of five PolAir rotary-wing aircraft and three fixed-wing aircraft.