Latest news with #Civil
Scoop
2 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Flood-Resilient Infrastructure Among The Winners At Nelson Marlborough Awards
Exceptional infrastructure projects that enhance flood resilience and protect communities were among the standout winners at the Civil Contractors New Zealand Nelson Marlborough Contractor Awards on Friday night, including an impressive solution to futureproof Queen Charlotte Drive. Hundreds of people from across the region packed the Rutherford Hotel in Nelson to celebrate the vital projects and people safeguarding the Nelson Tasman region, only days after it experienced what Nelson Civil Defence described as its worst flood in almost 150 years. Taylors Contracting demonstrated its engineering expertise in the projects valued $750,001 to $2m category for its work on the Mahakipawa Hill Mechanically Stabilised Earth Wall, Culvert and Spillway, which boosted Queen Charlotte Drive's resilience after flood damage in 2022. The work involved securing foundations in challenging soil conditions using 24 nine-metre-deep reinforced concrete piles anchored with 23 ten-metre-deep self-drilling anchors, all while a stream was diverted and access was maintained for the public and forestry traffic. Judges Peter Fisher, Bruce Taylor and Steffan Eden praised the project's completion on time and within budget, noting the effective use of 3D site scanning for stability monitoring and the fact it was the largest mechanically stabilised earth wall the company has ever tackled. Continuing the recognition of projects contributing to community resilience and flood prevention, Tasman Civil won the Nelson City Council Health and Safety Award for the Washington Valley Stormwater Upgrade. The project involved managing services including sewer, water main, electrical and telecommunications alongside stormwater systems to improve resilience against extreme weather events. Fulton Hogan Nelson was recognised with the Connexis Judges Recognition Award for two critical water infrastructure projects – the Maitai Dam Aeration System and Treatment Plant Contracts. Both have enhanced Nelson's town and river water quality, with cost-saving innovations that reduced council rates by $1 million, the judges noted. Local company Egypt Civil Construction received the Avada Traffic NZ Innovation Award for its Bridge 256 Replacement Platform Clamp System. This innovative safety system involved building a clamp-system working platform to enable a team to climb piles and construct pile heads safely nine metres above the flood-prone Waihopai River. The judging panel congratulated Egypt Limited and said that this was the 'greatest challenge for the company to date'. Environmental stewardship was showcased through Downer NZ Nelson's work on the Kaiteriteri Footpath and Boardwalk, which won the Tasman District Council Environmental Award. The project enabled community access while protecting the sensitive ecosystem near Abel Tasman National Park, including penguin breeding areas. Downer NZ Nelson also received recognition for the Tāhunanui Beach Contaminated Sawdust Remediation project, which sought to remove timber waste contaminated with arsenic, chromium, copper, boron and dioxins that had been historically dumped at the beach. The judges noted that Downer played a key role in the remediation, helping to removed more than 10,000 tonnes of contaminated material while implementing strict environmental controls to minimise environmental impact. Tākaka business Diggs showcased how smaller companies can deliver outstanding environmental outcomes, winning the projects valued at $0 to $200,000 category for its work on stage 3 of the Reilly Wetland project, which involving earthworks to support restoration of the wetland in Golden Bay. Judges said despite working with limited design specifications, the team demonstrated skilful execution and achieved an excellent outcome, receiving 'high praise from all authorities involved'. The awards also celebrated emerging talent, with 25-year-old Jack Whittle from Isaac Construction winning the Franklin Smith Young Achiever Award. The project engineer impressed judges with his technical competence, initiative and ability to overcome challenges, as well as his achievement of a wide range of industry qualifications at a relatively young age. Marijke Isley from Simcox Construction was honoured with the Humes Pipeline Systems Women in Civil Construction Award. Judges commented on her technical expertise and exceptional project management capabilities overseeing complex projects and maintenance contracts while managing teams of more than 70 staff. They described her as a 'true role model for those following in her footsteps'. The Hirepool Supreme Award and Hynds Projects valued over $2m category was won by Simcox Construction for the Inter-Island Resilient Connection (iReX) Picton Enabling Works for KiwiRail. This technically challenging project involved constructing deep dewatering systems, new marshalling yards and a 300-metre culvert through operational areas. While the wider iReX terminal and Cook Strait ferry upgrade project was cancelled with the change of Government in 2023, the infrastructure built by Simcox Construction will serve both existing ferries and the lower-cost replacement vessels, when they arrive in the years ahead. KiwiRail train and Interislander ferry services remained uninterrupted during the project's lifespan. Judges commented that despite its 'significant complexity', the project finished three months early and delivered more than $1m in savings, noting a 'very happy' client. These infrastructure improvements were recognised as the region continued its long-term recovery from extreme weather events in 2022 and dealt with the devastation of multiple severe flooding events over the last three weeks. CCNZ Nelson Marlborough Branch Chair Luke Donaldson said the expertise and innovation demonstrated by the award winners will be crucial to the Nelson Marlborough region's future resilience, with it facing months if not years of flood recovery work. 'We have had our fair share of wild weather down these ways in recent times and our members have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to repair, rebuild, and strengthen our region's infrastructure. These awards celebrate not just excellence in construction, but the vital role our industry plays in building community resilience and supporting economic recovery.' The CCNZ Nelson Marlborough Contractor Awards 2025 was sponsored by Hirepool, Hynds, Humes, Tasman District Council, Eliot Sinclair, Pumps and Filters, and GPIL. This year's winners TotalEnergies NZ Projects valued $0 to $200,000 Winner: Diggs Ltd for the Reilly Wetland Stage Three project GPIL Projects Valued $200,001 to $750,000 Winner: Downer NZ Nelson - Tāhunanui Beach Contaminated Sawdust Remediation Eliot Sinclair Projects Valued $750,001 to $2m Winner: Taylors Contracting Co Ltd - Mahakipawa Hill Mechanically Stabilised Earth Wall, Culvert and Spillway Hynds Projects Valued over $2m Winner: Simcox Construction - iReX Picton Enabling Works for KiwiRail Tasman District Council Environmental Award Downer NZ Nelson - Kaiteriteri Footpath and Boardwalk Avada Traffic NZ Innovation Award Egypt Limited – Bridge 256 Replacement - Platform Clamp System Nelson City Council Health and Safety Award Tasman Civil Limited - Washington Valley Stormwater Upgrade Connexis Judges Recognition Award Fulton Hogan Nelson - Maitai Dam Aeration System and Treatment Plant Contracts Franklin Smith Young Achiever Award Jack Whittle – Isaac Construction Ltd Humes Pipeline Systems Women in Civil Construction Award Marijke Isley - Simcox Construction Hirepool Supreme Award
Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- Science
- Winnipeg Free Press
Robust federal collection, analysis of UFO data could dispel misinformation: report
OTTAWA – Systematic government collection and analysis of data about mysterious sightings in the sky could help Canada better prepare for incidents like the sudden appearance of several high-altitude balloons over North America two years ago, says a report from the federal science adviser. One of the balloons, which wafted above western Canada in early 2023 before being shot down off the U.S. coast, apparently originated from China and carried sophisticated equipment. The balloon episodes generated intense public speculation before fading from the headlines. The final report of the science adviser's Sky Canada Project says the incidents highlight the importance of government investigation of what appears in the sky and how difficult it is to distinguish between natural occurrences, common technological devices and potential security concerns. The report, released this week, says Ottawa should assign a federal department or agency to manage public data on celestial sightings and set up a service to collect testimonies, investigate cases and release analyses. The report explores the public's decades-long fascination with unidentified flying objects and their association with extraterrestrial life, noting a recent shift to the more nuanced concept of unidentified aerial (or anomalous) phenomena, known as UAPs. The report says the evolution in terminology has the potential to reduce the skepticism and ridicule that has sometimes greeted UFO sightings. 'Stigmatization can have significant consequences, such as discouraging witnesses from coming forward and hindering scientific inquiry,' the report says. 'The new, more encompassing UAP terminology can help promote greater transparency, credibility and acceptance of research in professional and scientific circles and in the wider public.' The report says while many sightings can be attributed to optical illusions, atmospheric phenomena or human activity, a minority remain unexplained for a myriad of reasons, including a lack of reliable data that prevents rigorous scientific analysis. Unexplained sightings generate interest and can be the source of misinformation or disinformation, diminishing public trust, the report adds. 'When people are repeatedly exposed to false narratives, they may become skeptical of credible sources, including scientists, journalists and government institutions.' Unusual sightings have drawn the attention of various federal agencies since the early days of the Cold War, with the Defence Research Board establishing a committee called Project Second Storey in 1952 to examine occurrences of 'flying saucers' over Canada. The report notes Transport Canada currently maintains the Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System for incidents affecting aviation safety, including UAP sightings, while the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Department of National Defence may also receive reports through their operational networks. In addition, police forces sometimes hear from witnesses, and civil society organizations, such as Ufology Research of Manitoba and MUFON Canada, compile and analyze data from citizens, the report notes. However, there is no 'cohesive and standardized system' for reporting and follow-up in Canada. The report points to the United States, France and Chile as interesting examples of co-ordinated, transparent and scientifically driven approaches to UAP reporting. It says the federal government should choose a trusted and recognized scientific organization, such as the Canadian Space Agency, to manage public data about sightings. Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. The report also recommends the lead organization play a significant role in dispelling misinformation and disinformation by responding to public and media inquiries related to sightings, and by documenting and communicating common misinterpretations of observations. In addition, data should be made available to the public for transparency and to support research. The space agency did not respond to a query about the report in time for publication, and the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Department said UAPs fall outside its mandate. The report says adopting robust scientific methods and communicating more transparently about sightings would amount to 'a significant step forward in promoting public understanding and combating misinformation.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 18, 2025.
Axios
7 days ago
- Politics
- Axios
Nashville remembers civil rights icon John Lewis with annual march
Civil rights icon John Lewis died five years ago this week, but his example continues to inspire the kind of "good trouble" he championed as an activist and congressman. Zoom in: Nashville played an outsize role in Lewis' life, and in the history of the Civil Rights Movement. Activists here are planning to commemorate Lewis' memory by retracing his steps. A march this Saturday will move from Jefferson Street into the heart of downtown, where Lewis participated in historic protests that changed Nashville and brought national attention to the racist policies of the Jim Crow South. The route follows Fifth Avenue North, which has been renamed Rep. John Lewis Way. Flashback: Lewis arrived in Nashville as a college student in the late 1950s. He studied at the American Baptist Theological Seminary (now American Baptist College) and Fisk University. Along the way, he began to train for nonviolent protests against segregation. Lewis became a leader of the student-driven movement to desegregate Nashville's downtown lunch counters. During a 1960 sit-in at a Fifth Avenue lunch counter, employees sprayed Lewis with water and used a fumigation machine to try to drive him from his seat. He stayed, covering his mouth with a handkerchief as fumes filled the room. At a later sit-in down the street, Lewis wrote a sermon at the counter as police closed in to arrest him. Zoom out: Working in Nashville prepared Lewis to lead marchers across the bridge in Selma, to speak at the March on Washington, to participate in the Freedom Rides and to walk the halls of Congress. "It's here in this city ... where I really grew up," Lewis said of Nashville during a visit in 2016. "I owe it all to this city, and the academic community, and to the religious community here." Between the lines: Nashville has taken intentional steps to embrace and elevate its long-overlooked role in the Civil Rights Movement, including by renaming part of Fifth Avenue to honor Lewis. The plaza outside of the Historic Metro Courthouse has been renamed after Diane Nash, who protested alongside Lewis.
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Time of India
Air India 171 crash report: Fuel switch-off blamed in probe as pilots heard saying 'I didn't do it' moments before June 12 disaster
The preliminary investigation report on the June 12 Air India Flight 171 crash has revealed that both engines lost power after the fuel cutoff switches were activated moments after takeoff. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released the findings on Saturday, stating that both pilots appeared confused about how the fuel was shut off. Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu has urged the public not to jump to conclusions before the final report is released. Black boxes recovered and decoded in India Two enhanced airborne flight recorders (EAFRs), commonly known as black boxes, were recovered from the crash site. One was found on June 13 with significant heat and impact damage; the second was retrieved three days later. Both were sent to AAIB's Delhi lab on June 24. Using a 'Golden Chassis' and cables sourced from the US National Transportation Safety Board, investigators successfully extracted 49 hours of flight data and two hours of cockpit audio. The data helped reconstruct the final six flights of the Boeing 787, including the one that crashed. This marks the first time the entire black box decoding process was completed within India. Cockpit audio reveals critical moment According to the AAIB's report, the aircraft reached a speed of 180 knots before both fuel cutoff switches transitioned from 'RUN' to 'CUTOFF' within one second of each other. This led to an immediate drop in both engines' power levels. The cockpit voice recorder captured one pilot asking the other why the fuel had been cut. The response was, "I didn't do it." This moment is being closely examined to understand whether the switches were toggled accidentally or due to a technical fault. The agency has not yet made any conclusive statements, and Civil Aviation Minister Naidu stressed that it is too early to determine the exact cause. Official response and safety checks underway Naidu praised the AAIB for handling what he described as a "challenging task" and maintaining transparency. He confirmed that the black boxes were not sent abroad for analysis, as initially speculated. Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol had earlier stated that the entire investigation would be conducted domestically. The AAIB also reported that fuel samples taken from the refueling infrastructure were tested and found to be satisfactory. This rules out poor fuel quality as a contributing factor. 🚨🇮🇳#BREAKING | NEWS ⚠️ apparently the fuel cut off switches were flipped 'from run to cutoff 'just after takeoff starving the engines of fuel causing the Air India plane to crash 1 pilot can be heard asking the other' why he shut off the fuel' WSJ report The aircraft, en route from Ahmedabad to London, crashed into the residential quarters of BJ Medical College shortly after takeoff, killing 241 people, including nine students and their family members on the ground. Only one person on board survived. The final AAIB report is awaited, and authorities stress that no conclusions should be drawn until all technical and procedural assessments are complete.
The Age
11-07-2025
- Business
- The Age
Finance whiz buys neighbour's $21m home, smashing inner west suburb record
An over-the-fence deal between two little-known neighbours in Birchgrove has reset the inner west peninsula record at $21 million. UNSW law professor and barrister Dr Peter Cashman has sold his historic waterfront home Keba for a new peninsula high to Ty Dincer, chief executive of investment advisory firm MEC Global Partners Asia, and his partner Mel Toluk, settlement documents have revealed. While the four-bedroom, four-bathroom sandstone house fell short of the $25 to $27 million price guide given when it first hit the market last year, the home's price increased almost fourfold since Cashman's late wife, psychologist Polly Tickles, purchased it for $5.36 million in 2001. The prestige sale of the 1878-built residence also comfortably resets the previous peninsula record, which was held by the gothic estate Rothesay in nearby Balmain East, which sold for $19.76 million. Cashman, a director of not-for-profit legal fund Grata, has had a distinguished legal career, making significant contributions to law reform in the country as commissioner with the Victorian Law Reform Commission in charge of the Civil Justice Review, as well as commissioner with the Australian Law Reform Commission on class actions. The 74-year-old was also a founder of Cashman & Partners, which later merged to become Maurice Blackburn Cashman, now known as Maurice Blackburn. His purchasers, Dincer and Toluk, didn't move far at all given they owned the neighbouring four-bedroom waterfront property, which Dincer originally purchased for $7 million in 2020. They offloaded it to a local earlier this year above its last price guide of $10 million, local sources say. Turkish-born Dincer was also head of Asia Pacific Real Estate at the Abu Dhabi Investment Council, according to his LinkedIn. As for Cashman, he didn't move far either, having purchased another four-bedroom waterfront on the peninsula. But it has curiously returned to the market with a $7.35 million price guide – the same price he paid for it just eight months ago.
