Three Daracon Projects Secure Finalist Nods At 2025 CCF NSW Earth Awards

Daracon Group is setting new benchmarks in civil construction with three standout projects earning them finalist status at the Civil Contractors Federation New South Wales (CCF NSW) 2025 Earth Awards. This recognition highlights Daracon’s industry-leading performance on the Memorial Avenue delivered for client Transport for NSW, the Boggabri Rail Possession for ARTC, and Hydro Aluminium Kurri Kurri remediation project.

The CCF NSW Earth Awards celebrates excellence in project delivery and recognise outstanding performance across multiple disciplines, including Project & Construction Management, Innovation, People Development & Training, Quality Management, Safety Management, Environment Management, and Stakeholder Management. This year's event takes place at Sofitel Sydney Wentworth on June 20, 2025.

Daracon Group’s triple finalist status highlights the depth of the company’s capability across a wide range of civil infrastructure projects. Managing Director Jon Mingay said, “To be recognised across such a broad range of project types and scales is a testament to our versatility and commitment to excellence. We look forward to the awards night and the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our entire industry.”

Memorial Avenue Upgrade, Kellyville

The Memorial Avenue Upgrade delivered by Daracon has earned them a finalist spot alongside four other projects in the $75-$150M category. Servicing over 30,000 motorists daily, the once outdated two-lane Memorial Avenue struggled to support Western Sydney’s rapid growth in the last couple of decades. The project, which was awarded in 2021 involved extensive night works, multiple traffic switches, temporary road closures, and management of daily traffic, which was made even more challenging with the planning uncertainty due to COVID-19. Yet, through resilience, creativity and collaboration, the team took every challenge in their stride to transform the important stretch of roadway into a modern, four lane urban arterial route. Reaching practical completion in November 2024, the new and significantly upgraded arterial road is a standout example of infrastructure that improves quality of life while also building professional and community resilience.

Hydro Aluminium Kurri Kurri Site Remediation 

Daracon Group’s remediation work at Hydro Aluminium Kurri Kurri has received a finalist nod in the $30-$75M category for this complex project in the Hunter Valley. The Kurri Kurri Aluminium Smelter, affectionately known as The Can, operated at Hard Road, Loxford NSW from 1969 until 2012 and was one of the only six smelters producing aluminium in Australia – acting as a crucial employer in the region. After the closure and as part of the decommissioning and remediation process, Daracon was engaged in 2019 to remediate the old smelter site, taking a stringent approach to construction excellence and industry best practices, particularly in the management and traceability of contaminated materials.

Boggabri Rail Possession

In the $2-$5M category, Daracon’s work on the Boggabri Rail Possession for ARTC has received a finalist nod. For over two centuries, the Hunter Valley Coal Line has served as a vital piece of infrastructure, playing a key role in transporting coal from mining regions across NSW to export terminals. Designed to support up to 60 coal trains per day, each up to 1,543 metres long, the line is a critical contributor to the national economy. Given its significance, planned rail shutdowns are essential for maintaining network reliability and avoiding the costly impacts of unplanned disruptions.

Daracon successfully tendered in 2023 for this 96 hour ‘super’ shutdown, this type of shutdown is longer than the standard 72 hour shutdown and presented the team with heightened logistical challenges. Leveraging a detailed T-minus planning system, Daracon successfully delivered essential reconditioning works under tight constraints, setting a benchmark for future shutdown operations.