Entries are now open for the 2012 Roading Excellence Awards and this year Roading New Zealand have added a new category for this year’s competition, the Best Practice Award in Asset Management.

Roading New Zealand says the new category replaces the Procurement category and recognises excellence in development and implementation of industry best practice in the area of network asset management.

Anthony Wilson, General Manager Infrastructure, New Plymouth District Council and winner of the 2011 Roading New Zealand Supreme with the Te Rewa Rewa Bridge and Coastal Walkway Extension, said entering the Roading Excellence Awards was a valuable experience which enabled them “to celebrate the work of the team involved”.

“For the community, the award confirmed that they received great value for money and a high-quality asset they can be proud of,” says Wilson.

Roading New Zealand chief executive Chris Olsen expects a strong response to the 2012 awards. “We are looking forward to seeing the entries come in after an excellent standard in 2011. The introduction of the new Asset Management category is timely given the recent work of the Road Maintenance Ministerial Task Force.”

The awards promote leadership, excellence and best practice in the provision of land transport infrastructure.

“They celebrate innovation and are a fantastic way to showcase the best of our industry. It’s important to recognise organisations in our industry that are delivering excellent projects and results,” says Olsen.

Entry to the awards are open to all organisations involved in roading projects carried out within New Zealand, and may include NZTA, local authorities, contractors and consultants.

Entry forms are available from the Roading New Zealand website www.roadingnz.org.nz. Entries close on July 6.