Cairns' best builders awarded
AN Edge Hill home and a resort development at Port Douglas were the big winners in the 2009 Far North Queensland Construction Awards.
Held at Cairns Convention Centre last Saturday night, more than 400 people attended in a year where the building industry was hit hard by the economic downturn.
A total of 43 titles were awarded for developments from Port Douglas to Innisfail.
The 2009 House of the Year title went to Strategic Builders Pty Ltd for the Blake residence at Edge Hill.
The 2009 Project of the Year title was awarded to Matrix North Qld Pty Ltd for the Coconut Grove at Port Douglas.
Value Homes (NQ) Pty Ltd received the 2009 President’s award for a development at Trinity Park.
There was also some good news for the Hedley family after construction king Tom watch his empire collapse this year.
Hedz Construction Pty Ltd, owned by Tom Hedley’s son Thomas Hedley Jr, won the 2009 Rising Star Award.
Roishin Meadows, from Glenwood Homes, won the 2009 Women in Building Award, while Strategic Builders won the 2009 Apprentice Employer of the Year.
Luke Hope was the 2009 Apprentice of the Year. Master Builders Association regional manager Ron Bannah said he was delighted with the industry response.
"Participants are very proud of their work and take it quite seriously so the level of competition is very high," Mr Bannah said.
"This year, the entries were of a quality we’ve seldom seen in the past.
"Each year the bar is raised further."
Some other awards included best use of timber for La Spina Construction’s Salt House Restaurant.
Laing O’Rourke Australia won the award for best retail facilities up to $4 million.
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Winning design: This Edge Hill home won the 2009 House of the Year title at the Far North Queensland Construction Awards.
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