Newcastle-headquartered civil contractor Daracon Group has secured two major awards at the 2026 NSW Excellence in Surveying and Spatial Information (EISSI) Awards for its work on the Coulsons Creek Road rehabilitation project. Presented at Sydney’s Hyatt Regency on 19 September 2026, the project was named winner of the AusSearch Project of the Year in Infrastructure and Construction before being awarded overall Project of the Year.
Delivered for Upper Hunter Shire Council in collaboration with Transport for NSW and NSW Public Works, the civil engineering project restored a critical transport corridor between the Upper Hunter and Liverpool Plains Shires that had been closed for nearly five years following a severe landslip. Working across a three-kilometre mountain pass, Daracon’s survey team developed custom machine-guidance networks and real-time design verification frameworks to navigate steep terrain, variable geology, and limited communications coverage.
The EISSI awards follow previous civil construction accolades for the project, including winning the $30 million to $75 million category at the CCF NSW Earth Awards earlier this year. Additionally, Daracon Group survey team member Joshua Grima was named a finalist in the Vocational Student of the Year category at the EISSI ceremony.
Managing Director of Daracon Group, Jon Mingay stated that the technical contributions of the surveying team were central to overcoming site challenges and preventing costly rework.
“To receive both the Infrastructure & Construction Project of the Year award and the Overall Project of the Year award is an exceptional achievement and a testament to the capability, innovation and dedication of our people,” Jon said.
“Coulsons Creek Road showcased the value survey can bring to a project beyond traditional boundaries. The team’s expertise helped shape key decisions, reduce rework and support the successful delivery of a highly complex regional infrastructure project. These awards are recognition of the positive impact the project continues to have on the communities that rely on this important road connection.”
IMAGE | Daracon Group secures top honours at 2026 NSW EISSI Awards for Coulsons Creek Road
