Newcastle-based civil construction firm Daracon Group and its alliance partner Arenco have been shortlisted as finalists for the 2026 Civil Contractors Federation NSW Earth Awards. Both organisations are nominated in the $30 million to $75 million project category, representing two distinct major infrastructure assets delivered across New South Wales.
Daracon Group’s nomination centers on the complex reconstruction of Coulsons Creek Road near Merriwa, while Arenco has been recognised for its design and construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge Cycleway.
The finalist nomination extends Daracon’s multi-year track record at the state-level civil engineering awards, following consecutive category wins over the previous three years. In 2025, the group secured the top spot in the $30 million to $75 million bracket for its environmental asset remediation at the former Hydro Aluminium site in Kurri Kurri. This followed a 2024 victory in the $10 million to $30 million division for the Newcastle Ocean Baths upgrade, and a 2023 award for the Kooragang Island Waste Emplacement Facility.
This year’s project, the rehabilitation of the Coulsons Creek Road Merriwa link (MR358), was delivered for the Upper Hunter Shire Council. Backed by joint funding from the Australian and NSW governments, the emergency capital works followed catastrophic structural failures, deep pavement cracks, and landslides triggered by intense rainfall events in 2021.
Operating across highly volatile, steep geological terrain, Daracon’s civil engineering scope required massive retaining wall structures, specialised rockfall protection netting, extensive drainage systems, and the complete replacement of the low-level causeway at the Merriwa end.
Divisional Manager of Hunter Civil at Daracon, Daniel Pitcher noted that the mountain route serves as an essential logistics link for regional transport networks.
“We’re really proud to have restored this vital freight route to the region, and to be recognised by CCF NSW for that work is a remarkable outcome for our team,” Daniel said.
Arenco’s finalist project, the Sydney Harbour Bridge Cycleway, officially commissioned in January 2026, resolved a major transport bottleneck within metropolitan active transit lines. The engineering design replaced the bridge’s historic 55-step northern staircase with a 170-metre elevated architectural ramp.
The structure integrates heritage-matched granite sourced from the original Moruya quarry alongside 1,500 custom-cast bronze balustrades and embedded First Nations artwork acknowledging Gadigal and Cammeraygal Country.
Divisional Manager at Arenco, Angelo Stratikopoulos said delivering major capital works on historically sensitive civil infrastructure represents a significant operational benchmark.
“To deliver a project of this complexity on one of the world’s most iconic structures, and have it recognised at state level, is a great achievement for Arenco,” Angelo said.
“We send our best wishes to the Daracon team – may the best project win!”
The winners of the 2026 CCF NSW Earth Awards will be announced on 19 June at an industry presentation event at Ilumina in Sydney.
IMAGE | Daracon Group and alliance partner Arenco named finalists for state civil engineering awards
