SWCB’s projects received recognition from the Public Construction Golden Quality Award and achieved great success - Agency of Rural Development and Soil and Water Conservation, MOA

SWCB’s participation in the 14th Public Construction Golden Quality Award, held by the Executive Yuan, was a great success. Among many recommended projects, “The debris flow control engineering at the upper stream in the north of Hezhong Community” in Shioulin Township, Hualien County, received the Supreme Quality Award under the Water Resources category; “The fifth stage of the Larepag River’s watershed management and flood control” in Daren Township, Taitung County, won the Good Quality Award under the Water Resources category; “The second stage of the improvement project for the Guanshi Stream around the Anding Bridge” in Jhongpu Township, Chiayi County, is awarded the Qualified Project under the Water Resources category; and “The project of improving environment in the Neopu Mudstone Area Soil and Water Conservation Park” in Longci District, Tainan City, is awarded the Qualified Project under the Civil Engineering category.

“The debris flow control engineering at the upper stream in the north of Hezhong Community” received recognition from the Supreme Quality Award of the Public Construction Golden Award. The project in Hezhong Community, Shioulin Township, Hualien County, was actually part of the SWCB’s recovery efforts soon after the devastating Typhoon Saola in 2012. In seeking proper ways to dispose of flood debris, a 7:3 cyclopean concrete engineering method was applied, using the masses of rock that existed on site to build check dams, a method that reduced energy consumption and CO2 emissions during the process. The result was a reduced use of concrete of 70% and saving the total construction expenditures by up to TWD18 million. With the concerted efforts of SWCB staff members and community residents, huge stones became a defensive tool, protecting the lives and property of Hezhong Community residents and the safety of railways, roads and bridges in downstream areas. The project is one of the winners of the Supreme Quality Awards, which came as a boost for the SWCB staff members’ morale.

“The Fifth stage of the Larepag River’s watershed management and flood control” in Daren Township, Taitung County, used locally sourced stone materials for the construction of revetments and ground sills with reduced concrete use and better earthwork balance. The engineering method reduced the construction’s impact on the environment. The design of variable-width water routes could accommodate the changeable flow patterns of the river, reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions, and beautify the landscape.

The engineering method used in “The second stage of the improvement project for the Guanshi Stream around the Anding Bridge” in Zhongpu Township, Chiayi County, was a localized version of Japan’s branch block concrete engineering method for revetment construction. The method helped to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions as well as conserve the natural habitats. Materials were locally sourced. All of these contributed to the conservation of water and soil resources, sustainable ecology and the prevention of mudflows.

The Neopu Mudstone Area Soil and Water Conservation Park is located in Longxing Community, in Longci District, Tainan City. The Park is connected to all aspects in the community it belongs to, including the residents’ life, industrial production, ecology and landscape. Since Longxing Community’s rural regeneration project was approved in 2011, the improvement project has been implemented by stages each year to meet the community’s needs and to carry out various constructions in the Park. In addition to improving the natural environment of the Park’s badlands, the design of the Park incorporated elements of the rural landscape in order to help promote the community’s overall industry development and tourism. Every month, the Park attracts an average of more than 7,000 people as the main income source for community industries and guided tours.

SWCB Director-General Huang Ming-yao said that the Public Construction Golden Award is the highest ranking award for domestic public construction projects. He attributed the SWCB’s outstanding performance in the award for a successive three years to the SWCB team’s consistent practice of disaster prevention and ecological conservation. The entire process, from the design to construction phases, considered eco-friendliness and reduced on-site disturbance. The SWCB will follow the quality of those award-winning projects and improve the overall construction quality.

Supreme Quality Award: “The debris flow control engineering at the upper stream in the north of Hezhong Community” in Shioulin Township, Hualien County.

Qualified Project under the Civil Engineering category: “The project of improving environment in the Neopu Mudstone Area Soil and Water Conservation Park” in Longci District, Tainan City.

Good Quality Award under the Water Resources category: “The Fifth stage of the Larepag River’s watershed management and flood control” in Daren Township, Taitung County.