For the last 47 years, Christchurch City Council staffer, Mark Noonan, has worked to create places and spaces for communities to live, work, play and thrive.
The council Project Manager has been honoured at the Property Council New Zealand’s South Island Property People Awards, taking home the Judges’ Choice and Long Service awards.
He was also part of the Te Kaha Team, made up of Christchurch City Council/Te Kaha Project Delivery, the Crown, Venues Ōtautahi, RCP, AECOM, BESIX Watpac, Populous, Warren & Mahoney, Mott MacDonald, Holmes, which won the Supreme Excellence Award and Best Team Award.
Mr Noonan (pictured) started at the Council as a quantity surveyor in 1979 before becoming a Project Manager 16 years later.
He has been involved in either the construction, or post-earthquake rebuild, of almost every Christchurch Recreation and Sport Centre, as well as libraries, the original Christchurch Convention Centre, and the Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū.
But the feather in his cap was being a project director for the biggest vertical capital construction project the Council has ever undertaken – One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha – delivering it ahead of schedule and under budget.
“Anyone who knows me will be aware that I am not the sort of person who likes to be in the limelight. I prefer to focus on the success of my teams rather than on myself,” Mr Noonan said.
“When I drive around Christchurch today, I don’t just see glass, steel and concrete – I see the buildings that I have been fortunate enough to help deliver, and the community spaces that families now enjoy.
“I can honestly say that Te Kaha certainly has been the most enjoyable project I have worked on because of the collaborative culture across the entire project team. We spent less time writing paperwork like ‘Requests for Information’, and more time talking to one another, solving problems together, and focusing on what was ‘best for the project’.”
“I have been fortunate throughout my career to work alongside and been supported by exceptional Elected Members, Chief Executives, Project Sponsors and Council colleagues, stakeholders, operators, consultants, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers. This award reflects their contribution every bit as much as mine,” Mr Noonan said.
Council Chief Executive, Bede Carran says the award reflects a career of high achievement and public service.
“Mark’s ability to calmly work through the inevitable challenges in a project, find and embrace innovative solutions, and relentlessly find the best outcomes for the community is both aspirational and inspirational,” said Mr Carran.
“It hasn’t mattered whether it’s laying a length of drainage pipe or delivering a world class stadium, Mark always kept the community front and centre of everything he does.
“The awards won by some of the projects Mark has delivered are testament to his dedication and commitment to innovation, and it’s wonderful to see him recognised as an individual in this case.”
