Mr Ruprecht was a part of the water research labratory of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at University of NSW which took out the award.

The research team won the Environment and Heritage award at the recent Engineers Australia Sydney Engineering Excellence Awards.

The UNSW team was awarded for its excellence in engineering design with their Tomago Wetland Restoration Project, applying engineering solutions to an ecological problem.

The award recognised co-collaborators in the project, including the UNSW Australia's Water Research Laboratory, the NSW Department of Primary Industries and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

As a water research laboratory project engineer, Mr Ruprecht analysed the amount of water required to encourage saltmarsh and bird habitat following extensive on-ground studies of the water movements across the site at Newcastle.

This information was then used to design water control infrastructure and innovative monitoring techniques.

Engineering structures in place at Tomago Wetland in Hunter Wetlands National Park allow management of saltwater levels to sustain the wetland.

Jamie Ruprecht has been involved with the Tomago Wetlands project since he first started studying at UNSW in March, 2010.

Over the four years, the project has been a big part of the life of the now 26 year old engineer.

"It's one of those things, you can spend six months on it extensively but then you leave it for a few months," he said.

"It probably averages out to be one day a week and it's been a labour of love.

"It's different to a short term project and you do become attached to it because you're thinking a lot more about its future.

"It's like a builder, they want to know that the building will still be standing in five years, and with us it's about how the project will benefit the environment."

After four years of hard work, Mr Ruprecht said it felt fantastic for his team to be recognised.

"It's pretty exciting and it's always nice to be recognised and stand out amongst your peers," he said.

"Our team also won a National Heritage Award for Conservation last year, so to win two pretty big awards in a 12 month period is fantastic."

Observing his father Errol's profession helped to first spark his interest in the environment.

"My dad was an oyster farmer in Taree, so I always had the involvement in rivers and estuaries," he said.

"I listened to what my dad had to say about the water quality, so it was a natural step to enter the lab.

"It was always in the back of my mind, I didn't wake up at six and want to be involved with the environment.

"You see if Dad has had a hard year and you understand what that's about, and you delve into the issues affecting estuaries."

As the State winner, the Tomago Rehabilitation Project is now in the running for the National Engineering Australia Excellence Awards to be held at the Engineers Australia Convention in November.

Project collaborator Dr Will Glanmore said the project was a shining light for eco-engineering.

"The Tomago Wetlands project has become a world-leading example for how eco-engineering can provide adaptive management outcomes for sensitive environments with complex hydrologic issues," he said.

"It is fantastic to see an environmental project of this scale being recognised by the broader community."