30 | T T Karen Phelps Retail development continues apace The new Countdown supermarket at Kokomea Village Centre in Taupo. Watts & Hughes Construction: Countdown South Taupo REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Off Grid Electrical is a team of 13, our core focus areas are commercial projects, solar power and air conditioning. Our values are workmanship, customer care and teamwork. We provide a high end finish to all jobs we undertake and believe that communication and hard work is key on any project to achieve the end result for the customer. We have the staff numbers and the skills required to complete any job on time and on budget. Projects recently completed (on time and to a high end finish): • The landing Taupo • New Airport terminal Taupo • Turangitukua Sports Facility Centre • Countdown Taupo South Proudly Associated with Watts & Hughes Construction Call 07 376 5195 www.offgridelectrical.nz Watts & Hughes Construction is working on the new retail development Kokomea Village in Taupo after completing a new Countdown supermarket there last year. Kokomea Village Centre is Taupo’s newest commercial hub, set within residential subdivision Kokomea Park. With a combined total area of over 18,500sqm the village centre will offer a mix of restaurants and cafes, retail and health and well-being stores. Watts & Hughes Construction is building Zone C and D and the car park. It is now working on the retail shops in Zone B. Watts & Hughes Construction project manger Alan Benjamin says the delivery of the Countdown project, which is the anchor tenant in the commercial hub, was assisted by an exceptional group of subcontractors and suppliers: “We had a really good mix who were part of the team and communication, and coordination was relevantly smooth running. I’d say it’s one of the best tidy and organised sites I’ve worked on for some time.” Watts & Hughes Construction negotiated this project with the developer Kokomea Village Centre Ltd to build the stage one car park and Countdown building, the latter under a design and build contract. Alan says that because Watts & Hughes Construction had completed numerous Countdown projects prior throughout New Zealand it was well versed in working to Countdown’s briefs and specifications. “We know their requirements inside out at the early stage of the design and build,” he says. “This means we are able to adapt to their needs and find solutions instead of problems.” The new 3675qsm store includes an extensive fresh food section, bakery, health foods section, cellar, dedicated online pick-up area and Countdown’s latest design features. Alan describes the project as more architectural in nature with features that tied it into the overall village theme such as exterior feature walls and walkways. Alan says the main complexity could have been Covid-19 but with 70-100 staff on site at the project peak it was not negatively impacted by the virus due to having the correct protocols to keep people safe. “We know their requirements inside out at the early stage of the design and build.This means we are able to adapt to their needs and find solutions instead of problems.” Supplies were ordered well in advance due to supply chain issues. GIB was ordered in February for delivery in August for example. While some materials are normally subcontractors procured, Watts & Hughes Construction took control of this aspect to de-risk the project. The project is just one of a number that Watts & Hughes has underway in New Zealand and especially in the Taupo region. It has also just completed a big distribution centre in Palmerston North, finished last year, and is currently working on a distribution centre in Christchurch. Watts & Hughes is a well-established company with offices in Auckland as well as Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington and Christchurch. Watts & Hughes Construction offers its services across a broad spectrum of construction sectors including civil, industrial, recreational, retail, commercial, institutional, residential, educational, marinas, government infrastructure, medical/health care and residential sub-divisions. Watts & Hughes Construction can provide a total service to clients, covering every aspect of construction at any level required. Services offered by the company include design and build, refurbishment, executive and financial management, project management, site contract management, pricing and estimating, subcontract and material evaluation.
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