Business Central September 2021

30 | DEVELOPMENT Taranaki District Health Board: Project Maunga Project Maunga on track T T Karen Phelps E xcavators have moved in and construc- tion of Stage Two of Project Maunga has begun. Work has commenced on three sites – the new Renal Building, the Energy Cen- tre and the New East Wing Building (NEWB). Leighs Construction project director Daniel Tessier says the project is progressing well. Early contractor involvement saw Leighs Construction giving advice on a range of areas including buildability and methodology since August last year. Daniel says this allowed any potential issues to be addressed and solved early before work commenced on site. The building platform for the Renal Building, off David Street, is being prepared, with construction of the timber piles underway and floor framing, timber walls and roof trusses set to commence shortly. Daniel says the aim of the building is to tar- get a Net Zero Energy Certification, meaning that the total energy use over a year will be neutral. This will be achieved by reducing the energy consumption and utilising roof mount- ed solar panels to generate energy. The bulk earthworks have been completed for the Energy Centre and concrete works, precast panels and structure are about to commence. Enabling works for the New East Wing Building (NEWB) are also underway. This includes diverting all existing services around the site perimeter. This includes ancillary support systems for the new building such as power, water and sewage, before Leighs Construction can start building the foundations. Board (CFA) piles and bulk earthworks are about to commence. Daniel says planning and methodology has been the biggest part of the project to date. “We’re working in a live hospital environ- ment. We have to ensure all the hospital’s services can continue uninterrupted along with keeping everyone on site – staff, patients, and the general public – safe. With regards to the NEWB it’s a tight site and we have to be extremely careful because there are a lot of existing services in the ground.” He says the huge experience of Leighs Con- struction in completing large-scale complex projects, particularly in the medical field, has proved invaluable. Communication has also been key so every- one is working on the same page. “As an example the Energy Centre is located right next to the hospital helipad. So early on we engaged with the DHB and Rescue Tarana- ki to put in place protocols. So if a helicopter is coming in to land we stop working and don’t commence until it is safe to do so.” Communication has also of course extend- ed to keeping the public informed. For ex- ample a constructive and informative Project Maunga Stage Two hui saw local residents meet with Taranaki DHB and New Plymouth District Council representatives. At peak Leighs Construction will have a team of around 300 on the site. Inevitably in such a large project some disruption is certain but Daniel says that Leighs Construction is working hard to minimise this as much as possible. For example the Lorna Street en- trance onto the hospital campus is now closed permanently, and visitors to the site are being asked to please be aware of construction work and comply with any signage. A New Zealand owned and operated busi- ness Leighs Construction was started in 1995. Daniel says that the project demonstrates the capabilities of Leighs Construction to tackle large, complex projects. “It’s one of the largest hospital projects we’ve ever done and shows our ability to successfully deliver such projects. We are certainly very proud to be involved in delivering a first class health care facility for the people of Taranaki.” Leighs Construction has all the capabilities required to handle the complex project. Below the building platform for the Renal Building, off David Street, is being prepared, with construction of the timber piles underway. Proud to support the Taranaki District Health Board COMMUNICATIONS