| 41 T T Kim Newth Fast-track progression with Waipa Civil Bradley Santy: “I enjoy challenging myself, and at Waipa Civil there’s always someone there to answer questions along the way.” Waipa Civil “I really love being a project manager as you get to see the whole process from start to end. A lot of the work is underground, so the public won’t see it, but we know what’s there and what a difference it makes.” REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Growing up with a draughtsman and a builder in his family, Bradley Santy thought he might become an architect one day, but his flair for mathematics and physics through high school led to him to choose engineering as his future career. Five years after graduating with a civil engineering degree from Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC) and starting work with Waipa Civil, Bradley is now very pleased with that choice, which has seen him progress a long way in a short time. During his degree, Bradley spent two summers working for Downer to gain the required hours of practical work experience. Then, in his last summer, he got a placement with Waipa Civil in Cambridge. “I thought the culture at Waipa Civil was pretty good – I really enjoyed it and got on well with everyone,” says Bradley. “After I graduated, I got in touch with them again to see if they would consider taking me on. Fortunately, they said ‘yes’, so I didn’t even have to look anywhere else.” Initially, Bradley was paired up with one of Waipa Civil’s project engineers and shadowed him for his first year to 18 months, while he learned how the business worked and gained site experience. “My first project, which commenced in April 2021, was in Tokoroa. Then I jumped to one of the major renewals upgrade programmes for a year and a half in Hamilton. I enjoy challenging myself, and at Waipa Civil there’s always someone there to answer questions along the way.” Currently, Bradley is running two water-renewal projects (wastewater and stormwater) in Hamilton, as well as a project in Tauranga – “and a couple of other little ones”. There are some 20-30 staff working on the sites he oversees. He says the two water projects need to be scoped first, putting cameras through old lines that can be up to 100 years old. These lines are often in poor condition and need to be replaced. “We have to submit our methodology and plan to the council, and once approved we replace these 100-year-old pipes with new ones, which we hope will be in the ground for a similar period of time into the future.” Two years ago, Waipa Civil invested in innovative, trenchless pipe-bursting equipment that is now the main tool for renewals work. “There’s minimal site disruption and it’s a lot more efficient. The technology out there today is amazing.” Bradley is now in the throes of stepping up to a more senior project-management role. “It involves managing high-level financials and resourcing across multiple projects with site engineers and supervisors under me. I really love being a project manager as you get to see the whole process from start to end. A lot of the work is underground, so the public won’t see it, but we know what’s there and what a difference it makes.” Bradley is confident that working with a medium-sized company like Waipa Civil has been the right choice. “Compared to some of my mates that I went through university with, I’ve been able to progress my career much more quickly – I feel like I’ve done pretty well so far.” PIT SAND AGGREGATES CLEAN FILL We supply Pit sand, aggregates, drainage metals. Dispose of clean fill and hardfill materials, also provide transport services from 2.5t to 33t all around the Waikato. K gapandfill.co.nz m 027 427 1043 k office@gapandfill.co.nz Proudly supporting Waipa Civil 107a Hautapu road, Cambridge Email: office@cominsplumbing.co.nz Phone: 07 823 7263 Web: www.cominsplumbing.co.nz Plumbing, Drainage & Gasfitting Specialist
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