40 | Downer NZ - Waikato Karen Phelps Downer makes its mark in the Waikato Downer executive general manager for transport Craig West. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Proud to have Supplied Concrete to Downer - Waikato BULK HAUL T R A N S P O R T L T D Rochelle 021 490 383 Mike 021 270 3035 Email bulkhaultransportltd@yahoo.com Truck Hire · Trailer Hire Metal · Sand · Fertilizer Garden Products Waikato has always been an important part of the Downer New Zealand portfolio. Downer brand Hawkins started in Hamilton and has now grown to be the largest vertical constructor in the country. Downer executive general manager for transport Craig West says it is a real source of pride for Downer to be completing a number of vital projects in the region. Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency is a large client and Downer holds the Central Waikato road maintenance contract and is consistently working on various projects including the award winning underpass and cycleway on State Highway 21 in Hamilton, which received a 2022 Civil Contractors New Zealand accolade for projects between $1 - $5 million. Written endorsements from Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency, business and community acknowledged the quality of Downers contribution to the project, he says. Downer is now working on a project to realign State Highway 30 and replace the Kōpaki rail overbridge south of Te Kuiti, with Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency. The new overbridge spanning the North Island Main Trunk line will be built alongside the existing timber one, with the bridge approaches on SH30 and the entrance to Kōpaki Road both realigned. Hamilton City Council is another large client. Recently Downer has been awarded a large construction project for Hamilton City Council building the next stage of the Peacocke development. This will include building two bridges and extending the road network. Around 1.3km of new arterial road will be built and there will be a 700m upgrade to the existing road. Two new bridges using Super T and Hollowcore bridge beams will be built along with other infrastructure such as footpaths, stormwater catchment and treatment, cycleways, utilities etc. offering safe alternative transport solutions to future residents. Downer is also partnering with Hamilton City Council in the Infrastructure Alliance to deliver its road maintenance contract. The alliance has been in place for about nine years and Craig says there have been lots of benefits, particularly around technology and cost efficiency, to assist maintaining a growing network within existing budgets. It’s not the only alliance Downer is a part of. Downer also partners with Waikato District Council in the Waikato District Alliance. The Downer facilities team, which includes Hawkins, is currently engaged in a lot of work in the region including building The Pā, at Waikato University, which will provide a new main entrance to the campus, a student hub (including food outlets and social learning spaces) and a new university marae. Other projects in the region Downer is working on include the ACC building in the centre of Hamilton via Hawkins with Tainui Group Holdings. Downer’s utilities business is currently working on the upgrade of the Pukete wastewater treatment plant, which services over 50,000 households and provides waste services to 4,000 commercial and industrial premises. The partnership between Downer, Hamilton City Council and Tainui Group Holdings has also led to the delivery of a programme called Road Ready. The fast-tracked project re-opened a section of Hamilton’s river path and provided work for more than 50 people after the COVID-19 lockdown. In 2020 it won the Infrastructure New Zealand Excellence in Social Impact Award. Funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, the programme saw workers complete the Council’s five-day Road Ready training programme aimed at preparing workers for careers in the construction sector and equipping them with transferrable skills they could use for life. Craig says it was gratifying to be a part of the programme and help assist the community. The pilot created 56 jobs in Hamilton and there have now been a number of programmes delivered around the country. “I think for our people and us it’s a real privilege and source of pride through the general construction work we do to be able to influence and improve the lives of those in our community. “This programme is just an extension of that. “Downer employs a significant workforce, which plays an important part in helping those communities to thrive, supporting them and their whanau, providing lifelong learning and career pathway opportunities for them.” “I think for our people and us it’s a real privilege and source of pride through the general construction work we do to be able to influence and improve the lives of those in our community.”
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=