78 | T T Karen Phelps Drainage and water is ‘what we live and breathe’ Contamination experts T T Hugh de Lacy Momentum Environmental INFRASTRUCTURE Pro-Civil Ensuring the soil in new developments isn’t contaminated with chemicals is the key focus of Christchurch-based consultant Momentum Environmental. With a staff of up to six working from homes bases, Momentum Environmental collects samples for laboratory testing and also operates a portable hand-held XRF device which, when rested on the soil surface, provides immediate results for the presence of heavy metals. The most common contaminants found are lead and arsenic, but there’s a range of other chemicals, including asbestos, that the company can identify. “We work with property developers who have to comply with the National Environment Standards on soil contamination, as well as people building houses, especially where there’s been a change of usage, for example from farmland to residential or industrial use,” says Nicola Peacock, the founder and owner of Momentum Environmental. Nicola has more than 30 years’ experience in the environmental engineering field, the latter half of it specialising in contaminated land. The company’s market area extends from Kaikoura to Oamaru, but is mostly centred on the wider Canterbury region. It also offers specialist assessments including bio-availability, a more complex science Pro-Civil is proud to be helping to build New Zealand’s infrastructure. “We aim to do drainage and water infrastructure better than anyone. It’s what we live and breathe,” says one of the company directors Josh Keogh. Pro-Civil was started by Josh and Dean Carey in 2021 and has since gone from strength to strength. A great deal of the company’s success can be attributed to the extensive experience brought by its team members with decades of experience in pipeline construction, maintenance and renewals projects at local, regional and national levels. Josh says that Pro-Civil and its team has established a reputation as specialists in drainage and water infrastructure projects. “At Pro-Civil we bring an almost unprecedented level of professionalism to how water infrastructure construction projects are undertaken. “This requires insight, expertise and a real passion for planning, programming, processes and reporting. In short, we are driven to do water differently, delivering pipeline infrastructure projects to the highest standards for clients and communities.” that involves extra testing, to estimate how much of a contaminant is taken up by the human body. The samples are tested by the nationwide service Hill Laboratory, and about the only other tool that Momentum Environmental staff use is the spade, though gas detectors and diggers can be hired as needed. And demand for their services is booming. “We’re flat out at the moment with the cost of disposal of contaminated soils being a lot more expensive than it was four or five years ago,” Nicola says. She cites the example of Christchurch’s Burwood landfill which, five years ago, charged $20/tonne to accept contaminated soil, but today charges $110/tonne. “As a result our clients are demanding more information about soil contamination at their sites so they can optimise the cost of disposal or investigate other more sustainable solutions. “The rate of large greenfield land development in the region appears to have slowed over the last year, but that’s not having any affect on demand for our services,” she says. The company was launched in 2013 as Malloch Environmental but was re-branded three years ago, and its focus is on providing timely and cost-effective solutions that allow developments to go ahead with the least delay. He says a key point of difference is taking pride in ‘doing it right’: “Simply put we do what we say we will and we make sure we’re easy deal with. We take pride in communicating effectively, looking after our people safely and doing the difficult projects.” The highly skilled Pro-Civil team combined with advanced technology enables the company to successfully complete projects across various sectors. The range of projects tackled spans large diameter pipe culvert construction, pump stations and concrete works, land stabilisation and erosion control, dewatering and trench shoring, site works and utilities installation for residential and commercial developments, large scale earthworks and polyethylene pipe welding and electrofusion welding. “Simply put we do what we say we will and we make sure we’re easy deal with. We take pride in communicating effectively, looking after our people safely and doing the difficult projects.” Resource management, planning and land development specialists. Proud to support Momentum Environmental Ltd 027 5332213 | www.astonconsultants.co.nz DRIVEWAYS • DEMOLITION • CARPARKS TENNIS COURTS ETC • DRAINAGE & TRENCHING www.paulsexcavation.co.nz NO JOB TOO BIG OR SMALL ALL WORK GUARANTEED PAUL’S EXCAVATION PH 03 325 7922 or 021 338 247 CENTRAL MACHINE HIRE ARE PLEASED TO PARTNER WITH THE TEAM AT PRO CIVIL AND PROVIDE EQUIPMENT AND TRUCKS FOR THEIR PROJECTS.
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