Volume 32 | Issue 1 |February 2023 www.waterfordpress.co.nz Welcome back... Following a massive restoration project, Christchurch’s Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre is all set for a new era… T Page 03
2 | Contents 16| Game Changer The new Waimea Community Dam will secure water supply in the Nelson-Tasman region. 32| Pinot Pioneer Quartz Reef Wines has been a key player in the development of Central Otago’s Pinot Noir industry. 58| Winning Ways Landscape leader Morgan & Pollard enjoyed more success at the 2022 Landscapes of Distinction awards. 32 58 16 These conditions are prescribed for the sake of understanding between the Company and its clients. Advertising is charged for on the basis of space taken up using a standard tabloid page. Actual space may be reduced during the printing process but this will effect all advertisers equally so no credit will be given for any reduction in size due to processing. The Company reserves the right to alter, change or omit entirely any advertisement or article that it considers to be objectionable or which may contravene any law. 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Business South accepts no responsibilty for loss of photos or manuscripts. #businesssouth #yourstory www.waterfordpress.co.nz The Arts Centre in Christchurch......................... 03 EcoCentral............................................................. 04 Highlands Motorsport Park ................................ 05 Mitre 10 Mega Wanaka ....................................... 06 Site Weld NZ ........................................................ 08 Downer Otago ...................................................... 10 Westland District Council .................................... 12 Southland District Council .................................. 15 Waimea Water...................................................... 16 LandEscape Wanaka............................................ 18 Fulton Hogan Central Otago............................... 20 Juice Products NZ................................................. 24 Fonterra Studholme ............................................ 26 Talley’s Group Timaru ......................................... 29 Birdhurst Orchards.............................................. 30 Quartz Reef Wines ............................................... 32 Ravensdown ......................................................... 34 Balcrom Engineered Concrete ........................... 42 Concrete Unlimited.............................................. 44 RJ Civil Construction............................................. 45 CMT Group NZ...................................................... 46 Alliance Building & Asbestos .............................. 48 Fulcrum Equipment ............................................. 50 Switch Lighting ..................................................... 52 GK Fyfe The Master Painters .............................. 54 Des Scott Electrical............................................... 55 Earth and Stone ................................................... 56 Wainwright & Hickey ........................................... 57 Morgan & Pollard Landscapes ........................... 58 King House Removals Southland....................... 62 Riverton Engineering ........................................... 63 Wilson Contractors: ............................................ 64 Otherplaces ......................................................... 65 Westview............................................................... 66 Christchurch Property Group............................. 68 Cohesive Construction ........................................ 70 Timaru Construction............................................ 72 Fraemohs Homes................................................. 73 McHaffie Building ................................................. 74 Toitoi Holdings ..................................................... 76 Bayview Construction.......................................... 78 Nathan Coll Builders............................................ 79 Primevue Construction ....................................... 80 Down to Earth Building ....................................... 82 Gibb Building Wanaka ......................................... 83 Zeal Construction................................................. 84 Chatterton Builders ............................................. 86 MacGregor Brothers Building............................. 87 Sentinel Homes Nelson & Marlborough ........... 88 Home Factor ......................................................... 89 Little Place Ltd ..................................................... 90 Higher Ground Construction.............................. 91 Grace Builders ...................................................... 92 HPA Group ............................................................ 96 OUR PARTNERS: Christchurch Office 112 Wrights Road, Addington, Christchurch Phone 03-983 5500 PO Box 37 346 www.waterfordpress.co.nz Queenstown Office 70 Glenda Drive, Queenstown 9300 PO Box 2581, Wakatipu MANAGING DIRECTOR James Lynch james@waterfordpress.co.nz EDITORIAL Editor Nick Gormack nick@waterfordpress.co.nz Sub-editors Paul Mein, Randall Johnston Journalists Ange Davidson, Kelly Deeks, Hugh de Lacy, Russell Fredric, Rachel Graham, Richard Loader, Kim Newth, Sue Russell, Karen Phelps, Virginia Wright RESEARCH & MARKETING James Anderson, Sam Dart, Chris Graves, Megan Hawkins, Colin Morais, Annie Patrick, Chris Pearce, Danielle Percival, Adam Shirra, Leo Smith, Alasdair Thomson, Jane Watson sales@waterfordpress.co.nz PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT General Manager Luke Lynch luke@waterfordpress.co.nz Graphic Artists Connor Gosnell, Anton Gray, Francesca Hildawa Sophie McCleary, Liki Udam art@waterfordpress.co.nz CONTENT COORDINATORS Alissa Crosby, Ann-Marie Frentz OFFICE AND ACCOUNTS Helen Bourne accounts@waterfordpress.co.nz Jill Holland reception@waterfordpress.co.nz Lyn Barlow lyn@waterfordpress.co.nz
| 3 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre in Christchurch: Leighs Construction Rachel Graham Restored Arts Centre ready to thrive The extensive work to strengthen and modernise the site has left The Arts Centre in better shape than prior to the earthquakes. After more than 10 years of earthquake repairs the safety fences around Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre in Christchurch have finally come down. At the end of December the last of the fences were dismantled, and with the final landscaping and finishing touches being done in January the decade long restoration project is now complete. Te Matatiki Toi Ora in central Christchurch is made up of 23 buildings, 22 of which are heritage listed. The site is famous for its spectacular Gothic Revival style stone buildings, stained glass windows, and graceful grassy quads. In the February 2011 earthquake all of the buildings were damaged, and one collapsed. Soon after the long slow process of restoration got underway. Arts Centre Director, Philip Aldridge, says the insurance payout for the buildings was $168 million dollars, but the initial scope for the repair work came it at $290m. Philip says with the insurance payout, fundraising and careful decision making which reduced some costs, they have been able to get the work done on schedule and within budget. He says the work involved for the stonemasons and the engineers to repair and strengthen the earthquake-damaged buildings was complex and varied. “Each building is different and had to have slightly different treatments. The most expensive, and really the showpiece of The Arts Centre, is the Great Hall, which won an award from UNESCO. “If you walked in now, you wouldn’t know what has been done there. All the seismic engineering is hidden behind the walls. Where there was once stone, brick and rubble, there is now concrete and steel which is clad in stone and brick so that you would never know. It really is exquisite.” The extensive work to strengthen and modernise the site, while honouring the heritage of the buildings, has left The Arts Centre in better shape than prior to the earthquakes, says Philip. He says they were also able to restore some of the heritage features which had been lost in previous earthquakes over the last 100 years. “Over the years we’d lost gables, finials, chimneys, and things, and now all of those have been able to be replaced. When you lift your eyes up to see the roofs and the new slates and all the gables and finials - it’s an amazing array of architectural detail.” Philip says a huge range of trades people have contributed to the return of Christchurch’s Arts Centre back to its former glory, and he says their skills were truly spectacular. “We’ve had project managers, engineers and architects who are at the top of their game. Then the actual stonework which has been done by our own stonemasons is exquisitely beautiful. I have the highest regard for them as craftsmen artists.” He says while the future of the fabric of The Arts Centre is now better than ever the financial situation is still uncertain with no long-term funding from central or local government. The Arts Centre still has two Category One and one Category Two heritage buildings which they currently don’t have the money to restore. The Arts Centre is, however, again a home to a wide range of arts and artists, with art galleries, a dance studio, a cinema, performance spaces, workshops, artist’s studios and the Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities. A stunning new offering is the Observatory Hotel. Located where the Observatory Tower once stood as home to astronomy and physics, the hotel boasts 33 rooms, each curated with handpicked locally crafted furniture. Philip Aldridge says that after so many years of seeing the stonemasons working on the site it has been sad to see the last of them leaving. But he knows the fantastic work they have done will again allow The Arts Centre to be the thriving centre of the community. Passionate about our people, we strive for excellent project delivery every time. Proud project partners of the iconic and treasured Christchurch Arts Centre. Want to join our team? Visit our careers page for opportunities in Antarctica, Timaru, Christchurch, and Auckland. Creating a legacy of important buildings for our communities. MAKING CONSTRUCTION A BETTER PLACE WWW.LEIGHSCONSTRUCTION.CO.NZ We pride ourselves on Service & Reliability For all your scaffolding & propping requirements both Residential & Commercial PROUD TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE ARTS CENTRE OF CHRISTCHURCH
4 | REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT EcoCentral “We process between 150 tonnes and 200 tonnes per day of recyclable materials and can now process in one shift what the old plant was processing in two shifts per day when it was slowed down to meet the new standard.” Recycling facility upgrade The $16.8m investment includes eight hi-tech optical sorters that sort two-dimensional from three-dimensional material. Richard Loader Christchurch CCTO (Council Owned Trading Organisation) EcoCentral is in the commissioning phase of its upgraded EcoSort materials recycling facility (MRF) that is designed to meet the new export quality requirement for recycled materials. The materials processed by EcoSort come from the yellow curbside recycling bins throughout the Canterbury region. The $16.8 million investment includes eight hi-tech optical sorters from France, ballistic screens that sort two-dimensional from three-dimensional material, along with improved processes. The new MRF was designed, supplied and installed by ABP (Australian Bale Press), who are currently leading the commissioning phase, which is expected to be completed by Mid-January. Craig Downie, EcoCentral’s Chief Executive says the implementation project commenced March this year, and was specifically designed to meet or exceed the 0.5% global quality requirement established in 2018, and to future proof the recycling processing requirements for Canterbury. “Operational continuity was a project requirement during the upgrade to avoid landfilling. The final two stages required the MRF to be shut down for a month enabling ‘open heart’ surgery. “The middle of the MRF had to be removed, with all recycling being stored off-site, which is now being brought back and processed through the upgraded plant. “We process between 150 tonnes and 200 tonnes per day of recyclable materials and can now process in one shift what the old plant was processing in two shifts per day when it was slowed down to meet the new standard. The backlog is still being processed, but we will be back to one shift in January.” The key driver for the project was a significant shift in the global quality standard, primarily of paper-based recycling that was being exported. In 2018, China, which was the majority importer of recycled materials globally, changed its rules by lifting the quality standard of recycling to minimise wastage and environmental damage. They would no longer take recycled material that had more than 0.5% waste contamination. Previously the standard was up to 10% waste contamination. That change also influenced the global market. A MRF is designed to meet the global market by sorting co-mingled recycling into base commodities. So carboard gets extracted, paper gets extracted, different types of plastic get extracted, as do aluminium and glass. Those materials are then baled and exported, or processed locally. Contamination includes any material inconsistent with what the recycled material is supposed to be — wood for example. “When MRF’s were first built they were designed to meet the global standard of the day, which was 10% contamination,” explains Craig. “So, the MRFs were no longer fit for purpose and that forced global change pretty quickly across the world. When other countries could no longer export to China, they started to congest the markets that we exported to including Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, India, and then those markets lifted their quality standards as well.” In 2019, as an interim measure to enable compliance before a more automated and sophisticated system could be implemented, EcoCentral applied a slower and more manual process at its EcoSort MRF. This also relied on increased human input and was very expensive to maintain. “The new system has increased the throughput rate with capablity to automatically meet the new quality standard, without additional labour. Paper and cardboard is exported but as much as possible, we try to sell our plastic recycled materials to domestic processors. Any non-compliant plastics go to waste, but the volumes are quite low.” www.rubix.nz Proud to be part of the team delivering EcoCentral's upgraded recycling facilities Providing quality workmanship with a focus on design/build and service work. 021 980 635 dan@fixelectrical.co.nz Christchurch
| 5 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT 2022 Grand Business South Awards: Highlands Motorsport Park Ange Davidson Highlands – experience the exceptional Highlands Motorsport Park is synonymous with having a great experience in a unique environment that caters for all ages. It’s full speed ahead for Highlands, an internationally renowned tourism destination near Cromwell in Central Otago that has held the #1 spot on Trip Advisor as the region’s top destination since it opened nearly 10 years ago. While the 4.1 kilometre race circuit is host to marquee race events such as the NZ Endurance Championships and the Highlands six hour endurance race next November, the motorsport park is synonymous with having a great experience in a unique environment that caters for all ages. It’s a world class facility open 7 days a week with experiences to match. In the driving seat of the park’s rapid rise to ‘must do’ status is Chief Executive Officer, Josie Spillane whose outstanding leadership was recognised at the 2022 Grand Business South Awards, Excellence in Leadership category. Josie says she was surprised to be nominated, proud to be a finalist and shocked to win the award. “I was completely blown away to win. It’s remarkable what you can achieve when you have great people backing you in your corner. “I’ve been very fortunate to have a career where I’ve been privileged to be part of great teams and as time goes on, to be the team lead. I’ve been well supported by previous and current bosses who have been great mentors,” she says. “While it’s recognition for me, it’s a testament to our team and our owner, Tony Quinn who started something very special with Highlands.” Being a motorsport enthusiast is not a pre-requisite for enjoying Highlands which is why it appeals to a wide audience. Highlands has something for everyone - it may be getting behind the wheel of a V8 muscle car or strapping into the passenger seat of a Supercar Fast Dash to reach speeds of up to 225 km/ hr that draws you in, or it may be a family or corporate Go-Kart challenge around the 650 metre outdoor track. “We’re fortunate that there’s something for everybody at the park and we offer multiple ways to experience the international race circuit at speed. For many people though, it’s enjoying a glass of wine or a coffee at the café with friends,” says Josie. If speed is not your thing, there are penalty of no drive experiences. Take the time to wander and enjoy the clever car sculptures and great photo opportunities at the sculpture Park. Highlands is home to the National Motorsport Museum which includes the Young Gun Virtual Reality Room, kids’ playground and balance bikes, mini golf and more. The parks legendary Loo with a View!, has people from all parts of the world “experiencing a little beauty, while they do their duty”. Each of the toilets has one-way glass which gives guests a stunning view of the race-track and has a different theme and is instantly Instagramable. Locals Friday is an opportunity for people new to Cromwell to meet the ‘locals’, enjoy the unique environment and have a drink on the café deck overlooking the track, with Loch Ness Lake in the centre, and take in the amazing Central Otago high country views. Another fun event is the Track Laps Breakfast every third Sunday of the month where customers can follow behind the Highlands Taxi for a couple of controlled laps of the international race circuit in their own car before heading to the café for a magnificent breakfast. “It’s an exhilarating experience at Highlands, and there are some high speed experiences that will have you on the edge of your seat, but it’s also a great place to just come and spend a couple of hours, enjoying the other more lower adrenalin inducing activities! The park is all about bringing people joy and curating lasting memories,” laughs Josie. Josie is quite clear that she doesn’t race cars, nor is she a motorsport expert. “The last thing the motorsport community needed was another motorsport expert, but I do understand the business of motorsport and safety,” she says. “I surround myself with people who have strengths where I don’t and I’m not afraid to ask when I don’t understand something. “The success of Highlands and my success at the business awards are the sum of all of us working together and creating this amazing force of momentum”. Congratulations Josie from Highlands On winning Excellence in Leadership at the Grand South Business Awards. Exceptional work. www.aoteagroup.nz Proudly supporting HighlandsMotorsport Park Call us nowon 03 445 1374 Electrical • Communications • Industrial • Commercial • Domestic
6 | 2022 Grand Business South Awards: Mitre 10 Mega Wanaka Russell Fredric Wanaka store scoops retail award Mitre 10 Mega Wanaka received the Excellence in Retail award at the 2022 Grand Business South awards. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Mitre 10 Mega Wanaka general manager Mark Watson is extremely proud of the 130 staff who made a huge contribution to the business being recognised in the 2022 Grand Business South awards. Mitre 10 Mega Wanaka received the Excellence in Retail award at a gala dinner held in Dunedin on November 18. The awards are held biennially to celebrate business excellence and recognise innovation, creativity and success in the southern business sector. “Through incredibly busy times and through covid and everything else, it is the people that make the business,” Mark says. “We are very lucky we have good team members that are passionate about their community and passionate about their roles within the community and I think that shows in the customer experience of people who come through our doors. We are very proud of our team.” The award application process is very thorough and covered every aspect of the business’ operation. Because the business is “customer obsessed” and this success hinges on the staff, the investment in staff training and ensuring a high level of product knowledge is immense, Mark says. Like other Mitre 10 businesses around New Zealand, Mitre 10 Mega Wanaka is Kiwi owned and deeply rooted in the community. “Being part of the community is one of our strengths, in being both locally owned and invested in servicing and making the community stronger.” The existing store was completed late 2020 and significantly increased the footprint over the previous one. Planning the new 15,000 square metre site and building provided the opportunity to carefully consider its makeup in terms of where the spaces would be best allocated, and with significant areas dedicated to trade and garden, is a close reflection of both the economy and culture of the community. Among several strategic pillars was the desire to create a destination store that engenders interaction with people and products Consequently, the store features hubs where people can have hands-on learning experiences with products or for design ideas, while the inclusion of a café provides gathering place in a relaxing atmosphere, “rather than it being just a shopping experience”. “That was very much a strategy, to be a place of knowledge and education, to have our team supported and developed, but also to show the products in a way that inspires people to put in onto their homes and to live better and healthier.” The planning and investment have paid off and Mitre 10 Wanaka has been very fortunate through the covid pandemic as, despite supply chain issues, people spent on their homes and gardens instead of overseas travel. “Part of the way to manage the supply chain was to make sure we had good stock and the ability to grow and employ staff has been a little bit tricky. Overall though, it has been a very positive year.” Like most businesses, Mitre 10 has developed a strong sustainability focus. In 2020 the company formalised a programme to reduce its carbon footprint, focused on the use of energy, recycling, education and, through the introduction of a framework, Product Packaging Guidelines, to reduce unnecessary packaging from products. “Being part of the community is one of our strengths, in being both locally owned and invested in servicing and making the community stronger.” Mobile: 027 244 3931 3RD, Cromwell Ph: (03) 443 8756 Trusses - Posi Struts - Wall Frames - Flitch Beams Domestic and Commercial Endless possibilities. 0800 224 759 / sales@bbi.net.nz www.bbi.net.nz Plywood + Decking Solutions – bbi supply quality plywood and hardwood decking solutions to the New Zealand market including: bbi PlyBrace™ / RedLine® BlondeLine® / QuikDeck®
| 7 2022 Grand Business South Awards: Mitre 10 Mega Wanaka REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT The new store was completed late 2020 and significantly increased the footprint over the previous one. • Decking • Garden Sleepers • Custom Profiles • Posts-Rai ls-Beams • Weatherboards • T&G T&GV • Macrocarpa Internal • Finishing Timber P 03 234 8390 E office@pankhurstsawmilling.co.nz 225 Ward Road, Longwood RD1 Riverton 9881 www.pankhurstsawmilling.co.nz Specialising in Macrocarpa Oregon | Radiata Kakapuaka, Balclutha Ph 034182594 tom@hollowstimber.co.nz • Building Timbers • Decking • Fencing Materials • Posts & Strainers • Retaining Wall Timber • Nails & Screws • Plywood • Cedar Cladding • Thermally Modified Timber • Hardwood Decking • Interior Timbers 027 229 8565 2 Milward St, Washdyke wayne@heartlandprenail.co.nz Proudly supporting Mitre 10 Wanaka
8 | 2022 Grand Business South Awards: Site Weld NZ Ltd Richard Loader Site Weld at home with big players REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Being nominated as fiinalists in the 2022 Grand Business South Awards, alongside Farra Engineering and United Machinists stamps Site Weld NZ Ltd’s rightful place as a respected engineering practice in the Otago region. “It was really great to be nominated alongside two businesses that we highly respect,” says General Manager Stephanie Olsen, who co-founded Site Weld with her husband Adrian ten years ago. “It reaffirms that what we are doing as a local business is pretty special and that we are making a really nice product. On the night United Machinists took the award away, but it was wonderful to be part of the evening with these amazing businesses. “When you start out as a sole trader, as we did, and grow to forty-four staff, you still feel like a little business in Dunedin. Then people tell you that you’re actually a big player in the market, and you think, you know we actually are. So, it’s changing that mindset.” Having never entered the awards previously, the team at Site Weld felt the time was right to showcase what the business does, the diverse skills and talents of its experienced team, and that it is now an established part of Dunedin’s engineering landscape. “We entered a number of different award categories, but Excellence in Manufacturing was the one that we were Finalists in. “A lot of the products that we manufacture are for the mining sector and the specific product that we entered was a system that we designed and built for underground ventilation in underground mines, and is currently being used by OceanaGold in the Macraes and Waihi operations.” With a workshop in Dunedin, the vast majority of Site Weld’s work comes from the local area, but as the company’s reputation has expanded its geographic reach of operation has expanded into Otago and other South Island regions. “It has been a hard slog, but a really good one,” says Stephanie. “The business started just as a small general engineering business and slowly progressed with opportunities at the Macraes mine. “Our core customer sectors are the mining industry and heavy transport. We do a lot with the Councils and we have a lot of structural steel projects happening at the moment. “So, we have a real mix and a broad skill set. We always say nothing too big, nothing too small. Our smallest customer is the local Chinese takeaway who gets us to fix their fish and chip crates.” Site Weld’s diverse operations include stainless steel and heavy steel fabrication, a structural steel division and a machine shop equipped with state-of-the-art profile cutting machinery. Four service trucks continue to provide onsite servicing and the company is involved in a number of high-profile projects in and around Dunedin, including piling work at Dunedin Hospital. But it is Site Weld’s new business brand called ENEX that is generating great excitement within the Site Weld team. ENEX designs and delivers the manufactured products like the one entered into the Grand Business South Awards, and earning Site World its place as a finalist. “We will always want to service our core customers, but we’re very excited that manufacturing will feature strongly in our future. Future proofing our business might mean that we morph into ENEX and retain a Site Weld division. Hydrau l i cs | Pneumat i cs | Di agnos t i cs | Eng i neer i ng A local team repairing your plant and machinery at our workshop or onsite Great Service, Quality Products We are searching for our next team member. Work on Hydraulic, Engineering or mechanical challenges love solving problems and learning on the job. Give Glenn a call. 021 295 0084 Know Someone Looking For Work?
| 9 2022: Grand Business South Awards: Site Weld NZ Ltd Site Weld was a finalist in the 2022 Grand Business South Awards. Opposite page, Site Weld founders Stephanie and Adrian Olsen. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT “Our Vision is to be THE engineering brand — that is all about our people, our customers and our environment. “We have a lot of really experienced tradesmen and what underpins the business is that ‘can-do’ attitude that we can fix anyone’s engineering problems. We can find a solution, and that is the backbone to the business.” Proudly supporting Site Weld NZ 021 263 6936 www.careysbaymarine.co.nz Pile Driving • Wharves • Pontoons 44 Stone Street, Kenmure, Dunedin | 03 453 6650 | info@rietveld.co.nz www.rietveld.co.nz Electric Motors & Reduction Drives • Electrical Components • Hydraulics & Pneumatics • Transmission Sprockets & Chain • Steel & Non Ferrous Metals General Engineering Supplies • Plus much, much more! www.signsonfire.co.nz THE TEAM AT BETECH ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT SITE WELD NZ LTD 26 Harrow Street, Dunedin 9016 P 03 474 0612 E sales@betech.co.nz W betech.co.nz Distributors of: The best team and the best products for all your Bearings, Power Transmission, Welding and Engineering needs Your industry training partner turning talent into capability &RPSHWHQ] LV D GLYLVLRQ RI 7H 3ĬNHQJD competenz.org.nz “The business started just as a small general engineering business and slowly progressed with opportunities at the Macraes mine.”
10 | 2022 Grand Business South Awards: Downer - Otago Ange Davidson Award ‘massive boost for our team’ Downer Otago has taken out the top award in the Workplace Injury Prevention category at the 2022 Grand Business South Awards. “Our people know that they are making a difference and that there is value in what they do.” REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Downer takes work safety seriously, and with 10,000 employees across the country, it’s a big job. Downer Otago’s innovative and authentic approach to work safety has earned them accolades and the top award in the Workplace Injury Prevention category at the 2022 Grand Business South Awards. “The win has been a massive boost for our team and an opportunity to be publicly recognised for their hard work,” says Chris Jones, Otago Regional Manager. The award recognised Downer Otago’s monthly Regional Toolbox Meeting which has enabled its people to become fully involved in improving the region’s safety culture. Toolbox Meetings bring Downer’s 140 Otago team mates together to share kai and to work together to improve safety outcomes. To bolster engagement, the local leadership team developed a framework that promotes psychological safety for employees and challenges how leaders know if they’ve been successful in their safety engagement. “We want to take any fear out of reporting incidents so we can get the facts and learn from them,” says Chris. “We want our people to know that we’re listening, that we care, and that there is no negative response to what they’ve shared. We want to ensure our improvements and ideas come from our people and that they can hold leaders accountable along the way. “Caring for our people’s safety and wellbeing is our number 1 priority.” Downer has a well-developed workplace safety programme running called Stand in the Gap. The initiative empowers people to be a voice for safety and is incorporated into the Toolboxes to get people talking about specific safety issues and opportunities for improvement. Smaller interactive sessions are held to maximise engagement by addressing people’s hesitation to speak to a large group and develop confidence in sharing. Leaders use feedback from these sessions and, following a proven framework for collaboration, they base the content of the monthly Toolbox meeting on five questions: • How can we ensure people know they are valued? • How can we clarify where they stand and what’s coming next for them? • How can we provide them with opportunity to have input and choice? • How can we make them feel part of the team? • How can we ensure we are treating everyone fairly? “Magic happens when we follow this model and we truly engage with each other. Each month we ask our teams to answer an anonymous five question survey and we use this honest feedback to improve what we do,” believes Chris. “We get some easy wins, while some improvements take a bit longer. To ensure we remain accountable for these wins and improvements, we continuously rank our progress and share it at every toolbox. Most importantly we celebrate our successes by recognising and rewarding the efforts of our people through Downer’s Own’d Awards initiative,” he says. The regional Transport business employs around 140 people with many involved in maintaining the Coastal Otago State Highway network, a vast area from Lindis Pass through to Balclutha. It is the backbone of the region and a huge responsibility. “Everything we do has an impact on people’s journeys, for business, pleasure, picking up kids from school and everything in-between. “How we impact people’s lives and their dayto-day commute is what motivates us. Around 20,000 vehicles use the road network each day and rely on the Downer team to keep them safe. Our job is often invisible, well apart from the road cones!” laughs Chris. “Our people know that they are making a difference and that there is value in what they do. That helps to lift morale, engagement and, in turn, creates long lasting employees. “We’ve seen immediate improved results in our safety stats from using the Toolbox, and our focus is fully embedding these changes. We are developing a culture that doesn’t rely on a select few people but the whole team.” 0800 COM HIRE (0800 266 447) info@commercialhire.com www.commercialhire.co.nz DUNEDIN 23 Gow Street, Mosgiel, Dunedin Proudly supporting Downer Otago janine@mcdonough.co.nz 03 203 8245 Contact us for: Vegetation control • Concrete works • Trenching Thrusting • Excavation • Traffic Management Driveways • Civil Construction
| 11 2022 Grand Business South Awards: Downer - Otago Toolbox Meetings bring Downer’s Otago team mates together to improve safety outcomes. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT CivilWorks • Sub-divisions • Transport Demolition • Recycling • Siteworks www.hallbros.co.nz | 03 477 1141 03 659 0777 Equipment For Hire! www.fulcrum.nz Excavators & Attachments Skid Steers & Attachments Wheel Loaders Rollers & Compactors Graders Site Dumpers Pumps & Generators 150 Mornington Rd, Dunedin | hire@fulcrum.nz Civil Contractors - Dunedin 027 445 8570 glen.henderson@excav8limited.co.nz Specialists In: • Road Construction • Road Maintenance • Drainage • Earthworks • Aggregate Supply & Cartage • General Siteworks & Landscaping • Subdivisions & Driveways 0800 822 833 | www.southroads.co.nz
12 | Westland District Council Karen Phelps Flow on effects from flood repairs REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT A number of important projects in Westland have set up the region for a strong recovery post Covid-19, says chief executive of Westland District Council Simon Bastion. The projects have underpinned the economy of the area during a tough time, generating employment and providing flow-on effects to the district. The Fox Glacier remediation and Butlers Landfill projects are probably the most publicised nationally after torrential rainfall to page 14 and flooding in March 2019 saw the Council owned historical landfill near Fox Glacier spill into the Fox River, which in turn carried rubbish 21km downstream through Westland Tai Poutini National Park and into the Tasman Sea. Covid-19 Shovel Ready Funding saw rock wall protections constructed to protect the existing site and prevent further spillages and a clean up take place. Around 15,750 tonnes of waste was removed to Butlers Landfill along with numerous sweeps of the Fox River bed. A silver lining was that the project provided employment to Covid-19 impacted people over six months in an area hard-hit by the loss of tourism, says Simon. Nearly 1000 volunteers helped with the clean up, co-ordinated by the Department of Conservation between June and August and Simon says the assistance of the public was greatly appreciated. Phase two of the project saw the opening of a new cell at Butlers Landfill that will give the region another 15 years of average rubbish removal. It’s importance to the wider region has already been experienced after the flooding at Westport in July 2021 as the Westland District Council was able to assist neighbouring councils with their clean up, as Butlers Landfill is the only asset of its kind in the region. Other Shovel Ready funded projects include Cron Street Extension, an infrastructural project providing safe access to the existing Franz Josef Medical Centre, St John Ambulance station as well as the community meeting room. PROUD TO BE INVOLVED IN THE OLD CHRISTCHURCH ROAD WIDENING PROJECT 027 4310 461 OR 03 755 8448 admin@henryadams.co.nz JOSEPHS.CO.NZ PHOTO: DESTINATION WESTLAND LTD PEOPLE LED PROJECTS PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND QUANTITY SURVEYING PROUD TEAM SUPPORTING WESTLAND DISTRICT COUNCIL Around 15,000 tonnes of waste was removed from a historical landfill neat Fox Glacier, which spilled rubbish into the Tasman sea during flooding in March 2019. P 03 756 8305 admin@coastwidesurveys.co.nz Groundfloor, Como House, 51 Tancred Street, Hokitika Are you...? Are you buying a house? Are you building a house, garage or extension? Are you fencing your property? Are you wanting to subdivide land? Are you developing your dairy farm? Are you unsure about your boundaries? Proud to work with Westland District Council Give us a call to find out why you may need our services, five minutes on the phone now could save you a lot of heartache and money later.
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14 | Westland District Council REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Projects set up region for strong recovery from page 12 Completed in November 2021, Westland District Council transportation manager Karl Jackson says it also provides service connections to a proposed fire station, police station and Civil Defence as well as a possible emergency helicopter landing site. He says the Old Christchurch Road Seal Extension was another strategic project as it is a vital link to Hokitika that serves as an alternative Route when State Highway 73 is closed between Kumara and Okuku Reserve. Karl says it also serves as a popular tourist destination as it provides a key access point to the West Coast Wilderness Trail. The project saw a 12km section of the road sealed and parts widened eliminating dust and safety issues. Other seminal projects include Hokitika Airport Extension, which resulted in a fit for purpose facility for passengers to the region, and the Hokitika Pool upgrade. Funding from central Government has allowed for the completion of the first stages of the upgrade, which replaced core infrastructure. Stage two, which will start in June 2023, includes renovating the existing changing facilities and creating a new reception and entryway. Upgrades to the Hokitika Swimming Pool are being staged so the swimming pool is open during the summer months and closed during the winter for work to be done. Scott Baxendale, Westland District Council group manager district assets says managing the logistics of materials delays and contractors needing to come to the district during Covid-19 lockdowns was the main challenge. Erle Bencich, Westland District Council operations manager says it’s a credit to the wider team that the project has been so successful. Works will commence again in early June 2023. Stage three is subject to further external funding, and involves building an extension to the pool, to include a heated toddlers or learners swimming pool. Other projects underway include a brownfield development at Hokitika Racecourse and the Hokitika Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade due for completion in early 2026. Nearing completion is the earthquake strengthening of the Carnegie building, which houses Hokitika Museum. Other work on the West Coast that does not involve Council directly includes Heritage New Zealand’s upgrade of the Government House building and Ngāi Tahu’s new pounamu centre in Greymouth with similar centres proposed for Hokitika, Haast and Westport in the future. 26"-*5: *4 063 #64*/&44 41&$*"-*454 */ */%6453*"- &-&$53*$"- */4536.&/5"5*0/ "650."5*0/ %"*3: ] '00% #&7&3"(& ] 108&3 (&/&3"5*0/ ] 5*.#&3 130$&44*/( ] .*/*/( ] )";"3%064 "3&"4 ] 8"5&3 8"45& */'0!&*4&37*$&4 /; 888 &*4&37*$&4 /; Upgrades to the Hokitika Swimming Pool are being staged so the swimming pool is open during the summer months and closed during the winter for work to be done. “The projects have underpinned the economy of the area during a tough time....” Contact Brian Anderson Mechanical Engineering Consultants to Westland District Council Commercial, industrial, & domestic designers of energy e cient • Swimming Pool Systems • Ventilation & Air conditioning • Biomass, boiler plant & heating systems • Building and plant controls • Hot & cold water supply systems • Drainage b.anderson@brynmartin.co.nz | telephone 021 281 0008 Paul Tha Plumber Plumbing · Gasfitting · Drainlaying · Heating Franz Josef Glacier 021 141 3654 paul@ptplumber.nz Proud to be involvedwith Cron Street extension andwidening
| 15 Southland District Council REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Richard Loader Southland District Council is three years into a ten-year programme that will replace or renew 171 bridges within its region. The Southland District Council is three years into a ten-year programme that will replace or renew 171 bridges within its region. In total Southland has 1121 bridges made up of 842 waterway structures that meet the definition of a bridge, 239 stock underpass’ and 40 cycleway bridge. In perspective, that is about one bridge for every five kilometres of road. The majority of structures are on low volume rural roads and the area does not include Gore District, Invercargill City or any state highway. Hartley Hare, Strategic Manager Transport at Southland District Council, says many of the structures were built around the ‘50s, with construction material ranging from concrete, steel and timber. “For many years we have had a number of bridges with some sort of restriction in place in terms of weight, speed or a combination of both for heavy vehicle activity. “Two years ago, there were seventy-seven such bridges. In 2018/19 we had a look at the 10-year picture and identified 171 structures that potentially needed a reasonable degree of investment, and likely replacement because they were reaching the end of their useful lives. “If we took a 20-year picture, it indicated we had closer to 195 structures. There were also a number of bridges that had restrictions on them that were just reaching the point where maintenance could no longer be economically carried out. We have now closed some of those bridges.” In the 2019/20 financial year, the Council put a plan in place to replace the 171 structures over a ten-year period, at cost of $40 million – not allowing for inflation – funded 48% from Council rates and 52% from Waka Kotahi. “Over the past three years we have spent around $1.65M on repairs and maintenance. For most of the bridges that we are replacing, they are largely structures with timber components including decks and beams that are reaching the end of their useful lives. “We have made reasonable progress over the last three years with thirty bridges fully replaced. A further ten bridges have either been replaced with culverts, divested or washed away and not replaced. Five bridges have had major strengthening carried out.” Hartley says that by the end of the ten years, the Council expects to have worked through the majority of bridge replacements and renewals, but acknowledges that by then more bridges will have reached the end of their useful lives. “To an extent it is a never-ending programme. We have developed a matrix to assist prioritising the bridges that require replacement or repair. “We look at the age of the structure, what sorts of restrictions are already on the bridge and what alternative access is available, if any. We also look at whether it’s light or heavy traffic and its frequency of use. Those bridges that don’t have any alternative access are prioritised above bridges that have a short deter available.” Many of the structures identified for replacement or repair fall at the last mile in a journey, and without them farmers or forestry companies cannot get produce to market; for example milk to the factory or a forestry harvest to the mills. “Taking forestry as an example, fully loaded truck and trailer units cannot get over many Bridges a focus for council of these older structures, and the trucking company has to do multiple trips with partial loads. So, the state of these structures with existing limitations in place creates inefficiencies, which the work we are doing will resolve.” Calling for tenders on the open market, a range of civil contractors have been engaged to carry out the remedial work including SouthRoads, Fulton Hogan and Downer, with more specialised work being done by Concrete Structures. While some of the smaller 6 – 12 metres structures can take between 2 – 3 weeks to repair including removal of the old structure, larger structures can take several months to complete. 267 Tramway Road, Invercargill. Phone (03) 211 6000 - Email southland@fultonhogan.com • CONSTRUCTION • CIVIL • DRAINAGE • SUPPLY AGGREGATES • TRANSPORT & EXCAVATION • LANE GRADING & MAINTENANCE • LINE MARKING • ASPHALT & CHIPSEAL • SWEEPING • TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT • CCTV • HYDROVAC • ENGINEERING & WORKSHOP
16 | Waimea Water - Waimea Dam Development REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Richard Loader Waimea Dam gamechanger for area The Waimea Community Dam is expected to deliver an estimated $600-$900 million to the Nelson Tasman region in the first 25 years. Due to be commissioned in September this year, the Waimea Community Dam is a courageous gamechanger that will secure water supply in the Nelson Tasman region for the next one hundred plus years. Located on the Lee River in the Lee Valley, just southeast of Brightwater, the dam is one of the region’s most important infrastructure projects ever, and the first large dam to be built in New Zealand in 25 years. When completed, the reservoir created by the dam will contain approximately 13 million cubic metres/13 billion litres of water, and will be the first publicly funded large dam built in New Zealand since the Clyde Dam was completed in 1992. A public/private partnership between the Tasman District Council (TDC) and Waimea Irrigators Ltd (WIL), the project will deliver a diverse range of benefits including water security for the region and better river health and water quality for people, plants, fish and animals. “Water is New Zealand’s competitive advantage and our region will now be able to use it to support and grow our local economy and environment.” The dam is also expected to strengthen the local economy, delivering an estimated $600- $900 million to the Nelson Tasman region in the first 25 years, through the success of primary industries and the subsequent growth of associated secondary and tertiary industries. In 2018 Waimea Water Ltd (WWL) was established as a Council-Controlled Organisation (CCO) to manage the construction, operation and maintenance of the dam. The project began in March 2019, with site works commencing August 2019. Wellington consultancy Damwatch Engineering Ltd provide engineering for the dam and ensure it is constructed in accordance with the design. Their work is peer reviewed by GHD Engineering. Construction is being carried out as a joint venture by Fulton Hogan and Taylors Contracting Ltd. At 53 metres high, 220 metres long and six metres wide at the crest, the dam is a concrete faced rock-filled embankment, and has been designed to the latest and highest international design standards under New Zealand and International Dam Safety Guidelines. “This project is a significant scale for our region, and even our country,” says WWL CEO Mike Scott. “The embankment is constructed of nearly 500,000 cubic metres of rock, and, when finished, it will have close to 30,000 m3 of concrete and more than 2,000 tonnes of reinforcing steel.” The reservoir sits behind the dam and goes up the Lee Valley, holding enough water to cover a one in fifty-year drought. During dry periods, the dam’s stored water is released to maintain even flows in the Lee and lower Waimea rivers. The flowing rivers top up the Waimea aquifers to maintain water levels for extraction by horticultural and domestic water wells, reduce the risk of saltwater intrusion from the coast and maintain a healthy river habitat for plants and animals. The first structure to be built was the 160-metre-long diversion culvert, which diverted the river to create a dry building site for construction. Once the dam was completed, above the diversion culvert, in October 2022, the culvert was partially closed to install the temporary diversion pipework. When this temporary pipework is commissioned in February 2023, the culvert will be closed and the reservoir will commence filling. The dam and spillway are now sufficiently complete to function and accommodate floods. As the reservoir fills, mechanical and commissioning works are then expected to be completed in September 2023, one year and 0800 529 437 www.layher.co.nz Layher are proud to support Geeves Scaffolding Layher, New Zealand’s leading scaffold supplier, servicing New Zealand’s leading scaffolding companies. C M Y CM MY CY CMY K www.geeves.co.nz Phone 0800 GEEVES Proud users of A reliable and professional service: • Scaffolding access & edge protection • Temporary roofs and shrinkwrap • Event scaffolds (concerts/stages) Branches in Nelson, Christchurch, Timaru and Dunedin
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