NZ Contractor 1709

NEW ZEALAND’S CIVIL CONTRACTING INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

S E P T E M B E R 2017

CAT paves the future for Citycare Civil INSIDE: Civil Contractors NZ 2017 conference – a southern experience MinEx’s Wayne Scott – bringing together ‘us’ and ‘them’ Underground tactics – City Rail Link Contract 2 project update Cleared for landing – Palmie’s ‘overnight’ runway revitalisation

$8.95

CONTENTS CONTRACTOR

30

INSIDE: Regulars 4 Editorial 6 Upfront 8 Contractors’ Diary 16 On the cover 54 Classic Machines 58 Motoring 60 Innovations 62 Civil Contractors NZ update 62 Advertisers index

Highlights / Features 18 CCNZ Conference

Opening address; in the PM’s words; NZTA update; highlights in photos.

24 Crane Association Conference

Wild weather and high spirits.

30 Profile: Wayne Scott

MinEx’s new chief executive talks about industry safety.

32 Underground tactics

ON THE COVER

City Rail Link update – contract 2.

38 Cleared for landing

Resurfacing Palmerston North Airport’s ageing runway.

Comment 46 Peter Silcock CCNZ 47 Hays Recruitment

42 Story of a small town upgrade

The new F-Series Cat AP600F paves the future for Citycare Civil.

See page 16

Malborough District Council invests in sewer infrastructure.

48 Wayne Scott MinEx 49 Kirk Hardy Drug Detection Agency 50 Brendon Cash & Tamzin Dempste

Kensington Swan

52 Rob Gaimster CCANZ / NZRMCA

18

24 SEPTEMBER 2017 3

CONTRACTOR EDITORIAL

Bitter winds, awards, skill shortages and websites Spring has arrived, a new construction season has begun, and, thankfully, the conference season has closed. Between our magazines we cover six industry conferences around the country and the furthest away this year was the CCNZ event in Dunedin. Trust me – that’s a lot of work!

I placed a hex on the weather in my last editoral by mentioning the nasty easterly wind Dunedin can be subjected to during its winter. And it blew for the whole week I was down there. Christ it was cold! Charles Fairbairn, Contractor sales manager, and myself made a dawn trip to the markets at the railway station on our last day, and were literally beaten back to our hotel by a wind with an edge as vicious as a skinning knife.

The conference itself was a good one, and we have published a few photos from the three-day event in this issue, along with coverage of the Prime Minister answering a few tricky questions from delegates, and the NZTA update, which is always a valuable contribution at this conference. The CCNZ/Hirepool Construction Excellence Awards night on the Friday, with its excellent PowerPoint presentation, was the highlight of the conference for me.

Congratulations to all award winners and congratulations to all of you who entered. As the editor of the ‘awards book’ I get to read all entries and it is a very impressive experience. If you would like a copy of this awards book, with summaries of all entries (including the Z Energy and Connexis awards) then please contact our office.

Discussion themes at the Dunedin conference included the skills shortage, compliance costs, training and procurement. All of these issues are CCNZ priorities. Your association has been working hard on improving procurement and is working with various groups for simple user friendly RFT documents; standards terms and conditions with minimum amendments; a well-defined pipeline of projects; and loading risk onto contractors.

CCNZ chief Peter Silcock says problems with current procurement systems include use of inappropriate contracting models eg, overuse of expensive design and build contracts, and of special conditions (which require expensive legal advice); and a lack of standardised prequalification and health and safety management systems.

While welcoming political promises on infrastructure investment, Peter says any incoming government needs to improve procurement systems. “Despite a recent surge in new projects, the country still has a significant infrastructure deficit following many decades of under-investment.

“As CCNZ has been saying for some time, current central and local government infrastructure procurement systems are wasteful and don’t make the best use of our limited resources,” he adds.

CCNZ is alongside Infrastructure NZ in calling for a fully-independent, specialist agency responsible for procurement.

“Such an agency would provide a much-needed national overview and expertise,” says Peter.

“This would make best use of the capacity and capability of the industry plus create confidence in future workflows. In turn, this will enable contractor firms to invest more in new technology, new plant and further developing their people. It will be a win-win-win for government agencies, contractors and the public.”

The results of the 2017 Construction Industry Survey – run by CCNZ in association with Teletrac Navman and Contractor magazine on critical issues facing our industry – were presented in Dunedin.

The results highlight labour and skill shortages, with the vast majority of participants saying they would recruit today if only suitable people were available, and that they need more staff over the next year. For the full survey results go to bit.ly/ConstructionIndustrySurveyResults.

Finally, on page 10 we promote our online publications as our online content expands. On our website you can view a colourful archive of published material, plus photo essays to keep you entertained, and popular apps and SaaS solutions to help you work more efficiently and safely.

Meantime – keep on shifting dirt for a better nation.

PUBLISHER Contrafed Publishing Co Ltd Suite 2.1, 93 Dominion Road, Mt Eden, Auckland PO Box 112357, Penrose, Auckland 1642 Phone: +64 9 636 5715 Fax: +64 9 636 5716 www.contrafed.co.nz EDITORIAL MANAGER Alan Titchall DDI: 09 636 5712 Mobile: 027 405 0338 Email: alan@contrafed.co.nz GENERAL MANAGER David Penny DDI: 09 636 5710 Mobile: 021 190 4078 Email: david@contrafed.co.nz REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS Mary Searle Bell, Richard Campbell, Hugh de Lacy, Cameron Officer, Richard Silcock.

ADVERTISING / SALES Charles Fairbairn DDI: 09 636 5724 Mobile: 021 411 890 Email: charles@contrafed.co.nz ADMIN / SUBSCRIPTIONS DDI: 09 636 5715 Email: admin@contrafed.co.nz PRODUCTION Design: TMA Design, 09 636 5713 Printing: PMP MAXUM

Contributions welcome Please contact the editor before sending them in.

Articles in Contractor are copyright and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the permission of the publisher.

Opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the shareholding organisations.

www.linkedin.com/NZcontractor @NZContractormag nz contractor magazine nz contractor magazine The official magazine of Civil Contractors NZ www.civilcontractors.co.nz The Aggregate & Quarry Association www.aqa.org.nz The New Zealand Heavy Haulage Association www.hha.org.nz The Crane Association of New Zealand www.cranes.org.nz Rural Contractors New Zealand www.ruralcontractors.org.nz

Alan Titchall Editorial Manager

The Ready Mixed Concrete Association www.nzrmca.org.nz

4 www.contractormag.co.nz

ISSN 0110-1382

Connexis www.connexis.org.nz

CAT® F-SERIES PAVERS

THE NEW STANDARD » INTEGRATED CAT GRADE CONTROL » IMPROVED CONTROLS. BETTER DISPLAYS » 70KW INTEGRATED GENERATOR SAVES TIME & FUEL » WIDE-WIDTH PAVING

YOUR GOUGH CAT MACHINE SALES TEAM - BY REGION

Northland Jimmy Brewin 021 860 074

Taranaki & Manawatu Carl Southee 021 981 850

Auckland North Raymond Beetge 027 559 0820

East Cape, Hawkes Bay & Wairarapa Heath Stewart 029 247 3929

Auckland Central & West Greg Vaughan 027 559 0346

Kapiti Coast & Wellington Carl Southee 021 981 850

Auckland South Bryce Mason 021 682 403 Waikato James West 029 299 8909

Nelson, Marlborough & West Coast Scott Bonnington 029 200 8382 Canterbury Matt Holloway 029 208 0423

Rotorua & Bay of Plenty Shayne Kennedy 029 200 7270

Otago Brent Duncan 029 222 4682

Central North Island Paul Roche 021 954 376

Southland Pete Shaw 021 277 6597

Branches Nationwide | Phone 0800 93 39 39 | GoughCat.co.nz |

CONTRACTOR UPFRONT Dear Ed

Looking for Dutch war hero…

My interest is in a man of Dutch descent who, as I understand, worked at the Pozzolan Plant at Ngakuru, near Rotorua in the early 1970s.

I don’t know in what capacity, but if someone can tell me a little about him, I will be eternally grateful. I have only recently read about his war service during which he was awarded the Dutch Gold Cross for exceptional bravery during the invasion of the Dutch East Indies.

At that time, Gus Winckel, 18 Squadron Netherlands East Indies Air Force, was engaged flying Dutch refugees from Java to Australia. Stopping in Broome to refuel, his aircraft was among 22 others caught by a surprise attack by nine Japanese Zeros, which started their attack on Broome’s Roebuck Bay. Gus had time to get his passengers to safety on the adjoining airfield, and then he removed one of the mounted machineguns and positioned himself in the long grass beside the runway and waited for the Japanese pilots to turn their attention to the airfield.

When visiting Broome for the 60th anniversary of the attack in 2002, Gus said, “And luckily one came very close to me, and I gave him a long burst. I shot him down. I wish I had shot a few more down. I hit another one which fell into the sea.”

Following that air raid he flew one more mission to Java and returned with 14 important refugees, and then was based out of Moruya, NSW, from where he flew patrols of eastern Australia. It was on one of these missions that Gus is credited with sinking a Japanese submarine. Today a statue of Gus stands in Moruya to remember the bravery of Gus and other airmen who flew in WW2.

Gus Winckel died on August 17th, 2013 from complications following a broken hip from a fall six weeks earlier, aged almost 101.

My reason for trying to find out about his time in Rotorua is because I knew him as a member of the local Air Force Association, but he never spoke about his wartime activities.

Now a book is to be written in conjunction with the RSA about the war exploits of residents, and I think Gus’ story is well worth telling.

All I need is some details of his work at Ngakuru and I am hoping one of your readers can help, please?

Regards, Reg Wellington 07 346 2922, email Poneke@ihug.co.nz.

Best of the energy sector Transpower, Venture Southland, Trustpower, ChargeNet, LZ, STOS, GNS Science, Flick Electric, Active Refrigeration and Alan Jenkins were the winners of the 2017 Deloitte Energy Excellence Awards this year.

Among the worthy winners, Alison Andrew, CEO of Transpower, won the inaugural ‘Women in Energy’ award, and Alan Jenkins (pictured), who is currently executive officer of the Energy Trusts of New Zealand, was singled out for his outstanding contribution to energy policy over 40 years.

In the past Alan has been a regular contributor to Contractor’s sister publication EnergyNZ and to EnergyNZ Perspectives.

Dear Ed

Re: Richard Campbell, Classic Machines I’ve been following Richard Campbell’s posts online about the Oliver OC18 crawler tractors. He says he didn’t know if any of these machines made it to this country.

I was recently talking to a man that owned a machinery museum (now closed) just south of Helensville and he said that an Oliver OC18 was used on the Kaimai rail tunnel job. He also thought that this particular machine went up north somewhere, but [whether] to work or just as a museum piece, he didn’t know. I don’t remember the guy’s name but I think it may have been McKenzie.

I believe that when he closed up at Helensville he relocated some of his machinery to Dargaville.

Regards, Merv Bayer

YRCO.CO.NZ

MAKE WAY FOR THE NEW.

New KATO Branded Excavators ‘Coming Soon’

Youngman Richardson & Co Ltd the New Zealand distributor for IHI construction equipment has confirmed that Kato Works Ltd has acquired the business interests of IHI Construction Machinery Ltd and will in future come under the KATO name worldwide.

6 www.contractormag.co.nz

Current IHI Branding

Honouring women in construction Winners of the third annual Hays NAWIC Excellence Awards recognised outstanding achievements women are making in our construction industry.

A commitment to outstanding health care design combined with excellent leadership skills saw Rachael Rush of Klein win the Professional Woman of the Year Award. Rachael’s ability to understand the complex nature of our healthcare and her desire to constantly add value to each project makes her a role model for women in construction. The judges were impressed with the specialist skills Rachael has developed while finding her niche in architecture.

Verena Maeder from Solid Earth took out Tradeswoman of the Year for her cutting-edge approach to leading the only commercial earth-building yard in New Zealand. Verena has worked with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) to develop earth building standards, along with contributing to the development of an improved energy efficient load bearing mud brick.

Sian France of Beca won the Outstanding Achievement in Design Award. Sian, a technical director specialising in hydro-geology, is noted for her work on the Waterview Connection project. She was involved in implementing a major design change that achieved a positive environmental outcome and significant cost savings for the project.

Described as “a quiet, yet powerful contributor and a strong advocate for women in construction”, Laura Clifford of Hawkins Construction won the Helen Tippett Award for actively promoting the participation of women in construction. Laura acts as a mentor to young women entering the industry through her contribution to He Toki ki te Rika, a Maori trade training scheme re-established after the earthquakes to ensure that workers of Maori descent could play an active role in the Canterbury rebuild.

Steph McLeod of Stantec NZ and Vikki Stephens of Beca were joint winners of the new Rising Star Award, which celebrates future leaders in construction.

After starting out as a project manager, Steph was promoted to commercial leader for water throughout New Zealand. The judges were impressed by Steph’s focus on effective communication as a key driver to delivering projects on time, while leading teams by example.

A knowledgeable leader in the field of mechanical engineering, Vikki has made her mark while working on complex projects such as Wellington Airport’s Control Tower.

The Excellence in Construction Services Award went to Sophie Lackey of Leighs Construction. Sophie has been instrumental in setting up effective policies and procedures as the company grew from 50 to 280 people.

Gillian Linton of Arvida won the Apprentice and Student Award (professional category) for her commitment to her role as an assistant construction project manager while studying towards a Bachelor of Construction at Massey University.

Emily Sutton of City Care won the Apprentice and Student Award (trades category) for her outstanding work as an apprentice digger operator. When Emily joined City Care as a pre-apprentice she watched digger operators onsite and thought, “I want to do that”. She now operates diggers all over Christchurch while studying towards a Certificate in Civil Infrastructure Trades.

Rachael Rush of Klein won the Professional Woman of the Year Award.

Laura Clifford of Hawkins Construction won the Helen Tippett Award for actively promoting the participation of women in construction.

Emily Sutton of City Care won the Apprentice and Student Award for her outstanding work as an apprentice digger operator.

SEPTEMBER 2017 7

CONTRACTOR UPFRONT

One up for mining moving on The mining industry is wrapped over the Environmental Protection Authority approval of Trans-Tasman Resources’ marine consent for its offshore ironsand mining proposal.

“This sends a strong signal to those looking to invest in the extractive sector that New Zealand is open for business,” says Straterra chief executive Chris Baker.

“Proposals must be supported by data and analysis that meets the high standards we expect, and the decision making committee’s rigorous and exhaustive process and subsequent decision is a very positive outcome for TTR, for the Taranaki region and for NZ.” The EEZ Act, under which the decision is made, is particularly cautious when it comes to uncertainty. The committee had to satisfy itself, on best available information, that effects can be well managed. Over 100 conditions have been imposed including a twoyear monitoring plan before mining can take place.

The iron contained in ironsands is an essential input into steel manufacturing, and steel is an essential input for growing economies, especially in neighbouring Asia.

Mining in New Zealand is a highly skilled and highly productive industry that makes significant regional and national economic contributions, adds Chris.

UPNEXT with Pacifecon Name Location

Wastewater

Estimated $$ value

Estimated start date

South Island

$13m

Late 2017

Sports facilities South Island

$10m

Subdivision

South Island

$20m

Late 2017

Streetscape

Auckland

$30m

Late 2017

Subdivision

Auckland

$15m

Late 2017

2017 Q3 tendering now

Inclusion of a project does not mean it will proceed to the scale and timeframe indicated above. It is, however, the best available picture at this point in time. Pacifecon’s building and construction information is constantly updated.

www.pacifecon.co.nz

Introducing Peter Benfell New Connexis chief executive Peter Benfell takes up his position early next month as the industry is predicted to need an additional 21,000 workers within civil construction, electricity supply, telecommunications and three waters over the next three years.

Peter’s experience in the infrastructure sector as the leader of the research team at Opus combined with his collaborative leadership style will bring real value to our employees, the organisation and benefits to our sector,” says Connexis board chair Frances Hague.

“His enthusiasm for people combined with his innovative approach will help shape our strategic direction and growth in a time of significant investment in our sector.”

Peter’s previous roles include director of Innovation and Research at Opus International Consultants for the past six years, where he led an R&D team of 50 and was responsible for research and innovation activities globally.

Prior to this Peter was general manager, Agriculture & Environment at AgResearch, leading a nationwide team of 300 scientists and technical staff.

He is a chemical and materials engineer with more than 30 years’ experience and has held general management roles in the private sector and government agencies.

CONTRACTORS’ DIARY 2017 Date

Event & Venue

Contact

8-9 Sep

EVWorldNZ. Vodafone Events Centre, Auckland

www.conferenz.co.nz/events/evworld-nz

13-15 Sep

Low Volume Roads Workshop. Trinity Wharf, Tauranga

bit.ly/REAAA_LowVolumeRoads

27-28 Sep

Facilities Integrate 2017, ASB Showgrounds, Auckland

www.facilitiesintegrate.nz/

26-27 Oct

Infrastructure New Zealand: Building Nations Symposium.

TSB Bank Arena, Wellington

www.infrastructure.org.nz/buildingnations

6-8 Nov

NZ Transport Agency & NZIHT 18th Annual Conf. Trinity Wharf, Tauranga

bit.ly/NZIHT_NZTA_Conference2017

Bauma China 2018, The Shanghai New International Expo Center (SNIEC)

www.bauma-china.com/

2018 27-30 Nov

Please send any contributions for Contractors’ Diary to alan@contrafed.co.nz, or phone 09 636 5710 8 www.contractormag.co.nz

Highly Rated.

Low Rate.

1.99% *

MORE AFFORDABLE THAN YOU THINK!

*Terms & Conditions apply.

Offer on selected Cat compact machines.

YOUR GOUGH CAT MACHINE SALES TEAM - BY REGION Northland Jimmy Brewin 021 860 074

Taranaki & Manawatu Carl Southee 021 981 850

Auckland North Raymond Beetge 027 559 0820

East Cape, Hawkes Bay & Wairarapa Heath Stewart 029 247 3929

Auckland Central & West Greg Vaughan 027 559 0346

Kapiti Coast & Wellington Carl Southee 021 981 850

Auckland South Bryce Mason 021 682 403

Nelson, Marlborough & West Coast Scott Bonnington 029 200 8382

Waikato James West 029 299 8909

Canterbury Matt Holloway 029 208 0423

Rotorua & Bay of Plenty Shayne Kennedy 029 200 7270

Otago Brent Duncan 029 222 4682

Central North Island Paul Roche 021 954 376

Southland Pete Shaw 021 277 6597

Branches Nationwide | Phone 0800 93 39 39 | GoughCat.co.nz |

CONTRACTOR UPFRONT

Contractor magazine online

www.contractormag.co.nz

Our website has been humming over the past month – and it’s not only local traffic. Daily views from the United States regularly exceed our domestic audience.

Typically the popular stories are feature articles we publish in our magazines and then publish online like August’s article on Samantha Gain, for example.

Samantha, the newly elected president of IPWEA NZ, is also manager of legal and procurement at the Greater Wellington Regional Council. And she happens to be the first female president in the group’s 108-year history. You can read her interview at: bit.ly/samantha_gain The website is a resource for ‘unique’ content too, picking up the slack when we can’t squeeze more pictures.

A perfect example are the many revealing photos taken at the AQA/IOQ and CCNZ conferences last month. Check out those feeble types folding under the pressure of having to find/steal/barter for the parts then assemble a wooden crane! bit.ly/conference_pics Our online audience is not just about our website. Published content feeds our @NZContractormag Twitter audience and our Facebook audience, and we have a YouTube channel with several

Accelerating success.

Reach more people - better results faster.

BULK INDUSTRIAL LAND CLOSE TO THE PORT PORTFOLIO SELL DOWN - JUST $55M² FOR SALE

PORTLINK INDUSTRIAL PARK - STAGES 7&8, WOOLSTON, CHRISTCHURCH LAND DEVELOPMENT

Selling well below book value - bulk lot

8.3858ha zoned Industrial General

Final stage (7&8) of Portlink Industrial Park

Established business park - top quality occupiers

6km from Lyttelton Port

Calling on astute developers & contractors

10 www.contractormag.co.nz

ChCh maintenance contracts Christchurch City Council has awarded contracts for $29 million of work a year to three contractors to manage road maintenance in the north, centre and south of the city.

The north contract went to City Care, covering Waimari, Fendalton, Harewood, Papanui, Innes, Burwood, Southshore and New Brighton. Higgins was successful for the southern area, extending to Riccarton, Hornby, Spreydon, Halswell, Cashmere, Heathcote and Linwood. Maintenance in the central city area will be done by HEB. The initial agreement is for three years and, depending on the results, the contracts may be extended to five years. The existing contract for Banks Peninsula is due to expire in 2020.

“The contractors have been through a rigorous process of open tender with a subsequent quality and price evaluation,” says City Services general manager David Adamson.

Black mudfish saved

Boundary lines are indicative only

colliers.co.nz/61802

hundred slideshows of images published over the past 12 years.

Recently Bill Hohepa contacted us via our Facebook page as he has filmed a new episode of Low Gear featuring Green & McCahill Contractors and he intends providing a link.

Everyone loves a classic machine!

Stories come and go, but the perennial favorite content strand is our monthly classic machine profile.

Richard Campbell continues to write a superb monthly column, and recognising his great knowledge about machines we have engaged him to act as an administrator on our Facebook page.

While our brand online grows, we’ll highlight new and popular online content, including photo essays and popular apps and SaaS solutions to help you work more efficiently and safely, in the upfront pages of this magazine.

So get online and enjoy!

Sam Staite 021 738 245 South Island Commercial Ltd Licensed under the REAA 2008

colliers.co.nz

Staff working on the Huntly section of the Waikato Expressway have used around 1300 native plants to protect an isolated pocket of at-risk black mudfish found in a farm drain.

Mudfish, native to N Z and South East Australia, are eel-like in appearance, and found in swampy lowland habitats such as wetlands.

The mudfish were found by the Fulton Hogan-HEB joint venture staff who are building the Huntly project. The team were carrying out a fish recovery programme and were about to clear out the drain when the discovery was made.

Black mudfish are found only in parts of the Waikato, Auckland and Northland and have a conservation status of “at risk – declining”.

They are unique because they can survive in wetlands during summer months by burying themselves in the mud.

UPFRONT CONTRACTOR

Penlink project moved forward

Concrete New Zealand is born

The building of the Penlink toll road from Whangaparaoa to Redvale has been brought forward into the current decade, according to an updated Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP) report, leaked to Labour’s Phil Twyford.

The building of Penlink was previously down for 2028–38 and originally involved four lanes to be built at a cost of around $390 million. The ATAP report is looking at construction of just two lanes, at a cost of $240 million, but futureproofed for widening later.

The Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP) report of September 2016 set out an agreed strategic approach for the development of Auckland’s transport system over the next 30 years, including an indicative $24 billion investment package for the 10 years from 2018. It also identified that funding in current central and local government statutory plans projected a $4 billion shortfall.

The Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NZRMCA) has consolidated with the Cement & Concrete Association, Precast New Zealand Inc, the New Zealand Concrete Society and New Zealand Concrete Masonry Association to form a new association called Concrete New Zealand Incorporated.

The separate interests will remain as sector groups under the new organisation. The NZRMCA will eventually dissolve within two years, but remains the ‘Ready Mixed Concrete Sector Group’ under Concrete New Zealand Inc. Although the launch of the new organisation was held at the end of August, its financial year began July 1.

Contacts for the new organisation are the same as for the NZRMCA: Rob Gaimster, chief executive; Level 4/70 The Terrace, Wellington 6011; PO Box 448, Wellington 6140; phone 04 499 8820.

Sydney corrosion conference The 2017 Corrosion & Prevention conference hosted by the Australasian Corrosion Association (ACA) will be held at the recently rebuilt International Convention Centre Sydney, November 12-15.

Technical streams will showcase the latest developments in corrosion prevention, management and mitigation. The broad themes of the technical seminars are coatings, concrete and asset management, the oil and gas and offshore industry and research.

Topics covered will range from buried urban pipeline protection to hands-on applications including advances in sensing & monitoring;

asset management; cathodic protection; concrete corrosion and repair; corrosion mechanisms, modelling and prediction; materials selection and design; and, protective coatings.

Professor Maria Forsyth will deliver the Thompson Memorial Lecture in 2017 detailing why chemistry is the best counterattack to control corrosion and extend the life of materials. The lecture commemorates the work of corrosion science pioneer, PF Thompson, and has been delivered every year at the ACA’s annual conference since 1951.

More information: www.acaconference.com.au

SEPTEMBER 2017 11

CONTRACTOR UPFRONT

National’s big rail spend

Youth programme success Jake Rouse (left – completing a site safety induction) first met Alistair McIntyre (left) when he was still at high school. Jake completed Alistair’s Youth into Industry Programme that he runs in high schools in the Whangarei district for students interested in a career in civil construction and extraction.

After completing the course, Jake obtained full time employment with Clements Contracting where he has since earned his B Grade manager’s certificate.

Clements Contracting had the contract for loading rock onto a barge that was then shipped down to help with the rebuild of Auckland’s Freyberg Wharf. As site supervisor, Jake was responsible for the site health and safety and smooth running of the operation on a daily basis. This also involved good communication and coordination with the operators of the diggers and trucks as well as the skipper of the barge.

Staff Vacancies CCNZ is looking for two Technical Managers.

The roles have a wide ranging and interesting scope and offer the opportunity to have a significant positive impact on the civil construction industry in New Zealand.

The roles are principally Wellington based and require people with experience in civil contracting or associated industries.

• Provide advice and information to members • Mentor and assist with the development of member companies • Work with members to develop and implement CCNZ policy positions and strategies • Develop submissions and represent, advocate and lobby for the civil construction industry • Represent CCNZ on industry bodies and working groups • Liaise with clients on behalf of members • Manage CCNZ’s Technical Committees • Manage CCNZ contractor self-governance programmes • Support the Executive Council, CEO and Regional Managers with technical advice.

For further information or applications email info@civilcontractors.co.nz Applications close on Monday 18 September, 2017

12 www.contractormag.co.nz

National is committing up to $267 million of investment over the next three years in the Auckland and Wellington commuter rail network.

The package includes the electrification of the Papakura to Pukekohe rail line, adding a third main line from Wiri to Westfield and double-tracking the Wellington commuter network between Trentham and Upper Hutt.

“In Auckland we will invest $130 million to electrify the track between Papakura and Pukekohe to support these important growth areas in the south and provides a more reliable and efficient service for commuters,” says Transport Minister Simon Bridges.

“Auckland’s population growth has meant more commuter trains using the rail network around Auckland and competing with the growing number of freight trains using this important corridor.

“We’re committing to invest $100 million for a third main line from Wiri to Westfield providing a dedicated freight line. This will increase the efficiency of this important corridor, allow for greater frequency, improve travel times and provide more reliability for commuters.

“We’ve worked closed with Council to come up with a long-term, fully costed plan to deliver the transport system Auckland needs over the next 30 years.

“We are also announcing a $37 million Wellington commuter package. This will further enhance the reliability of Wellington’s commuter rail network and builds on Budget 2017’s $98.4 million investment in Wellington’s commuter rail network.”

Consultation on NEC4 contracts Following the launch of the NEC4 suite of contracts in June, NEC is now looking to industry for feedback on the future of ‘collaborative working’, as it launches a consultation process to shape its new NEC4 Alliance Contract, designed to ‘unite’ project teams on a single collaborative contract.

“Working on a performance based contract – with shared risks, shared responsibilities and aligned objectives – the members of the Alliance work together as an integrated team, where an alliance board manages the alliance on behalf of the members,” says Ian Heaphy, NEC4 Contract board member.

“Any decisions of the alliance board need to be unanimous making this a truly collaborative approach.”

Consultation is open until November 30.

Meantime, NEC Contracts and Constructing Excellence in New Zealand is running its NEC Australasia Users’ Group Conference 2017 in Christchurch on October 12.

The NZ conference follows ones in London and Hong Kong and updates users of NEC Contracts.

This event is made up of a site visit and networking drinks on October 11, and a full-day conference October 12. The conference will be chaired by Patrick Cantillon, from Christchurch City Council. In the morning plenary session, delegates will get the chance to hear about the new suite of contracts and what has changed from NEC3.

They can then choose between two available streams: NEC3 and Redefining alliances in New Zealand.

The NEC3 stream will cover case studies on the use of the contracts in New Zealand, followed by a workshop session on the NEC3 Term Service Contract (TSC).

The ‘Re-defining alliances in New Zealand’ stream will look in detail at the new NEC4 Alliance Contract and it will examine how the industry can benefit from it.

CONTRACTOR UPFRONT

Mike Henderson thanks the clients, partners and friends gathered for the birthday celebration for being part of the RedBull success story. To his right is MC Steve Davis, leading livestock auctioneer.

Proud legacy – bright future RedBull Powder Company celebrated its 20-year legacy of innovation recently as the company continues to grow.

The RedBull team gathered 130 staff, customers and suppliers together at Bracu Pavilion in Bombay to celebrate the company’s 20th birthday.

In 1997, founders Peter Shapiro and Mike Henderson set out to offer something unique to the extraction industry: A fully integrated service, including drilling, manufacture, blasting and technical support. They also wanted to create a values-based company, with a strong identity and, in Peter’s words “build good relationships, and create a sense of belonging”.

RedBull is now a leading specialist drilling and blasting contractor that claims 65 percent of the local commercial explosives market.

“RedBull’s explosives produce most of the aggregate used on New Zealand roads, all the cement produced in the country, and about half of our gold production,” it says.

“We service over 120 North Island quarries, firing about 80 blasts throughout the North Island every month.”

North Island operations include manufacturing, drilling, blasting and technical support for over 120 quarry customers. The North Island emulsion explosives facility is at Kopako, near Auckland.

The South Island operation is based at Macraes Mine, where RedBull supplies the Open Pit and Frasers Underground mines with all explosive products. Bulk Emulsion (named RedStar Bulk Emulsion) is manufactured on the mine site.

RedBull manufactures Packaged Emulsion Explosives (named RedPak) from 25mm to 65mm diameter and varying lengths to suit applications.

RedBull recently signed a single supply contract to provide blast services for all nine GBC Winstone quarries across the North Island over the next three years.

Moving to a single supplier is a significant change for GBC Winstone (the country’s largest supplier of sand and aggregates).

“We selected RedBull as sole supplier based on their demonstrated savings, using their high-quality bulk emulsion, excellent service and their aligned safety, quality and risk management values,” says Mark McKenzie, general manager of GBC Winstone.

In terms of innovation, Redbull was among the first in the world to master the use of digital technology to control blast vibration in a mining environment, which is now an industry standard in high 14 www.contractormag.co.nz

sensitivity blasting worldwide.

RedBull is also one of only three manufacturers of packaged explosives in Australasia, and the only supplier here operating two bulk emulsion plants.

In 2013 the company secured global investment partner Yahua International of Chengdu, China. Over the last two years, Yahua has entered the Australian explosives market under Peter’s leadership, acquiring three companies to become a significant participant in the Australian quarry industry.

RedBull says two outstanding features of its 20-year legacy are the fact that 30 percent of the RedBull team have more than 10 years of service, and their safety record shows over 1100 days without a single lost time injury.

“The safety of the RedBull team and customers naturally comes first,” says Peter.

“Our record is a credit to everyone in our team, and our systems and the culture of ownership of safety.”

General manager Chris Pilmer says the company’s people are its legacy; “and we will continue to find and keep the best in the industry”.

“The future for RedBull is a really exciting one. We will continue our drive for innovation and excellence and we will grow our manufacturing for export markets. Importantly, we will also develop synergies with our new larger Australasian family of companies.”

RedBull founders Mike Henderson (left) and Peter Shapiro (right) with Yahua International’s board chairman, William Meng.

Facebook.com/MimicoLtd Youtube.com/user/MimicoLtd

CONTRACTOR ON THE COVER

CAT paves the future for Citycare Civil Offering paving crews an impressive array of updates, the new F-Series Cat AP600F paver has finally arrived in New Zealand, with multi-disciplined service provider Citycare Civil taking delivery of the first example to hit the tarmac. More than pure machine grunt though, Citycare Civil also wanted the peace-of-mind of comprehensive technical back-up from the distributor. By CAMERON OFFICER.

THE COUNTRY’S FIRST F-Series Cat paver

– the new AP600F – has recently been deployed with Christchurch-headquartered Citycare Civil.

The new Cat paver joins an extensive machine fleet, with Citycare recognised as one of New Zealand’s leading construction management and maintenance service providers, working within dozens of disparate environments, and in both urban and rural settings.

Grant Hopewell, Citycare’s Surfacing & Asphalt manager, says that a sound suite of safety equipment and technology onboard the paver was the highest priority in the development of the business case to invest in the Cat AP600F. “Health and safety is the absolute top priority for us with any mobile plant we add to our fleet. We need to know that the machine is safe to use, safe for our crews to work around, and features innovative solutions in this regard. The Cat paver ticked all these boxes for us,” he says.

Visibility is excellent from the AP600F driver’s cockpit, with dual independent operator stations (which can both extend out to overhang the frame) providing for a commanding view to every corner of the machine. Forward visibility is helped by a low-mounted cooling system, while the operator’s line-of-sight straight into the auger chamber is now completely unimpeded.

Cat has designed all machine controls and the operator seat to mitigate fatigue, with a fully adjustable angled console and pneumatic suspension taking the strain.

16 www.contractormag.co.nz

Machine functionality itself is kept simple and intuitive to use, with large symbols denoting different modes.

Also, alongside the paver, adjustment controls for operators working the screed are easily identifiable and simple to reach, meaning team members taking up positions outside the AP600F can be kept at a safe distance during manoeuvring.

For crew members both on and alongside the machine, the Cat AP600F’s top-mounted cooling system has been designed to direct hot mix fume surges, hot air, and fan noise away from the operators. And speaking of noise, thanks to clever Cat engine technology, both Eco mode and an Automatic Engine Speed Control system reduce the load on the engine when at idle, meaning the machine is quite simply a lot quieter to work around (as well as using less diesel over the course of a job).

“We take on a lot of project work across a wide area, so we obviously wanted a machine that would give our road crews exceptional material through-put,” continues Grant.

“But job site efficiencies don’t count for much if any of our Citycare team are exposed to a hazardous working environment. The Cat paver gives us the best of both in this regard; it’s a powerful machine with plenty of well thought-out safety measures onboard too.”

Grant says that other key factors considered when looking for a new paver were the robustness of both the machine and the distributor back-up offering.

“Cat and Goughs make for a pretty unbeatable team, if I’m honest,” he says.

“It does help that the distributor of the Cat AP600F is literally a couple of kilometres down the road from our main depot, but the back-up support we get from Gough Cat extends so much further than that.

“In fact, we have true 24/7 accessibility to their technical team, should we need any issue resolved, which is great. Pavers don’t tend to rack up long hours over the course of a year, but the hours it does do are very intensive, so we need to know it’s good to go when the hot mix is on its way to our guys, wherever they might be working.

“More than scheduled servicing and immediate reactive support, Gough Cat has also been fantastic at providing proactive training for our paving crews too. There are some innovative updates on this machine that the paver it has replaced didn’t feature, so training support from Goughs was invaluable to ensure that the first time the Cat was out on-site, everything went as smoothly as possible.”

Grant says that originally Citycare was considering a smaller paver to replace an older 12,000-hour machine on front-line paving duties. After consulting with Goughs and visiting the large-scale Caterpillar Distribution Centre in Melbourne to take a closeup look at the F-Series range, Grant and his team opted for the Cat AP600F as a Citycare fleet future-proofing measure.

“Like any corporate entity, Citycare is always looking for opportunities to increase capability and capacity. Here in Canterbury – and in various other parts of the country, where Citycare has regional bases – there is so much work on, we decided to step up to the larger model paver to ensure we won’t be hitting the ceiling as far as what the machine can give us back on the job site.”

James Lundy, Gough Cat’s industry sales manager BCP and Paving, says that the Cat AP600F has generated a lot of market interest since it was introduced as part of the Cat F-Series generational machine updates in 2016.

“It’s great to have these exceptional machines in New Zealand in time for the

busy summer contracting season ahead,” he says.

“A big feature worth noting on the new machine is the 70kW generator that drives the screed plate, which provides for a real step up in performance. But Cat has nipped and tucked and improved incrementally everywhere, so the AP600F really does offer a completely improved package from top to bottom.”

Operating costs and whole-of-life performance has been improved with the use of tougher components and better design ideas at the drawing board. Thicker conveyor chain guards, heavy-duty chains and stout conveyor bars give owners such as Citycare a visual reference to the uprated robustness of the AP600F, but details like the low-entry hopper design, which maintains a flat profile for smoother truck engagements in the field, also serves to increase the life of the machine.

Elsewhere, the paver’s augers and hydraulic mainframe extensions can be tailored to raise when lifting the screed

when in travel mode, helping prevent damage to the augers from curbs or manhole covers when moving around the job site. Cat’s standard assisted steer system provides for excellent manoeuvrability, with the machine’s oversize steering control system ensuring it is able to turn tidily within its own footprint; handy for tighter urban job sites.

The Cat AP600F also gives Citycare Civil’s paving crew flexibility in terms of working parameters. Depending on the size of the screed, this particular model’s maximum paving width can extend right out to 7.65 metres (with the optional Cat SE60 V screed). The AP600F offers a maximum paving depth of 305mm, with a 1300 tons per hour maximum material through-put capacity.

“We’ve got a brand-new machine that is capable of much more, backed up by a distributor we thoroughly trust to get us what we need wherever we’re working,” concludes Grant Hopewell.

“As a client, I don’t think we can ask for better than that.”

•

SEPTEMBER 2017 17

CONTRACTOR CCNZ CONFERENCE

Conference opens with tough messages CCNZ president Brian Warren opened the 2017 association conference in Dunedin last month.

Reporting by ALAN TITCHALL. “SMART CONTRACTING ISN’T just the sole responsibility

CCNZ president Brian Warren

18 www.contractormag.co.nz

of us as contractors, it also lies with the principles and we’ve been putting quite a bit of effort into trying to achieve – or stop – the bastardisation of standard documents, trying to get people to come to grips with one prequalification system and trying to get some theory and assessment of things through some of the tender evaluation processes.

“You don’t need me to tell you that we haven’t been very successful with this yet. It’s a long road and we have certainly got some people helping us with that, but we’re going to keep hammering away at it.

“It is a bit of a dream of mine if we can get to simplifying and achieving efficiency in that procurement process.

“Civil Trades is another one of my pet subjects. We’ve put a bit of effort into that, we’ve got a bit of traction, and we need to keep that going.

“It isn’t just somebody else’s job to train people. Everyone of us, every contractor needs to do it and get on board if we are going to stand a dog’s chance of getting anything like the 30,000 people into the workforce that we are told we need in the next five years.

“When you consider there’s only 45,000 or so of us in the industry at the moment then an extra 30,000 in the next five years is a heck of a lot of people. So there’s a fair bit of work to do there on that.

“The subcontract agreement – this is an opportunity from Kensington Swan. Get some friendly legal advice – you don’t often get friendly legal advice.

“We put a new subcontract agreement together, and it needs to be used now. So Kensington Swan are going to be here over the next couple of days, pitch on up to them, have a yarn and get using that document – it will help you at some stage.

“We’re about to launch our World Careers Promotion campaign and this is about trying to help us get people into the industry and actually tell those that aren’t involved what a nice place it is to be, and what a great opportunity for a career that we have and can offer. So, we’re about to launch that. It’s going to be a bit of an undertaking and we’re going to need some help right through the country to deliver a consistent message.

“You have a lot to listen to over the next couple of days.

What I will say though is make the conference worth your participation; don’t just be a spectator – interact. Being a spectator ain’t going to work, you get out what you put in. So just interact.”

In the PM’s words There was a big turnout of delegates to hear the presentation by Prime Minister Bill English. The subject turned ‘industry’ focused at question time. BY ALAN TITCHALL. The first question was from Caroline Boot from Plan A. “One of the most exciting things that our industry sees in your policies is your investment in infrastructure.

“However, one of the first subjects on the conference agenda was procurement and it happens to be my sweet spot as well.

“We see the MBIE and the Transport Agency both doing excellent work in procurement, but largely at a strategic level and pretty much every company in this room I’m sure would have a story to tell about inefficient procurement processes that are affecting our businesses and our ability to invest.

“So, my question, if it is a question, is what will the government do, assuming and hoping you are the government after September, to improve that procurement at a grassroots level?”

Prime Minister’s answer “Well, the short answer is ask Steven Joyce.

“I’ve now figured out what prime ministers do, they swan around the country taking credit from the work and finance minister.

“Look, the government procurement always needs to be subject to external testing and one of the problems of course is that if you’re in the process you’re somewhat reluctant to point out its efficiencies.

“We will succeed better as a country if we improve the ways which exist in some sectors with an ongoing discussion between industry and government about how to do it.

“I’m sure you’ll appreciate this – people doing it [procurement] are eternal monopolies. There will always be a Ministry of Education. They spent $5 billion over the past four or five years.

They are a massive procurement agency and at the same time as doing that we’ve got to try to upgrade them from a group of people who used to do policy to a serious infrastructure procurement [agency].

“So in that sense, like a number of others, corrections, justice, certainly

housing in New Zealand, it is still developing maturity.

“And we have a maturity index that’s now applied to all – that’s transparent and that’s picking them up, so it’s got a strong focus on lifting their performance.

But it’s got a long way to go.

“And a lot of that is just from a lack of understanding, because they don’t experience things like cost to capital; you know time is money, well the public service time is more money not less money. You take longer, you get more money basically.

“So you have to work at creating a forum where that discussion can be had.

Bearing in mind the problem that [they have] is probity, which in the public sector has to be pristine.

“In my experience, the trade off is how you have the conversation, but maintain the probity and we’re certainly willing – and I know Steven Joyce would say it if he was here – to build up that dialogue and create safe spaces where you can have those discussions.

“In a less mature sector often the public sector just doesn’t know what it doesn’t know. So [for] social housing we had to invent the transactions because they’d never done it in New Zealand.

And so it’s no wonder they’re a bit lumpy and a bit difficult.”

The second question was from Peter Silcock, of CCNZ. “We have got more infrastructure work on than ever before, and it’s certainly challenging for the industry in terms of encouraging more people to come into our industry.

“Two issues around this. One, how can you help us with that? And secondly, isn’t the more immediate option of solving some of these shortages through immigration?”

Prime Minister’s answer “The most important thing the government can do for you is get all of our young people from the start line, and the start line is essentially NCEA level 2.

Prime Minister, Bill English

“Now, in my opinion, it’s up to the industry to foster its own supply pipeline of talent and for everyone to expect that government does its job with positive education and that it funds the relevant parts of the systems that train them. I’m seeing a positive pattern around the country of industries showing some real long-term interest in that skills pipeline because they can now see they are going to need them and there’s enough sustainability to make it worth the investment.

“With respect to immigration and trying to find that balance, we want to make sure the Kiwis who can do the jobs do get them on one hand.

“On the other hand, there are thousands of new jobs a month we have to get the skills in. As I’ve explained to people who want to shut down immigration – we’ve just got to build the houses, otherwise they’re homeless.

“So, we have to have the people build the houses and if you cut immigration to 10,000 you can’t, you just won’t have them.

“So we have announced some changes recently which I’m sure you’re familiar with. We are open to the dialogue, but we don’t mind a bit of tension around it.

“That’s not our job, our job is to maintain the integrity of the borders of New Zealand. Firstly decide and have control of who comes in, who goes out, and match the skills of where we think the shortages are.

“Again, the government machine is getting used to much more interaction at a practical level with industry about this.

SEPTEMBER 2017 19

CONTRACTOR CCNZ CONFERENCE

“When it comes to things like bureaucratic process the best way to advance that is to show us actual examples.

“General whinging won’t help because you can’t fix that but if someone says, ‘this type of visa will take six months but actually you’ve done it in two’, then great we can work with that. Mike Woodhouse [MP] is here to take any complaints. He’s used to it.”

Question from Malcolm Abernethy: “Manawatu Gorge Road: What sort of plans do you have to try to come up with some sort of replacement – for example a tunnel, a new alignment somewhere or an improvement to Saddle Road. What are the options? What are you looking at?”

Prime Minister’s reply: “Well, Simon Bridges would be the guy who’s most on top of it, he’s Minister of Transport.

“It has been closed 18 months in the past and as far as I understand NZTA has taken over the Saddle route and will be responsible for its maintenance and upgrade because in the foreseeable future that’s the practical option.

“I’ve advised that other realignments are incredibly expensive and the Saddle route is rough, it’s less convenient, but it’s not that much longer.

“And there’s concerns with Woodville and Ashurst. Woodville is understandably worried about traffic bypassing. Ashurst is worried about it going through the town because it’s a nice viable town. So that’s the steps ahead, so I’d imagine there will be a significant upgrade on the Saddle route while there’s further work done on a more permanent solution.”

Malcolm Abernethy

20 www.contractormag.co.nz

Working better together Chris Hunt delivered the Transport Agency’s update at the Civil Contractors’ conference last month.

ALAN TITCHALL summarises his presentation.

TOMMY PARKER, general manager of the NZTA’s System Design and Delivery team, was scheduled to present the annual agency update to the CCNZ conference last month, but couldn’t make it. Chris Hunt, senior manager project delivery for NZTA, presented for him.

“It’s Tommy’s words, but I will put some of my flavour into it,” he told conference delegates as he explained the agency’s new vision of “great journeys to keep New Zealand moving”.

“Our customers and businesses want faster, easier and more personalised transport. So we’ve made changes in the Transport Agency, and we are transforming the organisation to make sure we can deliver on our customer expectations.

“We’ve refreshed our organisation strategy, designed a new operating model, and made changes in our organisation structure.

“While we’re changing, we’re also staying very focused on delivery. We don’t anticipate these changes having an impact on our ability to work effectively with you.

“In fact our transformation is about setting ourselves up to be able to work more effectively with all our stakeholders and partners.

“Some of you probably have a view that maybe it is changing the way we are working with you, but I think that’s potentially stemming from uncertainty within the agency as we move into our new operating model – this will settle down over the next few months or so.”

System design and delivery “The new System Design and Delivery Group replaces the old HNO many of you will be extremely familiar with.

“This group is charged with improving and maintaining the land transport system to effectively enable transport services across the whole transport system, not just highways.

“It’s made up of six teams, including the Operational Policy Planning and Performance team led by Kevin Reid. It’s about setting an operation direction, driving innovation, setting technical standards, providing governance, and measuring performance.

“The System Design team is being led by Brett Gliddon. This team will lead our whole system thinking. The team will play a major part in working with our stakeholders and partners on designing our system, public transport, highways, active modes such as walking and cycling, and local roads.

“The Programme Management Office is led by Tony Fisher. It’s charged with leading consistency of project delivery across New Zealand, and construction projects around the country or projects within the Transport Agency itself.

“The Procurement team is led by Cate Quinn with a focus on building on our current procurement practice. This team will also continue to innovate in alternative procurement models to drive efficiency and better value for money.

“The Project Delivery team is led by myself [Chris Hunt]. It’s all about delivering the work in conjunction with our project management office.

“So, given the growth that we need to go through, we’re actively recruiting across our System Design, Delivery and Project Management business units.

“Right now I have a recruitment team looking for 17 project managers and three portfolio managers. And talking to a few of you – you’re experiencing the same [recruitment] problem.

“Let’s stop spinning the wheel and rotating people through our organisations. We need to start developing our own people, as a collective.

“Ultimately the wheel stops spinning. From a Transport Agency perspective, if we are carrying too many vacancies, we can’t actually get on and programme the work that we need to do, which in turn impacts the level of work we can provide to suppliers.”

In response to how the industry can develop people for the future, Chris indicated there could be roles for other government agencies such as MBIE. “There are some projects around like Transmission Gully that have had some real success in working with MBIE and developing people for the future – people who will stay in the industry.”

Working with contractors Senior manager project delivery for NZTA, Chris Hunt.

“While there are no regional teams as such, we still have people located around the country to enable them to work more closely with our partners, suppliers and stakeholders.

“And finally our System Management team, led by Steve Mutton, manages our existing transport system and the team is split on a geographical basis and holds key relationships with councils.”

Chris said many of these staff involved in the new operating model for System Design and Delivery will be familiar to the industry.

“So it’s still the same people that you’re actually dealing with whether it’s procurement, delivery or system management.”

In his wrap up Chris said the Transport Agency recognises that to create a fully integrated transport system it needs to work with its partners, including contractors.

“We want to understand what outcomes and aspirations you have, so we can work alongside you to develop a shared view on how transport can support those wider outcomes.

“In our new way of working, Transport Agency people will be seeking to understand the challenges and opportunities you face both in terms of the transport system and how we can work better together.

“This means we will be interested in more than just the onroad transport outcomes. We want to work alongside you to do our bit in enabling the outcomes that you’re trying to achieve for your community and industry.”

Plenty of work coming up Chris’ PowerPoint presentation included draft figures on minor roading improvements and maintenance that are indicative of what will be submitted to the RTCs (Regional Transport Committees).

“There are many working parts to this, including the 201821 NLTP [National Land Transport Programme] process, which we’re currently working through.

“And it’s also subject to guidance given by the government’s final GPS [Government Policy Statement on Land Transport 2018] when that is released.

“So you’ll see there is plenty of work that is coming up. In the immediate future, the programme for this year is actually bigger than the programme for last year.

“Last year we were targeting just over $1.6 billion. We delivered just under $1.5 billion. This year we’re targeting just over $1.7 billion of work.”

Responding to a question from delegates whether the displayed figures cover a decade, Chris said no, as they will change in time as they involve both allocated and nonallocated projects.

At the welcome evening delegate teams were tasked with putting together wooden excavators which were donated to kindergartens.

SEPTEMBER 2017 21

CONTRACTOR CCNZ CONFERENCE

Award recipients and costumes from the Hirepool Construction Excellence Awards night and CablePrice (Scottish) themed dinner.

See more at bit.ly/conference_pics 22 www.contractormag.co.nz

We’ll keep you rollin’ along...

Hirepool offers a wide range of compaction and earthmoving equipment for your civil construction projects. Available anywhere in New Zealand, we’ll keep you rollin’ along…

hirepool.co.nz | 0800 15 15 15

CONTRACTOR CRANE ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE

Wild weather and high spirits A wet and wild Rotorua was host to this year’s Crane Association conference. By MARY SEARLE BELL ASSOCIATION CEO ROD AUTON kindly gave delegates a

heads up via email about the impending storm, advising that raincoats and umbrellas be included in the packing.

I can attest from experience that the umbrella served no purpose in the sideways downpour, except possibly to strengthen the arm muscles by trying to keep hold of it!

The foul weather on day one had no impact on the delegates’ spirits, however, and by day two, blue sky made the occasional appearance, making it possible to stroll around the outdoor exhibits where there were a variety of new cranes on display from various suppliers.

24 www.contractormag.co.nz

Indoors, the trade displays too were very good, and with lunches and breaks catered in this space, sponsors had many opportunities to chat with current and potential new customers.

Rod says the Crane Association continues to go from strength to strength, with consistent growth in its membership over the past three years. The conference was fully subscribed this year, and the awards dinner sold out.

Certainly, the vibe was a positive one – it seems there is plenty of work out there for crane operators in many parts of the country and plenty of fun to be had at the conference.

Shaken, not stirred TIM SMITH, owner of Smith Crane & Construction, spoke

about change – using his company to illustrate the challenges and demands faced by many Christchurch construction companies during and after the Canterbury earthquakes.

Prior to the earthquakes, Smith Crane & Construction employed around 150 people across the country, and was investigating options to expand offshore. However, things radically changed in September 2010, when the first quake hit.

The first duty was simply responding to the emergency – providing crane support where needed. Tim says the whole industry came together and put in a great team effort during the rescue phases of both big shakes.

Then came the demolition work, and rebuilding.

For Smith Cranes, this comprised a variety of different lifts, and both big and small jobs – from house lifts and special lifts of heritage buildings, piling and foundation work, precast concrete, civil works and work at the port, amongst others. Tim says the volume of concrete used in the Christchurch rebuild is staggering – peaking at 220,000 cubic metres per quarter in the summers of 2014-15 and 2015-16, about double the city’s highest production levels pre-quake.

Tim says the construction industry faced a variety of challenges in the years following – not only was the

Tim Smith.

work technically challenging, there were physical site challenges, technical challenges and logistical challenges such as simply getting around the damaged city. Then on top of that, there were ongoing shakes to deal with.

Another less obvious difficulty was management – Smith Crane & Construction’s staff ballooned to 250, and it was important to find the right people, with the necessary skills and experience. But Tim says health and safety was the number one challenge – with construction companies having to increase their resources and investment in this area significantly to ensure their staff and equipment, and the public, were kept safe at all times.

Smoking gun THE REGULATORY PANEL comprised Senior Sergeant Phil

Critchley from the CVST (Police Commercial Vehicle Safety Team, formerly the CVIU), Stuart Wright from WorkSafe, and Barry Wright, national structure manager with NZ Transport Agency. This session gave delegates the opportunity to ask the regulators frank questions – some of which were unanswerable.

The hot topic was the potential decriminalisation of cannabis and what that could mean for employers. As Phil said, if we allow people to smoke cannabis, then allow them to operate 50 to 60 tonne pieces of equipment, we’re setting ourselves up for a problem.

“I’ve seen people under the influence of cannabis and it’s no different to them being under the influence of alcohol,” he told delegates.

The difficulty with cannabis is that it stays in the system for much longer than alcohol, and employers find that employees are failing drug tests days after they’ve smoked the drug. The problem is also exacerbated by the fact the penalties for employers under the Health and Safety at Work Act are much greater than the fines for the person who’s actually under the influence of the drug. As one

Sergeant Phil Critchley.

delegate pointed out, “We’re on the same side as the police, yet we’re the ones being hit with the big fines.”

What to do about the problem was, of course, not solved in the session.

“Until the legislation comes out, it’s all just conjecture,” said Phil, urging the association to start talking about the problem and possible solutions among the membership.

SEPTEMBER 2017 25

CONTRACTOR CRANE ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE

Working with wind HAMISH SCOTT, project manager for wind at Meridian

Energy, gave an interesting presentation on the crane work the company undertakes on an ongoing basis as part of its maintenance programme.

Meridian has 201 turbines over “five-and-a-bit” wind farms – 29 turbines in the South Island and 172 in the North.

On paper, these machines have a life of 20 years, but this number is based on a European model that has the turbines operating around 30 hours a week. However, here we get a much higher rate of use – about 47 hours a week. As such, the turbines need reconditioning at around 13 years, rather than 20. In addition, there are regular maintenance checks for performance optimisation and repairs.

Originally, Meridian had contracts with a number of different crane companies for this work. But following the Pike River disaster, its board decided it felt exposed and opted for a single-source provider instead. This wind farm maintenance crane lift services contract was awarded to McLeod Cranes.

Wind farm work is complex at best. The very nature of the practice means there are few windless days on which to undertake maintenance work. Consequently, each job requires a lot of detailed planning, as well as contingency plans for when the wind shifts or increases.

This will only get trickier in the future as the likelihood of higher turbines looms, something Hamish is not enthusiastic about. Currently, Meridian’s highest towers stand at 80 metres and have a 22-tonne turbine. Taller models reach 110-120 metres and hold turbines weighing 50 tonnes.

The maintenance work that McLeods undertakes for Meridian includes rotor lifts. These require two cranes – one to lift the rotor and another to tilt it onto the horizontal.

Maintenance work on the 21-tonne gearboxes takes one crane but quite a bit of time – two days to prep the turbine, a six-hour lift, and a further three days to recommission the turbine.

Then there’s turbine cleaning, a high-risk job as it involves

Hamish Scott, Meridian Energy.

two people up in a cage. It’s another time-consuming task as the workers aren’t able to use waterblasters and instead do the cleaning with rags and an environmentally safe cleaning product.

Man cages are also used when repairing damaged blades as this is safer and faster than rope access methods, and the cages have higher wind limits.

In addition to turbine maintenance, Meridian is also undertaking significant repair and upgrading work on its access roads and hard stands, which Hamish says have been neglected. The company now has a structured maintenance programme which is seeing roads reinstated and widened, and hard stands strengthened to where they can take the full weight of a crane’s counterweight, regardless of what the lift plan requires.

“The importance is getting the crane to the site safely.”

An established brand with a new twist.

What was Simple Shelter is now even smarter.

MAKE A SMART CALL 0508 743 583 smartshelters.co.nz

26 www.contractormag.co.nz

Norman Kete and students.

Recognising crane excellence THE SAFETY ‘N ACTION team says it is very proud that

the quality of staff member Norman Kete’s teaching was recognised by industry leaders by way of the PTE Crane Trainer of the Year award at the Crane Association’s conference held in Rotorua.

Nick Bradshaw, national business manager for Safety ‘n Action, says it is good for PTEs, that their trainers and their methods are scrutinised and recognised.

“The emphasis is always on business owners and workers becoming compliant, but how they are trained is a major factor and recognition like Norman’s award will give greater confidence when deciding which training company to use for their health and safety programmes.”

The award has bowled Norman over, since it was only four years ago his dreams of becoming the best crane operator were over when an unexpected incident occurred, leaving him blind in one eye.

During his rehabilitation his CV ended up on the desk of operations manager Ayla Hutton.

“From the first look, we recognised that Norman had incredible potential, and so much to offer our customers.

Trying to convince Norman that we needed him was not easy – he rang back several times just to make sure it wasn’t a joke!”

From working on the frontline as a crane operator, to becoming Safety ‘n Action’s crane subject matter expert, Norman has helped to develop, enhance and deliver over 28 crane courses in the past year and his students achieve a 95 percent competency record. He believes this result is due to building confidence and being available to them even after the course.

Norman also thanks the Skills Organisation and Crane Association. “Awards and recognising achievements encourage trainers to strive to be the best and it also boosts the progress of safe work practices in the crane industry,” he iterates.

Crane Trainee of the Year: Henry Heta of Prolift Crane Hire, pictured receiving his trophy from Lance Riesterer of the Skills Organisation. The other training award winners were Lee Liddelow of HEB Construction (Crane Trainer of the Year), Norman Kete of Safety’n Action (PTE Trainer of the Year), and Rod Auton, CEO of the Crane Association (Crane Leader of the Year).

Self-Erecting Tower Cranes Short and long term hire with a lifting range from 6 tonne to 14 metres radius, and 1 tonne to 45 metres radius.

• Remote control operation • Cost effective mobilisation to site.

Suitable for: Lower rise buildings, light construction office blocks, high end residential housing and school facilities where there is a mixture of light weight precast, structural steel beams and timber truss to be lifted.

Capable of lifting up to 51 metres high.

Contact 09 277 2227

www.waikatoaucklandcranes.co.nz SEPTEMBER 2017 27

CONTRACTOR CRANE ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE

Tadano truck crane.

No permits required Mike Morris of All Crane Sales and

Service has a new offering from Tadano – a 30 tonne truck crane that is road legal with no permits required.

That means the Tadano TN35100 can travel on the motorway and any other Class 1 road, fully loaded with all its gear – blocks, chains, pads, etc.

The first one in the country was proudly on display (in the miserable weather) outside the conference venue. This Tadano has been purchased by McLeod Cranes, which is based in Mt Maunganui. It is an ideal crane for the company whose territory stretches up to East Cape and over to Coromandel, both of which are a mission to get heavy vehicle permits for, says Mike.

“Now they can jump in and go.”

The crane has a 30.5 metre boom plus fly, and a lifting capacity of 31.7 tonnes. It is mounted on an NZ spec, 8x4 Freightliner with air suspension and a Road Ranger gearbox. Mike says it’s a pleasure to drive.

“As for the crane, it has the Tadano simplicity and functionality,” he says.

“It’s an excellent entry-level crane for an operator coming on board.”

Mike says, that while there are other similar truck mounted cranes in the market, none of them are Class 1 legal.

“Although there were a few that came in in the 70s – 13 and 15 tonnes, about 10 of them, and I reckon eight of them are still working.”

Bill McIntosh addresses the audience after his company, McIntosh Cranes, was awarded Lift of the Year for its Open Country Tower Lift.

28 www.contractormag.co.nz

This year the Weighload Trophy was awarded to Ron Brown for his outstanding contribution to the Crane Association. Ron retired in 2015 and has volunteered to be the chair of the technical sub-committee for the 2016-17 period. He is pictured receiving the trophy from association president Tony Gibson.

The winner of UDC Project of the Year was Smith Crane & Construction, for the Midland Rail Bridge Project. Owner Tim Smith (left) receives the trophy from association CEO Rod Auton.

Life membership was awarded to Ron Brown (left), and Ian Roebuck – and Winston Martyn, who was unable to attend the conference this year.

CONTRACTOR PROFILE

Bringing together ‘us’ and ‘them’ The Mining Extractives Health and Safety Council’s (MinEx) new chief executive Wayne Scott says he’s a realist when it comes to industry safety compliance. RICHARD SILCOCK talks to him about current safety issues, the outlook for the future and what he will bring to the job.

WAYNE SCOTT WAS APPOINTED to the position at the beginning

of July, having moved from Australia where he was an inspector of mines for the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines – a position he held for eight and a half years.

A New Zealander, he grew up in Pukekohe and moved to Australia in the mid-80s working initially in civil construction as an accountant (he is a qualified chartered accountant). He got into extractives in the early 90s and prior to his inspectorate role spent some 20 years in various positions associated with quarrying (he is a certified practising quarry manager who holds Australian qualifications in extractives and risk management). He was also on the board of the AQA for nine years and president for two.

A people person, he says he is a realist and that his strengths lie in people management and development, safety procedures and training, and financial management.

“Over the past six weeks since starting this job I have been travelling around the country, meeting with key players in the industry and getting a grip on their respective health and safety (H&S) issues and challenges,” he says.

That sounds like a good way to start and as you say it has given you an understanding of what challenges lie ahead.

However, before we get onto that could you briefly describe your new role and what you hope to achieve?

Essentially my mission, and that of MinEx, is to be an effective voice for the mining, tunnelling and quarrying sector on H&S issues and to drive improvement in safety across the industry.

I am here to help managers and staff to recognise the importance of operating in a safe and competent manner and to assist them in setting up H&S management systems that are compliant with the new legislation.

In these travels what do you see as the most pressing H&S issues and are these any different to those in Queensland?

There are obviously some very large mines and quarries in Queensland, but fundamentally I have found there is very little difference between Queensland and New Zealand when it comes to H&S issues – particularly with the smaller operators.

While it is early days, I believe the biggest hurdle will be to convince some that H&S is an important component of their everyday business and both managers and staff need to take it seriously.

While the new H&S legislation may not have been well ‘marketed’ to the sector when government introduced it and is perhaps aimed more at underground mining, there have been some ‘knockers’ who see the extent of the regulations as unnecessary or over-the-top for quarrying.

30 www.contractormag.co.nz

The fact remains however, there have been fatalities in the workplace and there’s been no improvement since 2001 so we need to change the mindset of ‘she’ll be right’ and get greater compliance across the sector.

New Zealand is fortunate in that the new legislation reflects the best of what other countries have put in place, and I believe because the regulations are ‘risk based’ we now have a far better model.

How do you propose changing the ‘industry’ mindset and what will you bring to the role that will convince operators that compliance with the H&S legislation is important, given there is some apathy out there?

Well, first we need to focus on the potentially fatal and serious injury hazards and better engage with the whole industry. I want to get people thinking as one entity, with none of this ‘us and them’ mentality that appears to exist between mining and quarrying people.

After all, both extract material from the ground and as most mining in this country is now above ground there is a greater commonality.

As an industry we need to find a new and better way forward.

I don’t propose to throw H&S manuals at workers and expect them to read them.

That’s okay for the bigger players with H&S people on-staff who can mentor employees, but for the small operator with, say, less than 10 staff I am coming up with ways to support them by providing a more favourable hands-on training approach.

For example, by holding informal presentations in their ‘smoko’ room, by pointing out the basics and reasons for maintaining a safe workplace, encouraging people to look out for each other, and by encouraging two-way conversation and listening to ideas.

It’s about engaging with people, getting ‘buy-in’ with a softly-softly approach, not about ramming legislation into their heads. It is in the small mines and quarries that most incidents happen – many of which go unreported, so they will be my main target.

Would you like to see more emphasis being given to compliance certification?

I would certainly like to see more people gaining their Certificate of Competence (CoC). Of the roughly 2000 sites in the industry here, only some 400 are compliant with the CoC unit standard requirement, which in this type of industry is not good enough.

Perhaps there is a case for changing how this is run by moving to a more performance-based scenario.

WAYNE SAYS HE and his wife have come back here, not only for the job, but because “NZ is a far better place to live these days. It has retained a lovely innocence and lifestyle which we both enjoy.”

In his spare time Wayne blows a ‘mean’ alto-saxophone and says one of his favourite tunes is the classic ‘Us and Them’ from the Pink Floyd album, Dark Side of the Moon.

“Both mining and quarrying are similar in that they both extract material from the ground, so rather than having the ‘light side’ and a ‘dark side’ we need to end this mentality of ‘us and them’ and operate as one entity going forward sharing common issues and challenges.”

How do you respond to the statement: ‘Quarries are happy to have fit-for-purpose legislation but not what is being pushed by ex-Solid Energy consultants?’

I suspect we are back to the ‘us and them’ mentality and I acknowledge there are some difficulties around this and some issues to deal with – however, I don’t really see it as a problem.

We need to be looking to the future, not the past. We need to be prepared to share commonalities.

While I understand things may not have been always perfect in the past, as we move forward with the new legislation I will be encouraging operators and staff to discuss any problems with me or the team here at MinEx so that we can work together in identifying and resolving them.

Remember, I am here to assist and support the sector in making improvements to H&S safety management systems, making them more effective, relevant and supportive for all owners, managers and staff working in the sector.

I may not have all the answers in the short term but I can assure you I will do my best to understand the issue and provide guidance in complying with the legislation.

I am also here to assist government ensures our workplaces are safe places and to act as a conduit between the sector and the relevant government agencies so that they better understand our industry and our concerns. It is about being on the front foot.

There have been some concerns raised about quarry operators not being fairly represented on some boards, for example EIAG and within WorkSafe. MinEx itself has been

criticised as not being particularly effective in relation to quarrying.

I have heard that and I will be working to bring about changes in representation where appropriate. I am, after all, a quarry man at heart.

In moving around the country I found that in some areas people were unaware of MinEx, or were unsure of what we do, so I will be working to change that also, particularly targeting the small quarry operator and the alluvial gold mining fraternity and getting them on board.

There has been a review and some discussions around Straterra, MinEx, AQA and IOQNZ merging into one entity.

Can you comment on that and do you think it would be a good idea?

Yes, there has been some discussion around this following the review earlier this year and I think it would probably be a good thing.

I would not see it as a merger though, more the setting up of a new entity encompassing the roles of some of these organisations.

From a personal perspective, I operate out of the Straterra office in Wellington and share their administrative staff so would see a transition as a sensible move.

I don’t hold any aspirations of heading such an organisation though and believe there are others better suited to that role.

The big question is, however, can the extractives sector as a whole agree to work together through a single entity. I would like to think they can.

SEPTEMBER 2017 31

CONTRACTOR PROJECT

Excavator loading the trucks with soil from the trench. The smaller digger in the trench helps the excavator digging the trench. Part of the bulk excavation process is ensuring that the trench walls are stable and are not at risk of erosion or falling in.

32 www.contractormag.co.nz

UNDERGROUND TACTICS City Rail Link update – Contract 2 The Connectus JV team is delivering Contract 2 for City Rail Link, which represents about 10 percent of the 3.45 kilometre length of the twin-tunnel underground rail link in central Auckland.

CONTRACT 2 INVOLVES the construction of twin tunnels within the Albert Street road corridor from Customs Street West to Wyndham Street, together with a new stormwater line from Swanson Street to Wellesley Street, and a large number of underground utility works, involving multiple network utility operators such as Vector, Vodafone, Chorus and Watercare.

From late 2015 to mid-July 2017, Connectus – the McConnell Dowell and Downer joint venture – has prepared for excavation of the City Rail Link’s trench and rail tunnels.

Working in the midst of New Zealand’s busiest city, the Connectus team commenced bulk excavation on Albert Street on July 17. They are digging to a depth of 18 metres at the deepest point (see photo), about the same height as a five-storey building.

The bulk excavation started from the southern end at Wyndham Street and will progress towards Customs Street.

The excavation at the southern end will be completed late October while the northern end is expected to be completed mid-next year.

SEPTEMBER 2017 33

PHOTOS: CONNECTUS

CONTRACTOR PROJECT

Above: The Victoria Shaft.

The Swanson Street shaft was completed and reinstated on June 2. The TBM, affectionately named “Valerie” (after NZ’s world champion shotputter, Dame Valerie Adams), has completed a new two-metre diameter stormwater pipe between Wellesley and Swanson streets.

34 www.contractormag.co.nz

To build the underground rail tunnels up Albert Street from Customs Street to Wyndham Street, a 13-metre wide by 18-metre deep trench is excavated from the surface. The method used to excavate the trench is called ‘cut and cover’ (see diagram on next page). The main reason for using the cut and cover method over a tunnel boring machine (TBM) is that the space along Albert Street is too shallow for a TBM and a number of underground utilities are running down the length.

Pre-bulk excavation works From Wyndham to Customs streets, the top 1.5 metres of the road is removed and struts are installed on the eastern and western side. The struts prop the trench walls up as Connectus excavates down to the tunnel box level.

On the eastern side, concrete panels are laid to form a construction traffic deck for trucks and excavators to drive along the trench. The western half of the trench is left open in order to remove spoil from the

Right: “The current work teams are dealing with a lot of different factors from working in one of the busiest Auckland streets, existing services in the trench, and the traffic island in the middle of Custom Street,” says Connectus project superintendent, Kerry Phillips.

Below: The method used to excavate the trench is called ‘cut and cover’.

The main reason for using the cut and cover method over a tunnel boring machine (TBM) is that the space along Albert Street is too shallow for a TBM and a number of underground utilities are running down the length.

trench via the eastern construction deck for the deeper excavation.

The section from Wyndham to Swanson Street was completed by June 26.

The section from Swanson to Customs Street started on July 17 and is expected to be completed in late October 2017.

There are about 40 staff working on site and 30 people working in the office. This will increase to around 60 people on site by October 2017, when Connectus starts preparing the construction of the tunnel boxes.

The deep excavation process A 20-tonne excavator is located on the deck and excavates down to approximately three metres. A smaller 1.5 tonne digger is lowered into the trench to dig sections that the 20-tonne digger cannot reach from the deck. A bulldozer also works in the trench to move soil to areas where the bigger excavator, located on the construction deck, can remove it. When the excavation is down to approximately five metres, a long-reach excavator will replace the standard 20-tonne

Above: Called “shotcreting”, concrete is sprayed on the walls to a height of about 1.5 metres to reinforce and stabilise the trench walls and limit water infiltration.

SEPTEMBER 2017 35

CONTRACTOR PROJECT

Around 250-400 cubic metres of soil is removed every day from the trench, and a total of 77,000 cubic metres will be removed by the end of this project.

This volume is equivalent to almost 31 Olympic swimming pools. This soil goes to the old Three Kings quarry to help with construction of a large new housing subdivision.

The excavation started from the southern end at Wyndham Street and will progress towards Customs Street. The excavation at the other end will be completed late October while the northern end is expected to be completed mid next year.

36 www.contractormag.co.nz

excavator and the 1.5-tonne digger will be replaced by a 5-10 tonne excavator. The long reach will be able to excavate down to 10 to 12 metres.

Around 250-400 cubic metres of soil is removed every day from the trench, and a total of 77,000 cubic metres will be removed by the end of this project. This volume is equivalent to almost 31 Olympic swimming pools. This soil goes to the old Three Kings quarry to help with construction of a large new housing subdivision (for more information go to: www.threekingsquarry.co.nz).

In summary, the bulk excavation works follow in behind the top 1.5-metre

excavation. Part of the bulk excavation process is ensuring that the trench walls are stable and are not at risk of erosion or falling in. This is achieved by using a technique called “shotcreting”. Concrete is sprayed on the walls to a height of about 1.5 metres to reinforce and stabilise the trench walls and limit water infiltration.

The Swanson Street shaft was completed and reinstated on June 2. The TBM, affectionately named “Valerie” (after NZ’s world champion shotputter, Dame Valerie Adams), has completed a new twometre diameter stormwater pipe between Wellesley and Swanson streets.

CONTRACTOR PROJECT

A Wirtgen milling machine removing the old asphalt.

38 www.contractormag.co.nz

CLEARED FOR LANDING

After 13 nights resurfacing Palmerston North Airport’s ageing runway, it was cleared for aircraft landings.

RICHARD SILCOCK takes a look at this award-winning project.

WHAT COULD HAVE been seen to be a straightforward pavement resurfacing project, was in fact a project that required the upmost care, dedication, adherence to strict aviation safety and security protocols, and the need to meet the stringent skid resistance and quality thresholds for commercial airport runways.

To complicate the project further, all physical work had to be done without impacting on scheduled aircraft operations. This necessitated the work being carried out in three stages over a three-year period at night over weather-favourable weekends.

Higgins acquired the project in conjunction with Beca Airports as consultants with stage one commencing in January 2014 with the third and final stage completed last year.

“While the runway had been ‘rejuvenated’ in places several times since it was originally constructed 34 years ago, it had exceeded its intended design life and was in need of a complete resurface,” says Bruce Walker, the project supervisor with Higgins. >>

Above: An Air New Zealand ATR aircraft taxies onto the new runway.

SEPTEMBER 2017 39

CONTRACTOR PROJECT

Two tankers spray the seal membrane onto the chip.

The contract called for the cold milling of a 30mm thick asphalt surface layer along the 1800-metre runway, applying a waterproofing seal and then laying durable new asphalt to a depth of 30mm over an area of 68,000 square metres.

40 www.contractormag.co.nz

The contract called for the cold milling of a 30mm thick asphalt surface layer along the 1800-metre runway, applying a waterproofing seal and then laying durable new asphalt to a depth of 30mm over an area of 68,000 square metres.

To achieve this requirement Higgins used a high strength, open graded porous type of asphalt which was modified with polymer additives and cellulose fibres to provide durability and accommodate the stresses brought about by the all-up weight of aircraft, undercarriage wheels hitting the surface at high speed when landing and the lateral stresses on the pavement when aircraft turn to taxi.

The membrane chip seal applied to the milled surface as a waterproofing and adhesion layer was a heavily modified polymer emulsion.

“Each section of the runway we were working on had to be milled and then reinstated with the new seal and asphalt within a strict timeframe each night, so that aircraft could safely use it during the day,” says Bruce. “To allow for aircraft take-offs and landings we had to schedule work to start following the last flight each night and we had to be finished and safely out of the way by 5.30am the following morning.

“This timeframe not only covered the physical work but also the two hours spent moving the machinery onto and off the runway site and the stringent sweeping and

visual safety checks prior to the runway becoming operational again.”

To comply with aviation safety and security regulations all construction staff and ‘visitors’ entering and exiting the site had to go through a security controlled gate, undergo a safety induction procedure and sign a hazard register for each shift.

“Prior to starting work each night a full safety briefing was held for all construction staff, consultants and visitors,” says Bruce.

“This was deemed essential due to the number of people on site, the amount of machinery required to maintain the schedule, the multiple operations that were happening simultaneously and the fact the work was happening at night.

“In addition and at the end of each shift, a very detailed and close visual inspection was carried out along the runway to ensure there were no ‘foreign objects’ or any debris left on the runway, as a single stone or loose piece of metal has the potential to cause severe damage to an aircraft’s engines if sucked in, or to the fuselage if flicked up.

“To accomplish this to the required international aviation standard, we would first sweep the runway and then 25 staff in a line-abreast formation would slowly walk the length of the runway visually inspecting it.”

Higgins had around 50 staff on site each night together with up to 34 vehicles and machines. These included two Wirtgen cold planer mills and two Vogele asphalt paving

machines fitted with infra-red heaters to bond the milled asphalt with the new asphalt at temperatures in excess of 125 degrees Celsius.

Other equipment included rollers, bobcats, water-carts, sweepers, trucks, and utes.

“The possibility of machinery mechanical breakdowns was alleviated by the duplication of all the machinery so that in the event of a breakdown we had a backup machine on standby,” says Bruce. “As it happened we only had one breakdown throughout the entire project, when a milling machine burst a hydraulic hose. We brought in the standby mill to maintain the schedule.

“Following our detailed inspections during the milling stages of the project the ground conditions were as we expected and where there were any anomalies such as variations in the underlying asphalt, we were able to deal with these without impacting on the schedule. Fortunately the weather was on our side over the planned 13 nights, so we were able to meet the target schedule, with no variations and without any incidents.”

All the quality assurance and testing requirements were achieved and subsequent skid resistance and ride quality tests have

shown the runway pavement to be well within the required international aviation limits.

The completed runway has an expected life of around 10 to 15 years before any further modifications or upgrades may be required. This will depend on aircraft usage, the weather and other phenomena such as earthquakes.

The project won the Supreme Award for Construction Projects at the Central Districts CCNZ Regional Awards last year, with the judges saying: “The project demonstrated a very high level of organisation, coordination and quality that exceeded client expectations.”

“This award was the icing on the cake for our team in that it recognised the runway resurfacing exceeded the stringent aviation requirements set by the airport authority and international aviation regulations governing airport operations and safety,” says Bruce.

“Furthermore the project was delivered within the $2.6 million budget in an extremely tight and limited timeframe without interruption to scheduled aircraft movements.

“Our client was happy, we were happy and we celebrated with a BBQ to top it off.”

Top: Men and machinery at work under floodlighting and a full moon.

Above: A Vogele asphalt machine in action laying the new asphalt.

Above left: A comparison between the old surface (foreground) and the new asphalt runway.

SEPTEMBER 2017 41

CONTRACTOR PROJECT

Story of a small town upgrade In what is a major investment by the Marlborough District Council, the upgrading of the council’s ageing sewer infrastructure is progressing well. Stage one was completed in 2012 and now stages two and three are underway. By RICHARD SILCOCK.

A new section of PVC sewer pipe in the trench.

42 www.contractormag.co.nz

Top left: Some sections of the trench were excavated to a depth of 4.8 metres and braced using trench shields to protect staff working in the trench. The box shield (foreground) is used to support the trench wall during excavation.

Above: Sheet pile (2 images): Driving sheet piles using a vibrohammer for the new Dublin Street pump station.

Left: Excavating a section of trench along Waikawa Road.

FULTON HOGAN SECURED the Picton wastewater contract for the current two upgrade stages under a tender process that saw three contractors invited to bid.

Bruce Oliver, projects engineer for Marlborough District Council (MDC), says: “At a cost of $19.4 million it is a sizable amount of money for this small town of only 2500 properties, but the old system, which is 85-years-old was failing in parts and was well overdue for replacement.

“During times of extremely high rainfall, some untreated sewage was being discharged into the harbour and this was exacerbated at times during the summer with the influx of visitors.

“With the town an important tourist hub, a mecca for boaties, and it being the inter-island ferry terminus, there is an expectation the town will grow in size over the coming years so it was important to have a more robust system in place able to cope with the increasing demand.”

Physical work on stages two and three began in May this year and will take through until April or May next year to complete, with stage four expected to commence in 2020 as funding

becomes available.

The current work involves replacing almost all the old, maintrunk sewer pipeline and some of the lateral lines. The contract also calls for the construction of three new pump stations that will pump the sewage to the treatment plant (STP) on the west side of the town, and the construction of a new bypass treatment facility. Discharge of the treated effluent will be into deep water in a part of the harbour that is well away from the Picton foreshore and marina at Waikawa.

Rowan Gardner, project manager with Fulton Hogan, says there have been no delays or issues so far, albeit there are variable ground conditions ranging from dense clays through to organic soils and rock along the project.

“Our subcontractor Tru-Line Civil is doing most of the trenching work and pipe laying.

“They are excavating to a depth of between 1.5 to 4.8 metres due to the undulating ground and the need to maintain a consistent gradient of the PVC and PE pipes which range from 375mm to 500mm in diameter,” he says.

“In some areas they will utilise trenchless methods to avoid SEPTEMBER 2017 43

CONTRACTOR PROJECT

The bio-filter housing for the Dublin Road, bypass plant.

disruption to rail traffic.”

Rowan says this has allowed them to concentrate on the construction of the three pumping stations, the largest of which is at Dublin Street, with the others at Surrey Street and Fisherman’s Reserve. The Dublin Street facility is being built adjacent to the existing pump station.

“So far we’ve driven sheet piles nine-metres deep at Dublin Street using a vibro-hammer in preparation for the inlet and wet-well excavations.

“As the pump stations are all at low points of the topography and will be largely below ground level we can expect groundwater issues so we will be dewatering using pumps and wells to control the water level.

“As there is a proximity to some local streams precautions are being taken to ensure there is minimal discharge of silt into those waterways.”

In addition to the new pump station at Dublin Street, this building will also house the bypass treatment station.

“The bypass plant will comprise a series of mechanical screens and UV treatment to ‘process’ the sewage and will be housed in a concrete building to maintain water tightness and ensure there is no egress or ingress,” says Rowan.

“There is also a bio-filter system to minimise odours housed in a timber outbuilding. This plant will be used to treat any excess sewage that cannot be ‘processed’ at the main STP during times of high throughput.”

The three pump stations will comprise inlet chambers and ‘wet-wells’ excavated to a depth of up to 6.7 metres. Electrically driven ‘flygt’ pumps will be bolted to a concrete slab and will be capable of handling 130 Iitres of sewage per second. There will also be standby diesel generators in the event of power outages.

The upgraded system will operate using gravity and pressure due to the undulating nature of the terrain and the location of 44 www.contractormag.co.nz

the STP which is on a hill above the town.

In addition and as part of the project, a 180mm diameter PE pipeline is to be laid to carry treated effluent from the STP under pressure to some of the public parks around Picton for irrigation purposes.

Disruption to traffic, businesses and households has been minimal with the council running a public information website and communicating with stakeholders that include DOC, road authorities, KiwiRail and affected property owners on a regular basis.

Fulton Hogan is also providing advance notice of the work where it impacts on properties and residents. To minimise traffic disruption, work along Waikawa Road is being programmed to take place during the quieter ‘off-season’ winter period of the year.

“Pavements will be reinstated to an ‘as was’ status as the work progresses as there is an expectation that other utilities may be looking to upgrade in some areas,” says Bruce.

“Once complete, it can be expected that Marlborough Roads will be assessing the status of the roads during their usual maintenance assessments.

“Plans for landscaping the various sites have also been prepared and will include plantings to screen the new pump stations.

“Once complete the capacity to pump and treat sewage will be significantly increased and there is an expectation that the water quality and the marine environment of the harbour will be greatly improved.

“It will also reduce the potential health risk of polluted water in the harbour that was of some concern especially at times of heavy rain and severe storms.”

This sewer and plant upgrade follows the $14.4 million upgrade of Picton’s new water treatment plant at Speeds Road, which was commissioned earlier this year.

CONTRACTOR COMMENT

Time for tough decisions around water funding PETER SILCOCK, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, CIVIL CONTRACTORS NEW ZEALAND

THE NATIONAL SURGE in infrastructure investment and election

promises to invest more are good news for us all.

However, most of the new investments and promises are focused on transport while our ageing three waters infrastructure is increasingly becoming the poor cousin.

The relative lack of investment in our three waters infrastructure is complex but, in my view, it is principally tied back to the differences between the funding models. The transport network by nature needs to be connected across the country and a good portion of our local roads are funded nationally.

The three waters infrastructure is not connecting nationally and is funded and managed by local authorities. It is also mostly unseen by the public. If the roading network is not maintained people experience the pot holes and congestion first hand and soon start to complain. By contrast a pipeline may be leaking, or approaching its capacity for years before anyone notices it and then gets around to fixing it.

While we don’t have a nationally connected water infrastructure network the three waters are a critical service that is vital to our national social, environmental and economic wellbeing.

I am not suggesting that central government should take over the management of our three waters infrastructure (although a combined funding model like our local roads would be worth investigating), but it certainly needs to ensure that the right tools and funding are in place to enable local government to do the job.

The government’s announcement earlier this year of the Housing Infrastructure Fund targeted at high growth councils is a step in that direction. But it only looks to remove barriers to new homes being built rather than addressing issues about the maintenance and replacement of our existing water infrastructure.

If we don’t find a better way to fund the maintenance and replacement work required then our ability to provide the level of service that is expected by the public will continue to decline.

The challenges we face in the three waters space are not just about growth councils. Comprehensive, long-term nationwide solutions are required.

As we head into the election it is great to see various parties committing to investing in infrastructure, but they are ignoring the major issues of funding for local government work on our water infrastructure. We desperately need more tools and funding options because New Zealand is facing a perfect storm of issues including: • Ageing assets resulting in more maintenance, and increasingly, replacement work.

• Climate change pressures requiring systems that can cope with more extreme floods, long and more intense drought events and sea level changes.

• More resilience to enable systems to get up and running after major events like storms and earthquakes.

• Population growth and urban infill placing more strain on existing systems.

• Increased pressure on fresh water supplies from changing land use.

The pressure on our three waters infrastructure is intense all over the country not just in high growth areas.

In fact, we know that there are significant pressures in areas with low or negative growth as well. If we don’t find a better way to fund the maintenance and replacement work required then our ability to provide the level of service that is expected by the public will continue to decline.

The need for new funding tools should not be an excuse for inaction. Tough decisions need to be made by councils based on the community’s expectations of the level of service and strong technical advice.

Councils need to better engage the community about how we can meet their expectations and the future consequences of under investment.

They also need to make some tough decisions to increase rates and user changes if that is what is required.

Postal Address: PO Box 12013, Thorndon, Wellington 6144 Physical Address: Margan House, 21 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington 6011 Phone 0800 692 376

46 www.contractormag.co.nz

COMMENT CONTRACTOR

Job perk survey HAYS RECRUITMENT

FIFTY-SEVEN PERCENT of Kiwi workers would like a job offering

more than 20 days of annual leave (the statutory minimum), while 55 percent would like a day off work for their birthday, according to recruiting specialist Hays.

Of 1118 people surveyed on the topic of employee benefits, 35 percent currently receive more than 20 days of annual leave (higher than Australia’s 29 percent) and just eight percent (six percent in Australia) receive a day off for their birthday.

The most common benefit of all is flexible working, which 72 percent (70 percent in Australia) of people presently receive.

Of the remaining 28 percent who do not currently receive flexible work practices, 21 percent want to, and the remaining seven percent are not interested in receiving this benefit.

“Business activity and confidence may be rising across New Zealand, but subdued salary increases are leading employees to question whether the available benefits are actually appealing and useful to their working day and life,” says Jason Walker, managing director of Hays in New Zealand.

“With highly-skilled professionals in shorter supply, employers are also looking at how they can use benefits to

attract and retain staff, particularly those with skills in demand.”

The survey also found: 44 percent (37 percent in Australia) currently receive access to health and wellness programmes, 37 percent don’t but would like to and 19 percent don’t, and are not interested in receiving this benefit; 32 percent (29 percent in Australia) receive financial support for study, 35 percent would like to and 33 percent are not interested; 26 percent (24 percent in Australia) receive payment for their own device usage charges at work, 24 percent would like to, and 50 percent don’t care.

Some 63 percent of those surveyed (58 percent in Australia) receive ongoing learning and development, 30 percent would like to, and just seven percent are not interested.

While 25 percent (20 percent in Australia) receive free or subsidised food, 32 percent would like to and 43 percent don’t care.

None of those surveyed (one percent in Australia) can currently access onsite childcare, 24 percent would like to, while 76 percent don’t get childcare and are not interested in it.

Get your copy of the 2017 Hays Salary Guide by visiting www.hays.net.nz/salary.

SEPTEMBER 2017 47

CONTRACTOR COMMENT

And after all – we are only ordinary men WAYNE SCOTT, CEO, MINING EXTRACTIVES HEALTH AND SAFETY COUNCIL

I PLAY THE SAXOPHONE in my spare time.

You may know one of the classic sax tracks is from Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon album. It’s called ‘Us and Them’. The lyrics are as good as the music, describing ordinary men sent into battle. ‘God only knows it’s not what we would choose to do.’

Too often in life we get into the ‘Us and Them’ game. Battle lines are drawn. ‘It’s not us.’ My experiences working in quarries and mines over a lifetime show we are all in this together.

That’s certainly where I see the real issues in health and safety. The new Health and Safety at Work Act underscores this; everyone shares responsibility. Worker to director.

I’m only a few weeks into my role as CEO of MinEx, but the key message I want to get across is we all have skin in this game.

Sometimes our own skin.

So one of the first things I’ve got underway is a mentoring initiative. If we want there to be a quarrying industry into the future, we need to do so much better than seeing more than half of oral B grade CoCs failing their exams.

In early August, Keri Harrison, health & safety manager at Southern Screenworks, offered to help a couple of guys from another Canterbury quarry to get across the line. She’s already done this successfully at her own site. No ‘us and them’ here.

Keri was then followed by Dunedin’s Gavin Hartley, and I’m confident these will be the first of many mentors. If you can help – or want help – email or text me (my contacts below.)

The other thing I’m focused on is helping drive the necessary

changes to the CoC regime and the associated unit standards.

To their credit, WorkSafe and MITO are open about what they are proposing and working in tandem. I attended five of the seven regional forums. As outlined, the Site Specific CoC will exclude most people, with suggested restrictions that it only applies to sites producing less than 1000 tonnes a week; it also totally eliminates alluvial gold mines.

I’m putting in a MinEx submission framed around an alternative risk-based approach. Hopefully this will be taken onboard along with the necessary work to align unit standards with the necessary training requirements.

When it comes to assessing risks I am pleased to see a rethink underway from looking at every risk to a focus on serious harm and death injuries.

At the recent QuarryNZ conference I asked the room how many had had an emergency at their site; a third of delegates put their hands up. Four or five of them put up their hands again when asked if they were well prepared.

Attending my first fatality as a manager in Sydney I found 40 out of 50 staff running around in shock after a 19-yearold worker had been electrified on a catwalk. You need an Emergency Response Plan. It can be something as simple as a wall chart, laminated and on the smoko wall for everyone to see.

One thing you should do as a quarry or mine manager is invite your local fire brigade, police and ambulance services to visit your site; much better they know the lay-out and access at a quiet time than in an emergency.

Also at the QuarryNZ conference I provided an update on the Health and Safety template that MinEx has brought together for small quarries; it includes a basic Emergency Response Plan. I’m still asking for feedback on the template as we get it finalised into the most useful document it can be to assist smaller site operators.

Finally, there was plenty of talk at the QuarryNZ conference about the proposal for a new peak body for the extractives sector.

I’m supporting the change. My 30 years of experience in Australia (I still backed the ABs) included time in the government sector. That taught me that the extractives sector is competing for attention from politicians, officials and the public; there’s no end of well-resourced industries promoting their issues to government and anyone else who will listen.

Quarries and mines are two parts of the same whole; we earn our living from what we extract and while we often point to the differences, the rest of society sees us as two sides of the same moon. If we want to emerge from the dark side, there has to be an end to Us and Them.

• Wayne Scott can be contacted, when he’s not playing sax, at wayne@minex.org.nz, 021 944 336.

48 www.contractormag.co.nz

COMMENT CONTRACTOR

DIY drug testing not the answer KIRK HARDY, CEO, THE DRUG DETECTION AGENCY DRUG USE IS A REAL workplace problem. Drug testing, properly

conducted, is an important tool in combatting it. There’s no cheap fix for drug testing.

Despite a growing body of evidence highlighting the problems and pitfalls of DIY drug testing New Zealand companies continue to look for low-cost solutions. The problem is, low cost equals high risk.

Companies trying to save money with DIY drug testing risk not only their company’s reputation and costly court battles but more importantly, they compromise their employees’ safety.

Drug testing seems a straightforward enough task, and DIY seems an easy way of keeping costs down. But it’s not so simple. You need to be aware of the procedural and operational complexities of workplace drug testing. The accuracy of any test is dependent on the quality of the specimen, and judges have been critical about the accuracy of certain types of test. Further, you need to be up-to-date with all the latest sneaks and tricks users employ to fox testers and fake results. Just Google “fake drug testing” to see how much information is readily available to those who want to game the system.

Poor quality testing and a lack of qualified procedure represent a deadly combination that can easily result in a wrong test result.

This can mean that an employee is wrongly accused of taking drugs or that someone taking drugs is not identified in the testing process.

When people operate heavy equipment or work in an industrial environment there’s no room for testing error. When an improper procedure compromises a test specimen or incorrect testing produces a false negative you open the door to serious injury – or even a fatality.

The reverse is almost as bad: A false positive may mean someone losing their job. That may affect their ability to make a living or to get another job. It may also expose your company to legal action.

When it comes to drug testing employers should adopt a three-

Resolving Disputes & Achieving

step approach. We call it the PIS test: Policy, Independence and Standards.

The first step towards creating a safe and drug free workplace is to establish a DAMP (Drug Alcohol Management Programme) – a robust, company-wide drug and alcohol policy. Having such a policy is fine, but the onus is then on the employer to ensure that it has been correctly followed. So make sure the policy is printed, prominently displayed and that workers are made aware of it and reminded about it.

And make a commitment to follow all the processes and procedures that your policy sets out. If matters ever come before the employment court, how the employer addressed its obligation will weigh heavily when the court makes its decision. Having a robust DAMP in place represents an investment in protecting your reputation and your employees.

Protecting the interests of the employer leads to a second consideration.

For a company to be seen to be serious about drug and alcohol testing, it helps to use an independent service provider who can provide the level of expertise required to deliver accurate outcomes in a professional manner.

Andrew Schirnack, from Auckland-based employment law firm Langton Hudson Butcher, says it’s open to employees to contest the integrity of drug test results.

“Using a cheap ‘do it yourself’ testing kit is likely to be a false economy.

“Employers doing this are handing their employees good ground to challenge the results. Using a quality testing regime conducted by an independent service provider will be money well spent.”

Finally, you need to ensure that your policy, the independent testers and your approach, conforms to best practice and the highest international standards. You can’t afford to take short cuts when people’s lives and livelihoods – as well as the company’s reputation – are on the line.

QUALITY OUTCOMES

When you need specialists in dispute resolution

Kelly Parker BA, LLB - Partner : 09 367 7023 Lisa Douglas LLB - Consultant : 09 303 0100 Level 13, PwC Tower, 188 Quay Street, Auckland heaneypartners.com

SEPTEMBER 2017 49

CONTRACTOR COMMENT

Is there a perfect engineer?

BRENDAN CASH, PARTNER, AND TAMZIN DEMPSTE, SOLICITOR, KENSINGTON SWAN CONSTRUCTION & MAJOR PROJECTS TEAM

IT IS IMPORTANT to understand the role of the engineer under

NZS 3910, and to understand where the individual performing that role sits with the principal and the project. This will help you assess the decisions being made by the engineer against their obligation to act in good faith.

Any serious concerns should be negotiated with the principal before signing the contract, as this is when you have

Dual role of the engineer

the opportunity to influence who

The engineer is a person appointed under clause 6 of NZS 3910:2013. The engineer must be suitably qualified and a natural person (rather than a company or firm). He or she is appointed by the principal and has two key functions: agent for the principal; and an impartial quasi-judicial decision maker.

the engineer will be.

The engineer as the principal’s agent ‘Principal’s agent’ means that the engineer must act in the best interest of the principal, and is authorised to legally bind the principal. The engineer acts as an expert advisor and representative of the principal. For example, when the engineer receives payment claims, and issues progress schedules, this is explicitly done in their capacity as the principal’s agent.

The engineer as an impartial decision maker Payment claims and schedules may be received and issued by the engineer as the principal’s agent, but this is a distinct function from those claims and schedules being assessed by the engineer.

When the engineer assesses the value of the contractor’s payment claims, he or she must do so as an impartial administrator.

The same standard also applies when making decisions, such as approving and valuing variations, confirming unforeseen physical conditions, and granting extensions of time.

Further to this, under clause 13.2 of NZS 3910:2013, disputes between the contractor and the principal are referred to the engineer for an engineer’s determination.

Across this dual role is the overriding duty of the engineer to act in good faith. However, it is not hard to imagine scenarios where this could be difficult for the engineer.

Does an impartial engineer exist?

It may be difficult to expect an engineer to wear these two hats in good faith when the opportunity for a conflict of interest is inherent in the role.

Increasingly the practice is that the engineer is an employee of the firm that has performed the design work. This is generally a sensible idea, as no one will be as intimately familiar with the works or understand where the project is meant to go quite like the designer. However, a conflict for the designer-engineer arises where the contractor seeks a variation or extension of time on the basis of a flaw in the design.

To allow that variation is to admit fault in the design. This has 50 www.contractormag.co.nz

implications for the designer-engineer that goes further than just pride – an admission of fault may void his or her professional indemnity insurance.

In any case, the engineer is someone that is unilaterally appointed by the principal, has a contract with the principal, and is being paid by the principal. It was common practice a decade or so ago for the engineer to be an employee of the principal.

Can such a person be expected to always act impartially, when that may require them to make a decision for the benefit of the contractor, which will necessarily be to the detriment of their employer, the principal?

Most professions acting as the engineer will generally strive to properly perform their quasi-judicial role in good faith.

However, this can be very difficult, depending on the principal they act for, the issues raised, and the relationship between the parties. Some engineers may find it more difficult than others to juggle their dual roles.

What can the contractor do if it has concerns?

The contractor is essentially powerless to change the engineer once the contract is underway. There is no obligation for the principal to change the engineer if it does not want to. If the principal wishes to appoint a new engineer, the principal only needs to ‘consider’ any representations made on behalf of the contractor before it notifies the contractor of the appointment of the new engineer. There is no obligation for the principal to follow the contractor’s representations.

If you are a contractor under a NZS 3910 contract, it is worth taking some time to consider who the nominated engineer is.

Any serious concerns should be negotiated with the principal before signing the contract, as this is when you have the opportunity to influence who the engineer will be.

Once the contract is underway, a contractor will be limited to claims for damages against the principal where the engineer has failed to properly fulfil their role.

• K ensington Swan provides comment on the construction industry on its blog Site. www.nzconstructionblog.com

TO THE

RELIABILITY

BKT is a world-leader in off-highway tyres and the largest selling agricultural tyre in New Zealand.

A constant commitment to research and development means not only do you get a quality tyre in Earthmax, but you also get a reliable tyre that will get the job done no matter what.

BKT Earthmax, the sensible off-road choice.

0508 899 899

or visit our website: www.trstyreandwheel.co.nz

CONTRACTOR COMMENT

Spotlight on precast concrete floors ROB GAIMSTER, CEMENT & CONCRETE ASSOCIATION OF NZ AND NZ READY MIXED CONCRETE ASSOCIATION

THE 7.8 MAGNITUDE (MW) Kaikoura earthquake of November

14, 2016 – a complex multi-fault rupture with prolonged ground shaking – was a wake-up call for Wellington.

As a result of 25 to 30 seconds of strong motion in the CBD, with localised amplification on deep deposits near the waterfront, structural damage tended to be concentrated on momentresisting concrete frame buildings between six and 15 storeys.

The outcome has been a number of official recommendations intended to ensure more rigorous regulations and address public safety concerns. Issues with the performance of precast concrete floor systems are reflected in these recommendations.

While the spotlight is warranted to a degree, it is important to consider some qualifying factors.

For instance, the codes in force at the time a number of these buildings were designed (eg, NZS 3101:1995 Concrete Structures Standard) did not account for the unique nature of the earthquake. These codes have been, or are in the process of being, updated with total concrete industry support.

Moment-resisting, concrete frame, multi-storey buildings comprise a significant proportion of the Wellington CBD, and would therefore inevitably be amongst any damaged stock by sheer volume.

We must also not have our attention drawn away from the more pressing challenges posed by unstrengthened unreinforced masonry buildings.

Another outcome of the Kaikoura earthquake from which valuable lessons can be learnt is the debate around safety versus amenity. It seems that although, with the odd exception, our buildings perform as designed, public expectations are not being met.

The disruption caused by building repair or demolition has seen a growing call for damage resistant design, an approach which allows for ‘life safety’ as well as ‘building survivability’.

Through PREcast Seismic Structural System (PRESSS) and base isolation concrete is ideally positioned to help meet this demand.

52 www.contractormag.co.nz

Post-quake discussion has focused on two areas. Firstly, an investigation into Statistics House – a six storey reinforced concrete office building built in Centreport’s Harbour Quays business park in 2005 – which suffered the partial collapse of two floors.

Secondly, Wellington City Council’s (WCC) Targeted Assessment Programme, which sought to address public safety issues by confirming the structural integrity of multistorey buildings that had experienced significant shaking in the Kaikoura earthquake.

Statistics House The Ministry of Building, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) ordered an independent investigation into Statistics House to understand the implications for the building regulatory system.

The report concluded that a combination of four factors contributed to the partial failure of lower floor segments.

Two of the factors – the flexible frames and style of floor construction – combined with significant shaking for up to 120 seconds, and localised amplification of the shaking, to compromise the support of the lower precast concrete floor units on their framing.

WCC targeted assessment programme WCC recently undertook the inspection of buildings that were of a like profile to Statistics House, and others of similar form that were known to have sustained significant non-structural damage. In total 64 buildings (from about 600 across the Wellington CBD) were subject to targeted damage evaluations.

A range of damage levels was identified within the buildings, from isolated and local damage to damage that was more distributed throughout some buildings, and with varying degrees of severity.

For precast floors, most of the damage was observed in

COMMENT CONTRACTOR

ductile frame buildings with hollowcore flooring that were constructed in the 1980s.

earthquakes, such as unstrengthened unreinforced masonry buildings, remain on the radar.

Recommendations

Moving forward

The MBIE investigation made four key recommendations – investigate similar buildings to Statistics House in the Wellington region, notify industry about issues with existing buildings with precast floor systems and frames that may be affected by beam elongation, access expertise to consider the implications for this type of design for new buildings, and undertake research into Standards to ensure they reflect current best practice.

The MBIE report noted that the combination of the causal factors in the partial floor collapses of Statistics House was not foreseen by Standards when the building was designed.

As such, NZS 1170.5 – Earthquake Actions Standard and NZS 3101 were identified as requiring review. In fact, Amendment 3 to NZS 3101 will be published soon, addressing design issues in this area.

The WCC report offers nine recommendations in such areas as building owner responsibility, post-earthquake assessment and instrumentation to gauge shaking impacts. A number of the recommendations also relate to precast floors, including the call for a testing regime, standardised details and guidance for practitioners.

However, the report mentions that while the focus of the assessment programme was on buildings most affected in this earthquake, it is important that structures vulnerable in

These reports set a path forward for the wider Wellington region, one which will require collective buy-in from all stakeholders if the recommendations are to ensure a more robust building regulatory system and address public safety issues.

The concrete industry is fully committed to this process; participating in technical discussions, driving Standards revision and exploring new low damage approaches to seismic design.

References Kestrel Group. (May 2017). Wellington City Council Targeted Assessment Programme following the Kaikoura Earthquake of 14 November 2016 - Summary Report. http://wellington.govt.nz/~/media/ about-wellington/emergency-management/files/targetedassessmentprogramme-summary.pdf Ministry of Building, Innovation and Employment. (March 2017) Investigation into the performance of Statistics House in the 14 November 2016 Kaikoura Earthquake. http://www.mbie.govt.nz/ publications-research/publications/building-and-construction/ investigation-into-the-performance-of-statistics-house.pdf

From 1 July 2017, there is a nationally consistent approach to the assessment and management of earthquake-prone buildings, along with a standardised notice and national public register of earthquake-prone buildings.

•

NEW ZEALAND APPRENTICESHIPS: DEVELOP THE SKILLED PEOPLE YOUR BUSINESS NEEDS FLEXIBLE WORK-BASED PROGRAMMES LEADING TO CIVIL TRADES CERTIFICATION IN: • • • • •

CIVIL WORKS BITUMINOUS PRODUCT MANUFACTURING BITUMINOUS SURFACING CONSTRUCTION PIPE INSTALLATIONS UTILITIES MAINTENANCE

NOW OPEN FOR ENROLMENT 0800 486 626 askus@connexis.org.nz www.connexis.org.nz

SEPTEMBER 2017 53

CONTRACTOR CLASSIC MACHINES CL

M

A

ASSIC

C H I N E S

1

International PayScrapers 2T-55 / 2T-75 The late 1940s and early 1950s saw unprecedented growth in earthmoving projects worldwide with demand for new machinery at an all-time high. Some manufacturers were well prepared while others had to improvise as best they could. By RICHARD CAMPBELL. 1. O ne of the first official factory photos of an International-Harvester 2T-75 PayScraper following IH’s acquisition of Heil Manufacturing. The image is dated 1954. Things of note are the headlights mounted in fairings low down on the nose, the unusual exhaust pipe setup and the bowl draft arms pivoted right at the back of the bowl, a dead giveaway to the machine’s Heil origins.

PHOTO: AUTHOR’S COLLECTION

54 www.contractormag.co.nz

INTERNATIONAL-HARVESTER was a large manufacturer of track type tractors with a good reputation in the construction and agricultural fields.

However, there were some ‘holes’ in its product range and one of these quite glaring examples was the fact it did not have a motor scraper of any kind.

It was not entirely alone in this predicament as one of its bigger rivals, Allis-Chalmers, was also in the same boat.

With the signing of the Federal Highways Act, which pumped ‘billions’ of dollars into the construction of an interstate highway network, International was faced with a difficult decision – to spend vast amounts of capital on the development of its own motor scraper or acquire a company that already produced one.

Fortunately for International, one of its attachment suppliers, Heil (see Contractor

December 2012), had developed its own motor scraper range which had been reasonably wellaccepted by the contracting marketplace.

Heil’s problem was that it was quite a diverse manufacturer and didn’t really have the funds to push development of its scraper beyond what it had already achieved.

This proved to be an ideal scenario for International-Harvester which purchased all the patents, jigs and finished stock that Heil had accumulated including its two types of motor scraper, and its entire towed scraper line as well.

International paid over one million dollars for Heil’s scrapers in December 1953, and quickly shifted Heil’s production line from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Melrose Park, Illinois.

International’s PayScraper division would stay there until IH exited the scraper business entirely in 1982.

Most manufacturers of the period had a trade

2

2. A model 2T-55 of Rock Road Construction working on the runway of O’Hare Field, Chicago USA, 1954. Push tractor is an International TD-24 with a body mounted push plate.

Although this machine has the newly located headlight configuration, the bowl is still pivoted at the back.

3

PHOTO: AUTHOR’S COLLECTION

3. Another airport job, this time Mangere in Auckland, circa 1960. New Zealand Roadmakers had a lot of PayScrapers in its fleet of both the older Heiliner and newer type. This 2T-55 is of the older variety. Push tractor is a Caterpillar D9D. PHOTO: CLAY GILLESPIE

4

5

4. This is a great photo taken on the US Interstate Highway construction programme in 1958, location California.

Interesting for a number of reasons, it shows a later style 2T-75 PayScraper with redesigned draft arms being push loaded by an experimental IH TD-24 with a turbo-charged engine. Other players in the picture are a Caterpillar D8-2U with a LeTourneau BT towed scraper, a standard International TD-24 ripping, and in the background a Caterpillar No 12 grader maintains the haul road.

PHOTO: AUTHOR’S COLLECTION

5. Missing several engine hood panels, this 2T-75 PayScraper has seen better days. Photographed in Northland during 1980, the machine has badly oxidised tyres but at least someone saw fit to cover the exhaust stack. This is a later model 2T-75 with the redesigned bowl and draft arms. PHOTO: STEVE TEMPLAR SEPTEMBER 2017 55

CONTRACTOR CLASSIC MACHINES

1

1. Beautiful colour portrait of one of NZ Roadmakers IH 2T75 PayScrapers getting a push from an International TD-24 at Mangere, Auckland. Judging by its exceptionally clean finish and lack of signwriting, this is probably its first job since being delivered.

PHOTO: AUTHOR’S COLLECTION

2. Two later model 2T-75 PayScrapers belonging to Flores & Perry work on an eightmile stretch of the Central Valley Highway in Hanford, California, USA during 1957.

It was unusual for these machines to self-load, most often having the services of a push tractor to minimise time in the cut.

PHOTO: AUTHOR’S COLLECTION

2

3

3. Rusting away quietly in a field near Rawene, Northland is this very early model 2T-55 PayScraper – it may even be a genuine Heiliner. It is one of four units in this location just begging to be saved and restored before it is too late.

PHOTO: WAYNE WARD

name for their machines and Heil was no exception calling its motor scrapers “Heiliners”.

When International got hold of the range it re-christened the line ‘PayScrapers’ Much to International’s annoyance, people still referred to International’s scrapers as Heiliners well into the 1970s!

Amazing how some names just stick.

The 2T-55 Originally known as the Heil model MS13 (and later 2C500), the newly renamed 2T55 was the smaller of the two scrapers.

It was powered by a Cummins HRB600, 6-cylinder diesel engine rated at 172 flywheel horsepower and carried 10 cubic yards struck and 14 cubic yards heaped.

Transmission was a 5-speed manual Fuller 5A1120 which allowed a top speed of approximately 23 miles per hour.

The machine was equipped with 21.00 x 25 tyres and weighed just over 19 tons empty.

Apart from steering, all functions were 56 www.contractormag.co.nz

cable controlled.

Steering was an area in which the machine was deficient.

While most of its competitors were capable of 90 degree turns, the 2T-55 could only manage 60 degrees due to steering geometry. Also, the machine was nose heavy so turns had to be taken carefully.

This shortcoming was never rectified during the machine’s lifetime.

While the initial Internationalmanufactured motor scrapers were pretty much identical to Heil produced machines, it became obvious to IH engineers that some changes needed to be made.

Chiefly, these concerned the bowl.

Heil’s original design pivoted the bowl at the top and very back of the unit.

During loading, the rear wheels could easily be lifted off the ground by a push tractor which not only affected machine controllability, but also the cutting depth, and placed an undue stress on the cables.

The machine’s rear push block was curved and could damage push tractor

blades if they were not adequately reinforced.

Also, the cable routing ran quite close to the operator’s head across the bowl’s spreader bar.

International’s engineers redesigned the bowl, rear push block and lift arms to eliminate the bad geometry but due to the way the machine’s cable control system worked, not a lot could be done to re-route the cable runs.

The improved design was released in late 1955 with no change to the machine’s model designation.

However, the changes allowed a small increase in bowl capacity to 15 cubic yards stuck and a slight rise from 172 to 175 flywheel horsepower.

The 2T-75 Larger of the two Heil scrapers, and originally known as the Heil model MS18 or 2C800, the International 2T75 was powered by a Cummins NHB600 turbocharged diesel rated at 220 flywheel

4

5

4. EMD Models 1:50 International 2T-75 PayScraper model. As can be seen, it represents an earlier version of the 2T-75 with the rear pivoted bowl and headlights in fairings on the lower side of the tractor unit. Although a beautiful model, it also has a beautiful price tag – over US$500!

PHOTO: BUFFALO ROAD IMPORTS

5. Noted at one of the American Historical Construction Equipment Association’s meetings was this partially restored model 2T-55 PayScraper, still with its original Cummins engine and in full running order.

It is of the first series that International manufactured after taking over from Heil.

Nice to see one saved from the scrapper.

PHOTO: HCEA

horsepower and had the same Fuller 5A1120 manual transmission as the 2T-55.

This allowed a top speed of almost 25 miles per hour on 24.00 x 29 tyres.

Bowl capacity was 14 cubic yards stuck and 18 cubic yards heaped.

Alas, the 2T-75 also had the same shortcomings as its smaller sibling and was suitably redesigned by International featuring the same modifications as those that were made to the 2T-55.

The improved 2T-75 was introduced in 1956 and featured a more powerful 262 horsepower Cummins diesel plus a struck capacity increase to 15 cubic yards.

International Harvester manufactured both the 2T-55 and 2T-75 with few further changes although they were not really state-of-the-art compared to their competitors.

The 2T-75 was replaced by International’s all new model 295 PayScraper in 1959 while the 2T-75 soldiered on until 1962 when it was replaced by the model 270 PayScraper.

Not including those machines previously produced by Heil, International manufactured around 550 model 2T-55 scapers of both versions and 490 2T-75s.

While these are not amazing sales numbers, the type was exported worldwide and provided a good foot in the door to the scraper market for IH.

The New Zealand connection Many New Zealand contractors used both the 2T-55 and 2T-75 PayScraper.

The type was used on all the early hydroelectric dam jobs as well as Rongotai and Mangere airports, plus the earliest stages of the Wellington and Auckland motorway projects.

They were also engaged in overburden removal for coal extraction W Stevenson & Son and Drydens.

Several of these machines are still left, notably in Northland where four reside.

However, these are in a very poor state and crying out for preservation.

For the model collector Well, well, collectors, you are in luck.

The International 2T-75 is available in 1:50 scale manufactured by EMD Models and is a little beauty.

EMD’s model represents an early version with the original rear-pivoted Heil bowl and low mounted headlights.

However, it is painfully expensive at US$525 plus postage.

If you’re still keen, EMD also manufactures the genuine Heil 2C800 article to the same scale (and regrettably same price).

But wait, there is another!

For your sandpit, there is a pressed steel 1:16 scale model of a 2C800 Heiliner manufactured in the early 1950s by Chas Doepke.

Actually looking like what it is meant to represent, unlike modern sandpit toys, a good example will set you back between US$150 to US$200.

The model is fully workable and hours of fun!

SEPTEMBER 2017 57

CONTRACTOR MOTORING

X-Class ute range for NZ In a move designed to build on the successes Volkswagen has had locally with the Amarok range of light commercial utes, Mercedes-Benz is set to launch its own line-up of similarly minded workhorses here in the second quarter of 2018. By CAMERON OFFICER THE STUTTGART-HEADQUARTERED brand will release what will be known as the X-Class range of vehicles globally, but with a distinct focus on Southern Hemisphere markets. Again, this move mimics what Volkswagen did with the Amarok, pushing the model in Australasian, South American and Southern African regions. Judged as a ‘mid-size’ ute in the US, it won’t be offered for sale there, while double cab pick-ups remain a relative rarity on European highways.

Also of interest is the fact that, despite an obvious through-line of MercedesBenz Commercial division hardware available to draw upon, the X-Class is actually a joint-venture development with the Nissan Renault Alliance. Yes, 58 www.contractormag.co.nz

that’s right; underneath its sculptured body shell and cabin, your MercedesBenz X-Class is, in essence, a Nissan Navara.

The local distributor has just announced further details on the X-Class line-up which, it says, is already drawing a decent amount of interest from new vehicle buyers. Kiwis will be able to choose between three design and equipment package offerings, along with either a four- or six-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, rear-wheel drive or permanent 4MATIC all-wheel drive, and either a sixspeed manual or seven-speed automatic transmission.

Those three variations will be a basic X-Class Pure grade, designed to appeal to fleets; an X-Class Progressive,

which will be specified to snare private tradie business; and the top-of-the-line X-Class Power, which will be aimed at what Mercedes-Benz says are a group of customers “for whom styling, performance and comfort are paramount”. So that’ll be the boss’ one then.

While Mercedes acknowledges the changing way in which utes are used in New Zealand these days means that the X-Class has been developed with all the comfort and convenience features expected from a mid-size passenger car, the local distributor has made what I consider an odd choice for the new model in terms of how it’ll be sold to Kiwi buyers.

Instead of showcasing the X-Class in its passenger vehicle showrooms,

Gee whiz, the G-Wagen still flies.

Even on snow RECENTLY MERCEDES-BENZ was keen to show customers (and a few lucky members

Mercedes-Benz will only sell the ute through its commercial dealer network; currently home to the manufacturer’s Sprinter, Vito and Valente van line-up.

Despite suggesting utes are “no longer viewed purely as ‘workhorses’”, it would appear the local distributor is at risk of limiting the ability for lifestyle-orientated buyers to get in front of the physical ute.

Of course, there is a lot to be said for a keen buyer seeking out what they want, regardless of where the plinth that the showroom model is artfully arranged upon is located. But Ford and Toyota have made a great play of having their respective ute models available alongside SUVs and wagons in mainstream showrooms, in order to tempt lifestylers and boat owners, among others.

We’ll find out if commercial showroom availability of X-Class demonstrators is an educated move or not when the utes arrive here next year.

of the media, like me), that performing pristine figure-eights in AMG sportscars on snow isn’t quite as easy as you’d think. But it is achievable.

We were invited to Central Otago’s Southern Hemisphere Proving Ground – the world-famous 490 hectare test facility atop the Crown Range near Wanaka. This is where carmakers from all over the globe come to perform “off season” winter testing; that is, when summer in the Northern Hemisphere precludes punishing prototype cars with cold weather extremism.

Opened many years ago after Toyota suggested to landowner (farmer and Cardrona ski field developer) John Lee that the site would make for an excellent test facility during the Japanese summer, it now hosts up to 45 different companies each season.

What started with just a single ABS testing strip now boasts 16 separate facilities, cleverly arranged around the mountain so that competing companies can be in residence at the same time, yet never really come into contact with one another. In addition to handling tracks and ice-covered skid pans, there are gradient ramps constructed of heated concrete side-by-side with iced paths, an ice tunnel, refuelling and recharging stations and many a heavily-shuttered windowless workshop where lots of secret testing takes place.

We were there to drive some seriously fast Mercedes-AMG finery, including the stunning AMG GT performance coupe (a rear-wheel drive beast, don’t forget), along with SLC 43 Roadsters, CLA 45 4MATICs, C 63 S sedans and six-cylinder C 43 coupes.

And, naturally, the day at the Proving Ground was also an excellent reason to reacquaint oneself with the mighty G-Wagen. Er, sorry – that should be the G-Class, as it’s officially known these days. But let’s face it, the big box on wheels will always colloquially be known as the G-Wagen (short for Geländewagen, or “cross country vehicle”).

The G-Wagen remains pretty much as it always has been; a barely-civilian, slab-sided box on wheels. All minimalist mountain goat aesthetics, side-exhausts and with three – yes, three – electronic locking differentials, the G-Wagen is made for going over things. Or up things in a straight line, as we basically did in the snow at the Southern Hemisphere Proving Ground.

Being primarily an official reason to pirouette AMG performance cars around in (supposedly) graceful arcs on the snow, the G-Wagens at our disposal featured those famous three letters too.

In AMG G 63 format, that translates to a stonking great 5.4-litre V8 under the bonnet. Peak power on offer of 420kW (563hp) and 760Nm of torque means that, aside from the odd outbreak of impossible physics, few mountains would remain unconquered in one of these.

Our track was actually pretty tame given the G-Wagen’s reputation. But the mildest touch of the accelerator provided a succinct reminder of just what this amazing Merc is capable of. If you ever get the chance to sample one, grab it with both winter gloved hands.

SEPTEMBER 2017 59

CONTRACTOR INNOVATIONS

Gusty Bobcat Ammann light compaction equipment TransDiesel has been appointed as the New Zealand distributor for Ammann light compaction equipment.

The product range includes rammers, vibratory plates, walk behind rollers and add on compactors.

Ammann is a world-leading supplier of asphalt mixing plants, machines and services to the construction industry, with core expertise in road-building and transportation infrastructure.

Ammann light compaction equipment is manufactured in Hennef, Germany and with more than 100 years of experience and continuous innovation in the field of compaction Ammann products guarantee the best customer benefits. Amman machines are easy to operate, regardless of the experience level of the operator, are efficient, easy to service and the equipment is designed to be ergonomically pleasing for the operator by the inclusion of low-vibration handles.

TransDiesel CEO Mike McKessar says: “Ammann light compaction equipment, is complementary to our current range of utility construction equipment, It further cements our position as a company with one of the most comprehensive ranges of construction equipment in NZ and further enables us to meet the needs of existing and new customers.”

For more information contact: North Island: Angelo Capon on 021 914 227; South Island: Brent Cotton on 027 510 6509.

60 www.contractormag.co.nz

The new Bobcat 1.8 tonne E20 excavator from AB Equipment is ticking all the boxes when it comes to performance and reliability and has been built specifically to work its guts out in New Zealand and Australian conditions.

Auckland-based Bulldog Trade Services is one of those that believe the new Bobcat E20 excavator has got the ‘wow’ factor. The company was only set up a year ago but already owns two Bobcat E20 excavators as well as a larger E50 model.

Having the confidence to buy three machines is testimony enough to the quality of the product and further illustrates why Bobcat equipment is all class.

“Our strategy has been to buy new right from the word go and to date this has worked for us,” says Bulldog Trade Services director Andrew Skinner.

Andrew says having a good support back up is very important to them and to date they have had this from AB Equipment in spades. “Their sales pitch certainly doesn’t come sugar coated and we appreciate the honesty. We will be looking to expand our fleet in the future.

The combination of Bobcat and AB Equipment is just a no brainer for us.”

For more information or a demonstration of the new Bobcat E20 excavator contact AB Equipment on 0800 303 090 for the location of your nearest Bobcat dealer or AB Equipment branch.

Komatsu’s new training academy Leading mining and earthmoving equipment supplier Komatsu Australia has moved into the vocational educational field, offering a range of high-level technical, operator and management courses throughout New Zealand.

It has established a new business unit, Komatsu Training Academy (KTA) – a nationally registered training organisation (RTO) – to deliver vocational educational courses through what is one of the most advanced technical training facilities in the region.

KTA is headquartered at the Komatsu Technical Education Centre (KTEC) in Brisbane. Located on more than three hectares of land, KTEC has more than 2600 square metres of dedicated training facilities, including seven classrooms, seven technical/electrical laboratories and a large machine operator’s workshop.

Courses available through KTA cover a variety of mining, construction and utility machine types, including backhoe/loaders, dozers, crushers, dump trucks, excavators (conventional and hybrid), graders and wheel loaders, as well as general systems and technologies.

In addition, Komatsu’s groundbreaking Smartconstruction technology has been launched here and offers integrated product, service and support solutions across all phases of a project.

LAST WORD CONTRACTOR

THE BEST JUST GOT BETTER The leader in health and safety compliance, EROAD introduces the latest in driver and vehicle safety tools.

• Better driver feedback

Empower drivers to self-coach with Posted Speed on EROAD in-cab hardware

• Better driver support

See who’s behind the wheel, when, with Driver Login Monitor

• Better vehicle safety

EROAD Inspect now includes Defect Management, so you can find everything that’s failed in seconds, not hours

To see how easy the best can be, have a chat with our team: eroad.co.nz/driver-safety • 0800 455 891

CONTRACTOR CIVIL CONTRACTORS NEW ZEALAND

CCNZ update Welcome to new members

Policy issues CCNZ has been working on

• Northland Transport, Northland Branch • Ashburton Contracting, Canterbury/Westland Branch • Jack Thorburn Builders, Waikato Branch • Paul Smith Earthmoving and Civil, Auckland Branch

• Procurement Improvements – We are working with various groups to push improved procurement. Our simple messages are o use simple user friendly RFT documents, o use standards terms and conditions with minimum amendments, o don’t load risks on to contractors, o have a well-defined pipeline of projects.

• Quarry COC requirements • TTM training and competency review • Voidable transactions • Client adoption of ConstructSafe

New Major Associate member TR Group

CCNZ Executive Council changes Tim Ford from Fulton Hogan has been elected as Vice President of CCNZ. Tim joined the CCNZ Executive Council in 2016. He is Fulton Hogan’s Executive General manager – Regional Business.

Stephen Delaney from Downer NZ was elected to the CCNZ Executive Council. Stephen has worked in the civil construction industry all his working life, for the last seven years for Downer. His current position is General Manager Infrastructure Projects North Island.

Colin Calteaux of Andrew Haulage, Tony Pike of CPB Contractors and James Craw of JCL Asphalt were re-elected as Executive Councillors. Gary Richardson of Hirepool was re-elected as the Major Associate Executive Councillor.

CCNZ Strategic Priorities 2017/2018 CCNZ’s Executive Council has identified the following six issues as strategic priorities for 2017/18 1. Advocacy and representation 2. Update CCNZ communications 3. Embed Civil Trades within the industry 4. Make ConstructSafe the industry H&S standard 5. Develop a co-ordinated Careers Promotion Campaign 6. Manage industry self-regulation – specifically, review CCNZ’s Code of Practice for Handling of Bituminous Materials

Results of the 2017 Construction Industry Survey CCNZ in association with Teletrac Navman and Contractor magazine undertook an industry survey to better inform us about what you think are the critical issues facing the industry.

• 69% of people identify labour and skills shortages as the major issue facing the industry • 84% of people say they would recruit today if suitable people were available • 64% of people say they will need more staff in the next year • 60% of respondents said they would invest in new technology in the next year • 60% of companies run more than one prequalification system • 52% say the key business opportunity is to “look after my business reputation and be customer centric”.

For the full survey results go to bit.ly/industry_survey

New CCNZ Subcontract Agreement available The reviewed and updated CCNZ Subcontract Agreement is now available to members. To obtain a copy of the CCNZ Subcontract Agreement email tricia@civilcontractors.co.nz

Hirepool Principal Business Partner Agreement with CCNZ extended

Connexis launching infrastructure workforce jobsite!

CCNZ and Hirepool are very pleased to announce that they have renewed Hirepool’s Principal Business Partner relationship with CCNZ through until 2019.

The partnership extends across the country with Hirepool supporting CCNZ both nationally and regionally in our branches.

CCNZ CEO, Peter Silcock, said, “The agreement is very important to CCNZ. We have a very positive and productive partnership with Hirepool that enables us to provide strong support for the industry and better services to our members.”

Connexis is launching an infrastructure workforce jobsite, which will enable infrastructure companies to link up with jobseekers, and advertise any vacancies.

The Infrastructure Workforce Jobsite will launch on 1 September, and Connexis is now welcoming companies to send in job vacancies which will be loaded onto the jobsite in mid to late August ready for the launch.

If you would like to list a job vacancy or have any questions, please call 0800 486 626 or email marketing@connexis.org.nz.

A DV E RTI S ERS IND EX AB Equipment

13

Global Survey

29

Osborne Sales & Lease

Allied Petroleum

47

Heaney & Partners

49

Porter Equipment

IFC

Auckland Cranes

27

Hirepool 23

Simple Shelter

26

Hynds Pipes

11

Synergy Positioning

Industrial Seatbelts

31

TRS Tyre & Wheel

CCNZ Colliers International

12, 46 10

Connexis 53

Loadscan 37

EROAD 61

Mimico 15

Gough Group

Nimrod Engineering

62 www.contractormag.co.nz

OFC, 5, 9

OBC

Youngman Richardson

45

7 51 6

LAST WORD IN PICTURES Goodmans Contractors won the Category 3 (projects with a value of between $2-$100 million) in the 2017 CCNZ/ Hirepool Construction Excellence Awards.

The 18 kilometre Mackays to Peka Peka section of the Kapiti Expressway is the first section to be completed and opened earlier this year. It was constructed under an alliance model with NZTA, Fletcher Construction, Higgins and Beca. Goodmans Contractors was engaged as a sub-alliance partner for providing the earthworks and drainage.

AUGUST 2017 63

BREAKING NEW GROUND Quality couplers for earthmovers

NOW AVAILABLE IN NZ

Proudly distributed by:

Phone: 03 349 2621 Email: miller@nimrod.co.nz For more information visit:

www.nimrod.co.nz