Australian Construction Focus
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Australian Construction Focus
-By Tim Hocken and Jaime McKee
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he construction industry, perhaps more than any other, depends upon teamwork. Without valuing and utilizing the diverse skills of many individuals, bridges would not be built, heritage sites would not be restored, and buildings would not be constructed. Perhaps most plainly, without teamwork, companies would not endure. Brisland Pty Ltd recognized this when it was founded in 1989 and continues to do so to this day. In 2009, Brisland Pty Ltd became part of the Kell & Rigby Group and together forged an alliance of about 220 individuals with over 120 years experience among them. Both groups have distinctive records in the industry, and together they have the skills and knowledge base to tackle just about any task. Brisland’s staff numbers approximately 50 and the company serves as an autonomous entity within the group, handling government projects ranging from large-scale civil works, Australian Construction Focus
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Paddington Reservoir Gardens Located on the Corner of Oxford Street and Oatley Road, across from Paddington Town Hall, the gardens have been described as a “hidden beautiful secret”. The site once served as a functioning water reservoir in the 19th Century, but sat vacant and derelict for decades due to ongoing structural collapse. Together with the Council of the City of Sydney, Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects came up with a parkland design that would incorporate the existing heritage structure and it was Brisland’s task to make the project come to life safely and beautifully. Brisland’s first priority was to make the site safe for public use. Works included the careful removal of neglected infrastructure, site remediation, and restoration of various original elements. Added to the site were new columns, a sunken garden, a reflecting pool, a pedestrian boardwalk, and provisions for disabled access, all integrated into the Walter Read Reserve and the John Thompson Reserve. The nature of the existing reservoir and its unstable roof structure made the project a challenging one, but Brisland’s Occupational Health and Safety policy ensured that safe work practices were strictly adhered to. The Paddington Reservoir Gardens revitalization has since gone on to win numerous awards, including 2009’s Australia Award for Urban Design and the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects New South Wales award for Excellence in Landscape Architecture.
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Australian Construction Focus
heritage site restoration to new building construction. The objective of Brisland’s founders was to create a dynamic and progressive organisation that would grow by combining quality work with honesty and openness. The company’s goal was to function as a true team; to Brisland this meant valuing and rewarding employees, seeking feedback from staff at all levels, and creating a supportive environment for both democratic decision-making and career advancement. These priorities have endured through the company’s many years of growth as Brisland takes pride not only in its work, but also in its people.
work as one. The value Brisland places on its team members is immediately evident upon visiting the company’s comprehensive website and is emphasized further by Mr. Brisland. Indeed, it is woven into the very fabric of the company’s policies and procedures. Mr. Brisland describes the firm as a “family company”, one which focuses on communication, training, and staff retention. Brisland frequently takes on staff members as cadets while they are still attending university and helps them grow, ultimately, into Project Managers. The company also trains apprentices and has been the recipient of the Master Builders Association “Apprentice of the Year” Award on several occasions. Brisland also prides
Brisland’s keen focus on openness and communication with its staff is also extended to its relationships with clients. The company surveyed and sought feedback from those best qualified to give it; previous, existing, and potential customers. What it found was that clients value open communication, trust, and feeling as though they are part of a team. Brisland responded by developing a cooperative approach; the company is entirely upfront with its clients, inviting them to the table and, safety permitting, onto worksites throughout the entire process. Says Mr. Richard Brisland, the company’s Business Manager, “we like to build [our clients] a good project that they feel excited about”, and he feels this is best achieved when the client and the contractor Australian Construction Focus
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State Library of New South Wales Based in Sydney, the state library represented an exciting challenge for Brisland. A heritage building which was soon to celebrate its 100th anniversary, the library required a significant upgrade to its air conditioning systems and the construction of a new plant room, flooring, walkways, copper roofing, stairs and handrails – all without disturbing the celebration or public access to the building. Due to the unique building structure and the many heritage elements therein, Brisland had to work from the top down – literally. The company lifted everything from above by crane, being careful not to disturb the fabric of the building in the process. Mr. Richard Brisland described the work as “very tricky, as well as extremely rewarding”.
itself on its high-level management practices and these too represent an example of strong employee agency. Not content to simply go to a consulting firm and adopt a onesize-fits-all Quality Management System, Brisland instead wanted Quality Assurance to be woven into how it does business to have all company processes governed by comprehensive procedures. To this end, the company consulted with staff members to gain internal feedback an inclusive process which generated significant buy-in from employees at all levels. As Mr. Brisland says, “the employees themselves run it… they feel ownership of the whole [quality] system”. As of 2001, the result was one of the highest levels of accreditation available to Australian construction companies. Brisland Pty Ltd
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Australian Construction Focus
became an accredited Best Practice Contractor for the New South Wales government. Its Environmental System has also been accredited by the NSW Government and its Occupational Health and Safety System by both the NSW Government and also by the Commonwealths Government new Australian Building and Construction OHS Accreditation Scheme. The company is in fact one of only 30 contractors in the region who have such top-level accreditations,and as such is able to take on high-profile government projects not otherwise available. Brisland applies this same level of quality to its unique heritage projects. The company trains every member of its construction staff on heritage and environmentally sensitive protocols and retains several experienced
William Street Upgrade In 2005-2006, Brisland carried out a significant upgrade William Street as part of the Sydney Cross City Tunnel Project. The upgrade included streetscaping and beautification from Elizabeth Street to Kings Cross in the heart of Sydney, and was, in the words of Mr. Richard Brisland, a “reconfiguration of the entire street”. The project required considerable planning and consultation with stakeholders, as local businesses and traffic would be impacted by any work in the area. Brisland altered existing roads and footpaths, increasing pedestrian access and adding granite paving, parking spaces, smart lighting, landscaping, an upgraded stormwater system, and bus stops. The resulting streetscape is more userfriendly with greater safety and a charming “promenade” feel. Neighbourhood shops and cafés have seen increased business with European-style “sidewalk cafés” joining the scenery. A truly beautiful and expansive project, Brisland considers it a very satisfying achievement.
heritage tradesmen on its staff. Brisland has also built strong relationships with Heritage Architects, enabling the company to do justice to such projects as the Paddington Reservoir Gardens, the Speers Point Coal Services Relocation, and the restoration of the Newcastle Maritime Museum, for which Brisland worked from original, century-old architectural drawings. Please see sidebar for further detail on the Paddington Reservoir Gardens. Other notable projects of Brisland’s in recent years include the Maitland Regional Art Gallery a modern extension on an historic site. The project has been heralded by City Council officials and took home an MBA Excellence in Construction Award for a “refurbishment, renovation or extension
of up to $5 million”. The New South Wales State Library project represents another recent success of Brisland’s on a heritage structure, while the Sydney-based William Street Upgrade provides a stunning example of Brisland’s work on civil infrastructure and streetscaping. Please see sidebars for further detail on these impressive works. These masterfully executed projects are testaments to the excellence of the Brisland team. Its highly organized approach ensures that work is done safely and to the highest standards of quality. Brisland’s openness and upfront communication speak to how strongly the company values both its clients and its own staff members and are certain to ensure that Brisland Pty Ltd remains at the top of its field for many years to come. Australian Construction Focus
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Australian Construction Focus