Contractor Member Profile Featuring - Drasol

How long have you been in business?Over 20 years.

Where are you located?

Our Head Office is located in Somerton Park, South Australia, and DRASOL operates Australia wide.

How did you start your business?

In 1998 two brothers, Andrew and David Farrer, formed a partnership and named it Drainage Solutions. With a backhoe and a truck, they began their journey, developing the technical skills and equipment for success. The year 2008 saw the name change to DRASOL and the targeting of a wider range of activities. Today, we are proud to be a wholly South Australian owned and operated family business supporting the people, customers and communities we work in. Our values are based on reliability, respect, honesty, pride and integrity. These are the principles that define what we stand for at DRASOL and are at the core of everything we do.

What are your core business activities/specialties?

As DRASOL has grown, we have expanded and diversified and now service the civil, solar, rail and waste water treatment industries in Australia.

Our civil capabilities are best demonstrated by our successful track record in assisting the delivery of more than 20 key civil projects across Australia since establishing in 1998. Over these past two decades, DRASOL has developed into a solutionsbased business with the capability and expertise to deliver detailed excavation, earthworks, drainage, and in-ground services. As a result of working with a range of Tier 1 Contractors on major projects, DRASOL has developed business systems, honed the skills of our human resources and invested in plant and equipment to better offer the services that are required. Being a subcontractor to a range of corporate joint ventures, consortia and public/private partnerships has enabled us to evolve our business to exceed the high standards demanded in this realm.

With clients ranging from local and state government departments throughout Australia to local and national organisations, we have been exposed to the full range of legislative and corporate requirements, and conduct our operations accordingly.

DRASOL supplies civil solutions for utility provider assets, residential/commercial subdivisions, and major infrastructure projects. Installation of stormwater drainage and in-ground services is our speciality. With extensive experience working in live traffic corridors, commercial/industrial developments and live rail environments, we

have evolved to provide safe work practices while maintaining high standards of quality and productivity.

We have the capability to provide selfmanaged, autonomous work groups under DRASOL management systems or resources that operate under client direction. This offers flexible solutions to meet the variances in market demand. We have worked on a broad range of projects including the following:

»» Elevated highways

»» Lowered carriageways

»» Trunk water mains with deep excavation

»» Pedestrian precinct upgrades

»» Commercial properties and car parks

»» Residential sub-divisions

»» Utility service installation

Stormwater pollutant traps and detention systems

DRASOL has been involved in the rail industry for many years providing services for the delivery of reliable and safe rail infrastructure with extensive experience across light and heavy rail, in both broad and narrow gauge formats in the live corridor.

Australian rail continues to push the limits of efficiencies for businesses across the world. Providing services for delivery of reliable and safe rail infrastructure, rail in Australia underpins the national economy and is at the forefront of innovation, productivity and the world’s best practice. DRASOL is well placed to support our clients with their rail projects. Our key services in rail comprise:

»» Under-track crossings

»» Signalling pit and pipe infrastructure

»» Stormwater culverts

»» Swale drains and French drains

»» Erosion control

Station and platform demolition and upgrades

»» Car parks, street lighting, pump stations

»» Multiple road level crossings

Formation, stabilisation and reinstatement work

Keys to our success are our core capability and strength in carrying out works in the rail corridor under challenging conditions and time constraints. Our highly trained workforce with all current certification to satisfy Rail Safe-Working Management requirements offers peace of mind to our clients, knowing we mitigate operational and project management risks.

A new wave of sustainable and distributed energy has seen DRASOL expand into the solar industry, undertaking both large and small scale projects, working under the umbrella of both external client systems and as a self-managed contractor.

We have developed safe systems of work based around modular work groups. This greatly increases productivity with consistently high standards of quality workmanship. On larger projects, rotation of work groups reduces fatigue and the negative effects of extended repetitive work. Our multi-skilled workforce is trained in all aspects of mechanical installation, which allows us the flexibility to follow variances in tight project construction programs, and enables us to provide staff coverage in the event of absenteeism, should the need arise.

A core component of our construction teams is from indigenous backgrounds, or are members of rural communities who DRASOL have trained extensively. We believe it is important to invest in the local communities, both financially and with skills-based knowledge, and our approach is aligned with the goals of the Australian Industry Participation Policy.

DRASOL offers:»»

Technical experience

In house developed quality management system

»» Site-based teams

»» Calibrated tooling

»» Manufacturer-trained technicians

Diversity in large scale and small scale project

Completed project/products or services you have worked on/or have that you are most proud of?

Adelaide Metropolitan Rail Revitalisation Project, Glenelg Tram Extension, Hornsdale Wind Farm, Hackney and North East Road Trunk Water Main Renewal, SA Water’s North South Interconnection System Project, Darlington Upgrade Project, Bungala, Peterborough, Woodlawn, Royalla, Moree, Barcaldine, Mobilong, Mannum and Sunraysia Solar Farms.

How many machines do you have in your fleet and what types?

In our fleet we have 1.8 to 23 tonne excavators and everything in between, including telehandlers, loaders, vac trucks, tipper, and flatbed trucks. DRASOL is proud of our in-house servicing department which maintains our equipment to the highest standards.

How many staff do you employ?DRASOL currently employs 61 staff.

Any other information:

We have invested in specialised equipment in rail, civil and solar to increase efficiencies across the board.

Please visit our website at www.drasol.com.au

DRASOL Contact: Andrew Farrer – Director P: 08 8376 9226 E: admin@drasol.com.au www.drasol.com.au