Civil Contractors Federation SA Magazine Issue 3 2023 - Civil Connect

CIVILCONNECT ISSUE 3 2023

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE CIVIL CONTRACTORS FEDERATION SOUTH AUSTRALIA

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CIVIL CONNECT

CIVILCONNECT

ISSUE THREE 2023

DISCLAIMER The material contained in this magazine is by nature, general comment only.

The CCF SA expressly disclaims all and any liability to any person in respect of anything and the consequences of anything done or omitted to be done by any person in whole or partial reliance on all or in part of this magazine.

CONTENTS

CCF SA BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2023-2025 Charles Hatcher - President Tim Bishop - Vice President Kerry Yeates - Secretary Sharon van Kempen - Honourary Treasurer Paul Davison Gerard Beltrame Simon Abrahams Natasha Hemmerling - Board Observer Rebecca Pickering Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director Civil Apprenticeships and Careers Ltd rpickering@ccfsa.com.au

Message From The CEO

2

The Digital Review

6

2024 Industry Calendar

7

Maintain your health to protect your business

8

MEET THE BOSS: CME Civil - Emma Ebert

10

The benefits of being a CCF system certified contractor

13

CCF SA EVENT: Regional Conference

14

WIC: A concrete future for women in the construction industry

16

GALLAGHER: Don’t let an underinsurance gap compromise your success

18

HIW: Work hardening, capacity building and re-skilling injured workers

20

BRENTNALLS: Cashflow & managing projects

24

CCF SA EVENT: CCF SA President’s Sundowner & AGM 2023

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MEMBER PROFILE: Hays

28

CCF SA EVENT: Golf Day

30

MEET THE BOSS: Neo Infrastructure - Simon Bowring

32

CCF SA EVENT: Members Drinks

34

STATEWIDE HYDROJET: Traversing new horizons in work and adventure

36

FIC: Chat GPT Workshop

38

Megan Miranda Executive Assistant to the Executive Team mmiranda@ccfsa.com.au

RMG: Retired Members Group - Social Club

39

CIVIL TRAIN CONTACT

DIT: Small business feature

40

CCF SA EVENT: Earth Awards

42

CCF SA IN THE NEWS

44

Matt Blackborough Executive Manager mblackborough@ccfsa.com.au

CHANGES TO UNFAIR CONTRACT LAW

47

BMD AND CCF SA TRAINING PARTNERSHIP

48

CIVIL TRAIN: Laying foundations: not just a training provider but a strategic partner in the success of small businesses

52

CIVIL TRAIN: From silent to Alpha

54

CIVIL TRAIN NT: Supporting business

56

CIVIL TRAIN WA: Paving the way for the future of construction apprenticeships

58

EXCLUSIVE OFFERS

60

MEET THE TEAM

62

CIVIL APPRENTICESHIPS AND CAREERS LTD

64

National Safety Month Workshop

70

WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS

72

SUPPLIERS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS

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ccfsa.com.au

civiltrain.com.au

cacl.com.au

CCF SA CONTACT Ming Lau Director of Finance mlau@ccfsa.com.au Marisa Kemp Project Manager | Training mkemp@ccfsa.com.au Ben Schwidder Business Development Manager bschwidder@ccfsa.com.au 0438 822 623 Brodie Telford-Webb Group Business Development Manager btelfordwebb@ccfsa.com.au 0405 584 742

Amy Reid RTO Business Development Manager areid@ccfsa.com.au 0429 307 346 Seaneade Armour Operations Manager WA sarmour@ccfsa.com.au Mark Hopkins Operations Manager NT mhopkins@ccfsa.com.au CACL CONTACT Natasha Black GTO Manager nblack@ccfsa.com.au

Cover Photo: CACL 2nd year apprentice Joshua Renfrey, hosted by Pasculli Enterprises Printing: Bowden Print Group

FIND US ONLINE

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This edition of Civil Connect comes as our 2023 year concludes. We say goodbye to the year that was and welcome a new, and hopefully project-rich, 2024.

I take this opportunity to announce and congratulate our new CCF SA Board Executive, consisting of: •

Charles Hatcher, President

•

Tim Bishop, Vice President

•

Kerry Yeates, Secretary

•

Sharon van Kempen, Treasurer

Simon Abraham, Paul Davison, and Gerard Beltrame have been reappointed to the CCF SA Board, along with Natasha Hemmerling, who continues her valuable contribution as Board Observer. The industry’s overwhelming response in favour of this same Board is a testamentary to their remarkable achievements, which they will undoubtedly continue to deliver for the civil industry. We can trust the Board will sustain its exceptional work throughout the new term, including the critical responsibility of identifying a new CCF SA Head Office, and supporting the industry during this challenging and unprecedentedly complex period in South Australia’s history.

Looking back on 2023, we can proudly say that our industry advocacy efforts have been fruitful. We have made significant achievements in a range of complex and varied issues which stand as a testament to the hard work put in by our team. Despite the challenges that lie ahead, we remain committed to our goals and are confident that our resilience and adaptability will continue to carry us through.

MESSAGE

Highlights through the 2023 term are as follows: •

Collaborating with Department for Industry, Innovation and Science to support the development of an overarching workforce plan supporting the infrastructure needs of South Australia. Specific projects which should have immediate focus include: Hydrogen Plant, Northern Water Project, Torrens to Darlington Tunnels Project, State Government Housing Developments and Women’s and Childrens Hospital.

FROM THE CEO REBECCA PICKERING

Chief Executive Officer CCF SA & Executive Director Civil Apprenticeships and Careers Ltd 2

◊

Focusing an initial workforce plan on these projects to take into account impacts on other CIVIL CONNECT

infrastructure needs across the State include road maintenance and construction, private infrastructure projects, utility maintenance and construction (water, electricity, gas, communications) and other private and public housing projects.

•

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Bank Guarantee, Retention, Security.

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Improved Facilities Management/ Service Partners engagement with civil industry.

•

Direct access and ongoing discussions held with several Australian Government Departments as we continue the fight for improved Civil Occupational Job Code recognition

by ABS and Federal funding of our Civil Apprentices, including support for their employers and hosts.

Direct CCF SA submission to the Australian Government on the following reviews: ◊

The 90-Day Infrastructure Review.

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Office of Federal Safety Commissioner Review.

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Australian Skills Guarantee Procurement Connected Policy Guidelines, as currently released by the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.

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ANZSIC Occupational Code Review – Civil Occupation Recognition.

•

Submissions, forums and advocacy was also undertaken relating to the following: ◊

Construction Industry Long Service Leave (CILSL).

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Civil Dispute Resolution for Breaches of WHS Duties Consultation Submission.

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•

The Australian Government Budget for 2023 – 24 was released, prompting strong and frustrated calls for recognition and financial support for our South Australian Civil Apprentices. Once again, the budget lacked the full support for Civil Apprentices through its Australian Apprenticeships Incentives System (AAIS).

•

After receiving CCF SA calls for civil apprenticeship recognition by the Australian Government, the South Australian Government provided support in response. ◊

20-Year State Infrastructure Strategy Discussion Paper Submission.

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Greater Adelaide Regional Plan, 30-Year Vision Submission.

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Small Business Commissioner Act Minister.

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Rights and Respect Awareness Campaign.

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Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Bill 2023 (Cth) Submission.

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SA Water – Procurement and Pipeline.

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DIT – Procurement and Pipeline.

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Migration – Skilled and Unskilled Labour.

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Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).

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University Internship Connector (Civil Engineer/Construction Management).

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CBS Civil Supervisor Licence Changes.

ISSUE 3 – 2023

◊

The South Australian Skills Commissioner was tasked with investigating concerns raised

by CCF SA, which included engagement with other states and territories, as well as civil construction industry stakeholders. This investigation exposed the scale of the issues faced by South Australia, their impacts on workforce capability, and recommendations to address these concerns. It confirmed that the CCF SA’s Australian Apprentice Priority List (AAPL) concerns were valid, revealing significant skills and workforce shortages within the civil construction industry, particularly at entry level. Moreover, the review found that other interstate jurisdictions were also facing similar skills shortages across the civil sector.

A South Australian Government letter was sent to Hon. Brendan O’Connor, MP and Minister for Skills and Training, encouraging him to work with SA Skills Commissioner and similar statebased representatives in other jurisdictions to address this critical issue.

•

Successful Civil Infrastructure Roundtable in South Australia with Minister Tom Koutsantonis MP and Minister for Infrastructure and Mining, resulting in his commitment to hold the same forum on an ongoing basis.

•

Several direct and ongoing forums with infrastructure Public Agencies, influencers, and decision-makers.

•

More than 100 schools are directly engaged with CCF SA to promote civil occupations and our industry. ◊

The roll-out of CCF SA - led ‘Flexible Industry Pathways’ in South Australian Secondary Schools is well in hand. This is a new critical industry pathway into civil careers for our young South Australian future civil professionals that was previously not available.

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School Civil Immersion Programs are being successfully adopted:

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3-hour industry house tours (Years 7 - 10)

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24 schools enrolled students in 12 programs in 2023.

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2-day trade taster (Years 10 and 11)

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18 schools enrolled in 7 programs in 2023.

3-hour bus tour – CITB has ceased funding the bus tour; however, Renewal SA will fund the whole program moving forward ◊

•

4 schools enrolled students in 4 programs in 2023.

We continue our advocacy on your behalf with our State Government on the following: ◊

Development of a workforce plan focusing on Infrastructure projects.

◊

Labour Procurement ‘Making the Public Dollar Work’ Policies implementation, including: ◊

15-day payment terms across all levels of the supply chain.

◊

1% subcontractor support fund.

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Establishment of an independent complaints process for tenderers.

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20% of all labour hours on major projects to be sourced from apprentices, trainees, Aboriginal workers or the long-term unemployed.

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Assisting local businesses to be ‘tender-ready’.

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Reconsider DIT direct engagement of civil contractors – including maintenance of State Government assets.

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Live and dynamic platform for ‘Forward Works Plan’ providing access to industry to ‘real’ and reliable project status and planning.

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The 90-Day Infrastructure Review Concludes On 15 November it was announced that the Federal Government 90-Day Infrastructure Review (The Review) was finally complete. The Australian Government’s Infrastructure Policy Statement was the first document to be released. The following day, the list of retained, cancelled, and reprofiled Infrastructure Projects was also published. A week later, the Federal Government announced further funding for road programs, where every Australian Council would receive double to current funding to assist the backlog of road maintenance work. If you haven’t had a moment, read the new Policy; it is a good and interesting read.

Australian Government Australian Government

Infrastructure Policy Statement Infrastructure Policy Statement Document purpose

Improved small, medium business support and recognition.

◊

Transparent policies/position regarding South Australian - owned civil contracting businesses.

◊

We continue to advocate strongly for our industry’s freedom, safety, and welfare.

The Australian Government is committed to focusing on delivering nationally significant land transport

projects in partnership with our stakeholders, and taking a strategic view of its investments and the Document purpose

infrastructure pipeline.

The Australian Government is committed to focusing on delivering nationally significant land transport This Policy Statement:with our stakeholders, and taking a strategic view of its investments and the projects in partnership infrastructure pipeline. significant transport infrastructure; • defines nationally This Statement: • Policy sets out three strategic themes that will guide our investment decisions in nationally significant infrastructure; • defines nationallyand significant transport infrastructure; outlines howstrategic the Government will will put guide these our themes into action, and leverage the unique opportunities to • •sets out three themes that investment decisions in nationally significant deliver our policy infrastructure; and objectives.

Transport infrastructure should not be an end in itself – when properly planned and targeted, it is an enabler • outlines how the Government will put these themes into action, and leverage the unique opportunities to that helps us unlock a range of significant economic, social and environmental objectives. deliver our policy objectives.

While this document is a statement of Government intent, it may be updated over time.

Transport infrastructure should not be an end in itself – when properly planned and targeted, it is an enabler that helps us unlock a range of significant economic, social and environmental objectives.

It has been a big year of advocacy; thank you to those who actively contributed and who took the time to ensure we at CCF SA were across industry issues causing concerns or presenting opportunities.

There was other big news recently too, the 90-Day Infrastructure Review concluded.

What are ‘nationally significant’ infrastructure projects?

While this document is a statement of Government intent, it may be updated over time.

The Government considers nationally significant transport infrastructure projects to comprise projects which

require aare clear role for the Commonwealth, and include at least two of the following characteristics: What ‘nationally significant’ infrastructure projects?

• Government an Australianconsiders Government contribution of attransport least $250 million; and/or The nationally significant infrastructure projects to comprise projects which require a clear role for the Commonwealth, and include at least of the following • alignment with Government priorities as articulated in this two document; and/or characteristics: • •ansituated Australian of atLand leastTransport $250 million; and/or on Government or connectedcontribution to the National Network and/or other key freight routes, such as those identified in the National Freight and Supplyin Chain Strategy; and/or • alignment with Government priorities as articulated this document; and/or supporting emerging or National broader national priorities such asand/or housing, defence, the development • •situated on orother connected to the Land Transport Network other key freight routes, suchof as critical mineralinresources and Freight Closingand the Supply Gap. Chain Strategy; and/or those identified the National • supporting other emerging or broader national priorities such as housing, defence, the development of CCF SA’s Next Steps: critical mineral resources and Closing the Gap.

•

•

Continue its request for the release of the Forward Work Plan (with dates) for the 13 crucial infrastructure upgrade projects across Adelaide designed to support the River Torrens to Darlington Project – collectively valued at a total of $850 million.

CCF SA now seeks crucial details, dates and a comprehensive infrastructure plan Page 1 of 6 that takes into consideration the new funding policy to ensure a strong foundation (pardon the pun) for our future.

Infrastructure Policy Statement – 14 November 2023

Infrastructure Policy Statement – 14 November 2023

Page 1 of 6

The following provides further highlights and understanding relating to the Federal Government’s new Infrastructure Policy: The Statement

The Australian Government is committed to focusing on delivering nationally significant land transport projects in partnership with our stakeholders, and taking a strategic view of its investments and the infrastructure pipeline. This Policy Statement:

4

•

defines nationally significant transport infrastructure;

•

sets out three strategic themes that will guide our investment decisions in nationally significant infrastructure; and

•

outlines how the Government will put these themes into action and leverage the unique opportunities to deliver our policy objectives.

CIVIL CONNECT

Transport infrastructure should not be an end in itself – when properly planned and targeted, it is an enabler that helps us unlock a range of significant economic, social and environmental objectives.

Commonwealth to contribute to a greater number of projects across jurisdictions. The Government may consider funding a greater share of projects on the National Land Transport Network in jurisdictions with less capacity to raise revenue on a case-by-case basis.

How Are South Australian Projects/Programs Impacted?

Infrastructure Policy Statement Aligning with the aims of the review, the statement commits the Commonwealth Government to delivering nationally significant infrastructure, defined as having at least two of the below key attributes: •

Commonwealth Government contribution of at least $250 million.

•

Alignment with priorities as outlined in the Infrastructure Policy Statement.

•

Situated in or connected to the National Land Transport Network and/or other key freight routes.

•

Supporting other emerging or broader national priorities – such as housing or critical minerals.

The policy also sets out three strategic themes that will guide Commonwealth investment decisions on nationally significant infrastructure; productivity and resilience, liveability; sustainability.

What Are ‘Nationally Significant’ Infrastructure Projects?

The Government considers nationally significant transport infrastructure projects to comprise projects which require a clear role for the Commonwealth, and include at least two of the following characteristics: •

an Australian Government contribution of at least $250 million; and/or

•

alignment with Government priorities as articulated in this document; and/or

•

situated on or connected to the National Land Transport Network and/or other key freight routes, such as those identified in the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy; and/or

•

supporting other emerging or broader national priorities such as housing, defence, the development of critical mineral resources, and Closing the Gap.

Equal Funding Split The Australian Government’s funding for nationally significant land transport infrastructure projects will be provided on a 50:50 basis with state and territory delivery partners. This ensures more proportional risk sharing and allows the ISSUE 3 – 2023

As at 27 November 2023

South Australia The following projects will be built with additional Australian Government funding: Project name

North-South Corridor - Torrens to Darlington

Additional Australian Total Australian Government funding ($) Government funding ($) 2,725,000,000 7,700,000,000

The following projects will be built as planned:

Project name Adelaide Hills Productivity & Road Safety Package Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands - Main Access Road Upgrade - Stuart Highway to Pukatja Automated Train Protection Signals Upgrade – Seaford Line Brighton Road Intersection Improvements Cockburn to Burra Corridor (SA) - Barrier Highway Upgrade Cross Road - Fullarton Road Intersection Eyre Peninsula Network Fleurieu Connection Goodwood and Torrens Junctions Kangaroo Island Road Safety and Bushfire Resilience Package Lefevre Peninsula Upgrades Marion Road - Anzac Highway to Cross Road Marion Road and Sir Donald Bradman Drive Intersection Upgrade Nationwide Freight Highway Upgrade Program (SA) Port Augusta to Perth Corridor (SA) - Eyre Highway Upgrade Renmark to Gawler Corridor (SA) - Sturt Highway Upgrade Rural Roads Package - Horrocks Highway Corridor Rural Roads Package - Naracoorte Roundabouts Rural Roads Package - Safety Package South Eastern Freeway Upgrade Southern Expressway and Majors Road Interchange Strzelecki Track Upgrade - Sealing Targeted Investments to Improve National Supply Chain Resilience Remote Roads Upgrade Pilot Program

Total Australian Government funding ($) 120,000,000 125,424,000 5,000,000 15,000,000 50,000,000 30,500,000 41,000,000 221,600,000 210,707,600 32,000,000 50,000,000 200,000,000 42,500,000 400,000,000 75,200,000 70,000,000 84,000,000 11,800,000 124,400,000 120,000,000 60,000,000 164,000,000 60,000,000 7,412,160

The following planning projects will continue as planned: Project name High Productivity Vehicle Network (SA) - Planning Level Crossing Removal Planning Program

Total Australian Government funding ($) 8,500,000 5,000,000

The Review process found that there are projects that do not demonstrate merit, lack any national strategic rationale and do not meet the Australian Government’s national investment priorities. In many cases these projects are also at high risk of further cost pressures and/or delays.

The following projects will not receive Australian Government funding at this time: Project name Hahndorf Township Improvements and Access Upgrade Main South Road Productivity Package Old Belair Road upgrade, Mitcham Onkaparinga Valley Road - Tiers Road - Nairne Road Intersection Upgrade Truro Bypass

The following road corridors will be established: Corridor name

Princes Highway

Total Australian Comprised of the following existing projects Government funding ($) 361,000,000 Princes Highway - Port Wakefield to Port Augusta Duplication works Augusta Highway Duplication Stage 2 Princes Highway Corridor - Intersection Improvements Princes Highway Corridor - Overtaking Lanes Princes Highway Corridor - Pavement Works Princes Highway Corridor - Rest Areas Princes Highway Corridor - Safety and Signage Improvements Princes Highway Corridor - Shoulder Sealing

Before you turn the page to continue your read, we would like to extend our heartfelt10 Note: This does not include projects currently under construction without funding beyond the 2023-24 Financial Year appreciation to our amazing CCF SA Members. Your consistent and invaluable support, both financially and otherwise, has played a pivotal role in our groundbreaking strides for the industry and community. We acknowledge that times can be tough, and we are deeply grateful for the steadfast devotion of all our members, both small and large.

Your unwavering commitment to the greater good of the industry and South Australia has helped us to support each other and advance our industry. We cannot thank you enough for your unparalleled generosity. You are an integral part of the CCF SA family.

Please continue to keep us in the loop on what impacts you and your business. We are always here to support you.

My contact details can be accessed through the QR Code, so don’t hesitate to reach out.

Finally, we would like to wish you a very happy and peaceful festive break, followed by a new year blessed with good health, success, and fulfilment in 2024.

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CCF SA Gala Industry & Training Awards 2023

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Engaging with our valued members on social media is one of the best ways to hear updates, feedback, and let members know when our fantastic events are being held.

Social media has created the opportunity to interact in real-time with our members, wherever we may be.

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CIVIL CONNECT

Public Holiday

2024 INDUSTRY CALENDAR JANUARY

FEBRUARY

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Rostered Day Off Christmas Shutdown

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SA SCHOOL TERM DATES

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JANUARY 2025

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NOVEMBER MON

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Term 1

29 January - 12 April

Term 2

29 April - 5 July

Term 3

22 July - 27 September

Term 4

14 October - 13 December

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The RDOs provided in this calendar are the expected industry RDOs for on-site construction work in South Australia. Note that employers covered by the Building and Construction General On-Site Award 2020 must consider and apply the terms of clause 16 of that Award in relation to RDOs. Employees covered by an enterprise Agreement will need to refer to that Agreement for RDO Provisions.

CCF SA CHRISTMAS SHUTDOWN Commences Monday 23 December 2024 to Monday 6 January 2025 (inclusive).

CCF SA BUSINESS PARTNERS 2023

MAINTAIN YOUR HEALTH TO PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS

Getting sick or injured is never fun, but it is even worse when you are running a small business.

Depending on how serious it is, you may fall behind in your work or miss out on contracts from not being able to work while you are recovering. Sometimes, stuff happens, and there’s not much you can do about it. But if you take the time to look after your health, you can reduce the risk of serious injuries and illnesses that can bring you and your business crashing down.

Here is a checklist of the various things you can do to improve and maintain a good level of physical health.

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Develop a morning routine to start the day off right – it can be meditation, eating a nutritious breakfast, or walking your dog.

Eat a healthy diet of vegetables, fruits, wholegrains, lean meat (or meat alternatives) and dairy. Fresh and organic food are preferred. Healthy eating will help to boost your energy and immunity levels, and could help lower the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some other ailments.

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Drink at least 2L of water a day to avoid dehydration and help the body to function well.

pressure and stroke, to name a few.

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Brush your teeth twice a day (and don’t forget to floss) and visit your dentist regularly for a checkup.

Poor oral hygiene can lead to dental problems and even diseases in other areas and organs in the body.

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Wear sun protection anytime the UV rating is 3 or higher. Overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays can lead to skin cancer, skin damage and even eye injury.

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Take a power nap – it may help you to recharge your energy, especially if you are feeling tired halfway through the day.

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Aim for 8 hours of good sleep every night – it’s crucial to your wellbeing!

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Limit ‘sometimes foods’ like takeaway meals, soft drinks, chocolates, chips, pies, biscuits, and lollies to special occasions and small amounts.

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Move more, sit less. Aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day to boost energy, strengthen muscles and bones, and stimulate brain activity.

Check your body regularly for lumps and bumps or new moles/moles that have changed, and talk to your GP if you’ve noticed anything unusual. It could be skin cancer.

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Make time to exercise 3 – 5 times a week, preferably in an outdoor, natural/green environment to help promote physiological health.

Go for an annual health checkup – your GP can help to identify any signs of health issues and advise on the necessary course of action.

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Vaccinate yearly against the flu and get any other boosters (eg COVID-19) you may need.

Vaccination is not only important for you but for your community’s health.

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Quit smoking. It could help extend your life expectancy and reduce the risk of adverse health effects to your heart, lung and/or bones.

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Minimise the amount of alcohol you drink. Binge drinking can increase the risk of health problems including cancer, heart failure, high blood

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MEET THE BOSS: CME CIVIL - EMMA EBERT P: 08 8132 0922 F: 08 8132 1022 Written by Sarah Goh

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CME Civil Pty Ltd (CME) is a local civil construction company that offers a range of services and undertakes projects, operating within its core values of safety, quality, and integrity.

It is co-owned by three colleagues (two civil engineers and the third from a superintendent background) who in 2008, left the company they worked for, to pursue their dream of operating their own business.

CME is the first business owned by all three. Fifteen years on, the joint venture has proven to be resilient, and capable 10

of overcoming the various challenges encountered, and today, it remains just as committed to delivering projects successfully as it was at inception.

Here, we feature Emma Ebert, one of the three owner-directors, a civil engineer with 28 years industry experience.

THE EARLY YEARS

Ebert was born and bred in South Australia. Adept at math and science, she graduated with a civil engineering degree in 1996.

In her early career, Ebert spent a lot of time working in regional areas, starting from when she left home and drove to

outback Queensland, to cut her teeth as a junior engineer.

In the male dominated industry, she had to work hard and learn fast to get her point across; that was no different from her university days when only a couple of females were pursuing engineering studies.

A few things worked to spur her along.

The rookie engineer had good mentors, enjoyed doing things and seeing projects through, and loved working in outdoor environments.

Over time, she accumulated extensive experience in project estimating, an area where her skills are highly regarded.

CIVIL CONNECT

Ebert’s main business role is in tendering, pre-contract negotiation and business development. She is also responsible for the day-to-day running of the business, including overseeing the financial side of the operations.

She is grateful she has good business partners. “We run a fairly lean business; we work both in and on the business.”

This has proven helpful, not only during the busy times since COVID-19, but also in the current challenging market conditions. “We’re in the same position as a lot of builders in that we are delivering tenders that are now 12–18 months old, during which time both cost and inflation have increased.”

“Nobody forecast inflationary pressures like what we’re experiencing now. We’ve seen builders fall over. We’re facing the same challenges… times are tough.”

Whatever challenges there are on the work front, Ebert believes that one of the most important things about being a CME co-owner is to look after the 35 staff, some of whom have been with the company since its inception. “I believe that if you look after them, they will do the right thing in return,” she says. “Our people are our most valuable asset.”

When asked about the CME projects she’s most proud of, Ebert responds by saying she likes to think that with everything the company does, it is done with a safety-first

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quality product, and the company puts in a lot of effort to nurture client relationships.

“I’d like to think there’re not too many clients who would not ask us back,” she’s proud to declare.

Recently, the bulk of the business has been based on subdivision work, and with the government keen to build affordable housing, that’s a good area to invest in.

“In addition to subdivision work, we have particular strengths in self-performing services infrastructure, and have also been involved in many large government infrastructure projects over the years.”

WOMEN IN THE INDUSTRY

Ebert has always been aware of belonging to the minority in the industry, as a female, and an engineer.

Sadly, according to her, little has changed over the years, and women remain in the minority in civil works.

However, she is optimistic that the attitude will gradually shift. She praises Women In Civil (WIC) for bringing people together to celebrate who they are, and is supportive of its mentoring program that is helping those who are new to the industry.* And her tip for the fledgling civil worker (male or female) who is part of a minority group? “Be a risk taker, but careful and be aware. Importantly, be prepared to do the work.”

OUTSIDE WORK

A wife and mother, Ebert’s two teenage children keep her busy when she’s not working.

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EMMA EBERT – ESTIMATOR/ COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR OF CME PTY LTD

“I like gardening and Pilates, and I like to spend time with my family. I feel I spend a lot of time in the office, so when I’m not here, I like to be with them.”

She is grateful to have a very supportive husband without whom she would not have been able to start the business or keep going in it.

While she enjoys family holidays, taking time off work is not easy.

Like her partners, Ebert tries to juggle work-life balance. The job is stressful – they not only have to worry about work issues, but keep an eye on the staff’s welfare.

Listening to her audiobook on lunchtime walks around the Torrens is a treat. She learned a long time ago there’ll always be more work to do, but if she doesn’t step away, the work will still be there.

Nowadays, the boss also tries to get home in time to join her family for dinner.

What advice can the boss give to anyone considering starting a business?

Ebert reflects on why and how she went into business – to set her family up for a brighter future. It was a big step for someone with a one-year-old son, a mortgage, and no backup plan. A daunting move incurring financial responsibilities, the hiring of staff, and working relentlessly to build the company.

For anyone who is considering owning a business, Ebert believes they should step out of their comfort zone, and have the courage to work hard, take risks, and push boundaries to pursue their dream.

And for this boss who is about to become a semi-centennial, she estimates there is enough left in her tank to keep her going for some years yet.

Excellent! The industry is blessed to have a role model like Emma Ebert. An estimator extraordinaire (breathing life into the business), she also comes across as someone who is exemplary and equanimous (living her life surrounded by love, and with contentment). *Ebert was a past member, and Chair of WIC from 2011. She also served on the CCF SA Board between 2017–2021. Emma has now stepped down to concentrate on her business and family affairs.

ISSUE 3 – 2023

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THE BENEFITS OF BEING

CCF SYSTEM CERTIFIED CONTRACTOR CIVIL CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT CODE

The Civil Construction Management Code (CCF Code) has now been accepted as a recognised standard for some 25 years in the civil construction industry.

It was developed by CCF in response to the needs of various Federal and State Government Authorities, and other key stakeholders in the civil construction industry. That was done to set a system structure in place, to enable the contractor to deliver customer satisfaction, and ensure project safety, environmental and quality issues are effectively managed for both business and project risks.

The CCF Code has been designed upon the management systems principals identified within each of the currently recognised international standards (ISO 9001, 45001 & 14001) in the primary areas of need for construction industry stakeholders, and to be delivered in a manner that can be easily implemented in our industry.

The code has been accredited by JAZANZ for third party certification, and many clients readily accept third party certification of management systems

against this code as evidence of meeting their requirements for Quality, Safety and Environmental Management Systems (QSEMS).

In SA, key clients such as DIT, SA Water, as well as a number of local government and private parties, recognise the CCF Code as meeting their requirements for safety, environment and quality standards for prequalification, so you are able to provide tenders/quotes for their listed construction requirements, including getting onto their accepted list of contractors.

THE TWO-STAGE AUDIT PROCESS TOWARDS CERTIFICATION:

Stage 1 audit determines if the company’s documentation and organisation are adequate with meeting the CCF Code; it is only conducted once.

Stage 2 audit (certification audit) – once stage 1 issues have been addressed, it measures the level of the application by the company throughout its operations, and if that is determined to be satisfactory, the company will be issued a certificate for a period of 12 months.

Recertification is required every 12 months and the process addresses the same areas as those addressed at the Stage 2 audit.

CCF members can access as part of their membership the following documentation: Under the heading ‘CCF Management Code’ • • •

CCF CODE Using the code Policies

Management Plans • • •

Reports & Registers Forms Government Agency reference documents

These documents, plus the gap analysis document, are a good start to see how your system measures up to the CCF Code requirements.

CCF CODE VERSION 10: •

Combines the best practice principles of recognised legislation and standards including ISO 9001, 45001 and 14001, and AS/NZ 4801 into a single set of requirements, specifying the best practice management system.

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Ensures its requirements are sensible, practical, and usable, to best meet the operational needs of its users.

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Reflects years of industry feedback, continual improvement, and expert input, to ensure the CCF Code is comprehensive and accepted by the industry.

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Is complemented by the Management System Reference Documents (MSRD), a suite of templates for building a certifiable Management System.

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REGIONAL CONFERENCE

B R I D G E P O R T H OT E L M U R R AY B R I D G E | 2 8 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 3

ccfsa.com.au

Written by Nelda Aldrete In our ongoing commitment to enhance regional engagement with our valued members, CCF SA organised an ‘open board meeting’ and a industry conference at the newly constructed Bridgeport Hotel in Murray Bridge. he event featured a conference with six distinguished speakers, a CCF SA board meeting, and an enjoyable three-course dinner with exceptional value for both our valued regional members and those traveling from metropolitan areas. Engaging discussions covered diverse aspects of civil works, addressing topics such as the impact of floods, ongoing upgrades, and future projects.

The agenda also provided valuable legal advice and insights into apprenticeship pathways.

We were honored to have distinguished speakers share their expertise.

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Adrian Pederick, Shadow Minister for Veterans Affairs | Emergency Services | Regional Roads | Member for Hammond

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Jodie Hawkes, Co-owner, and CEO of Bowhill Engineering | Chair at Regional Development Australia Murraylands and Riverland

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Russell Troup and Mick Lorenz, Department of Infrastructure and Transport.

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Tom Earls, Partner at Fair Work Lawyers.

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Natasha Black, GTO Manager of Civil Apprentices and Careers Ltd.

A highlight of the conference was the open board meeting, offering attendees and members a rare opportunity to gain insight into the inner workings of CCF SA. Special thanks to HWL Ebsworth Lawyers for supporting this event.

The day concluded with a private function featuring a sumptuous three-course dinner, abundant drinks, and extended networking well into the night, or for some, into the early morning hours.

The event was a resounding success as a regional conference and we aspire to replicate this achievement in 2024.

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CIVIL CONNECT

ISSUE 3 – 2023

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PART TWO

A CONCRETE FUTURE FOR WOMEN IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WOMAN IN CIVIL COMMITTEE Written by Nikki Orrock, Women in Civil Committee Member

VIVIANA RUIZ Viviana grew up in Colombia, where her dad worked as a concreter. Her decision to pursue a degree in materials engineering was influenced by her goal to be part of a more sustainable society. While studying at university, Viviana had a female professor who was extremely passionate about the concrete industry, and she mentored and supported her. Through this relationship and being involved in R&D projects throughout her master’s degree, Viviana started working towards a technical-based career in the concrete industry. When she finished her studies, she moved to Adelaide, where she worked as a Lab Technician for Hallett Concrete. She now works at Holcim as part of their technical team.

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT ROLE AND WHAT DOES IT INVOLVE? I am the Technical Supervisor and oversee Adelaide and Country North in South Australia. I am responsible for a broad range of technical tasks, such as creating mix designs in accordance with Australian standards and project specifications, trialling new mixes and maintaining the quality of current mixes as well as providing customers with technical advice.

As my role is diverse, I spend most of my time between the lab, on-site with customers, and our main office.

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WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PROUDEST MOMENTS IN YOUR CAREER? Moments that make me feel really proud are when I see the shift in some customers go from seeming to have reservations or doubts when I provide advice, to fully trusting and believing in my work and guidance, especially when you take into consideration that some of these customers have been in the concrete industry for longer than I have been alive, and are entrusting me with advice and solutions.

ARE THERE ANY PERKS ABOUT YOUR JOB OTHER WOMEN MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT? The concrete industry is really stable, especially after COVID-19. I think some women might want to find careers with more stability and support. There are also lots of opportunities for career progression and personal development. I like that I am given a lot of autonomy and independence.

HOW HAS YOUR EMPLOYER HELPED YOU SUCCEED IN YOUR ROLE? I have felt very supported throughout my time at Holcim. Although I am the only member of the technical team based in Adelaide, I have complete support from

my direct manager based interstate and other members of senior management based here in Adelaide. I feel like I am always encouraged to take decisions based on my criteria and knowledge.

I get recognition for my work, and my achievements are celebrated. There are also great programs in place to help develop and mentor women.

WHO IN THE INDUSTRY INSPIRES YOU? WHY? Sarah Bellman is a huge inspiration to me and helped mentor me in my early years of management. She’s an incredible woman who has two children and has worked in various high-level management roles within the industry. When I started driving concrete trucks, she was the Concrete Area Manager. I remember seeing her pregnant at work and thought it was so inspiring. A female running multiple concrete plants while pregnant and after having her daughter, she then continued to thrive in her career. She’s driven, intelligent and confident, and during my time working alongside her, she always had great morale.

CAREER-WISE, WHERE DO YOU ASPIRE TO BE IN FIVE YEARS? In five years, I would like to be successful in my new role.

CIVIL CONNECT

JASMINE SMITH Jasmine entered the industry as a contractor driving an agitator. Her goal was to earn money while studying at university. As she previously worked as a personal trainer, truck driving offered consistent hours and better pay. During this time, Jasmine was offered a sales role and she became one of the first female concrete representatives in the state. This opportunity changed Jasmine's perspective on the industry; she saw it as a career with endless potential instead of a shortterm job.

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT ROLE AND WHAT DOES IT INVOLVE? I am currently based in Port Lincoln and working as a Plant Manager. As a Plant Manager, I am responsible for the daily operations of the concrete batch plant.

I oversee things like plant maintenance and the ordering of materials. Another important aspect of my role is having solid relationships with staff and customers.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PROUDEST MOMENTS IN YOUR CAREER? Becoming a mother and continuing to build a successful career in the industry. I have recently accepted a new position as Regional Manager of Eyre Peninsula with Hallett Concrete. As a young mother who is pregnant with my second child, it makes me feel incredibly proud of not only

ISSUE 3 – 2023

myself but the progression of the industry, and to have been given this opportunity.

I am appreciative of the concrete industry and how supportive Hanson and Hallett have been; Hanson saw potential in me and provided me with the support and guidance to be where I am today, and Hallett Resources has seen my potential and is not limiting me due to currently being a pregnant woman or young mother.

ARE THERE ANY PERKS ABOUT YOUR JOB OTHER WOMEN MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT? There are numerous benefits women might not know about working in this industry. Firstly, the pay and career opportunities are significantly better than in my previous role. I have been supported around maternity leave and have flexibility within most of my roles, like being able to work from home.

HOW HAS YOUR EMPLOYER HELPED YOU SUCCEED IN YOUR ROLE? When I started in the industry, I had no training or experience that made me a standout candidate. I was given an opportunity based on the potential Hanson saw in me. Since then, I have received ongoing training and support.

This training has been formal, like a leadership course that I recently

completed.

However, I have also had informal on-the-job training; where I had the respect and autonomy to make decisions but also the support to help me navigate through challenges.

WHO IN THE INDUSTRY INSPIRES YOU? WHY? Sarah Bellman is a huge inspiration to me and helped mentor me in my early years of management. She’s an incredible woman who has two children and has worked in various high-level management roles within the industry. When I started driving concrete trucks, she was the Concrete Area Manager. I remember seeing her pregnant at work and thought it was so inspiring. A female running multiple concrete plants while pregnant and after having her daughter, she then continued to thrive in her career. She's driven, intelligent and confident, and during my time working alongside her, she always had great morale.

CAREER-WISE, WHERE DO YOU ASPIRE TO BE IN FIVE YEARS? In five years, I would like to be successful in my new role.

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Many businesses rely on their plant and equipment so it’s important that your insurance cover delivers the payout you need if it’s damaged and you need to replace it.

The value you declare for your property and business assets in a commercial insurance policy plays a crucial role in determining the payout amount from your insurer in the event of a claim.

While most insurers allow for a 15-20% buffer, failing to declare an insured value that is at least 80% of the current value of your property could result in a reduced payout.

This is because insurers apply a co-insurance clause to safeguard themselves against clients who understate their property value to obtain lower premiums. Protect yourself from the consequences of this practice by ensuring you declare accurate asset valuations when sourcing insurance coverage.

Engaging an insurance valuation expert to assess your property and business assets is the most accurate way to determine values to declare on your insurance policy and avoid underinsurance. These reports

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Gallagher is a global leader in insurance, risk management and consulting services helping clients face challenges and providing effective solutions.

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DON’T LET AN UNDERINSURANCE GAP

COMPROMISE YOUR SUCCESS

Martyn Luck Senior Account Manager at Gallagher

Lauren Campbell Account Executive at Gallagher CIVIL CONNECT

estimate the cost of reinstating an asset at current value. This will ensure your sums insured adequately reflect the actual value of your property and business assets.

THE IMPACT OF INFLATION

The issue of underinsurance has intensified due to the impact of inflation. With Australian Consumer Price Index inflation rising to historic levels recently, it has been reported that plant and machinery assets recorded price increases of more than 25% over the past two years.

This means the insured value of your assets could be 25% lower than their current replacement value!

If businesses do not adjust their insurance coverage to account for inflation, they run the risk of being severely underinsured.

Factored together with the effect of the co-insurance clause, any insurance payout you receive will be significantly less than what is required to repair or replace your damaged assets, leaving you with significant out of pocket costs.

UNDERINSURANCE IN ACTION: A CASE STUDY

A construction company owns an excavator that is currently worth $800,000. Due to budget constraints, they declare the value of the excavator at $400,000 in their insurance policy unaware that this amount is significantly lower than its actual market value.

repairs costing $470,000. The business owner lodges a claim expecting to be reimbursed in full for the repairs.

However, the owner’s underinsurance becomes apparent.

Because the excavator was insured for far less than its current value, the insurance company applies the coinsurance clause, and the business owner receives a claim payment of just $293,000, leaving them with a $177,000 shortfall to cover the repair bill.

AVOID THE UNDERINSURANCE GAP

Involving an insurance broker who understands your industry sector and the risks that are particular to your business will help you ensure you have the cover you need. We’re here to help. Connect with one of our experts who can help you organise a professional insurance valuation and address underinsurance today.

For further information about underinsurance visit: AJG.com/au/underinsurance

The excavator sustains severe damage on a construction site, requiring extensive

ISSUE 3 – 2023

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CCF SA HIW Health, Injury and Wellness Services

Work Hardening, Capacity Building and Re-Skilling Injured Workers We engage people through live and educational activities to increase capabilities and build confidence to return to work in a supported and controlled environment.

This service supports injured workers' return to work plans and has had successful results with developing currency and establishing workers' Verification of Competency (VOC).

LIVE EXPOSURE ACTIVITIES HELD AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

Findon

Monday to Friday 7am – 3pm Live Maintenance and Workshop Site

Costings ф Initial Site Induction | ф Work Hardening Hours | ф VOC (Burton Only) |

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Burton

Monday to Friday 8am – 4pm Live Civil Training Site

$200 $85 per hour $660 per machine

Thebarton

Monday to Friday 8am – 2pm CCF SA Head office | Administration Ask to speak with the Health, Injury and Wellness team

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hiw@ccfsa.com.au (08) 8111 8000

CIVIL CONNECT

CCF SA Work Hardening Duties – Overview

Monday to Friday 8am – 4pm

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Burton (Civil Train Live Site) 59-71 Heaslip Road BURTON SA 5110

Monday to Friday 8am – 2pm

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Thebarton (CCF House) 1 South Road THEBARTON SA 5031

Monday to Friday 7am – 3pm

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Findon (Overseas Chinese Association) 110 Crittenden Road FINDON SA 5023

Supervision mobile plant activities (if holding mobile plant experience)** Supervision of small groups Manual handling Sanding Painting Basic use of hand and small power tools Removal of waste Gardening (whipper snipping, weeding) Paving Repairing irrigation hoses/lines Tool maintenance/repairs Soil stockpile and dust suppression watering Inspecting mobile plant for damage, missing parts, replacing non-technical parts Cleaning and servicing mobile plant (using pressure washer and hand grease gun) Assisting to refuel equipment Managing site documentation (managing stores and equipment) Resources stocktaking (tools and consumable materials – making inventory lists) Maintaining and/or checking safety data sheet registers

Answering telephone calls Scanning Filing Data entry Printing resources Stocktake Basic administrative duties

Supervision of small groups Manual handling Sanding Site preparation Painting Basic use of hand and small power tools Removal of waste Grouting Filling cracks Gardening and landscaping (including watering, lawn mowing, whipper snipping, weeding, planting, mulching) Paving Overall ground upgrade and concrete General maintenance repairs

Duties

Location

Standing/Walking: Duties are adapted per client’s capacity. Worker will be required to walk around site on various surfaces (compacted road base, sand clay/silt soil/ even and uneven surfaces).

Sitting: Duties are adapted per client’s capacity Lifting/Carrying paint pots: Weighing approx. 1kg to 15kg.

Using tools and equipment: Weighing approx. 1kg to 10+kg.

Pushing/Pulling: Opening doors, using a grease gun (squeezing), using a paint roller or brush, using a cleaning sponge, using a rake, moving small equipment using trolleys or on wheels (10kg to 50kg).

Kneeling: Painting, cleaning, inspecting.

Reaching above and below shoulder height: Duties are adapted per client’s capacity.

Standing/Walking: Duties are adapted per client’s capacity. Worker will be required to walk around office environment on even surfaces (carpet and linoleum).

Sitting: Duties are adapted per client’s capacity.

Lifting/Carrying: (approx. 1kg to 15kg).

Pushing/Pulling: Opening doors, opening filing cabinets.

Kneeling: Filing.

Reaching below and above shoulder height: Duties are adapted per client's capacity.

Standing/Walking: Duties are adapted per client’s capacity. Worker will be required to walk around site on various surfaces (asphalt, dirt and lawned areas/ even and uneven surfaces).

Sitting: Duties are adapted per client’s capacity.

Lifting/Carrying: Paint pots (weighing approx. 1kg to 15kg); bags of mulch (weighing approx. 1kg to 10+kg).

Pushing/Pulling: Opening doors, use of rake when mulching, digging when planting.

Kneeling: Planting at ground level.

Reaching below and above shoulder height: Duties are adapted per client’s capacity.

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Outdoor conditions eg sun, wind, rain and variable temperature Daylight Equipment noise Vibrations from lawn mower, whipper snipper Uneven and unstable terrain with varying degrees of gradient Dust/Dirt in dry conditions

Office environment Minimal equipment noise from computer Two flights of stairs; however, ramp and lifts available

Outdoor conditions, eg sun, wind, rain and variable temperature Daylight Equipment noise Vibrations from lawn mower, whipper snipper Uneven and unstable terrain with varying degrees of gradient Dust/Dirt in dry conditions

Physical Environment

Please note: Full PPE may be required for some taks ** VOC (Verification of Competency) is required for RTW clients requiring capacity building sessions operating plant equipment (no direct supervision). An assessment will be undertaken at induction to ensure compliancy at the cost of referring provider.

Additional conditions may apply, please contact HIW staff to discuss further.

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Capacity Information

This service offers the opportunity for workers to maintain or build their skills and capacity in a controlled environment. This involves but is not limited to working on personalised programs to practise/maintain the following duties:

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Treating Contaminated Soil using an Excavator in SA.

MEMBER PROFILE CLEANING UP PFAS CONTAMINATION IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA

RemBind is a global remediation solutions company headquartered in Kurralta Park, SA (www.rembind.com). Since 2010, RemBind has been manufacturing and selling products for the remediation of environmental contaminants in soil worldwide through distributors in Europe, North America, and New Zealand.

THE REMBIND TECHNOLOGY

The patented RemBind technology was developed in collaboration with the CSIRO and works by immobilising contaminants to prevent them leaching into the groundwater, where they can cause harm to human health and the environment. While the RemBind products can immobilise some heavy metals and hydrocarbon contaminants, they come into their own for the remediation of PFAS contaminants, dubbed the ‘Forever Chemicals’ due to their persistence in the environment.

EMERGENCE OF PFAS, THE ‘FOREVER CHEMICAL’

For decades, PFAS chemicals have been used in firefighting foams and are being discovered at an increasing rate at airports, fire stations and Defence sites worldwide.

Larger volumes of diffuse PFAS contaminants are frequently encountered during tunneling and road construction projects, and they are also being found at alarming levels in compost and biosolids.

In July 2023, the South Australian EPA released the “PFAS in Waste Soils Interim Guideline” for the management of PFAS contaminated soils and granted a license to the landfill at Inkerman to receive low level PFAS contaminated soil. This has led to an increased focus on PFAS soil remediation in South Australia, and RemBind is teaming up with local contractors to bring its world’s best practice solution to the local market.

Treating Soil from RAAF Base Townsville QLD using a Trommel Screen.

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CIVIL CONNECT

“We have been selling our remediation solutions around the world for many years, and since the recent release of PFAS guidelines by the South Australian EPA, we have been teaming with local contractors to remediate PFAS here in our own backyard,” said Dr Richard Stewart, Managing Director.

THE SOIL MIXING PROCESS

The RemBind application process is simple - the powdered products are delivered to site in bulk bags and added to the contaminated soil at a dosage rate of between 0.5% and 3%, then mixed using water for dust control and process activation.

The soil mixing process is crucial to the overall success of the treatment. The key to success is reducing the particle size of the soil to increase surface area contact with the RemBind powder, and then ensuring an even spread of the powder throughout the soil. A wide range of equipment has been used to apply RemBind, from agricultural machinery such as a rotary hoe, to conventional excavators with sieve buckets, through to more specialised soil blending equipment like pugmills and trommel screens.

PROCESS VALIDATION

How do you validate the treatment process? There are dye-based kits available which can quickly determine the amount of RemBind in each soil sample. This data can be used to produce a ‘heat map’ to check the efficiency of the mixing process across a stockpile. The ultimate test is to collect validation samples from the treated soil and send for leachate analysis using the Australian Standard Leaching Procedure (ASLP). After treatment, soil can either be

reused onsite (with regulator approval) or it can be safely disposed to the Inkerman landfill under the newly released disposal guidelines.

RemBind soil stabilisation reduces PFAS contamination from leaching within 24 hours after treatment, however it doesn’t remove or destroy it. Therefore, longterm stability of RemBind is important; trials conducted at the University of Adelaide show that the RemBind products are very stable across a wide range of environmental conditions, and ongoing monitoring at a US Government site shows that the performance of RemBind has been stable for a number of years to date. This gives a high degree of confidence to regulators, owners, and future generations alike.

Overall, the PFAS stabilisation process is a practical and cost-effective way to manage PFAS contaminated soils. It compares well to other remediation options for PFAS in soil; thermal treatment is relatively expensive and currently can only be carried out at dedicated interstate facilities. Soil washing has been trialed in South Australia at the Edinburgh RAAF Base and, while it is a viable technology for sandy soils, it can be cost prohibitive for more Clay based soils and has a relatively large equipment footprint.

DELIVERING GLOBAL SOLUTIONS WITH SA CIVIL CONTRACTORS

In summary, RemBind is proud to be a South Australian company offering local remediation solutions for soil contamination. RemBind is teaming up with local contractors to provide innovative mixing techniques for the onsite remediation of PFAS in soils at construction, road, and airport sites here in South Australia.

A Heat Map Showing the Efficiency of Soil Mixing at Tullamarine Airport VIC (Courtesy of ADE Consulting 2023)

Please contact the RemBind team 08 8470 1716 info@rembind.com ISSUE 3 – 2023

Treating soil using a Rotary Hoe at a site in New Zealand.

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CASHFLOW & MANAGING PROJECTS

By Brentnalls Construction Team

CASH IS KING, THIS STATEMENT STILL RINGS TRUE

Construction organisations feeling the pinch often experience cashflow problems, and this critical pain point is often exacerbated by not having timely, accurate, and meaningful project profitability reports at their fingertips.

Caused by numerous factors, cashflow gaps force construction organisations to delay paying their suppliers and employees while squeezing their ability to order equipment, materials, and supplies for a project.

Organisations should not accept new projects to grow their businesses without the funds or working capital required to manage the existing book of projects. More importantly, they may not be able to meet various prequalification status criteria to tender for government works at or above a certain value as a result of not meeting their working capital or profitability ratios.

In this article, we explore and discuss the importance of how organisations are battling insolvencies and the steps to mitigate financial risk. More specifically, we touch on the most robust ways reporting can be used to drive the profitability of their business.

GROWTH AND CASHFLOW

Without decent cashflow, construction businesses can forget about expanding their workforces or offering existing employee benefits and pay increases, which poses a significant risk in the post-pandemic construction labour market. At its worst, a lack of cashflow can seriously thwart an ability to succeed, and many fail without steady cashflow.

With construction organisation insolvencies increasing by 30% over the last twelve months, according to research from credit agency Equifaxi, one way of staving off creditors and maintaining cashflow is by putting greater emphasis on work-in-progress (WIP) reporting. Hence, a WIP report is critical in telling them where each project is from a performance and cashflow perspective.

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WHAT IS A WIP REPORT?

The WIP report reveals where active jobs or projects have been invoiced in advance.

In addition, the report identifies where costs have been incurred on a project until it can be billed based on a particular stage or milestone or its contractual obligations have been met; this difference usually boils down to who’s funding the project.

Construction organisations typically aim for the project cashflow to come from clients through invoicing clients for a more significant portion of the contract in the earlier stages (upon agreement), ie, resulting in billings that are higher than costs to assist with funding in the later stages of a project. However, when carrying costs without billing for a period of time, ie WIP, this is recorded in the balance sheet as an asset. It invariably means that the organisation is financing the project, which can jeopardise completion and negatively impact profits if not managed well.

To make a project’s financial and project management aspects more clear-cut, organisations increasingly rely on WIP reporting tools and software solutions.

These platforms, such as a construction enterprise resource planning (ERP) system CIVIL CONNECT

with accounting software, are designed specifically for the industry.

ultimately managing and driving profits as well as cash flow more effectively.

A construction WIP schedule should provide a status update on projects underway, including whether they are on budget, based on the timeline. The report also offers valuable details about how the fiscal milestones relate to the various project phases.

PROJECT PROFITABILITY – FINDING THE RIGHT SYSTEMS & PROCESSES

A typical WIP report will include the following metrics: •

The job description

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Total estimated project income

•

Total estimated project costs

•

Total estimated project profit

•

Project income for the month and to date

•

Project costs for the month and to date

•

Stage of completion of project

•

Work In progress (based on stage of completion of project)

•

Income in advance (based on stage of completion of project)

•

Project and overall profit for the month and YTD

•

Estimated project costs still to be incurred

•

Estimated project revenue still to be invoiced

•

Variations to be raised/invoiced

Capturing and recording this data across all departments in a timely and accurate manner can help businesses be more in control of managing their project costs,

ISSUE 3 – 2023

There are many reasons why businesses should invest in the right systems and processes to monitor project profitability.

Staying on time with a project and within budget is a continuous challenge.

Most projects involve many shuffling components such as recruiting and retaining labour, supply chain management, contracts, and cost estimation.

To contain overruns and budget blowouts, businesses must track and report all costs in detail. Therefore, this is where managing your WIP and project costs will prove advantageous and allow construction businesses to monitor the many stages of a project’s completion. Hence, having timely reporting and appropriate systems and processes allows businesses to pick up variations quickly. It’s vital that all such reporting processes are automated, enabling businesses to get this information promptly. If businesses don’t manage their WIP effectively, they can lose substantial sums of money.

Without the right technology/software solution supporting project profitability reporting, businesses may only catch onto problems when it may be too late in the piece. Once the horse has bolted, organisations will have significant issues pulling projects and costs back into line or even have the opportunity to identify

variations that need to be approved by the client before it all gets way out of hand.

Project managers must deal daily with multiple change requests requiring rapid decisions. This constant flux can make tracking and reporting on WIP an arduous undertaking.

In summary, as the industry grapples with the challenges of cashflow management and project profitability, it becomes increasingly evident that the adage ‘cash is king’ remains as true as ever. Effectively managing cashflow and project profitability becomes increasingly a priority, especially as the industry continues to face challenges. To confront these challenges, construction businesses should prioritise the adoption of comprehensive reporting tools, particularly WIP reports. These reports serve as vital barometers of a project’s financial health, equipping businesses with the information needed to make informed decisions and proactively mitigate financial risks.

To speak to an accountant and advisor who understands your industry for a free of charge initial consultation, contact Christina Gulliver, Partner at Brentnalls SA specialising in the Construction sector today on 08 8241 8444 or email cmg@brentnalls-sa.com.au to make an appointment.

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CCF SA President’s Sundowner & AGM 2023

Keynote Speaker

Simon Kuestenmacher

Written by Megan Miranda On 20 October 2023, CCF SA hosted yet another successful President’s Sundowner and Annual General Meeting at the Adelaide Convention Centre, with a strong turnout.

This choice of event day and timing was determined by a member poll conducted the previous year, so late Friday afternoon it was!

the challenges and accomplishments achieved during his tenure.

Whilst our guests hooked into the delicious afternoon tea on their tables, CCF SA CEO Rebecca Pickering served as the EmCee and skilfully navigated the afternoon’s MC, which included the announcement of the CCF SA Board of Directors’ election results for the upcoming 2023-2025 term.

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Ovingham

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Port Wakefield to Port Augusta

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SAHMRI 2

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Expansive community subdivisions

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Fleurieu Connect Alliance

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Regional Road upgrades

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Old Murray Bridge

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Intersections – Cross Rd, Fullarton/ Glen Osmond Rd, Fullarton

ResourceCo graciously partnered with CCF SA for this event, and Cbus also demonstrated their unwavering support as always, and we express our deep gratitude for their ongoing support of CCF SA and our industry.

Outgoing President Charles Hatcher guided us through his summary of The President’s State of Federation Address, emphasising

Charles reminisced about the end of an era as the “West End” brewing site faced demolition. Despite this sad reflection, he took pride in the various successes accomplished throughout the year, which included:

Project nearing completion: •

Submarine - Aukus

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Adelaide Airport Limited (expansion)

Projects going forward: •

Tunnels

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New Women and Children’s Hospital Upgrade

Board Priorities Throughout the year, the Board’s top priority was to ensure our members were receiving excellent service and value for their money. This strategic move has been taken to ensure that we are able to effectively reinforce trust and reliability between our members and the Membership team.

MEET THE NEW BOARD

Charles Hatcher Tim Bishop McMahon Services BMD Constructions PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT

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Kerry Yeates Sharon Van Kempen Paul Davison Gerard Beltrame Simon Abrahams Natasha Hemmerling Eichler Earthmoving Prime Traffic Solution Davison Earthmovers Beltrame Civil Downer Group Clarke Hemmerling Lawyers SECRETARY HONORARY BOARD MEMBER BOARD MEMBER BOARD MEMBER BOARD OBSERVER TREASURER

CIVIL CONNECT

The South Australian Government’s acquisition strategy presented a major obstacle with the news that CCF SA House, the primary facility for civil training in our sector, was to be acquired. In order to ensure the smooth reestablishment of CCF SA and its training division, Civil Train, the Board and the CCF SA Executive are collaborating with various government departments to guarantee proper compensation and minimise any potential disruptions to CCF SA day-to-day operations.

Acknowledgments CCF SA Board Members were rightfully recognised for their substantial dedication and efforts during their term. Gerard Beltrame earned particular acclaim for his 13-year tenure with the Board, during which he never once missed a meeting (locally or nationally), which equated to 14 working weeks throughout his tenure of service to date.

Thank you to our other worthy nominees: •

Susan Abbott

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Michael Fioravanti

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Steve Lewis

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Andrew Mills

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George Panagopoulos

To culminate the afternoon, Simon Kuestenmacher, renowned for his unconventional approach to presenting data and statistics through a demographic lens, took the stage as our keynote speaker. His interactive and engaging delivery shed light on both the successes and challenges impacting the civil industry, all while injecting an element of playfulness into his presentation. Simon’s talk was frequently punctuated by the sound of laughter and giggles emanating from the audience, which served as a clear indication as to his engagement with his audience.

Of particular note, Simon mused that the 90-day Infrastructure Review undertaken by the Federal Government abruptly halted the civil industry’s capacity to commence, progress, or finish government projects at both the Federal and State levels. He agrees that “this approach is counterproductive”, especially in light of current and projected population growth, and the critical importance of ensuring that infrastructure, roadworks and housing developments keep up with demand in South Australia.

This occasion also served as a farewell to Stephen Fines-Phillips of SEM Group and John McMichael of T & J Constructions, who had opted not to run for re-election.

Their contributions were recognised and appreciated. In addition, Peter Tan, who had resigned mid-year, was acknowledged for the unwavering assistance and support he provided during his affiliation with the CCF SA Board.

With anticipation, Charles conveyed his enthusiasm for the forthcoming results of the Board election. He eagerly awaits the diverse perspectives and forward-looking projections that the new Board will bring in the next two years.

New Board Announced Rebecca Pickering announced the formation of a new Board, acknowledging that 12 individuals were nominated for only 7 available positions. The management of the election process was skilfully executed by CorpVote, an independent organisation with no affiliation to CCF SA. The newly elected CCF SA Board of Directors for 2023-25 are:

Additionally, he highlighted demographic statistics indicating that the civil industry has a disproportionately high number of plant operators approaching or already at retirement age (refer to graph below). This was significantly higher than any other industry sector which strengthens our argument for the release of Federal Government civil projects which had been put ‘on-hold’ whilst the Review was undertaken.

But did Simon Kuestenmacher have any good news to deliver our sector? Well, yes, he did!

He stated that the SA will see economic and population growth and upgrading infrastructure is crucial to stay ahead of future demand. A population reshuffle will occur in the 2030s and we must be prepared for this. Millennials are reaching the family formation of their lifecycle and are also ‘on the move’ to urban fringe and regional centres, so these areas will ‘see a lot of action’ in the future.

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Charles Hatcher | President

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Tim Bishop | Vice President

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Kerry Yeates | Secretary

Simon concluded with, “The future is bright for civil construction. In a rich and growing country there will always be demand for your services. In a tightening economic environment, states will look to cut back somewhat on their infrastructure spending to curb inflation. This is a temporary phenomenon the underlying demand drivers are permanent. As long as you manage to navigate the skills shortage the world (or at least South Australia) is your oyster.”

•

Sharon van Kempen | Honourary Treasurer

With an overwhelming round of applause Simon stayed on to speak with individual members after the formalities has finished. Thank you, Simon.

•

Gerard Beltrame

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Paul Davison

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Simon Abrahams

As we eagerly anticipate the incoming CCF SA Board’s strategy for 2023-2025, stay informed of this development by visiting our website, watching for your CCF SA emails and following our Social Media.

We look forward to seeing you all again at next year’s AGM event.

ISSUE 3 – 2023

27

MEMBER PROFILE How long has Hays been in business?

Hays’ recruitment business started in the UK in 1968 and has since grown to become the leading partner for organisations in recruitment and workplace solutions in 33 countries. We entered the Australian market in 1976 and headed to NZ in 1999. Here in Adelaide, our technical business of blue-collar and white-collar construction has been around for 20 years. We also recruit for a range of other industries and sectors.

Where is Hays located?

We’ve got offices all over Australia and New Zealand, but our Adelaide office is on Grenfell Street in the city – very easy to get to!

Which areas of Adelaide does Hays service?

We focus our efforts on Metropolitan Adelaide, for the most part, but occasionally fill roles in Gawler region, Mt. Barker/Murray Bridge and Whyalla. We also recruit for most of the mine sites across SA. How many staff do Hays employ?

Internationally, Hays employs over 10,800 people. Here in Adelaide, our team is around 80 strong.

What are Hays’ core business services/specialised services?

We recruit for industries including Technology, Office Support, Accounting and Government, and we’re very proud of our strong Technical, Industrial and white-collar and blue-collar trades teams.

How does the Technical and Industrial team service the civil construction industry?

Contact: Brandon Feirclough and Stu Howard Phone: 08 7221 4168 08 7221 4110

We cover everything from quick labour hire and bulk hire for projects, to ongoing casual trade contracts, to permanent contracts in the white collar and occasional blue-collar space. We tailor our approach to our customers’ needs and pride ourselves on being truly consultative. To us, that means building open and valued relationships with our clients, and offering our expert advice on how to secure the skills they need. We let our client know how we can best help, so their expectations are always managed.

What are Hays’ future goals?

The future goal for Hays is to build and create long lasting partnerships that help people and organisations succeed. We pride ourselves on not being a simple transaction service – we love to build a friendship and help provide market knowledge and insight to our partners so we can help their business grow.

28

CIVIL CONNECT

CONNECTING BUYERS AND SELLERS ACROSS AUSTRALIA AND THE WORLD FOR OVER 55 YEARS TRUCKS, TRAILERS AND MACHINERY AUCTION First Thursday of every month at 10am Auctions located at 39 Park Avenue, Pennington

Andy Sweetman 0422 005 287

Luke Thompson 0448 734 339

Simon Johns 0478 879 258

Rob Brown 0478 488 686

Written By Nel Aldrete The numbers don’t lie: The CCF SA Annual Golf Day at Glenelg Golf Club with 144 players and 172 attendees, was a huge success! But the real proof of its success came in the form of expressions of interest to support this event in 2024.

As usual, the rapid sellout of player tickets and sponsorship for all 18 holes was phenomenal and reinforced the popularity of this event. Although the morning started off a bit crisp, a hearty breakfast and coffee saw all participants head of to the assigned ,holes to ‘tee-off’. By mid-morning the sun had warmed us all, with a light breeze keeping it from getting too hot.

Amidst flowing drinks, courtesy of the Gallagher team, and escalating banter, participants expertly navigated the Course in their Loadex-sponsored buggies, ensuring they returned in time for a two-course lunch at the 19th hole. At the 10th Hole Richard from Plumping Pipeline Solutions SA had his trademark BBQ ready, as his gesture of support for this event. What would we do without him!

Triumph on the day went to Downer EDI Works winning the CCF SA Perpetual Golf Cup, and BMD were good sports in accepting the NAGA Award (No Apparent Golfing Ability).

We extend our gratitude and thanks to our Major Event Partners Pickles, supporting partners LiftQuip and Loadex, with special thanks to Aaron Browne from Porter Plant for his efforts and advice.

Our designated Charity Partner for this year, The Little Heroes Foundation, received an incredible donation of over $6300 from this event towards their ongoing charity program aimed at curing Childhood Dementia. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all of our Business Partners and Sponsors who contributed to this successful day, and we look forward to making the next event in 2024 even more remarkable for the our Civil Contractors family.

Major Partner

Support Partners

Drinking Partner

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY CCF SA Events provide an opportunity for sponsors to demonstrate their commitment to philanthropy and community engagement with our chosen charity partners, resulting in a positive reputation and social impact.

This approach to CCF SA events like the Annual Golf Day, provides businesses within our industry increased brand visibility, targeted audience reach, and the ability to showcase products or services. Our events also offer combined Business Partnerships and individual Event Partnerships which are opportunities to make valuable connections while aligning your brand with enjoyable and well-attended occasions. These opportunities can sell out fast so for further details contact Brodie btelfordwebb@ccfsa.com.au Ben bschwidder@ccfsa.com.au and secure your sponsoring opportunities for 2024.

BBQ Supply

Hole Partners

30

CIVIL CONNECT

Day 2023

ISSUE 3 – 2023

31

MEET THE BOSS: NEO INFRASTRUCTURE SIMON BOWRING

“

Phone: (08) 8387 4299 Address: 35 Lindsay Rd, Lonsdale SA 5160

“

Written by Anthony O’Brien

Since 2009, Neo Infrastructure, led by Managing Director Simon Bowring, has been a key player in South Australia’s civil construction industry, contributing significantly to infrastructure development in the region from its base in Lonsdale.

NEO’S CONTRIBUTION TO SOUTH AUSTRALIA’S INFRASTRUCTURE

Neo Infrastructure (Neo) has significantly impacted South Australia through various notable projects. Some standout examples include managing the Glenthorne National Park development in 2022. This $7.5 32

million undertaking encompassed the construction of play spaces, shelters, car parks, roadworks, creek enhancements, and the restoration of a heritage structure.

In 2022, Neo also executed a $6.1 million transformation of the Normanville foreshore and caravan park, a $2.6 million redevelopment of the Onkaparinga Recreational and National Park in 2019, and $3.5 million in upgrades at the Aldinga Sports precinct in 2023.

ongoing projects. Some of the latest ventures include: 1.

Marker development at Roseworthy: This $12 million project includes two stages of a new land division, a roundabout on Horrocks Highway, and a primary electrical feeder into the development.

2.

Mid Murray Flood remediation works: This $3 million project is focused on restoring damaged infrastructure in the Mid Murray region. This project addresses the aftermath of the 22/23 floods. Neo also played a significant role in the earlier flood prevention works.

3.

Wood’s Bridge land division Hindmarsh Island: Developing a

Beyond Adelaide, Neo executed $2.4 million worth of storm damage rectification and improvement works for the Clare and Gilbert Valley Council in 2017.

THE LATEST PROJECTS

Neo plays a crucial role in South Australia’s infrastructure development with its

CIVIL CONNECT

large parcel of land into 67 allotments involves various steps, such as largescale earthworks, construction and installing essential infrastructure like water, sewage, electrical services, and roads.

4.

5.

Olivewood estate development: This $8.3 million project, comprising stages 1 and 2, is now advancing to stages 3 and 4.

Tapanappa Ridge Road reconstruction – Deep Creek: Addressing the vital road infrastructure in the Deep Creek National Park, a $1.7 million project.

STARTING WITH MORE COMPLEX, HIGH-RISK PROJECTS

Bowring began his career armed with an Associate Diploma in Civil Engineering, initially delving into materials and geotesting. His career trajectory led him to contribute to developing a runway extension at Adelaide Airport in 1997.

A move to Townsville followed, but his company sought his return to Adelaide after six months. However, Bowring’s affinity for Far North Queensland led him to embrace freelance work, capitalising on his broad expertise from 1997 to 2005.

In 2003, family matters prompted Bowring’s return to Adelaide, where he resumed freelancing and managed a substantial land division for a local construction company. Later, his former Townsville firm invited him to head its new Adelaide office in 2005. After its acquisition

by Watpac, several years of nationwide travel compelled Bowring to venture into independent entrepreneurship.

Bowring tackled challenging, less competitive, high-risk projects to establish the company rapidly. “These projects weren’t so competitive with respect to the number of other interested contractors.

“Like most start-up construction companies, you must first be a ‘Jack of all trades’ to get up and running.”

Bowring also used his previous associations before Neo to expand the company quickly into the Western Australian market. These

ISSUE 3 – 2023

From here, the company followed the business plan of gradual, managed growth, reducing the reliance on interstate work and focussing purely on the SA market.

In 2017, Neo faced a significant opportunity and challenge with the September storm events in 2016. Bowring continues and explains: “To service these works and the ongoing demand for contractors in the area, we established a Mid North regional office, which now operates out of Balaklava.”

THE ROLE OF A BOSS

As the CEO and founder of Neo, Simon Bowring’s role as Managing Director is pivotal. He sheds light on his responsibilities: “My focus is on ensuring the company is operating in accordance with the many Acts and Regulations, as well as managing the commercial and financial aspects of the business.

APPROACHABLE LEADERSHIP AND AN OPEN-DOOR

Simon Bowring believes that being a good boss involves creating an open and approachable work environment: “I feel being a good boss is about making employees feel comfortable about approaching you whether it be for technical advice, knowledge sharing, improvement suggestions, or for personal reasons.”

As a company grows, maintaining these connections becomes more challenging, admits Bowring, “but it is important not to alienate yourself from any employee.

“There is absolutely an open-door policy at Neo.”

THE IMPORTANCE OF DELEGATION

Delegation is an essential leadership skill, mainly as organisations grow. At Neo, Bowring has a senior management team, which includes Chelsea Wilhelm, a commercial manager who also happens to “As we have grown, the day-to-day be his daughter, and Don Winter, a general operational management has been assigned manager and civil engineer who is married to my very competent delegate managers, and my role has shifted from the earlier days to another daughter, Rachael. Bowring’s of being more hands-on to a supporting role. wife, Karen who has been embedded in the business from day 1 still actively works in the “These days, I see my role as keeping company also. the company afloat. Not to put it too Simon Bowring emphasises the significance dramatically, making sure we pay bills and of delegating: “Delegation is critical once liaise with our clients.” the company grows as you cannot possibly manage everything. Once you find/promote the right people and keep on top of the organisational structure, delegation becomes Neo’s success is also a testament to its second nature and critical for maintaining the dedicated workforce. With approximately company status in the industry.”

90 employees, the company has managed Neo’s growth and success have been to maintain its reputation for quality and facilitated by a well-structured organisation excellence. that allows for effective delegation, When asked about significant achievements, streamlined operations, and its family Simon Bowring highlights Neo’s commitment business ethos. “We have a family business to being a versatile and problem-solving approach. It’s the way I’ve tried to run the contractor. He explains: “Neo has always company, although it’s harder now due to been about providing a well-informed, the size of the company.” experienced, and knowledgeable option for our clients coupled with an open and honest partnering philosophy in our delivery.

NEO INFRASTRUCTURE’S WORKFORCE

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He recalls: “Having helped establish and grow other civil construction companies, I decided to have a go myself.”

“

contracts provided an entrée into residential land divisions in WA, while NEO also maintained projects locally in South Australia.

“In the civil construction game, there are always aspects of the scope that are influenced by the unknowns or environmental conditions that often differ from those expected during the design phase.”

THE REWARDS OF BEING A BOSS

Being a boss comes with its unique set of rewards, as Simon Bowring reflects: “Being your own boss provides you with the opportunity to run a business your way and set the company’s culture to what you want it to be.

Neo’s ability to adapt and provide innovative “As I approach ‘seniority’, one of the solutions to unforeseen challenges has been a most rewarding returns of being a boss is critical factor in its success. seeing your staff develop via the passing of knowledge down the line.”

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MEMBERS DRINKS Written By Ben Schwidder

In the crisp month of July, the atmosphere at Joiners Arms Hotel was anything but cold. With 100 of our esteemed Members gathering, the evening was alive with conversation, laughter, and shared experiences.

Thanks to our generous sponsors, Loadex Hire, members were treated to free drinks and delicious nibbles, making for an evening of relaxed networking and camaraderie. But Loadex Hire didn’t stop there. They sparked excitement by hosting a unique competition – a call to action where the 10th person to ring them the next day would walk away with a $500 Loadex Hire voucher.

The response was overwhelming.

Loadex Hire received a flood of calls, 20 in total, each eager to not only vie for the prize but also to simply catch up over a coffee. The winning call came from none other than Before You Dig Australia (BYDA). In a heartwarming turn of events, they chose to forward their good fortune by donating their prize to the Little Heroes Foundation.

This touching gesture stands as a testament to the spirit of generosity that runs deep within our CCF SA community.

The evening wasn’t just about competitions and prizes, though.

It was a valuable opportunity for members to connect, discuss challenges, explor opportunities, and engage in a bit of friendly banter.

Keep an ear out for our next event!

We’re already in the works to organise another free Member Network Drinks session in association with Cavpower early in 2024. It promises to be just as memorable, so ensure you mark your calendars when the date is announced!

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CIVIL CONNECT

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STATEWIDE HYDROJET

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“

MICHAEL ALLEN: TRAVERSING NEW HORIZONS IN WORK AND ADVENTURE Written by Sarah Goh

Michael Allen’s eyes light up when he talks about falconry and his adventures in the Middle East. He flips through his collection of bird photographs and gives glimpses into a life lived to the hilt as a young explorer. Wanderlust had led him to a new world of desert and sand dunes at a time when the Saudi Arabian National Wildlife Research Centre had just started.

He learned the art of falconry, turned professional, and worked for the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, and the late ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheik Kalifa bin Sultan Al Nahyan, between 1982 - 2004, breeding and hunting birds of prey. Gifted with incredible eyesight, the falcon can soar to great a great height to locate and catch its prey. All these fascinated Allen and offered him the perfect springboard for a career and lifestyle he absolutely enjoyed until he and his family returned home to Australia in 2004.

“We’ve got to get into this Hydro jetting business!” propositioned David. Little did they know then that making that leap of faith could not have come at a more fortuitous time.

Back then, there were only two other companies in South Australia doing a similar sort of work. “We had one Hydrojet truck built,” says Michael. “Then business increased so we ordered a Kaiser combination high-pressure water recycling vacuum truck from Germany. SA Water then gave me a 6km stretch of effluent main to clean and vacuum on South Road to test the recycling capabilities of the truck. No problem! And the business grew more and more, and now we have five trucks, two camera vans and eleven employees.”

So, what does the falconer have in common with a master plumber in Gawler, SA’s first inland town outside Adelaide? A great deal it seems, and that goes beyond their bloodline. For one, brothers Michael and David Allen were bonded by their entrepreneurial spirit to venture into a business that was relatively new 20 years ago.

As its name suggests, Statewide Hydrojet operates statewide, from Ceduna to Mount Gambier, undertaking the bulk of its work from State and Local Government authorities, civil infrastructure construction companies, metropolitan and regional councils, the plumbing industry, as well as consulting professionals. The company services and maintains facilities such as hospitals, colleges, bridges,

GH hydro.

The garage for the Kaisers at the depot.

36

railways, swimming pools, and commercial filtration systems. Such operations include stormwater and civil drain cleaning, CCTV work, and underground service locating.

It wasn’t long after the business started that it outgrew the depot space it was occupying, and the company moved to a bigger place nearby. But by 2021, the Allen brothers decided they needed a bigger property as a permanent depot for their business. They bought a 3000sqm piece of land in the suburb of Willaston (Gawler) and built their depot which has been operational since May this year.

The impressive new depot houses every aspect of the business under one roof: offices, a common room, a kitchen, a bathroom, a laundry, plus more than enough space in its expansive garage to park a fleet of 5 Kaiser trucks. With room to grow.

Michael and David are confident there’ll always be work (hence the investment in these trucks that come with a hefty price tag). All stormwater and sewer infrastructure installed in every new subdivision have to be cleaned, and the CCTV is monitored to ensure defects such as cracks (circumferential or longitudinal), water pooling, pipe deformation, blockage/s from tree roots or grease,

The Allen brothers at their depot.

CIVIL CONNECT

are identified, located and rectified in preparation for handover to the Local Council or SA Water. Statewide Hydrojet is well equipped with the mobile plant, tools, and expertise to undertake these projects.

Michael oversees the office operations while David attends to operational logistics. Considered a small business with only 11 staff, more than half of them have been with the company for longer than 10 years.

“We can clean drains 2m by 1m high, and our machines will put out 400L a minute for large drain cleaning or 20L/minute for underground service location work,” says Michael. “It’s not the pressure that moves the debris but the volume of water we can discharge. Imagine, if you have a flood here, it’s the volume of water that washes everything away. Same with the drain cleaning. If at 5000psi and you are only putting out 50L/minute, you’re not going to move debris efficiently. Also, the more water you use, the quicker you’ll run out of it, and you will have to go away and refill. Our machines recycle the used water, allowing us to stay onsite all day, unlike conventional ones that have to leave the site and refill several times per day.

With business going gangbusters and the brothers reaping the rewards of their labour, there is no sign they will be stepping off the work accelerator anytime soon for life in a slower lane.

“Our Kaiser can carry 12,700L of water.”

•

He elaborates that these German juggernauts are also each equipped with a front road wash bar to clean road surfaces using high pressure.

The low emission vehicle is equipped with a self-sufficient and fully automated water cleaning system.

•

Its continuous water recycling capability enables the truck to operate onsite for longer without the need to leave site to refill.

•

It can vacuum vast quantities of material including organic litter, silt, sediment, and fluids.

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Fluids undergo high pressure filtration to produce recycled water for jetting purposes.

•

The dry material can be transferred to a suitable storage area.

“We also do hydro-excavation… we dig with water. All roads and footpaths contain services such as power, gas, water, sewer pipes and communication facilities – we locate them before excavation is undertaken so these services are not damaged unnecessarily. These days, everything has to be located.”

While other companies generally use potable water, Statewide Hydrojet uses recycled sewer water, and the Kaiser truck has the capacity to store a large volume.

That alone puts it in an advantageous position, especially in a drought situation.

“We can go to an effluent drain and vacuum up 4,000L of wastewater, and then use that wastewater to clean a drain.”

Who knows… one day in the distant future, the Arabic speaking falconer may retrace his path to rediscover the joys of what had him blissfully ensconced in the Middle East. That’s when he will spread his wings and venture to where the bird of prey is flying high. For now though, building on Statewide Hydrojet’s success is what’s keeping him happily grounded.

Electrical hydro.

The Kaiser: built to operate with safety, efficiency and productivity

The Kaiser.

To find out more about Statewide Hydrojet, go to: https://www.statewidehydrojet.com.au/ The garage.

Conducting onsite CCTV work.

ISSUE 3 – 2023

Statewide Hydrojet’s new depot.

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CHAT GPT WORKSHOP

FUTURE IN CIVIL COMMITTEE

In the two-hour session, Simone Douglas, the CEO of Digital Marketing AOK, helped attendees explore ways to leverage AI to streamline marketing efforts and promote their businesses effectively by understanding how it works in marketing, in particular, in the civil construction industry.

The topics covered included: Understanding AI in Marketing, Leveraging Chat GPT, Crafting Engaging Content, Optimising Customer Support, and Datadriven Decision Making.

The attendees gained insights into using AI to analyse behaviour and patterns, and make data-driven decisions to drive customer engagement and sales by understanding customer behaviour better.

They learned about how AI can also be used to automate marketing tasks such as email campaigns or social media posts, freeing up time for marketers to focus on more strategic initiatives.

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Chat GPT, developed by OpenAI, is a powerful language model that uses machine learning to generate human-like text. It's capable of understanding context, answering questions, and even generating creative content

A keen advocate of AI, Douglas explained how its capability to analyse data from past campaigns can help businesses optimise the results of future initiatives.

There was coverage on the top AI apps in operation – Chat GPT, Jasper, Pictory and Brand 24, that marketers can use for an impressive range of work from analysing data, to generating reports, and repurposing content into videos, easily and efficiently.

What welcome news for those engaged in the laborious tasks of enhancing customer engagement, increasing brand awareness, and improving marketing ROI! Before the attendees left with an abundant amount of food for thought ignited by Douglas’ presentation, their appetites were satiated with the delicious food for lunch at The Duke of Brunswick.

CIVIL CONNECT

RMG RETIRED MEMBERS GROUP - SOCIAL CLUB If you are retired or semi-retired from the Civil Industry, why not consider becoming a member of the Retired Members Group (RMG)? This is a simple and fun way for you to connect or reconnect with past friends or colleagues who were CCF SA Contractor Members or CCF SA Associate Members.

Rowe, Roger Rose, Claudette Renfrey, and Dennis Lorenzin, for their tireless efforts in organising these social events.

•

Lunch at The Highway

A social club committed to three fun outings per year, this group is led by a volunteer RMG Committee who is dedicated to ensuring everyone has as much fun as possible.

•

SteamRanger Heritage Railway Trip – return trip from Mount Barker to Victor Harbor (with lunch included in Victor Harbor)

Thank you to our current RMG Committee: Peter Jeffery (Chair) Michael Pridham (Deputy), Peter Leane, Mike

ISSUE 3 – 2023

In the last two years, the RMG has held the following events: 2022

•

Xmas Drinks

2023 •

Winery Tasting Tour and Lunch | McLaren Vale

•

Lunch at The Lion, North Adelaide

•

Xmas Drinks

RMG members love enjoying their retirement by staying active in a welcoming atmosphere. For the nominal annual fee of *$55, come and join us for some unrivalled fun and laughter.

For more information, please contact Peter Jeffery on 0417 995 035, or Megan Miranda on 0448 086 353.

The RMG social group is proudly promoted and supported by CCF SA. *All events are subsidised with the RMG membership fee.

39

ions d Community Relat FC A Stakeholder an rd afo Se th wi ra Chop Coordinator Ikshula . ge Pa ul Pa r ne ow Homestyle Bakery

Traffic moves along the new Pedler Bridge after a traffic switch as part of the Fleurieu Connections project.

SMALL BUSINESS FEATURE When major infrastructure projects come to town, building strong relationships with local businesses and leaving positive outcomes across the community, are clear measures of success.

As the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) delivers projects across the state, it works with delivery partners to keep a sharp focus on the interests of small and local businesses.

While large-scale project logistics can create challenges at times, there are invariably small-business wins, including an increased spend on food, fuel, accommodation, and dayto-day retail purchases as workers move into an area.

Where project items can be competitively sourced locally, the economic boost is undeniable.

The recently completed Old Murray Bridge refurbishment was an important project undertaken by the Department, which resulted in a $2 million boost to small businesses and local suppliers.

This was a major undertaking delivered by McMahon Services, who, on behalf of the Department for Infrastructure and Transport, worked towards delivering the significant positive impact on the local economy.

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CIVIL CONNECT

The local spend included more than $450,000 of work subcontracted to local firms for concrete and kerbing works, $360,000 spent with local transport, crane, and materials suppliers to the project, and more than $560,000 spent with local accommodation and cleaning services providers.

newsletters, and maps of new intersections.

On a larger scale, a Seaford based business, Super Suction SA, has its roots back in the 1980s, when current owner and director Josh Raston’s father, Max, built a trailermounted vacuum unit designed for gutter vacuuming.

In a further boost to the community, 16% of all labour hours on the project were from local Aboriginal employees.

The project also gave financial support to Murray Bridge Speedway to host the Australasian Speedway Championship.

In 2006, Max and Josh started Super Suction SA, with one small unit focusing on insulation removal. As hydro excavation became more popular, they ventured into civil works. Following steady growth in that area, a contract with the FCA has encouraged even further expansion.

A significant number of small businesses also reported a strong uptick in sales as a fresh workforce was injected into the retail market.

Josh says the work this project has provided increased his confidence in South Australia’s economy.

The Fleurieu Connections Projects are a current $685 million Australian and South Australian government funded duplication of Main South Road (Stage 1) and Victor Harbor Road.

The Fleurieu Connections Alliance (FCA) was formed to deliver these projects and is working with local businesses to create opportunities and overcome obstacles.

The economic benefits of the two-year project are broad, from a boost to the local bakery, to giving a larger company the confidence to expand.

One happy contributor is Seaford Homestyle Bakery, which has provided catering for site meetings and community events as the projects have progressed.

The local business has been operating in the area for 29 years, and owners Paul and Karen Page both work in the business alongside two of their children.

“We’ve appreciated the support that has come from the Alliance using our goods for the project. It’s always a bonus with a project like this in the region,” Paul says.

“Like any infrastructure project, improvement of the roads is going to be a benefit to all of us. We rely on people coming past from north to south, and the roads will only support that continued growth.

“Since the start of the contract, along with some other jobs, I’ve been able to expand from eight to 15 trucks,” Josh Says.

He’s also expanded into service location and will soon have a CCTV drain inspection camera van, allowing for inspection around 180m into drains.

“Again, this on the back of growing confidence in the future of infrastructure projects in SA,” he says.

But working with businesses who face potential impacts from construction is of equal importance.

The Department’s approach to small business is always to look for local opportunities, engage early, and ensure there is clarity about plans, along with means of mitigating any potential disruption.

DIT Director of Engagement Amanda Collins says consultation with small businesses is a strong focus for the department and its delivery partners.

“Engagement representatives contact identified businesses early in the project’s planning to identify and discuss impacts, needs and requirements a business might have,” Amanda says.

“We want to connect in a genuine way, and we want businesses to let us know of any concerns or specific needs. When that discussion takes place, we can work together to make sure the right results are delivered.”

For the Fleurieu Connections projects, this includes initiatives such as providing wayfinding signage for businesses impacted by road closures.

Hardcopy and electronic maps of the final designs of the new intersections are also provided to businesses to display for customers before road configurations change.

Recognising the effect on agricultural businesses is another key focus, with the team working with a farmers’ group and other targeted stakeholder groups on the best timings for construction so that activities would have the least impact on grain and grape harvests and other priorities.

Typically, an engagement strategy will be developed at the start of the project, with input from business owners, to determine the approach throughout construction.

“We stay in touch with businesses throughout the project and provide timely information that’s relevant to the business,” Amanda says.

“Appropriate support measures are provided to businesses, which can include initiatives such as promotion or signage.

“Importantly, we provide a contact person for the duration of the project, which means businesses have consistency and can work with someone they know, and who has a built-up knowledge of their specific needs.

“Our goal is always to find the wins and solutions for small and local businesses and while that requires a lot of time and attention, it’s worth every moment to ensure infrastructure projects bring benefits across the whole community.”

“A business like ours relies on getting more people into the region, so projects such as this are good for doing just that.”

Office and Image is another local operation that has provided a host of print collateral for the FCA duplication projects from the early days of construction to now. This has included the printing of everything from corflutes to directional signage, factsheets, ISSUE 3 – 2023

Workers on the Old Murray Bridge refurbishment recreate a photo taken at the end of the original construction.

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Project: Market to Riverbank Stage 2 – Bentham Street Urban Utilities and Infrastructure Winner: McMahon Services Australia Project: Dockyard Civil and Demolition Works Overall Winner: T & J Constructions – Market to Riverbank Stage 2 – Bentham Street Projects between $5M–$10M – category sponsor: Cbus Winner: Maritime Constructions Project: West Beach Boat Ramp

2023 CCF SA

EARTH AWARDS DINNER PROGRAM

Major Partner

Supporting Partner

Projects between $10M–$30M – category sponsor: Loadex Winner: PW2PA Alliance Project: Title H Project Port Pirie Projects above $150M – category sponsor: Gallagher Winner: Public Transport Project Alliance Ovingham (PTPAO) Project: Ovingham Level Crossing Removal Project Judges Award

EARTH AWARDS Written by Megan Miranda

The inaugural CCF SA Earth Awards 2023 were held on 25 August at the Adelaide Oval’s Ian McLachlan Room and attended

by The Honourable Nick Champion MP. A sell-out crowd witnessed another year of incredible projects pushing the limits of civil construction excellence to new heights. The celebrations recognised 3 new subcategories: Earthworks & Environmental, Roadworks and Pavements, and Urban Utilities and Infrastructure.

Mike Smithson kept the night running smoothly as our Emcee, and the generous crowd dug deeply to support CCF SA’s charity partner for this year: The Little Heroes Foundation (LHF). The LHF ran an exclusive auction for 3 people to enjoy a Ferrari Day Package worth $10000 to experience the Festival Ferrari which was generously donated to the LHF by Merv Davis. The proud recipient was Mario Russo from McConnell Dowell.

On the night, we were all enthralled and entertained by Magic Mike (not the stripper!) – a very clever magician who even guessed one guest’s password to her mobile phone! The room was already buzzing with excitement for this act 42

because Magic Mike greeted early groups of guests and performed some of his tricks as a tasty prelude. His antics and trickery were even experienced by guests after the formalities were over – Magic Mike was brilliant!

Thank you to all nominees for taking the time to submit your entries. We applaud each and every one of you and give special congratulations to the winners of the following categories and subcategories: Projects up to $2M – category sponsor: Adbri Earthworks & Environmental Winner: McMahon Services Australia Project: Barmera Level Banks Roadworks and Pavements Winner: Civil Tech Project: Adelaide 500 – Track and Civil Works Overall Winner: Civil Tech – Adelaide 500 – Track and Civil Works Projects between $2M–5M – category sponsor: ResourceCo

All CCF SA Earth Awards nominations this year were highly regarded by our judges, but the Judges Award went unanimously to Birubi for their West Coast Homelands Road Upgrades project. A very proud Birubi accepted this honour with surprise and delight.

Our heartfelt thank you to our event partners who, with their generous support, ensured we celebrated our industry in style: Major Event partner: Adbri Supporting partner: SADB And a big thank you to our category, drinks, entertainment, Gin Bar and photobooth sponsors. Your support means so much.

Congratulations to all 2023 CCF SA Earth Awards winners who represented South Australia in the National Earth Awards held on 10 November 2023 in Canberra.

Among those representing SA was Julie and Gordon Hiscock from Civil Tech, and the McConnell Dowell team who represented Maritime Constructions, and Public Transport Project Alliance Ovingham (PTPAO). We appreciate them all making the journey to Canberra to celebrate their projects at national level.

See you all next year!

Roadworks and Pavements Winner: T & J Constructions

CIVIL CONNECT

ISSUE 3 – 2023

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CCF SA IN THE NEWS 2021- 2023 RECAP OF CCF SA IN THE MEDIA

CCF SA in the NEWS

CCF SA in the news

CCF SA NEWS

CHANGES TO UNFAIR CONTRACT LAW As of 9 November 2023, changes to Australian Consumer Law have introduced broader restrictions on ‘unfair terms’ in standard form contracts with small businesses and consumers.

Changes to the legislation have significantly expanded the definition of a ‘small business contract’, meaning that many contracts in the construction industry will now be protected by unfair contract law.

The changes have also introduced harsher penalties for using unfair terms, with maximum penalties for an offence under this legislation having the potential to exceed $50 million for companies.

The broader scope of the new laws will impact all participants in the civil construction industry - from new and emerging civil contracting businesses to Tier 1 contractors.

How Does The New Law Impact CCF SA Members?

Anyone who offers subcontractors or suppliers a standard or ‘template’ should seek legal advice on whether their contract contains terms that are deemed ‘unfair’ under the legislation. Continuing to use standard form contracts that contain unfair terms could expose you to very significant financial penalties.

Anyone who is sometimes required to sign standard form contracts as a ‘small business’ may be able to challenge ‘unfair terms’, and ultimately ask a Court to make them void.

When Does The New Law Apply?

The new unfair contract law will apply to a contract if the answer to all of the following four questions is ‘yes’: Is the contract made, renewed or varied on or after 9 November 2023?

Let’s answer a few of these questions What Is A ‘Small Business Contract’ Or A ‘Consumer Contract’ Under The New Law? A ‘small business contract’ is now defined as a contract where either of the parties has an annual turnover less than $10,000,000, or employs less than 100 FTEs (only casual employees employed on a regular and systematic basis will be included in the FTE count). A small business contract will arise whenever one or more contracting parties is a small businesses under this definition.

A ‘consumer contract’ is one with an individual that is wholly or predominantly for personal, domestic, or household use or consumption.

What is a standard form contract?

There are no hard and fast rules.

Courts may consider a range of factors, including the parties’ relative bargaining power, and whether or not there was a genuine opportunity to negotiate.

Critically, a contract may still be a standard form despite there being an opportunity to negotiate minor changes, select a term from a range of options, or to negotiate terms of another contract.

clauses that give one party absolute power to amend the contract’s terms;

•

broad or unreasonable indemnity clauses;

•

assignment without consent clauses; and

•

certain liquidated damages regimes.

•

Penalties

Penalties under the new regime can be extreme.

For individuals offering unfair contract terms, the maximum penalty is $2.5 million. For companies, a maximum penalty of at least $50 million could be imposed.

Penalties can apply for each unfair term contained in the contract, and for each time an unfair term is applied or relied on.

Penalties can apply even if the unfair term merely appears in a contract, and is never relied upon.

Are There Any Exceptions To The Law? Exceptions to the unfair contract law may apply in some cases. A term will not be unfair if the term: can be shown to be reasonably necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the party proposing it;

Under the unfair contract law, a term will be ‘unfair’ if it would:

•

does not cause financial or other detriment if relied upon;

•

cause a significant imbalance in the parties’ rights and obligations;

•

•

go beyond what is reasonably necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the advantaged party; and

is required, or expressly permitted,

by Federal, State or Territory legislation; or

•

merely outlines the main subject matter of the contract, or the price payable.

When Is A Term ‘Unfair’?

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cause financial or other detriment if it were applied or relied upon.

Is the contract ‘standard form’?

Are any of the terms ‘unfair’?

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time bar clauses that impose onerous conditions or unreasonably short notification periods;

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clauses that allow one party to

ISSUE 3 – 2023

•

•

In building and construction contracts, potential unfair terms may include a range of common terms in the current market.

These include:

Is the contract a ‘small business contract’ or a ‘consumer contract’?

terminate the contract without cause;

HWL Ebsworth’s Construction and Infrastructure team has extensive experience in unfair contract law and construction contracts generally. For more information, please contact the authors.

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BMD AND CCF SA TRAINING PARTNERSHIP A STRATEGIC COLLABORATION TO SUPERCHARGE THE PROSPERITY OF THE STATE’S CIVIL CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

As the heartbeat of the civil construction industry, CCF SA has been maintaining a constant focus on identifying and providing for the industry’s needs.

One of the main areas we have been concentrating on is training, aimed at proliferating good outcomes for the industry. Undoubtedly, there is the need to support a greater workforce that’s qualified to do the work skillfully and properly. One that’s prepared to do the work now, and similarly in the future, an available workforce to carry on seamlessly, with no shortfall. Afterall, civil industry workers comprise more than 20% of the construction workforce.

This undertaking is by no means a straightforward process involving time and resources (both human and fiscal), and collaboration from the industry itself – we’re not in it alone!

For those who have gone on the journey with us to share knowledge, inspire learning, train workers, create jobs and propagate connections to stimulate the prosperity of the industry, we thank you for sharing our vision.

Among our notable collaborators is the BMD Group, Australia’s largest privately-owned civil contractor that has been supporting us in our endeavors since it expanded its operation into SA in 2007 and became a CCF SA Member.

BMD has built its reputation on delivering projects of the highest standards of quality, service and value for money for its clients. It operates with a simple strategy: value our people, collaborate with our partners, and continue to deliver exceptional projects with sustainable outcomes through expertise and knowledge sharing. That approach has worked

to deliver success including several awardwinning projects – the Henley Square Redevelopment, which was delivered for City of Charles Sturt in 2015, the Kangaroo Island Airport Upgrade, delivered in 2017 for Kangaroo Island Council, Prince George Plaza delivered for City of Playford in 2018, the King William Road Upgrade delivered for The City of Unley in 2019, the Kangaroo Island Airport Upgrade delivered for Kangaroo Island Council and the South Eastern Freeway – Managed Motorways Measures for Department for Infrastructure and Transport in 2021.

Some of BMD’s Recent Awards

Kangaroo Island Airport Upgrade 48

2017

Winner CCF SA Earth Award (Project value: $5 mil - $10 mil)

Anzac Centenary Memorial Walk

2019

Winner CCF SA Earth Award (Project value: $5 mil - $10 mil)

Kangaroo Island Airport Upgrade

2021

Winner CCF SA Earth Award (Project value: $10 mil - $30 mil)

South Eastern Freeway – Managed Motorways Measures CIVIL CONNECT

According to Kelly Brodie, Area Manager, BMD, most of the Certificate III in Civil Construction training takes trainees approximately three years to complete.

BMD’s approach to the training program is to structure the pipe laying competencies in a single block. This provides opportunity to expedite the program to ensure the workforce is ready with the competencies needed to work on delivering pipe infrastructure assets for our clients such as SA Water, Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) and private developers.

Matt Blackborough

Kelly Brodie

Executive Manager - Trainers, Delivery and Product

Area Manager, BMD

Training Collaboration BMD places a high priority on the integration between on-the-job training by industry supervisors and off-the-job training by Civil Train. The company is committed to supporting the communities in which it operates, and this extends to giving back to the industry through training and development.

In its 16 years of operation in SA, BMD has consistently engaged its workforce in various training programs. These range from brief short courses aimed at enhancing technical skills and ensuring compliance to more extensive qualifications facilitated by Civil Train, the registered training organisation (RTO) affiliated with the Civil Contractors Federation South Australia Ltd (CCF SA). This strategic initiative is designed to foster skill development within the civil construction sector, thereby ensuring a highly proficient workforce.

Certificate III and IV When it comes to qualifications, BMD’s internal staff undergoes training in RII30920 Certificate III in Civil Construction and RII40720 Certificate IV in Civil Construction, positioning the company as an industry leader in competence. Certificate III focuses on hands-on skills, while Certificate IV (for upper leading hands and foreman) delves into project management, technical proficiency, safety compliance, and legal knowledge.

ISSUE 3 – 2023

BMD continues to build on training profiles around skills development to progress further into specific components of its personnel’s role while also growing its self-performance capability. Now BMD has a bolstered crew of more than 26 pipe layers who have completed the RII30920 Certificate III in Civil Construction (Pipe Laying). This provides additional benefits in the specifics of the trade such as working with Ductile Iron Cement Lined (DICL) pipe.

To get better learning outcomes for this and other skill sets, Civil Train and BMD regularly discuss the progress of their trainees and training needs for both accredited and non-accredited short courses. One of these is the MicroCredential for ‘Tunnelling Support Worker – Civil Construction’ – without BMD’s investment, an unfunded initiative like this would simply not be possible.

Anzac Centenary Memorial Walk

South Eastern Freeway - Managed Motorways Measures

Anzac Centenary Memorial Walk

Kangaroo Island Airport Upgrade 49

Civil Apprenticeships A pivotal development occurred as CCF SA transformed the Certificate III traineeship, establishing a structured apprenticeship pathway nationally in collaboration with the South Australian Training & Skills Commission. CCF SA, with supporters like BMD, established Civil Apprenticeships and Careers Ltd (CACL) as a dedicated Group Training Organisation (GTO), employing and placing trainees and apprentices in the civil construction sector.

BMD actively supports CACL GTO, through hosting CACL staff members to contribute to the next generation of professionals in the civil construction sector. This underscores BMD’s dual commitment – direct training for its apprentices and learners through Civil Train, and simultaneously supports CACL as the exclusive GTO for the industry.

The distinction lies in the training focus for internal staff and the structured apprenticeship pathway provided by CACL, ensuring a comprehensive approach to workforce development.

With the apprentices, new recruits end up at BMD via CACL’s stringent screening and induction processes. BMD’s foremen will offer on-site, firsthand training, rotating them to learn from different groups and pick up various skills in areas of subdivision work, government contracts, and civil construction etc.

Throughout their three-year training, apprentices have regular one-on-one catchups with their supervisors. This will not only help build supervisor-learner rapport and trust, but it also serves to improve apprentice retention rates.

Since the start of 2020, BMD has hosted more than 30 apprentices from Civil Apprenticeships and Careers (CACL), providing them with comprehensive training to acquire the necessary skill sets for careers in civil construction.

Because most of the trainees are young and entering the industry for the first time, supervising foremen are required to support their training from the ground up – educating trainees on work ethics, safety and compliance, in addition to training apprentices and maintaining a productive project team.

Dylan Child, Foreman, BMD prefers to lead with enthusiasm as he finds this to be the most productive way to engage and

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Emma Rees

Elijah Quartermaine - Apprentice of the Year 2023

Hayden Bullen

retain apprentices through training.

He believes that even if two out of ten apprentices end up employed in civil construction long-term, that would be a good outcome. The results speak for themselves. Currently, 12 CACL apprentices are undergoing training and Hayden Bullen who has just completed his course (with 16 months shaved off because of high performance and his commitment to training) is employed by BMD as a skilled labourer on the Kangaroo Island Reticulation project, which is being delivered for SA Water. He is convinced it is the best way to get into the industry. “They’re good people who are willing to teach,” says Bullen about his supervisors. “But at the same time, you must want to get further and be willing to learn.”

Another success story is that of Elijah Quartermaine, winner of Apprentice of the Year award at CCF SA’s 2023 Industry and Training Awards. He too recalls a positive experience with all aspects of training covered and good on-site exposure. Happily, he has now accepted BMD’s job offer as a pipe layer, which means the transition from training to working has been seamless and immediate.

Emma Rees, a new apprentice currently training under Thomas Hayden (General Foreman, BMD), goes home every day with a sense of fulfilment and the feeling she has achieved or learned something new. On her experience with CACL, she has this to say: “They are more than willing to help apprentices from induction through to emergency boots delivery if your boots are compromised – they delivered mine to me on site!

They are also just an amazing group of humans that want to see you fulfil your career aspirations!”

Independently, BMD runs a Prison Release Program to train prisoners or ex-inmates on parole. Evonne Penrose, Safety Advisor, BMD is a primary example of the success of this program for the business. Following her appointment as a full-time employee, Evonne has contributed to several major infrastructure projects and has been recognised as a safety leader.

CIVIL CONNECT

Tim Bishop, Regional Manager SA & VIC, BMD, understands the unique challenges facing the industry, with 105,000 additional construction workers needed to deliver Australia’s project pipeline. He sees training as fundamental to the solution.

“Traineeships and apprenticeships are the cornerstone of our commitment to the industry’s future. At BMD, we recognise that investing in the development of a skilled workforce isn’t just a responsibility, it’s an imperative. By nurturing and inspiring the next generation of the construction industry, or establishing pathways for people to transition to the industry later in life, we are continuing our legacy in the communities in which we operate and ensuring the industry’s future remains bright,” Bishop says.

Rebecca Pickering, Chief Executive Officer CCF SA & Executive Director Civil Apprenticeships and Careers Ltd For CCF SA, we agree, and believe our shared journey will continue to empower us to advocate industry training and do what is right for the stakeholders, the industry, community, as well as the SA economy.

“Training is the cornerstone of success for the civil construction workforce,” says Pickering. “We cannot underestimate the value of this strong partnership and how our training processes will continue to evolve to stay current and relevant. For this, we thank BMD who has been resolute in all manner of its support to CCF SA over the years, and into the future.”

Addressing shortfalls The training programs with Civil Train and CACL are aimed at ensuring there’s always a skilled workforce available to meet demand and overcome shortfalls.

CONSTRUCTION WORKFORCE – SOUTH AUSTRALIA (CITB DEFINITION) AGE PROFILE Occupational Group

Aged > 50

% Of Occupation Aged > 50

% Of Total Construction Aged > 50

Civil Construction

3,397

34.3%

26.8%

Any shortfall is a real threat to the civil industry. It is already happening with our ageing workforce. “We need to tap into their wealth of knowledge and experience, so we keep going,” remarks Thomas Hayden, General Foreman, BMD. “If we can train more apprentices, that would be great because there is a lot of work but a shortage of skilled labour.”

To address some of the shortfalls, BMD has established an Athlete Employment program to support women athletes with opportunities for them to pursue both their sporting career and career off-field through flexible work. Presently, women make up only 12% of the construction workforce and while BMD sits above that average with 19% across Australia, the business recognises there is still a long way to go - particularly in the blue collar space.

With BMD’s commitment and the resilience of the industry itself, we can only expect more positive outcomes for civil construction.

Matthews, General Foreman, BMD, says: “Things are only going to get bigger in the civil industry. There is a lot of work going on and the future is looking good.”

Additional commitment involves school students, as BMD believes early intervention is critical for expanding the workforce to meet industry needs in the years to come. The company conducts bus tours for students and gives talks in schools to introduce a new generation to civil works.

BMD also actively supports CCF SA’s initiatives in this area. A recent example is the Civil Immersion Day (2023) – BMD inducted the students from Nazareth Catholic Community and briefed them on the importance of safety in the civil industry.

Apprentices and employees spoke about their positive work experiences. Brodie then led them on a site tour before they attended a Q&A session, followed by a go on the simulator machinery at CCF SA.

So far, the training partnership between BMD and CCF SA has been given an all-round thumbs up from everyone involved, including the foremen and the apprentices. As Luke

ISSUE 3 – 2023

51

LAYING FOUNDATIONS:

NOT JUST A TRAINING PROVIDER BUT A STRATEGIC PARTNER IN THE SUCCESS OF SMALL BUSINESSES Insights by Matt Blackborough, Executive Manager - Trainers, Delivery, and Product

In the dynamic realm of small businesses, the cornerstone of success lies in a committed and skilled team. Reflecting on my extensive involvement with the Civil Train team at the Civil Contractors Federation (CCF) South Australia, I've witnessed the evolution of teams over the past 15 years. Propelled by innovation and efficiency, these changes align seamlessly with the industry's evolving needs.

During my tenure at CCF SA, I have observed that training is not just a compliance requirement but a driving force for growth. Small businesses invest in training not just for compliance but to foster loyalty, hard work, and commitment from their teams. As the Executive Manager for Trainers, Delivery, and Product, I've been actively reshaping Civil Train's training delivery team, acknowledging the necessity for flexibility and adaptability.

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A significant milestone in this journey is the introduction of key Lead Facilitator roles, featuring Terry Rayner for Stakeholder Engagement Manager, and Daniele Cardellini as Technical Manager. These roles play a pivotal part in refining training quality and efficiency, and managing tools, equipment, and course schedules. Their unwavering commitment significantly contributes to the success of the training team, supportsindustry members, and ensurse alignment with specific business needs.

KEY LEAD FACILITATOR ROLES

Terry Rayner Stakeholder Engagement Manager trayner@ccfsa.com.au

Daniele Cardellini Technical Manager dcardellini@ccfsa.com.au CIVIL CONNECT

Our growth isn't confined to South Australia; teams in Western Australia and the Northern Territory, have showcased exceptional dedication. Collaborating closely with industry, they've successfully delivered skill clusters and community programs, expanding the horizon of qualifications and opportunities.

Acknowledging the challenges associated with remote training delivery, especially in the Northern Territory (NT), our team has demonstrated that persistence can conquer challenges. The knowledge gained from various locations, and the accelerated growth in training demand, empower us to be a more adaptable and efficient organisation. This allows us to customise our approach to meet the distinctive needs of small businesses.

Envisaging the future of our training delivery team centres around agility and responsiveness. Empowering individuals in ISSUE 3 – 2023

strategic roles enables us to swiftly adapt to industry changes and demands. I invite small businesses to join forces with us, and delve into innovative and customised training opportunities that go beyond the conventional. By embracing emerging technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), gamification, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Training, we can ensure a diverse and effective range of training methods.

Driving these transformative shifts is the exceptional team at Civil Train, seamlessly integrated across administration, business development, and the training delivery team. This cohesive unit is propelled by profound knowledge and an unwavering commitment to meeting the dynamic needs of the industry. Our dedication to continuous improvement is made possible through our evolved growth model, now fortified by our Lead Facilitators.

They actively support training specialists, senior trainers, and assessors, placing a specific emphasis on encouraging industry professionals to transition into crucial training roles. Recognising the growing demand for versatile, skilled individuals in both industry and small businesses, our Civil Train team is poised to grow alongside you, ensuring a mutually beneficial expansion.

For us, training is not merely about compliance; it's about witnessing those ‘lightbulb moments’ as individuals achieve tasks they once considered unattainable.

Looking forward, I am enthusiastic about collaborating with small businesses by providing them with the tools and knowledge to thrive in a rapidly evolving industry. Civil Train goes beyond being a simple training provider; we are a dedicated partner in your business's success, committed to unlocking its full potential.

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FROM SILENT TO ALPHA Overcoming Generational Challenges in Teaching and Training

value long-term relationships, building trust is essential when teaching them.

Today’s work force is mostly comprised of four different and distinct generations of employees:

Baby Boomers (Born 1946-1964)

Builders, Baby Boomers, Generation X, Generation Y, and Generation Z. Soon, it will include Generation Alpha.

With age differences sometimes spanning over half a century, trainers face challenges with delivering positive outcomes harmoniously and seamlessly.

As each generation has unique characteristics, they must adapt to and/ or adopt training methods to meet the needs and preferences of learners to ensure everyone is engaged and learning effectively.

Here are some potential challenges related to training and teaching workers from different generations: Builders (Born < 1946) Known for being hardworking, frugal, and traditional, new technologies may be challenging, and learners from this cohort may prefer more formal, lecture-style teaching methods. As they are loyal and

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Baby boomers are competitive and goaloriented – they need to see the practical application of what they’re learning to stay motivated. Usually, they prefer in-person training, and some struggle with new technologies. Baby boomers value respect and most will respond well to a more formal teaching approach.

Generation X (Gen Xers) (Born 1965-1979) Gen Xers are known for being independent and self-directed, hence they generally opt for self-paced online courses, as well as hands-on, practical training.

Thought to be sceptical of traditional authoritative figures, building trust and credibility is important when teaching this generation.

Generation Y (Millennials) (Born 1980-1994) Millennials are noted for being tech-savvy, collaborative, and entrepreneurial. They are inclined to choose more technologybased learning, involving online courses or

interactive tools. They value social learning and peer-to-peer support. Because they prioritise work-life balance, flexible learning options could be more suitable.

Generation Z (Zoomers) (Born 1995-2009) Generation Z is the first truly digital native generation, with Zoomers growing up with technology as an integral part of their lives. Most will prefer learning from mobile devices and social media, and can respond well to gamified learning experiences.

They prefer immediate feedback and rewards for their efforts.

Generation Alpha (Born 20102024) Generation Alpha is the newest generation whose future will be shaped

by AI learning from childhood, with opportunities to access smart AI toys like Roybi AI Robot and TeddyGPT. Learners from this generation are comfortable with technology and has a unique perspective on the world. They learn towards experiential learning, as well as personalised and visual learning. While AI is set to change the education process, it is not expected to destroy it.

CIVIL CONNECT

Generated by AI

Bridging the generation gaps in teaching and training requires flexibility, adaptability, and an openness to evolving learning approaches by considering each generation’s unique characteristics.

Strategies encompass building on universally effective methods, leveraging technology such as online courses and interactive tools, personalising learning experiences, fostering a culture of learning, and recognising diverse communication preferences. The benefits of multi-generational training, including knowledge sharing, bridging gaps, fostering creativity, effective mentorship, and ISSUE 3 – 2023

Generated by AI

improved collaboration, underscore the value of bringing different age groups together.

experience is evident in the development and integration of e-learning modules tailored for civil construction training.

Notably, Civil Train has played a pivotal role in this endeavor by strategically expanding its team and incorporating cutting-edge technology. Through the hiring of a specialised instructional designer and the implementation of advanced tools like a Learning Management System and 360 video technology, Civil Train has revolutionised its training programs. The organisation’s commitment to offering a more efficient, sustainable, and immersive learning

By emphasizing both technical and soft skills, Civil Train ensures a well-rounded learning environment that caters to the needs of diverse generations, fostering success in the dynamic civil construction industry.

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CIVIL TRAIN NT SUPPORTING BUSINESS Written by Mark Hopkins

As mentioned in previous articles, the Northern Territory is currently experiencing a significant increase in regional prospects and opportunities, many of which have evolved from projects linked to infrastructure, construction, and mining. Civil Train NT is aware that a number of longterm clients (local NT private businesses) will expand in order to meet this demand, and will most likely require our services on a more frequent basis. Civil Train NT is prepared to meet this need and will continue to support those who have supported us over the last 12 years.

INDUSTRY, TRAINING INDUSTRY

Since Civil Train established a permanent presence within the Northern Territory (Alice Springs), working closely with NT industry via the private sector has always 56

been a priority in relation to its overall NT business strategy and structure.

Civil Train NT has over time built strong relationships with numerous NT privately owned and operated companies. These collaborations were established based on mutual trust, reliability, and flexibility as the foundations. Working with clients in relation to their contract commitments, schedules, rosters etc, whilst doing our best to limit down-time, where possible regarding training requirements. Accommodating after hours training, on weekends, training in remote locations, with short notice, are all commonplace occurrences for Civil Train NT.

CORE BUSINESS

With Government contracts involving various sectors playing a major part of our NT operations, Civil Train NT is committed to prioritising the private sector, especially civil construction operations, as this represents the very core of Civil Train and the CCF. The reciprocal benefits to all parties involved are numerous: •

Required compliance (WorkSafe, insurance, warranties)

•

Cost saving/Local regional RTO

•

Linking potential employers and employees

•

Utilisation of industry equipment and resources

•

Collaboration regarding industry related information, tenders, and contracts

•

Development of internal training, induction processes etc

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Businesses aligned to civil infrastructure, general construction, engineering, transportation, land management etc are critical in relation to the development of the NT. These highly motivated, adaptable, and committed companies continue to characterise the outback sprit. They provide employment opportunities to thousands of people from all cultures and backgrounds, male and female, with a high focus on training and retaining their staff.

This includes the numerous Indigenous owned and operated NT companies (large and small) with strong ties to culture and the environment, and a real sense of autonomy and a can-do attitude. These organisations thrive on independence and CIVIL CONNECT

self-governance, with an eye to the future as well as the past.

The list of privately own and operated companies that Civil Train NT has had the pleasure of working with is extensive; they have all in their own way helped to shape the NT over many years, and they all truly deserve acknowledgement for their contribution and tenacity.

The one thing many of these organisations have in common, is that most started from humble beginnings (usually family companies). They took financial risks to overcome various obstacles, made personal sacrifices to establish their operations, and are now successful, productive businesses involved in some of the largest infrastructure, construction, and mining projects in the country.

These organisations, without exception, have shown the resilience, professionalism and character required to succeed in an extremely unpredictable and challenging environment.

GOING FORWARD

Civil Train will continue to focus on identifying minor and major projects within the NT, and where possible, position our operations to provide our services, responding to the client’s immediate and long-term training needs.

There are currently numerous NT

ISSUE 3 – 2023

projects of significance, in terms of various opportunities. While a number of these projects have already been committed to (or have commenced), others are still in the feasibility and business planning phase.

We are closely monitoring their progress.

Below is just a sample of the proposed projects and initiatives targeted at Central Australia, involving a number of our close affiliates from various sectors.

•

A $10 million upgrade of the Stuart Highway north of Alice Springs

•

Upgrade and sealing of 527 kilometres of the Tanami Road, from the Stuart Highway to Newmont’s Granites operations

•

Reconstruction of several sections and widening from single lane to two-lane seal of the Plenty Highway Outback Way

•

Sealing of selected sections of the Santa Teresa Road and Sandover Highway

•

Revitalisation of the Alice Springs CBD – to rejuvenate the town centre and improve it liveability and attractiveness to residents and visitors

•

Construction of $5 million Kwatja (water) play area for Alice Springs

•

Construction of $50 million National Aboriginal Art Gallery, and $20

million National Indigenous Cultural Centre near the Alice Springs town centre •

Civil works at Nolans Rare Earths Mine

•

Civil works at Jervois Copper Mine (KGL Resources Ltd)

•

Civil works at Chandler Salt Mine

•

Civil works at Mount Peak Lithium Mine (including Ti Tree airstrip upgrade and new terminal)

•

Civil works at Amaroo Phosphate Mine Ampilatwatja

IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN!

As another year rolls by, everyone at Civil Train NT would like to take this opportunity to thank the CCF members (especially SA Board), clients, associates, and friends who continue to entrust and support our NT regional and remote operations. And as always, a big THANKS! to the head office staff and management in SA. We wish you all a safe and very merry Festive Season, and a happy and rewarding New Year!

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CIVIL TRAIN WA

PAVING THE WAY FOR THE FUTURE OF CIVIL CONSTRUCTION APPRENTICESHIPS Written by Karyn Grant With the former Minister for Education and Training, Sue Ellery, endorsing the 4-year pilot program for the Civil Construction Apprenticeships in Western Australia in September of 2021, Civil Train positioned themselves to be a market leader for the delivery of apprenticeships across the state.

The team at Civil Train sprung into action, communicating the opportunity to employers and existing trainees, that they had the choice to change their current traineeship registration to the apprenticeship. This change not only increased the incentive value and funding available to the employer, but also allowing the apprentices to receive a trade certificate upon completion.

All Civil Train’s Certificate III trainees varied their training contract to the apprenticeship. The trainee recognised a

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shift in recognition for a trade outcome and the raising of the profile of the civil industry as only a positive thing. They were most excited about being some of the first trade-qualified civil construction workers in Western Australia.

So, what is driving success of the civil construction apprenticeship in Western Australia?

Civil Train WA Operations Manager, Karyn Grant, said industry is excited about the change to a trade recognised outcome. With the massive amount of major infrastructure projects underway in Western Australia, it was the perfect time to introduce the scheme.

Getting access to site can be challenging when the worksite is on a major road upgrade project, so the team established a block release model that invites

apprentices to attend training at Civil Train/ CCF WA’s Jandakot premises, to undertake training and assessment in a simulated and safe manner, said Ms Grant.

Ms Grant added that this model groups units together that work together, such as load and unload plant and support plant operations are often grouped with plant units, reducing repetition, and allowing task-based assessments to be undertaken and enabling apprentices to relate assessment activities with actual work tasks undertaken on daily.

Civil Train is able to deliver the Certificate III in Civil Construction in a range of streams in Western Australia, including: plant operations, general, pipe laying, road construction and maintenance, bituminous surfacing, and bridge construction and maintenance.

CIVIL CONNECT

Unearth the Benefits

OTR and Civil Contractors Federation South Australia are pleased to offer all members an exclusive fuel card offer that will help your business!

Weekly Card Fees No fees for the first 12 months*

Zero Transaction Fees No transactions fees*

Fuel Discount 4.0 cents per litre off the pump price at OTR Sites*

Locations Over 170 OTR locations across SA and VIC

For more details contact: Lauren Robertson Commercial Relationship Manager p 0459 536 637 e l.robertson@reliablepetroleum.com.au *Terms and conditions. Card fees are waved for the first 12 months. An out of network transaction fee ($0.38) will apply at non-OTR Branded BP sites. Payment terms are by direct debit.

Invoicing is 14 days end of month. Discount is not applicable at non-OTR Branded BP sites.

CCF SA MEMBERS ONLY

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MEH HIRE An extensive range of Plant & Equipment for Dry Hire.

We offer a competitive discount hire and rental rate for all CCF SA Members. Mention you are a member at the time of booking. *conditions apply

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p (08) 8177 0246 p (08) 7231 5950

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Wambeti Legal is a law firm that specialises in construction law, initial contract negotiations, contract management, risk management and commercial advice. We provide smart strategies and creative solutions for businesses involved in the engineering and construction industries. We work with clients in a range of industries including: oil and gas, energy, technology, engineering, and construction. Our services are tailored to protect you before, during and after your projects. We offer expertise, experience and project management services to help you with: 1 legal issues that may arise during your project, including any potential for litigation; 2 contract management in construction law; 3 risk management in construction projects.

DISCOUNT BOWDEN PRINT GROUP Our values speak for themselves: to partner with our clients to meet their objectives by providing the best solutions, the best quality, value for money, delivery on time, guaranteed.

Give yourself the advantage.

CCF SA Members will receive an additional 10% discount on all quoted prices.

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Free initial 15-minute consultation with the Principal.

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FLEXABLE FORCE Permanent placement and Labour Hire employment services.

ALCOLIZER

BRENTNALLS SA Christina is offering a free initial meeting to discuss your business accounting and tax affairs.

All CCF SA Members receive 10% off New Instrument purchases. See flyer in CCF SA members only section for more information.

CHRISTINA GULLIVER – PARTNER m 0437 719 723 p (08) 8241 8444

Contact

255 PORT ROAD HINDMARSH SA

KATYA SAWYER m 0411 592 338

WWW.BRENTNALLS-SA.COM.AU

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Permanent placement fee fixed at 10% of anticipated annual income and 3 months guarantee as per our terms and conditions for salary staff. Quote CCF SA discount.

PETER MURPHY p (08) 8261 1111 265 NORTH EAST ROAD HAMPSTED GARDENS SA 5086 WWW.FLEXABLEFORCE.COM.AU

CIVIL CONNECT

FREE

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ELDERS INSURANCE Elders Insurance agents live and breathe local business. Our customers stick with us because they value local service and trust us with their insurance needs. We get to know you and your business very well, so we can tailor a package to suit your needs.

A 25% discount off the normal price for the SMS Geotechnical educational seminars.

U9/21 BEAFIELD ROAD PARA HILLS WEST SA 5096 MICHAEL SHEPPARD m 0499 993 777

Specialising in bulk fuel deliveries, the hire/loan of fuel storage tanks, and on-site refuelling.

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Claim a no-strings-attached review of your current coverage for peace of mind that you're adequately covered.

SAM PRICE - ADELAIDE WEST m 0424 012 422 P (08) 8424 6200 E INSURANCEADELAIDEWEST@ ELDERS.COM.AU JESSICA MITCHELL - MAWSON LAKES m 0439 866 792 P (08) 8169 7100 E INSURANCEMAWSONLAKES@ ELDERS.COM.AU

DISCOUNT DIGITAL MARKETING AOK Digital Marketing AOK is a seriously social specialist social media agency that loves to help businesses to discover the power of using social media as a positive tool to drive business and effect change.

Digital Marketing AOK are offering CCF SA Members a $0.00 onboarding fee (a saving of $265.00) and 10% discount on training.

MEREDITH WATERHOUSE – DIRECTOR OF MARKETING m 0414 771 776

ISSUE 3 – 2023

ADELAIDE FUEL DISTRIBUTORS

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p (08) 8349 5868 central CLINTON m 0407 070 420 north DOMENIC m 0404 237 263 south STEPHEN m 0414 813 727 ADELAIDEFUEL.NET.AU

FENWICK ELLIOT GRACE Construction law specialist, Fenwick Elliott Grace (FEG) has entered into an agreement with the CCF SA to provide no obligation, free legal advice to CCF SA Members. FEG is a law firm that provides legal support to businesses working in the construction and engineering fields. FEG’s lawyers have many years of experience in the construction law field with some holding qualifications in both law and engineering. FEG has advised on many civil construction projects, including roads, bridges, harbours, quarries and mines.

Members wanting legal advice should initially call CCF SA who will then forward the member’s enquiry to a dedicated FEG enquiry line. One of FEG’s specialist construction lawyers will return the member’s call that day and provide the advice. The consultation will generally be limited to a 20-minute duration.

FEG also offers discounted rates to CCF SA Members who require more extensive advice or assistance.

DISCOUNT RTO 45621

CIVIL TRAIN SA Civil Train SA offers discounted rates on accredited and nonaccredited training to CCF SA Members. Give us a call or check out our website at www.civiltrain.com.au to find out more. level 1, 1 south road, Thebarton sa 5031 P (08) 8111 8000 COURSES@CCFSA.COM.AU

phone ccf sa to request a consultation p (08) 8111 8000 FEG.COM.AU

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MEET THE TEAM

What does a normal day at CCF SA look like for you and what do you love most about your job? A normal day for me: security updates/maintenance, project work, assisting people with their day-to-day technical problems and system/ process improvement. There is a constant need for improvement due to a lot of challenges I face on a daily basis.

What do you think is the biggest challenge that you will be facing in the next 12 months? Upgrading the printers to something… better.

Who do you look up to? Linus Torvald. He helped invent in Linux kernel and is a smart guy.

KYLE WHITBROOK IT Coordinator

What did your 8-year-old self love doing? Playing games, mainly CSGO. What is your favourite thing about the festive season? Spending time with my family, and the peace and quiet.

What does a normal day at CCF SA look like for you and what do you love most about your job? A day in the life of an event coordinator at CCF SA is dynamic and filled with various tasks to ensure the successful planning and execution of events. While the specifics can vary depending on the type of event and its stage of planning, event coordination allows me to express my creativity by designing unique and memorable experiences. Whether it’s selecting venues, themes, or entertainment, I love creating visually stunning and immersive environments.

What do you think is the biggest challenge that you will be facing in the next 12 months? Creating unique and memorable events for our members, with the goal of injecting new life in to CCF SA’s event program.

Who do you look up to? I look up to an artist who can articulate what they are thinking and feeling by turning that into their craft. It could be music, art, dance, or theatre.

NELDA ALDRETE Events Coordinator

What did your 8-year-old self love doing? Brought up in San Antonio, Texas, we lived inland, so heading to the coast was a highlight of the summer.

We would head to Corpus Christi, a two-hour drive that felt like six hours, and throw ourselves to the mercy of the sun and sand. Thank goodness we immigrated to Australia, a life of the biggest, bluest skies, and breathtaking and invigorating beaches.

What is your favourite thing about the festive season? The heat, my family, and time away from my role to gear up for the new year ahead.

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CIVIL CONNECT

What does a normal day at CCF SA look like for you and what do you love most about your job? Working in compliance I tend to not have ‘normal’ days. I can say that it starts with cup of tea while quickly checking emails. I’ve been in the education for over 20 years and for me, the VET industry is about delivering quality training and assessment practices which lead to the best possible student outcomes for industry. My role as the compliance coordinator is to monitor our operations and ensure that Civil Train is delivering those outcomes to meet our obligations as a Registered Training Organisation (RTO).

NAOMI LOW

Compliance and Training Administration Coordinator

What do you think is the biggest challenge that you will be facing in the next 12 months? Civil Train is due for re-registration in 2025 with the national regulatory body so the next 12 to 18 months I will be auditing, reviewing, and preparing Civil Train nationwide for registration renewal.

Who do you look up to? My mum.

What did your 8-year-old self love doing? I was born and bred in Queensland, so swimming, whether that was in the pool, ocean or the neighbour’s pool.

What is your favourite thing about the festive season? It would have to be Christmas Eve. My Grandpa was German, so Christmas Eve is a special tradition with my family from when I was born. I’m hoping to pass this down to my own children when the time comes. Other than that, daylight savings, the beach, fishing, crabbing, and of course camping!

What does a normal day at CCF SA look like for you and what do you love most about your job? Every day is exciting, with plenty of laughs and there is always something new coming across my desk. Our team is amazing and supportive. I love that there is always a new challenge, and I can learn new things.

What do you think is the biggest challenge that you will be facing in the next 12 months? As I move into this new role, I look forward to learning the different areas of the business and the challenges, highlights, and excitement this will bring.

Who do you look up to? My mum. She is the most selfless, caring person I know. I could never express how much I adore and strive to be like my mum.

What did your 8-year-old self love doing? Probably either making ‘potions’ with stuff from the garden with my cousin or watching the same movies over and over (and driving everyone crazy in the process).

What is your favourite thing about the festive season? Having a break and relaxing with my partner and our fur babies.

ISSUE 3 – 2023

LEIA BRAMBILLA

Training Administrator

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CIVIL APPRENTICESHIPS AND CAREERS LTD

SEEKING HOSTS STRENGTHEN YOUR BUSINESS WITH CIVIL APPRENTICES If your business is at the top of its game, and looking to support our brilliant civil industry by training and mentoring our future work force, then consider becoming a Civil Apprenticeships and Careers Ltd (CACL) Host today.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU AS A HOST: • Publicity, promotion and marketing opportunities for your business as an industry and community supporter • Freedom to support apprentices without a 3-year commitment • Relief from administrative burden with CACL managing: ◦ performance and human resource matters ◦ wages and allowances ◦ RDOs, annual leave, sick leave, and public holidays ◦ supperannuation ◦ trade school facilities ◦ PPE etc • Easing of cash flow pressure • Set charge out rates with no hidden costs • Choice of quality, motivated apprentices for various year levels • Choice of long or short-term placements • Flexibility with off-site training schedules for the apprentice • On-site visits and support from experienced industry field coordinators

Level 1, 1 South Road, Thebarton SA 5031 www.civilapprenticeshipsandcareers.com.au

AS A HOST YOU WILL BENEFIT FROM: • Supporting IPP* targets, delivering stronger tender submissions • Flexible engagement options • Reduced employment costs and risks • Access to Host funding • Work Health and Safety support WE WILL MANAGE: • Apprentice matching to suit your business • Recruitment • On boarding • Medicals • Human resource and industrial relations management • Payroll • Trade school • RTO coordination • Employee assistance (welfare) • Mentoring/Support WHAT DOES THE CHARGE OUT RATE COVER? • Apprentice welfare and support • Training – off the Job • Registered Training Organisation (RTO) Fees • Employee welfare support • Annual Leave Days • Sick Days • Public Holidays • Superannuation • Workers Compensation • Medicals including drugs and alcohol • Uniform and PPE • Payroll • Administration • All the paperwork and red tape compliance

WELCOME TO

CACL’S NEWEST HOSTS

Civil Apprenticeships and Careers Ltd (CACL) supports and generates apprenticeship opportunities in the civil construction industry, where the continuity of employment is provided, and where the quality and scope of training available to apprentices in the civil construction industry is of the highest standard.

We’re excited to be consistently increasing apprenticeship opportunities within the civil industry and have recently onboarded three new Hosts.

DKM ELECTRICAL AND CIVIL

MCCONNELL DOWELL

TONKIN SCHUTZ DESIGN & BUILD (TSDB)

Fully certified and compliant, DKM Electrical and Civil are committed to always meeting deadlines and providing outstanding services from start to finish. Working on commercial, residential and industrial projects, DKM Electrical and Civil provide services ranging from maintenance and faults, to new installations, upgrades or renovations.

McConnell Dowell successfully deliver complex infrastructure to their customers and the community. For over 60 years, customers have been coming to McConnell Dowell with complex projects that require innovative solutions. That’s why they’re known as the Creative Construction company. From remote resources and energy projects, to cityshaping infrastructure, they’ve built thousands of quality assets and facilities.

Founded in 2000, TSDB has earned an outstanding reputation in the design and construction industry for both the quality and costeffectiveness of their work. Their unique company structure and approach has TSDB committed to offering superior value-for-money, excellence and business integrity on every project they undertake.

We look forward to supporting our new Hosts assume their crucial role of building our future civil workforce by supplying apprentices who are keen to learn from professional mentors.

Together with Civil Contractors Federation SA we exist to support new industry entrants through apprenticeship pathways and ensure they have a long working life in the civil construction industry.

ISSUE 3 – 2023

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CIVIL APPRENTSHIPS AND CAREERS LTD MEET OUR APPRENTICES When we advertise apprenticeship positions on SEEK, we go through a rigorous process of selection.

Applicants must have a driver's licence and reliable transport.

We invite all who apply to an information session in which we are frank about the industry’s working conditions and our Host expectations, and if it’s not enough to deter them, those keen to continue go through an LLN test so we can understand what support they might need for trade school and we test them for drugs and alcohol.

We are looking for individuals who: •

Enjoy working hard/keeping busy

•

Prefer to work outside/in/with the environment

•

Follow direction well

•

Resilient/like a challenge

•

Early starter

66

•

Can work with a variety of people and personalities

•

Self-awareness

Successful candidates without prior experience are then offered an opportunity to participate in a 2-week Civil Connexions Program at the Civil Train Burton live site. Course fees have been covered in recent times by govement funding and their PPE is supplied.

Candidates need to be able to financially sustain themselves for the course period.

The course helps prepare newcomers to the industry and assists them determine if the civil industry is for them. During the two weeks we monitor their progress and note their attendance, timekeeping, commitment, motivation etc and really test their mettle.

They complete 6 units of competence which include: •

CPCWHS1001 Prepare to work safely in the construction industry (White Card)

•

RIIBEF201E Plan and organise work

•

RIICCM207E Spread and compact materials manually

•

RIISAM203E Use hand and power tools

•

RIIWHS201E Work safely and follow WHS policies and procedures

•

RIICCM205F Carry out manual excavation

For those that have successfully completed the course and still want to pursue a career in the civil industry, they undergo an interview process and pre-employment medical. We then set out to marry the diverse preferences of potential apprentice and Host. When there has been a pairing, we employ the candidate as an apprentice.

This process has proven successful in 2023 with over 85% of course participants achieving successful outcomes. Call us if you’d like to try a candidate that has shown promise to date.

CIVIL CONNECT

BIANCA SHMAKOV

MURPHY NG

ABOUT ME

ABOUT ME

I am a dedicated, easy going individual who has an unhealthy obsession with demolishing things. I am not an individual who shies away from hard work and greatly enjoys working outdoors. In my spare time I like to design and construct a variety of personal projects I use CAD software and a 3D printer to do.

I’m 24, always loved practical work, did some arts and crafts when I was younger, and woodwork in high school, and found I really enjoyed it. Also really enjoyed the outdoors and physical activity.

WHY I WANT A CAREER IN CIVIL CONSTRUCTION

Stability, good working standards, working on different sites should be fun. Don’t mind travelling; it keeps things interesting. I recently completed the Roads2Civil course and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Civil construction greatly interests me regarding the sheer spectrum of opportunities and experiences it provides within numerous fields of work. I take great pleasure in the freedom and non-static environment that working outdoors offers me.

I WILL BE THE BEST APPRENTICE FOR YOUR ORGANISATION BECAUSE I believe that no task is too difficult or too mundane and appreciate the skills learnt along the way. Any opportunity to learn and grow is an opportunity worth taking. I am an excellent problem solver and love any challenge given to me. I am more than willing to put in the hard work to better myself and my abilities in order to gain entry within an industry I feel most passionate in pursuing.

WHY I WANT A CAREER IN CIVIL CONSTRUCTION

I WILL BE THE BEST APPRENTICE FOR YOUR ORGANISATION BECAUSE I’m extremely reliable. I always show up on time and up for anything, Extremely capable of lots of physical activities.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE, MY CAREER IN CONSTRUCTION LOOKS LIKE Tons of experience and a wide range of skills, perhaps leaning towards plant ops or surveying.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE, MY CAREER IN CONSTRUCTION LOOKS LIKE I feel it is too early to have a definite outlook for my future career. However, I hope for a successful career gained by the experience and skills learned through my apprenticeship that will allow me to travel across Australia, and some day, the world.

ISSUE 3 – 2023

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LACHLAN WINDAHL

JOEL GUTSCHE

ABOUT ME

ABOUT ME

I am a strong and outgoing individual with great potential and a great eye for detail. I have played football for the last 13 years of my life at a semiprofessional level. I have completed year 12 and have developed competent English and math skills.

I’m eighteen years old, I play weekend rugby for the Woodville Wasps, I attend the gym most days, have a good sense of humour and like socialising with my mates. I have a provisional driver’s licence and own my reliable vehicle. I drive a manual.

WHY I WANT A CAREER IN CIVIL CONSTRUCTION

WHY I WANT A CAREER IN CIVIL CONSTRUCTION

I believe Civil Construction would be a great occupation for a person like me as I look for a challenge in most day-to-day life, I am a very physical person and prefer dealing with hands-on tasks.

I enjoy working in the civil construction industry as I like being outside and keeping busy. There is a lot of opportunity for growth and advancement within the industry and seeing jobs from start to finish is really satisfying. I look forward to the wages when I’m out of my apprenticeship.

I WILL BE THE BEST APPRENTICE FOR YOUR ORGANISATION BECAUSE I’m very eager to take on and learn new skills and to develop them to the best of my ability. I have great leadership capabilities as I was a captain for a number of years for both teams I played under. I also have a great eye for safety and believe I will be a great asset to your company. I’m respectful and reliable and will do all tasks without hesitation.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE, MY CAREER IN CONSTRUCTION LOOKS LIKE I hope that this opportunity will lead to a steady and rewarding job that will grant me life-long friends and connections in the Civil industry, I also wish to start a business somewhere in the future.

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I WILL BE THE BEST APPRENTICE FOR YOUR ORGANISATION BECAUSE I already have 10 months experience in civil, specifically subdivisions and bulk earthworks. I’ve been mainly labouring however recently obtained my roller ticket and have had some opportunities to use it in my work.

I’m a hard worker, always on time, listen to instructions well and I ask questions if I don’t understand. I try my best with every job.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE, MY CAREER IN CONSTRUCTION LOOKS LIKE I would like to be a full-time plant operator eventually as I enjoy the responsibility of machine maintenance and admire the skill required to be a good operator.

Excavator and grader specifically.

CIVIL CONNECT

CCF SA

NATIONAL SAFETY MONTH WORKSHOP National Safety Month is being supported by the CCF SA Health, Injury and Wellness team in numerous ways.

Recently, the team delivered a face-to-face session at CCF SA House for members and industry employers, presented by ReturnToWorkSA and SafeWork SA. Our members and industry employers heard from Jason Mavrikis, Education and Engagement Advisor, SafeWork SA, about Managing Risks – with a Key Focus on Psychosocial Hazards. Jason was able to break down the topic, relate it to current Civil workplaces, while discussing legislation, WHS framework re-cap, and an overview of the process to manage psychosocial risks and expectations of SA businesses.

The topics discussed were: •

Supporting Stigma Reduction

•

Workers Support Team and Supporting Return to Work

•

What Does a Mentally Healthy Workplace Mean in Workplaces?

•

Key Pillars for Creating a Mentally Healthy Workplace

•

The Importance of Leadership Support and Worker Involvement

All of these important topics were discussed in an open forum, in a safe space, to develop a better understanding for managing workplace risks and establishing healthy work environments.

Our members and industry employers who attended left with resources and tools to support their ongoing workplace development in working together, managing risk, and creating mentally healthy workplaces for everyone.

The workshop also heard from Houda Peters, Team Leader, Employer in Education, ReturnToWorkSA; and Mardi Webber, Mentally Healthy Workplaces Consultant, ReturnToWorkSA. They discussed Working together to support all workers – a focus on recovery and return to work, and Working together to ensure a healthy workplace – a focus on a mentally healthy workplace.

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NATIONAL NATIONAL SAFE SAFE WORK WORK MONTH MONTH October 2023 October 2023

In October 2023, CCF SA proudly supported National Safe Work Month, emphasising its commitment to In October 2023, CCF SA proudlyPrioritising supported safety National Safe Work Month, emphasising its commitment fostering a safe work environment. is paramount in the Civil Construction Industry, to fostering a safe work environment.

Prioritising safety is paramount in the Civil Construction Industry, safeguarding workers from potential hazards. safeguarding workers from potential hazards.

CCF SA recognises that a focus on safety not only preserves lives but also enhances productivity and CCF SAthe recognises that a focus on safety not only preserves lives but also enhances productivity and growth. sustains industry's growth. sustains the industry's By actively participating in National Safe Work Month, CCF SA contributes to a culture of responsibility, By actively participating in National Work Month, CCFinSA contributes to a culture of responsibility, ensuring a safer and more resilient civilSafe construction sector Australia. ensuring a safer and more resilient civil construction sector in Australia.

WORKING TOGETHER TO WORKING TOGETHER TO SUPPORT WORKERS SUPPORT WORKERS MENTAL HEALTH MENTAL HEALTH

WELCOME TO OUR

NEW MEMBERS AGRISANO FRESH

CIVILCAST

DAVE HUTCHINSON

TINA GRIFFITHS

M 0488 785 984

M 0429 656 599

E dave.hutchinson@agrisanofresh.com.au

E tina.g@civilcast.com.au

ADELAIDE SA 5000

WINGFIELD SA 5031

Agrisano Fresh is a farmer and a developer.

Civilcast, an Australian enterprise privately owned and operated, is devoted to achieving excellence in the manufacturing and supply of precast and steel products that cater to a broad spectrum of civil construction requirements. These needs encompass various aspects such as stormwater management, water systems, sewer infrastructure, and applications in the fields of electrical work and communication.

We build and operate state-of-the-art greenhouses out of our headquarters in Mallala South Australia. We provide high quality, affordable fresh leafy greens that have been grown in optimised conditions that are sustainable and socially responsible.

We use technology to ensure the best quality produce and work with our partners to develop a range of products through our development at Mallala. We are customercentric, partnering with our customers to build their businesses.

Growing greens is about challenging the norms to deliver sustainable outcomes. We use state-of-the-art climatecontrolled greenhouses that use the sun, wind, and water, to heat, cool, and humidify our greenhouses. We will use recycled water from the Northern Adelaide Irrigation Scheme, to hydroponically grow high quality, nutritious leafy greens that taste as good as they look.

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The comprehensive product range offered by Civilcast includes: •

Galvanized steel products

•

Polymer trench drain systems

•

Ductile iron products

•

Precast concrete products

•

Sewer and potable water solutions

•

Civil consumables

At the core of Civilcast’s comprehensive product range lies a genuine commitment to delivering exceptional service, which is evident through: •

Large stocks

•

Fast lead times

•

Expert advice

•

Custom solutions

CIVIL CONNECT

WELCOME TO OUR

NEW MEMBERS 1300 TEMP FENCE SA Tom Roberts M 0472 526 973 E tomroberts@1300tempfence.com.au

JAYBRO GROUP

HENDON SA 5014

NICHOLAS FELMINGHAM

With 25 years’ experience in the industry, 1300TempFence has grown to be one of Australia’s leading complete site solutions companies by providing competitive prices, fast, reliable service and industry leading products. Our local branch in Adelaide, ensures that our South Australian customers can get their job done in a safe and secure environment. Whether you work in; infrastructure, civil, industrial, commercial, residential or events our goal is to provide a service that makes your job, major project or event run that little bit smoother. With our vast experience, we know exactly what works on site. Our product range includes; temporary fencing, crowd control barriers, portable toilets, noise reduction barriers, water filled barriers and site cameras plus so much more. All our products are fully compliant to Australian Standards.

M 0459 888 782 E Nicholas.felmingham@jaybro.com.au PARA HILLS WEST SA 5096 Jaybro is Australia and New Zealand’s leading supplier to the civil construction and infrastructure sector. We’re available when you are, opening the office early so you can call at the beginning of your day.

Our team is made up of friendly, helpful staff with knowledge you can rely on. We are big enough to manage huge orders and small enough to care about your business!

We deliver where other companies don’t, providing sameday delivery to sites, 4-hour delivery to metro areas, and producing special custom signs. We connect you with our knowledgeable, experienced customer service and sales team who will help you get the best products at excellent prices.

From supplying hundreds of thousands of gloves for major infrastructure projects, right through to shipping one-off orders with a smile, we service a wide range of businesses across Australia and New Zealand. Our team strives to wow our customers with service, from sole traders right through to the biggest construction giants.

C.R. KENNEDY MATT SCHOLZ M 0429 656 599 E mscholz@crkennedy.com.au KENT TOWN SA 5067

For more than two decades, Jaybro has been the name to remember for everything site consumables. From civil contractors to commercial construction companies, infrastructure projects, road and traffic contractors and the mining and resources industry, we help connect everyone with the equipment they need, when and where they need it.

C.R. Kennedy is the largest importer and distributor of geospatial equipment in Australia.

We offer a comprehensive end-to-end service from initial consultation and evaluation through to installation, training and support for the widest range of machine control and positioning applications.

Our nationwide organisation makes it possible for us to offer personal service and support wherever we are needed.

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WELCOME TO OUR

NEW MEMBERS

ROCKLEIGH SERVICES

ONETRAK

SHARON BOXSELL

CALLAN MANN

M 0437 943 222

M 0459 856 839

E admin@rockleighservices.com

E callan.mann@onetrak.com.au

ROCKLEIGH SA 5254

MOUNT GAMBIER SA 5290

Rockleigh services is a friendly and accommodating family owned and operated company that puts the client and quality first while not compromising on safety.

Today Onetrak is home to large brands within the earthmoving and construction, forestry, material handling, and quarry industries. The business offers new and used machine sales, hire equipment, service, and parts. Onetrak now consists of 7 branches including head office, 40 field service vehicles and 100 staff members. Onetrak is involved in and supports industry bodies, and the business also actively participates in events and trade shows.

Anaconda – Onetrak is the official dealer for Australia Dressta – Onetrak is the official dealer for Australia Hidromek – Onetrak is the official dealer for Australia Hyundai – Onetrak is the official dealer for Tasmania Striker – Onetrak is the official dealer for Australia and Papua New Guinea Terex Fuchs – Onetrak is the official dealer for Australia Tigercat – Onetrak is the official dealer for Australia and Papua New Guinea

It all started with a simple conversation between two brother in-laws and a bright idea to merge their skills and vast experiences. From this Rockleigh Services was formed. Since those early beginnings and after many more conversations the company has grown into what it is today, with no plans on slowing down. Instead Daniel and Omar along with their growing team have an ever-increasing drive to expand and refine their services, standards and quality.

DKM ELECTRICAL & CIVIL DOUG McDONALD M 0437 943 222 E doug@dkmelectricalandcivil.com.au WINGFIELD SA 5013 Doug is a young professional, who has been operating DKM Electrical and Civil since 2012. He is a certified and licensed electrical contractor, who has worked on a variety of commercial, residential and industrial projects. Doug is always happy to take on any electrical job, whether its maintenance, faults, new installations, upgrades or renovations. Additionally, Doug has worked in mining for 6 years and became a civil supervisor in Sydney and Adelaide.

He is ticketed and licensed to operate all machines and has experience working in many small developments.

With years in the field, Doug is here to help make your project a success and is driven to deliver you outstanding customer service.

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CIVIL CONNECT

WELCOME TO OUR

NEW MEMBERS

PORTER PLANT

RAPITI EARTHWORKS

CHRIS CONHEADY

RODNEY WARREN

M 0418 367 254

M 0412 670 441

E chris.conheady@porterplant.com.au

E rod.warren@rapiti.com.au

DRY CREEK SA 5094

SALISBURY NORTH SA 5108

Porter Plant is a company with over 30 years of history in the plant hire industry. Since the company’s incorporation in January 1994, Porter Plant has expanded its operations from Ballarat to now encompass New South Wales, Tasmania (Hobart), three Victorian based branches (Ballarat, Melbourne, Wangaratta), and South Australia (Dry Creek).

Rapiti Earthworks (Rapiti) is a South Australian owned and operated business that has been operating for 29 years.

We specialise in utility infrastructure works as well as commercial earthworks, and have been servicing SA Water (water and sewer works) and SA Power Networks for a number of years. We run a fleet of trucks and dog trailers, tandem tippers, vacuum trucks, various sized excavators, skid steers and compaction equipment. We have been involved in building levee banks for the river Murray floods, and have the ability to construct temporary and permanent roads and car parking areas. Rapiti also runs its own fleet of traffic management vehicles and regularly liaises with DIT and councils, having a good working relationship with both parties. Rapiti offers free and no obligation quotes on all works and can assist in providing additional information on difficult projects where required.

Our organisational structure has been developed to support our customer’s activities. The main divisions we have devised are: •

Workshops and pre-delivery centres

•

Hire control and contract administration

•

Territory sales managers

•

Asset performance management & customer solutions

•

National field service division

•

Heavy transport

Porter Plant’s hire solutions are highly flexible and geared to the customer’s specific requirements. As a baseline we offer: •

Short term casual hire

•

Long term hire

•

Fixed term continuous hire

•

National agreements

•

Packaging of assets with specific contract KPIs, service level agreements and fixed rates

•

Asset management functions

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WELCOME TO OUR

NEW MEMBERS

SA PROFILING PTY LTD DYLLAN BEZINNA

ROUSSOS RECUITMENT

M 0427 734 956

ANNA ROUSSOS

P 08 8252 7026

P 08 7073 6872

E accounts@saprofiling.com.au

E anna@roussosrecruitment.com.au

MARLESTON SA 5033

ADELAIDE SA 5000

SA Profiling Pty Ltd is a family-owned South Australian company which provides a versatile road profiling and milling service, to road construction projects throughout South Australia. SA Profiling Pty Ltd understands that no two jobs are the same. We are flexible in achieving the results for our customers and their projects. With our modern fleet, combined with our highly skilled operators, we can provide comprehensive solutions to fulfil our customers’ needs.

ROUSSOS Recruitment is the leading recruitment specialist for the construction, architecture, engineering, civil and property industries in South Australia.

Through harnessing our reach and engagement, we have an unrivalled understanding of what really matters to people and businesses. Combining sector-leading expertise and in-depth industry insights with innovation, we are driven to make a difference, unlocking potential through partnership, insight and new ways of thinking.

Knowledge, connection and reach are our differentiators.

We are renowned for positioning our client partners and job seekers for success.

THANE COMMERCIAL NEIL TUNSTALL M 0433 985 843

The ROUSSOS story began in 2017, inspired by our passion for helping people and businesses to do and be better. It began by listening to people, understanding what really matters and then delivering without compromise. We care deeply about every role that carries our name, always remembering the things we do, and the way we behave, have a lasting impact on the people we partner with.

E neil.tunstall@thanecommercial.com.au ADELAIDE SA 5000 At Thane Commercial Pty Ltd, we recognise the individuality of businesses, and work with our clients to develop tailored working capital and cash flow solutions that suit them. It can never be a ‘one-size-fits-all’ when working capital and cash flow are involved. What is needed is a deep understanding of where the pressure points are, what is causing them, and what is the best way to achieve the company’s potential. We are also passionate about ensuring that a business ‘stands on its own feet’ without relying on the owner’s/founder’s bricks and mortar assets like their family home or commercial property. To do this, we look at solutions that include trade finance, receivables finance, supply chain finance, trade credit insurance, equipment finance and surety bonds.

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BIG

DREAMS FOR LITTLE HEROES

Through our newly-launched BIG DREAMS program, help us provide equitable and quality care for children and their families affected by this genetic disorder.

CARE STREAM

FAMILY ASSISTANCE

In Australia, over 2,000 children are living with Childhood Dementia, causing them to progressively lose skills such as the ability to write, read, talk, walk, and play.

Childhood Dementia causes around 90 deaths a year – this is a similar number to deaths from cancer in children aged 0-14 years old.

DONATE NOW AND BE A

BIG DREAMS MAKER

Support families with their day-to-day challenges.

Your donations will assist Little Heroes with: Dinner Box Meals

EXPERIENCE BRINGING JOY TO FAMILIES

STREAM

Pledge a donation toward gifting wonderful experiences so families with Childhood Dementia can create beautiful memories together.

Accommodation for family

Technology

getaways

Education

Sporting Experiences

Fuel

Animal Experiences (Zoo visits

Home Cleaning & Gardening

including feeding of animals

Other Needs

Other Experiences

HELP US MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE

FOR MORE INFORMATION: samantha @littleheroes foundation.com.au

Exclusive offer for CCFSA Members with savings of up to an additional 5% discount off all quoted prices. T&Cs apply Contact Patrick on 0414 476 128 or via email patrick@bowdengroup.com.au

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SUPPLIERS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS ALLIED SERVICES

KUMA KAARU CULTURAL SERVICES

ALCOLIZER TECHNOLOGY

(NCI) NATIONAL CREDIT INSURANCE BROKERS PSC INSURANCE SAFESMART TECH

CBUS SUPER P 1300 361 784 CBUSSUPER.COM.AU

Zero Damage - Zero Harm

BEFORE YOU DIG AUSTRALIA BYDA.COM.AU GEOFABRICS AUSTRALASIA PTY LTD RED EARTH TRAINING SOLUTIONS PTY LTD WILLIAMSMETAL FABRICATIONS PTY LTD

DIGITAL MARKETING AOK P 1300 658 543

DIGITALMARKETINGAOK.COM.AU

THANE COMMERCIAL TQCSI INTERNATIONAL WESTERN UNITED FINANCIAL SERVICES PTY LTD

COMPACTION & MATERIALS TESTING

BUSINESS ADVICE & SUPPORT

AUSTRALIAN GEOTECHNICAL TESTING

ADELAIDE DIRECT STATIONERS

FMG ENGINEERING

ACCESS CAPITAL

LAB AND FIELD PTY LTD

AIT SPECIALISTS

SMS GEOTECHNICAL PTY LTD

EARTH TESTING SERVICES PTY LTD

TERRA FIRMA LABORATORIES

EQUIPMENT, HIRE, SALES & SERVICING 1300 TEMPFENCE 3D SITEWORX

POSITION PARTNERS

ACT HIRE

PRIORITY PLUMBING

ADELAIDE HYDRAULICS

RDO HIRE

AUSTRALIAN CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT PTY LTD

ROC'S TOWING SERVICES

BIG CHIEF HIRE BROOKS HIRE SERVICE PTY LTD CASE CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT (SA TRACTORS) CATERPILLAR FINANCIAL AUSTRALIA LTD

ENGINEERING

BLANCHE BOX

BOWHILL ENGINEERING

BRENTNALLS SA

ENGINEERING SURVEYS PTY LTD

CUNNINGHAM PARTNERS

ENGEO AUSTRALIA

DKH CONSULTING

FYFE

ELDERS INSURANCE ADELAIDE WEST

GREENHILL ENGINEERS PTY LTD

EXCO SOLUTIONS

TMK CONSULTING ENGINEERS TONKIN CONSULTING

ROYAL WOLF SA LIFT & LOADER SHORE HIRE SITECH CONSTRUCTION SYSTEMS TIN BIN AUSTRALIA TRAFQUIP TUTT BRYANT EQUIPMENT

CAVPOWER P 8343 1600 CAVPOWER.COM.AU

WARRIN MINING & CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT PTY LTD

C.R. KENNEDY & COMPANY PTY LTD ENVRIO SWEEP GENERATORS SOUTH AUSTRALIA

FUEL, LUBRICANTS & ENERGY

GRAYS HUSQVARNA JAYBRO GROUP

ASSIGNAR P 0410 120 096 WWW.ASSIGNAR.COM

PICKLES AUCTION P (08) 7087 0777 PICKLES.COM.AU

JCB CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AUSTRALIA KENNARDS HIRE – SA KOMATSU AUSTRALIA PTY LTD LIFTQUIP AUSTRALIA

ADELAIDE FUEL DISTRIBUTORS P 8349 5868 ADELAIDEFUEL.NET.AU RELIABLE PETROLEUM SEA GAS VALVOLINE

LOADEX HIRE SA P 1346 8700 LOADEX.COM.AU MANHEIM AUCTIONS

GALLAGHER P 1800 240 432 AJG.COM/AU

ENVIRONMENTAL REMBIND PTY LTD

MARSON HIRE MAUGHAN THIEM AUTO SALES

GENERATION THRIVE

MEH HIRE

INSURANCE ADVISERNET AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

NORTH EAST ISUZU PORTER PLANT PETER KITTLE MOTOR COMPANY

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CIVIL CONNECT

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS & LEGAL ADVICE CLARKE HEMMERLING LAWYERS FAIR WORK LAWYERS FENWICK ELLIOTT GRACE HWL EBSWORTH LAWYERS

QUARRY, MASONRY, CONCRETE, CONSTRUCTION LANDSCAPNG MATERIALS & PRODUCTS

WAMBETI LEGAL

RECRUITMENT, LABOUR HIRE

WHS, SAFETY EQUIPMENT

AKD PROFESSIONAL

BIANCO CONSTRUCTION & INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES

CORESTAFF FLEXABLE FORCE HAYS SPECIALIST RECRUITMENT INDIGENOUS TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT PTY LTD MAS NATIONAL

ADBRI LTD P 8223 8000 ADBRI.COM.AU

MC LABOUR HIRE

ADELAIDE BRIGHTON CEMENT

REDPATH PARTNERS

APEX SAND & METAL PTY LTD

ROUSSOS RECRUITMENT

OCEAN PROTECT

BORAL CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS GROUP

SOS EMPLOYMENT PTY LTD

PLASTEC AUSTRALIA

CIVILCAST

REECE (CIVIL) PTY LTD

CLAY & MINERAL SALES PTY LTD

SPEL ENVIRONMENTAL PTY LTD

DK QUAARRIES PTY LTD

VIADUX PTY LTD

HALLETT RESOURCES

PIPING – PE, PVC, IRON, SERVICING AUSPRESS

LTD

HOLCIM (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD

PRINTING, PROMOTIONAL SERVICES & SIGNAGE

HEALTH SAFETY ENVIRONMENT AUSTRALIA SEQ ASSIST PTY LTD T/T DM TRADING TRADIES WORKWEAR PTY LTD

VISUAL COMMUNICATION FLIX PRODUCTIONS AUSTRALIA

SULLIVAN CONSULTING TECHFORCE PERSONNEL PTY LTD TROJAN RECRUITMENT GROUP WORKPAC ZANCOTT RECRUITMENT PTY LTD

HOLCIM SA AGGREGATES HUMES LUTUM MASONRY MOUNT COMPASS LANDSCAPE SUPPLIES POCOCK QUARRIES

BOWDEN P 1800 818 233 BOWDENGROUP.COM.AU

MK2 RECRUITMENT

BISLEY WORKWEAR

RESOURCECO P 1300 696 733 RESOURCECO.COM.AU SANTOS READY MIXED CONCRETE PTY LTD SCHLEINS QUARRIES PTY LTD SILVERCRETE CONCRETE PRODUCTS

SIGNAGE – TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT ADELAIDE SIGN GROUP NATIONAL SAFETY PRODUCTS ROADSIDE SERVICES AND SOLUTIONS

SURVEYING ALEXANDER SYMONDS PTY LTD CIVIL SURVEYS & DESIGNS PTY LTD ESO SURVEYORS SKS SURVEYS PTY LTD

VICTOR HARBOR QUARRIES

CCF SA BUSINESS PARTNERS 2023

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ONE OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST HEAVY EARTHMOVING AND EQUIPMENT RENTAL SUPPLIERS Loadex is a family owned and operated business that supplies quality Earthmoving Plant and Equipment to the Civil Construction, Mining, Government and Agricultural industries in South Australia.

With one of the largest fleets in South Australia, Loadex offers an extensive range of late model Excavators, Graders, Wheel Loaders, Double Drum Rollers, Skid Steers, Track Loaders, Tipper Trucks and Water Trucks.

Call our friendly team on (08) 8346 8700 www.loadex.com.au

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