From The Directors

from Cooke & Dowsett Newsletter April 2022

Queensland

It is a clique, but the years appear to be getting shorter, as we approach the end of the first quarter in 2022. It’s great to be able to travel and catch up with our teams and walk the sites Nationally, to see firsthand the positiveness, energy, and productivity that the new year has brought. Transitioning out of COVID-19 lockdowns, relaxing of social distancing restrictions and the wearing of masks indoors, has not come quick enough, but not forgotten as we stay abreast of individual State legislation and Pandemic mandates, without question, the CDPG community banded together and for that we are thank full and proud.

We would like to thank Kevin McKeown and our COVID-19 Management Team for their professionalism and the consistent communication updates of everything COVID-19 to our team, our partners, our clients and supply chain.

World Plumbing Day held on the 11th March saw CDPG nominate three Apprentices for the annual “Apprentice Skills Contest” which was held at PICAC Brunswick – the competition is designed to test apprentices’ skills, critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. It was fantastic to see Daniel Cooper return from last year’s event to take out first place. Also, congratulations to Connor Caldow and Andrew Thompson who has just completed his Apprenticeship with C&D (QLD) congratulation to all who represented CDPG with such high skills on the day. The 2021 Plumbing & Fire Industry Awards took place at the Crown Palladium on 17th March (held in lieu of last years cancelled event) and we are very proud to have won four awards across CDPG - congratulations to the entire Victorian Plumbing Industry, organisers, finalists and individual award winners, In particular our magnificent team who made it possible to achieve these industry accolades.

• Project of the Year Award – Sunshine Hospital Emergency Department • Indigenous Professional Award – Kaelun Brown (Pathway Plumbing Services) • Frank Maskell General Plumbing Award - Khayne Horman • Andrew Letten Gold Medal Award – Khayne Horman (which is the Brownlow of Plumbing awards)

The well published collapse of ProBuild had been a shock for the entire Construction industry and created a lot of work for our teams and management, a priority for us was to maintain consistent communication to our staff and supply chain, which provided confidence that CDPG was actively working towards favourable outcomes for everyone involved. I am delighted to update, and with thanks to the client CSL, Probuild administrators, the original Probuild Project team, incoming Builder Roberts & Co and the dedicated CDPG team that we are back on site at CSL Melbourne. The CBUS Properties project at 433 Queen Street Brisbane is still a work in progress, with a focus to receiving payment for works completed and currently owed, whilst negotiating in good faith with the developer and the appointed builder, yet to be announced.

In February we welcomed Pathway Plumbing to our head office in Keilor Park, Ricky and Kaelun now have a specific area to work out of and will no doubt benefit from the support of the CDPG team.

We had a long-awaited visit from Cooke & Dowsett - Rosetta Management and personal friends Robert Pearshouse and Andy May at the beginning of March, reminding us all how important face to face personal engagement and contact is. Both of Tasmania`s finest sported very distinctive interesting Melbourne haircuts before or after a few beers, is still unknown.

It was great to see John Colley our Albury based Estimator in at HQ, working alongside our great Estimating team, to introduce some new process`s and carrying out some training on our new Estimating software.

My first road trip since lockdowns, was Regional NSW, where I accompanied Craig Proctor (CDA Construction Manager) for a few days, visiting several of our sites on our way through to Cootamundra. I spent some time in the Albury office catching up with Ian, Paul, and the team. Visiting our site`s is so rewarding and this trip was no exception. Cootamundra a redevelopment of a large Abattoir, which is being delivered jointly by owner and operator Australian Meat Group (AMG) & Monde Constructions. Matt Quick and I, also spent some time, with Justin, Chris, Travis, and the team at our Qld office, I am looking forward to visiting all our business divisions over the next couple of months, as the restrictions ease and floods subside.

We were pleased to host our CDPG annual Golf Day in March at the magnificent Northern Golf Course, located in Glenroy. The beautiful morning started with a Welcome to Country Smoking Ceremony conducted by Kaelun from Pathway Plumbing. Over 140 people were in attendance, which included our chosen supply partners, sponsors, clients, and staff. Our celebrity panel consisting of Wayne Carey, Campbell Brown and Corey McKernan kept the audience entertained with their amusing stories. Congratulations to the winning team captained by Matt Quick (go figure). A personal thanks to Jacqui Besanko, Corey Mckernan and the CDPG team for organising such a magnificent day. Thanks once again to our sponsors who made the day possible.

Scott & Chadd Directors

RECENT PROJECT WINS!

Victoria Oakleigh Warehouse Development – H.Troon WA Quarantine Facility – Grove Group

New South Wales Murray Bridge Bunnings SA – H.Troon All Saints Estate Winery – All States Estate Community Care Accommodation – Joss Construction Glenrowan Interprative Centre - Midson Constructions

Tasmania Hobart Youth Foyer – Vos Construction & Joinery Tas TAFE Trades & Water – Hansen Yuncken Sigma Healthcare Warehouse - Ahrens

Queensland St Andrews Early Works – John Holland Group Roma Street B4 Swewe - CPB Ripley Hospital - Hutchinsons Tugan Hospital - Hutchinsons