nz contractor 1502
DESCRIPTION
New Zealand's Civil Contracting Industry Magazine February 2015TRANSCRIPT
N E W Z E A L A N D ’ S C I V I L C O N T R A C T I N G I N D U S T R Y M A G A Z I N E F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 5
INSIDE: Auckland Transport’s Dr Lester Levy talks about himself and his jobComprehensive coverage of the ever-expanding bauma ChinaMargo Connell on small businesses and working families A Mt Maunganui company’s international award for road maintenance
THE RIGHT GEAR FOR THE JOB
QRS has taken delivery of three new Hyundai excavators from
Porter Equipment.
2 FEBRUARY 2015
CONTRACTOR CONTENTS
Regulars 4 Editorial
6 Upfront
16 On the Cover
64 Classic Machines
68 Motoring
70 Innovations
70 Contractors’ Diary
72 Civil Contractors NZ Comment
72 Advertisers Index
Profiles18 Dr Lester Levy
Auckland Transport chairman opens up about business ethics, management, his career and society in general.
40 Margo Connell The power behind CCNZ president Dave Connell talks to Gavin Riley about her key role in the family business.
Comment56 Malcolm Abernethy Civil Contractors NZ
58 Arie MooreKensington Swan
59 Janet BrothersLife Care Consultants
60 Doran WyattGreenwood Roche Chisnall
61 Tommy ParkerNZ Transport Agency
62 Rob StummerIFS Australia and New Zealand
INSIDE: 6Highlights / Features
22 In from the coldA Caterpillar D8R Series II bulldozer was hauled from its decade-long duties clearing snow off the runways in Antarctica to undertake a well-earned makeover.
24 Bauma China A report on the biennial feast of gear and culture that makes up China’s biggest international trade fair for construction machinery, equipment and vehicles.
32 The contractor’s new best friendA look at the life of a Gisborne-based consulting engineer and his integral part in projects throughout the country.
36 Opening up a dangerous bottleneckConstructing a $6.8 million culvert for the Whakaruatapu Stream near Dannevirke is one of the most important Transport Agency projects in the Tararua District for years.
44 Women to the rescueThe critical shortage of skilled truck drivers has been well documented, but not so well known is an equally threatening shortage of construction machine operators.
46 In Arthur’s footstepsOf all the mountain roads in New Zealand, none matches Arthur’s Pass for the complexity of its engineering.
50 Science triumps on the highwayA Mt Maunganui company’s world-class laboratory expertise won a major award for enabling efficiency gains and cost savings to be made on a long-term road-maintenance contract.
54 Roading lesson from the UKAfter years of neglect, the UK government is spending an unprecedented £15 billion on Britain’s roading infrastructure in improvements, expansions and repairs.
ON THE COVER As part of an ongoing capital replacement programme Wairoa contracting company Quality Roading and Services has recently taken delivery of three new Hyundai excavators. See page 16
Cover photography: Jenny Forbes, QRS Wairoawww.qrs.co.nz
Total Lubricants has the
contracting industry covered.
We go the extra mile to ensure
our product range is delivered
wherever our customers are.
We will work with you to
deliver the Total package.
TOTAL FOR CONTRACTING
To find out more go to
www.totaloilsolutions.co.nz
or contact us on 0800 868 256.
Think oil, think Total.
Proud supporters of
4 FEBRUARY 2015
CONTRACTOR EDITORIAL
As the prices at the pump continued to drop over summer, the usual traffic congestion was
exacerbated by people – like me – taking that one extra trip before heading back to work. The weather
certainly helped make that choice a little easier too.
And so I set out on a very hot summer’s day. In surprisingly light traffic – or so I thought until I saw
the familiar signs of roadworks ahead. The summer sport of negotiating roadworks isn’t something I am
bothered about normally: the work has to be done, it’s always going to be inconvenient to someone and
NZTA had given plenty of warning through daily media (see page 8). What I didn’t expect was a broken
windscreen, headlight, parking light, tar splatters and paint chips as I watched a 22-kilometre queue of
cars and trucks crawl through freshly laid seal, each throwing loose aggregate at me. In my bid to avoid
further damage, I didn’t notice whether this was skid-resistant M6, or regular T10.
The local glass repairer was no doubt delighted with the carnage – but wouldn’t be able to give me a
replacement windscreen for seven days, such was the level of work created. Less impressed were the
police who had been called in to help direct traffic. I could only imagine the tone of the “debrief” after
the crowds had gone. I also pondered whether such work would proceed more smoothly at
night – perhaps a topic for discussion with the NZTA in a future issue of Contractor.
And so with apologies to poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson, who was writing about the real horrors of the
Battle of Balaclava in the 1854 Crimean War in which many real men died, here’s what editors do when
there are no deadlines approaching.
Graders to right of them,
Tar trucks to left of them,
Log trucks in front of them
Overload’d and struggling;
Splattered with tar and stone,
Windscreens crack’d, scores of cones,
Queues of cars miles ahead,
Into the works of dread,
Drove the six hundred.
Less poetic, but with long-term implications for civil contracting, are some evolutionary changes
that will improve performance, reduce costs, increase diversity and challenge the thinking of some
who don’t like change. These changes are reflected in our content this month: an interview with Margo
Connell, a partner in Connell Contractors along with husband Dave; the introduction of apprenticeships
to attract new talent into contracting; the application of award-winning technology which can diagnose
sub-strata faults for targeted repairs and long-term solutions; and changes to working relationships
between contractors and consulting engineers which help find solutions together for the benefit of all.
In less positive news, we’d hoped to bring you a Waikato story next month; J Swap Contractors
(Matamata) tell us they’ll be subcontracting to Fulton Hogan on an upgrade which will triple the
capacity of the Fonterra dairy factory in Lichfield. The quirk is that Swaps will be using the same two
Terex TS14 A motor scrapers they used 35 years ago when they helped build the Tirau dairy factory,
just up the road. Unfortunately, Fonterra is media-shy, and won’t allow any photos or articles to be
published.
Here’s hoping that’s a trend that doesn’t develop as 2015 progresses. Meanwhile, please let us know
of your interesting projects, so we can share them with our enthusiastic Contractor readers.
Kevin Lawrence, Editor
PUBLISHER Contrafed Publishing Co Ltd Suite 2.1, 93 Dominion Road, Mt Eden, Auckland PO Box 112357, Penrose, Auckland 1642 Phone: +64 9 636 5715 Fax: +64 9 636 5716 www.contrafed.co.nz
GENERAL MANAGER & EDITOR Kevin Lawrence DDI: 09 636 5710 Mobile: 021 512 800 Email: [email protected]
EDITORIAL MANAGER Alan Titchall DDI: 09 636 5712 Mobile: 027 405 0338 Email: [email protected]
REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS Richard Campbell, Hugh de Lacy, Peter Gill, Gavin Riley, Lawrence Schaffler, Jeremy Sole.
ADVERTISING / SALES Charles Fairbairn DDI: 09 636 5724 Mobile: 021 411 890 Email: [email protected]
ADMIN / SUBSCRIPTIONS DDI: 09 636 5715 Email: [email protected]
PRODUCTION Design: TMA Design, 09 636 5713 Printing: PMP MAXUM
Contributions welcome Please contact the editor before sending them in.
Articles in Contractor are copyright and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the permission of the publisher.
Opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the shareholding organisations.
www.linkedin.com/contrafedpublishing
@NZContractormag
The official magazine of
Civil Contractors NZ www.civilcontractors.co.nz
The Aggregate & Quarry Association www.aqa.org.nz
The New Zealand Heavy Haulage Association www.hha.org.nz
The Crane Association of New Zealand www.cranes.org.nz
Rural Contractors New Zealand www.ruralcontractors.org.nz
The Ready Mixed Concrete Association www.nzrmca.org.nz
Connexis www.connexis.org.nz
ISSN 0110-1382
First world problems; 21st century solutions
JN00572 TOPCON_LN-100 A4.indd 1 19/11/14 1:40 pm
6 FEBRUARY 2015
CONTRACTOR UPFRONT
Transport funding until 2025The Government plans to spend $38.7 billion over 10 years
in land transport, paid for mainly from fuel taxes and vehicle
registration fees.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Transport,
Simon Bridges, after the Government approved the draft
‘Government Policy Paper 2015’, setting funding bands for each
year to 2025.
While roads will take almost 75 percent of spending over the
next decade, Bridges says funding would for the first time go
towards regional improvements, providing up to $90 million a
year to non-urban areas to develop their strategic transport
networks. This follows submissions from local councils that
were concerned funding has been too focused on main urban
centres at the expense of public transport development in
rural towns.
Funding will mainly come from fuel taxes and vehicle
registration fees, plus further annual increases in fuel
taxes, including 3c a litre hike in July. The tax on a litre of
petrol is already around 68 cents, plus another 10 cents GST
(effectively a tax on a tax). We pay much higher tax on petrol
than they do in Australia (38 cents a litre plus 10 percent GST).
The paper did not discuss the expected increase of electric
vehicles at the expense of fuel revenues.
Bridges say most submissions received on the draft policy
statement sought more money for cycling. Although he
has not adjusted the budget in this sector, the Government
committed $100 million from asset sales over four years for
urban cycleways, outside the normal land transport budget, for
walking and cycling improvements between now and 2018.
He says the Transport Agency has also identified $80 million
of walking and cycling investments in association with projects
in roading and other budget categories.
Gough Business Development managerGough Group appointed Stuart Bell to the newly created position of
National Business Development manager, based out of the Gough Cat
branch at Wiri in Auckland.
Stuart brings over 15 years of experience with capital equipment
sales, key account management, sales management and business
development gained in a variety of industry sectors.
“It is a real pleasure to be able to accept this exciting new role with
Gough and a chance to contribute to the company’s long and proud
history. Both Gough and Caterpillar’s recent advances in Equipment
Management Solutions are truly industry leading and the wider Group
capabilities are second to none in the industry,” says Stuart.
Tauranga highway upgrade design approval The NZ Transport Agency has approved $5.4 million in funding to
cover the initial design of the Bayfair to Baypark link, a roading
project that is set to reshape a stretch of State Highway 2 in
Tauranga.
The funding allocation is an important milestone in the
project says the Transport Agency’s Bay of Plenty highway
manager Niclas Johansson. It will see two flyovers built on SH2;
one will take SH2 over the Maunganui-Girven intersection and
the second will take State Highway 29 over the railway line and
the Te Maunga intersection.
The Transport Agency’s tender calling for initial designs to
support the project as it moves forward closed on December
16. An evaluation period follows with the contract due to be
awarded this March.
“The initial design contract provides an opportunity to create
the concept design and work alongside the Transport Agency
as its principal agent and monitor the construction phase of the
Bayfair to Baypark link,” Johansson says.
The design phase is expected to take approximately 12
months, with a tender for the physical works to be released
after that.
Subject to funding approvals, construction of the Bayfair to
Baypark link is expected to start in early 2017.
Anyone got a chisel?The celebrated, award-winning, $32 million Te Matau a Pohe
bridge across the Lower Hatea River in Whangarei, has a
problem. It doesn’t like intense summer heat and is unable to
rise to let boats with tall masts slip up and down the river.
On numerous occasions over the past summer when
temperatures got over 26C, the bridge’s steel bascules
expanded in the heat and risked jamming (on average the
area experiences about18 days a year when temperatures
are higher).
Whangarei District Council says it fixed the problem by taking
a thin slice of concrete off between the crash rail and footpath
of the bridge.
In January 2014 a council contractor shaved off 30mm from
the steel lip of the bascule.
FEBRUARY 2015 7
Civil Contractors New Zealand (CCNZ) represents the Civil Engineering, Construction and General Contractor sectors in New Zealand. CCNZ aims to contribute toward creating a safe, viable and progressive sector, meeting the needs of all its members and presenting a strong unified voice.
The member businesses that make up CCNZ play a vital role in the development of our country. They build and maintain our roading, transport, energy, public services infrastructure, as well as provide services to the residential and commercial construction sectors.
We are looking for a strong and inspirational business leader. You will be a successful senior executive, potentially with a membership organisation background. Politically savvy, with lobbying and advocacy experience in central and local government, you will be a natural networker, able to build influential stakeholder relationships. An excellent communicator, you will need to be a down to earth and pragmatic leader, with a full complement of CEO level business leadership skills, including strong financial management capability.
Knowledge of the civil construction environment would be helpful, though is not imperative.
APPLICATIONS CLOSE: Tuesday, 10 February 2015
APPLY OR VIEW THE POSITION DESCRIPTION: www.jacksonstone.co.nz
REFERENCE: 42466
FURTHER ENQUIRIES: Darryl Templeman orRussell Spratt on 04 550 8000
CHIEF EXECUTIVEOFFICER
Wellington based
Waitomo intersection underwayThe SH3/SH37 Waitomo intersection job went to Higgins and works
started January 19.
The existing intersection at SH3/37 – the turnoff to the Waitomo
Caves – is being replaced with a three-legged roundabout, relocated
about 60 metres north of the existing intersection.
Construction completion date is May, with an estimated cost of
$3.6 million.
Waikato updatesThe first of eight bridges to be finished on the Cambridge section of
the Waikato Expressway opened to traffic last month. The 6.1 metre
high Peake Road overbridge includes an extra-wide shared pathway,
suitable for pedestrians, cyclists and horses to use, and provides
access to the nearby Cambridge Jockey Club.
Downer has started work on a one kilometre rebuild of SH1 at the
northern end of Putaruru. Work is expected to be completed by the
end of March.
Hirepool ACC accreditation CCNZ’s principal business partner Hirepool has had its ACC
Workplace Safety Management Practices (WSMP) tertiary
accreditation renewed.
Hirepool has held the accreditation since 2004 and has
maintained it following its merger with HireQuip.
Hirepool health & safety manager, Robert Stewart, says the
accreditation is a significant factor for customers when choosing
suppliers for major project work where onsite health
and safety is paramount.
Ripping good yarnsJohn Breen’s Don’t’ Look Down is a
book full of construction adventures
in an era before health and safety
became top priority.
Breen Constructions is a long
established and successful
business based in Alexandra in
Central Otago. From there, John
and his like-minded construction adventurers migrated as “moths to
flame” to interesting, difficult and downright dangerous jobs, from
erecting radio masts to building a T-bar ski-lift on Ruapehu in the
middle of winter.
Published by The Halcyon Press, www.halcyonpublishing.co.nz
$1.4m pathway underwayWork has begun on a three kilometre long, three metre wide, $1.4
million shared pathway for cyclists and pedestrians, alongside
Kahikatea Drive and Greenwood Street in Hamilton.
The NZTA said it received three tender submissions for the final
design and physical works and, after assessment in November last
year, the design and construct contract was awarded to Schick
Construction with AECOM as their designer.
8 FEBRUARY 2015
CONTRACTOR UPFRONT
AUCKLAND HEAD OFFICEPhone: (+64) 09 443 2436Email: [email protected]
YRCO.CO.NZ
SOUTH ISLAND OFFICE Phone: (+64) 03 341 6923Email:[email protected]
Youngman Richardson and Co are now proud to exclusively distribute Selwood Pumps - established in 1946 and a market leader in vacuum assisted super silent mobile pumps. The perfect fit with Youngman Richardson & Co - a world-leading supplier of quality industrial equipment with a back-up service that’s the ‘best in the business’. Two of the best, just got better.
A NEW WINNING COMBINATION.
AVAILABLE
SELWOOD PUMPS PARTS, SERVICE & PRODUCT RANGE
SELWOODwww.selwoodpumps.com
2015’s biggest safety event A comprehensive workplace health and safety event in 2015 will
address some of the most pressing issues around improving
workplace health and safety, occupational health and wellbeing and
managing hazardous substances.
Four parallel conferences at Safety 360 on March 16-17 at SkyCity,
Auckland, will address the impact of the new Health and Safety at
Work Act on different roles, as well as covering industry-specific
occupational health best practice and the latest research into physical
and emotional wellbeing in all workplaces, including bullying. Delegates
with a conference ticket can attend any of the presentations.
A free industry exhibition will also showcase the latest innovations
and technology from suppliers to the health and safety sector.
The four conferences incorporated into the WorkSafe NZ endorsed
event are:
Safety Leaders’ Summit (16-17 March): Provides advice and case
studies on creating high performing safety cultures and reducing
workplace harm from organisations including WorkSafe, Kensington
Swan, Fletcher Building, NIWA, McLeod Cranes, Civil Contractors NZ
and NZISM. Australian transportation company Transdev, recipient
Great social media network idea Talk.build, a new social media network developed for the UK
construction industry, was launched late last year.
“We know that construction professionals want to talk to
each other but many see existing social networks as being too
frivolous or merely offering an outlet to advertise employment
opportunities,” says Colin Felton, chairman of the CFA Group, a
British marketing organisation.
“It is the main reason why we have developed Talk.Build, which
can only be used by construction professionals such as architects
and surveyors, specialist manufacturers, contractors and others
involved in the building business.”
Talk.Build is said to offer “safe and secure real time
conversation” for construction professionals to exchange ideas
and make comments. Other facilities include space for blogs,
images, videos and the opportunity for polls on various subjects
that affect the industry.
of a National Safety Council of Australia Award for effective safety
communications, will present the international keynote address.
HSNO (16-17 March): Investigates the regulation, risk management
and safe use of hazardous substances in light of the new Health &
Safety at Work Act. WorkSafe and the EPA will provide legislation
updates with case studies from AECOM, Fonterra, ChemWaste,
Northland Regional Council and the National Poisons Centre.
Occupational Health Conference (16 March): An industry-focused look
at reducing work-related injuries and disease and improving work
health and safety performance from a practitioner’s point of view.
Speakers include specialists from the New Zealand Society for Safety
Engineering and CCNZ.
Health and Wellbeing Conference (17 March): Addresses the
opportunities an organisation has to improve the overall emotional
and physical wellbeing of its employees, and how this can influence a
company’s performance.
Full programme details, ticket prices for the four conferences and
how to register for the free expo can be accessed at www.conferenz.
co.nz/safety360.
Northern traffic messPlenty of warnings from the NZ Transport Agency concerning
a large programme of work on the Auckland and Northland
state highway network didn’t stop chaos for holiday traffic,
which at one point was snarled for 22 kilometres, according to
news reports.
Loose aggregate also caused a lot of vehicle damage with
glass repairers up north experiencing boom business.
NZTA highway manager Brett Gliddon says the amount
of work underway reflects the huge investment in place
to improve transport infrastructure in both Auckland and
Northland.
“In Northland for example, we’ve kicked off a $13 million
maintenance renewals programme at a number of different
sites around the region. Northland’s network has seen a lot
of wear and tear, particularly after last winter’s storms, and
keeping it in good shape is crucial.”
S PA R E S / / S A L E S / / S E RV I C E
www.transdiesel.com
FREEPHONE 0800 848 267
YANMAR, YOUR BEST PARTNER FOR BUILDING THE FUTURE
Yanmar compact excavators.Available from 0.8 tonne to 10 tonne.
Powerful, Reliable, Durable and Efficient Excavators.
World’s First compact excavator to the market in 1971World’s First True Zero Tail Swing Excavator
World’s First Tailor Made Hydraulic Quick-Coupler in the industry
10 FEBRUARY 2015
CONTRACTOR UPFRONT
Originally planned for July 2014, the 80-metre long, 110 tonne pedestrian and
cycle bridge reconnecting Onehunga with the Onehunga Bay Reserve has
finally been moved into place. The delay was caused by an NZTA-requested
design change to incorporate safety screens on the bridge, which moved the
completion date to December; and then twice installation was postponed
because of high wind. The bridge is part of the Onehunga foreshore restoration
project (see “Suburban bay’s beauty restored”, Contractor March 2014). Lead
contractor is Fulton Hogan.
Christchurch rebuild moves into top gear The post earthquake rebuild of Christchurch will be at its
busiest this year but then is expected to taper off while
construction activity in Auckland will continue to charge
ahead, according to the latest National Construction
Pipeline report.
The value of all building and construction in Canterbury
is expected to peak at $7.4 billion this year and then
steadily decline, according to the report. Further north
activity in Auckland is forecast to increase steadily to
a peak of $13.1 billion in 2017. It will then reduce slightly
in 2018 and 2019 but continue at a very brisk level, with
Auckland forecast to provide over a third of all New
Zealand building and construction work, by value, from
2012 to 2019.
The National Construction Pipeline report points to
the biggest construction boom this country has seen in
decades totalling $100 billion over the next three years,
says Minister for Building and Housing Nick Smith. “We
are looking at the longest sustained period of growth in
construction activity in 40 years,” Smith says.
While residential activity continues to drive growth
in Auckland, non-residential building and construction
is forecast to grow by 49 percent from 2012 to 2019.
Contributing significantly to this will be civil infrastructure
projects including water/wastewater projects such as the
Mangere biological nutrient removal, busways, rail stations
and the early stages of the $2.4 billion Auckland City rail
link, the Auckland Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative
(AMETI) and Roads of National Significance.
Preserving important history A background in and a passion for earthworks and roading has led to Ray
Cannon setting up a Facebook page about the history of road transport
and contracting within New Zealand.
Over the past 40 years Ray, currently working for the Tararua Alliance,
has collected articles and brochures on major earthmoving projects.
With contractors from the eras of Benmore and other major projects
disappearing, he saw a need to record this important history.
It was thought that the NZ Road Transport and Contracting-Archives
page would attract 100 to 200 followers, however since going live in
August 2013 there are now over 1800 people following the page both
within New Zealand and overseas. Over 3000 photos have been loaded,
many from past contractors such as Baker Construction, H Allen Mills,
Egmont Land Developments, McBreen Jenkins, Feast and McJorrow, plus
others from the transport sector – T Doidge, Graham Manson, Dales Heavy
Haulage to name a few.
Fire challenges for TELIt’s business as usual for the Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL) team after a
fire late last year at the Domain Road interchange destroyed around a five
metre section of the expanded polystyrene blocks and concrete deck of
embankment two, damaged some of the concrete facing panels, the concrete
deck beams and the columns of one of the Domain Road bridge B abutments.
Design engineers and insurance assessors carried out inspections of
the damaged section of the interchange and undertook a range of tests to
gain a better understanding of the extent of the damage. The contractor,
Fulton Hogan HEB Construction Alliance (FHHCA), assessed a range of
ways to dismantle and rebuild the damaged areas. Preliminary estimates
put the cost of repair in excess of $2 million. P
HO
TOS:
FU
LTO
N H
OG
AN
AN
D N
ZTA
.
12 FEBRUARY 2015
CONTRACTOR UPFRONT
However, for most readers it is the historic perspective that makes
this book a ‘must read’. The building of the nation through the public
works departments provided a rich ground for talented engineers, and
Arnold Downer (who started his engineering cadetship with the Public
Works Department in Otago/Southland) had a reputation for building
tunnels. Even the Minister of Works in the 1930s, Bob Semple, referred
to him as “a good man with a tunnel”.
It was a tunnel project, the Mt Victoria Tunnel (opened in 1931) that
brought Downer into contact with other engineers and builders who
joined Downer & Co, which was registered on July 5, 1933 to tender
(successfully) a job with the Dunedin City Corporation on the Waipori
Hydroelectric Scheme. That job “started a trickle of work that soon
became a torrent”.
The book covers a number of fascinating projects such as a major
airfield in Fiji for the US forces in 1941 with work continuing during the
night under huge arc lights (interestingly, this military airfield was
started before the US was attacked by Japanese at Pearl Harbour in
late December 1941). The war years also saw Downer & Co pioneer
opencast coal mining in Huntly and Stockton.
Then there were the joint ventures in the 1950s with overseas
partners. In 1954 the company merged with William Cable Holdings,
with Downer becoming its major subsidiary, and in 1964 WCH
merged with A&G Price. Cable Price Downer was bought by Brierley
Investments during the country’s infamous corporate ‘asset-
stripping’ period. It was during the 1950s and the 12 year partnership
with US company Morrison Knudsen Inc that Downer carried out some
of it most impressive projects. These included the Rimutaka Tunnel
(1954); the Roxburgh Dam; and the Wellington-Porirua motorway (our
first motorway). Later came the Wairakei power station, Dunedin’s
Momona Airport, Marsden Point refinery, Motunui Synthetic Oil Plant,
and Starship Children’s Hospital.
“While those first 25-years would have been a matter of quiet pride
for Arnold Downer, his philosophy would have always been to look
forward rather than back. He was, he said, ‘more interested in where
we could get to’.”
An outlook that Downer still works on today. By Alan Titchall.
Sir Graham Henry, Rugby World Cup-winning All Black coach speaking for the company at the book launch.
Paying respectOf the handful of family names indelibly etched in the history of our civil
contracting industry is Downer, founded by engineer Arnold Downer over
80 years ago.
Arnold passed away in 1984 but had lived long enough to celebrate the
company’s 50th anniversary. The company (Cable Price Downer) at that
time turned over $146 million and had $43 million of assets, was a major
force in the field of civil engineering in this region, and had an enviable
reputation for completing projects on time.
To celebrate the company’s 80th anniversary, it recently produced a
book; Building Futures – The Downer Story, looking back on its history and
dedicated to Arnold Downer and all those who have worked to enhance
the reputation of the company he founded.
This is a beautifully published book; excellent read, and generously
illustrated with stunning historical photos.
The last quarter of the book focuses on the company’s more modern
history and ‘building futures’ (in 2009 Downer EDI and Downer EDI
Works merged to create the new ‘Downer’ brand). As Downer CEO Cos
Bruyn says in his introduction; “While it gives me great pleasure to be
associated with the tremendous achievements documented in this book,
it is the potential of Downer that stirs me the most. Within the last 15
years the company has strengthened its capability, not only through
targeted acquisition and international alliances, but also by building
strong relationship with New Zealand’s leading infrastructure providers.”
SAFELY HOME. EVERYONE. EVERYDAY.
SAVE UP TO 30% ON ALL CABIN RELATED COMPONENTS & MACHINE SAFETY ITEMS.We know the importance of health and safety in your team and how crucial it is to maintain a high level of productivity. Keep your operators safe, comfortable and productive by taking advantage of these great savings of up to 30% on all cabin related parts and safety items until 31st March 2015. Phone your local branch today to improve the cabin environment for your operators and their productivity on the job site
AUCKLAND / NORTHLANDClint Greer 021 361 454ROTORUA / BAY OF PLENTYAllen Frost 029 200 1134EAST CAPE / HAWKES BAY & WAIRARAPAMarina McKenzie 021 847 031TARANAKI / MANAWATU / WELLINGTONPeter Torrance 029 478 1520
UPPER SOUTH ISLANDMark Donaldson 021 942 052CANTERBURYToby McLaughlin 021 870 559OTAGO / SOUTHLAND Ben Isbister 021 427 502
Branches Nationwide | Phone Parts 0800 93 39 39 | GoughCat.co.nz/parts
*Conditions ApplyContact your Parts & Service Sales Representative today to discuss your needs.
14 FEBRUARY 2015
CONTRACTOR UPFRONT
Many older bridges and culverts through the country are not
designed for modern heavy vehicle axle weights. Consequently they
are at more risk of damage from the extra weight, which in turn is a
risk to both drivers of heavy vehicles and other road users.
To reduce these risks, the NZ Transport Agency requires that
overweight vehicles crossing bridges and culverts be supervised
by suitably-qualified individuals. Drivers of heavy vehicles can be
registered and approved to self-supervise crossings on certain
bridges which would normally be supervised by an engineer – this is
referred to as BESS. BESS registration currently last for five years.
Drivers and companies wishing to become BESS-registered must
complete the required NZTA application form, which is available from
Overweight Permit Issuing Officers (OPIOs). The form then needs to
be sent to the OPIO in the driver’s or company’s region:
Auckland Andrew Morrison, ph (09) 487 7527 or (09) 387 2508,
Tauranga Brie Lucas, ph (07) 577 7989,
Hamilton Pam Cootes, ph (07) 834 8530,
Napier Tracy Clarken, ph (06) 976 6504, Tracy.Clarken@nzta.
govt.nz; and Julie Rodgers, ph (06) 974 6505,
Palmerston Nth David Jensen, ph (06) 953 6076,
Wellington Rosemary McGregor, ph (06) 349 6653,
Rochelle Doherty, ph 027 216 7856,
Nelson Chelsea Brooks, ph (03) 546 0119,
Marlborough Chris Parnell, ph (03) 520 8336,
Christchurch Peter Mulgrew, ph (03) 964 2840,
Dunedin Kathy McEwan, ph (03) 955 2929,
On receiving the application, the OPIO informs the NZTA National
Office who carry out background checks on traffic and driving
histories. NZTA also requires that drivers disclose any criminal history
held by the Ministry of Justice.
Undergoing assessment for unit standard 23436 is a requirement
for drivers. Details of NZTA-approved assessors are below.
A company must be BESS-registered if it wishes to employ
BESS-registered drivers.
Applying for BESS registrationBridge Engineering Self Supervision (BESS) is a necessary qualification for drivers who want to
self-supervise when crossing restricted bridges with overweight vehicles.
FEBRUARY 2015 15
>> World’s first fully re-directive guardrail terminal end
>> Accepted by NZTA >> 9 years in market >> Proven performance
>> Available ex-stock >> Crash tested to NCHRP 350 TL-3
More information on the X-350 fully re-directive Guardrail Terminal End can be found at: www.csppacific.co.nz or call 0800 655 200
X-350 Terminal End - developed and manufactured in NZ
If you are a BESS-registered driver whose ID card will expire
soon, please read on.
My BESS ID card is expiring soon. What do I need to do?
You’ll need to contact a NZ Transport Agency-approved BESS
assessor (see list below) to book on a renewal course.
When should I book into a Renewal course?
We recommend that you book at least eight weeks before your
card expires.
What do I need to bring to the Renewal course?
You must bring your current Driver Licence and current BESS ID
card for the assessor to witness. If you don’t bring these you
cannot sit the Renewal course.
What happens after I do the Renewal course?
Straight after you’ve done the course the assessor will give you a
Temporary Renewal of BESS Certification. Please ensure that you
carry this certification with you at all times when driving on an
overweight permit that requires BESS, until you receive your new
BESS ID card.
Consequences of not renewing BESS registration
You must sit the renewal course before your card expires. Once
your card expires you no longer have BESS registration. Drivers
who do not renew their BESS registration by the expiry date are
not entitled to perform BESS duties.
Contact details for NZTA-approved assessors:
Allan Collins Digital Training and Assessment Ltd,
ph (07) 544 7476 or 027 715 8980,
Bill DeRenzy Pilot Services Limited, ph 027 478 8594 or
(07) 574 4241, [email protected]
Danny Stephen Crane Industry Training and Assessing,
ph 027 227 6716, [email protected]
Gary Pearce Gary Pearce Limited, ph (027 459 4058),
Greg Sheehan Sheehans Transport Assistance Ltd.,
ph 027 293 6206, [email protected]
Henry Schdroski H & H Enterprises, ph 027 695 1157,
John Sutton Nottus Over Dimentional Piloting Services Ltd,
ph 027 278 7049, [email protected]
Kenneth Claydon Claydon Training and Assessing Limited,
ph (03) 355 6342 or 027 276 6317,
Pat Power Tranz-Assist, ph 027 208 4215, [email protected]
Peter Douglas Ph 027 221 9816, [email protected]
Peter Jacob P N Jacob Limited, ph 027 443 0304,
Tina Ware J P Ware Transport Limited, ph (06) 329 6724 or
027 443 2065, [email protected] you have any questions, please contact NZ Transport
Agency’s call centre on 0800 699 000.
16 FEBRUARY 2015
CONTRACTOR ON THE COVER
As part of an ongoing capital replacement programme Wairoa contracting company Quality Roading and Services has recently taken delivery of three new Hyundai excavators.
The right gear for the job
THE UNSTABLE HILLFACE above the Nuhaka River Road in Northern
Hawke’s Bay has been on the move since heavy rain in 2012 reactivated
the slip between Mangaone Road and Nuhaka River Roads. The affected
area of hillface is around two kilometres in width and covers some
100 hectares.
The clean up, by Quality Roading and Services (QRS), involved making
safe a section of the Mangaone Road affected by the giant slip and
moving 10,000 cubic metres of material to realign the road.
For such a job you need good gear and QRS has an eye for machines
that are suited to the job.
Recently, the company bought three Hyundai excavators from
Porters Equipment: a 2.8 tonne Robex R27Z-9 mini excavator, an eight
tonne Robex R80CR-9 midi excavator and a larger Robex R145CR-9,
all of which were delivered prior to Christmas to replace three
older machines.
The smallest of the three, the R27Z-9, is to be used by QRS for
underground service repairs, dealing with water, storm water, and
sewerage problems.
It is powered by a 24.7hp three-cylinder Mitsubishi S3L2 engine
delivering maximum torque of 8kgf.m at 1800rpm through two joysticks
and a safety lever.
It features Hyundai’s new advanced hydraulic system with arm
flow summation, boom holding and swing parking brake systems, plus
hydraulic dampening in the travel pedal, swing-reducer hydraulic oil
lubrication, and a leak-free grease chamber for the swing bearing.
Both smaller excavators have been spec’d with rubber crawler
tracks to comply with local authority requirements for operating
within Wairoa Township to minimise damage to paved and
concrete surfaces.
The larger R80CR-9 is powered by a 59.6hp Yanmar 4TNV98
four-cylinder water-cooled diesel and is to be used for Network
maintenance work.
This machine has been specifically set up to operate a rotating
rock grab to improve worker safety when repairing dropouts and
retaining walls.
The strength of the R80 is ensured by an X-type centre frame and
reinforced box section track frame, while the cab features new steel
tube construction that gives the operator improved safety.
The biggest of the three machines, the R145CR-9, has a 119hp
Mitsubishi DO4FD-TAA power plant delivering 45.4kgf.m and like the
QRS’ new 8-tonne, Robex R80CR-9, Hyundai midi excavator on retaining wall excavation on the East Coast Road, Mahia, Northern Hawke’s Bay.
FEBRUARY 2015 17
“The biggest of the three machines, the R145CR-9, has a 119hp Mitsubishi DO4FD-TAA power plant
delivering 45.4kgf.m and like the R80 has also been specially set up to operate a rotating rock grab.”
The right gear for the job R80 has also been specially set up to operate a rotating rock grab.
All three new machines have ROPS compliant cabins and the R145 has
also been fitted with a F.O.G (Falling Object Guard) kit to further enhance
operator safety.
The R145’s new patented hydraulic control system features improved
valve design for added efficiency and smoother operation, with a new
auto-boom and swing priority system, coupled with a new auto power
boost feature and an improved arm-in and boom-down flow regeneration
system for added speed.
Hyundai claims to be the industry leader in the pump compartment
with the R145 having powerful Kawasaki-designed, variable-volume in-
line axial piston pumps.
Additional features include a new 18cm colour LCD display with a
simplified design (including a standard rear-view camera) enhanced
self-diagnostic capacity and GPS download capability.
The cabins on all three models reflect Hyundai’s focus on operator
comfort and minimising stress, and the R145 also has an enlarged
cabin with a see-through skylight and a larger right-side glass for
better visibility.
With a staff of over 90, QRS is responsible for the maintenance of the
unsealed roads in the Wairoa district roading network and to support
this a sizable quarry division extracts and processes aggregates from
14 sites around the district.
Outside of its core roading business QRS also has contracts for
Wairoa’s solid waste (Landfill), Water reticulation and Sewage / Storm
water, working closely with the client to ensure a consistent high level
of service, and travelling far and wide to meet their needs.
As a diversification to the usual roading and maintenance contracts,
Quality Roading and Services is poised to successfully complete
the Mahia Community Sewerage Scheme On Lot project which was
won by tender. The installation of the individual property STEP
(Septic Tank Effluent Pump) Systems has been very challenging
but the new environmentally friendly scheme that replaces the
old and damaged septic tanks, will ensure the future good health
of the Mahia Community and ecosystem.
The current staff at QRS have a massive wealth of experience
working in civil construction, maintenance, waste and utilities.
Five QRS staff members have been with the company for more
than 25 years, two of them for more than 30 years, starting their
working life at the Wairoa District Council.
Right from the beginning QRS has supported the Wairoa
community and its projects, in 2013 putting its machinery to good
use for the DIY Marae makeovers. A local business employing local
people – moving forward with our community.
To support this diverse range of activities QRS operates an
extensive plant portfolio. These are all cared for by a workshop
staff of eight mechanics, including a fitter-welder, panel beater
and auto electrician.
QRS chief operations officer, Rob Beale carried out extensive
research in the market before choosing Hyundai for the first time.
“One of our key company drivers is Health and Safety and these
machines meet all the criteria of our safety committee”, Beale told
Contractor.
“Porter Equipment was very competitive on product pricing and
had a warranty as good as if not better than many, and were very
accommodating in regard to the overall future servicing.” l
The 14-tonne Robex R145CR-9 excavator at Whangawehi at work on the Mahia East Coast Road, Mahia Peninsula.
The 2.8-tonne, Robex R27Z-9 mini excavator work-ing on the banks of the Wairoa River.
18 FEBRUARY 2015
CONTRACTOR PROFILE
AUCKLAND TRANSPORT HAS big plans for its future public transport infrastructure and services, offering enormous opportunities for contractors. “I see us having much more public transport – heavy rail, possibly light rail, buses and more active transport.
“We have lots of challenges, not the least of course is money for capital development,” says Auckland Transport chair, Dr Lester Levy.
“It’s work in progress and we’ve got a long way to go, but we’re a long way from where we were.
“We will still have a multi-modal solution, but it needs to involve public transport with active transport playing a
much larger part than most people will even consider at this time. That is a big strategic intent.”
Levy expresses a desire for greater “alignment” between transport and local government objectives.
“People in politics pick on issues often because of self-interest. I think we should all be focused on the same objective, but that is the nature of politics.
“In Auckland we have a highly-underdeveloped public transport system, yet public transport has the capacity to move the most people, most easily and most quickly.
“We need to have transformational
transport solutions in Auckland, we can’t just have incremental solutions any longer because the city is so far behind in its transport solutions and is growing so quickly. It is a pretty unhealthy cocktail – we’re unable to handle the population we have and the population is growing quickly.
“If Auckland is going to prosper economically, there needs to be a significant, ongoing investment in public transport.
“Less ideology, more logic and more rational thinking would be a huge help. To do this takes resources, people and money and will cause disruption.”
Contractor magazine talks to Auckland Transport chairman Dr Lester Levy about business ethics, management, his career, and society in general as the city deconstructs and reconstructs its public transport service.
DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY
FEBRUARY 2015 19
Close to his heartEthics, leadership and governance are subjects close to the heart for Dr Levy, who is also the foundation chief executive of the New Zealand Leadership Institute at the University of Auckland, a Professor (Adjunct) of Leadership at the University of Auckland Business School and Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Management.
A frequently-invited speaker and advisor on the subjects, he emphasises the importance of personal authenticity.
“To be authentic, you need to clarify what it is you believe in and what your values are. Most critically, you’ve got to have a transparent and consistent link
between how you behave and what you say your beliefs and values are. I think that is where people often come adrift – they say certain things, but do others.
“The thing that people you directly and indirectly influence do best is observe you. It is also important for trust, because part of trust is reliability or dependability – so if you make a promise, you keep it.”
While acknowledging that striving for such ideals requires considerable discipline, Levy believes the behaviour of leaders in their private lives therefore also “counts”.
“I have a saying, ‘management is a jacket you put on when you go to work
and take off when you come home, but leadership is a skin that you live in’.
“No-one can be perfect and that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun and do slightly crazy things. But you can’t be one person in your leadership role and another person in other areas of your life. You have to be consistent; your ‘true north’ has to be in all of your domains of life.
“Some people would say that’s a little idealistic and it’s very hard, but that’s what I believe our aspirations should be. I believe integrity is an all or nothing – you can’t have quite a lot of integrity – you either have integrity or not.
“That can be very difficult and I’ve had
DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY
“I have a saying, ‘management is a jacket you put on
when you go to work and take off when
you come home, but leadership is a skin
that you live in’.”
20 FEBRUARY 2015
CONTRACTOR PROFILE
lots of uncomfortable situations in my career where I have got isolated in some shape or form because I’ve adhered to principles that I’ve thought were important. Group think, going with the crowd or fitting in can make you actually cross the line.
I will go with my principles regardless of whether I’m liked or fit in – that’s not important to me. What is important to me are the principles.”
Not a fan of ideologyThat said, Levy, who was born in South Africa in the mid-1950s before emigrating to New Zealand in the late 1970s, does not consider himself an ideologist and hence has no aspirations to turn his hand to politics.
“Just because you’re on one side and I’m on the other, if you’ve got a really good idea, why wouldn’t I want to work with you? But in politics, I couldn’t.
“I’m not a big fan of ideology. That comes very much out of my childhood where I saw the sinister side of ideology in apartheid. I prefer freedom of expression and that’s why I like research and ideas.
“I also don’t see everyone as an adversary. I’m really interested in wise outcomes; what are the wisest outcomes we can get that are going to do the best for whomever we are serving in terms of product or service? I also believe a leader’s job is to absorb pain and not inflict it.”
Career reflectionsLevy is also the chairman of the Auckland and Waitemata District Health Boards and Tonkin & Taylor, as well as a director of Orion Health. His career has previously included roles as a clinical researcher with 3M, general manager of the Bay of Plenty Area Health Board, advisor to the department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, chief executive of South Auckland Health, a founder of Ascot Hospital and chief executive of the New Zealand Blood Service.
“I started as a clinician, drifted into management, ended up being a chief executive, went through an entrepreneurial phase and then into an academic and governance phase, then I’ve ended up being chairman of some very large and significant organisations with an opportunity to make a difference.”
Married for 23 years and with a 20-year-old university student son currently on his OE, and an 18-year-old daughter who recently completed secondary school, Levy says he has maintained a strong focus on his family as well as his work.
“I work really hard … there wouldn’t be a weekend that doesn’t go by where I don’t work many hours in each day.”
Acknowledging that over the years he has had increasingly-less time to commit to his own recreational and social environment, Levy nonetheless says he and family continue to enjoy domestic
and international travel, and he also walks a lot as a personal leisure activity.
Having enjoyed considerable reach with his book Leadership and the Whirlpool Effect among many other research literary works, he is currently authoring another book on the subject of leadership.
Reflecting on his career, Levy says he recalls from an early age having an aspiration to “do something that was useful and made a difference”.
“It is a huge motivator for me and that’s why I like being involved in very large organisations because you can make a difference for more people.
“I also like academia because the other interest I have is helping people to think. If people think then they are likely to make different choices and see things differently.
“But to be perfectly honest, I’ve had a totally unplanned career. Opportunities have literally arisen and I’ve taken them – the doors of opportunity are marked ‘push’. It has been more of an adventure than a career from my point of view.
“On the one hand I have quite a commercial, progressive viewpoint, but on the other hand I have a deep sense of social conscience.
“We need a society that is gentler and fairer. It is a worrying trend that people think more about themselves as individuals than society in general.”
We couldn’t interview the person at the top of Auckland’s transport
agency without alluding to another recent challenge facing the
organisation – that is allegations of illegalities in procurement and
contract-management procedures levelled against some staff, as
reported a year ago in Contractor magazine.
While considered in his comments, given the matter is still before
the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), Dr Lester Levy praises the actions
of Auckland Transport’s senior executives – singling out the chief
executive and chief operating officer – in ultimately uncovering
issues.
“In this particular case, our executives have done an exceptional
job in detecting that something wasn’t quite right, which led myself
as chairman and the chairman of the audit and finance committee to
support them to investigate and take it right to the point where it has
been handed over to the SFO.”
One consequent action taken by Auckland Transport has been to
introduce a fraud line through which callers can provide information
on alleged improprieties on an anonymous basis.
Lamenting that any organisation is likely to have “bad apples” and
with fraud often not easily detectable, Levy says those in governance
need to be asking insight as well as oversight questions and “be on
the alert for very, very weak signals”.
“It is all very well to have external audits, but often their nature will
not detect any or all potential fraud in an organisation. I think that in
an organisation, particularly a larger one, you need an independent
internal audit function that is of high competence, properly resourced
and supported by the audit and finance committee.
“The committee itself has a critical role in asking questions,
ensuring the internal audit programme is diverse enough, that
investigations are careful enough and that ‘dives’ are deep enough
to make sure you are doing everything you can to pick up anything
untoward that might be happening.
“You simply can’t have a structure and process around it and expect
to detect when anything goes wrong, because there will always be
people who will try and throw the system.
“You need to have a very low threshold for this when you’re dealing
with taxpayers’ and ratepayers’ money. You just have to be constantly
on the alert. You just need to be over lots of things.”
The elephant in the room
*Terms & Conditions Apply
BUILT FOR IT.™
CAT ® HAMMERS NO DEPOSIT & NO INTEREST for 36 Months. From $9.50 per day!*
Available on all Cat Hammers.
Talk to your Local Territory Sales Manager today for more information.
Northland & Auckland North Chris Wilson 021 682 403
Auckland South Poovan Naidoo 021 860 443
Waikato & Coromandel James West 029 299 8909
Rotorua & Bay of Plenty Shayne Kennedy 029 200 7270
Central North Island Paul Roche 021 954 376
Taranaki, Manawatu & Wellington Carl Southee 021 981 850
East Cape, Hawkes Bay & Wairarapa Steve Goss 029 271 7895
Nelson, Marlborough & West Coast Chris Jones 029 200 8382
Christchurch City Nick Worthington 021 979 826
Canterbury James Lundy 029 208 0423
Otago & Southland Brent Duncan 029 222 4682
YOUR GOUGH CAT TERRITORY SALES MANAGERS
Branches From Whangarei To Invercargill | 0800 93 39 39 | www.GoughCat.co.nz
22 FEBRUARY 2015
CONTRACTOR PROJECT
THE D8R, TAKEN to the ice new by the United States Antarctic Program (USAP) in 2004, has just completed a ground-up makeover at Gough Group’s Christchurch headquarters.
The machine was flown up to Christchurch in November on a Boeing C17 Globemaster, and headed back to Antarctica by resupply vessel from Lyttelton in mid-January.
Its total rebuild further cemented the service relationship between Gough Group and the USAP which has been operating since 1957.
Among other roles, the bulldozer’s job in Antarctica is establishing and maintaining the Williams Field and Pegasus runways at McMurdo Station to keep them open for the vital supply flights from Christchurch that continue for much of the year.
It had done 13,000 hours’ work in its decade on the planet’s driest continent, dozing with an unusually wide blade designed primarily for shifting bulk materials such as stacks of coal or woodchip around in the warmer parts of
the world.Weighing around 38,000 kilograms, the
D8R is fitted with a 305hp 3406E engine and travels on unusually wide, low-ground-pressure tracks.
The standard cab gives it a height of 3.5 metres, and it’s 4.95 metres wide and 6.5 metres long.
The makeover was carried out by three of Gough’s Christchurch divisions, with the workshop performing the disassembly and inspection, the replacement of the cab, hydraulic hoses, the undercarriage group and the wiring harnesses, the rebuild of track frames/cannons, reassembly, testing and run-up, and painting.
The Component Rebuild Centre stripped and rebuilt the engine and transmission, and the Engineering Group re-bored all of the ripper linkage and track frame mounts, and made repairs to the blade.
John Gillman, Gough national parts manager, told Contractor that the most obvious wear on the machine was to the hydraulic hoses which had been subjected to more than a decade of
successive freezing and thawing.“Anything rubber deteriorates in the
cold from the constant temperature recycling, and this can present a major issue in such a pristine environment as Antarctica,” Gillman says.
“The machine’s kept outside and at the season start-up they have to thaw it when they want to use it, using specialised heaters.
“Once thawed the machine is equipped with fluid compartment heaters for daily use.”
The machine was “generally in good condition for its age, hours and operating environment, and had been well maintained by [USAP’s] site technicians”.
For operator comfort, and as part of the cab refurbishment, a Webasto diesel-fired heater was fitted. To reduce unnecessary idling time, the heater works without the engine running – something now quite common in machinery working in extreme cold, though it was the first one the Gough Group had fitted in Christchurch.
Also fitted during the overhaul were a
A Caterpillar D8R Series II bulldozer was granted a respite from its decade-long duties clearing snow off the runways in Antarctica to undertake a well-earned holiday and makeover in the Canterbury sun. HUGH DE LACY explains.
In from the cold
FEBRUARY 2015 23
heavy-duty capacitor, on-board battery tender, special batteries, battery heaters and a high-output alternator – all accessories to help cold weather starting in one of the world’s most challenging environments.
“Gough were extremely pleased to be engaged with the US National Science Foundation’s USAP in the rebuild of the Caterpillar D8R,” Gillman says.
“We’re pleased that we have been able to meet their requirements and turn the machine around in the timeframe of three months.”
Gough Group also has an ongoing relationship with the New Zealand Antarctic programme, having recently supplied a Caterpillar 312DL excavator which is used in general service at Scott Base.
A Caterpillar 924K wheel-loader was also supplied to the Kiwis on the ice recently.
Gough’s lower South Island regional manager, Dean Heney, says the refurbishment of the USAP’s D8 gave the company the chance to showcase its technical skills, especially at the
Component Rebuild Centre, “which is designed to cope with this highly technical work”.
The centre’s manager, Gavin Hoyland, says the most satisfying part of the process was hooking the engine up to the
dyno “to really test it”.“McMurdo Station is a long way away,
and the last thing you want is an untested engine failing in that environment – it’s not like one of our technicians can jump into the ute and drive out to fix it.”
www.primepump.co.nz
Solid Pumping Performance
Partnership with people who care
We are dedicated to help you succeed! With BBA pumps we can offer you the lowest cost of ownership through high efficiencies, minimal maintenance
and unparalleled reliability!
Call Now0800 482 747+64 3 768 [email protected]
24 FEBRUARY 2015
CONTRACTOR BAUMA CHINA 2014
IT WAS THE BIGGEST international trade fair for construction machinery, equipment
and vehicles held in China, despite the downturn in the local market.
Run by Messe Munchen International, the 12th bauma China was held in Shanghai
back in November and was attended by Contractor magazine and a sizeable group
from the Kiwi contracting industry.
The huge event attracted 191,000 visitors, up from 180,000 in 2012, and
international visitors were up by 12 percent. Compared to 2010, the 2012 show was an
increase of 46 percent in terms of exhibitors and 16 percent in terms of visitors.
At the 2014 show, the 3104 exhibitors (2000 of them Chinese) and their machinery
and equipment took up the entire 300,000 square metres (comparable to 42 football
fields) of the Shanghai New International Expo Centre.
For the first time, the organisers used a ‘business matchmaking system’ to facilitate
contacts between visitors and exhibitors. This saved a lot of time ‘exploring’ the vast
event, which is spread over 17 indoor halls of 200,000 square metres, an outdoor area
of 100,000 square metres, three main entrance halls, and 51 meeting rooms.
The next bauma China takes place again in Shanghai in November 2016.
Bauma China – a biennial feast of gear and cultureA report by ALAN TITCHALL who was a guest of Messe Reps & Travel
FEBRUARY 2015 25
Planning a trip to baumaTHE CIVIL CONTRACTORS association
promotes the programme through Messe Reps
& Travel in Auckland.
Robert Laing of Messe Reps is an expert
on the show and the destination. He favours
hotels in the centre of the city where the
tourist action is. Having stayed at the
Renaissance Shanghai Yu Garden Hotel under
his direction I can personally vouch for the five
star, faultless quality of the hotel he chose
for us Kiwis and the convenience of the area
– right next to the stunning, 400-year-old Yu
Gardens/Old Town (more shops and eateries
than gardens), and within walking distance of
the famous East Nanjing pedestrian road, the
Bund and the river.
You can catch a metro out to the
showgrounds but it is easier to grab a metered
cab outside the hotel (the concierge will make
sure the driver knows where to take you) and
off you go for the ride of your life – never will
you bitch about Auckland’s traffic again.
The extraordinary thing is how cheap the
taxi fare is – around $8. I don’t know how they
made any money. On the way back to the hotel
from the showgrounds – you walk over to the
front of the Kerry Hotel and get the concierge
to get you a cab back. Easy-peasy.
BAUMA BRIEFS
LiuGong Metso dealA joint venture agreement between LiuGong and
Metso, unveiled at bauma China 2014, will see
mobile crushers specifically designed for the
Chinese market with electronics and software
(designed by LiuGong) to improve integration
between the engine and hydraulics for better fuel
economy. While mobile crushers are not common in
China, the two companies say sales will improve as
older, fixed plant equipment comes up for renewal.
Volvo 17 tonnerVolvo introduced its new EC170D excavator at
bauma, which, at 17 tonnes, fills the gap between
the popular 14 and 20 tonne weight segments.
Power comes from a D4E Volvo engine delivering
90kW for a combination of high performance and
low fuel consumption.
Extra tough RammerSandvik launched a new hydraulic hammer under
its Rammer brand. The 3750kg Rammer 4099 PRO
is designed for carriers in the 34-55 tonne weight
class. Based on the field-proven Rammer 4099,
the new model for extreme conditions such as
underground, features a sealed and sturdy housing,
and is designed for horizontal work.
The 12th bauma China was held in Shanghai back in November at the new International Expo Centre. The show attracted 191,000 visitors, up from 180,000 in 2012. Interna-tional visitors were up by 12 percent.
26 FEBRUARY 2015
CONTRACTOR BAUMA CHINA 2014
New excavators Hitachi unveiled a new range of hydraulic
excavators: the powerful 69 tonne ZX690LCH-5A;
16.8 tonne ZX170LC-5A; 34.1 tonne ZX360K-5G;
and the 20.3 tonne ZX200-5G. The 69 tonner is
suited to quarry applications for truck loading
with power from a 345kW diesel and wielding a
four cubic metre bucket. The ZX360K-5G is also
ideal for earthmoving and quarrying and features
a 1.6 cubic metre bucket, while its engine is rated
at 184kW. The ZX200-5G is aimed at a popular size
class used in a wide array of applications, with
power from a 125kW diesel and featuring a 0.91
cubic metre bucket. The ZX170LC-5A has a 79kW
diesel and a 0.7 cubic metre bucket and is a highly
versatile machine.
Longking excavatorsShanghai-based Lonking is growing its excavator
business and moving away from its reliance on
wheeled loaders. Three new, high performance
models at bauma were the LG6485H, CDM6365F
and CDM6235. The LG6485 is top of the range,
weighs 48.2 tonnes, is powered by a 269kW
diesel, and featured a 2.2 cubic metre bucket.
Volvo Tier 2 and 3Volvo Penta displayed a number of new lines of
Tier 2 and Tier 3 engines that share a common
design with Tier 4 engines, which means OEM
manufacturers can fit an engine suitable for
the customer and the applicable emissions
standards without having to do a major redesign
to accommodate a different engine. The stage
II and IIIA engines use an advanced clean-
burning fuel injection system, which means that
they don’t need an after-treatment system to
lower emissions levels. The Volvo Penta range
consists of a complete line of 5, 8, 11, 13 and 16
litre engines for off-road use, and on display was
the new TAD1350VE which is certified to China III
standard.
Above right: Performing young Chinese women competed at exhibits across the venue.
Right: Big toys at work.
The 12th bauma China in Shanghai at the new International Expo Centre hosted 3104 exhibitors (2000 of them Chinese). Their machinery and equipment took up the entire 300,000 square metres (comparable to 42 football fields) of the event centre.
Northland & Auckland North Chris Wilson 021 682 403
Auckland South Poovan Naidoo 021 860 443
Waikato & Coromandel James West 029 299 8909
Rotorua & Bay of Plenty Shayne Kennedy 029 200 7270
Central North Island Paul Roche 021 954 376
Taranaki, Manawatu & Wellington Carl Southee 021 981 850
East Cape, Hawkes Bay & Wairarapa Steve Goss 029 271 7895
Nelson, Marlborough & West Coast Chris Jones 029 200 8382
Christchurch City Nick Worthington 021 979 826
Canterbury James Lundy 029 208 0423
Otago & Southland Brent Duncan 029 222 4682
YOUR GOUGH CAT TERRITORY SALES MANAGERS
Branches From Whangarei To Invercargill | 0800 93 39 39 | www.GoughCat.co.nz
BUILT FOR IT.™*Conditions Apply.
Offer on New Cat Excavators from 301.7D - 336 and Purpose Built Forestry Machines only.
18 Months with 15% Deposit, delivered before 31 March 2015.Machine must be financed by Gough Finance.
Offer is valid until 31 March 2015. Subject to Stock Availability.
MATCH YOUR FINANCE RATE TO YOUR MACHINE.
3.25%
3.017%
3.36%
OFFER VALID ON EXCAVATORS UP TO CAT 336 & PURPOSE BUILT FORESTRY MACHINES.
*
301.7DCR
325DFM
336DL
ONLY WHILE STOCKS LAST - SO HURRY & CALL YOUR TERRITORY SALES MANAGER TODAY FOR MORE INFORMATION!
28 FEBRUARY 2015
CONTRACTOR BAUMA CHINA 2014
Komatsu Tier 3 compliance Komatsu showed off four new excavators that
are Tier 3 compliant and meet China’s imminent
new emissions requirements. The Komatsu
engines feature electronic injection and can work
efficiently even with low-grade fuel. Top of the
range is the PC360-8MO weighing 33,550kg and
powered by a 187kW engine and featuring a 1.6
cubic metre bucket.
Sandvik’s latest screenSandvik unveiled its latest screen – the new
SK2462 and the latest in its SK&SC range. It
new circular motion screen is 2.4 metres by six
metres and weighs 7.3 tonnes. A 22kW motor
allowing rotation speeds of between 780 and
900rpm provides power. It is designed for heavy-
duty medium and fine screening applications
especially after primary and secondary crushing.
Dust encapsulation is incorporated to satisfy
clean air regulations. The number of parts has
been reduced and bearing lubrication improved.
In addition, the vibration mechanism can be
removed and installed as a fully assembled
module.
Big loaderLiuGong’s biggest ever wheeled loader, the 17.2
tonne CLG8128H (one of its latest generation
H-series machines) is one of the biggest selling
machine classes in China. Power comes from a
diesel delivering 162kW.
Demand for quality roading machinery
Bomag says that demand for its soil compactors,
asphalt pavers and rollers, and reclaimers/
stabilisers is increasing as long-term roading
contractors look for better quality machines.
Bomag’s BF300 and BF800 asphalt pavers
are now finding steady sales into China. Its
RS950 stabiliser is said to be the most powerful
reclaimer/stabiliser on the market, with power
from a diesel delivering 708kW, and well-
suited for large road recycling jobs where road
structures typically feature a cement base.
Left: David and Matthew Calvet from Wedgelock at the Hitachi stand. The brothers attended bauma China to market their safety coupling for excava-tors. It was their first time to China and they knew they had an uphill battle, as the Chinese market is not known for its use of couplers.
1. A shiny new Volvo2. Lunchtime delegates take advan-
tage of the unseasonal sunshine.3. Little toys work.4. Wirtgen display.5. Kobelco display.6. Big always works.7. The Volvo Compact TAD873VE
weighs only 737kg.8. Komatsu display.9. There were a lot of Chinese made
cone crushers.1
2 3
89
FEBRUARY 2015 29
Left: Roger Mahan, Milburn Lime, Milton and Irena from JYM, a Chinese com-pany that makes a range of equipment including crushers. Roger has been attending bauma China since it started and is a big fan of the show. One year he bought 300 tonnes of explosives.
“Each show just gets bigger and the range of equipment and its quality improves. Exhibitors use young women to front their business, but they are very informed about their products and know their stuff.
“In general I find the Chinese hard working and on the ball. Nothing is a problem for them and they are very trusting once they get to know you.”
Above: Shanghai’s Old Town – 400 years old, restored and a huge tourist attraction for shops and food. You will be pestered with hawk-ers – ‘watches’, ‘bags’, ‘massage’ – who can be politely dismissed. Unfortunately, decades of Western tourists looking for cheap junk has encouraged a vibrant hawking industry, but never accept an offer to have a drink in a bar or you will find it an expensive and embarrassing exercise.
The XCMG 4000 – China’s first 400 tonne extractor with a 22 cubic metre bucket. Paired up with a XDE240 dumpster.
4
567
30 FEBRUARY 2015
CONTRACTOR BAUMA CHINA 2014
Economical Volvo paverVolvo unveiled its new mid-sized P6820C ABG
paver, which features lower fuel consumption and
produces less noise than the model it replaces,
and is designed to deliver smooth mats in
demanding conditions such as steep hills. Volvo’s
D6E COM IIIA Tier 3 compliant engine provides
power of 142kW.
Wirtgen roading gearThe Wirtgen Group is now offering variants of its
latest Vogele asphalt paver and Hamm asphalt
compactor. The new Vogele Super 2100-3 and
Super 1900-3 pavers and Hamm HD12VO and
HD10VO compactors are all now built at its
Chinese plant. Wirtgen’s new Hamm 318 soil
compactor weighs 18 tonnes and features a 2.22
metre wide drum and can generate compaction
forces of 242kN or 331kN, with power from a
153kW diesel. The machine can be teamed up with
the recently introduced Wirtgen WR250 recycler.
Hammer drillsSandvik introduced its new Tiger range of top
hammer drills, which feature a low centre of
gravity and (track driven) good stability on uneven
terrain. The DG700 and DG800, the two models
currently launched, are designed with road
cutting, pipeline drilling, foundation drilling, and
production drilling in mid-sized quarry applications
in mind. A joystick in the cab controls drilling. The
cabin is soundproofed to keep noise levels well
below 85dBA and it is ROPS and FOPS certified.
Changing ChinaVisiting China these days you can literally see the old China going and the new, very
21st century China taking over.
This manifests in vast inner city demolition sites where old housing has been gutted
to make room for more high rises. On Saturdays, when the working traffic is off the
roads and motorway, you see it in the number of wedding cars that are dolled up
luxury vehicles such as Ferraris.
You experience it in the new shopping malls in the pristine supermarkets and
upmarket shops such as Hugo Boss where the price is the price and a far cry from the
multi-storey shopping complexes with hardly room to walk and where the price is as
good as you can bargain.
You see it in the spotless and very efficient transport system and airports which
make Auckland Airport look third world.
And lastly you see it in the young folks and their perfect English as they swap
comfortably between two worlds. And what a difference the lack of alcohol makes to
youth enjoying themselves in China, compared to our raucous, alcohol-fuelled, reckless
lot on a weekend binge.
Like post-war Japan, China is emerging as a powerhouse of productivity and
expansion into the big wide world with wealth, imitation and improvements, and
through sending its sons and daughters to the west to be educated in our ways.
Soon, we’ll be sending our sons and daughters to learn from them.
TAXIS AND TRAFFIC – He who hesitates gives way on Shanghai’s congested streets where there are many signal lights, but few rules. A lot of the motorbikes are electric so you can’t hear them until they are tooting behind you. Like the migration of the wildebeest, pedestrians are safer in numbers, before weaving their way from one side of a street to another. And never trust a bus thundering towards a pedestrian crossing. But – you will never complain about Auckland’s traffic again!
Taxis are dirt cheap. From the city centre hotels to the expo, which is half way to the international airport and next to the high speed train (300kmh plus that travels directly to the airport), costs about $8.
However, you must get into a metered cab (they are coloured two-tone and most are 1.8 litre, manual, VW Santa Vistas) and the best way to do that is to get the concierge outside a hotel to get you one. Best place for a metered cab at the expo site is at the Kerry Hotel. Avoid unmetered cabs, as they will try and charge you up to five times the normal fare depending on how gullible you look.
THE KERRY PARK SHOPPING COMPLEX also houses a fantastic modern supermarket, cafes, restaurants and shops – great for escaping the teeming hordes at the show. Even though November, the month the show is held, is the start of winter, the weather can be surprisingly warm.
It’s easy to recognise the good guys – we do it
all the time.
The team at Clements Contractors Ltd are good guys too. They’d like to tell you what achieving ACC Fleet Saver Gold Accreditation has meant for their business. Get the full story at accfl eets.co.nz/casestudies.
With ACC Fleet Saver, you can show your customers, suppliers and stakeholders that your health and safety systems are up to scratch – which means you’re good guys to do business with.
If you own fi ve or more heavy goods service vehicles and have documented health and safety systems that demonstrate your business’ culture of safety, we can work with you to make sure your fl eet gets the recognition it deserves – making yours the ‘trucks you want to be around’.
Find out more at accfl eets.co.nz or call 0800 222 776.
32 FEBRUARY 2015
CONTRACTOR COMPANY PROFILE
ENGINEERING GEOLOGIST and geotechnical engineer Georg Winkler isn’t certain when contractors and consultants started working together more closely but he thinks it may date back just a couple of years and be due largely to the Christchurch rebuild.
While others might also credit project alliances for the new-found teamwork, Georg says the cost and urgency of the southern-city rebuild has placed heavy emphasis on “constructability”, which by definition requires contractors and consultants to work collaboratively to achieve the most cost-effective result.
He says it’s easy for a consulting engineer to recommend foundation designs in accordance with government guidelines, but sometimes the cost can be sky-high and a better solution has to be found – often with the help of the contractor. And not just in Christchurch.
“We do a lot of retaining walls and
landslide repairs around the Far North, Wairoa and Gisborne and we try to get contractors to cast their eye over constructability matters, because they’re the people who know how easy or how hard it is to construct things,” Georg says.
“We know things they might not see straight away, like this little section of road is actually on a huge landslide, or that little retaining wall has to hold up that huge landslide. It’s about understanding costs.”
Georg Winkler is in his mid-40s and has headed his own consultancy for the past 10 years. Raised in Wairoa, he did a double major degree in geology and physical geography at Victoria University in Wellington and a master’s degree in engineering geology at Canterbury University.
After he had worked for environmental and engineering consultants Tonkin & Taylor in Auckland for 10 years, he and
his wife decided in early 2004 it was time for a change. They moved to Gisborne where Georg set up Land Development & Exploration Ltd (LDE) as a small specialist company making use of his background in complex engineering technology and offering geological, geotechnical, civil, structural and environmental engineering services throughout New Zealand.
Georg misses Auckland for its big-city buzz and concerts, “but I definitely don’t miss the traffic”.
“We set up in Gisborne for a lifestyle change, and for the sunshine of course. The principle or mantra of the company is to allow people to live where they want to live and still do cool, interesting and challenging work. It’s working really well.”
So well, in fact, that LDE now has 30 staff and offices in Gisborne, Warkworth, Whangarei and Napier, and a presence in Christchurch.
Georg sees no drawback to having a
A milestone was reached in the civil-construction industry last year when contractors and consulting engineers held a joint annual conference – mutual recognition of being members of the same team striving for the same goal. In the light of this welcome détente, GAVIN RILEY takes a look at the life of one consulting engineer.
The contractor’s NEW BEST FRIEND
FEBRUARY 2015 33
Gisborne-based head office in terms of providing services. “We have a spread of qualified people on the ground around the country who do the testing. Where it’s tricky and requires a more senior person’s or specialist’s eyes, we fly people in. Because our overheads are low by having a Gisborne head office, flying senior guys in is still cost-effective.”
So is using Skype constantly for communicating. “We have meetings with four or five people all at once in all the different offices. They might as well be in the office right next to each other, because that’s how good it is.”
A tonne of work – in fact, many tonnes – came LDE’s way last July when severe rainfall in the Far North produced flooding and massive landslides on SH1 and the only detour road, closing Northland to heavy traffic and costing millions of dollars. The complex underlying geology saw Georg in his element.
“All contractors in Auckland who deal with earthworks will know of a group of rocks called Onerahi Chaos,” he says, referring to a sheared mudstone which is particularly prone to land movement. “That’s what I focused on in my master’s thesis.”
Nearly 400 slips had affected the roading network and LDE undertook a triage assessment of ranking the landslides based on their severity and consequences to the network. Because much of the Far North has the problematic Onerahi Chaos underneath it, the landslides were waiting to happen, Georg says.
“The situation was dire. I was standing on the detour road and a logging truck went over it and before our eyes the whole road moved sideways, due to unstable ground beneath the road and the vibrations and loads of heavy traffic.”
SH1 was closed for about two weeks.
Some of the landslides are several hundred metres wide and caused massive damage. LDE carried out investigation and design of remedial measures for about 60 of the worst-case slips and had nearly completed this work at year’s end.
“There are some huge retaining walls, up to 11 metres high, with construction costs of $500,000 to $700,00 for one or two of them. There are all types of remedial solutions – there’s no one standard fix. Everything needs to be carefully considered and weighed up.”
Limited Transport Agency (NZTA) funding means the cheapest option is to repair the road surface at low cost. But because heavy rain in the future will cause the slips to occur again, LDE has been striving to produce solutions within the agency’s budget which are cost-effective.
In the Christchurch rebuild, under subcontract to Tonkin & Taylor, LDE has
A large in-ground retaining wall that LDE designed. The piles are 10m deep and 750mm in diameter. Georg Winkler is pictured walking along the crest.
34 FEBRUARY 2015
CONTRACTOR COMPANY PROFILE
been carrying out modelling beneath suburbs affected by liquefaction and lateral spreading, and mapping the extent of lateral spreading throughout the city and Kaiapoi.
“We had a team tracking cracks through properties to work out how far back from the river the land had moved. It had moved much farther than anyone imagined,” Georg says.
“The good thing about that was the experience we got in co-ordinating a team of up to nine people in getting that information into a database. We applied that work to the Far North and helped the Far North District Council and NZTA to assess the actual cost of the [flooding and landslip] damage.”
Georg says repairs are still not completed following Gisborne’s 6.7 earthquake in 2007, and that long time-frame leads him to believe LDE will be involved in the Christchurch rebuild for a number of years yet.
With global warming producing erratic weather patterns and rising sea levels, he also foresees his company gaining work opportunities arising from major landslides and in coastal engineering.
“We do quite a few coastal structures. That [work] will continue to grow and contractors will be interested in that. Some of the projects are quite tricky. Sea levels rose about 15cm last century and you have increased storm events. Rising sea levels are eating away at the coasts and a lot of our roads in this country go round the coastline.
“Also, the sea level rising will raise the groundwater table in low-lying cities and towns. It will affect places like Napier, a lot of which is built on ground close to sea level and the groundwater table is already quite high.
“Another 15 to 20cm of rising sea level will raise the groundwater table close to the foundations of buildings, making all those areas much more
Above: A view of a slope underlain by a reasonably large landslide that threatened the house below it. Deep soil anchors were designed and installed by LDE to stabilise the slope.
Above right: LDE’s CPT (cone penetrometer test) rig in action. The rig has the capability to reach into difficult access areas normally not able to be tested by conventional CPT rigs.
Right: A large anchored retain-ing wall under construction in Northland. The retained height is actually 6m, although most of the wall structure is beneath the ground surface.
FEBRUARY 2015 35
New Zealand’s largest and most modern hire fleet......available at 60 locations nation wide!
Vehicles
AccessEquipment
Barricading& Fencing
PortableToilets &Showers
Earthmoving &Compaction
Power Generation& Pumping
Containers
prone to liquefaction and lateral spreading.” LDE’s only problem is attracting sufficient
highly qualified staff to be able to expand to capture current and anticipated future work. But Georg says that with the Australian mining boom over, Kiwi engineers are returning home. Added to that, he has succeeded in recruiting two English, two Irish and two German staff “and they’re all exceptional”.
So he’s looking forward to the future – and he thinks contractors should be too because of new technology and construction techniques on offer.
“The advance in construction methodology is really interesting. It’s exciting for contractors. There’s a lot of interesting new techniques being used in other parts of the world which contractors might like to have a look at for themselves and import and use.”
Above: A large-scale, deep-seated landslide that severed access to a small community north of Gisborne. LDE was involved with assessing the stability of the landslide and the design of a new road across it. Rising sea levels, increasing storm surges and rainfall from extreme weather events appear to have caused the landslide.
36 FEBRUARY 2015
CONTRACTOR PROJECT
Opening up a DANGEROUS BOTTLENECK
FEBRUARY 2015 37
Constructing a $6.8 million culvert for the Whakaruatapu Stream near Dannevirke is one of the most important Transport Agency projects in the Tararua District for years. BY NEIL RITCHIE.
THE WHAKARUATAPU STREAM culvert for the Whakaruatapu Stream will bypass the old, almost dilapidated, Whakaruatapu Bridge known locally as “the skinny bridge”, as a welcome relief for traffic.
The supply and installation of the first Super-Cor Arch Culvert in New Zealand is a key part of this technically challenging project, which main contractor Stringfellows Civil Engineering Contractors started in late 2014. It is due to be completed by late 2016.
The new culvert will be located at the base of an existing steep sided gully, with Stringfellows and subcontractors
complying with the strict environmental controls for working in and around the stream. A number of erosion and sediment control techniques have already been implemented to restrict run-off and prevent sediment build up in the stream.
Once preliminary earthworks have been completed, approximately 20 metres of fill will be placed on top and the existing meandering stream diverted in three places to enable the construction of the culvert foundations. This work will also include the construction of a flood wall between the diverted stream and
the new concrete foundation for the arch culvert.
The arch culvert will be six metres wide, 116 metres long and will have two 15 degree bends in it. It will be constructed from galvanised steel corrugated plates –in parts, two plates thick to provide extra strength. The foundation of the culvert will be 9.3 metres wide and 800mm thick and contain over 1000 cubic metres of reinforced concrete.
The majority of the steel components are being manufactured in South Korea and will be shipped to New Zealand early this year.
“The new culvert will be located at the base of an
existing steep sided gully, with Stringfellows
and subcontractors complying with the strict
environmental controls for working in and around
the stream.”
38 FEBRUARY 2015
CONTRACTOR PROJECT
Once the concrete work is complete a series of weirs and groynes constructed from river stones will be cast into the invert of the culvert to duplicate a natural stream environment. The project is also located adjacent to a local cemetery, with NZTA and Stringfellows working closely with local iwi and having blessing ceremonies undertaken before site work started.
The narrow, aging Whakaruatapu Bridge and its approaches are key parts of State Highway 2 for most motorists travelling between Napier and Palmerston North, or between Napier and Wellington, as they nearly always use this particular piece of the state highway.
The bridge, built about 1927, is a level viaduct type structure with a reinforced concrete deck. However, the deck is only 5.79 metres wide between kerbs. It has plate girders supported on steel trestle piers, each resting on concrete pedestals, and mass concrete abutments. But all pedestals are now showing signs of extensive cracking, with some extending into the concrete foundations.
There is also concern about the bridge foundations relating to any movements during moderate to severe earthquakes.
So the sub-standard condition of the bridge itself and both bridge approaches pose significant safety concerns for motorists, particularly heavy vehicles.
This part of SH2 has a history of high crash statistics, including some fatalities. Some drivers slow down to give wider vehicles the right of way across the bridge knowing there is not enough width for both vehicles to pass each other. There is also particular concern regarding heavy vehicles approaching the bridge from
opposite directions at the same time.So the NZTA decided to replace the
bridge with a culvert and secured funding for the Whakaruatapu Bridge and Approaches Reconstruction Project during the 2014-15 financial year.
NZTA’s highway and network operations project team manager, John Jones, says the bridge will be demolished on completion of the culvert and new road alignment.
The project involves over 150,000 cubic metres of earthworks and 22,000 square metres of new pavement. The majority of work over the past summer involved constructing the new culvert, which did not affect the old traffic lanes. The most noticeable changes to road users will occur during the 2015-16 summer as traffic is shifted onto the new alignment.
Jones says the initial stages of this project have gone very well.
“The design will widen the road and direct the stream through a culvert underneath, with the effect being that motorists will hardly know they are travelling across a stream.
“It’s more than just replacing a bridge. It’s a 1700 metre project that will also improve the safety of the approaches.”
The primary objectives for the project are: to remove the existing seismically deficient Whakaruatapu Stream Bridge and install a suitable culvert solution; construct a new realignment of SH2 surrounding the Whakaruatapu Stream Bridge to incorporate a 100 kilometre per hour speed environment; improve safety and route efficiency for all road corridor users in the area; and widen this section of SH2 to the Standard Regional Link width.
“The design will widen the road and direct the stream through a culvert underneath, with the effect being that motorists will hardly know they are travelling across a stream”
Phone + 64 9 426 3419www.hiways.co.nz
I N N O V A T I O N | P E O P L E | P E R F O R M A N C E
TOTAL STABILIZATION SOLUTIONS INCLUDE: FOAMED BITUMEN. PAVEMENT RECYCLING. AGGREGATE MODIFICATION. FILL DRYING. SUBGRADE STABILIZATION. DEEP SOIL MIXING.
GROUND IMPROVEMENT. SLOPE REMEDIATION. MASS IN-SITU AND EX-SITU STABILIZATION.
Hiway Group take nothing for granted.
Our company’s outstanding reputation has been built upon an uncompromising commitment
to innovation, people, equipment and performance. Since 1986 we have pioneered stabilization
technologies within New Zealand and led the way in the development of proven and cost effective
solutions for wide ranging paving, geotechnical and environmental projects.
For further information contact Mike Nelson 021 805 799 or Graeme Quickfall 021 221 0100
Pavement Stabilization, Geotechnical and Environmental Engineering Leaders
40 FEBRUARY 2015
CONTRACTOR PROFILE
MORE THAN A FEW delegates at last year’s civil contractors’ annual conference would have been surprised to find a seminar on the chal-lenges facing small businesses being hosted not by the president, Dave Connell, but by his wife.
Margo Connell’s speaking spot (“I was as nervous as hell”) came about because of what she had experienced two years earlier after the couple’s civil-construction company moved into Christchurch to become involved in the post-earthquake rebuild.
Hamilton-based Connell Contractors went south in search of work because the effects of the global financial crisis had shrunk contracting opportunities in and around the Waikato.
“The earthquake appeared to be that pot
of gold,” Margo recalls. But soon she felt as isolated as she had when helping found their company in 1985.
“It was setting up all those office systems basically from scratch. Dave was out doing construction business and I was in my office, trying to get that established in a new city, and I had no support.
“I thought I can’t be the only one who feels like this. I think in today’s climate the challenge that we face in SMEs [small-to-medium enterprises] is compliance. It’s absolutely massive. You can’t actually do it all yourself. I thought there must be lots of people out there feeling exactly like me – wives that are there in the business or guys operating on their own, thinking what the hell do I do?”
What she did was get together with a couple
Civil Contractors leader
DAVE CONNELL is not the only smart operator in his family. His wife Margo talks to GAVIN
RILEY about her key role in their company and helping others.
The power behind the president
Dave and Margo Connell – a formidable team and passionate about the industry.
FEBRUARY 2015 41
of fellow Civil Contractors NZ members in the Waikato to put on an advice-for-SMEs seminar, which CCNZ chief executive Jeremy Sole then asked her to head at the 2014 annual conference.
Margo says other challenges facing SMEs are attracting and retaining the right kind of staff, rapidly changing technology, and an ever-shifting market.
“You’ve just got to be adaptable in what you do. If you’re not adaptable you quickly get relegated.”
The Connells believe that while there are subcontracting opportunities for SMEs, a business cannot grow far in that role and eventually becomes one-dimensional. But to progress to being a lead contractor is difficult, not just because of restricted local-authority spending but because an SME often does not
have a dedicated person to spend the time necessary to prepare tenders and attend to compliance issues.
“The life of the subcontractor sometimes isn’t a very happy life,” Margo says. “We’re just finishing a job in Tauranga where at long last we’re back in there as a head contractor with quite a sizeable contract, and we’ve performed exceedingly well.”
Margo’s early work experience gave her a solid grounding for her eventual role as Connell Contractors’ financial manager. The daughter of a bank manager, she spent eight years with the then Housing Corporation in Hamilton after leaving school, starting as a cashier and moving through the accounts ranks into the large tenancy department before becoming the manager’s personal assistant and human
“I thought I can’t be the only one who
feels like this. I think in today’s climate
the challenge that we face in SMEs
[small-to-medium enterprises] is
compliance. It’s absolutely massive.
You can’t actually do it all yourself. ”
Margo Connell: “We’ve always wanted to be volunteers and give something back”.
42 FEBRUARY 2015
CONTRACTOR PROFILE
resources officer. “It was really good training in terms
of robust systems, which is something I suppose I’m really pedantic about. On the financial side I’ve just carried that through into the business.”
Margo believes men and women bring different strengths to running a business and modestly sees herself as “just an organiser who is systems-focused and tries to keep things on the straight and narrow”.
However, husband Dave disagrees. He claims, mock-complainingly, that over the past 10 years his wife has set up a network of “female dictators”. The company’s lawyer, accountant and bank manager are all women. “She’s quietly gone about doing this and she’s got a group of ‘friends in business’ that grows by the year and they all get together – and it’s marvellous! That kind of networking Margo does so well.”
The Connells, parents of three adult daughters and a son, are a formidable team. When Dave took on the Civil Contractors’ presidency in 2013 it was on the understanding that “Margo comes with me to all the functions … we work as a partnership … the deal is you get two for one”. It was that understanding that indirectly led to Margo’s speaking role at the 2014 conference.
Margo says: “I don’t have all the answers. You don’t know everything, but if you can be easy to talk to and approachable, share your experiences, and if you can help somebody to make a difference to themselves, then that’s the reward.
“The thing about us is that we’ve always been volunteers, right from helping with the kids’ schools. We’re both very passionate about the industry
we’re involved in and we’ve always wanted to give something back. We’ve met so many wonderful people along the way.
“There’s no particularly good time to commit to what Dave’s doing [the presidency and steering the recent Contractors’ Federation-Roading New Zealand merger], but it’s very rewarding. It’s been very challenging and very time-consuming, but I try to take on more of the business matters to free him up from those sorts of issues if I can.”
Their cumulative responsibilities have been eased by appointing separate managers and office managers in Hamilton (17 staff) and Christchurch (28) to keep Connell Contractors operating efficiently. “But,” Margo says, “we’re still the face of the business and if you’re not visible, not out there, then it does create some problems. Strategically, you still need to keep your finger on what you’re doing. With having the name ‘Connell’ out there, if you’re not visible that has its risks.”
Two years ago the couple came very close to selling Connell Contractors. They now say it would have been a huge mistake to have done so as they have since made more money than they could have sold the business for.
For all that, they maintain Canterbury has not been “the land of opportunity” and they have probably taken 10 years off their lives by having to borrow hugely against their assets to turn survival into profit.
“And that’s what happened down there [companies going broke] – so many people have gone in undercapitalised,” Margo says.
“The continuity of work wasn’t quite there for a period of time, though the
company is really hitting its straps now. It’s really starting to hum down there and we’ve got a really good relationship with the SCIRT [infrastructure rebuild] delivery teams.”
Christchurch’s infrastructure rebuild will last about another two years, after which Connell Contractors will remain in the area working on local-body and private developments.
The Connells are now back in Hamilton but still visit their Christchurch operation once a month. “We went down to Christchurch two weeks ago and the crew were really pleased to see us, which was really neat,” Margo says. “There’s nothing better than when we go to Christchurch and I sit down with the office staff and see how things are going. You get such valuable feedback in that relaxed environment.”
The Connells feel their company is well positioned to face the future. Their Hamilton and Christchurch managers are also shareholders, they have added two independent directors to their board, and they are avidly pursuing Dave’s long-held policy of recruiting bright and reliable youngsters, including four male civil-construction apprentices and two female office workers.
Margo comments: “One of my friends said to me, ‘You’ve got to groom your business as if it’s for sale, even though you might not want to sell it’. Which is probably where we are now.”
Does her obvious enthusiasm indicate she and Dave plan to remain in the industry for the foreseeable future?
“Definitely,” Margo responds. “I’m just as passionate as Dave about it. It’s been a huge part of our lives. To not have that involvement would be quite difficult.”
Contact Ditch Witch New Zealand now on 0800 DWNZLTD l www.ditchwitchnz.com
Designed to take care of all types of spills and unwanted fluids Ditch Witch vacuum excavation systems are the most productive and versatile on the market. Available in a variety of sizes and configurations, Ditch Witch Vac’s offer exceptional quality, suction power and water pressure to help you tackle virtually every possible clean-up or soft excavation task. Potholing, valve box cleanup, trench excavation, service location, posthole digging and a wide range of projects for civil crews, rental yards and drillers, to general contractor’s. With individual components, assembly onto a truck of your choice is very easy.
POWERFUL, VERSATILE AND PURPOSE BUILT
VACUUM EXCAVATORS
WE’RE IN TH IS TOGETHER .www.taylorbuilt.co.nz [email protected]
45 Forge Road, Silverdale, AUCKLANDCALL US NOW0800 757 343
• Safety fence • Steel Y posts • Fencing products • Fabric screening • Ground staples • Floating Silt Fence • Floc sheds
• Fabrication service • Geogrids • Gabion Baskets • Geotextiles • Cesspit filter bags • Filtercloth • Silt fence
Civil Contractors SUPPLY SPECIALISTSLEADERS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND SUPPLY OF EROSION CONTROL SOLUTIONS
Contact Ditch Witch New Zealand now on 0800 DWNZLTD l www.ditchwitchnz.com
Designed to take care of all types of spills and unwanted fluids Ditch Witch vacuum excavation systems are the most productive and versatile on the market. Available in a variety of sizes and configurations, Ditch Witch Vac’s offer exceptional quality, suction power and water pressure to help you tackle virtually every possible clean-up or soft excavation task. Potholing, valve box cleanup, trench excavation, service location, posthole digging and a wide range of projects for civil crews, rental yards and drillers, to general contractor’s. With individual components, assembly onto a truck of your choice is very easy.
POWERFUL, VERSATILE AND PURPOSE BUILT
VACUUM EXCAVATORS
WE’RE IN TH IS TOGETHER .
44 FEBRUARY 2015
CONTRACTOR RECRUITMENT
ACCORDING TO DAVE CONNELL, president of Civil Contractors NZ, the shortage couldn’t have come at a worse time, with the country involved in one of its biggest-ever phases of infrastructure and property development which has been estimated at well over $10 billion.
Connell says the chronic shortage of both truck and machine operators is the result of a lack of training over the past few years, because of a lack of confidence in the construction industry.
Under John Key’s National led Government, we are embarking on seven massive lead infrastructure roading projects – that is, roads that enable economic growth rather than simply respond to it, known as the Roads of National Significance.
Added to that is a huge number of construction projects in the Auckland region involving new government buildings, new commercial, retail and housing property developments, and
projects like the 30-year $2.4 billion development at Auckland International Airport.
On top of that is the Christchurch rebuild, which is now estimated at $40 billion.
Connell says there is real demand for capable, experienced machine operators.
His company, Connell Contractors, has bases in Hamilton and Christchurch and is handling projects from the Port of Tauranga to the Christchurch rebuild, and is currently bringing in operators from the UK to fill the skills gap.
“There’s a hell of a shortage,” he says. “A lot of good operators went to
Australia to work on the enabling works to build the mines – the rail and roads and the development of the mines themselves – but now that has been done, around 20 percent of that workforce has been absorbed into permanent jobs to run the mines, but there’s no work for
the rest.“Australia is now having a recession in
civil works and they’re behind us, while John Key has invested in infrastructure which is a real kick for our economy. But in Australia, guys are waiting for three months to get work, so they’re starting to trickle back. Some of them you wouldn’t want to employ in our type of work, because coming from the mining environment, they might be good with big machines and bulk stuff, but they’re no good digging around utilities.”
Until now, Connell Contractors has relied on recruiting operators and training them themselves to their required standards, but Connell is hopeful that the new infrastructure industry training organisation, Connexis, will result in the industry lifting its profile, and attracting more talented and capable youngsters.
“We’ve always picked the low hanging fruit and the under-performers, and we’ve
The critical shortage of skilled truck drivers has been well documented in the news media, but not so well known is an equally threatening shortage of construction machine operators. BY TOM CLARKE.
Women to the rescue
FEBRUARY 2015 45
never had anything to offer NCEA Level II kids that is practical,” he says.
“The dairy industry and the armed forces have excellent recruiting and they offer fine careers, but we’re better and we just need to sell ourselves.
“And we need to value drivers more. For years we’ve taken warm bodies off the street and thrown them on half-a-million-dollar machines, and that has got to stop. We need to wean out the cowboys and lift the profile – it’s a high compliance industry and we need smart, professional people.”
There are plenty of good people with the right skills he believes. It’s a matter of attracting them into the industry and then into training, and then retaining them. The industry is crucially important to the economy, so it’s important that it develops broader appeal.
Connell says the beauty of Connexis is that it will – for the first time – offer trade training that will enable young people to enter construction industry apprenticeships covering wheels, tracks
and rollers, and civil plant operators and at the end of their apprenticeships, they will have some great skills and a great future in a great industry, and with no student loan.
The new training regime starts in the first quarter of this year, and Connell says it will lift the whole profile of the industry.
He is keen to encourage more young women to consider careers in the industry, believing they can be better operators of trucks and heavy construction machinery than men.
“I’m really a fan of them in our workforce,” he says.
“In Australia some of the women driving those big 200-tonne dump trucks are much more gentle, so there’s much less wear and tear on the gear. Women think differently, they relate better, they’re more consensus-based – and they tend to get their way, not by yelling and screaming, but by negotiating.”
There are currently very few women operators in the industry, and Connell believes if more could be encouraged
to enter the industry, it could have a snowball effect.
If a young woman could leave school and be earning $50,000 to $60,000 a year operating a construction machine, that could be a huge incentive for other equally capable youngsters earning $25,000 as a shop assistant, to consider joining the industry.
“Trucking is a little different because it’s a nice clean environment – the question is how do you sell the role of a digger driver to women? Is it attractive to them?
“There’re plenty of women who can do it – I’ve seen women drive motor scrapers and they’re excellent. We just have to convince them that as a woman there is a future for you in this industry. There is a growth path and it’s a good safe environment.
“That’s just another bit of work we have to do as an industry,” he says.
“And I think the new apprenticeship is going to open a lot of doors and solve a lot of problems.”
0800 WE PIPE (93 7473) www.hynds.co.nz
32 BRANCHES NATIONWIDE
40 YEARS OF CIVIL PIPELINE MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY
■ Rapid Curing
■ Easy to use
■ Strong & Durable
■ Flexible Mould to shape of choice
Do
wn
load
the
Techn
ical Sh
eet
CONCRETE CANVAS™CONCRETE IMPREGNATED FABRIC
46 FEBRUARY 2015
CONTRACTOR LOOKING BACK
A FEW NOSES WERE put distinctly out of joint in the little engineering community of colonial Christchurch when a teenager fresh out of a local church school landed the job of surveying the wild West Coast of the South Island for a way to link it by road to the east.
It was 1859, two years before Gabriel Read would ignite the nascent country’s gold fever by discovering bits of the stuff shining “like the stars of the Orion” in his fabulous gully in Otago, thereby triggering the exploration that led to further phenomenal discoveries up the length of the West Coast.
The Otago gold all filtered out through
the vigorous Presbyterian settlement of Dunedin, bringing untold development benefits with it, and the Anglicans of the Canterbury settlement were determined that the West Coast’s riches should similarly endow Christchurch.
But there were only isolated reports of gold on the island when the Canterbury Provincial Government sent 19-year-old Arthur Dudley Dobson, not long graduated from what would become upper-crust private school Christ’s College, to survey the almost unexplored northern West Coast to see what treasures it might hold.
The murmurings about his appointment
Of all the mountain roads in New Zealand, none matches Arthur’s Pass for the complexity of its engineering. HUGH DE LACY finds out why.
HER I TA GE
T R A I L S
IN ARTHUR’SFOOTSTEPS
FEBRUARY 2015 47
arose because his father, Edward Dobson, was the Canterbury Province surveyor.
Nepotism and his youth notwithstanding, Arthur and his younger brothers George and Edward, similarly favoured with employment as surveyors by their father, all produced superb exploratory work, as had the Edward senior and his brother Alfred, who was surveyor for the Nelson province.
Young Arthur Dobson spent seven months on the Coast before returning to Christchurch to report, and was then sent back up the Waimakariri River in 1864 to see if he could find a way across the Southern Alps to link Canterbury with the West Coast.
Reaching the Great Divide, Dobson climbed a thousand-metre peak above the Otira Gorge, and saw it as a place where a road might be pushed through between the Waimakariri on the eastern side and the Taramakau on the western.
By the time he’d completed this task and again reported back, the Gabriel’s Gully goldrush was in full swing, and reports of both placer and quartz gold discoveries had begun flooding in from the West Coast.
Keen to emulate Dunedin’s effective clipping of the golden ticket, a group of Christchurch businessmen put up a stake of £200 ($400) for anybody who could find a suitable route to the Coast.
Arthur Dobson’s younger brother George checked out every possible pass at the headwaters of the Taramakau, Waimakariri and Hurunui Rivers, and returned to say that the pass Arthur had discovered was
by far the most suitable.So it was by way of Arthur’s pass that the
provincial government decided to build a road to the Coast over Porters Pass, west of Springfield, up the Cave Stream to Cass on the Waimakariri, up the Bealey River and over the pass, then on to Otira and down the Taramakau.
The youngest Dobson brother, Edward, then got the job of building the 200 kilometre road, and he set a precedent for extraordinary engineering feats at Arthur’s Pass by completing it to a standard fit for stage-coaches by July 1866.
This was just a few weeks after the middle brother, George, working at the western end of the road, was mistaken for gold-buyer Edwin Fox and murdered by a gang of four cut-throats – they also killed four other men just a fortnight later in what became known as the Maungatapu murders, the country’s only incident of Australian-style bushranging.
Where a road crossed the Alps to the Coast, demands soon followed for a railway, leading to the building of the Midland Line between Lyttelton and Greymouth.
After decades of agitation, work on the railway line began in 1907.
The key passage over the great divide was to be by way of an 8.5 kilometre tunnel from Arthur’s Pass to Otira at a gradient of one in 33.
At the time one of the longest rail tunnels in a world obsessed with trains, it became the second great feat of engineering in Arthur’s Pass after the road, but taking 16 years to build and not opening until 1923.
“The outcome of this third of the great Arthur’s Pass engineering challenges is a beautiful ribbon of a man-made structure, seemingly floating above the rock-strewn riverbed.”
PH
OTO
: Whi
tes
Avia
tion
Ltd
:Pho
togr
aphs
. Ref
: WA
-512
41-F
. Ale
xand
er T
urnb
ull L
ibra
ry, W
ellin
gton
, New
Zea
land
.
The Otira Viaduct was completed in 1999, a 445-metre long pre-stressed concrete box girder bridge of four spans, of which the 134 metre main one is the longest in New Zealand.
48 FEBRUARY 2015
CONTRACTOR LOOKING BACK
In the meantime, the road through Arthur’s Pass depended at the eastern end on a zigzagging route to get it above a massive and constantly moving slip which saw everything from pulverised sand to massive greywacke boulders tens of metres thick plummeting into the stream bed below.
As ferocious seismic forces – including a major earthquake in 1929 – extended the slip further up the 700 metre mountainside behind it, new zigs and zags were added to keep the road above it.
By late last century, however, with the slip stretching ever higher up the mountain, the potential of the zigzagging strategy had been exhausted, and a new carriageway had to be built between Arthur’s Pass and Otira.
A long bridge would be at the heart of it.With the bed of the Otira River deep in
avalanche rubble, more-or-less constant seismic movement triggering repeated rockfalls, the 800 metre elevation above sea-level ensuring extremes of weather that included five metres of rain a year, and that particular part of SH73 sitting within the Arthur’s Pass National Park and accordingly dotted with Maori cultural features requiring preservation, the challenges to designers Beca Carter Hollings and Ferner were
without precedent even in the challenging New Zealand environment.
What they came up with, and what was built by contractor McConnell Smith, was a 445-metre long pre-stressed concrete box girder viaduct of four spans, of which the 134 metre main one is the longest in New Zealand.
The construction method was balanced cantilever, with the pier foundations of the elegantly curved structure driven 25 metres into the streambed, and the slender piers rising to 35 metres above them.
The piers had to be protected from rockfalls by deflector structures, and the viaduct rises along its length at a gradient of nearly 12 percent east to west.
And defying the Otira rail tunnel’s record of repeated delays and cost over-runs, the Otira Viaduct was completed in November 1999, a month ahead of its 36-month timetable and comfortably within its $25 million budget.
The outcome of this third of the great Arthur’s Pass engineering challenges is a beautiful ribbon of a man-made structure, seemingly floating above the rock-strewn riverbed, enhancing the savage natural beauty of the place and making it the highlight of the spectacular road trip across the island.
Above: Summit of Arthur’s Pass
Right: Otira Tunnel railway from the west side, c1910
The key passage over the great divide was to be by way of an 8.5 kilometre tunnel from Arthur’s Pass to Otira at a gradient of one in 33.
PH
OTO
: Mue
ller,
Mild
red
Vio
let,
d 19
69
:Alb
ums.
Ref
: PA
1-o-
354-
40. A
lexa
nder
Tur
nbul
l
ROAD AND MINERAL TECHNOLOGIES
The Wirtgen Group owes its strength to the excellence of its four product brands – Wirtgen, Vögele, Hamm and Kleemann – with their unique wealth of experience. You, too, can benefit – put your trust in the Wirtgen Group team.
www.wirtgen.co.nz
www.wirtgen-group.com / technologies
UNBEATABLE TEAM.
10 Wareham Place · Seaview · Wellington 5010 · New Zealand Phone: 0800 WIRTGEN · Email: [email protected]
A_WG_35_A4_4c_EN.indd 1 18.12.14 08:49
AN IMPORTANT AND LASTING contribution to getting more value from the roading dollar proved a winning entry in the “maintenance and management of assets” category of Civil Contractors NZ’s 2014 Hirepool construction excellence awards.
Winning company Road Science’s advanced design, testing and investigation methodologies enabled significant savings to be made on the Transport Agency’s East Waikato hybrid-model maintenance contract.
Developed from the doctorate studies of Road Science’s Greg Arnold and Transport Agency research over the past 15 years, the methodologies using repeated load triaxial and flexural beam tests are considered the most advanced in the world in the area of granular and stabilised pavements.
For the 2006-2015 East Waikato contract, the Transport Agency has a requirement to reduce the total budget by about 10 percent each year. In addition, due to the fixed lump sum for pavement renewals, sites that were low risk and low cost were treated. So the problem sites with the greatest pavement distress were avoided due to the extra cost to repair them falling on the contractor (Downer) and the high risk of their early pavement failure.
Another imperative for change was the agency’s need to reduce the number of early failures the contract was experiencing.
As a result, Road Science’s Mt Maunganui-based pavements team was asked to use its advanced testing and design techniques to create the optimal treatments for the renewals. The process that has evolved contains a number of steps: • Site identification. Each year the worst sites (about 12) are
identified by the contract asset management team for a full design and pavement rehabilitation. • Site investigation and test pits. Pavement distress
type and existing pavement depths are determined along with samples of the existing pavement taken for advanced testing. This work is carried out by Road Science in conjunction with the operations team of Opus and Downer. • Advanced laboratory investigation. Road Science
conducts repeated load triaxial and flexural beam tests on the pavement materials and proposed stabilised mixes to determine performance criteria for the pavement design.
How a Mt Maunganui company’s world-class laboratory expertise won a major award for enabling efficiency gains and cost savings to be made on a long-term road-maintenance contract. BY GAVIN RILEY.
SCIENCE TRIUMPHS on the highway
CONTRACTOR TECHNICAL
50 FEBRUARY 2015
FEBRUARY 2015 51
Left: Pavement distress type and existing pavement depths are determined along with samples of the existing pavement taken for advanced testing. This work is carried out by Road Science in conjunction with the operations team of Opus and Downer.
Above: Repeated Triaxial tests determine the rutting life of the pavement and the flexural tests estimate the fatigue life of any proposed stabilised pavement treatment. The testing and analysis is carried out by Road Science’s specialist team.
52 FEBRUARY 2015
CONTRACTOR TECHNICAL
• Pavement design using advanced laboratory test data. The triaxial tests determine the rutting life of the pavement and the flexural tests estimate the fatigue life of any proposed stabilised pavement treatment. The testing and analysis is carried out by Road Science’s specialist team.
• Writing the pavement design report. This contains various options and predicted lives from the advanced lab testing.
• Collaboration with the client, contractor and consultant to obtain agreement on the best pavement treatment solution. Selection is based on available funding, risk of early failure, constructability, and agreed design life.
• Production tests on site to confirm design assumptions. This work is carried out by Road Science in collaboration with the infield construction team.
• Monitoring performance on constructed pavement rehabilitations. This is done by Road Science in consultation with Opus and the Transport Agency. A prime example of challenges on the East Waikato contract to
determine the cause of early failure and the best solution can be found on the Waikato side of the Kaimais.
Here the climbing lane had significant wheel-track rutting. The road site already had 600mm of aggregate over a subgrade CBR (California bearing ratio) of 6 percent, and current Austroads pavement design rules could not determine why the road had failed early.
The pavement depth had been deemed to be sufficient for both past and future traffic. Thus, for a neighbouring road section the design was simply to stabilise in situ with 1.5 percent cement to a depth of 200mm which, using Transport Agency and Austroads design rules, was considered to have a 25-year design life. Yet this newly stabilised road section has 50mm ruts after three years and is also in need of repair.
Road Science undertook repeated load triaxial (RLT) tests on both the basecourse and subbase aggregate, which identified a weakness in the latter. Using the RLT test data in design it was found the subbase aggregate had the shortest life.
These results were discussed with the Transport Agency, along with several other design options. A suitable treatment was designed and constructed to remove the subbase aggregate and replace it with better quality aggregate. The RLT test of the
“The initial investment in this testing and design process is quickly recovered in finding out the optimum treatment for each site with the certainty of performance to ensure the pavement-renewal treatment will meet the agreed design life.”
Each year the worst road pavement sites (about 12) are identified by the contract asset management team for a full design and pavement rehabilitation.
FEBRUARY 2015 53
top 150mm of basecourse was found to be of good quality and was stockpiled and then re-used in the pavement.
A number of first-rate results have been delivered from the innovative changes that the East Wakaito maintenance contract adopted. These benefits include a 20 percent saving on reseal costs in the 2012-13 season, a 12 percent saving on rehabilitation costs over the same period, an average saving of 10 percent on the total contract budget, the production of cost-effective and suitable treatments, greater confidence in the design process using Road Science’s advanced methodologies, and an option to reduce costs and accept greater risk.
Savings have been made in reducing the length of reseals to what was actually needed based on network conditions, along with some sites needing only low-cost pavement-renewal treatments as determined by the Road Science team. Some of the savings have been used to undertake more exhaustive treatments as recommended by the team on problematic and weak pavement sites, while other savings have enabled the team to meet the Transport Agency’s reduced budget.
Road Science says the quality-control sampling carried out post-construction in East Waikato not only confirms the effectiveness of its innovative approach to pavement rehabilitation but helps refine future design and construction methods. “The initial investment in this testing and design process is quickly recovered in finding out the optimum treatment for each site with the certainty of performance to ensure the pavement-renewal treatment will meet the agreed design life.”
The Transport Agency is enthusiastic about Road Science’s East Waikato input. “This is the most comprehensive design and testing process I have seen, which is surprising on a contract that has been squeezed the most in terms of reduced budget,” says the agency’s network maintenance and operations adviser, Alan Burkett, quoted in Road Science’s Hirepool-award submission.
The agency has commissioned Greg Arnold, Road Science’s technical manager pavements, to rewrite the agency’s pavement rehabilitation design guide and its training notes to include his team’s advanced testing.
It’s a feather in the cap of a company which was formed in 2005 from Downer’s bitumen supply-and-operations businesses, and in mid-2012 adopted its present name to reflect its expertise and role as an independent, standalone supplier of products and services to the New Zealand roading industry.
Award-winning Road Science line up (from left): Anthony Stubbs, technical service engineer; Dr Greg Arnold, technical manager pavement; and Gra-ham Mudgway, laboratory inspector.
Road Science won the category 5 – Excellence in the maintenance and management of assets in the 2014 Hirepool Construction Excellence Awards.
Specifically, Road Science won the award for its NZTA East Waikato Maintenance Contract: Pavement Renewals, Waikato.
Developed from Dr Greg Arnold’s doctorate studies and NZ Transport Agency research conducted over the past 15 years, the design, investigation and performance material testing using Repeated Load Triaxial and Flexural Beam Tests are considered the most advanced in the world in the area of granular and stabilised pavements.
54 FEBRUARY 2015
CONTRACTOR INTERNATIONAL
After years of neglect, the UK government is spending an unprecedented £15 billion on Britain’s roading infrastructure in improvements, expansions and repairs. ALAN TITCHALL explains.
ROADING LESSONS from the UK
“When 90 percent of journeys are taking place on our roads this work is vital to help people get on and get around,” says their transport ministry.”
JUST BEFORE THE END of last year the UK government announced an ambitious £15 billion plan to triple levels of spending by the end of the decade to increase the capacity and condition of Britain’s roads.
The UK is investing in more than 100 road schemes over this parliament and next, 84 of which are brand new.
Over 1300 new lane miles will be added by schemes being delivered over the next parliament on motorways and main highways, tackling congestion and fixing some of the most notorious and longstanding problem areas on the network.
“When 90 percent of journeys are taking place on our roads this work is vital to help people get on and get around,” says their transport ministry.
The ambitious, long-term roading programme is set out in that country’s first ever ‘Road investment strategy’ (www.gov.uk/government/collections/road-investment-strategy), which is designed to keep the population mobile and connected and the economy growing.
This includes £1.5 billion of investment to add an extra lane onto key motorways to turn them into what is called “smart motorways” and boosting connectivity between London, Birmingham, Manchester and Yorkshire. Smart motorways use technology to change lane patterns (like opening a hard shoulder to provide an extra lane) and speeds (computer sensors along the road system calculate the appropriate speed) to keep traffic flowing and control congestion. Speed limits are displayed along the motorway on overhead signs, and in
FEBRUARY 2015 55
caption
the event of an accident lanes are closed down. Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin
said at the time: “I am setting out the biggest, boldest and most far-reaching roads programme for decades.
“This government has a long term plan to secure the country’s future and this £15 billion roads programme is demonstration of that. Better roads allow us to travel freely, creating jobs and opportunities, benefiting hardworking families across the country.”
Spending during the next parliament on England’s roads network will be boosted further by maintenance funding worth more than £10 billion across the local and national road network, he adds.
Specifically, new projects announced include setting aside £290 million to complete the dualling of the A1 all the way from London to Ellingham, just 25 miles from the Scottish border, to “make the Great North Road truly great again”. Another £350 million will be spent on improvements to the A27 along the south coast, and investing £300 million to upgrade the east-west connection to Norfolk, by dualling sections of the A47 and improving its connections to the A1 and A11.
Chair of the Cabinet Infrastructure Committee and chief secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander says: “World class infrastructure is vital if we are to build a stronger economy, but it matters in other ways too. It invigorates communities and gives people more opportunities to get on in life. This is why I have ensured that this government has prioritised funding roads, and railways, at a high level for future generations.”
For decades UK roads have suffered from under investment, he adds.
“So I’m particularly delighted to be able to announce this expansive range of new road schemes. Investment on this scale is only
possible because we have taken the difficult decisions needed to control our public finances and stuck to our recovery plan which is now delivering strong growth and record numbers of jobs.
“These projects, like the (upgrade) scheme on the A303 (notoriously congested main road in Sth West England), will help unleash the economic potential of both the regions they serve and of the overall economy.”
Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, says: “Now that this government is fixing the economy, we can afford to invest properly in our roads – unlocking jobs for the future and local growth by creating a road network that is fit for the 21st century.”
A new highway agencyAs well as increasing capacity and transforming the busiest sections of the network, the UK government is transforming the Highways Agency into a government-owned company with funding allocated on a longer term basis, which is expected to save the country’s taxpayer at least £2.6 billion over the next decade.
The strategy also contains measures to improve the lives of communities affected by road upgrades, including £100 million to improve cycling provision at 200 key locations across the network, as well as a commitment to cycle-proof any new schemes being developed.
Another £300 million has been allocated to an environmental fund to reduce the number of people affected by serious noise by 250,000. This fund will also be used to create new charge points for electric vehicles every 20 miles across the road network, as well as enhance the landscape, protect sites of cultural or historic heritage, and reduce the impact of roads on wildlife, countryside and habitats.
It is estimated that the 84 new road projects across Britain will create over 6000 new jobs.
“Now that this government is fixing
the economy, we can afford to invest
properly in our roads – unlocking jobs for the future and local growth by creating
a road network that is fit for the 21st
century.”
56 FEBRUARY 2015
CONTRACTOR COMMENT
MALCOLM ABERNETHY, EXECUTIVE OFFICER, CIVIL CONTRACTORS NZ.
A hell of a ride
BUSINESS IS AS USUAL for 2015 albeit with many challenges and changes to manage and communicate to members of Civil Contractors NZ. But let me acknowledge Jeremy Sole – over the last five years it has been a hell of a ride and I mean that mainly in a good sense as it has been exciting, stimulating and rewarding.
This column outlines some of the work streams we are currently involved with and of course there are many more.
The review of health and safety legislation is the most comprehensive in almost 25 years and requires considerable input and work to get it right. We have recently been advised that the legislation will be passed late in the second quarter of 2015. The compliance issues associated with the new legislation will present many challenges and so we are working toward putting considerable effort in informing members of their duties.
Significant changes include the new term and role of a Person Controlling a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) to manage the health and safety risks. Construction sites will have multiple PCBUs meaning that contractors will need to work closely with all other PCBUs to manage the H&S risks.
But there is much work to be done in this area leading up to the legislation being passed by Government.
Civil Contractors NZ is working closely with WorkSafe NZ on general concepts and worker representation regulations in preparation for the new act. We are also working on, or where not actively involved, commenting on the many supporting Approved Codes of
Practice and Best Practice Guides currently being written by WorkSafe NZ. Included in this work we are actively involved with the NZ Transport Agency’s Zero Harm group developing minimum H&S requirements when working on the State Highway network.
There has already been considerable work done on Approved Codes of Practice associated with mines and quarries with considerably greater compliance requirements. One aspect that has received a great deal of effort has been around the training of managers, supervisors and operators.
And in terms of training there will be greater requirements for H&S representatives under the new legislation.
We are continuing to promote the Construction Safety Council and are currently undertaking a trial of the competency assessment tools with the assistance of NZTA. We are planning that the competency assessment process will be launched in the first half of 2015.
Procurement issues continue to be addressed with the promotion of a national prequalification system being high on the work list to reduce tendering costs for contractors and for clients. There is more detailed work being done to ensure tendering processes and evaluations are consistent, transparent, fair and impartial, fit for purpose and followed rigorously.
We continue to work actively with NZTA on the Network Outcomes Contracts as part of the industry advisory group that reviews the procurement process and its effect on the contracting industry.
The Construction Contracts Act review
stalled late in 2014 due in part to the election and then as a result of competing legislative priorities. During the election campaign the Government announced its intention to include retention provisions within the Act. These have been drafted and will be considered during the first quarter of 2015.
Changes in legislation are happening at breakneck speed with building regulations coming into force on 1 January 2015 that apply to all residential building contracts greater than $30,000. Building work includes “site work” which means work in preparation for or associated with construction of a building, including earthworks. This would include foundations and also any retaining walls that would affect how the building complies with the code (eg, if a retaining wall is providing a building platform for a house it will be within the regulations). The regulations do not apply to subcontractors to a building contract.
There are many other issues that will have some impact on the industry such as the Draft Speed Management Guide, the Driver Licensing Review, qualification and training requirements and the Standards and Accreditation Bill to name a few. We are monitoring these and working with other industry organisations to provide comment where required.
We continue to work actively with the Construction Industry Council, Construction Safety Council, Engineering Leadership Forum, Connexis stakeholders and industry groups.
The focus over the coming months is not only business as usual but will be to inform and prepare members on how to comply with the requirements of the new health and safety legislation.
If readers would like more detailed information on any of these or other topics please contact me.
Significant changes include the new term and role of a Person Controlling a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) to manage the health and safety risks.
www.glenbrook.co.nzPhone: 0800 453 627 or 09 238 6955 | 8 Nelson Street, Pukekohe | Open: Monday – Friday, 7:30am – 5pm
ALL TERRAIN MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT
© IC
ON
10
29
GLE
AVANT LOADERSAvant, a smarter way of working. A loader with unmatched versatility with over 70 attachments available to get you through any job with ease. Smart, quality Finnish design and construction. There is a large range of sizes to suit almost any application, from super compact to one that lifts 1.3 tons, and yet all models are light enough to be transported on a trailer or light truck.
AUSA FORKLIFTSIf you need a forklift that will go places ordinary forklifts can’t, then you want an AUSA rough terrain forklift or Telehandler. Built with all-wheel-drive, high ground clearance, and an up-to 5 tonne lifting capacity, these European designed and built machines will perform out in the field and inside on the balance sheet year in, year out.
Talk to us today about our friendly finance and lease to own deals, and hire rates plus a no-obligation demonstration at your place or ours.
AUSA SITE DUMPERSAUSA is the world leader in dumpers with over half a century of experience in the design and manufacture of compact equipment. An extensive range of models are available from 800kg to 10 ton capacity. Optional extras include high tip, swivel tip and self-loading. Ask for your free 1 day trial now.
HIRE OR BUY
58 FEBRUARY 2015
CONTRACTOR COMMENT
ARIE MOORE, ASSOCIATE, KENSINGTON SWAN, NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION LAW TEAM
Many documents, many possible issues
CONSTRUCTION AND CIVIL works contracts are usually made up of a number of different documents. Common additional documents included as part of the contract include the specification, drawings and plans, and tender documents.
The documents that make up the contract will be listed (usually in the Contract Agreement). If the contract includes an order of precedence clause, this will specify which documents take precedence over others in the event of a clash.
The precedence of documents is an important point to clarify. Where parties have entered into a contract that comprises a number of documents, the starting point is that these documents are construed as if they were one document. No document automatically takes precedence over another and all contract documents have to be read together regardless of any ‘ranking’. This position can cause difficulties if the documents are inconsistent or contain ambiguities.
However, that issue is not resolved simply by including an order of precedence. Many commonly-used standard form construction contracts such as NZS 3910 do not contain an order of precedence clause. NZS 3910 requires all documents to be read as mutually explanatory and confers powers on the engineer to determine ambiguities. Clause 2.7.4 in NZS 3910:2013 provides that where the Contract or any of the drawings or specifications included in the contract are considered ambiguous or unclear, the Engineer can be requested to issue explanations.
Clauses such as these provide another way of resolving disagreements over conflicting contract documents and terms (in the absence of a precedence clause) and seem to be the favoured way of dealing with conflicting contract documents in New Zealand.
No precedence clause?If there is no precedence clause provided in the contract, or other mechanism present to solve ambiguity, then the ordinary principles of contract interpretation apply. In the event of ambiguity:a. The intention of the parties in light of the document as a
whole and the surrounding circumstances will be relevant; b. Specific conditions prevail over general conditions; c. More recently drafted documents take precedence over older
documents. Case example: Fenice InvestmentsThe case of Fenice Investments Inc v Jerram Falkus Construction Limited from the United Kingdom is illustrative of the issues that an order of precedence for contract documents can cause.
In this case, the Court examined the law behind hierarchy
of construction contract documents where the contract was a standard-form contract (in that case the JCT form of contract), as amended by the parties’ bespoke changes (in the Employer’s Requirements).
Both the JCT contract, and the Employer’s Requirements contained payment provisions that conflicted. The question for the Court was how to reconcile the clauses to decide whether a payment certificate / withholding notice under the contract had been supplied in time.
The starting point for the Court was going back to first principles that where a term has been specifically drafted for a contract, that term will take precedence over a standard term.
However, despite the bespoke nature of the Employer’s Requirements, the JCT standard form contract contained an express term that stated: The Agreement and these Conditions are to be read as a whole but nothing contained in the Employer’s Requirements, the Contractor’s Proposals or the Contract Sum Analysis shall override or modify the Agreement or these Conditions.
As this clause was so specific, the effect of it meant that one of the general rules of contract interpretation was overridden, and the standard-form clause was found to trump the specifically drafted one.
Concluding the contractConstruction contracts often contain a number of contract documents and there is a significant risk these documents will conflict. It is important to make sure that all contract documents are kept together and are consistent to avoid extra confusion about different versions and revisions.
However, it is unlikely this will be possible in many projects where there are a large number of documents included in the contract. In that case it is wise to carefully consider how the contract administrator’s powers might determine any conflict between the contract documents will operate, and whether these will be sufficient in the event of conflict..
No document automatically takes precedence over another and all contract documents have to be read together regardless of any ‘ranking’. This position can cause difficulties if the documents are inconsistent or contain ambiguities.
FEBRUARY 2015 59
CONTRACTOR COMMENT
How to avoid the flu this year JANET BROTHERS, MANAGING DIRECTOR, LIFE CARE CONSULTANTS.
THE WORKPLACE CONTINUES to be an effective channel for receiving flu vaccinations and the myths about the vaccine causing someone to get the flu appear to be less, as wide ranging advertising for vaccination is having a positive effect on the number of workers protecting themselves, their families and their work colleagues from the flu.
In 2012, over one million people in this country were vaccinated and it makes good business sense for companies to provide the vaccinations at work. The return on investment (ROI) for a company is, statistically, 40 percent reduction in sick leave days and 161 percent ROI in six months.
This ROI is without taking into account the benefits to society, the savings on our health dollar and the increase in the national productivity.
Between 10 to 20 percent of the population are infected with influenza each year and the effects of the flu can have an employee off work for five to 10 days. Regardless of the size of the business, absenteeism and very often presenteeism can have a hugely disruptive effect on other team members, service delivery and ultimately the bottom line.
Due to the flu virus being very contagious and spread by droplet infection through coughing, sneezing and talking, the number of vaccinated people helps protect the ‘unvaccinated’ population, which can include other family members. By providing the vaccine opportunity at work, the benefits can be widespread.
The myth of being vaccinated and then ‘getting the flu from the vaccine’ is purely a myth as the vaccine is not a live vaccine, so it is impossible for the vaccine to infect people.
Often people refer to the common cold as the flu (often as serious as the ‘man’ flu!), however when someone gets the ‘genuine’ flu there is a very clear difference, insofar as with the flu the victim will often be sick enough to be in bed for days.
The virus strains in the Northern Hemisphere’s winter determine the vaccine make up we receive for our flu vaccination season and unusually our 2012 vaccine covers the same virus strains as did the 2010 and 2011, however people should still get vaccinated each year because the immunity offered by current vaccines lessens over time and the immunity achieved though being vaccinated is completely natural.
Because your business is more effective when all staff members are well, it is hard to beat the return on the money invested by providing flu vaccinations for staff.
UnrivalledQuality.
Call or email us today for more information or a free demonstration in your area - 0800 503 555 | omcpowerequipment.co.nz
Meet the stunning range of compaction equipment from Weber MT, now here in New Zealand.
INFLUENZA A COLD
Sudden onset of illness lasting 7-10 days Mild illness
Fever (usually high) Mild fever
Headache (may be severe) Mild headache
Cough Sometimes a cough
Muscle aches Muscle aches uncommon
Shivering A runny nose
Can suffer severe complications (eg, pneumonia)
60 FEBRUARY 2015
CONTRACTOR COMMENT
DORAN WYATT, PRINCIPAL AT GREENWOOD ROCHE CHISNALL
The engineer and performance bond
A RECENT HIGH COURT decision relating to Mainzeal’s construction of Vector Arena underscores the critical role of the engineer in construction projects and illustrates what can happen to security if an engineer’s certification arguably gets it wrong.
The long shadow of Mainzeal continues to loom large with the decision in QPAM v Great Lakes Reinsurance (UK) Plc.
In 2004, Auckland City Council contracted Quay Park Arena Management (QPAM) to develop and manage Vector Arena. In turn, QPAM entered into a design and construction contract with Mainzeal, which required Mainzeal to provide a third-party performance bond. The bond was to be released when a certificate of completion was issued. A $3.3 million bond was provided by Great Lakes Reinsurance under which it agreed to pay QPAM on demand, unconditionally and “without enquiry as to, and without having regard to, the position as between Mainzeal and the principal”.
Demands were to be accompanied by an engineer’s certificate stating that: (a) Mainzeal had defaulted, (b) that default had not been remedied, and (c) the sum demanded was reasonable.
When Mainzeal went into liquidation in 2013, a number of defects at Vector Arena remained unremedied and the certificate of completion was outstanding.
In consultation with a quantity surveyor, QPAM’s engineer estimated the cost of remedying the defects to be at least $5.3 million. QPAM gave notice of default to Mainzeal and demanded the entire amount of the bond from Great Lakes. Great Lakes refused to pay, arguing that the engineer’s certificate was “incorrect and unreasonable” and that QPAM had claimed for matters not covered by the bond.
In response, QPAM asserted that it had met the requirements for payment and the bond was payable “on-demand”. As a result, QPAM argued, it did not have to prove to Great Lakes that Mainzeal had defaulted and Great Lakes could not question whether the amounts demanded were correct or reasonable, it simply had to pay.
The starting point for the court was to consider the “special character” of performance bonds, noting that where a bond provider made an unconditional promise to pay (as Great Lakes had done) it could generally not refuse a demand or inquire into the contract between the principal and the contractor, even if
the contractor’s default was disputed. These rules underpinned the value of bonds as security and the risk allocation that the parties had agreed. The only instances where a bond provider could withhold payment, the court said, were if the party claiming payment had acted fraudulently or had contractually agreed not to call on the bond.
As the key requirement for payment of the bond was the engineer’s certificate, the parties were effectively relying on the certificate accurately reflecting the outstanding defects.
An issue for the Court, therefore, was whether it could review the engineer’s certificate. This, in turn depended on the engineer’s obligations to the parties. The Court found that by including a requirement in the bond for an engineer’s certificate, the parties had agreed to rely on the engineer’s skill and judgment and to be bound by his honest and impartial decision.
The engineer was therefore obliged to act reasonably, in good faith and within the parameters of his contractual authority. The engineer’s certificate could therefore be reviewed to ensure it met these criteria.
Importantly, the court recognised that an engineer’s certificate did not need to be perfect – errors would not necessarily invalidate a certificate, even if they related to the assessed quantum of defects. An engineer could also legitimately certify in respect of contentious items if this was a fair interpretation of the contract.
However, this did not mean that matters clearly outside the scope of a contractor’s obligations could be included as defects. In those circumstances, the Court ruled, the engineer’s certificate would be void.
As QPAM’s case was for summary judgment (rather than a full hearing), only Great Lakes’ evidence on the engineer’s certificate was before the Court, and this indicated that the certificate included items that were not Mainzeal’s responsibility. As a result, the Court found that Great Lakes had an arguable defence to QPAM’s claim, as the engineer’s certificate was arguably beyond the scope of the engineer’s contractual authority. The certificate was therefore reviewable and could be void.
The decision underscores the importance of an engineer’s role in construction contracts and the challenges engineers face in owing duties to multiple parties.
It also provides welcome guidance as to when an engineer’s certification can (and cannot) be challenged.
While on demand bonds remain the gold standard of performance security, particularly in cross-border transactions, principals must ensure that their rights to call on that security are sufficiently broad.• Doran Wyatt is a principal at Greenwood Roche Chisnall. He is a member
of the New Zealand Society of Construction Law and regularly advises on construction and large scale property projects.
The only instances where a bond provider could withhold payment, the court said, were if the party claiming payment had acted fraudulently or had contractually agreed not to call on the bond.
FEBRUARY 2015 61
CONTRACTOR COMMENT
TOMMY PARKER, NZ TRANSPORT AGENCY GROUP MANAGER, HIGHWAYS & NETWORKS OPERATIONS.
Increased funding and focus on cycling
WE HAVE AN ONGOING commitment to all modes of transport and cycle ways and cycle safety is an important focus for us. We’re establishing a core cycling team working across the Agency to support our increased commitment which will enable us to:• deliver solutions faster and more effectively through
partnerships and by streamlining planning processes and procurement practices;
• better respond to growing political and public interest in improving cycle safety, including leading implementation of recommendations in the recent New Zealand Cycling Safety Panel’s report;
• support the newly established Urban Cycleways Fund (UCF) and get the most out of investment opportunities over the next three years, including realising the untapped potential of cycling to help optimise transport networks.We all recognise that cycling is an integral part of New Zealand’s
land transport system and plays an important role in optimising the overall land transport network. It is rapidly gaining in popularity and is now the fastest-growing mode of transport in Auckland and several other cities and towns across New Zealand.
We know cycling helps make our towns and cities great places to live; we get fitter and healthier when we bike and it takes pressure off other transport routes.
Recognising the contribution cycling makes to the total transport network, the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport 2015-18 has increased the funding range for walking and cycling activities. The Government also recently announced $100 million in new funding for cycling through the UCF. This will speed up the completion of connected urban cycle networks over the next four years. Priorities for this work will be announced within the next few months.
It also builds on the significant investments already being made in cycling, including through the model communities
in Hastings and New Plymouth, the New Zealand Cycle Trail network and other roading projects, including the Roads of National Significance.
We’re developing an ‘innovative programme approach’ which will include investment infrastructure, and user behaviour initiatives in partnership with councils and the wider sector which will provide cross-sector leadership and balance the needs of cyclists with other network users through:• guidance and standards;• collaborative planning and investment;• effective delivery to maximise benefits sooner.
We can all play a key role in continuing the growth in cycling journeys. By working closely across the Transport Agency and with our sector partners, we can deliver more for cycling in New Zealand through a customer journey, one network, partnership approach that will encourage more New Zealanders to ride more often and more safely.
There are exciting times ahead in the cycling space and we’ll keep you posted over the coming months.
by
You don’t become one of the world’s top selling Forklifts without good reason.
The 1F Series has built a reputation of toughness and reliability... at a cost every business can afford.
Call us on 0508 769 375. You can’t afford not to.
ACC314CON
iWay construction Havelock Road where an innovative suspended concrete boardwalk was designed to allow an existing drainage system to remain in-situ.
62 FEBRUARY 2015
CONTRACTOR BETTER BUSINESS PRACTICE
BY ROB STUMMER, MANAGING DIRECTOR, IFS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
Is the project plan just a pretty picture on a wall?
IS PROJECT AND PROGRAMME management still a silo in your business? Is the project plan just a pretty picture on a wall that is not really driving what people do? Is it time for the project plan to be properly integrated?
Even though the pressure to deliver projects on time is intensifying, most players within the construction and contracting industry still seem reluctant to integrate the project plan with the other systems and functions in the business.
Typically project plans are developed in a tool like Microsoft Project, Primavera or Asta. However, these tools are rarely integrated with systems supporting other common business functions such as procurement, engineering, operations, sub-contract management, construction and project cost control.
By its very nature, the industry has long been heavily document-based, with few fixed offices and staff predominantly based on site. With many interwoven teams and multiple businesses working together, tracking staff availability, scheduling, timesheets and payroll is still one of the biggest overhead tasks.
When it comes to the project plan, the sub-plans for these business functions are still typically created in Excel. So, not only are they not integrated with the primary systems supporting these functions, how do we even know that these sub-plans are aligned with the pretty picture project plan?
The problem of alignment is made even harder when the scope is constantly changing through contract variations. Whenever you have multiple overlapping systems – and therefore no single source of truth – there is a risk that one system will be updated but not the others.
With the introduction of new technologies like Building Information Modelling (BIM), we are starting to see partial integrations with the project plan. Some organisations, for example, are trying to link the plan to the BIM module to implement smart 4D construction simulation solutions. But even this only covers the construction phase of the project and does not attempt to create a single source of truth. It also relies on having a very well structured BIM model and very high quality data.
According to Kenny Ingram, global industry director for IFS, this lack of integration is a global phenomenon.
“It still amazes me that over 90 percent of the companies I visit who are managing some of the largest capital projects in the world still have non-integrated project plans,” he says.
Why is there such a reluctance to integrate the plan? There are two main reasons:Inertia – the business systems used in most construction and contracting businesses are not integrated and do not support a work breakdown structure that is integrated with the other functional areas of the business. They are still operating with many non-integrated systems and lots of Excel spreadsheets and there is no expectation that things should be different.
Culture – simply put, people are still working in departmental silos and are reluctant to change as they may fear that if their data becomes visible they can be held accountable. The functional areas all want to invent their own plans because that is what they trust and that is what they can control.
On the other hand, if the plan is integrated it means everyone has to trust and work to the one plan. The benefit is the organisation is working to one common goal and the project delivery performance will improve. To achieve this, an integrated solution, which can manage the entire project lifecycle is essential to project-based businesses like those in the construction and contracting industry.
Given the size of many of the projects currently underway, the industry needs to think about introducing an integrated approach to project management to ensure that projects run within timescales and don’t go over budget.
New technologies like BIM will increasingly drive a move away from primarily document-driven processes to an integrated data-driven approach. The adoption of more sophisticated information inputs enables organisations – and potentially entire supply chains – to move away from isolated business processes, with their corresponding information silos, to processes that are integrated throughout the whole design, construction and asset management lifecycle.
Ultimately, this requires an integrated systems approach that supports accurate and timely information management across business processes including tendering, estimating, design, programme management, procurement, construction, sub contract, plant and equipment, materials management, risk, progress, cost control, quality, health and safety, asset and facilities management, document management, human resources and finance.
Beyond improvements in project delivery performance, IFS sees great potential for efficiency improvements in the design, construction and management of assets over their entire lifecycle from this more data-driven approach to process efficiencies.
The reality right now – starting with a project plan that is often disconnected from the rest of the business – is a high risk approach. Perhaps it is time for the industry to change – or at least those that want to start improving their competitiveness?
Whenever you have multiple overlapping systems – and therefore no single source of truth – there is a risk that one system will be updated but not the others.
*Some conditions apply, see our website for details100% Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed*
Order today 0800 407 [email protected]
TO VIEW OUR FULL RANGE OF ROBUR ATTACHMENTS OR FOR MORE INFO VISIT www.aceequipment.co.nz
NEW & IMPROVED!
Induction HardenedCylinder Shaft - reduces wear and impact damage
Larger Hydraulic Cylinder- for increased clamping force
Hardox Wear Strips- for superior longevity
Suitable for machines 1-40 tonnes
CLAMP BUCKET
Induction Hardened Pins- for increased durability
BIG, TOUGH24 MONTH WARRANTY
24MONTH
BIG TOUGH
24 MONTH
B
IG TOUGH
WA R RA NTY
BIG TOUGH24 MONTH WARRANTY
Greasable pins- for ease of maintenance
64 FEBRUARY 2015
International introduced the model TD-18 track type tractor in 1938, primarily aimed at the growing construction market. BY RICHARD CAMPBELL
INITIALLY KNOWN AS THE TD-65, the machine’s designation was changed to TD-18 almost as soon as it was put into production.
It was the largest track type tractor that International had manufactured up to this point and proved to be quite a success.
As was popular at the time, two different track gauges were offered – a 62 inch standard gauge, and a 74 inch wide gauge.
The majority of the machines sold were the wide gauge version as they had better side slope stability and could be fitted with a wider range of commercially available attachments.
A 6-cylinder International model D-691 diesel engine was chosen to
power the new TD-18. The four-cycle design engine produced around 88 horsepower at the flywheel (71 at the PTO).
International used quite a novel method of starting this engine, but it also turned out to be one of the machine’s major drawbacks.
Unlike Caterpillar, which at the time used a separate 2-cylinder gasoline “pony” motor to start its diesel engines, International took this concept a step further and turned the main engine into a gasoline engine for easy starting, converting to diesel when it was properly warmed up!
This was accomplished by incorporating two complete sets of valves into the cylinder head with spark
plugs and a hi/low compression control device along with a carburetor and distributor.
Unfortunately, the addition of all this extra gear in the cylinder head reduced the amount of area available to circulate coolant within the cylinder head and on grades the cylinder heads would often crack due to inadequate cooling.
It was said at the time that there were two kinds of TD-18 – those that had cracked a head and those that were about to.
(International spent quite a bit of R&D work on this issue and eventually rectified the problem in 1955 by fitting a large water header tank on top of the machine’s bonnet to ensure that a supply of water was always available to
CONTRACTOR CLASSIC MACHINES
The International-Harvester TD-18
C
L A S S I C
M
AC H I N E S
1
FEBRUARY 2015 65
1. TD-18A equipped with Bucyrus-Erie B-170 scraper prepares a railroad spur in Albany, Georgia, USA, 1951. The machine is also fitted with a Bucyrus-Erie cable frame for a bulldozer which has been removed to allow both drums of the rear mounted cable control to be used. (Author’s collection)
2. Two early model TD-18 crawlers working on a 65 mile oil pipeline job near Fort Lewis, Washington, USA. Both machines are fitted with factory installed radiator guards and Carco towing winches. (Author’s collection)
3. This very early model International TD-18 is cutting an access road to the Hungry Horse reservoir, high in the hills of Montana, USA. It is fitted with an Isaacson bulldozer and radiator guard plus a rudimentary brush canopy. The United States Forest Service owned a large number of TD-18s which did sterling service for it. (Author’s collection)
4. TD-18 with Bucyrus-Erie cable bull-dozer levels an earth stockpile, location unknown. This particular type of Bucyrus bulldozer was loosely based on an earlier LeTourneau design. Having only 2-part cable reeving, it was exceptionally fast and not ideally suited to fine grading. (Internet)
The International-Harvester TD-18
2
3
4
66 FEBRUARY 2015
CONTRACTOR CLASSIC MACHINES
5
the engine, even on slopes.)First generation TD-18s had a 6-speed manual transmission,
5-roller track frames with two carrier rollers per side. They weighed approximately 11 tons bare.
The TD-18 was manufactured continuously from 1938 onwards and supplied in some numbers to the US armed forces during WWII, seeing widespread service, especially in France and the Pacific.
International introduced the upgraded TD-18A model in 1949.
Changes were restricted to a redesigned cylinder head (to try and cure the overheating problems), a 10” increase in track frame length and a raise in engine output from 88 to 107 flywheel horsepower.
Tare weight of the machine also rose to 13 tons.This particular model was produced from 1949 through to
1955 virtually unchanged.
The last of the TD-18sDuring 1955, International-Harvester produced what was to become the last of the TD-18 series, the TD-18 models 181 and 182.
Manufactured for a scant 16 months, the TD-18 181 series
featured a raft of improvements, not the least of which was the new water header tank mentioned earlier. The engine was again uprated, this time to 124 flywheel horsepower, and the air cleaner was relocated from in front of the operator to a position on the left hand side of the engine.
Revisions were also made to the instrumentation and operator’s seat, and the track frame was strengthened.
The TD-18 181 was discontinued in 1956 and replaced by the TD-18 model 182 which had a further engine boost to 128 horsepower and now tipped the scales at 14 tons.
This was to be the last version of the TD-18 manufactured, the type being replaced by the all-new TD-20 in 1958.
During a 20-year continuous production run, approximately 38,000 TD-18s of all types were manufactured by International-Harvester.
In general terms, the International TD-18 was a contemporary of the Allis-Chalmers HD-10 and HD-11 and Caterpillar D7.
AttachmentsAs International-Harvester did not manufacture any of its own attachments until the late-1950s, supply of attachments to suit customer requirements was handled by a range of other manufacturers, many of whom had contracts with Inter-
5. Pushloading a Wooldridge TC-S14 motor scraper, this International TD-18A belongs to contractor CL Rhodes and is working on the Fulton County Airport in Georgia, USA, 1952. The machine is equipped with a Bucyrus-Erie angledozer and cable control. Note how the bulldozer trunnion mounts directly onto the machine’s final drive housing. (Author’s collection)
6. This tired old girl was spot-ted in the Hawkes Bay by sharp-eyed reader Victor Bourke. Still fitted with its Bucyrus-Erie angledozer (which could really use some cutting edges), the ma-chine has an Isaacson cable control on the rear. Front equaliser springs have just about breathed their last as the machine is sitting well down in the nose. Tandem exhaust pipes were a spot-ting feature of both TD-18s and TD-24s. (V Bourke) 6
FEBRUARY 2015 67
B R I E F S P EC I F I CAT I O N S
International TD-18A (1949)
Engine: International-Harvester D-691, 6-cylinder inline,
naturally aspirated diesel rated at 107 flywheel
horsepower @ 1800 rpm
Transmission: International-Harvester direct drive 6-speed
manual
Clutch: 16” single plate ceramic faced clutch
Steering: Multiple disc clutches
Brakes: Contracting band type
Track gauge: 74” (wide) gauge
Shoes: 18: single grouser (standard)
Operating weight: Approx. 13 tons bare
national for just this purpose.The major players in attachment supply for International
were Bucyrus-Erie, Carco, Drott, Heil, Superior and Isaacson.Bucyrus-Erie manufactured a wide range of bulldozers,
angledozers, rakes and towed hydraulic and cable scrapers for use on the TD-18 and was International-Harvester’s No 1 supplier of attachments.
Carco built logging winches to suit all sizes of track type tractor and also towed logging arches. Carco winches were by far the most common winch to see on the back of a TD-18. Up until the early 1950s Carco also built bulldozer blades but it is rare to see an International-Harvester TD-18 tractor with one of these attached.
Drott was a specialist manufacturer of front end loaders and buckets. International was its major customer. International would ship its bare tractors to Drott which would fabricate a loader frame, arms and hydraulics to suit.
So great was their popularity that for a time in the 1950s, any track type front end loader would be referred to as a Drott.
Heil was another major supplier to International, so much so that International bought it out in 1953. Heil manufactured cable controls, blades and a wide variety of towed cable scrapers.
Superior manufactured tractor-mounted cranes and cable controls, but its greatest seller by far was side boom attachments, now known as pipelayers.
As with Drott, International would send its new tractors to Superior which would fit all the necessary equipment to the machine and turn it into a pipelayer.
These were major conversions and were not undertaken in the field. Superior and Trackson dominated this particular market for decades until Trackson was absorbed by Caterpillar.
Isaacson specialised in cable controls, bulldozer blades and towed cable scrapers. It is quite common to see its cable control units on the rear of International-Harvester (and other manufacturers’) track type tractors of the 1950s. Not so common are its bulldozer blades and scrapers. Isaacson went through a few ownership changes during the 1950s, firstly to Pullman Standard and then to the Young Corporation. This basically sealed its fate and by 1960 it had practically vanished.
The New Zealand connectionAlthough exact figures are not available, a great many International TD-18s were imported into New Zealand and saw service nationwide in all manner of jobs, including agriculture.
In fact the very first track type tractor your author operated was a TD-18 pulling a sheepsfoot roller.
The vast majority of these have now gone to the big jobsite in the sky but preserved examples still exist throughout the country.
For the Model CollectorEMD Models makes several versions of the International-Harvester TD-18 to 1:50 scale. This model is a bit of a collector’s piece and as such, is quite expensive at over US$230 each (+ postage). It is available with both cable and hydraulic blades and also as a bare tractor with or without cab.
As it is the only model so far issued of the TD-18, it is just as well that it is of reasonable quality.
The model can be obtained through Buffalo Road Imports in New York, USA, or DHS Diecast in Brea, Ohio, USA.
7. Still putting in a hard day’s work clearing the skid, this TD-18 142 series is fitted with a Drott loader package and GP bucket. Home made canopy and sweeps, plus some extra grouser bar welded onto the track shoes complete the package. Seemingly very hard to kill, there are far fewer TD-18 loaders left in working order than bulldozers. (Internet)
8. This TD-18A is preserved in the USA and is exhibited at open days featuring older equipment. Painted in a non-standard Allis-Chalmers orange, the machine is fitted with a Bucyrus-Erie hydraulic ‘Bullgrader’ and, unusually, a GarWood model 240 double drum cable control on the rear. (Internet)
7
8
68 FEBRUARY 2015
BY PETER GILL
CONTRACTOR MOTORING
Something big happened in New Zealand automotive history in 2014. The ubiquitous Toyota Hi Lux ute ceased to be the top selling light truck in New Zealand. The Hi Lux had held the honour of being the top selling new ute in New Zealand every year for 32 years solid. For the sales year of 2014, the Ford Ranger overtook the Toyota. There is no doubt that the new Ford Ranger is one very sexy truck with a huge amount of eye appeal and excellent build quality. I always remember the legendary Barry Crump demonstrating one of the early Hi Luxes to me. Toyota had gone for the affectation of including an altimeter in the trucks that year. Said Crumpie to me: “I don’t need a bloody clock to tell me when I’m high.”
BODY STRIPES EXTRASome folk who’ve put down a deposit on a Ferrari 458 “Speciale” claim that the Italian super car company has urged them to add expensive options to the car after the deposit had been paid.They include things such as special body stripes at NZ$14,000, or a package that includes a carbon fibre engine cover and special sill covers for $30,000 extra. Buyers are also saying they get the impression that a deposit (often US$40,000) does not secure a delivery date. Ferrari hasn’t made a statement about the claims. I haven’t asked the Italians about the matter directly but if I did, I would expect a classic Italian shrug of the shoulders and upturned hands thrown in the air.
OH BUGGER!
FEBRUARY 2015 69
When looks do countThe fact that the USA is a very confused nation is not a new thing. Take a look at the picture I recently unearthed of a late 1930s Graham. The company emerged in 1927 and offered the American market a line of six and eight cylinder cars, some of them supercharged, and all of them criminally ugly. Few of their models could be classed as a commercial success and most of them were downright offensive to look at. The brand died out in 1940. The only ones that were surprised by this were the owners and directors of the company. If I’d been around when these cars were, I’d be reaching for my pistol.
Brotherly adviceJust before Christmas my sister phoned and asked for my opinion on something. This is a very rare thing, because usually when she phones it’s to give me HER opinion. On absolutely everything. Twice. She was in the throes of buying a new car. She had her eye on a Toyota Corolla and a Mazda3. Which did I think she should buy? I strongly advised the Mazda3. It is eye-searingly stylish and for a car priced from $32,795 it has a large suite of safety features not seen on other cars in this price range. They include blind-spot monitoring, which alerts you to the car behind and beside you that you can’t see in the mirror. Choose the top shelf version at $47,495 and you get a feature that applies the brakes if you get too close to a vehicle ahead. The Mazda3 comes as a sedan or hatch and with 2 litre or 2.5 litre engines. In the ensuing weeks since my sister took my advice, I grew to look amazingly wise in the eyes of my sister. The Mazda3 went on to win almost every Car Of The Year award in New Zealand. My sister thinks I’m wonderful. Toyota doesn’t.
Mini crosswordsIt’s not that I’m prurient or anything. But all three readers of this column that have followed it since its inception in the 1990s, will probably recall my references to “doing it” in a Mini. In my student days several colleagues claim to have achieved it, but the unlucky girlfriend of one of them sustained burns to the buttocks when the back seat collapsed onto the rear mounted battery. Well, no such problem exists in the latest Mini model to be released, It’s the five door Cooper hatch with bucket loads of room and the battery under the bonnet. It’s just arrived in New Zealand. There are two versions: a 1.5 litre three cylinder powered model and a 2 litre four cylinder. Prices are $37,200 and $45,200. To prove I am not prurient, when I refer to “doing it” in a Mini, I am of course meaning the crossword.
70 FEBRUARY 2015
CONTRACTOR INNOVATIONS
CONTRACTORS’ DIARY
Date Event Venue Contact18-19 Feb Freshwater Management Mac’s Function Centre, Wellington www.conferenz.co.nz/freshwater/ and Infrastructure Forum
28-30 Jun 16 Hillhead Quarry Exhibition Lafarge Tarmac’s, Hillhead Quarry, England www.hillhead.com
9-10 Mar Road Lighting Conference Langham Hotel, Auckland www.roadlightingconference.com25-26 Road Infrastructure Rendezvous Grand Hotel, Auckland www.ipwea.org/newZealand/educationevents/ Management Forum
Date NEOC Regionals Venue Contact Phone Email22 Feb 15 Manawatu/Wanganui Esplanade Day TBC12-14 Mar 15 National Finals Central District Field Days Malcolm Abernethy 027-2492513 [email protected] Please send any contributions for Contractor Diary to [email protected], or phone 09 636 5710
Kiwi-made guardrailThe X-350 re-directive guardrail terminal
end from CSP Pacific is made in New
Zealand, making it the only home grown
fully crash tested terminal on the market.
The X-350 has been crash tested and
passed the criteria for NCHRP350 TL-3.
It is accepted for use by the Transport
Agency as well other worldwide road
controlling authorities including Australia,
United States, Canada, United Kingdom
and Central and South America.
With the length of need starting at post 1, instead of post 3 (as in other terminals) the X-350
provides a greater length of protective barrier reducing the cost of installation. During end on
impacts, the X-350 absorbs energy at the impact head rather than transferring the resistance
down the rail. Impact testing conducted at a 15° angle, showed the vehicle was re-directed and
controlled instead of passing to the backside of the terminal.
The X-350 can be used in Median, Tangent or Flared (up to 1200mm) installations. It can be
installed at two heights, 550mm to the centre of the rail at the end of the traditional public
domain timber post barrier system and 635mm to the centre of rail for the higher height of CSP
Pacific’s Nu-Guard® 31. Lastly when the site location means that a driven post cannot be used
the X-350 is available as a bolt down version making the system the most versatile
on the market.
More information: www.csppacific.co.nz, ph 0800 655 200.
Easier stump grindingRecently released by New Zealand distributor AB
Equipment, the Vermeer SC30TX is the latest model
in the range of quality Vermeer Stump Grinders.
With a focus on safety and ease-of-operation,
the compact design of the Vermeer SC30TX Stump
Grinder offers intuitive controls, minimal service
points and the performance of a machine that gets
the job done.
Designed for efficiency the hydraulic direct drive
and yellow jacket cutting tooth system eliminates
belts and bearings reducing maintenance time
and cost.
Further information call 0800 303090.
Atlas Copco generatorsAtlas Copco Construction
Equipment New Zealand has
appointed Clark Equipment New
Zealand (CENZ) as the distributor
of the Atlas Copco portable
generator range.
“We are ecstatic to take on the
Atlas Copco Generator portfolio.
It provides a real cutting edge
across CENZ to provide a complete
power solution in all sectors
of the construction, mining &
infrastructure markets,” says
CENZ general manager, Clint
Radovancich.
“This development further
enhances the relationship CENZ
has with Atlas Copco & most
importantly, the end customer is
provided with products that add
significant value to their business.”
FEBRUARY 2015 71
Hammer timeGoughs has a great finance deal available on the entire
range of D & E Series Cat Hammers, models from H35 to
H180 from $9.50 per day. Cat hammers bring together
performance, quality, servicability expectations, and
manufacturing experience that Caterpillar is renowned
for, says the company.
“These work tools are designed for optimum
performance and integration with Cat excavators,
backhoe & skid steer loaders, and also on non-Cat
machines.”
Phone 0800 933939New Takeuchi modelThe new Takeuchi TB280FR excavator is said to have more power, greater
dig depth and reach as well as higher tractive forces than the model it
supersedes.
The new Tier IV final specification of the Yanmar 4TNV98CT diesel
engine provides 51.6.kW Gross power for potentially a 10 percent
productivity improvement.
The auxiliary output flow has not only been substantially increased,
but is selectable between 148 l/m and 58 l/m, providing a better match for
certain types of accessory tools. A factory fitted twin pump flow (Hyflow)
is now standard – a feature that will appeal to drilling contractors who
appreciate the excavator’s capability to drill very close to its track
frames.
TB280FR has a standard operating mass of 8653 kg, putting the
excavator in the CCF 7.5 class (7.5 to 10 tonnes), however the machine’s
operating mass when rigged with a hydraulic hitch and GP bucket will be
closer to nine tonnes.
A major advance is a cabin that features integral ROPS & FOPS level II
protection, with the addition of a retractable sun shade.
Roadside and site protectionThe Ironman Hybrid steel and concrete safety barrier
system is said to be the first fully crash-tested and
approved, non-anchored temporary barrier system available
in Australasia.
Ironman Hybrid is a concrete and ballasted steel barrier
system that requires no anchoring. Simple to deploy with
individual sections that easily connect together, two men
can unload a truck using a forklift, front-end loader or crane
to deploy a full load in less than 45 minutes. With up to one
hundred metres of barrier easily transported to site on
the back of a semi trailer, the logistics cost for operators
and hire companies is greatly reduced as the number of
trucks required is one third that of the number required for
concrete style barriers.
Videos of the impact testing can be viewed on the
Saferoads YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/channel/
UCMJA1l6zuUm_F01ZazM7Frg
Wearable technology Leading the growing trend for fusing fashion and high tech, Scania has a
smart wristwatch, developed with Sony Mobile, that communicates with
trucks.
The Scania Watch is a simple way of collecting information on variables
including fuel consumption, driving efficiency and average speed.
It can also be used to receive emails, text messages and phone call
notifications.
Mattias Lundholm, head of Scania Connected Services and Solutions,
says the use of wearables is still in its early stages and market
awareness is low. “However, we see exciting opportunities for connecting
a wristwatch to the essential information obtainable from a truck’s
technical systems, as well as to data from our system for real-time
monitoring and analyses of truck fleets.”
Scania’s project manager Jonas Svanholm adds: “We wanted to develop
technology that allowed the Scania Watch to truly serve as a friend of the
driver. Existing fleet management apps have primarily targeted transport
companies and fleet operators. ”
For more information: www.scania.com/watch.
Very quiet compressorThe Mobilair 43 portable compressor from Kaeser is said
to be even quieter now that it incorporates a double-
walled polyethylene sound enclosure and robust,
durable canopy.
Minimal sound levels of only 69 dB(A) (surface sound
pressure level measured in accordance with ISO 3744)
makes the Mobilair 43 one of the quietest portable
compressors in its class.
Powered by a four cylinder water-cooled Kubota turbo
diesel engine, the Mobilair 43 provides an impressive free
air delivery of 4.2m³/min at 7 bar.
Incorporating Kaeser’s direct drive system eliminates
the transmission losses associated with gear driven
units. As a result more air is produced for less fuel. This
also extends the service life of both the motor and the
air end.
With an operational weight of less than 750 kg, the
unit is also compact and easily manoeuvrable.
A lightweight 20-metre hose reel is available as an
optional extra. This accessory enables the compressed
air line to be neatly stowed away and eliminates the
possibility of it becoming a tripping hazard.
Available though a dedicated network of distributors
and www.kaeser.co.nz.
72 FEBRUARY 2015
CONTRACTOR CIVIL CONTRACTORS NEW ZEALAND
WorkSafe New has released an update on the Health and Safety Reform
Bill. These updates give an overview of the key parts of the Bill as
introduced to Parliament and explain some of the Bill’s key concepts to
ensure duty holders are aware of their responsibilities under the new
law. The Bill is part of the Working Safer reform package announced
by the Government in 2013 and it is expected to come into force in the
second half of 2015.
www.business.govt.nz/worksafe/about/reform/reform-bill-update
HSNO Act amendments – Environmental Protection Authority (EPA)The HSNO Act is being amended to improve its workability and make it
easier for people to know what their obligations are with hazardous
substances. Part of this reform is the development of EPA Notices.
These documents will allow us to simplify the key requirements set
under the HSNO Act. They’ll also allow us to consolidate and update
requirements that are currently spread across regulations, transfer
notices, individual approvals and group standards. Notices will be
approved by the EPA Board rather than going through Cabinet as
required for regulation changes. This will allow the notices to be
updated more easily than regulations and to be kept up to date with
international developments.
A brief summary of the key proposed changes can be obtained from
Alan Stevens.
EPA’s first two consultation documents on proposals for five notices
are ready for feedback:
• Hazard classification system, labelling, safety data sheets and
packaging – submissions to be received by 5pm on 20 February 2015.
• Enforcement officer qualifications – submissions to be received by
5pm on 9 February 2015.
These documents are available on the EPA website at http://www.
epa.govt.nz/consultations/hazardous-substances/Pages/notices-
consultation-documents.aspx
For additional information or to provide input for our submission
please contact Alan Stevens, [email protected],
027 288 8385.
New Building (Residential Consumer Rights and Remedies) RegulationsYou may think this does not apply to Civil Contractors ‘but’ where you
are doing site works, building platform construction, piling, foundations,
retaining walls, swimming pools and the like you will need to comply
with new regulations when the value of the contract is $30,000
(GST inclusive) or more. General driveways at ground level are
probably outside the scope of the regulations, but if in any doubt
seek advice.
The Building (Residential Consumer Rights and Remedies) Regulations 2014 came into force on January 1, 2015. They require
all residential building contracts where the price is $30,000 (GST
inclusive) to be in writing. There is very little time to act. If you
need advice as to what you need to do in order to comply with the
regulations, or whether your current contract complies, please
contact Malcolm Abernethy [email protected], 027
249 2513. We can refer you to legal advice if required.
Attracting women to trades jobsGrowing your trades workforce: how to attract women to your jobs
is a short, practical tool from the Ministry for Women for trades
employers and those working with trades employers on how to
attract more women to trades jobs.
The handbook: States the case for employing women in trades
– including getting a competitive edge, and growing your business;
has many examples of employers and tradeswomen talking about
their jobs; provides practical messages on how to get women onto
your team.
Copies of the handbook are available for download at
http://mwa.govt.nz/sites/public_files/2070-MWA_employers%20
handbook%20web.pdf, or contact CCNZ for hard copies.
National Excavator Operator CompetitionThe 2015 final of the National Excavator Opertator Competition will
be at Central District Field days held at Manfeild, Feilding on 13 and
14 March.
Regional winners are
Defending Champion Brian Hoffmann
Waikato Elijah Graham (Graham Contractors)
Bay of Plenty James Lux (Fulton Hogan)
Hawkes Bay Brent Taylor (Gair Contracting)
Auckland B J Matthews (Brian Hoffman Ltd)
Canterbury Andy Collier (Connell Contractors)
Northland Michael Smith (Wharehine Contractors)
Otago is competing on January 24, and Manawatu is February 22.
Health and Safety Reform Bill update
ADVERTISERS INDEX
ACC 31
ACE Equipment 63
Advancequip 11
CablePrice OBC
Civil Contractors NZ 7
Counties Ready Mix 55
CSP Pacific 14
DitchWitch NZ 43
Forklift Solutions 61
Glenbrook Machinery 57
Gough Group 13, 21, 27
Hirepool 35
Hiway Stabilizers 39
Hynds Pipe Systems 45
Geofabrics NZ IBC
OMC Power Equipment 59
Porters Group OFC, IFC, 1, 14, 15
Prime Pump 23
Rocktec 15
Ryco Hydraulics 53
Slopemowing 52
Synergy Positioning 5
Taylor Built 42
Total Oil 3
Transdiesel 9
Wirtgen 49
Youngman Richardson 8
0800 60 60 20 [email protected] www.geofabrics.co.nz
Geofabrics NZ Limited formally Maccaferri NZ Limited
QUALITY - SUPPORT - EXPERTISE
Maccaferri NZ Ltd, founded in 1988 is New Zealand’s leading supplier of innovative geosynthetic and wire mesh solutions to the civil and infrastructure construction industry. Geofabrics Australasia Pty Ltd has increased its shareholding in Maccaferri NZ Ltd from 85% to 100% effective 1 February 2015.
Our name change to Geofabrics New Zealand Ltd underlines the strength of the GeofabricsGroup as the leading regional manufacturer and provider of geosynthetic solutions to the civil, infrastructure, mining and water and waste construction industries.
Our people, products, contacts and high level support services remain unchanged and we look forward to continuing to work with you on your current and future projects.
1.7%* [email protected]
0800 346 275
FINANCE FROM A LOW
0800 555 456 [email protected]
www.cableprice.co.nz
3009
14_H
itach
i_M
ini_
Fina
nce
With rates starting from a low 1.7%* the time has never been better to add one of our selected Hitachi excavators or wheel loaders to your fleet.
For more information, including specifications and options visitwww.cableprice.co.nz or contact your local CablePrice equipment sales specialist on 0800 555 456.
Match your nance rate with the model you’re buying!
EXCAVATORS RATE* TERM
ZX17U-2 1.7% 17 monthsZX33U-5 3.3% 36 monthsZX38U-5 3.8% 36 monthsZX48U-5 4.8% 36 monthsZX55U-5 5.5% 36 monthsZX65USB-5 6.5% 36 monthsZX75US-5 6.5% 36 months
WHEEL LOADERS RATE* TERM
ZW40 4.0% 36 monthsZW80 5.0% 36 monthsZW100 6.5% 36 monthsZW140 7.0% 48 monthsZW180 7.0% 48 months
(17U - Includes trailer package deal)
Offer available on selected new Hitachi excavators (up to 7.5 tonnes) and Hitachi wheel loaders (up to 14.2 tonnes).Deposit from 25%.Offer valid until 23 December 2014 or while current stocks last.*terms and conditions apply. Visit www.cableprice.co.nz for terms and conditions.
CONFIDENCE BUILT-IN, DOWNTIME TOSSED OUT