21 September 2018

An awards ceremony this week has recognised contracting earthworks companies, their staff and sub-contractors who have gone above and beyond best practice when it comes to protecting the environment and controlling discharges into our waterways.

The 9th annual event was held by Waikato Regional Council at its Hamilton East offices on Wednesday (19 September) to acknowledge the industry’s top performers.

Council chair Alan Livingston praised the earthworks industry for their commitment to the environment.

“They’re leading the industry in the implementation of best practice in erosion and sediment controls to stop sediment from polluting our waterways during construction and in the months and years after, and going beyond to enhance the existing environment,” he said.

The nominees were judged on the complexity of the project, the success in achieving and exceeding best practice in erosion and sediment control and the positive environmental outcomes.

“It is encouraging to see the successful result, despite being a very challenging year for all contractors who had to endure quite a wet end to the 2017/18 construction season,” Cr Livingston said.

“The scale of projects being undertaken across our region reflects the pace of development that the region is experiencing,” he added.

This is particularly true over the past few years and includes small scale permitted activities to large scale subdivision developments and roading projects such as the Hamilton, Huntly and Longswamp Sections of the Waikato Expressway.

The awards are part of the council’s compliance strategy for the region and its commitment to continue building good relationships with the industry and positively rewarding sites that do well.

The compliance strategy also includes regular newsletters and education programmes, such as the Erosion and Sediment Control workshops which saw more than 120 participants from the industry this year.

PHOTO (L-R): Tony Adams (Fulton Hogan/HEB Construction Joint Venture – Huntly Section of Waikato Expressway); Gordon Inglis (Fulton Hogan); Dean Breedt (Higgins); Gareth Read (City Edge Alliance – Hamilton Section of Waikato Expressway); Stephanie Kirk (City Edge Alliance); Robert Potter (Downer – Longswamp section of Waikato Expressway); Alan Livingston (Waikato Regional Council chair).

The winners were:

Small sites – Joint Winners

• Puketerini Weir Replacement – Fulton Hogan

Construction of a weir to prevent access to pest fish to the upper catchment using a temporary stream diversion, with the management of construction material and native fish access at the forefront.

• Waiwawa River Bridge Remediation – Higgins

Remediation of supporting structures below and above the water line using robust controls to work offline and to contain construction material.

Medium Sites – Winner

• Downer – Waikato Expressway (Longswamp)

Consistent and excellent management of medium scale earthworks with great project-related environmental procedures and processes.

Winner – Environmental Outcomes

• Huntly Section of the Waikato Expressway

• Evans Road Wetland

• Fulton Hogan HEB Construction Joint Venture

For the construction of a wetland following consultation with stakeholders to enhance the area by providing better habitat and construction that allows for the removal of pest fish.

Innovation – Winner

• Hamilton Section of the Waikato Expressway

• Reinforced Earth (Re) Wall

• City Edge Alliance

A very difficult construction project with limited space for erosion and sediment controls, made possible by different earthworks and sediment control methods by a team that had the ability to find solutions.

Highly Commended – Large Sites

• Fulton Hogan/HEB Construction Joint Venture – Waikato Expressway (Huntly)

For consistently achieving a high level of compliance by exceptionally managing large scale earthworks in difficult terrain and challenging conditions.

Winner – Large Sites

• City Edge Alliance - Waikato Expressway (Hamilton)

For consistently achieving outstanding results and exceeding best practice with the management of a large site in some trying conditions.

ends

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