Outside contractors soon to be needed in Christchurch

3 August 2012

Outside contractors soon to be needed in Christchurch

Civil construction workers from outside the Canterbury region will soon be needed as the Christchurch rebuild activity ramps up, the New Zealand Contractors’ Federation annual conference has been told.

Ian Campbell, delivery manager for the Stronger Canterbury Infrastructure Rebuild Team (SCIRT), told delegates at the conference that work to the value of $962m is in progress, with 118 projects currently being designed, 75 being constructed and 182 being handed to asset owners.

“We are only halfway through the ramp up,” he said. “We are still soaking up local resources but very soon we are going to need help from outside Christchurch.

“Now we know what is required in the central city, we can plan for it.”

SCIRT is responsible for rebuilding horizontal infrastructure including work relating to roads, freshwater, wastewater and stormwater provision.

Federation chief executive Jeremy Sole said: “The SCIRT team has been very effective in its rebuild activities and has achieved a massive amount in a relatively short period of time.

“Many people won’t be aware of the magnitude of work as it is all underground – the only time many people notice underground infrastructure is when it is damaged and not delivering services and when it is restored. The SCIRT management and delivery teams should be very proud of what they have accomplished to date.”

There are 370 people attending the 68th annual New Zealand Contractors’ Federation conference at the Marlborough Convention Centre. The conference ends tomorrow.

ENDS

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