FEB MAR 2014

PROJECTS MAGAZINEFEBRUARY/MARCH 2014



PUBLISHER: PROJECT PUBLISHERS Rainforest ConstructionTEL: +27 11 346 5053 In 1882, tin miners in Herberton problems plagued the first leg ofEMAIL: [email protected] were on the verge of starvation. The construction from the beginning. TheWEBSITE: only road leading to supplies and climate and terrain made lifewww.projectpublishers.co.za escape was washed out by flooding. miserable and many of the men fell Desperate and angry, the miners ill. There seems to have been a62, 2ND AVENUE, HOUGHTON, demanded a railway to the coast. general lack of supervision, andJOHANNESBURG. more than a fair share of bad luck.P.O. BOX 92744, It would take a remarkable display of After just seven months of work, theNORWOOD 2117 fortitude and skill – and nearly a original contractor, P.C. Smith, threwJOHANNESBURG, decade – before the ambitious in the towel. McBride and Co.SOUTH AFRICA. project was completed. Railway jumped in, but by January 1887, they workers had to remove 2.3 million too had given up, leaving theDESIGN AND LAY OUT OF THE cubic metres of earthworks and lay Queensland Government toMAGAZINE 75km of track through dense jungle. complete section one. Dizzying cliffs plummeted 327IN - HOUSE metres; slopes were as steep as 45 John Robb won the contract to build degrees. Fifteen tunnels, 93 curves, section two with a tender of and dozens of bridges had to be built $580,188, and his crew began work across harrowing ravines and on 21st January 1887. This leg of the dangerous waterfalls. And, it was all project cut through 37.4km of accomplished using little more than extremely steep grades and thick bare hands and sheer willpower. foliage. The ground was littered with rotting vegetation, mould, and rock. Construction began in May 1886 Huge escarpments had to be torn and was broken down into multiple down and every loose rock and sections. Section one, which overhanging tree had to be pulled stretched 13.2km from Cairns to just away – by hand. The men used little beyond Redlynch, was easier to more than dynamite, buckets, picks build than section two. Even so, and shovels.PROJECT PUBLISHERS publishesprojects Magazine and several specialStand Alone Publications in differentsector industries , mainlyin South Africa. We aim at highstandards of quality of the serviceswe offer advertisers as well asreaders. The Publisher does notaccept any responsibility for theaccuracy or authenticity ofthe contributions contained in theMagazine and advertisements. Viewsexpressed by the contributors are notnecessarily those of the Publishers© All rights reserved 1

7 Advantages of Using Mini Diggers When a lot of digging needs to be done, nothing is mini excavators allows you to move across narrow more perfect than a mini excavator. These mini spaces while causing minimal damage making it a excavators which are fondly referred to as mini diggers great tool especially when you are sure that you would are truly versatile and having this equipment around need to navigate into smaller spaces. will allow you to do a lot of construction work. There is a large demand for these smaller versions of excavators These smaller excavators can be transported in urban areas where there is a need for lighter easily. One of the biggest issues that you will equipment due to tight quarters. These mini diggers encounter when you are dealing with big machines is can also have multiple attachments and they come in that it would be difficult to transport them into other various bucket sizes which allow it to do a wide array of places. Hence, it is more convenient to use small functions. machines because it can fit easily in trailers which are pulled behind pickup trucks. Some of these smaller You can feel at home even if you are used to huge machines can even fit into extended pickup beds. excavators. One of the best things about mini excavators is that anyone can use the equipment. You Dumping height is not a limiting factor for mini can learn operating this mini excavator almost diggers. Since it is equipped with the ability to swing immediately. In just a matter of minutes, anybody can into a 360 degree angle, the machine is convenient get used to using this equipment. especially when you are trying to find the best location for other heavy equipment such as a dump truck. The A mini excavator can get into tight place. One of the excavator can simply spin into another direction to primary reasons why many contractors and builders place the load where you want it to be. prefer mini diggers compared to the full-sized ones is the fact that these machines can easily get into small Smaller machines can help you save on permits. spaces. Whether you need to do a bit of digging inside Mini excavators are really light and using them can your yard, you will have no problem in making the help you avoid spending more money on commercial machine fit into a yard gate. driver’s licenses and special permits for hauling the equipment on the highway. By avoiding these Mini diggers cause less noise. One of the best things expenses, you can save money. about small excavators is that you can use them without worrying that they are creating so much noise. These days, smaller machines don’t necessarily When used to cross over hard surfaces and cement, mean lower power because they have the same smaller machines produce less noise compared to power as their full–sized counterparts. With all of the bigger machines. advantages associated to the use of these mini excavators, you will no longer need to use bigger The rubber tracks cause less damage. It is machines. You will also be able to enjoy all the benefits undeniable that big machines have a tendency to grind of these machines while getting the job done in no or to scrape the surface just like steel. Another vital time. Although they are best used on small and tight reason why the rubber tracks for smaller machines are spaces, these machines can still hold their own in a better is the fact that you can avoid slips while loading bigger construction site. the machine for transport. Finally, the light footprint of2







South African Green Leader appointedChair of World Green Building Council Bruce Kerswill, Kerswill, who has been involved with the World GBC Kerswill has had a long career in the commercialExecutive Chairman of Exco since 2009, is passionate about green building property industry. A Town and Regional Planner and and, having recognised that the lack of knowledge MBA by training, he moved into property development the Green Building about green building in South Africa was limiting our and housing, and then into property asset Council South Africa efforts in terms of global warming and international management and corporate strategy. With partner best practice, championed the initiative to set up the Rodney Squire-Howe, he co-founded Spire Property (GBCSA) and the Green Building Council of SouthAfrica (GBCSA). Group and assembled the Paramount Property Fund, pioneer who led the listing it on the Joburg Stock Exchange in 2001. Mostcharge in the formation Since then the GBCSA has become recognized as the recently he played an integral role in the formation and of the local Council, ‘lead’ organisation in green building in South Africa, listing of the Tower Property Fund, the first fund to list has been elected as and is now one of the most active councils globally. on the JSE under the REIT structure. He is currently the Chairman of the Kerswill’s involvement with the World GBC also affords Managing Director of Spire Property Group, which World Green Building the GBCSA continued and improved access to provides property management services to private Council (World GBC). international resources, information, insight and skills. and corporate clients. The World GBC aims to facilitate the global “I look forward to my role as Chairman of the World transformation of the building industry towards GBC: there is a real magic to over 100 countries all sustainability, and currently has 100 Green Building working in synch to address some of global society’s Councils from other countries as members. Buildings greatest problems. WGBC has over 28 000 globally consume about 40% of the world’s energy, companies, including some of the world’s largest, who and green buildings typically reduce consumption by are members of its constituent GBC’s. I believe it is 50 to 70%, so have a massive impact in reducing one of the most effective organisations in addressing greenhouse gases. The WGBC assists new GBC’s climate change, effecting change on the ground and in and promotes interaction in its network, as well as people’s behavior – and all done in a great spirit of providing leadership on common global issues. camaraderie” concludes Kerswill. During his involvement with the WGBC, Kerswill has championed the cause for social and environmental impacts to be included in the concept of green building for developing countries, and has played an integral role in facilitating the formation of the Africa Regional Network of Green Building Councils.6



SAXENI -FOSKER FEATURE We utilize mostly our own Established in 2008, SAXENI is a South African WHAT WE OFFER YOU equipment on projects of owned and operated company, based in Sundra, which a couple are listed Mpumalanga. We function as a multi disciplinary Project managementbelow. Our Current fleet of contracting and management concern in the Turnkey projects vehicles is in excess of 80 mining and construction industries. Construction management and installationunits and expanding as the Strategic alliances industry demand for our Because our core personnel have been working together as a team for the past ten years, our Range Of Services work increases. collective ability and expertise enables us to deliver on our mission statement. Overland conveyor systems Dome installations Heavy lifting and rigging Stacker and reclaimer installation Process plant installation and material handling design Plant civil works and Bulk Earthworks Steel fabrication Steel and mechanical piping installation HDPE Piping Electrical and C & I Eskom HV line installation All personnel are actively involved in the in day to day activities of the Company. Safety and Quality Saxeni is a Black Ecomonic Empowerment SAXENI management and workers are Company, with Managing Member Mr Samuel committed to safety. Our strive is “TARGET Makolane holding a 26% Shareholding in the ZERO” Even though SAXENI is not accredited company . Our current B-BBEE Status is Level 2. with ISO 9001, we comply to all standards and procedures, and will accommodate reasonable We are committed to supplying good quality requests from our clients, given the uniqueness products and superior service to all our clients. and nature of the project.186

Tel: +27 (0)87 944 2082 Tel: +27 (0)13 661 1773 Fax: + 27 (0)86 743 1869 Email: [email protected] Website: www.saxeni.co.za 72 Modderfontein Rd Plot 408 SUNDRA 2200 South Africa P.O. Box 269 SUNDRA 2200 South AfricaSaxeni is a management concern, providing both services and equipment to the mining and construction industries.Our strength lies in the diversity of our personnel, providing expertise on project management, construction management, plantinstallations and partnerships in strategic alliances.We pride ourselves on our multi disciplinary team able to offer advice, management services or the infrastructure needed in thecomplex world of mining and construction.WHAT WE OFFER YOU RANGE OF SERVICES Project management All types of process plant installations Turnkey projects Overland conveyor systems Construction management and installation Dome installations Strategic alliances Heavy lifting and rigging Construction plant sales and hire Stacker and reclaimer installation TO BE THE MOST PROFESSIONAL SERVICE PROVIDERTO OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS … AND BE THE BEST IN EVERYTHING WE DO. 9

Floth Sustainable Building Consultants Floth continues to Speaking with Chairman of Floth SBC, George Floth, and the ecology of the world in general. The company undertake numerous Managing Director R. Glenn Ralph, and Director offers energy performance modelling, solar modelling, green projects each Richard Hewitt, it is clear that the company is computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling, passionate about providing the highest quality, thermal numerical analysis, as well as Green Star year, including leading edge solutions for clients across the certification, National Australian Built Environment commercial office construction industry inAustralia,Asia and abroad. Rating System (NABERS) and Nationwide House buildings, multi-use Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS). Over its more than twenty seven years of operation, residential Floth has become known as an industry leader in “Our green results speak for themselves,” suggests developments, health innovative engineering solutions, having developed Richard Hewitt, Director. “We acted as ESDprojects and education many of today’s building services processes, consultant on Queensland’s first As Built 6 Star Green particularly in ecologically sustainable development, Star building, Green Square North Tower. We also facilities. The most 3D modelling, and computational fluid dynamics designed Australia’s first operational cogeneration recent example is 180 modelling and simulation. plant in a commercial office building which, along with other design initiatives, reduced the building’s carbon Ann Street, the first “Our firm is recognised for pioneering many of today’s emissions by an astounding seventy-three per cent development in established building services solutions and we compared to a 4 Star NABERS rated Queensland continue to pursue the latest technologies,” says office building.”Queensland to achieve George Floth, Chairman.a six star Office Design “At Floth, we believe the future of building servicesv3 rating. The company Today, the company has offices in Sydney, Brisbane, must integrate sustainability with practicality. Our Perth and Jakarta and is recognised across the award-winning ESD services are suitable for planning was appointed by the industry for offering technically excellent, new projects or retro?tting older buildings. We have building owners to do commercially viable and ecologically sustainable the expertise to target NABERS or Green Star ratings,ESD and consulting on designs. Since inception, it has developed an implement alternative sources of energy generation, impressive and growing portfolio of services for or creatively reduce your project’s carbon output.” the mechanical, clients. It offers such services as ecologically electrical, fire sustainable design (ESD), fire performance Richard says that there is no better example of this engineering, acoustic and vibration engineering, than the company’s work on 313 Adelaide Street. This suppression and water and waste water management, computational commercial office building has been transformed from hydraulic systems. fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling and 3D a 0 Star NABERS Energy Rating to a 4.5 Star rating – documentation in addition to traditional building including a 4 Star NABERS Water Rating. This project services (i.e., Mechanical, Electrical Fire, Hydraulic & was completed while maintaining the existing nine Vertical Transportation). year old medium efficiency chillers and with no modification to the façade. The company continues to create new solutions for clients by implementing the latest 3D modelling Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling is a software. This software can be used to create base tool used to create the real-world behaviours of fluid building backgrounds using architectural and flow in a virtual environment. This branch of fluid structural models, design and document, model and mechanics uses computers to simulate the interaction optimise the continually evolving building design, and of liquids and gases, mathematically analysing and develop walk-through visualisations for clients and solving problems involving fluid flows. stakeholders, allowing them to envisage the finished space. Floth, using CFD modelling, can develop quantitative results on the performance of façades and HVAC The team at Floth is able to document directly to 3D systems as well as indoor air quality, fire safety and the CAD using both industry and in-house developed comfort of the occupants. The modelling tools allow techniques. The process allows for greater the project team to create designs that are specifically coordination between services, structure and optimised for the clients. architecture and also helps the team check and revise spatial allowances resulting in faster and more cost At 111 Eagle Street in Brisbane, a two hundred metre effective construction. glass-faced lift shaft, designed to optimise riverfront viewing from the workspace, creates an impressive Floth received the coveted Model of the Year 2011 for vista for onlookers. Leighton Contractors engaged the its 3D modelling work on the new Queensland Floth Physics Team to develop a solution to combat Children’s Hospital Energy Plant, beating an excess heat produced both by the lift and by sunlight international field of companies to take the prize, says heating the space. Working in cooperation with the Glenn Ralph, Managing Director. The award was Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California, presented in Las Vegas at the annual conference for the physics team played a vital role in the development 3D/Building Information Modelling (BIM) software of this first of its kind lift system integrated into the providers to the construction industry. façade of the structure. Ecologically sustainable design (ESD) is at the core of Based on this work, Floth Building Physicist Guillaume Floth’s engineering philosophy, and is an area in which Jolly then prepared and presented a paper on the it has proven to be a leader and innovator, creating “Determination Of Cooling Strategy On A 200m High systems that have become industry standard. ESD Glazed Lift Shaft: A CFD Approach” to the Building considers the ecological, social and political impact of Simulation 2011 Conference in Sydney. a project and the lasting effect of works upon generations to come. The design philosophy works to Some major recent projects include cogeneration and create solutions that best serve clients, communities trigeneration technology developments in the greater10

Brisbane area. Cogeneration plants – combined heat Australia, with projects undertaken in many parts ofand power – typically use a gas powered engine to Asia including Indonesia, East Timor, China,generate useful heat at the same time as it generates Vietnam and Malaysia,” says George Floth,electricity. Trigeneration plants – combining cooling, Chairman.heat and power – generate heating, cooling andpower using cogeneration equipment supplemented The company’s long-term presence in Jakarta haswith an absorption chiller. provided invaluable experience on the challenges of undertaking work in Asia. “More importantly, threeThe company is established as a world-class senior Australian staff have, collectively, more thanengineer and designer of cogeneration and twenty years of service in Indonesia which ensurestrigeneration facilities, with six plants in operation or they are ideally placed to manage offshore projects,construction in the greater Brisbane area. These particularly inAsia.”plants will offer a combined capacity of more than 10000 kWe (a kWe represents one thousand watts of As for the future, Floth plans to continue its measuredelectric capacity). growth in order to meet the needs of market sectors in Australia and abroad through the expansion of“We believe that Floth has led the application of this services and the development of new physicaltechnology in the commercial building sector, locations. All of this is done while maintaining itsproviding enormous sustainability benefits through valued business culture of personalised high qualityreductions in CO2 emissions and reductions in the service and technical excellence.peak electricity demand on the public network,” saysGlenn of the benefits of CO2 emission reduction andpeak demand reduction. “These are realised to thebenefit of both the environment and the community.”Floth has successfully accomplished projects alongthe eastern seaboard of Australia for many yearsfrom its offices in New South Wales and Queensland.Now, with the establishment of its Perth office, it iswell placed to offer the same high level of service toclients on the west coast of the country. “Floth’s areaof influence has however not been constrained to 11

Mother Nature versus the ConstructionIndustryDry weather makes the At even the best of times, weather can put the large open projects such as factories and warehouses moisture in masonry performance of buildings and materials to the test. are particularly vulnerable to winds. and concrete Reducing project downtime through preparation is evaporate far faster vital as construction projects are easily affected by One of the structures most easily damaged by wind than desired. Rapid rain, wind, heat and lightning storms. Accurate forces during construction is the large steel storage weather forecasting allows construction managers to tank. Tanks under construction can be damaged by evaporation produces allocate resources more effectively, thereby avoiding either direct pressure or suction forces caused by wind weaker concrete and delays and saving money on projects. or a combination of the two. A vacuum can be createdreduced bond strength inside a tank that is designed for positive pressure in Many of Australia’s coastal regions are prone to some cases and the tank will be crushed once the between bricks and seasonal cyclones which bring heavy rains, strong negative pressure exceeds the design pressure. mortar. The challenge winds and the possibility of tornadoes, as well as damaging storm surge and high waves. However, Construction crews must ensure that construction in is in keeping the storms don’t have to be that widespread to leave a trail process is properly braced and that all jobsite products wet enough of destruction as even localised thunderstorms can materials, including debris, are properly secured. wreak havoc on a jobsite. They may occur suddenly Scaffolding is one of the things that needs to be that they can cure and are especially dangerous to outdoor workers and securely fastened. In Melbourne in 2007, theproperly. Bricks can be to tall structures, particularly in open areas where scaffolding was apparently disconnected from a there may be little time to seek shelter or little shelter building in order to “enable the painters to finish” when thoroughly wetted so available. Workers may need to seek inside protection it was caught by high winds and collapsed into the they don’t leach on a ground floor away from loose materials, windows street. and doors, if possible. moisture from the Tower cranes are ‘weathervaned’ to help them survive mortar, but concrete It is safest to halt work on site when extreme high winds. This involves releasing the swing brake oftakes days or weeks to conditions, such as lightning storms, are imminent. the unit so the jib can be moved freely by the wind. The Though, as storm systems can be fast moving, wind then pushes the jib downwind as the cure in order to sometimes the warning doesn’t come soon enough to counterweight points upwind, balancing the tower achieve maximum prevent being injured or struck by lightning. Last structure.strength and durability. autumn, as McConnell Dowell employees were Covering the concrete preparing to leave construction work on Fortescue Wet weather is a frequent reason for constructionwith a membrane such Metals Group’s Solomon rail line in advance of a delays and increased project costs. Heavy rains can as polythene, leaving storm, two men were injured as a result of a lightning turn a construction site into a gigantic sea of mud that the formwork in place strike. hinders site access and slows or entirely preventsor applying a chemical grading, trenching, backfilling, paving and foundation Thunderstorms can also bring hail, breaking windows work as the ground becomes soup-like. The curing agent can and damaging exposed materials. Shingles and construction of the Aspect Hunter School in New achieve a barrier to single-ply roofs are prone to damage and, though South Wales last year suffered setbacks in its building evaporation in dry nothing can protect from events like 2010’s hailstorm timetable after eight weeks of rain made working on weather. Moisture can in Melbourne with its orange-sized balls of ice, roof the earthworks impossible. Even when the site has also be added to the systems that are resistant to hail need to be been properly graded to ensure drainage away from considered where severe thunderstorms are the structure and to prevent water from pooling, concrete by common. occasionally, wet weather related delays in schedule continuously wetting are unavoidable. the exposed surfaces Wind can rip sidings from exterior walls and high winds can even produce sufficient wind uplift forces to tear Flooding is always a possible result of torrential rains with a water spray. off roofs. Thunderstorms are often accompanied by but in Australia, rainy weather can be additionally straight-line winds that can approach hurricane exacerbated by La Niña events or tropical cyclones. speeds. Skyscrapers can sway by several feet at the As a result of Tropical Cyclone Tasha’s heavy rainfalls top as tall, flat walls receive the full impact of wind. combined with the peak of a La Niña, a series of floods They are designed to take this kind of motion without hit Queensland beginning in late 2010 and left damage but walls that are not structurally braced or damages worth $2.38 billion. Flooding elsewhere that are not designed for movement can be reduced to year caused delays in the construction of the Cotter rubble. Even slight winds can have strong forces and Dam, west of Canberra, in February 2012. installing towers or antennas on windy days can be dangerous. After all that, it may seem odd to consider a sunny day to be a potential problem for construction but hot and Severe damage can result on building sites exposed dry weather can also dramatically affect a project. The to wind forces, in particular to roofs, unsupported solvents in paint and sealants, for example, can masonry walls and non-completed walls of all types. evaporate too quickly, affecting the curing and An incomplete structure is more susceptible to wind performance of the materials. With over fifty per cent damage than a finished one as buildings are not of the country receiving an average yearly rainfall meant to sustain the kind of forces resulting from wind below 300mm, dry conditions are certainly prevalent. penetrating a building’s envelope. Before completion,12

REINFORCING SOLUTIONSConcrete Reinforcing and Reinforcement to actively seek technology that will help solve the In conjunction with ourSolutions. inherent flaws in concrete and traditional international reinforcement. Our innovative fibre reinforcement partners/suppliers andFibsol (Fibre Reinforcing Solutions) is a South solutions offer Engineers and Contractors an our own extensiveAfrican based company specialising in alternative efficient and cost-effective alternative to mesh or experience gained bothconcrete reinforcement designs utilizing the latest rebar reinforcement. Fibre reinforcement stands out locally and internationallytechnology to design cost effective fibre reinforced from other reinforcing products through their ability to we are able to provideconcrete solutions for a large number of applications. make concrete more ductile therefore it offers cost saving fibre ultimate flexibility in the design & construction reinforced concreteSteel and Polypropylene fibres conforming to the process. Working with fibre reinforcement not only alternatives to our clients.highest international quality standards (ASTM, EN & means less steel, but it also eliminates and reducesISO) are used as a means of reinforcement as the labour intensive process of steel fixing. Fibres areopposed to conventional rebar and welded mesh. added directly to the concrete matrix and evenly distribute throughout. The result is an advanced,We maintain a Quality Management System multi-dimensional reinforcement system that can bedeveloped to the requirements of ISO 9001:2008 placed quickly, accurately and safely.within the organization ensuring we meet andexceed the expectations of our clients. Fibsol can provide a solution to all of these problems with our wide range of fibre reinforcing products. Why Fibres? Primary fibre applicationsWhy fibre reinforced concrete? Flooring (Slab-on- ground) Exterior pavementsConcrete is widely recognized as a cost-effective, Overlays & Toppingsversatile construction material, yet it is also beset Sidewalks/Driveways/Parking areaswith a number of drawbacks that are inherent to its Marine structurescomposition. By generally accepted engineering Airport runwaysstandards, concrete is relatively brittle and lacksflexural strength. Concrete also has the propensity to Features and benefits of fibre reinforcingcrack in both its plastic (early-age) and hardened(long-term) state. Early-age cracks are microscopic Secondary reinforcement used as an alternative tofissures caused by the intrinsic stresses created welded meshwhen the concrete settles and shrink over the first 24hours after being placed. Long-term cracking is in Improved ductility and increased flexuralpart caused by the shrinkage that transpires over the toughness (residual strength)months or years of drying that follows. In either case,these cracks can jeopardize the overall integrity of Inhibits the formation of plastic shrinkage andthe concrete and not allow it to maintain its maximum plastic settlement crackingperformance capability. Control of drying shrinkage and temperatureThere are some who still use traditional methods of crackingconcrete reinforcement simply because that’s theway things have always been done. Another option is Provides impact, abrasion and shatter resistance Provides improved concrete durability Excellent finishing characteristics Pumpable reinforcement 13

Nu-Steel Traditionally, many homes have been timber framed, preferred local builder (or even two or three) that will and the affordability and tremendous popularity of pitch for the work. In areas which are a bit more Nu-Steel Homes this building material means that most tradespeople isolated than others, at times, it is necessary to have conducts all the legwork are more familiar with timber than the less common crews who will travel. steel. Timber frames aren’t susceptible to rust or in establishing a build, corrosion; however, steel frames have their own With its unique business model, Nu-Steel Homes working with local distinct advantages, such as resistance to termite keeps it easy for the builders. Typically a small builders all over infestation or moisture. These steel framed builder will have to do a lot of advertising, cost of structures are not only lightweight compared to sales, overheads, taking the client through the Australia, and the solid timber frames, but have a greater strength to weight design process, etc. “We make it really easy for them relationships it has ratio, have a longer life cycle and don’t twist or warp by taking all that work off their hands. So, when we forged with these like timber frames. go to a builder and tell them about a job coming up, it’s more or less ready to go. We do all of the designbuilders is a driving force Nu-Steel Homes was founded in 1981 and was work, the planning, the engineering, and it is ready behind the company’s originally rolled out through individual license for certification to get built. That can be anywhere success. Its General agreements. There were, at the time, a host of from a two to three month lead time in the design Manager, Lee Janssen, individual operators in different towns across the phase before the build would actually start. We do all country, but it was a little disjointed. The current that in-house before the builder even knows about spoke about this unique owner bought the national rights and everything has the job. We take all the hassle, all the paperwork.” offering and the now been re-branded under one head office in the Sunshine Coast, QLD, giving the company unity and Nu-Steel Homes arranges all the materials to site incompany’s drive to serve consistency. coordination with the builder and client, so that the all of Australia without builder does not have to worry about chasing Nu-Steel Homes specialises in custom design along suppliers, following up on potential defects or compromising quality or with steel frames. In essence, a client will come in supplying warranties at the end of the job. All the service. with a block of land and their own plan and ideas, or a builder has to worry about is putting the house desire to use one of the many choices that can be together on site and keeping the client happy. The viewed on the Nu-Steel Homes’ website. Nu-Steel company always chooses builders with at least ten Homes then turns this vision into a completed home, years of experience and the necessary skills to erect performing all of the design work and managing steel frames. costs and materials. “We take them through 3D modelling, organise the approvals and appoint the Because the company services the entire country, builder,” explains Mr Janssen. “Every now and then there can be many different design considerations a client will want a plan off the website, but our depending on the area. “If we are doing a house in speciality is that we can accommodate them as North Queensland that is in the tropics – a high much as we need to in terms of designing the home cyclonic zone. The house that is built there will have with their own touches.” to be a lot stronger with engineering and reinforced with different design parameters. In a place like The only limitations the company faces have to do NSW, we are building in a lot of bush fire zones. with the different councils spread out over Australia These homes have to be designed completely and their requirements for what can and cannot be differently to a home done in the tropics. Being a done. For example, councils have different national company, we have to deal with all these requirements with regard to building height and different variables depending on the location of the distances from property boundaries. Builds must of build.” course be feasible in terms of engineering and client budget. Any house featured on Nu-Steel Homes’ In terms of the architectural design, Nu-Steel Homes website can also be altered based on client needs. has done it all. One of the company’s clients wanted By using CAD 3D software, the design will be three hexagonal pods joined together via evaluated and set in motion from there. breezeways whereas another wanted a castle look with parapets. Being able to create these unique Because it services all of Australia, Nu-Steel Homes one-off buildings is what Nu-Steel Homes is known has built up a network of preferred builders that it can for. call on in any given area. “We really support having the local builder working on the tools and liaising The design can be anything from a colonial-type directly with the client,” says Mr Janssen. “This is not build to a modern glass style with clean lines a standard practice for most building companies; a resembling a beach home. It gets a lot of jobs on lot of them will have one supervisor looking after steep sites as using steel frames makes it easier to fifteen to twenty jobs at any given time. The client build on those blocks of land; steel framing has a doesn’t know who’s coming and going, who the better strength to weight ratio and these buildings builder is, or who is managing the site on a day to day are also lighter compared to their timber framed or basis.” Nu-Steel Homes supports having a local masonry counterparts. builder in each given town to deal with the client one on one, finalise details and finishings, and more. Following the Global Financial Crisis, the biggest challenge in the building industry is financing. “The A call for a new home can come in from a thousand banks have tightened their lending criteria on a lot of kilometres away. Nu-Steel Homes takes clients people. So, people have a block of land which they through the design process, costs and all of the front are trying to build a home on, but they are realising end work and manages the job from there on. In any how much they will need to borrow and getting the major town or centre the company will always have a14

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Narellan Pools Narellan Pool’s new Today’s buyer often sees the swimming pool as an shell, and now, even the equipment is Narellan.” Eden range was extension of the home itself. “So now it is not just about having a pool that you throw in the back that everyone Providing this equipment is an exciting new step for specially designed to can swim in,” Mr Meyer explains. “We are seeing a lot the company. The team has just introduced Narellan meet this growing more integration between the home and the swimming AquaHydraulics, a range of filters and pumps that pool as the blocks have gotten smaller and the houses come with a complete warranty. “We are so confidentmarket trend. The sleek have gotten bigger. You can’t just tuck the pool in the with it we have not only put our label on it, we offer a full plunge pools stylishly back corner anymore.” replacement guarantee,” Mr Meyer reports. The team blend into smaller made the decision to supply this equipment because spaces, Mr Meyer As a result, a Narellan pools is designed to be an they wanted to make the pool buying process easier points out, “but they integral part of the landscape, adding to the aesthetics for clients. “People get confused with the equipmenthave the same benefits rather than detracting. “The pool is becoming a focal selection, so we’ve taken all that headache away,” Mras a larger pool.” Swim point of the home.” Meyer explains. Now, clients know that they are jets create an artificial getting equipment that is a perfect match for their current to swim Obviously, as the size of the yard shrinks, so must the specific type and size of swimming pool. against, so the Eden pool. “Our average pool sizes have actually been provides as rigorous a coming down every single year,” Mr Meyer shares. Of course, the manufacturing process is a crucialworkout as a larger lap “There is certainly still a strong market for the biggest component in Narellan Pool’s end to end solution. The pool. The company is possible pools that we can manufacture,” he adds, company has four decades of manufacturing “but this demand is mostly limited to less populated experience behind it, and continues to improve on itsalso rolling out a line of areas. In towns and cities, consumers are increasingly processes. In March of this year, the company underwater exercise seeking an option that will provide all the benefits of a received ISO 9001 accreditation, an internationally traditional sized pool within a smaller footprint.” recognised quality management standard. “We equipment compatible invested over two years of time and resources with a with the compact Consumers are also giving more thought to the water significant investment in obtaining our ISO 9001 inside their swimming pool. Saltwater chlorination has accreditation and to the same rigorous quality pools; these new aqua been a favourite for decades, and it remains the most standards,” Mr Meyer reports. “We truly believe that therapy options will popular form of pool sanitation in Australia. But, Mr we now have the world’s best composite swimming Meyer says, “there is a growing demand for improved pool.” even include cycling. water quality. Consumers don’t just want to swim – Spa jets can also be they want to wash away stress and rejuvenate their Narellan Pools has multiple manufacturing facilitiesadded to transform the skin.” Narellan Pools has recently introduced a throughout Australia, and Mr Meyers says it is crucial Eden into a relaxing mineral pool to provide these benefits. “Our clients can they all operate under one common quality still choose a traditional salt,” Mr Meyer explains, “or management system. “We needed to ensure that no escape. they can upgrade their water to what is some of the matter where the pools are manufactured, the pools latest technology in water sanitisation that exists in the are built identically.” The ISO 9001 accreditation also world.” The healing waters contain magnesium, which allows the company to keep careful records of all its may help to detoxify the body and boost wellbeing. products. “Each and every one of our pools has its own The low salinity of the water is also better for the ‘birth certificate. We can track it from conception to environment. completion, not only through our facilities, but also AComplete Solution through to client satisfaction after the pool is installed.” Narellan Pools maintains control over its swimming The information is comprehensive. “We know the pools from start to finish, which enables the company time, we know the date, we know the name of the to stay ahead of the market – and provide a superior operators who built each and every layer in the product. “We are the whole supply chain,” Mr Meyer swimming pools. We also know the temperature, the points out. “That is one of the unique differences about humidity, and precisely which batch of materials went Narellan Pools to any competitor that I have seen, not into that pool. So if there is ever a problem – and luckily only domestically but internationally.” Typically, we haven’t really had any – but if there were one, then consumers have to deal with several different we could go right back to the source.” companies when building a pool. Narellan Pools, on the other hand, manufactures its own product and has The team also utilises the highest quality materials to franchised the sales and installation. The result is a ensure a superior product. “We don’t ever want to complete, end to end solution – and peace of mind for compromise the quality of our swimming pools,” Mr the clients. Meyer insists. “We use what we believe are the best quality materials available.” All of the resins the “Everybody is operating under the Narellan Pools company uses are produced right here in Australia by brand,” Mr Meyer explains. “Our clients don’t have to Nuplex Composites. “We do not import our resins. I buy a pool shell from one manufacturer, buy pumps believe that we are possibly the only local [swimming and filters from another, and then have someone else pool] manufacturer in Australia that doesn’t import build the pool. We are offering the entire solution to the their resins.” High quality materials, ISO 9001 client. It is a Narellan person who sells the pool, it is a accreditation, and an end to end supply chain assure Narellan person who builds the pool, it is a Narellan clients that they are getting a superior product.18

Reilly ContractorsOriginally from the United Kingdom, Mike Reilly to store information such as timesheets to cut down Reilly Contractors’started Reilly Contractors with his wife Liz after on printing. “It’s not a big thing, and I have more to expertise is in providingworking for years in project management inAustralia. learn, but these little steps will help,” Mr Reilly high quality services for“Three years ago, I decided I’d give it a go on my shares. “We always want to know what are the next Perth’s civil worksown,” he explains. Liz Reilly worked in marketing in steps to keep ahead of the game and not reinvent the industry. Most of thethe United Kingdom and used her expertise in wheel.” company’s focus is onestablishing the branding of the company, including installing infrastructurethe logo that is used on all company gear as well as In its short history, the company has accomplished a for subdivisions where itusing the web to market the company’s services. lot and has amassed a portfolio of prominent clients undertakes the throughout Western Australia. Companies such as groundworks, sewerage,Sewerage services include installing gravity sewers, RJ Vincent, Georgiou Group, Wormall Civil & stormwater drainage andchambers, pump stations and vacuum sewers. Environmental Engineering and Croker Construction utilities installations inStormwater drainage services include the are just some of the clients that have worked with neighbourhoods underinstallation of concrete or PVC pipework, subsoil, Reilly Contractors. “What was effectively done in my construction.swale (a low area of land designed to slow and five-year plan was achieved in three years,” Mr Reillycapture water runoff) construction, basin says. “I’m pleased with that. I’m proud that we haveconstruction, gross pollutant traps (devises used to been able to do the work we’ve done with the newprevent items such as rubbish or leaves from gear that we bought when we started. Many newclogging waterways), interceptors (large sewer lines businesses don’t have the credit to finance thethat are fed by trunk lines), box culverts and equipment we’ve been able to buy.”soakwells (underground storage tanks that allow forthe slow release of rainwater into the ground, The company has also built a series of strongpreventing erosion). relationships with companies such as Hitachi, Kobelco, and Vinidex that help with its businessGroundwork services include foundations, car parks, operations. The company is also a member of theslab construction, retaining walls, driveways, Civil Contractors Federation (CCF). Thesebasement construction and holding dams. Reilly connections have helped the company cultivateContractors also installs water mains, valve strong relationships with clients, vendors andinstallation, lot connections, gas mains, power cable associates.installation and street lights. “It’s all about who you know,” Mr Reilly says. “You’reOne recent project included the installation of a deep never given a free hand, but it is important to build upsewer with dewatering for the master planned who you are as a person. I’ve left each business I’vecommunity of Whiteman Edge outside Perth which worked for on good terms because I believe in doingalso involved the installation of stormwater drainage the right thing; if I say I’m going to do something, I dosystem and water, gas, power and communications it, and that’s the end of it. A building has to be built onutilities. budget and on time.”Besides subdivision work, the company has invested Originally starting out with his wife and a few crews,in purchasing quality machinery for excavator and the company has now expanded to fifty-twoloader hire in the Perth area. employees. “I did a lot of door knocking, selling the idea of what we could offer as a business to clients IThe company recently purchased Western previously worked with.”Australia’s first hybrid excavator from Hitachi. Thetwenty-one ton excavator does use fuel, but energy Indeed, Mr Reilly credits his hands-on approach andis stored in the capacitor during swing deceleration his employees for the success of the company. “I do awhich is then used for power assistance during swing lot of the pricing and oversee the operations,” heacceleration. When compared to a standard model explains. “We have a core group of good people; weexcavator of the same capacity, this model can spend a lot of time to recruit good people and we’reproduce a twenty per cent reduction in fuel fortunate to have the right guys on the ground.”consumption and energy savings of fifteen toeighteen per cent. The excavator also has an Indeed, many of the people Mr Reilly initially hiredautomatic idling stop for reducing wasteful fuel are still with him, a rarity in the industry. “Some leave,consumption and reducing exhaust gas and noise. but some have come back. But I’ve had a solid core group of people that I’m proud of. All said and done,“We want to leave this earth without damaging it, so there is merit in how I communicate with people.” Hisfinding equipment that reflects that value is important phone number is even visible on all companyto us,” Mr Reilly says, adding that the company plans vehicles. “If people have a question, they can call meon purchasing more hybrid excavators. – and they have.”The business has also adopted ‘green’ practices byreducing the output of paper it uses in-house. Thecompany is working on implementing tablets (iPads) 19

Springfield Land Corporation Greater Springfield Greater Springfield, the largest planned city in development has been so successful is because thealso boasts brand new, Australia, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. entirety of the project is in the hands of one The vision of Maha Sinnathamby and the “brainchild” organisation. “There are some parts of your project leading edge of Springfield Land Corporation, this ambitious project that make money and there are some parts of your technology has successfully transformed an economically and project that don’t make money,” he explains. “If you socially depressed area into a vibrant centre for have fragmented ownership, obviously everyone infrastructure. The education, technology, and health. The entire wants the same pieces, those pieces that make Polaris Data Centre, community has been painstakingly planned in order to money.” Planned cities with fragmented ownership located in Springfield provide the highest level of convenience, amenities, often have problems because “it is very difficult to get Central, is the most and comfort to residents and businesses. everyone to agree on what should go where.” With oneadvanced ICT facility in team and one vision, Springfield Land Corporation Australia. “It’s a core “We started off with a blank canvas,” explains has successfully completed the city’s majorasset for the group that Managing Director Bob Sharpless, which has allowed infrastructure projects, and many new construction the Springfield Land Corporation to create an ideal developments are slated to commence over the next underpins our IT place to live, work, and play. six to twelve months. platform,” Mr Each residential suburb – Springfield, Springfield Transportation and Accessibility was one of the first Sharpless explains. Lakes, Spring Mountain, Brookwater, and Augustine areas on which the company focused. Several major The $250 million, Heights – includes a neighbourhood centre for easily highways and arterial roads already make the city highly specialised accessible shopping and dining. These suburbs are all easily accessible from the North, South, East, and arranged around Springfield Central, the community’s West, and a new rail system is currently underway. facility houses the ICT thriving CBD, which contains a high density of retail The Queensland government is funding the $1,2platforms for a number and commercial space as well as some residential billion Springfield Rail Project (of which stage one is housing. Everything – from shopping centres and already completed), as well as duplicating the of major companies. educational facilities to healthcare and recreation – is Centenary Highway, which will complete the city’s“We decided we would conveniently available within the city limits. “You don’t transportation requirements by December of nextbe on top of [ICT] from need to leave Greater Springfield,” Mr Sharpless year. points out. “In fact, we want people to come the other day one… That’s just way. We want to draw people from outside of the Health City Springfield is a 52 hectare, integrated one example of us project to facilities within Greater Springfield.” health precinct located in Springfield Central with a wide range of medical centres, research being proactive and Creating a strong commercial sector is the key to opportunities, aged care facilities, and a private trying to look ahead in making this vision a reality. An increasing number of hospital able to accommodate both private and public terms of where people businesses are moving into Springfield Central, and patients. The hospital, which will be owned and are going and society the result is “more and more employment close to operated by Mater Health Services, begins where people live. We think that is a more sustainable construction in January 2014, after five and a half is going.” way to live then the alternative which, for a lot of years of planning. The facility will meet the healthcare people, has been to hop in the car and drive to needs of Brisbane’s western corridor and “be a Brisbane to work,” Mr Sharpless explains. “We want catalyst for a lot of other development that will take people to live close to where they work, or the reverse place around it,” Mr Sharpless says. “Hospitals are a of that – to work close to where they live. We want that great infrastructure that attracts a lot of other commute to be as small as possible.” opportunities.” To attract the necessary commercial interest, The research and educational opportunities Health Springfield Land Corporation has made top notch City provides will complement Greater Springfield’s infrastructure a first priority. “We are doing things to a education initiatives, a key pillar in the corporation’s high standard,” reports Mr Sharpless. All facilities are master plan. The hospital will be strategically located “brand new, state of the art, leading edge.” Every beside Education City, the community’s centre for commercial building must rate at least four stars on the higher learning. “That will foster other opportunities Green Star standard and be aesthetically pleasing. within the education project to train doctors and other “We certainly want high quality architecture in health workers,” Mr Sharpless points out. Education everything that we do.” For example, the city’s new City, also located in Springfield Central boasts a Polaris Data Centre is thoughtfully designed with bustling University of Southern Queensland campus. architectural details such as terra cotta panelling to Fifty million dollars in federal funds have just been “make it look more like a commercial building rather allocated to fund the University’s new building than a plant room.” The company also held an program, which will add even more to the community’s architectural competition to plan the CBD’s large new already strong educational offerings. A Catholic office building, which ensured an eye catching design. school is also currently under construction. “We’ve got “We keep pushing for high quality design and I think about ten and a half thousand people in the project that the buildings we have here reflect that very well,” that are students at one level or another, which is the Mr Sharpless adds. highest ratio of students to population that you will find in the country,” Mr Sharpless reports. Mr Sharpless believes that one reason the20

Several major retail and commercial construction Brookwater region.” Robelle Domain, a 24 hectareprojects are currently underway as well. The Orion park located in Springfield Central Parklands,shopping centre, developed by Mirvac, is the first six connects all of Greater Springfield in a central openstar green shopping centre in Australia, and has space filled with boardwalks, sports fields, and playbeen recognised with numerous awards. The areas. The award winning, $30 million recreationproject’s second stage, which will include an area was dreamed up by Vee Design, and includes aadditional supermarket and several more shops, is children’s water park, Galaxy play equipment, acurrently undergoing the approval process. The stage and amphitheatre for up to 10,000 people,Brookwater Village is slated to open at the end of this artistic light towers and interactive surround soundyear and will include a Woolworths supermarket, audio, a lake and waterfall, artistically designedspecialty shops, and an 1800 square metre medical shelters and arbours, and a café.facility leased to Mater Health Services.In October, construction will begin on a 12,500 Despite the multitude of projects completed orsquare metre office building in the CBD. The future underway, Mr Sharpless estimates that the companytenant plans to relocate 1,000 people to Greater has only accomplished 20 per cent of the total workSpringfield to work in the new facility. “We believe needed to complete Greater Springfield. A solidthat is the start of many more of those sorts of groundwork has been successfully laid, however.relocations,” Mr Sharpless adds. “We’ve got the public transport nailed. We’ve got the university. We’ve got the retail. If you think of all theThe master plan also includes a variety of pillars [a community needs] – health, education,recreational activities and facilities. Residents can retail, commercial, and the IT – the platform is thereplay tennis, go bushwalking, explore the many for each of those.” Twenty three thousand people arekilometres of bikeways and walking paths, or already taking advantage of the community’sparticipate in a variety of water sports on Greater enviable lifestyle, and the company plans to attractSpringfield’s manmade lakes. The championship an additional 63,000 residents before the project’sBrookwater Golf Course was voted Queensland’s end. “We’ve got 20 years to complete the journey thatnumber one public access golf course seven years in we started 20 years ago,” Mr Sharpless says. “Froma row and “has certainly lifted the standard of start to finish in 40 years is what the company isresidential housing and development in that targeting.” 21

South Coast Sand & Civil Continuing with the The company was started by Don and Lois Fladrich in the past for a variety of developers, with projects family tradition, 1970. Family operations don’t typically start with a lot including car parks, building sites and shopping of capital, so an eight tonne truck was the first driver of centres. “We recently capped a landfill for the city ofStephen’s twenty-eight the business. The company grew gradually and, in Victor Harbor which was quite a big job. We still do a bit year old son now 1982, son Stephen Fladrich joined the operation. At of that. If it’s something that needs a machine, we will works with the that time, there were five employees using half a do it.” It is a business that is strongly driven by the local company, having dozen pieces of equipment. In 1990, when Stephen economy, although the company has also operated bought the company from his parents, there were further afield with projects in the southern part of joined this past year. between ten and fifteen employees. He has been Adelaide. Typically, employees work about an hour’s He is a qualified civil running it ever since. drive from the home base. engineer who started As in most earth moving contractors, the backbone of In subdivision development, South Coast Sand & Civil out working for a the operation is generally the excavators. But South has several customers who provide a lot of repeat consulting group in Coast Sand & Civil is also dependent on various other business, appreciative of the company’s ability toSouth Australia and the machines to do the job: bulldozers, dump trucks, follow through with quality work. A client will approach graders, rollers, skid steer loaders, trucks and the company with a piece of property, wanting to put Northern Territory. wheeled loaders. It’s all been quite the leap from that house sites up, and South Coast Sand & Civil will build “The experience he first truck. the infrastructure with all the necessary services: gained elsewhere is roads, sewers, water systems, trenching for the now helping in our South Coast Sand & Civil, according to Stephen, electrical, phone lines and the construction of roads. would be nowhere without its employees. “Without business; that’s good employees it doesn’t matter how good the The company acts as a head contractor and will then exactly the way it machine is; you can have the best made machinery in bring in specialised people to complete the electrical should be,” says the world, but if you haven’t the people to drive them, it and asphalt work. In the early days, the local Stephen. “Having is useless. We look for loyalty, dedication and they governments employed local contractors much like family in the business have to be interested in their job and in developing machinery hire but, as times changed, it has become generates more feel to their skill sets; we want their brains as well as their more of a project based arrangement and companies the company. My hands. If they only do as they are told then you are only like South Coast must conduct their own project General Manager also getting twenty-five per cent; the other seventy-five per management and offer their services as a complete has his son working cent comes out of their head.” package. with us as the other project engineer and Prior to the global financial crisis (GFC), the company South Coast has also worked on a series of interesting carried seventy employees but now employs fifty. wetland projects such as the Beyond Today residential estimator. The Stephen explains, however, that prior to the GFC, the development. The vision is based around ponds and company had actually grown a bit too far and cutting wetlands that capture water, making the development back was needed anyway. “So we started with a more like living in a green natural space than is typical natural attrition to get it down. Now, we are at fifty of the average subdivision. “When you look at it from again.” the air, it’s quite a feat,” shares Stephen. “It looks nice at the right time of the year as it is very green.” The geographic location of South Coast Sand & Civil has also proven a bit of a challenge. “We have our In Australia’s dry climate, it’s important to capture and back to the sea, and when we draw a circle around our reuse waste water, as it is quite a precious resource, headquarters we only have half a circle to deal with. and some of the company’s notable projects have We have also done a little bit of work on Kangaroo dealt with just that. “If you can get more than one use Island, and that’s a different kettle of fish altogether. out of it, then it takes the pressure off the potable water The expense of getting over there usually kills smaller that people use to drink,” Stephen explains. projects.” “Otherwise a lot of that water, if it wasn’t caught and reused, would be coming straight out of the drinking Things have been picking up, however, as the water system which, on a really bad drought year, economy rights itself and, despite currently having struggles to keep up with demand as it is.” tight margins, there is a lot of work to be had. The main focus for the company is currently land division and The company has completed several stormwater and the bulk of its work is with developers and local grey water recycling projects for local councils. These government. Originally, South Coast’s primary usually involve building a large retaining pond, then business was clearing house sites for builders and lining it so that the councils can pump stormwater in preparing them to receive foundations, along with and save it for such uses as watering grass and plants. supplying sand needed for construction. Work was The pond being built at the moment has a capacity of also done for farmers who wanted dams cleaned out one hundred and fifty million litres. Alexandrina or built and tracks constructed. Council’s storm water will likely fill the pond a couple of times in a season, saving huge amounts of water. The South Coast has also done quite a bit of commercial company has also worked on pipelines associated development around its home base of Victor Harbor in with those works.22

Rock Development GroupThat was something of an odd reaction, according to trials have now been overcome and the completed Rock DG started off inMaria Efkarpidis, because what Rock Development building is fully sustainable via solar arrays mounted supermarkets andGroup (Rock DG) was putting forward was hardly on rooftops. loop aims to minimise waste, with property managementradical. Instead, it was a return in principle to a very extensive use of recycled materials during and has progressedold traditional way of living – the community and its construction. Rainwater is captured, and waste almost organically, oneliving and working spaces grouped around water is recycled and returned to the precinct. might say, intomarketplace where its members can eat and Composting is made easy. Residents can monitor development. Havingsocialise. their electricity usage in a precinct wide energy purchased sizeable plots management system; electric vehicles will have around BelconnenBelconnen Fresh Food Markets is situated in the plug-in charge points and excess electricity is markets, the partnersACT just to the north-west of Canberra’s city centre, returned to the grid. decided to do somethingclose to Lake Ginninderra, an ornamental stretch of useful with them. Thewater. Belconnen was established in 1966 and the “We are building a sustainable community – group aims to build notMarket, ten years later. The Markets already form a everyone else is just constructing environmentally just a series of buildings,local focal point, with eating and entertainment improved buildings. We are giving the [property] albeit with good ‘green’facilities in addition to fresh meat and vegetable market a different product. There is considerable credentials, but, Mariashops. The idea is to increase that focus with a full- interest around Canberra for a project like this.” says, “it’s a matter ofscale development called loop. building a community. Maria describes Rock DG as “property developers Growing up in Canberra,loop earth was completed in March 2012, comprising with a conscience; not least because the three we realised the beauty of560 square metres of retail and 570 square metres of partners have a total of nine children and our it was that you are moreoffice space. This is just the first of five interlinked philosophy is what our father and mother taught us. safe and secure; youbuilding projects. But Rock DG hit a number of That is, whatever you do has to benefit your children could go out and wanderhurdles in late 2012 which more or less put the in the long run. For us, since we are in property, what about; there was moreproject on hold while waiting for Government to better way to leave something for our children than a communication withresolve a number of issues which have taken longer consciousness about the environment? Whatever people. This is slowlythan expected. we build, we want it to last but we also want it not to being lost.” Maria and her harm the environment.” partners want to restoreNext will be loop harmony to be located to the south the feeling of a secureof the Markets with 900 square metres of retail space That includes ensuring local involvement. “Everyone and easy-goingand 2,100 square metres of office space with five working on the project is from Canberra, which helps community as part ofstoreys of car parking (despite ambitions to curb car to reduce our carbon emissions.” Initially, says Maria, building sustainableuse, parking space in Belconnen is at a premium). there were suggestions that they should engage top properties.This is scheduled to start early in 2014. After that will architects from Sydney or Melbourne for the project,come loop eternity and loop fire – 171 apartments but this idea was rejected on practical grounds. Inplus 940 square metres retail and 2,700 square any case, Canberra is not without its own resources.metres office space (starting mid-year); loop water – “There are great architects here that win many1,400 square metres retail, 3,200 square metres awards and do amazing work.” For this project, Colinoffice and 38 apartments; and loop spirit, air and sky Stewart Architects was chosen; the partners had– 1,000 square metres retail space and 185 worked with the firm on previous projects and it wasapartments. our first choice. Northrop Sustainability, Red Box Design Group, Tract and ACT Planners are alsoThe location of the project, equidistant from two working on the project.major shopping centres, the lake and its attractions,is part of its appeal. Canberra was essentially Architects were quick to comprehend what Rock DGplanned as a car-friendly city in the days before had in mind, and Maria says – perhaps surprisingly –anyone worried about gas-guzzling or emissions, that the builders and construction companies wereand Maria suggests loop is a step toward getting also able to embrace the concept with enthusiasm.consumers out of their cars again. “At first people But the group that had the most difficulty in taking upasked, ‘why would I want to live at the markets?’ The the idea of loop when it was first proposed some fouranswer was simple: we all like to eat and to socialise, years ago were the real estate agents. “They thoughtso what better place to do it? For us it was a perfect the idea of building a sustainable community aroundfit.” the markets was just the silliest thing anyone could think of doing.” But now, their attitude has changed,A personal factor for the Rock DG partners was that with the agents pestering Rock DG for completiontheir late father had so loved the markets. “You have because they have people asking about thethe benefits of everything in the one location, which is properties. It was interesting, she adds, to see thatwhy it was the logical step for us to take.” A lot of construction companies are not negative – theeyebrows were raised at first, but people have long number of sustainable buildings transpiring insince stopped questioning what we’re doing. Canberra is escalating, so for the builders it was an“Australia in general has now started to see that the obvious progression.closer you are [to attractions] and the easier it is toget around without necessarily using a car all thetime, the more benefits there are.”It hardly needs to be said that loop is intended to haveimpeccable ‘green’ credentials; however, it hasstumbled a couple of times on challenges associatedwith new green technologies – notably when it tried toinstall geothermal systems into loop earth. These 23

Delta Group The group works on “We work all over Australia, from central business asbestos removal, commercial bin hire, heavy projects for private districts (CBDs) in major cities all the way to remote equipment hire and an innovative recycling and waste areas. We will go wherever our customers need us,” management program – including a world-leading construction says Delta Group’s Dominic Santullo. With offices joint venture with Boral – in concrete recycling. companies, across Australia, the company can quickly deploy government teams to sites whenever and wherever they are Through superior service, ongoing innovation and departments, needed, be it in mining, civil construction, road expansion of its range of offerings, the group has municipal councils, construction or mine demolition. Starting seventeen grown to become one of the biggest companies of itsmine sites, developers years ago as a truck driver, Mr Santullo worked his type in Australia. Known for its reliability, the companyand others who require way through the company and is today General has attracted and retained new and repeat customers, experienced Manager of Recycling, Purchasing, Transport and including some of the country’s major builders:professionals in small, Logistics for the Delta Group. Leighton Holdings Limited wholly-owned subsidiary large or delicate John Holland and Theiss, one of Australia’s foremost demolition projects. Since it was formed and began trading in 1982 as construction, mining and services contractors. Delta Demolition, Mr Santullo has seen the company steadily grow in a number ways, not the least of which Working with clients on many major projects located in are the over six hundred staff members now employed the CBDs of Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane by the company. “We have more service divisions and Perth, Delta Group prides itself on having the today, and we have grown into new states and new years of experience necessary to provide all clients areas,” he explains. with service that is simply second to none. In over three decades of operation, the company has Much more than just a demolition company, the established an Australia-wide reputation as an company has the manpower and resources to meet all industry leader. Meeting the needs of small, large or client needs and site requirements, with its internal delicate demolition projects, the company has steadily workshop facilities and specialised plant and expanded its range of service offerings. Today, in equipment. Clients depend on the team to seamlessly addition to experienced demolition work, the company provide a transition from demolition all the way has expanded to incorporate complementary sectors through to civil works and commercial landscaping. In including civil works, excavation, landscaping, the realm of civil works, the company has successfully completed projects such as the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, the Royal Children’s Hospital, the Stafford Heights Retirement Community, the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre and many others. The company uses heavy machinery such as drill rigs to deliver services like bulk earthworks, site retention, piling, shotcrete, in-ground hydraulics and ground slabs and offers a complete service for all excavation requirements, “from demolition all through to installation of a basement slab.” Of course, issues can arise in coordinating multiple smaller companies and this full-service construction contractor helps clients avoid those problems. Working in tandem with subsidiaries within the group, Delta can effortlessly combine demolition and civil packages onsite, so all projects are precisely coordinated. All jobs are communicated clearly to customers at all times so the timely delivery of services such as bulk earthworks, site retention, piling, shotcrete, in-ground hydraulics and ground slabs is assured. By working with an experienced company like this, clients are assured all civil and demolition projects are carried out with the utmost efficiency and with site controls firmly in place and safety procedures maintained at all times. Realising that demolition projects are sometimes anything but straightforward, the team at Delta Group is capable of handling all types of industrial and commercial demolition, from large projects to complicated older structures – many of them containing asbestos, which must be removed safely under the guidance of professionals. In many cases, such as the first phase of the Melbourne Cricket Club’s (MCC) Northern Stand project, the company not only coordinated demolition and civil teams on the site, but completed the tasks ahead of schedule.24

Douglas Construction & EngineeringBased in Auchenflower, the Queensland ordinating projects through to handover is a service Recognising that theconstruction company has earned a reputation greatly appreciated by clients. As a result, customers design phase is one ofamong its clients for timely delivery, working closely do not have to try and juggle or manage a plethora of the most importantwith all customers, and quality above all else. consultants to get to the approval phase, document stages of the it, and put it out to tender. “That’s one of the construction process, theSoon after it was incorporated in 1998, the team at advantages of design and construct; the client knows company works withDouglas Construction & Engineering made a right from the beginning what their commitment is outside firms and has in-decision: to focus on quality above all for its clients cost-wise. Sometimes a client may spend $100,000 house design expertiserather than under-price itself on tenders for projects. to $400,000 on design and approval, and then it goes which ensures goals and out to tender, and only then do they find out that the cost optimisation of aArmed with a civil engineering degree and working project is costing more than they budgeted for – and project are achieved. Theas a site engineer for well-known companies such as they’ve already spent the money, so to speak.” construction phase,Leighton Holdings Limited wholly-owned subsidiary which realises theJohn Holland, Alex Douglas worked on a number of With decades of cumulative, hands-on construction execution of a design byinfrastructure sites and shopping centre expansions. industry experience, the dedicated team at Douglas the company or others,Growing up in a business family, Mr Douglas saw the Construction & Engineering has staff with the right showcases theopportunity to form a Queensland-based industrial / skill sets to take on all building projects across company’s proven abilitycommercial construction company of his own, and Southeast Queensland. Able to engineer any to construct a wide rangepursued his vision. building to suit any requirement, the company’s full- of industrial buildings or time team includes a Project Manager, Account commercial complexes,Today, as Company Director, Mr Douglas works with Manager / Accountant, an in-house Architectural all built above industrya highly skilled staff and hundreds of qualified Draughtsman, Junior Contracts Administrator, Site standard site supervisionsubcontractors on a range of projects across the Supervisors / Foremen, Leading Hands, Carpenters, and resulting in astate, from industrial warehouses to manufacturing andApprentice Carpenters. superior quality finish.sites, and multi-purpose buildings to offices. Withprojects ranging in value from approximately $1 In addition to staff, the company prides itself onmillion to $15 million, the company has earned a attracting and retaining skilled subcontractors andreputation for its quality construction and concrete professional associations, such as Architects andwork, particularly with aquatic centres. No matter the Engineers, to ensure all projects are completed toproject, Douglas Construction & Engineering the highest quality of customer satisfaction, on timemaintains its firm commitment to quality from project and on budget. By ensuring all council, governmentinception to handover. and engineering requirements are met on any development, Douglas Construction & Engineering“We’ve built our business up to a high level of quality, goes a step beyond the competition, and makesand it is important to us to maintain that quality and certain that every client’s building or renovationnot drop our price to compete with other people who experience is as worry-free as possible.are offering lower quality,” says Mr Douglas. “Wemade a strategic decision to concentrate on the core “The main thing with our staff and the people we workareas, such as a better skill set, and that is with is that they have to take their job very seriously,”appreciated in the marketplace by our clients.” comments Mr Douglas. “We deliver to a high standard, and expect others to do the same – theyWith projects ranging from the renovation of existing need to pay a lot of attention to detail.”industrial and commercial buildings to theconstruction of new industrial buildings and Working within the spirit of collaboration with clientswarehouses, the company often works within the and staff, the company does everything possible todesign and construct delivery method. Working in guarantee all customer specifications andcollaboration with architects and designs firms, requirements are met, while minimising risk andDouglas Construction & Engineering works with a delivering optimum value for the dollar. Projects arewide variety of skilled subcontractors who have managed professionally and cohesively, whichproven their worth on a regular basis, along with allows for a proper approach to important factorsothers on a project-by-project basis, such as civil such as budget, site, council regulations, buildingengineers and hydraulic engineers. codes, and other parameters which require seamless project management and delivery. This“We have hundreds of subcontractors who work for focus on customer satisfaction has resulted in theus,” says Mr Douglas. “We are looking for quality, and company receiving numerous contracts from repeatthey need to have the resources to be able to do the clients across Queensland.project. If they get past those two criteria, we look attheir price and choose the subcontractor who is most “Our staff has to be client-focused,” emphasises Mrcompetitive and able to comply with the first two Douglas. “One of our greatest assets is that wepoints.” always look at things from not only our perspective, but from our clients’ perspective, and we try and findAble to facilitate all aspects of construction from start common ground at all times.”to finish, Mr Douglas says that managing and co- 25

Standard Bank Building wins award for exceptionalDesign and quality of Fabrication. As the Main Steelwork Contractor on the Project , Tass Engineering ( Pty ) Ltd is proud to be associated with the Project and the prestige that it hasgained in the Rosebank precinct with this award. The new Standard Bank building on the corner of facing facades of the office towers have narrower Baker and Oxford Roads in Rosebank has been atria, stretching from podiums at first-floor level all the awarded the coveted Tubular Category Award at the way up to their roof levels, bringing in substantial recent thirty second annual Steel Awards hosted by natural light to the inner-office floor spaces. the Southern African Institute of Steel Construction in Johannesburg. The desire from the Façade/Structural Engineers was to utilise very large panes of glass in the end walls of One of the judges representing the Association of the atria so that the external envelope gridding was Steel Tube and Pipe Manufacturers of South Africa large in proportion , thereby reflecting the large space said “ the project used tubes in an aesthetically that was the atrium itself. Because of steels superior pleasing and effective manner both from an stiffness and strength over aluminium it was possible architectural and engineering point of view , while the to utilize nearly a full standard stock sheet of glass in quality of fabrication also impressed “. the gridding of the facades. This gridding is also successfully reflected in the eastern and western The architectural vision was for an “ institutional atria. building “ with a transparent exterior that reflected Standard Banks desire for transparency with its client The north south atrium is fantastically transparent base. To this end steel and glass played an when viewed from faraway suburbs as well as from instrumental role in ensuring that this vision was within and achieves the transparency that the achieved. architect was seeking. In addition the northern atrium “hangs” from a giant one storey deep steel truss The stunning development consists of two office elegantly cross braced and bridging the divide towers of nine and eleven stories each atop a between the eastern and western blocks of the multilevel underground car park. The towers are building. This hanging steelwork grid then supports joined by a 36m-wide, nine-story high, north-south the end wall glazing of the atrium and allows elegantly running atrium enclosing multilevel escalators and crafted and glazed steel entrance canopies and link bridges at the southern end. The east- and west- covered regions to float beneath the northern façade.26

The major challenge, from an engineering and fabrication point of view, was the need to achieve structurallysound connections throughout the exposed tubular members with clean smooth lines and no exposedconnection bolts. This had particular relevance in the two main support girders on the northern façade andstep-down roof, due to the extremely high forces that are carried by these girders. The end result was onlyachieved through excellent communication between the design engineers and the steelwork contractors.In addition to its exceptional design and build quality , the building has also achieved a Five Star Design ratingwith the Green Building Council of South Africa and is on track to achieving a similar rating for its “as built”operation. The building generates its own power with a tri-generation plant and has many innovative featurestoo numerous to mention. The external envelope façade is cutting edge technology with the use of a tripleglazed façade with active blinds in the cavity between the triple glazing making for a modern highly energyefficient and transparent external envelope to the building. 27



Forté ApartmentsIn just a few weeks, Australia will become home to only minutes away by foot and Southern Cross Forte’s use of Crossthe tallest timber building on the planet. Forte, a station is an easy ten minute walk. A bike share point Laminated Timber isresidential apartment complex rising over 10 stories, is also just minutes away and tenants are provided arguably its greenestwill also be the first of its kind on the continent. Lend with a dedicated bike rack on ground level. When a feature, however. In fact,Lease, the company behind the innovative, car is necessary, a car share point is conveniently CLT advocates believeenvironmentally friendly project, is constructing the located directly in front of the building. A vegetable that more widespread use23 boutique apartments and four townhouses using garden will also be included on each apartment of the material could be aCross Laminated Timber (CLT) to create a balcony to promote locally grown produce and plausible strategy inrevolutionary tower with walls, floors, and ceilings healthy living. combating global climatemade of solid wood. change. CLT buildings Green Magazine reports that, when compared to the require less energy toCross Laminated Timber, or CLT, is an engineered concrete and steel standard, Forte’s construction heat and cool thanwood product that proponents believe has the process will reduce carbon dioxide equivalent conventional concretepotential to rival steel and concrete as the go-to emissions by a dramatic 1,400 tonnes. Furthermore, structures. Furthermore,building material of the future. The product is formed the carbon locked inside Forte’s wood panels via concrete requires anby bonding thin timber boards to one another, photosynthesis helps to offset whatever greenhouse energy intensivecreating layers. Unlike other engineered wood gases will be released during the build. The construction process thatproducts such as glued laminated timber – or environmental benefits of CLT, combined with the produces a substantialGLULAM – each board is positioned perpendicular to building’s energy efficient design, will grant the high amount of greenhousethe previous one, enabling the material to retain its rise at least ten years of carbon neutrality. gases. Switching fromshape better. Up to 11 layers are then coated in glue, concrete to woodhydraulically pressed, and trimmed until a solid Another benefit of Cross Laminated Timber is that, significantly reduces atimber panel is formed. because the panels are premade in a factory, on site structure’s carbon construction time is greatly reduced. By using CLT, footprint because fewerThe process is completed using computer guided Forte will be completed in only nine months, 30 per greenhouse gases aresaws and drills to carefully cut out the exact cent faster than with a traditional steel and concrete produced during the buildmeasurements of each architectural detail, from structure. The shorter build time translates into itself. Any concrete thatwindows and doors to ventilation and plumbing environmental savings by reducing construction Forte does use containsopenings, as well as passageways for electrical related traffic and waste. And, because time is high fly ash content,wiring. Although the end result may sound like money for any builder, economic savings may be which is lighter and moreoversized plywood, the manufacturing process substantial as well. energy efficient thanactually creates a product able to withstand the same typical concrete, yetpressure as prefabricated concrete. Furthermore, An obvious counterargument to CLT’s environmental every bit as strong.because CLT is designed and produced in a advantages is the fact that panels require a largecontrolled environment, it takes less time and money amount of wood. In fact, a standard CLT wall is likelyto build and can achieve higher quality finishes. to use six times more wood than a traditionally built wall of the same size. Advocates point out that treesBut can a high rise really be constructed entirely from are a renewable resource and that CLT should onlywood – even wood endowed with super strength? utilise timber from responsibly managed forests.Proponents explain that CLT panels are more closely Europe is the site of most of the timber felled for CLT,related to concrete than timber frame, and that CLT and the New York Times reports that Austria, whichactually makes a lot more sense than traditional enjoys a long history of well managed forests,construction in which relatively small wooden beams provides around 80 per cent of CLT panels for theare fashioned together using weaker materials like world market. Rather than opting for a plantationplywood and plasterboard. CLT panels also work timber, most CLT is made from European spruce,together to evenly distribute the building load, which has an average rotation of around 70 years.insuring against progressive collapse and evenenabling the building to remain standing if one area is Another common concern is the risk of fire. To many,destroyed by an explosion or other unexpected a high rise constructed from wood – regardless of thedisaster. high tech manufacturing process – sounds like a death trap waiting to happen. However, according toIn fact, CLT has already proven its worth in several the New York Times, CLT panels can’t ignite as easilybuildings up to nine stories tall, and developers are as the smaller wooden beams traditionally used ineager to push the envelope even further. In October construction. As anyone who has struggled to light aof this year, Forte will edge out European competition campfire knows, fires are started using twigs and– London’s Bridport House and Stadthaus – by 242 small bits of wood – not something as large as CLT’scentimetres to earn the title of world’s tallest wooden massive prefabricated panels. And, if the worstresidential building. The Melbourne based project is should happen, the interior of a CLT panel isthe brainchild of Lend Lease, an international designed to remain intact even if the outside isproperty and infrastructure group with a long charred, enabling the building to remain structurallystanding commitment to sustainable building. sound. As an extra precaution, panels are coated in fire retardant finishes.In keeping with its core philosophy, the groupcarefully designed the $11 million tower to minimise CLT technology was developed in central Europe inenvironmental impact throughout its lifetime. the 1990s, and though it has become relativelyRainwater will be collected in dedicated tanks for use popular on that continent, the material has beenin the building’s fire system and toilets. All of Forte’s slower to catch on in other regions of the world. Northcommon areas will use motion activated LEDs for America has recently begun to delve into the newenergy efficient lighting. Tenants can also easily technology, and now, with Forte, Australia is testingmanage without owning a car, reducing the collective the waters. The innovative structure may only be thecarbon footprint even further – trams and buses are beginning of what engineered wood can achieve, 29

Coober Pedy The bizarre landscape The South Australian town lies along a barren stretch a little incentive because mining for opal within the surrounding the of outback halfway between Adelaide and Alice town’s borders is no longer officially allowed. But who Springs. Four thousand residents from 45 different is to say a resident can’t enlarge that back bedroomunderground city adds countries have been drawn to the desolate settlement just a bit… to the science fiction by a cache of precious opal lurking somewhere effect. Film makers beneath the surface. These hidden gems are every bit The secret to Coober Pedy’s dugout success lies in as enticing – and elusive – as a pirate’s treasure from the area’s geological makeup – sandstone.from around the globe the pages of an old fashioned adventure novel. But, Sandstone is ideal for tunnelling. It takes little effort to have come to shoot a unlike the romantic imaginings of Treasure Island, no dig through, yet is very strong and stable, so cave-ins picture in the nearby X marks the spot in Coober Pedy. Instead, countless are never an issue. As a result, homebuilding requires hands (and more recently machines) have hollowed no understanding of architecture or engineering. No Painted Desert, the out the earth in this unforgiving, isolated outpost, one needs to stop and ponder ceiling heights or spans Moon Plain, and the searching for the mesmerising stone that most will in Coober Pedy. If you can dream it up, you can build itBreakaways, including never find. – or dig it, rather. Mad Max: Beyond To up the ante even more, only 5 per cent of all the opal Also, the buildings aren’t actually dug deeply into theThunderdome, Ground found in Coober Pedy has any value. A whopping 95 ground, as many people assume. Most structures areZero, Fire in the Stone, per cent is colourless – and completely worthless. A actually tunnelled into hillsides and have ground level prospector could spend his whole life here and never entrances, with rooms stretching back into the hill Pitch Black, Priscilla, earn a single dollar. behind. One of the community’s underground Queen of the Desert, churches, for example, has a sizable stone façade Few Coober Pedy residents unearth the opal of their (complete with steeple) that, to the uninitiated, might and Red Planet. dreams. But, the countless hours of tunnelling and be mistaken for the entire structure. Coober Pedy’s digging have not been completely in vain. Theunderground buildings decades of effort have created an underground city of Homes often utilise natural light in the front rooms and striking natural sorts – a strange, science fiction-like community (usually the kitchen and the living room) through wide landscape are so hiding beneath the surface of an inhospitable desert. ventilator shafts. Bedrooms are often placed at the captivating, in fact, back of the house to create a dark, quiet environment that tourism has Tourists may be surprised to discover that the Coober ideal for sleeping. These backrooms are still become a crucial, Pedy dugouts are not the dark, cramped, caves many ventilated, but with narrower vertical shafts. In fact, on stabilising source of people imagine. These underground homes, hotels, some Coober Pedy hillsides, the only evidence of the income for the hit-or- shops and churches are truly state of the art feats of bustling life below are the clusters of tubes poking miss opal seeking imagination, thrift, and Australian self-reliance. In the through the ground. early years, Coober Pedy dugouts were hollowed out community. of hillsides completely by hand. For example, Faye Nowadays, modern tunnelling machines do all the Nayler, with the help of two friends, painstakingly dug work, so creating or expanding a home is much easier out her home using only picks and shovels – a process than when Ms Nayler dug hers out by hand. The that took an entire decade to complete. tunnelling equipment also leaves an interesting, aesthetic pattern across the walls. The sandstone is But what a home it is. Ms Nayler’s underground already a lovely swirl of rich maroon and warm rose, so residence boasts three bedrooms with walk in closets, no painting or decorating is necessary. Homeowners a living room, bar, wine cellar, billiard room, and even a just add a coat of clear sealer to ward off dust and the swimming pool. The home’s construction began new room is move-in ready. almost 60 years ago by the local mail truck driver, who shovelled out a room to serve as an all-in-one living Living conditions have also improved since the space. When Ms Nayler bought the property from him, settlement’s early, rugged days. Today, Coober Pedy she took it upon herself to convert the cramped interior dugouts boast all the comforts of a modern home, from into the home of her dreams. stoves and microwaves to electric lights and running water. When the community was first established, This is one reason why the town’s underground however, life was much more difficult for residents. housing is so enticing. Just about anyone can design Water and provisions, for example, had to be hauled and build their own home – using no more than a pick, long distances through harsh terrain. Today, water shovel, and the earth itself. Truly, Coober Pedy is the from an underground source 24 km north of the ultimate in do it yourself construction. Too many settlement is pumped through an underground clothes for the bedroom closet? No worries – just pipeline to a desalination/reverse osmosis plant chisel out some extra space. Need more shelving? before arriving in underground kitchens and Just dig another hole in the wall. Feeling a bit too bathrooms. cramped? Dig a second, third, or fourth bedroom. Or, like Ms Nayler, hollow out a space large enough for a billiard table and, voila – instant game room. And of course, with every “new addition” or “remodel” there is always that glorious chance of unearthing the opal mother lode. In fact, this possibility creates more than30

Constructing a Clear View to the Future. In 2004, the CRC for Construction Innovation (CRC- commonwealth forward in a very real way. Many small- and medium-CI) – now the Sustainable Built Environment National sized firms do indeed findResearch Centre (SBEnrc) – introduced its 2020 Says Mr McCarthy, “Construction is the backbone ofConstruction Vision Report. The report is the result of the Australian economy. If the industry uses its it difficult to compete inthe collection and analysis by the CRC-IC of direct resources more effectively and realises its efficiency today’s tight markets.industry input gathered through a series of by reducing the construction cost and time, andworkshops held between November 2003 and increasing quality, Australian industry as a whole will Although some supportFebruary 2004 in every Australian capital city. be more competitive.” does exist within theThrough workshop discussions and a questionnaire, industry via researchthe CRC-CI was able to craft its Vision for the built In a more recent paper co-written in 2008 by Maryenvironment industry based on real concerns of Hardie of the School of Engineering at University of organisations such as theindustry players and the expected improved future Western Sydney and Karen Manley of the Project SBEnrc, take-up of thatenvironment in which its stakeholders would like to Management Academy at Queensland University of technology into thework. Technology, entitled Exemplars of Successful construction industry – Innovation Delivery by Small and Medium and specifically its SMEThose concerns were not trivial, as noted by CRC Construction Enterprises, the authors explore the sector – is a complex–CI Chair, John McCarthy, who did not mince words different challenges faced by SMEs – which make up process involving anin his Foreword to the Vision Report. “Our industry is the preponderance of the Australian construction intricate network ofunder pressure,” he stated. “Globalisation, advances industry (with a reported ninety-four per cent ofin technology, environmental factors and changes in Australian construction businesses employing fewer researchers, sponsors ofthe structure of the Australian economy are than five people each). research, clients,presenting new challenges. To increase itscontribution to Australia’s wellbeing and to capture According to the paper, these businesses are less consultants, contractors,new opportunities, the industry must respond likely to embrace innovation and technology due to a trade and industrypositively.” variety of factors ranging from lack of money (and by extension, also a lack of skills and time), to lack of associations, and otherBear in mind, this report was published eight years supplier support, to a reliance on “tried, tested and parties.ago – well before the game changing GFC, before true techniques.”the threat of China’s competitive rise became critical,and before the skilled labour shortages. Certainly, in They write, “In recent years the concept of innovation2004 the year 2020 must have seemed to be but a as a driver of industry performance has been widelyfaraway dream, a dazzling ideal. Today, however, embraced by large, international constructioneight years after the Vision Report was released, we companies but this lead has not necessarily beenare at its halfway point and while the industry is by no followed by SMEs.” At the same time, SMEs aremeans behind the times, it has been debated known by many as a lively source of new ideas,whether its gusto for research and innovation has typically backed by hard-earned skills and qualitybeen strong enough to take us the rest of the way to craftsmanship.our 2020 Vision. “Among the most effective characteristics of smallIndeed, such a vision was necessary in the early and medium sized firms,” their study continues, “is2000s, with the construction industry – according to their innate flexibility and their tendency to favourthe Australian Bureau of Statistics – contributing an multi-skilling. Despite this ability to respond toaverage of nearly six per cent of Australia’s GDP particular circumstances quickly, the absence ofwhile maintaining one of the lowest proportions of significant levels of spare capacity or even of thebusiness innovating at 30.7 per cent. most basic resources can sometimes lead to a tendency for SME construction firms to rely heavilyIn a 2004 publication entitled Improving Technology on ‘business as usual’ solutions rather than riskTransfer in the Australian Construction Industry, co- adopting new or innovative practices.”authors Dr David Thorpe of the University ofSouthern Queensland and Professor Neal Ryan of State Thorpe and Ryan, “While there have beenQueensland University of Technology lamented this successes in terms of achieving this transfer (thediscrepancy. construction industry has generally been quite“This is clearly not a low rate,” they wrote, “but it is innovative), there is a need to improve the rate atwell behind that of other industries such as which innovation occurs in the industry.”communication services, electricity, gas and watersupply, in which over half the businesses undertook What does this mean for the built environmentinnovation.” industry in Australia? How can we overcome the hurdles of skilled labour shortages, limited businessUnquestionably, the construction industry’s opportunities and extreme competition from largecontribution to the Australian economy – in terms of multinationals enough so that we might also advanceGDP and employment – is significant. It is precisely the state of the art? What does it take to transformfor this reason that the industry has the ability – and new ideas into new technologies, industry gaps intoperhaps even the responsibility – to drive the industry niches? 31

Ozcrete Pools Ozcrete Pools has Having previously spent nine years as Site Backyard pools that may only ever be used by adeveloped a reputation Manager, Mr Smith knows firsthand that Ozcrete family of five require regular maintenance and projects are completed on time and to budget. The occasional replacing of parts and the same is true for for excellence and company will never compromise on quality, a commercial pool. In the latter case, however, failing innovation since Roy providing clients from councils to schools with to perform proper maintenance and repairs can Barby founded it back hassle-free pool solutions. “Give us a ring if you’ve create a public health hazard so besides buildingin 1988. Roy’s nephew, got an idea about building a pool,” says the commercial pools, Ozcrete also specialises in company. maintenance, renovations and repairs. company Product Manager Andrew There was a time when Ozcrete built domestic “That’s actually more than half our business,” says Mr Smith, credits Roy for pools as well as commercial pools. “We haven’t Smith. “A lot of the Olympic pools, especially the his vision, knowledge done any domestic pools for about seven years Department of Education ones, were all built in the and experience. “I’ve now,” comments Mr Smith. “The market here is seventies so the pipe work, filtration systems andbeen in the industry for very small and nothing like it was eight years ago.” finishes deteriorate over that time and need to be eleven years, but he’s replaced.” To this end, Ozcrete provides abeen in the industry for With the domestic pool market having shrunk comprehensive repairs and maintenance service. a lot longer than I significantly, Ozcrete Pools soon advanced to larger scale projects. Building commercial pools is At the moment, the company performs a lot of work have.” a very different proposition compared to building surrounding plant rooms and converting paved domestic pools. “We’re talking multi-panel pools Olympic pools to fully tiled pools. The company can with water joints in them and water stock and 24/7 even convert scum gutter style pools to wet deck style filtration systems…” Mr Smith explains. pools by modifying the old pool shell, resulting in a reduced maintenance pool that has a new lease on The company has an impressive project portfolio life. including a water play park at Maroochydore’s Cotton Tree Aquatic Centre; a learn-to-swim pool Then there are the company’s eco pools that reduce at Sheldon College; and a twenty-five metre pool water usage and save money. Ozcrete estimates that in Noosa. “That was actually our first job as an a Queensland pool will experience around 1.2 metres incorporated company,” shares Mr Smith. “We of evaporation per year; normally, the rainwater from moved from doing subcontract work (we used to the catchment area of a pool is wasted. “What we do do a lot of work with Q-Build). Back in the days, we is take that water and store it in underground tanks also used to do pools for apartment-type built as a part of the pool shell, and you use that water complexes and work like that when the building to top the pool up when it’s not raining.” boom was on. We got to the stage where we thought, ‘we have to start tendering the jobs on our No matter what the job, the team of professional own,’ so that was the first job we tendered as a multi-skilled tradesmen at Ozcrete Pools take great building company.” pride in workmanship. They have been trained to do everything from concrete and steel work to finishing Ozcrete Pools provides great value to clients over and tiling. “That’s the way our company works,” says the long term. Over the years, it has developed Mr Smith. “We’ve got guys on staff with machinery superior systems and techniques for building, licences, and we can virtually do everything on our renovating and repairing commercial pools and own.” plant rooms. Time-tested systems and techniques for construction and renovation are incorporated Half of Ozcrete’s project work comes through public into all project work. “We can go to plant rooms tender and the other half comes through referral, Mr now, and see that the people who built them in the Smith estimates. “Being a small industry, word of seventies built them to last,” says Mr Smith. “A lot mouth goes around, and we do a lot of work in the of the later stuff was built to a price.” education sector – both private and public schools.” It is pointless, Mr Smith believes, to incorporate Although Ozcrete Pools has a fantastic reputation in cheap pool components, lasting only a few years, the commercial pool industry, Mr Smith is honest into a design. Being the product manager, Mr about the fact that some client expectations of costs Smith is involved in sourcing the best quality are unrealistic. “We’ve been looking at doing components from right around the world and he business outside of South East Queensland and develops the control systems for advanced sometimes the misconception of what a commercial touchscreen plant rooms. “A little bit more of an pool costs compared to a backyard pool is huge. investment at the start makes the product last a lot That’s been a learning curve for us. There are some longer, and it’s good for our business too,” he smaller councils out in the country that really don’t says. “We do import from the United States, Italy, have an understanding of costs.” A filtration system Turkey and China; they’re the major areas. From built for twelve backyard pools, for example, is not the start of the global financial crisis, to maintain suitable for a commercial pool that may be used by some sort of profit level, we had to go and search three hundred people a day, and cutting corners for the components on our own.” Mr Smith when building commercial pools inevitably leads to emphasises that Ozcrete Pools only sources the ongoing problems down the track for the client and in best components on the market including some cases can even become a public health issue. European pump, American filters and Italian “It’s a unique industry and if you get the pool right the chemical systems, while all of the electrical first time, there are no problems. If you get it wrong, components areAustralian made. it’s a continuing nightmare – a headache forever.”32