Tainui Bridge project takes top contracting award

Media Release

5 August 2005

Tainui Bridge project takes out top contracting award

A project to strengthen the landmark Tainui Bridge which links Huntly across the Waikato River has won the New Zealand Contractors’ Federation/Hirepool Construction Award for programmes worth in excess of $5 million dollars.

The project, by contracting firm Brian Perry Civil of Hamilton, was named ahead of three other Category Five finalists at a black-tie function at Christchurch’s Convention Centre at the conclusion of the Contractors’ Federation’s two-day annual conference.

The Tainui Bridge, which provides critical access for Genesis Power’s Huntly Power Station underwent a $16 million upgrade and strengthening, including new trademark steelwork arches. All work had to be completed with minimal disruption to highway and pedestrian traffic disruption, and amid stringent environmental guidelines.

NZCF Chief Executive Richard Michael said the project – and the four other category winners - were stellar examples of the civil contracting industry’s skill and professionalism.

“We’re talking about large scale engineering projects that are delivered on time and within budget, and completed under the most trying and strenuous conditions, often in remote parts of the country during adverse weather conditions.

“It is projects like these five winners – and the countless others that are undertaken by New Zealand Contractors’ Federation members – that ensure New Zealand’s vital infrastructure links are maintained, improved and expanded. Without this type of work New Zealand could not grow economically,” he said.

“For funders, these awards highlight the key role that Contractors’ Federation members are playing in delivering the kind of infrastructure New Zealand needs for future economic and social sustainability,” Mr Michael said.

Applicants for the awards, now in their 27th year, are judged on such key aspects as their professionalism, construction methods, customer relations, human resources, teamwork, partnering, planning and control, quality control, pre-planning, financial controls, location and logistics, site control and risk.

According to Tenby Powell, Managing Director of Hirepool Limited, principal sponsor of the New Zealand Contractors’ Federation, “these awards reflect the outstanding service industry members contribute to this country’s continued growth.

“These five winners represent the very best of what those involved in civil engineering, construction and general contracting do on a daily basis. I congratulate them, the other finalists and all those in this industry for the part they play in developing New Zealand.

“They really are the unsung heroes. Too often the work these industries play in developing and maintaining New Zealand’s economy across a range of infrastructural services, so critical to enabling a modern economy like ours compete efficiently in world markets, is overlooked.”

The civil contracting industry provides and maintains the country's infrastructure of public services - including energy, transport and telecommunications. The Contractors’ Federation is the national organisation of the industry

NZCF / HIREPOOL CONSTRUCTION AWARDS 2005

Award Winners

Category One – Projects having a value less than $100,000

King Drilling Company Ltd for Karangahake School Piling

Category Two – Projects having a value between $100,000 and $500,000

Clothier Earthworks Limited for Waipapa Catchment Storm water Upgrade

Category Three – Projects having a value between $500,000 and $1,000,000

Kreisel Contracting Ltd for Development of two Rock Pools, Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa

Merit Award

Kevin Purser Contracting Limited for Hutt Park Development

Category Four – Projects having a value between $1,000,000 and $5,000,000

Harker Underground Construction for Harris Street Trenchless Stormwater Upgrade – Wellington

Category Five – Projects having a value greater than $5,000,000

Brian Perry Civil for Tainui Bridge Strengthening Works

Merit Award:

Freeflow Alliance, Fletcher Construction Company, Transit, Beca and Higgins Contractors for Loosening Tangled Spaghetti – Central Motorway Junction, Auckland

ENDS

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