BGC Bulletin October Edition by bgcarck

ISSUE 17 - OCTOBER 2021

the

Bulletin Building the future for more Australians

Tradie HQ Partnership

Laying a new foundation Midland Brick and Brikmakers have come together as one, rebranded as Midland Brick. READ MORE ON PAGE 4

BGC Housing Group is proud to announce the launch of its partnership with Tradie HQ. READ MORE ON PAGE 10

New prime mover Volvos hit the road The first six of BGC Transports new Volvo Prime Movers are now on the road. READ MORE ON PAGE 28

MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

Daniel Cooper, Chief Executive Officer Our staff in NSW, Victoria and New Zealand are currently in restrictive and extended COVID-19 enforced lockdowns. This is a very serious matter for those involved in each location and together with their fellow residents they are all taking up the vaccination challenge. Each day they face the difficult prospect of on-going personal restrictions and we need to support each other through this period. We can all help by simply asking our work mates, family and friends “Are you OK?” As the COVID-19 situation has worsened on the east coast, the people in these areas have responded. In other less affected states, whist we have some early adopters, on average there has been less urgency to get vaccinated. In the COVID-19 free states

we should be using this environment to take the opportunity to prepare ourselves for a potential outbreak. Your families, workmates and community will be appreciative of you taking action and getting yourself vaccinated. I can not encourage this strongly enough to protect yourself and those around you. For those who have already rolled up their sleeve, I thank each and every one of you who have taken action. There are other significant impacts resulting from border closures and restrictive rules; our supply chain and logistics present us with daily challenges, from receiving shipments from overseas to trucks crossing borders, plus the very real impacts of skills shortages in many areas. I am very proud of our teams in all of our business units who have had to adapt and find new ways to ensure we don’t let our customers down. At times like this our vertically integrated business model at BGC, where we control much of our own supply, has enabled us to provide unique solutions in most circumstances. Despite these challenges, the team at our new integrated brick and masonry business, Midland Brick, proudly displayed our recently refreshed brand at their launch functions. The

“At times like this our vertically integrated business model at BGC, where we control much of our own supply, has enabled us to provide unique solutions in most circumstances.” - Daniel Cooper

signage, the uniforms and all Midland Brick branding looks sharp, contemporary and proud. Congratulations to all involved in the integration process and a special thank you to Claire Perks, Leigh Millar and Dennis Druzianich for the marketing and planning required to deliver such a successful launch.

The funds raised from the Ride will go towards refuges in Western Australia for women and children experiencing or at risk of family and domestic violence. A BGC team and a newly branded Midland Brick team will leave from Busselton to Perth and will endure two solid days of riding.

As we begin to emerge from COVID there are also opportunities for progressive companies to drive growth. At BGC we focus on sustainability. Our management team recently met and identified an extensive list of opportunities to strengthen our Environmental, Social and Governance Strategy. We have a number of exciting projects underway and a strong pipeline of future initiatives. Our consumers and customers expect nothing less. In particular sustainability and carbon reduction is an exciting area for all of our staff to be involved in. We see it as an area of opportunity and growth which will create value.

Please take care during these challenging times and remember to roll up your sleeve to protect your family, workmates and yourself.

In order to support the communities in which we operate and raise awareness and funding, we have two teams of riders participating in the 2021 Ride Against Domestic Violence.

BGC Bulletin - Issue 17 | 3

MIDLAND BRICK

Laying a new foundation Midland Brick and Brikmakers have decided to come together as one consolidated operating business, rebranded as Midland Brick. Over the last several months a unified business strategy has been developed with the aim of incorporating the voice of our customers and employees. Midland Brick have taken the opportunity to build on the strength of the two brands by bringing together the qualities, values, strengths, and experience of both organisations. The decision to unify two brands recognises the 75-year history of the Midland Brick brand together with the investment in quality and service which is widely recognised throughout WA, whilst establishing a strong platform to build a competitive advantage. Bricks and Masonry General Manager Vince Scarvaci said, “It’s allowed us to reflect on the 4

amazing achievements of both Brikmakers and Midland Brick and gave us a clear perspective on how best to move forward to become a future ready organisation that can provide quality service and reliability to every customer while honouring our heritage”. There has been a lot of effort to date devoted to combining, revising, and improving manufacturing processes to consolidate the product offering. For retail customers, these changes were implemented on September 1st. The Brikmakers website was redirected to the refreshed midlandbrick.com.au website, where products can be purchased online 24/7. This

Midland Brick are establishing the best opportunity for success now and into the future.

innovation will be followed in October with the migration to a new trade sales system which is currently under development. By combining the strength of both Brikmakers and Midland Brick brands in creating a refreshed, reinvigorated business, Midland Brick are establishing the best opportunity for success now and into the future.

BGC Bulletin - Issue 17 | 5

BGC HOUSING GROUP

The Asana by Commodore Homes wins Best Display Home at the MBA awards Congratulations to Commodore Homes who have recently taken home the title for ‘Best Display Home from $220,000 - $240,000’ for The Asana display home, at the Master Builders Association Awards 2021. The Asana display home is a family orientated home with 4-Bedrooms, 2-Bathrooms based in the heart of Southern River’s estate, Ambia. The Asana possesses an industrial yet modern and sophisticated feel, with the colours and textures reflecting the contemporary neutral tones of the surrounding landscape, including a

range of feature materials designed to add texture, glamour, and scale. Named after the Sanskrit word for yoga poses, the home aims to reflect the themes of balance and alignment. The Asana home design is perfect for growing families and couples who love the outdoors and have a passion for entertaining, and the open-plan design is appealing to those who enjoy coming together. Designer Darren Spragg created the home using an open-plan design, with the aim of incorporating living spaces

Best Display Home from $220,000 - $240,000’ for The Asana display home, at the Master Builders Association Awards 2021

BGC Bulletin - Issue 17 | 7

to the front of the home, enhancing social interaction, and taking advantage of the surrounding bushland and park views. The home also features a breeze block wall from Midland Brick, which provides utility in its filtering of light, ventilation and gives the home a sense of openness and privacy. The Marketing team at Commodore Homes submitted the Asana into the category for best Display home in the price range of 220,00 to 240,000, where the home was then judged by a Master Builders Association Panel, taking home the title in this category over amongst stiff competition from other home builders. Commodore Homes General Manager, Jared Stone, said the builder was honoured to accept the award for The Asana as Best Display Home for $220,000 - $240,000 at the Master Builders Association Awards. “This prestigious win would not be possible without the team effort from Darren Spragg – Senior Designer, Studio Cult – Interior Designers and the BGC Construction team,” Jared said.

Well done to the Commodore team on a fantastic and well-deserved achievement.

The Asana shines light on the things that bring people together in joy and social cohesion - it’s an architectural celebration of life, nature, music, entertainment, art and fun.

BGC HOUSING GROUP

BGC Housing Group partners with Tradie HQ BGC Housing Group is proud to announce the launch of its partnership with Tradie HQ. Tradie HQ is an Aussie-first industry co-working space, which aims to support mental wellbeing and connection between trades. Since opening its doors in December 2020, Tradie HQ has exponentially grown its network to house over 1,400 members. The dedicated co-working space for construction trades aims to bridge the gap for often isolated small business and sole traders by providing a dedicated office space and industry support hub. Tradie HQ is conveniently located in Osborne Park and available 24/7 for members to access. The space currently features hot-desks and office facilities, a gym space, commercial kitchen, and large workshop. In addition to the Tradie HQ amenities, the ‘BGC Housing Group Room’ will be accessible to BGC Housing Group contractors and sub-contractors. The Room will feature a workspace, couch, television, and computer. In addition, BGC Housing Group will be contributing to Tradie HQ’s educational series and social events, throughout the one-year partnership. BGC Housing Group Executive General Manager, Michael Bartier acknowledged it’s never been more important to support the industry and create opportunities for connection across speciality trade fields. “BGC Housing Group is proud to be coming on board and supporting Tradie HQ’s industry-leading initiative to support the wellbeing and growth of our local trades. By supporting this grass-roots community network, BGC Housing Group and Trade HQ are paving the way for a sustainable future for trades in WA by making it accessible and appealing to work within the industry. “We understand the importance of developing industry relationships and maintaining a people-focused approach in business. Through Tradie HQ, BGC Housing Group aims to encourage industry-connection and education by supplying a wide range of educational material and hosting workshops to support trade growth and development,” said Bartier.

In addition to supporting Tradie HQ’s existing members, BGC Housing Group trades will all receive membership giving them access to the Tradie HQ network and perks of the co-working space. Tradie HQ Founder, Dan Bailey highlights the importance of a leading industry heavy weight supporting the initiative and welcomed the partnership with BGC Housing Group.

“We’re incredibly excited to be welcoming BGC Housing Group as Tradie HQ’s first official residential builder partner. This partnership will support us in enhancing our member experience in the space, as well as supporting the personal development of our members.” “Tradie HQ is the first-of-its-kind initiative in Australia and our exponentially growing member base highlights the need for this service. Particularly during this demanding time where we’re seeing a large amount of pressure placed on the residential housing industry, it’s important that we maintain the health and wellbeing of trades — which is exactly what Tradie HQ aims to support with the backing of partners such as BGC Housing Group,” said Bailey.

Above: Michael Bartier, Daniel Bailey, Ian Nichol.

BGC Bulletin - Issue 17 | 11

BGC Precast are providing over a thousand 17 metre spanning, 400mm deep hollowcore slab panels, supported by 238 precast beams.

BGC PRECAST

Multi-deck car park for High Wycombe Station BGC Precast have just completed the final deliveries for a landmark hollowcore project for the Forrestfield-Airport Link. The project is the construction of a three-level carpark comprising 22,000 sqm of 400mm deep, 17m spanning hollowcore panels, 3,200 sqm of wall panels, and 238 precast beams. This prestigious large carpark is part of the new underground rail link to the Perth airport and covers an area at Forrestfield of approximately thirteen thousand square metres. The negotiations for this project commenced 4 years ago and involved extensive design collaboration by BGC’s inhouse structural engineers, Phil Surridge and Dan Jones, to arrive at a cost-effective structure resulting in a winning bid, as the project was put out to tender on a design and construct basis. BGC Precast have provided over a thousand, 17 metre spanning, 400mm deep hollowcore slab panels, supported by 238 precast beams. The 17m span drastically reduces the number of support columns and increases the amenity of the carpark by giving it an open feel. Edge panels, lift and stair cores comprising of 136 wall panels were added to the project, with the ramps also being provided in hollowcore. The carpark project once completed, will be owned by PTA, being the Perth Transport Authority.

BGC Bulletin - Issue 17 | 13

BGC PLASTERBOARD

Introducing GTEK Smartwall- WA’s Premium Internal Wall Lining System BGC Plasterboard have been working closely with BGC Housing Group to offer a new, environmentally friendly and energy efficient plasterboard option for new home construction. GTEK™ Smartwall contains a host of environmental and structural benefits such as a smooth wall finish, sharp defined corners and no joint or cornice cracking. It provides improved acoustics and thermal insulation and is also backed by a lifetime no-crack guarantee.

The new offering means Homeowners will also benefit from improved internal sound quality, temperature comfort, and the peace of mind that comes with selecting products that are environmentally friendly and locally owned here in WA. BGC Plasterboard General Manager Roger Brynjulfsen, said that GTEK™ Smartwall is the obvious choice when building a new home here in WA. “It provides a seamless premium wall finish and crack-free junction with a range of GTEK™ cornice profiles to transition into the plasterboard ceiling.”

Roger Brynjulfsen, Michael Bartier and Danny Cooper.

GTEK™ Smartwall is made from an indefinitely recyclable raw material, gypsum, and has up to 30% less embodied energy than a wet-set

cement-based render. Unique to GTEK™ in WA, any leftover materials and waste can be recycled back into new material avoiding material going into landfill. BGC Housing Group Executive General Manager Michael Bartier, mentioned that the past 12 months had seen a significant increase in the use of GTEK™ Smartwall within the Housing Group builds.

“It provides a seamless premium wall finish and crack-free junction with a range of GTEK™ cornice profiles to transition into the plasterboard ceiling.”

“It’s a great product inclusion for our clients and also assists our construction team with faster installation times and easier paint application than traditional hard wall plaster finishes”.

“GTEK™ Smartwall is made from an indefinitely recyclable raw material, gypsum, and has up to 30% less embodied energy than a wet-set cement-based render.”

BGC Housing Group are the first WA builder to switch to using this type of lining system for our homes. The shift to implementing this environmentally friendly and premium wall lining option is a result of the collaboration and hard work between BGC Plasterboard and BGC Housing Group.

BGC Housing Group are the first Western Australian builder to switch to using this type of lining system for their homes.

Above: Roger Brynjulfsen, Daniel Cooper and Michael Bartier.

BGC CONSTRUCTION

BGC Construction Project Eden West Apartments reaches practical completion The BGC Construction team are proud to announce that their Eden West Apartments project reached practical completion. The impressive 99 Unit apartment project features industry leading common areas, including a Balinese inspired swimming pool, spa, sauna, gymnasium, yoga room, library, theatre, wine rooms and the added bonus of extensive BBQ facilities. The complex has been designed to promote healthy living with three outdoor areas, even including a sun deck overlooking the Perry Lakes Reserve. The large-scale project took almost two years to complete, and the final product provides high quality luxurious apartment living. Construction was completed in March this year, with practical completion being issued by the client.

The large-scale project took almost two years to complete, and the final product provides high quality luxurious apartment living

The build, which includes a total of 99 homes, was finished in an impressive timeframe, especially considering the challenges facing the construction team given delays caused by the pandemic. BGC Construction General Manager David Dodds said of the project “BGC Construction are pleased to achieve Practical Completion for Eden West Apartments. The project demanded a very high level of finish which was significantly impacted due to the fact the project was delivered through the Covid pandemic.”

BGC Bulletin - Issue 17 | 19

Leaders in focus

Janine McKinnon As the Technical Manager for BGC Concrete, I am proud to be part of an organisation that focuses on a diverse workforce and an inclusive workplace. My contribution and hard work are widely acknowledged by my team, especially during these busy times where our work has certainly been cut out for us due to the increased demand for concrete in the housing and commercial construction sector along with recently announced Government funded projects. One of the major challenges facing the sector today, is keeping up with the demand. The entire BGC Concrete team (administration, production, drivers, batchers and sales), are currently working tirelessly to provide the best service to our customers. Putting our suppliers under pressure, Covid has added a further challenge, particularly the suppliers that source raw materials from overseas. The Production team are currently seeking more drivers and trucks to increase capacity, but it is difficult in this tight labour market. BGC’s commitment to a more diverse workforce enables women, like myself, great employment opportunities, including leadership roles. Right now, there is a great opportunity to join a diverse team.

BGC Bulletin - Issue 17 | 21

We expect the high demand to continue until at least the end of 2022. Our customers are also experiencing raw material shortages and significant price increases. Whilst the current climate has been challenging, it has presented us with many opportunities. For example, we have been working closely with some of the impacted Builders to offer concrete slabs with steel fibre as an alternative to steel mesh, and so far, the results have been encouraging. We also see an opportunity for the promotion of our Greenstar and Low Carbon Concrete; with the assistance of Carl Barrett and his team, we are gathering data to develop an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) to enable BGC to present transparent, verified and comparable information about the lifecycle environmental impact of our products and services to the market. Furthermore,

“BGC Concrete is a leader in Lightweight concrete, the knowledge gained has set BGC Concrete up with an opportunity to work with a leading supermarket chain.” the high volume of residential slabs and the sand source trending coarse, has presented us with the opportunity to consume more manufactured sand from the quarry. BGC Concrete has recently supplied several T1 Builders with specialised concrete mixes to satisfy shotcrete and lightweight applications. The challenges of working on such projects will no doubt bring future rewards.

BGC Concrete is a leader in Lightweight concrete, the knowledge gained has set BGC Concrete up with an opportunity to work with a leading supermarket chain utilising a waste product called Polyrok, a concrete aggregate made from lightweight recycled plastic produced from their operations. We are currently conducting admixture trials to look for best alternatives for set time and slump retention, and with the advent of the 4.4-billion-dollar Main Roads & PTA works, BGC Concrete have been conducting compliance trials for all MRWA mixes, to be ready for when any opportunities present themselves in the future.

BGC Construction score win for East Village Karrinyup project In a significant recent win, BGC construction have been awarded a $40million contract with Blackburne Property Group, for the construction of the East Village Apartments at the Karrinyup shopping centre. Blackburne Property have been repeat clients for BGC in the past, having previously worked together most recently on the Essence Apartments. Located just 12 kilometres north of Perth, East Village at Karrinyup by Blackburne is situated in a sought-after area which includes state-ofthe-art recreational amenities and is minutes from some of Perth’s finest beaches. The project is located adjacent to the Karrinyup Shopping Centre which will create some interesting logistical challenges. The shopping centre is currently undergoing a major extension, and the team will be working alongside Multiplex in delivering the work.

As part of the Karrinyup Shopping Centre redevelopment, BGC Construction will be developing 94 luxury high-end residences on the eastern edge of the new Karrinyup Shopping Centre, which will offer incredible views over Lake Gwelup, Perth City and Trigg Beach. East Village Karrinyup is a significant value project and underpins the growth of the construction business into the new financial year. David Dodds General Manager of BGC Construction says of the project “BGC Construction are pleased to be working with Blackburne Property again overseeing the delivery of the East Village Apartments project. The project is closely aligned with our strategic plan, and we are focused on strengthening our relationship with Blackburne as a key client”. The East Village Karrinyup apartments are expected to complete construction in early 2023. BGC Bulletin - Issue 17 | 23

FLOORTECH

Floortech the popular choice with two-storey homes Floortech and BGC Housing Group have come together to provide a new offering for our two-storey homes. Floortech provides builders with innovative solutions that betters every build, by saving time and money with no compromise to quality, functionality and value, and their new offering will enable future BGC homes flexibility and cost-saving benefits. The 4c truss provides additional depth, allowing for easier plumbing installation from Plumbtechnics, as the extra space allows more room for fittings and pipe runs to ducts. This is a feature that will greatly ease design constraints for the builder. Air conditioning can now run between the webbing of the 4c truss foregoing the need for truss modification. This is a great advantage as it provides both cost saving benefits and flexibility of air conditioning changes prior to construction and on site. BGC Housing Group General Manager of Construction Ian Nichol, explains the numerous advantages of employing the new 4c truss for home builds; “The ability to run air conditioning between the webbing of the new 4c truss without the need for truss modification is a great advantage.

This allows for both cost benefits and flexibility of air conditioning changes both prior to construction and on site. The 3c truss needs pre-determined truss block-out modification that are costly and not able to be moved if last minute changes are required.”

“Floortech’s new offering will enable future BGC homes flexibility and cost-saving benefits.”

The new 4c truss from Floortech is now being used in a majority of our new home builds, with projects with the 4c truss consistently increasing over the past few months.

BGC Bulletin - Issue 17 | 25

AFFINITY WINDOWS

Affinity Windows New state-of-the-art facility Affinity Windows’ remarkable success since its establishment has allowed the company to expand to meet its growing demand in residential and commercial markets. On 6th September, the Affinity Windows factory and showroom relocated to 5 Compass Road, Jandakot WA 6164. This new facility offers unconstrained manufacturing capacity with new innovative technology, new equipment and a factory layout that supports efficient and optimized manufacturing. Affinity Windows is commissioning bestin class aluminium converting, automatic cutting and CNC equipment coupled with lean manufacturing initiatives to increase productivity and output capacity. These initiatives are aligned with business strategic goals focussed

on safety, growth and continuous improvement by investing in technology, research and development, training and skills and marketing. All of these improvements echo Affinity Windows commitment to quality and customer service, helping to improve the lives of thousands of Western Australian homeowners.

This expansion is taking the business on an exciting journey to a new state-of-theart manufacturing facility in Jandakot.

BGC Bulletin - Issue 17 | 27

BGC Transports new prime mover Volvos hit the roads After delays in manufacturing and shipping due to COVID-19, all twelve of BGC Transports new Volvo Prime Movers and trailers are now on the road. Four of the new sets have been assigned to the Moora branch to serve the Simcoa contract, giving a new level of safety and reliability for our drivers and clients. The other eight trucks are currently servicing the metro area with our most experienced drivers, garnering great results so far. The new Prime mover Volvos have a host of benefits that will come in handy to optimise both safety and results, some of these benefits include the following-

• A Larger payload due to the lightweight design of the trailers • Onboard front and rear safety cameras • New economical “smart” transmissions for better fuel economy • Improved onboard driver fatigue warning camera • Forward and side facing radar for hazard avoidance and lane changing coverage • LED reverse lights covering more points of the trailers for safety at night • “Quicksilver” bed liner in the trailers to reduce the chance of material sticking in the tray • The latest ergonomic heated seating from Volvo • ABS/EBS innovative braking systems for the truck and trailers

The combination of features between better fuel economy and a larger payload, has great positive implications for the environment too. Fewer trips are needed to supply the same amount of product to the client, and the benefits of this flow through with less tyre wear and truck servicing, whilst also consuming less fuel and oil.

BGC Bulletin - Issue 17 | 29

BGC QUARRIES

BGC Quarries present to Main Roads Bunbury BGC Quarries General Manager Nigel Salter, together with Paul Berkhout and Lisa Watt, recently presented to Main Roads Bunbury regarding the option of crushed rock as an alternative to Limestone and Roadbase. The aim for the presentation was to build relationships, create awareness and further discussion of their crushed rock and quarries capabilities. BGC Quarries Presented to a technical panel of Main Roads engineers and six South West Shires, with the presentation covering the topics of BGC’s history, crushed rock properties, and current approvals, BGC Quarry capabilities and the future of BGC – where we are going and how we are going to meet market demands in the future. Prior to the presentation the team came well prepared as they discussed some of the question that they would likely be asked and spoke about the how the quality of limestone and yellow sand has been lacking as urban development grows. The BGC Quarries team identified that there was an opportunity to market this product in favour of limestone and in some instances, Roadbase. The product had a history of performing on North Link that they felt could be leveraged. Information was then collated from the team and put together a “fact sheet” based on the 501.5 spec vs Limestone and Road Base and showed where it can be used, and where it has been used previously. Knowing that they needed to get the material specified in the site specifications early, they looked to network at associations

resulting in representatives attending the IPWEA networking event. From attending this event the team were given the opportunity to present to the Southwest Region after meeting with some local shire representatives there and asking how using Crushed Rock as an alternative to Limestone and Roadbase could get more visibility. The presentation was arranged through the Chairman of the Southwest Regional Group, Allan Claydon. As a result of the presentation, the Southwest JV project team for Bunbury Outer Ring Road was given a BGC Quarry Tour which has led to discussions now in progress to see how BGC Quarries could supply their Project that estimates around 1 million tonnes.

The aim of the presentation was for relationship building, and to create awareness and further discussion of their crushed rock and quarries capabilities.

Above: Allan Claydon and Nigel Salter.

Previously The BGC Quarries team won the contract to supply to a Public Transport Authority for the Midland Rail site with their crushed rock, and as the test results were approved from there, they aimed to get momentum and discussion happening in the marketplace on all levels within business.

BGC Bulletin - Issue 17 | 31

BGC CONSTRUCTION

Award Winning Showroom - BGC Home Congratulations to the BGC Construction team for winning two awards at the Master Builders WA Excellence in Construction Awards held recently. Their project for the impressive new BGC Home Showroom won the award for ‘Best Building Fit-Out $1.5-$5 million’, while the team also took home the award for Best Seniors/Aged Persons Multi Unit Development $20 - $50 million, with the RAAFA Cirrus Apartments at the Air Force Memorial estate based in Bull Creek. The BGC Home project, delivered by BGC Construction and Creative Solutions, was designed to be the ultimate experience for every home buyer aiming to revolutionise the home building experience for West Australians,

by featuring more industry leading builder brands under the one roof than any other showroom in the state. The BGC Home showroom was officially launched in August last year and features over 1000sqm of inspiration and style to explore. The success is also a credit to the fantastic internal work by BGC Creative Solutions who are going to market with the intention to win with their external fit outs. These awards are a testament to the incredible hard work and efforts from everyone involved, and represents the confidence in our state’s economy, both now and into the future.

BGC Bulletin - Issue 17 | 33

BGC MAJOR SPONSORS

BGC Major Sponsors of Anglicare WA Op Shop Ball 2021

BGC were incredibly proud to sponsor the 2021 Anglicare WA Op Shop Ball, held at a gala event at Crown Towers on May 15. As a fellow WA organisation with a passion for supporting people and communities wherever possible, our goals and values tie in with that of Anglicare WA. At BGC, our driving purpose is to build the future for more Australians, backed by more than 60 years of strength and stability as one of WA’s largest privately-owned companies.

Above: Jane Harries, Ryan Hawkins, Vince and Josephine Scarvaci, Mike and Julianne Allan, Roger and Debbie Brynjulfsen, Jason and Cindy Louis.

We were thrilled to sponsor such an important event as the Anglicare WA Op Shop Ball, and all the good it does. Above: Rachel Hartwig and Jim Moncrieff.

Our story began with one man’s vision to create a fair go for more Australians, allowing more people to experience the joys of home ownership. This ties closely with Anglicare WA’s vision to work together towards a just and fair Western Australia where everyone can thrive, and we’re honoured to support this goal. As one of WA’s largest employers, we have over 2,000 staff employed across our diverse business to cater for a large range of lifestyles and demographics. We’re building Australia through our dedicated construction, transport, building, manufacturing and resources expertise, helping to reimagine what’s

possible. With a strong foundation behind us, and an exciting future ahead, we’re proud to be building the way. Having the opportunity to support a fellow WA owned and operated organisation is one we take very seriously. The work that Anglicare WA does for WA communities is truly remarkable, with support services that offer hope and guidance to those who need it most. From our earliest days, we have always looked for ways to give back where we can, which is why we were thrilled to sponsor such an important event as the Anglicare WA Op Shop Ball, and all the good it does.

BGC Bulletin - Issue 17 | 35

BGC HOUSING GROUP

BGC Home Magazine Issue 2Sustainability is the word Sustainability is the word in focus with the launch of the second issue of BGC Home Magazine – ‘Sustainability Starts at Home’ from BGC Housing Group. This latest instalment of the BGC Home magazine explores what it means to live sustainably from a social, economic, and environmental perspective. There are over 180 pages of useful tips, feature interviews, product insights, industry updates and home inspiration. At BGC Housing Group we aim to lead by example when it comes to sustainability, and this is ultimately reflected in the fact that we were the first home builders in WA to build six-star energy rated homes as a standard. Sustainability in terms of housing, is generally used to describe the process as it applies to the housing industry. This means less waste, more re-use and recycling, together with lower life-cycle environmental impacts and costs, reliability, and lower maintenance for those living in it.

For each small act or change we make, we can create a snowball effect to increase awareness, lower our impact and help create a better future for generations to come. The second edition of the Home Magazine is filled with many small ways that you can help to make a positive difference, from taking a reusable coffee cup with you wherever you go, to investing in block out curtains or shutters, there is so much you can implement for a positive change, that will sacrifice very little. At BGC Housing Group, we see sustainability in the home as a valuable and essential part of any build. In addition to building NatHERS 6-star

homes as standard, we are proud to work with many WA suppliers to provide our customers with energy efficient and quality homes. A big thank you to our supplier partners Kleenheat, Plico Energy, Wattyl - A part of Hempel, Trevors Carpets, Waterwise Landscaping, Hettich Group, Consolidated Energy and Gainsborough for their support of this special issue.

Issue two, Sustainability Starts at Home, is available from our award winning BGC Home Showroom in Osborne Park, and also available to read online.

BGC Asphalt and QuarriesFrom Waste to Product As part of a recent initiative, BGC Quarries have implemented a new system where previous “waste” product has undergone a transformation process to be able to sell to customers as “Quarry sand”, leading to more applications and use in market. The previous waste product is put through a crushing and screening process whereby clean aggregate fractures dusts is created. This has traditionally been considered a waste product with little value, as the clean fracture sizes are what is best used for roads surfacing and concrete production – the two largest uses for aggregates. BGC Quarries have looked to rebrand the dust product to quarry sand and therefore increase the value and applications that it can be used for in the market.

Aggregate sand is commonly used as a base layer for other construction materials. Recycled concrete can be used as aggregate in new concrete, particularly the coarse portion. Currently, 35% of all production at BGC Quarries is Quarry sand with stockpile at one stage exceeding 380,000 tonnes. The team at BGC Quarries have worked hard to develop alternative markets for use of quarry sand, with new applications now including finer quarry sand being used as fertiliser, surfacing for horse arenas, general fill, and general replacement of sand in many other situations in construction. Concrete, Asphalt and Bricks have all increased the percentage of quarry sand taken, to reduce the cost of raw material inputs and to assist in waste management.

B G C C M G L A B O R AT O R I E S

BGC creates Material Innovation Hub After much time in the planning and approval phase, BGC CMG Laboratories have commenced the centralisation and relocation to form the Materials Technology Centre. They had previously formed independent technology hubs for BGC Concrete, BGC Cement and BGC Asphalt, but are now fully registered as an independent division of the BGC Construction Materials Group. The Materials Technology Centre or MTC for short will be a centralised technology hub harnessing state of the art facilities, IT and equipment to provide a high level of technical service to various BU’s within BGC Australia CMG Group. The amalgamation of BGC CMG’s technical infrastructure (Project White) has required the collaboration of a significant number of BGC stake holders as well as contractors to plan, coordinate and execute this multistage development.

The Materials Technology Centre is a centralised technology hub harnessing state of the art facilities The move which commenced on the 18th of June, was completed effectively and efficiently with the interim lab fully operational on by late June with only minor disruption. Thanks to a great effort to the MTC Team as well as BGC Cement, Concrete and Asphalt teams, especially considering BGC cement were in the midst of moving to their naval base. Well done to all involved.

BGC Bulletin - Issue 17 | 39

BGC HOUSING GROUP

Experimenting for energy efficiencyMIRVAC 9-star Home

It’s often thought that environmentally conscious solutions come with a hefty price tag, but Mirvac’s Affordability Experiment, in partnership with Synergy, Keystart and TERRACE Homes, is out to change that narrative and champion sustainability for families in WA. This industry-leading experiment aims to find out how cutting-edge technology and sustainable design and building principles contribute to affordable housing initiatives. By addressing the initial cost of buying a house, as well as the cost of ongoing bills and running costs, they’re hoping to prove you can help home owners, while saving the environment. Sustainable elements built into the home include solar panels, energy batteries, automation technology, rainwater tanks, a water-wise garden, environmentally conscious appliances, and thermal efficiency. These elements combined have earned

the home a NaTHERs rating of 9.1 stars, an almost unheard-of rating for energy efficiency. Built by TERRACE Homes, at Mirvac’s Iluma Private Estate in Bennett Springs, the twostorey home is now being lived in by a family of four. When asked what she’s noticed about living in this innovative new home, Mum Lisa Purcell explains, “The biggest difference this amazing home has made to our lives is how much we save on bills! We also have an app that monitors the homes usage, so we can constantly keep an eye on what we are using, therefore knowing what we need to adjust to make sure we are always using the home to its full potential.” Since the experiment started four months ago, the household has been returning a net positive utility usage result, meaning the home generates almost double the amount of energy it consumes each day.

The family’s bi-monthly energy bills, which cost them upwards of $800 in their previous home, now average just $40, allowing Lisa and her husband Jackson to save for their deposit and enjoy their life with their children Monroe and Christian. “We didn’t expect our energy usage would reduce so drastically so quickly, but being able to take the money we would normally spend on bills and save it has been fantastic!” says Lisa. The Affordability Experiment and the Purcell family play an important role in the future of net zero housing design concepts. Energy, water, landscaping, technology, automation and finances will continue to be monitored, with the findings forming part of the development plans for future large-scale, energy and costefficient developments.

BGC Bulletin - Issue 17 | 41

Above: Nigel Salter, Luke Richardson, Jeremy O’Neill, Peter Honczarenko, Carlson Daniels.

Making the change to Automated Paperless Docketing Function BGC Asphalt have recently won the prestigious AFPA (Australian flexible Pavement Association) award for safety, for their implementation of an automated paperless docket system. After a near collision incident in a high traffic area involving a truck driver narrowly avoiding being struck by a reversing asphalt delivery truck, the BGC asphalt senior management team investigated how they could avoid this situation from occurring in the future. Safety is an issue of paramount importance to the BGC Asphalt team, and thus senior management investigated all avenues pertaining to mitigating human error, cost effectiveness and time & resources with the goal of significantly reducing the risk. BGC Asphalt made the decision to engage all subcontractors, internal & external parties in order to develop and improve their existing procedures and systems, to mitigate the risk in the given area.

Whilst engaged with all stakeholders, the team were able to use their expertise and feedback and put it towards the development and implementation of a safer solution to the risk at hand, to ensure the safety improvement could be implemented to all stakeholders. This new automated function has meant the need for raw material delivery truck drivers to enter this high-risk area has been eliminated, therefore reducing the potential for any future incidents. In executing this change, BGC Asphalt have identified that the overall safety culture across all stakeholders & personnel within the industry has significantly improved, whilst continuing to encourage further consultation & communication within the industry. Congratulations to the BGC Asphalt team for their design and implementation of a great initiative that reflects the importance they place on safety.

A U T O M AT E D S U R V E Y S

Automated Surveys prepare for new drones to take flight Several Automated Surveys employees have recently completed their pilot licences to be able to pilot new survey drones, which will be up and running soon. The drones have the benefit of being able to take photos and snapshots of an area, which are then stitched together using new software (Agisoft and Virtual Surveyor). These programs perform photogrammetric processing of digital images and generate 3D spatial data to be used in indirect measurements of objects of various scales. The use of the drones presents a few advantages to the current surveying practices, which currently involves the surveying teams having to walk over

the area to be surveyed. A major benefit of the drones is the ability to fly and complete in minutes what might have taken hours to walk over. The use of the drone also has the added advantage of reducing risk and making it safer. To obtain the license, CASA (the Civil Aviation Safety Authority), have created a separate class of drone that only requires registration of your drone and the pilot completing an online accreditation. Automated Surveys have acquired the DJI Phantom 4 RTK. This drone has the ability to include flight paths and details pre-programmed prior to flying, which then means on site it simply becomes a matter of launching the drone.

BGC Bulletin - Issue 17 | 43

the

Bulletin Head Office BGC (Australia) Pty Ltd 6th Floor, 22 Mount Street Perth, WA 6000 Phone: +61 8 6220 4800 Email: corporate@bgc.com.au www.bgc.com.au

Disclaimer: This newsletter is published in good faith. Although BGC endeavours to ensure that the content is accurate and up to date, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made to its accuracy or completeness.