CONNELL NEWS
WINTER 2019
WESTERN INTERCEPTOR The Western Interceptor duplication project is a three kilometre pipeline carrying sewer from the Norton Road and Lincoln Street roundabout towards the start of the Waikato Expressway. The project includes laying PE-lined concrete pipe at depths of up to six metres in very wet ground as well as two driven pipelines under a Class 2 arterial road. Connell Contractors were awarded this contract in late-2018 and our team could not wait to get stuck in to the challenges it presented. Working collaboratively with the client, Hamilton City Council, and other affected stakeholders will be a key to this project’s success. Traction At the end of the first quarter of 2019, Connell Contractors had gained traction
on the project. The Northern Chamber is progressing well, the first loads of pipe were on site by the end of the first quarter and progress is well on track to meet budget and deadline requirements. To date the Connell team has completed service locations, sewer and storm water relocations, extended the existing interceptor to the northern chamber, agreed on the pipe alignment for most of the project and signed up our TBM contractor. First of its kind This opportunity is an exciting one for Connell Contractors, especially so because this is the first a tunnell boring machine was set to be used on a project in Hamilton. The pressure is on! Another project image is on page 2...
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ROTOKAURI BULK MAIN The Tainui Extension. Connell Contractors was awarded an extension to the Rotokauri Bulk Watermain project. This was treated as a variation to the initial project contract, which involved ROTOKAURI BULK MAIN - HAMILTON. installing an extra 270 metres of 560mm pipe from the initial contract end point into the Tainui Subdivision to help boost their supply. Although this extension was fairly straight-forward in comparison to the main contract it still had some challenges. These included drilling under the Avalon Drain and negotiating the newly installed services within the subdivision. The Connell Contractors’ team were lucky enough, on this stage, to be able to weld the pipe within the subdivision and have room to move it around relatively easily. An offset special had to be fabricated at the tie in point to allow the pipe to rise quickly after the main services trench to connect to the tee installed The initial Rotokauri Bulk Watermain by another contractor. Large bore, long project covered nearly three kilometres, radius bends were used to tie in to the running from Pohutawaka Drive to end of line valve previously installed by the intersection of Aorangi Road and Connell. Te Wetini Drive in northern Hamilton. Sheetpiles had to be used to make Watermains, stormwater utilities, the connection as ground conditions wastewater and other services such as were wet and the depth of the power, gas and telecommunications connection was 3.6 metres. existed in the area, which made placing Pipe was successfully tested and the new watermain a challenge, but connected on time and within budget. one the Connell team met head on. ...from page 1
Below: The Western Interceptor project runs right alongside part of State Highway 1 in Hamilton.
STRATFORD SUBSTATION This Electrix project is for the construction of a new transformer foundation, associated equipment foundations and a new three-tank oil containment system which will make Stratford Substation Transpower’s new hub of Taranaki. This project marks the second time Connell Contractors will have a horizontal directional drill (HDD) inside a live substation environment.
WORK CONTINUES ON THE STRATFORD SUBSTATION.
JUNCTION ROAD, NEW PLYMOUTH The principal is Nova Energy and the site is located at the new Junction Road 110/11kV substation. We are constructing a new substation, which is tied into the new peaker plant on Junction Road. This is a complete greenfield build of eighteen foundations, a new oil containment system, cable trenching throughout, and a new pylon foundation which connects the substation to the national grid. Work comprises
constructing two 65 MVA transformer foundation pads, secondary foundations including 11kV termination, 110kV disconnecting circuit breaker (DCB), current transformer (CT), gantry voltage transformer (VT) and conductor support post (CSP). Associated works includes supply and installation of pull pits, precast cable troughs, junction boxes, UPVC ducts, drainage and security fencing. Work is expected to take six months to complete.
2018/19 YEAR IN REVIEW The 2018/19 financial year, which was completed in March, has proven to be a highly significant and successful year for Connell Contractors with some exceptional results being delivered. This provides a robust platform for the reinvestment in new plant and have provided some positive feedback company to continue to grow and move vehicles. from clients and principals. The annual forward to the next level in 2019/20. • Securing some significant projects ISO audit in March provided another Strategic objectives set by the including Rotokauri Bulk Watermain, clean bill of health with no corrective company for future years have already Kinleith Substation, Hobsonville actions required. been achieved and we are tracking two Substation, Kawerau Substation and Looking forward, our revised years ahead of our strategic plan. Western Interceptor. strategic plan includes a challenging Some of the key factors for our success • Growing our team including the but achievable target for 2019/20 and, this year include: employment of 19 people during the having already secured the Western • Consistent workload throughout the year to resource the new projects and Interceptor Project for Hamilton City year including December and January, meet programme demands. Council and Sharon Road project for which are traditionally the quieter • Integration/merging of staff. The Auckland Council, we are well on our months of the year. past year has seen some real synergy way. With a much larger and experienced • Organic growth of our people. The with the integration of the drainage/ team going forward, with plenty of decision to recruit young dynamic structures staff operating as a capacity around our existing projects, we people and train them to meet our unilateral team. will be working hard to secure further needs, culture and standards has • New Plymouth office. The opening works in the drainage and civils sectors proven to be a highly successful of our new branch in New Plymouth to help fulfil our 2019/20 target. strategy. has helped expand our operational It was a year of transformation for • High quality of work as a result of network through the central regions, Connell Contractors. With continued investment in our people and on-theincreased our workforce by 18% and focus and enthusiasm, this current job training. enhanced our revenue accordingly. trading year will be equally successful. • Retention of our key staff and Results this year for Health & Safety and We should take this moment to securing forward work with good Environmental have been excellent with acknowledge and thank our staff for their returns, which has allowed significant no major incidents to report. Site audits excellent support and hard work.
OUR NEW PLYMOUTH TEAM Connell Contractors has expanded our business into the Taranaki region after opening a new office in late-2018. This office will offer support to clients operating from the East to West coasts throughout the central plateau of the North Island. Here’s a bit about the team: Fabian Bracken Fabian leads the New Plymouth team. He joined us from Tasman Design and Civil, where he was responsible for supervising the civil works at Hawera Substation. He gained valuable building experience working in both Australia and New Zealand and has proven to be a great asset to Connells. Fabian was the supervisor for projects at Bunnythorpe Substation, Norfolk Substation, Kinleith Substation and the most current Carrington Street Substation. He is currently working towards the Civil Certification level 4 through the Connexis programme. Will Buchanan Will’s background is in the Oil and Gas industry where, between 2005 and 2015, he worked on a number of off-shore exploration projects around the world for companies such as Shell, Chevron and Exxon Mobil. More recently Will returned to New Plymouth where he operated a landscaping business. Will has a seven month old daughter who keeps him busy. He also enjoys hunting and camping. Noel Heemi Noel has been with Connells as an excavator operator since January 2019. He has operated heavy plant in civil construction for eleven years in all areas
Pictured (left to right): Patrick Adams, Fabian Bracken, Cameron Blencowe, Noel Heemi, Adam Duncan, Will Buchanan. Absent: Allan Richards and Matthew Hau.
including drainage, roading, construction and maintenance. Outside of work he enjoys quality family time with his wife and son, going for walks, bike riding, swimming and hitting the gym. Cameron Blencowe Cam recently completed a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Geography and Anthropology, from Victoria University in Wellington. Labouring experience with a local New Plymouth construction company. Outside of work he enjoys socialising, sport and being outdoors. Allan Richards Allan completed his level 4 certificate in welding in 2014. Since then, he has been employed as a welding T/A with a number of Taranaki-based engineering outfits, working on most of the big maintenance shutdowns.
Matthew Hau Matthew worked for the Royal New Zealand Navy as a Marine Technician for five years. He has, more recently, moved back to Taranaki where he started work on his building apprenticeship. Out of work, Matt enjoys surfing and socialising. Adam Duncan Adam has worked in the construction industry all over New Zealand and Australia for the past 16 years. Before coming to Connells, Adam was running his own plastering business in Taranaki. Patrick Adams Patrick brings a wide range of construction skills to Connells. Pat finished his apprenticeship in 2011 and has worked in both Residential and Civil Construction all over New Zealand ever since.
Connell Contractors is an award winning, multi-disciplinary civil construction company operating throughout New Zealand from bases in Hamilton, New Plymouth and Auckland. We have been successfully delivering projects to our clients for over 30 years and have earned a reputation for market leading performance on a broad range of civil engineering projects. HAMILTON (HQ) 22 Foreman Road, Hamilton 3241 PO Box 10526 | p 07 958 3408 e office@connellcontractors.co.nz
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