Connell News | Spring 2017

CONNELL NEWS

SPRING 2017

MADILLS FARM FLOOD MITIGATION Connell Contractors recently completed the installation of a 550 metre long, 2.9 by 1.9 metre concrete box culvert pipeline to upgrade an existing storm water pipeline at Madills Farm Reserve in the Auckland suburb of Kohimarama.

The new flood mitigation pipeline is connected into the southern end of the current pipeline, increasing flow capacity, and is re-connected near the exit at Kohimarama beach.

Work involved sheet-piling and dewatering, deep excavation up to six metres deep with ground water from 1.7 metres below surface level, connecting into and diverting existing sewer and storm water services, working around and diverting gas main and high voltage services.

Practical completion for this project was received in mid-2017. All that is visible now, after eighteen months’ work, is the inlet structure. Suffice to say the

client, Auckland City Council and Opus, are very happy with the finished project.

Wayne Collinson, Connell’ Contractors Operations Manager, was pleased with the outcome. “This was an extensive, high profile project which took in not only a high use public park, but also suburban streets and Tamaki Drive, one of Auckland’s main traffic routes.

“Our team performed flawlessly, which is reflected in the client’s feedback,” said a pleased Collinson.

“We were also conscious to constantly stay in communication with local residents as they were disrupted, to varying degrees, over a long period.

Again, feedback from them has been extremely positive.”

Client: Auckland City Council.

Project Value: $6 million.

Project Duration: 18 months.

PIPELINES

Inside • • • •

Mangere Waste Water Treatment Plant Henderson Substation Committed to Diversity Meet Lester Foxall

|

STRUCTURES

|

CIVIL

www.connellcontractors.co.nz

Checking pipe alignment

Mangere WWTP Connell Contractors spent eighteen months on site at the Mangere Waste Water Treatment Plant laying pipelines to connect the plant extension with the existing treatment facility.

This contract involved “WE instalLED twin 1400mm installing twin 1400mm diameter and 1200mm diameter and 1200mm diameter fibreglass pipelines diameter fibreglass pipelines, from the clarifiers in the plant in 12 metre lengths, at depths extension to the existing UV of up to 7 metres.� plant.

The pipes were ordered in twelve metre lengths and installed at depths of up to seven The section across Island Road metres. This meant continuous shoring needed a change of methodology of 20 metres to safely lay, joint and to sheetpiles due to the many compact each pipe. Used trench boxes unforeseen services. We also were imported from Australia which undertook a significant repair to a worked very well.

2100mm diameter pipeline while The twin lines were bedded, on site. haunched and covered in approximately This was a challenging project 15,000 tons of GAP20 as well as being involving supporting existing wrapped in geotextile. This material was two metre diameter sewer pipes tested in layers to ensure proper sidewall while installing the new pipes compaction as well as the clay backfill. underneath.

Innovations included a purposeThere were many unmarked built pipe trailer, bedding skips and service uncovered during our joint tester. Approximately 200 metres work. This slowed construction of pipe was installed in steel duct considerably, especially within under Greenwood Road, which had the existing plant. to be ballasted and grouted. Bends We were pleased that there were compacted in cement-stabilised were no compaction, joint basecourse. or ovality failures on this project or serious harm incidents.

DID YOU KNOW Connell Contractors is an award winning business with more than 35 employees working in New Zealand.

We are market leaders in deep and large diameter pipelines, trenchless pipeline rehabilitation, sheetpiling, dewatering, electrical and civil structures. We own and operate a modern fleet of plant and machinery.

We manage contracts from our HQ in Hamilton as well as Auckland.

We strongly believe in a culture of teamwork and training as our staff have been one of the main reasons for our on-going success over the last 30 years.

Connell Contractors is a family owned business whose core values are honesty, integrity and commitment. We are proud of our reputation for being very easy to deal with.

We have the Right People who will get the Right Result for your project.

HENDERSON SUBSTATION This project included construction of a new ODID building including cable stand foundations, direct buried cable trenches, precast cable troughs, drainage and demolition of existing foundations.

The existing 33kV switchyard was replaced with indoor gas insulated switchgear housed in a new ODID building.

The location of the building was close to overhead cables and the existing 33kV bank so protection measures were introduced for site personnel and the client’s assets. Movement corridors were restricted to designated areas defined by temporary fencing and barriers.

Our scope included construction of a new 33kV switchroom building and cable stand foundations, excavation and backfill of feeder cable trenches, manufacture and installation of precast concrete troughs, installation of a stormwater drainage scheme, demolishion of the existing 33kV bank and re-metaling the existing switchyard.

The two storey building is constructed of concrete blocks with insulated roof panels. Midfloor was cast in situ to accommodate the new switchgear panels. Cable entry was through penetrations in the basement. All structural steel was coated with intumescent paint for fire protection.

HENDERSON SUBSTATION’S ODID BUILDING

Connells manufactured and installed precast concrete troughs for cable access. Cable stand foundations were cast in situ and connected to the existing transformer bank. Extensive cable trenches were formed through the existing switchyard where many high voltage cables and earth straps had to be negotiated – none were

MOU signed for Infrastructure and Construction Employer Consortium Connell Contractors are collaborating with Auckland Council’s Southern Initiative team to ensure more Maori and Pasifika learners can obtain trade qualifications, apprenticeships and quality sustainable employment in the infrastructure and construction sectors in Auckland.

The Memorandum of Understanding for the Infrastructure and Construction Employer Consortium was signed in May 2017.

Pictured below(from left) Frances Hague (Auckland Council Southern Initiative), Dave Connell, Norm McKenzie (Auckland Council Relationship Manager, Maori & Pasifika Trades Training), Margo Connell.

damaged. TPCR40 was laid through the construction zone to complete the yard works.

A stormwater drainage scheme was installed to accommodate the new building roof catchment including the basement pumps. The project was completed on time and budget with no serious harm incidents reported.

We’re up all hours!

Connell Contractors’ project at Greenhills Road, Hamilton includes the creation of several cable transfer stations. One 10m x 10m x 1.2m concrete pad pour, pictured below, began at 3am and the surface finish was completed by 8.30am. This saw 123m3 of 35 MPa concrete poutred from 19 trucks.

This transfer station job included: excavation to subgrade level; subgrade improvements; concrete flight auger piles; final foundation improvements; and a 175m3 concrete pad.

COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY Connell Contractors recognised earlier than most the need to embrace diversity in the workforce.This stemmed from our experience in the Christchurch rebuild where there was a high demand for experienced staff.

Alongside our skilled and long-term workforce we have employed people from England, Ireland, Scotland, the Czech Republic, Mexico, Australia, South Africa, the Philippines, Malaysia and India.

Some were employed on temporary work permits while others have applied for New Zealand citizenship.

These staff bring new ideas, a willingness to learn and a contribution to the culture that makes Connell Contractors a great place to work.

We have been clear to our temporary

and permanent overseas staff that an important KPI is to train at least two young Kiwis. This has worked very well, especially now we are able to offer these young people a formal apprenticeship through the Civil Trades. These skilled operators and pipelayers came from an environment where their skills are not easily obtained and they are respected and well paid.

During 2016 Dave and Margo Connell gave a series of talks around the country on flexibility and diversity in the workforce, on behalf of the Ministry for Women. “We have managed to get a reasonable gender balance in our workforce based on positive advertising, for example using ‘Women are encouraged to apply for this position’ text

in our ads,” explains Dave. “We have some way to go but are currently advertising for frontline positions as operators and Civil Trades apprenticeships. Hopefully we will interview as many women as men.

Our experience in our administration, engineering and site staff, as well as at board level, is that gender diversity works very well.”

No matter what your age, at Connell Contractors you will be encouraged to undertake training. We firmly believe a skilled workforce backed by a great company culture reduces the significant costs associated with staff turnover.

This results in better productivity, safety and quality. The savings made from less rework can be reinvested back into the business.

Our team Lester Foxall General Manager Lester immigrated to New Zealand from the UK fourteen years ago. He worked for Tasman Design and Civil for nine years as General Manager prior to moving to Connell Contractors in May 2015.

“I enjoy the fun and professional atmosphere at Connell Contractors.” explains Lester. “The people are great fun colleagues who know how to work hard and play hard.”

Qualified in Construction Management, Lester spent twelve years working for the multi-national company Lafarge Aggregates, working on major civil projects throughout the UK. Typical projects included major airfield construction at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stanstead and Brize Norton, motorway construction on the M4/M5 networks

and maintenance term contracts on military establishments throughout the South West. Lester also has extensive knowledge of live switchyard environments having spent the past ten years working in the power sector.

After arriving in New Zealand Lester became a member of both the Institute of Building Officials and the Institute of Building, where he was a committee member for the Northern Chapter responsible for Building Technology and Practise. Lester was recently appointed a director of Connell Contractors.

Outside of work he enjoys travel, sport bikes, driving his vintage SL and all sports.

Lester is married to Tina and “I’m pleased to have played a small part in raising three great kids!”

Connell Contractors is an award winning, multi-disciplinary civil construction company operating throughout New Zealand from bases in Hamilton 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 22 Foreman Road, Hamilton 3241 PO Box 10526 | p 07 958 3408 e office@connellcontractors.co.nz

PIPELINES

|

STRUCTURES

|

CIVIL

www.connellcontractors.co.nz