Full speed ahead on building sites

As New Zealand and Victoria emerges from restrictions imposed to stop the spread of COVID-19, Ryman Healthcare’s construction team has its eyes firmly fixed on an increasingly busy future.

In May, under lockdown Alert Level 2, building and ongoing building maintenance programmes were restarted in New Zealand.

Across the Tasman in Victoria work didn’t really stop. While the public health emergency brought much of the state’s economy to a grinding halt, Ryman’s nimble response to the disruption has kept its construction sites working, albeit at reduced capacity.

Victorian construction manager Martyn Osborn said the output of operations at John Flynn in Burwood East, Aberfeldie, and Geelong was cut by around half in order to implement social distancing requirements on site.

Work on extensions to Nellie Melba in Wheelers Hill, which is an operational village, had to stop completely for six weeks to keep residents safe.

“COVID-19 slowed us down a bit but we’re charging on,” Marty says.

“It was a challenge like nothing we’ve faced before but health and safety is baked into our culture, so the team was able to look at it with clear eyes and adapt quickly.

“I’m very proud of how my team stepped up to the mark and took on that challenge.”

Marty says the disruption will result in minor delays to the handover of some apartments at John Flynn, Nellie Melba, and at the village under construction at Geelong.

“It’s always disappointing when delays happen, but that’s tinged with a lot of relief because we’re aware that it could have been much, much worse."

The first Geelong residents will get the keys to their new homes later this year, and John Flynn residents will also begin moving in later this year. First apartments at Aberfeldie will be handed over next year.

Nellie Melba will welcome residents to its new apartment block at the end of July.

In New Zealand work is continuing at full speed at Lynfield, Devonport, Hobsonville, Hamilton, Havelock North and Lincoln Road. Work is also under way at Riccarton.

Pictured: John Flynn site in May.