Voyager Quarry – Present And Future - BGC

B U I L D I N G S U C C E S S
Comings and Goings
BGC Fibre Cement welcomes new team members
Andrew Flintoff has joined our team in Brisbane as a Sales
Representative. He comes to us with a broad building industry sales
experience and specific knowledge of the Fibre Cement market.
Marco Faber has been appointed as Technical Services Engineer based
in Sydney. He will be responsible for all technical enquiries, staff training
and product testing Australia wide.
Darren Pitt has joined our NSW office as a Sales Representative. He
was formerly with Ramset Fasteners where he was involved in servicing
large commercial builders and his role at BGC will be to expand the
range of distributors and customers utilizing BGC Fibre Cement.
Rob Hodson joined the Victorian Fibre Cement team as an Account
Executive in February. Rob has strong client relationships in the
plasterboard industry, which coupled with solid experience in the
hardware industry are already proving invaluable.
Anthony Kinder appointed General Manager, BGC Housing
Anthony Kinder has recently been appointed General Manager BGC
Housing, a responsibility that covers the operations of Statesman Homes,
National Homes Commodore Homes, WA Housing Centre , Go Homes
and Stratawise. After working with BGC for the past 13 years, Mr Kinder
said that this latest appointment was ‘an opportunity to work closely
with Managing Director Julian Ambrose to ensure that the housing brands
achieve their objectives of becoming the best building operation in WA.’
Graham Kiereth set to make a difference
This year Graham Kierath has joined BGC. Previously Graham built
up his own company, employing 150 people, before entering State
Politics. He was a member for twelve years and a minister for eight. Two
of the eleven portfolios he held were labour relations and planning, and it
is those areas of expertise in particular that he brings to our company.
BGC has always been a company of vision, but planning, industrial
relations and environmental issues are becoming increasingly complex.
Graham is applying his knowledge and experience to help navigate the
the BGC team through the myriad of regulatory requirements to ensure
that innovative concepts can become bricks, mortar and jobs. Graham is
happiest doing what he does best – making a difference.
Sales and Marketing Manager for Go Homes
Go Homes is due to set a new benchmark in professionalism and
sales success with the appointment of Sue Marshall as Sales and
Marketing Manager. Sue’s extensive industry experience spans 24 years
and has included positions such as Lecturer with the Housing Industry
Association and management positions within the finance and sales
departments of several of WA’s premier housing companies. Her new
position is testament to her ability to motivate staff to achieve exceptional
results and a sense of group cohesion.
BGC Farewells A Long Serving Employee
Sadly, it is time to say farewell to Dawn O’Neil one of our longest
serving employees at Affinity windows. At the age of 73, Dawn is a
remarkable woman who has greatly contributed to the growth of BGC’s
window division since joining the company in 1991. We would like to
thank Dawn for her service to the company and wish her all the best in
her retirement.
www.affinitywindows.com.au
Affinity Windows is the latest BGC division to go “On Line” with the
release of their new Web-Site.
The site is equipped to deal with the sales and marketing requirements
of the largest Window Company in the state, with the largest product
range. It provides a valuable tool for designers and architects, building
companies, pre-start consultants and even the home handyman.
Companies using Affinity products can establish links from their web
site to Affinity’s site for the benefit of their staff and clients. The simple
navigation tools of the site ensures easy access to a huge volume of
information. The entire Affinity range is listed with all appropriate sizes,
configurations and colours available to down load.
STOP PRESS!
I wonder which manager made John Howard park out in
the street but managed to find Linda Mead a car bay for
her Mercedes??!!!
Winter 2002
Voyager Quarry -
present and future
This issue:
3 It’s in the bag! - BGC Cement’s
continued expansion
4 BGC Quarries Feature
5 National Homes – supporting
the community
6 Nulsen Haven update
6 Statesman Homes, award
winners for kitchen designs
7 Building the Greensmart way
7 Bright young engineer joins
BGC Contracting
PLUS BGC Construction scores a
“hat trick” at the MBA Awards
- feature liftout inside
For your contribution to the next BGC Bulletin or for a copy of the new BGC corporate
brochure please contact Rebecca Dickson on 08 9261 1840
BGC BULLETIN is produced
for employees and friends of
BGC (AUSTRALIA) PTY
8
B U I L D I N G
S U C C E S S
ABN 62 005 736 005

Foreword by Gerry Ford
Repeat business for
BGC at Woodside
Gerry Ford, General Manager, BGC Construction.
BGC is in a unique position in
the construction industry. Not
only do we have the strength
of a wholly owned integrated
resource supply behind us, but
the quality of these resources
stands second to none.
Automated
Surveys
service
expansion
The future looks bright
for Automated Surveys, the
licensed land surveying
company within the BGC
Group, as it expands and
diversifies into mechanical and
structural engineering.
The acquisition of a new
high tech Global Positioning
System 500 means they can
provide clients with a higher
level of accuracy in a timely
and efficient manner.
Automated Surveys adds this
capability to its growing list of
services which includes
subdivisions, strata titling,
This past year has been undoubtedly dramatic. With the change in Government, the introduction of Industrial
Relations Legislation and the Cole Royal Commission into the construction industry, it has been a year where the
construction sector has been firmly placed in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
In my opinion, it is a time when the ‘abnormal has become normal’ as far as the unions are concerned, and
construction sites around Perth have become rife with examples of stand over tactics and intimidation. It should
never have come this far, and the CFMEU reign of terror should be bought to an abrupt halt by those elected as the
peoples’ voice.
How can this Labour Government profess to support ‘Freedom of Association’ when they deny natural justice
and enforce union membership on every worker?
Through all of this however, BGC has continued to grow and prosper – our recent wins at the MBA Awards are
testament to the commitment of our team to quality and service. The Chinese Consulate (Industrial/Commercial
Building Under $20 Million), the Oral Health Centre of Western Australia (Public Building Over $20 Million) and
the Armadale Health Campus (Best Department of Housing and Works State Government building, Perth Metro
Area Over $20 Million) – three nominations, three awards.
As well as these high profile jobs, we have been awarded tenders at the WACA, the University of Western
Australia/Motorola and Subi Centro, and in a community service vein, for the RAAFA, Activ Foundation and the
War Widows Association.
Each and every one of these jobs is a credit to the team at BGC, who put their heart and soul into the
commitment they have made on behalf of the company to the client. Commitments to complete jobs on time, and
within budget, in keeping with the outstanding reputation for quality that BGC has earned within the Western
Australian market.
Not bad for a division that in eight years has grown from nothing to one which generates an annual turnover of
in excess of $200 million. It really is a dream come true for me - to have come in on the ground level and share in
the success of this growth.
In my opinion, BGC is in a very unique position in the construction industry. Not only do we have the strength
of a wholly owned integrated resource supply behind us, but the quality of these resources stands second to none.
And it is this commitment to quality and the desire to be the best in the field that drives us.
The awards are flattering, however I feel like the non-playing captain of a footy side, where I sit on the bench
game after game, shouting encouragement (well that’s what I call it!) to the players. At the end of the season, I go
forward and collect the trophy, when in reality it belongs to the team.
I am sure that I also speak on behalf of Chairman Len Buckeridge when I say congratulations to all on a job
well done.
feature and contour surveys,
building setouts, earthworks,
mining, subdivision
infrastructure and drafting.
Automated Surveys recently
received high praise for the two
major engineering projects it has
completed in the Pilbara region
of Western Australia, both for
the way the surveys were
conducted and for meeting tight
deadlines.
DTM Newman to Yandi
The first project was to
complete a digital terrain model
(DTM) of a corridor extending
over 129km from the BHP Ironore
mine Power Station at Mt
Whaleback, near Newman to the
BHP mine at Yandi.
The DTM was supplied to
Powerlink (the Queensland
equivalent of Western Power) for
processing by a software
package, which then plotted the
position of 433 “66 kilovolt
transmission towers”, taking into
account topography, span
between towers, height of
vegetation, water courses and
soil types. Once the location of
the towers was plotted, the
corridor was revisited, a detailed
survey carried out and the
construction location for each of
the towers was pegged.
Cape Lamber Expansion Project
Automated Surveys were
also contracted to supply services
for the Cape Lambert expansion
project.
The engineering survey, for
horizontal and vertical alignment
of mechanical and structural
construction, included setout and
constructed surveys of
conveyors, on chutes, shuttles,
rail alignments, pan feeders,
bins, transfer stations, trestles,
trusses and civil footings, all of
which command a high level of
accuracy due to strict mechanical
and structural tolerances.
The new Global Positioning System 500.
The BGC Cement team, with one of the first bags of Builders Choice Grey Cement to come off the new $5 million
cement blending and bagging line at Canning Vale.
Capable of bagging 2,000
tonnes of cement per day, the
plant is the most
sophisticated of its kind in the
Southern Hemishere.
It’s in
the bag!
A massive investment in
new technology, plant and
machinery heralds BGC
Cement’s continued expansion
in the Western Australian
bagged cement and lime
products market.
Branded as ‘Builders
Choice’, the range includes some
familiar products and several
new extensions – they include
Grey Cement, Ultra Creme
Cement, Builders Cement,
Masonry Cement and Hi-Early
Grey Cement. In addition, the
Canning Vale factory will
produce a building lime called
Hydrolime and two new
blended products called Brickies
Grey and Brickies Lite that are
especially designed for building
mortars.
The $5 million computer
controlled cement blending and
packing plant is state-of-the-art
and production has already
started bagging cement and lime
products for a July launch onto
the market. Capable of bagging
2,000 tonnes per day, the plant
is the most sophisticated of its
kind in the Southern
Hemisphere.
“It is an important
milestone in the history of BGC
Cement,” said David Scott,
General Manager. “To date,
most of our cement has been
supplied in bulk, but now with
the new bagging plant, we will
be introducing the retail trades
to the full range of Builders
Choice products and we expect
to achieve wide distribution by
the end of the year”.
Breaking with tradition,
Builders Choice products will
generally be supplied only in
smaller, easier to handle 25kg
bags. Hydrolime, Brickies Lite
and Brickies grey will come in
20kg bags. David said “We
made the decision to introduce
lighter bags to be at the forefront
of occupational health and safety
practices and to reduce the risk
of back injuries. I also want to
assure customers that they will
not be disadvantaged on price
with the smaller and lighter bag,
Working on a cost per kilo basis,
the price is exactly the same as
that for a traditional, but now
out-dated, 40kg bag”.
It is well known that cement
bags can be dusty and messy,
especially when they are
transported or moved around on
site or in a hardware store. Yet
another BGC Cement innovation
helps to overcome this problem.
The entire Builders Choice range
is packed in new dustproof bags.
Garry Mullins, Sales &
Marketing Manager at BGC
Cement explained that instead of
the traditional perforated paper
sacks common to most other
cement bags, Builders Choice
bags are made from a new type
of high porosity paper that
doesn’t need perforations to let
the product breath. “This paper
technology, combined with the
use of modern glues and new
ultrasonic spout sealing
techniques, means that the dust
problem is virtually eliminated”
he said.
Look out for the new range
of Builders Choice cement and
lime products at your local
stockist, or contact BGC Cement
on (08) 9334 4555 for further
information.
Woodside Energy Limited
has recently awarded BGC
Contracting a significant
contract.
BGC Contracting have been
successful in securing the
‘Trunkline Onshore Terminal
(TOT) Site Preparation Works’
contract as part of the LNG
Expansion Project. The
contract, which will take 30
weeks to complete and is
valued at approximately $12M,
was signed on 31May.
To summarise the project
briefly:
Possession of the site will
take place in early July.
90,000T of rock will be
crushed and placed as
foundation material.
180 linear metres of
reinforced concrete walls will
be built, the heights of which
vary from 1m to 5m.
Earthworks will be filled
with 25,000 cubic metres of
cut.
Temporary buildings will
be supplied and erected for
future contractors.
There will be extensive
relocation of services within an
operational gas plant.
The project team will be
headed by Peter Mapstone,
Project Manager, and Don
Patterson, Onsite Construction
Manager. The team, who have
already commenced work from
a temporary office at
Hazelmere, includes Darryl
Hale, Mick Unger, Penny Tham
and Wal Rymarski. In due
course, they will relocate to
Karratha where they will be
joined by various Karratha
based supervisors.
This contract follows BGC’s
successful completion, in
October 2001, of the $28
million Site Preparation Works
contract for the LNG
Expansion. This project
included earthworks, concrete
work, electrical works and
buildings for the LNG
Expansion Project. BGC’s
crushing division was also called
upon to produce backfill
material – over 1,000,000
tonnes of rock was excavated,
crushed and placed on the site.
The project also had a perfect
safety performance record, with
no time lost due to injury.
Every effort will be made to
repeat this achievement on the
TOT project.
The TOT project will
compliment the Karratha
depot’s various maintenance
works, which include laying
crane pads and repairing
security gates at the Burrup
under BGC’s contract with the
Brambles Monadelphous Joint
Venture.
We all look forward to
undertaking another successful
contract with Woodside Energy
and Kellogg Joint Venture and
to further strengthening intercompany
relationships.
The awarding of this
significant project further
confirms BGC Contracting’s
ability to undertake key projects
for major clients and places us
in a good position to secure
further contracts on future
projects in the Karratha region.
BGC Stabilisation – all time record
We would like to pass our congratulations on to BGC Stabilisation’s
crew based in the Kimberley. Lead by Nathan Allanson, Crew 1 managed
to place an astonishing 54.895 metres of cement in stabilised patches on
Wednesday, 29th May. The previous record for one day was 43 metres in
Dandaragan.
Not only do the crew have to physically handle each 1.2mt bulk bag
of cement, they also have to leave for work at 5am and drive for two
hours, just to cover the 182kms distance between the site and their
accommodation. They assure us that the Fatigue Management Plan is
understood and complied with.
Congratulations also need to be extended to the entire Stabilisation
division who have managed to have an amazing zero LTI’s over the past
12 months.
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B U I L D I N G S U C C E S S 3

Voyager quarry present and future
The aim of the community
Consultation Program is two
fold; to establish closer ties
between BGC and the local
community – and to ensure
local residents have a voice
in development of the
quarry extension.
Community
consultation
at Voyager
Quarry
BGC Quarries is
undertaking an extensive
Community Consultation
Program as part of its proposal
to extend its operations at the
Voyager Quarry.
BGC Quarries General
Manager Frank Italiano said the
aim of the program was twofold;
to establish closer ties
between BGC and the local
community - and to ensure local
residents have a voice in
development of the quarry
extension during the Public
Environmental Review. Mr
Italiano said Voyager Quarry
would operate until 2008, when
recoverable quantities of granite
are expected to run out under
agreement with the property’s
owner.
Voyager Quarry currently
supplies up to 40% of the
crushed rock required by the
building and construction
industry in the Perth
metropolitan region and
surrounding areas. More than 20
people are employed at the
quarry, with up to 300 people
employed in related delivery and
processing services.
In order to ensure this
supply of crushed rock is
maintained, BGC Quarries is
proposing to develop and
operate a second quarry pit
immediately to the west of the
existing quarry. The
construction phase of the
second pit will take up to five
years to complete. The existing
quarry will be phased out over
a five to six year period. Like
the existing quarry, the
extension is ideally located to
service the existing and future
markets. However unlike the
existing quarry, the extension is
expected to have a life of up to
50 years.
The facts on BGC Quarries’
land clearing
In December 2001 BGC
Quarries cleared approximately
16 hectares of land it owns
adjoining Voyager Quarry.
In retrospect, the land clearing
was not conducted properly, as
BGC Quarries had not formally
notified the Commissioner of Soil
and Land Conservation of its
intention to clear the land.
The commissioner
subsequently issued an injunction
restraining any further clearing
under the Soil and Land
Conservation Act.
This led to a number of
inaccurate media reports
regarding the clearing, mostly
based on claims that 80 hectares
had been cleared.
BGC Quarries provided
written notice to the
Commissioner on January 22 of
its intention to clear the land. The
Commissioner issued a Soil
Conservation Notice on January
25, preventing further clearing.
Although the Supreme Court
dismissed the Commissioner’s
original injunction in February,
the Soil Conservation Notice
remains, preventing any further
clearing.
However the Commissioner
has subsequently indicated that
the Notice will be lifted if
hydrological tests indicated the
project would not affect salinity
levels in the area. The results of
these tests, supervised by the
Department of Agriculture, are
currently being reviewed.
The Commissioner has also
stated that the notice would be
lifted at the conclusion of the
Public Environmental Review
currently in progress.
Upgrades to access road and primary chrusher
Although Voyager Quarry is operated within the statutory guidelines, BGC Quarries is keen to further reduce
noise and dust emissions. By working closely with local landowners, BGC Quarries has been able to identify areas
of the operation that can be improved to reduce the impact of the quarry on the surrounds.
Two initiatives already undertaken to reduce noise and dust at the quarry are the sealing of the quarry access
road and modifications to the primary crushing plant.
The 1.4 kilometre access road is used to transport equipment into and crushed rock out of, the quarry. BGC
Quarries sealed the access road in May, making it both quieter for the surrounding residents and safer for drivers.
Modifications to the primary crushing plant were also undertaken in May, including the construction of a new
acoustic enclosure, resulting in a further drop in noise levels.
How the new quarry will be developed
Once approval is given for the extended quarry there are a number of
important steps to follow before it can be operated. Construction of the
quarry extension is likely to take around five to six years, with the
extension not expected to be fully operational until 2008.
The development of the extension will comprise the following steps:
Removal of vegetation and topsoil – this will take about two months,
with the topsoil to be stockpiled and used for rehabilitation purposes.
Excavation of gravel – a one-metre-thick layer of gravel underneath
the topsoil is estimated at between one and two million tonnes and is
likely to take at least a year to extract. It will be used by BGC off-site to
manufacture products including asphalt, blocks and bricks.
Excavation of clay – a 10-to-20 metre-thick layer of clay is expected
to contain up to 12 million tonnes and will be extracted over a three-year
period. The clay will be used in the construction of any noise abatement
bunds required on the site and in the off-site manufacture of bricks.
Construction of noise abatement bunds – as part of its commitment to
minimising the impact of the new quarry on surrounding landowners,
BGC will construct noise abatement bunds if required. This is likely to
take at least two months. The extent and location of any bunds will be
determined by noise modelling.
Installation of new crushing and processing plant – construction of the
new crushing and processing plant and the transition from the existing
plant to the new plant is expected to take around a year to complete. The
new plant will incorporate the latest noise and dust reduction
technologies. In addition, the crushing plant will be housed in an enclosure
to minimise noise.
Community open day
On Sunday 26 May, BGC Quarries opened Voyager Quarry to give
local residents the opportunity to hear first hand its plans to develop a
new quarry on an adjacent block.
General Manager Frank Italiano said the open day enabled direct twoway
communication between BGC Quarries and local residents.
“It gave us the chance to explain our future plans for the quarry, but
more importantly it offered local residents the opportunity to provide
direct feedback to us on those plans,” Mr Italiano said. “We value
feedback from the local community, as it helps us identify areas in which
we can improve our operations to reduce the impact of the quarry on the
surrounding environment,” he said.
“We were also able to dispel unsubstantiated rumours about the
existing quarry, such as land clearing and water issues.”
Blast notification service
The blasting of rock is a necessary part of operating any quarry. BGC
Quarries recognises that in previous years some blasting activities at
Voyager Quarry have caused disruptions for local residents and is
committed to continuously improving the way it manages blasting.
Since January 1993, Voyager Quarry has only exceeded statutory
guidelines for blasting once. In fact, since 1999 the noise and vibration
generated by blasting at Voyager Quarry’s has been decreasing. This is due
to the use of new technologies and techniques, as well as changing the
timing of blasts to better suit local conditions.
BGC also operates a Blast Notification Service for residents within a
three-kilometre radius of the Voyager Quarry. Landowners registered for
the service are personally notified by BGC in advance of upcoming
blasting programs.
BGC has also installed permanent noise monitoring equipment at the
quarry and keeps detailed records of every blast to compare with data
from noise monitoring.
Community support
from National Homes
Wotzko Court, Bayswater and below Surfing WA new Operations Centre.
Inglewood Junior Soccer Club
receives proceeds of home
auction
The pint-sized players at the
Inglewood Soccer Club have
taken a sudden interest in houses
and building, as the proceeds of
a recent home auction will be
directed towards improved
facilities for the club.
The three bedroom two
bathroom home, located at 5
Wotzko Court Bayswater, has
been built by major club
sponsors National Homes, and
was auctioned on 23 June.
Club President Ziggy Kramer
said that the proceeds will
provide a much needed injection
of funds into the players’
facilities and programs.
“More than 600 playing
members will benefit directly
from the proceeds of sale of this
magnificent home. National
Homes has been a long standing
sponsor of this club, however
this new level of support
demonstrates to us not only their
commitment to Soccer in this
state, but a commitment to the
community as a whole,” he said.
Thanks go to Rino Marsala
who designed the home and
Lynda Spargo Interiors for the
interior decorating.
Surfing WA opens new
beachside operations centre
Surfing WA launched it’s
new ‘home’ on 25 June, with the
opening of a new Operations
Centre at Trigg Beach.
Sponsored and built by
National Homes, the centre can
now house the hundreds of
boards, wetsuits and accessories
used by surfing school students.
“Surfing WA has conducted
its surf school operation for over
fifteen years on our local
beaches, and it has grown
considerably from its humble
beginnings, operating from a
backyard shed and trailer.
Thanks to National Homes,
Surfing WA will have a secure
base in which to conduct its day
to day operations as well as
administration and storage,”
said Mark Lane, General
Manager Surfing WA.
“National Homes previously
converted our kiosk into a basic
‘lock up’ for us, and when we
outgrew that, they came through
again, with additional funding
from the City of Stirling and the
Department of Youth, Sport and
Recreation, to create the new
building,” he added.
According to Mr. Lane, over
35,000 students of all ages were
instructed through Surfing WA
last year with teaching
conducted at Trigg, Mullaloo,
Scarborough and Leighton
Beaches.
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B U I L D I N G S U C C E S S 5

Nulsen Haven
BGC welcomes agreement
Northam Bypass completed!
Anne Tindale and Rebecca Dickson present the cheque to Nulsen Haven’s Gordon Trewern and Michael Padgett.
During the Month of May
all BGC staff participated in
raising funds for the Nulsen
Haven Association. We are
pleased to announce that we
raised the healthy sum of
$3,000, which will go towards
the installation of new electronic
hoists in the resident’s houses.
The staff put in a
tremendous effort, holding
morning teas and casual days in
order to raise the much-needed
funds. Prizes were awarded to
Commodore Homes, BGC
Transport, Asphalt, Contracting
and Plant and also to BGC
Cudding Warra and Bulong, for
their exceptional endeavours.
BGC has a very strong
relationship with the Nulsen
Haven association, who recently
won a Commerce and Industry
Award for “Quality Service and
Training Excellence”. Without
the collaboration of our
employees this would not be the
case and we would like to
sincerely thank all of them for
their huge effort in raising the
funds and their continued
support.
BGC Construction wins
Active Tender
BGC Construction has been awarded a $1.5 million project with the
construction of two purpose built medium density independent living
facilities within the Karingal Green subdivision at High Wycombe, in the
Shire of Kalamunda.
The dwellings have been specifically designed for Activ Foundation as
part of the innovative ‘Karingal Green’ subdivision - a planned community
for people both with and without disabilities.
According to John Groves, Executive Director of Activ Foundation,
the focal point of the development will be the future aged care facility and
retirement village, which will be open to both Activ and non-Activ
residents. It will provide benefits to people requiring access to 24 hour
care facilities, right through to independent living units whilst also
accommodating families who have a child with special needs”, said Mr
Groves.
The entire project will be developed in three stages, and will comprise
214 residential allotments, an aged care facility and a retirement village
together with 10.4 hectares of bushland conservation area. When completed
the estate will be home to about 1000 people. The units are expected to be
completed in early 2003.
BGC was pleased to reach agreement with the City of Swan and the
Hazelmere Progress Association on amended plans for its Hazelmere
gypsum board factory. The Town Planning Appeals Tribunal upheld BGC’s
appeal against a condition placed on the development by the City of Swan
following agreement between BGC, the City of Swan and the Hazelmere
Progress Association on the amended plans.
Under the agreement, BGC will construct a roof to cover its gypsum
storage area, design lighting to limit light emanating from the factory and
undertake landscaping.
BGC’s Graham Kiereth said the agreement paved the way for the
establishment of a positive and productive relationship with the City of
Swan and Hazelmere Progress Association.
“The City of Swan Councillors and professional staff and the
Hazelmere Progress Association Representatives should be congratulated
for the spirit in which they approached discussions on this issue,” Graham
said. “All parties have now benefited because of their positive approach,
which has resulted in a “win-win-win” outcome.
Statesman Homes award winners
for kitchen design
Statesman Homes has recently been presented with the prestigious
HIA-NKBA Award for “New Kitchen Project $10,000 - $20,000”.
The project was part of a newly built Statesman Home at Arley Lane
in Hillarys and was designed using contemporary colours with modern
trimmings. “The kitchen really is a credit to our designers,” said
Statesman’s Barry Dye, “it has been finished with only the best quality
fixtures and features.
All Statesman Homes clients are offered a free kitchen design service
as part of the contract, and according to Mr Dye, around 95 per cent of
all clients utilise the service.
As well as the kitchen award, Statesman Homes was also a finalist in
the “New Bathroom Project up to $12,000” for the same property.
Bright young
engineer joins
the team at
Contracting
BGC Contracting is pleased
to have Penny Tham join their
Civil team as a Project Engineer.
Since graduating as a Civil
Engineer from the University of
WA in 1998 Penny has gained
experience on complex civil
engineering projects including
the Onslow Solar Salt Mine
Infrastructure Works, Wellington
Street Freeway On and Off
Ramps and the Northam Bypass
Project.
With the BGC-Barclay
Mowlem Joint Venture at the
Northam Bypass Project, not
only was Penny a Bridge
Engineer for the Project, she also
undertook the roles of Public
and Community Relations
Representative. After leaving the
Northam Bypass Project, Penny
joined our Estimating
Department, which is where she
will hopefully return after
completing her next challenge
with BGC as Project Engineer on
the recently awarded Woodside
TOT Site Preparation contract at
Burrup, Karratha.
BGC Contracting is always
keen to secure the services of
innovative, ambitious young
engineers such as Penny and we
would like to wish her all the
best in her new position with the
company.
Building the Greensmart way
Penny Tham, Project Engineer at BGC Contracting.
Energy efficiency seems to be a ‘buzz term’ at the moment, but there
are a couple of local building companies backing up their claims of being
among the most energy efficient builders in Perth.
BGC Housing’s Commodore, National and Statesman Homes have
elected to become ‘Greensmart’ under an national initiative set up by the
Housing Industry Association, and several government bodies including
Environment Australia and the Australian Greenhouse Office.
“A number of our employees are accredited ‘Greensmart Professionals’
which enables them to assist clients in making an informed decision on
energy efficiency when building their new home,” said Anthony Kinder,
General Manager BGC Housing.
“This can mean anything from assisting with choosing a block and
house orientation to make the most of the winter sun, to offering advice
on internal room layouts and placement of windows and doors to allow
cross ventilation,” he added.
According to Mr. Kinder, the companies already provide, as standard,
a number of ‘Greensmart’ initiatives in their new home designs such as
ceiling insulation with tiled roofs, gas packages in lieu of all electric
fittings and solar hot water units. “We also include the addition, deletion,
relocation or size adjustment of windows to suit solar orientation at no
extra cost,” he said.
“We as a company are committed to ongoing discovery and
implementation of energy efficient initiatives and will continue to explore
every opportunity in order to be able to offer our clients a range of choices.
“We see this service as not only BGC Housing’s commitment to our
customers in building them an energy and cost efficient home, but a
commitment to their families’ future.
750,000 cubic meters of earth,
rock and pavement had to be
moved to make way for the
bypass, of which 130,000
cubic meters was rock blasted
from the main cutting.
On Friday 17 May Federal
Member for Pearce, Judi
Moylan MHR officially opened
the new $40 million Northam
Bypass on behalf of the Minister
for Transport. The construction
phase of the project began in
January 2001 when Main Roads
awarded the project to the BGC-
Barclay Mowlem Joint Venture,
however, route assessments for
the bypass started in 1988 with
funding being approved in
1996.
The bypass is a 14.9
kilometre realignment of the
existing Great Eastern Highway,
Western Australia’s link to the
eastern states. As well as
eliminating all interstate heavy
haulage traffic from Northam,
the bypass will bring significant
improvements to road safety
and freight efficiency.
Some interesting facts on the
Bypass include:
Approximately 1,500
vehicles per day will travel on it.
The biggest bridge is across
the Avon River (240 metres long
and stands 15 metres above the
river bed).
The two river bridges have
unusually long spans of 28 to
33 metres between piers, which
were made possible by the high
tech “incremental launch”
bridge building technique.
It cuts through two farming
properties necessitating the
building of special under bypass
access routes for the farmers
concerned.
750,000 cubic metres of
earth, rock and pavement had to
be moved to make way for the
bypass, of which 130,000 cubic
metres was rock blasted from the
main cutting.
10,000 cubic metres of
concrete and 1,000 tonnes of
steel were used in the
construction of the Bypass’
bridges.
Landscaping along the
Bypass will eventually include
445kg of native seeds and
155,000 shrub and tree
seedlings.
At peak times, 150 people
have been employed, with local
workers used for direct labour
and supplies components.
The close working
relationship between BGC-
Barclay Mowlem Joint Venture,
Main Roads Western Australia
and Halpern Glick Maunsell
(lead design engineer) ensured
the successful completion of the
project. Other BGC divisions
involved in the project included
BGC Asphalt, BGC Quarries,
BGC Blokpave, BGC Transport
and BGC Stabilisation, who
guaranteed a reliable supply of
products.
We would like to
congratulate everyone involved
on the successful realisation of
the Northam Bypass Project.
One of the Northam Bypass bridges.
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