BGC Construction helps build innovative university partnership

Doing it right the first timeHousing affordability emerges askey issue with first home buyersWhen Joe Gaffa, the Pendle Hill (NSW) wholesale butcher and hiswife decided to renovate and extend a small fibro cottage, they did it rightthe first time.Joe and his family were looking for a larger home that was close toschools, transport and Joe’s business. The 1960’s fibro cottage that theyfound set on the high side of the road, was small, but appeared to havepotential. To help fulfil this potential BGC Duratex was chosen to cladthe dwelling, for the veranda soffits and internal the wet lining. The endresult is their dream come true, a two-storey home that utilises thenortherly aspect and well-proportioned backyard, and is a beautifulenhancement to the existing streetscape.After gutting the existing cottage and extending the framing upwardto form the second storey, Joe clad the dwelling with BGC Duratexsheets, completely covering all the window and door openings. TheDuratex sheets were then cut from the inside of the house to form theopenings ready to receive door and window frames, sills and surrounds.This method ensured that the sheet joints across the openings were cutand set in accordance with the BGC Duratex fixing specifications andsaved time and double handling of the sheets.The door and window sills and surrounds were made from Duratexsheets, cut to size and fixed to raked timber framing to give the openingdetails clean sharp lines.The result is an exemplary example of owner-builder renovations, andhow BGC Fibre Cement Duratex can be utilised to achieve the desiredstyle, colour and texture of the finished dwelling.Throughout the project, Joe had the support of the BGC Fibre Cementand BGC Plasterboard Technical Advisory Service.‘Before and after’ – Joe gaffa’s exemplary example of owner builder renovations.The ‘average’ first homebuyer is slowly being squeezedout of the first home buyermarket, according to recentresearch conducted by BGC.In a report commissioned byAustralia’s biggest home builder,figures showed that the ‘average’Australian household wasfinding it increasingly difficult toenter the first home ownersmarket, despite the introductionof the First Home OwnersGrant.“Based on the lendingcriteria of both a majormortgage broker (Wizard HomeLoans) and Keystart, the WesternAustralian Government lendingbody, a Western Australian adultearning an average income andqualifying for the First HomeOwners Grant can now onlyafford between 65 and 84 percent of the purchase price of themost affordable house and landpackage in Perth, excludingstamp duty and fees,” said BGCResidential General ManagerAnthony Kinder.“We would propose anoverhaul of qualifyingmechanisms on both the Stateand Federal first homebuyersassistance packages to allowthose who are currently caughtby the ‘deposit gap’ a realopportunity to own their ownhome.“We would also suggest theintroduction of an EnergyEfficiency concession for interestrates, which could be awarded tonew home owners who buildtheir homes compliant withBuilders Code of Australiaenergy efficiency principles.Where the homeowner surpassesthe minimum requirements, theconcessional rate could befurther decreased,” he added.“While the housing industryis at capacity at present it is allto easy to think everyone whowants a home can get one, thereality is, we’ll come out of thisboom and realise that up to athird of West Australian’s cannotafford one at all”, he added.According to Sue Marshall,Brand Manager for Go Homes,Government assistance in theform of changes in lendingcriteria, subsidies and interestrate concessions would go along way.“We primarily deal with the‘battler’ end of the first homeowner market, and the currentclimate is not conducive to homeownership. If you consider thatthe average gross weekly salaryfor a West Australian couplewith no dependants is around$706, and our market generallydeals with a below averagesalary, then our clients, who theFirst Home Owners Grant wasprimarily designed for, are reallybeing priced out of the market,”said Ms Marshall.Paul Arndt, ExecutiveGeneral Manager of J– Corpsupported Mr Kinder’s viewsabout affordability, alsoexpressing further concernregarding the fact that largerblocks are fast disappearing,whilst the desire for larger homesremains as strong as ever.“Inner city and metro blocksare being dissected at an amazingrate, and as a result, homebuilders who want individualparcels of land, ie not ‘housebehind house’, are being forcedinto the outlying suburbs.Everyone wants a larger house,and they are being squashedonto smaller blocks, with theresult being a compromise ontheir ‘dream home’ design.“In addition to this, thecurrent boom in home buildingis causing delays in titles and inbrick availability. As a result ofthese delays, clients have to seekalternative accommodation forlonger periods, also priceincreases occur due to ‘supplyversus demand’ and as theseincreases cannot be passed ontocustomers, profitability is furtherdepleted,” he added.4

Go HomesThe DAD office crew.DAD National expands operations in record years of growthGo Homes would like tocongratulate Darren Clarke whoachieved Go’s top Sales Rep ofthe year for 2003, Darren hasworked for Go Homes for threeand half years and is a constantperformer.We also congratulate SymiaHopkinson for achieving Go’sTop Qualifier of the Year 2003.Symia’s enthusiasm andenjoyment for what she does isevident by her results.Sue MarshallBrand ManagerThe past two years have been bumper years for DAD (Design and Development) National, BGC Residential’scountry operation.According to General Manager, Kevin Blackwood, the award winning company has grown by 100 per cent inthe past two consecutive years, suggesting a bright future for the fledgling business.Established in Bunbury in 1999, the housing company’s operations extend as far south as Augusta, north as faras Dawesville and east to Collie. Drawing from over 500 designs, the company specialises in creating homes forboth rural and traditional town lots properties, taking into account the special requirements that home buildersencounter on these lots.Winner of the MYOB Southwest Small Business of the Year in 2003, and a finalist in the state awards for thepast two years, the company is comprised of DAD Australia – the parent operation, DAD Realty and DADNational.The company also was the south west representative for the West Australian Regional Business Awards in 2004.“As a result of this rapid expansion, we have outgrown our initial office space and have moved to a largerpremises in the Old Silos Markets in the centre of town,” said Mr Blackwood.“Our new homes division has 23 employees and although we only have two display homes at the moment, weare opening another three within the first quarter of this year.“We are rapidly becoming a force to contend with in rural WA. Our future plans not only include theexpansion of our core business, but also the introduction of an exciting new building and design operation in 2004,which will concentrate on providing our rural market with a product designed, operated and represented by localpeople with strong local knowledge,” he added.Brand Manager Sue Marshal and Darren Clarke.AGI Insulation – upping the ante for energy-efficient housingWith minimum energy ratings for new homes now being a mandatory requirement and not just a desirable option, ‘energy efficient sustainability’ havebecome the new buzzwords in home building.Over recent years, the BCA (Building Code of Australia) has been pushing for improved energy efficiencies in new homes. As a result, effective from July2003 builders are required by the Building Code of Australia to construct homes that meet an energy efficiency rating. Effectively this new mandate hasresulted in the compulsory requirement for the installation of insulation in all new homes.AGI Insulation, in partnership with many local builders, has led this quest and currently supplies a large part of the WA residential building market withits insulation batts. The new mandatory regulations have given insulation a new found respect, and coupled with many educational programs such as theHIA Greensmart principals, housing energy sustainability will be words used more and more over the coming years.According to General Manager of AGI, Frank di Costa, the true value of insulation has finally been realized. “AGI Insulation, by virtue of regulation, isleading the industry in energy efficiencies, however I believe this is only the start of what will be an industry reform. The industry is identifying anddeveloping clear mandates that will support energy efficiencies in homes, reducing the impact on our environment.“We have proactively embarked on a builders education campaign to assist our clients with understanding what the BCA codes mean, and how it impactson them. “The responsibility of housing sustainability goes beyond the consumer, as designers, builders, manufacturers and suppliers must all undertake thiseducational process. Insulation is one of the most cost-effective ways to achieve energy-efficient sustainability and should become standard practice for allhome owners – new and old,” he added.Put simply, if your home is not insulated you could well lose up to 35% of your home’s heat through the ceiling in winter, resulting in higher energyusage. Conversely, without insulation heat is easily transferred through the ceiling in summer. Insulation is measured by R values – the measure of resistanceto heat flow. The higher the R value the greater the resistance to heat flow. Typically, ceilings will have R2.5 value and wall insulation a R1.5.For more information on how insulation can save you money, please contact AGI on 9334 4551.B U I L D I N G S U C C E S S 5

BGC Plumbing‘Best SecondYear Apprentice’Looma High School girls winners.Canning Stock Route ChallengeBGC Contracting’s Kimberley Depot was proud to be a sponsor of this year’s Canning Stock Route Challenge.The Canning Stock Route Challenge is an annual event run by the Western Australian Country Health Service.The aim of the Challenge is to encourage schools in the Kimberley region to promote and educate students in thebenefits of good health and nutrition. Type Two Diabetes is a problem in the region and the adoption of healthylifestyle behaviours is a key strategy for the prevention of this and other lifestyle diseases.Each class that participates in the Challenge is provided with a map of the Canning Stock Route and stickersrepresenting wells along the route. Wells are awarded to each team for activities (ie: 15 minutes physical activity =1 well; 1 Healthy Lifestyle Lesson = 5 wells). The team that has completed a minimum of 5 Healthy LifestyleLessons and travelled a minium of 58 wells of physical activity (14.5 hours over 8 weeks) is awarded a prize.On 20th November 2003Brett Davey (BGC PlumbingSouth West Apprentice) wasawarded the MPA South West“Best Second Year Apprentice”award. Brett has been with BGCPlumbing since December 2002,area Manager Mark Wilcox isvery pleased with his progressand nominated him for theaward after his personalobservations of Brett andreceiving much positive feedbackregarding his work from bothclients and sub contractors.BGC donated $150 to two categories:BGC Make a Healthy Food Choice Activity was won by Looma Remote Community High School Girls“Looma Eagle Girls” (Ages 13 – 16 category).The girls won their category by:• Performing dances and preparing healthy food for the community guest.• Putting on a healthy food breakfast for the Looma Eagles football team.• A canoe trip promoting healthy living and exercise and preparing healthy food for the participants.BGC Performing or Visual Arts Activity category was won by Wyndham District High School.The Wyndham District High School students prepared and produced a healthy lifestyle video presentation.Carlson Daniels (Quality/Safety/Environment/Customer Relations for BGC Kimberley) was proud to representBGC in judging the impressive entries of the participants.Brett DaveyWhat brick shortage?In a market plagued by building delays and brick shortages, Blokpavehas released a totally new range of readily available face bricks whichutilise popular materials such as limestone and laterite.This timely release will help alleviate delays in new home construction,which because of brick shortages, can often last up to four months.According to Rino Marsala, Manager Research and Design for BGCHousing, these new products are the result of some inspired thinkingfrom our builders and designers. “Perth’s love affair with limestone andother natural materials is well known, but unfortunately until now, theuse of these natural materials has been restricted by their cost and theirlack of availability in an easy to use form,” he said .“These new products are especially suited to modern homes that relyon more than one material for the construction of their external walls.Our designers look for new products that can be either used alone, or incombination with conventional materials,” he added.Through the utilisation of state-of-the-art technology, the productdevelopment team at Blokpave were able to reproduce the look of pure,naturally formed limestone, in a conventional two course house brickconsisting of 90% limestone. According to Sales Manager Ernie Tesconi,the new ‘limestone brick’ costs no more than a conventional clay brick,and makes it feasible to substitute it in the construction of a typical newhome, at no additional cost.“The process is highly versatile and any natural granular material canbe utilized to manufacture readily usable building materials. For example,when combined with the special mortar the company has prepared,laterite or ‘pea gravel’ from Bindoon creates the appearance of apreformed, cast rammed earth wall,” said Mr Tesconi.Additional products are being developed incorporating building wasteand other recycled materials. Internal bricks, that are to be rendered, canbe manufactured from recycled building materials and other inert wasteproducts resulting in the conservation of natural resources.The new brick products, ‘Limestone’ and ‘Natural Earth’, are inabundant supply and to complement this range, come with all theaccessories such as fractions, sill bricks and angle squints.For more information, please call Blokpave on 1300 360 344.6

Helping handThe following was a letter receivedby BGC in regard to Jeff Hicks,Equipment Operator at BGCContracting’s Karratha Depot. It is alsoa timely reminder for anyone travellingin remote areas to be prepared and tolet someone know your plans.BGC ContractingPersonnel Department23 November 2003To Whom it May ConcernRe: Jeff Hicks (Employee)I think the best a company can hope for from its employees is that whenthey are off-site, that they represent the company in a favourable way.Occasionally though you get an employee who is exceptional. Jeff Hicksis that man.My husband and I have only recently moved to the Pilbara region fromBrisbane. A few weeks ago, we went ‘exploring‘ along tracks suggestedby a local. However, we slid off the tracks into muddy, clay flats wherewe promptly sank up to the side boards on our 4WD.After 1 hour of trying to get out, we realised we were stranded.It was 42 o , our 12 month old son was with us and my husband had noother option than to walk for help.So my husband walked the 5 kms back to the caravan park we hadpassed on the way in for assistance. In the meanwhile, 2 helicopterspassed over us. My husband alone, walking, waving a water bottle andmyself with our son. The helicopters passed by twice, but that was it.The first person at the caravan park said, “…. I’m not taking mycar out there, go to the cops….” and walked away. Then my husbandmet Jeff. He asked what had happened and rallied help immediately.He attended to my husbands obvious dehydration and exhaustion.Packed water, ice, first aid requirements, extra tow ropes; everything inminutes. All at his own expense.By this time we had been stuck for 2 hours. Although my son and Iwere fine; we had plenty of water and ice as well as shade, the extrathought Jeff went to was amazing.After 4 attempts and 2 tow ropes, we were free. Jeff then led us outand checked us again before we left for home.As an employer, you ask your employees to go the extra mile. Jeff didthat and more.Nothing can ever repay his selflessness that day, but I am hoping thisletter might go some way to showing Jeff how much we appreciatedeverything he did. If this letter could be shown to his Supervisor andrelevant superiors it would be greatly appreciated.Best regardsLiz Little (Dampier)Jeff HicksWAHC offers display home asprize in Dome promoThe ultimate house and land package was put up for grabs in the WestAustralian Housing Centre’s ‘Win Your Home at the Dome’ competition.Entrants were given the chance to win the magnificent ‘Charlotte’display centre at Ellenbrook in this fabulous competition which was heldduring the Western Power Ideal Home Show at the Burswood Dome.WAHC Brand Manager Tim Underwood said that this was indeed thelargest prize that the company has ever offered at a quarter of a milliondollars.“The Charlotte has been by far one of our most popular displays, andit is an exciting move for us to actually put the display up as a prize.The home itself has everything you could ever want, including the ultimateentertaining layout with open plan living areas and light bright ambience,”he added.The prize was valued at around $250,000. This warm, contemporaryhome features four bedrooms and two bathrooms, a generouslyproportioned kitchen/dining/family room and a new concept for WAHC –a garden room.BGC Contracting:The new CEO andour futureJohn Dunkley joined the BGCContracting team in December2003 as the new CEO. John is aCivil Engineer, is married to Janand has three children (one in year10, one at TAFE and one marriedand working for Alcan at Gove,NT).John has extensive experiencein civil, mining and multidiscipline contracting. Prior tojoining the BGC Contracting teamhe spent a year at Mount GibsonIron Limited’s Tallering PeakHematite Project. However, mostof John’s career was spent withLeighton Contractors Pty Ltdwhere he was involved withnumerous projects includingWandoo B Platform, Harvey Dam,Narrows Bridge Duplication,Goldfields Gas Pipeline as well asover 60 mining contractsthroughout WA. His final rolewas that of General Manager forWestern Australia as well as aDirector of Leighton Contractors.John’s involvement in thislevel of activity has seen himbecome a Fellow of the Institute ofEngineers Australia (FIEAustCPEng), a very prestigious awardgiven for conspicuous service to theprofession of engineering.John’s main objectives are togrow the business at a rate thatenables the corporate profitabilitytargets to be met, to ensure a safeand harmonious workplace ismaintained and to continue theBGC commitment to exceedingclient expectations.John is excited about thefuture for BGC Contracting andlooks forward to a similar responsefrom the Team.John Dunkley BGC Contracting CEOB U I L D I N G S U C C E S S 7

BGC Centre ChatterWickam Chambers on the 11th floor have renewed theirlease for a further 5 years.Integrated Consulting (International) Pty Ltd on the 6thfloor has extended the lease for 2 years.Law Reform Commission on the 3rd floor is very happyto be staying as they have extended their lease for a further2 years.Urban Pacific Ltd on the mezzanine level has extendedtheir lease for a further 12 months.Apologies to Central Asia Gold Ltd who in our lastedition it was reported had moved from level 5 to level 9,when in fact they moved from level 9 to level 5.VRI Biomedical Ltd has vacated their tenancy on the11th floor.Lee Royston-Ing, Owner Manager of W.E.S.T.W.E.S.T and the BGC GroupJoshua James Kinder.CongratulationsCongratulations to BGCResidential’s General ManagerAnthony Kinder and his wifePamela-Jayne Kinder on thebirth of Joshua James Kinder,who was born on 19th January2004 weighing 3.115kg (6lb 12).Joshua has already amazed hisparents by increasing hisbodyweight by 40% to 5kgwithin 4 weeks.Happy halfcenturyBest wishes to Bob PennellConstruction Manager for WestPerth’s BGC Residential whoturns fifty on 31st March 2004.Bob Pennell.With Security Monitoring Control Rooms across the country beingrelocated to the Eastern States, Western Australian businesses have agreater need than ever for a local Security Monitoring service provider.BGC is happy to announce that WA’s own W.E.S.T. (WesternElectronic Security Technology) has become our new local serviceprovider. Owner Manager Lee Royston-Ing has been in the SecurityIndustry for 19 years. His wealth of experience includes ElectronicSecurity alarms, Access Control, Closed Circuit Television Systems (forsecurity, production control and OH & S issues), Intercoms, ElectricFences and other related products in all fields, be it commercial, residentialor industrial.All BGC sites have now been re-commissioned to the ARM SecurityControl room, a facility located in West Perth and enjoyed by all W.E.S.T.customers. Operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, ARM Securityutilises the latest SIMS alarm monitoring computer package. ARMSecurity is a member of ASIAL and operates a Grade A1 Control Room inaccordance with Australian Standards 2201.2. This grading level was firstattained in April 1998. With a minimum of two and as much as ten yearsindustry experience, all of ARM’s operators are police licensed and have ahigh level of skill and experience in alarm monitoring, two way radiooperations, CCTV monitoring and data entry.ARM’s Operators are trained to supply basic alarm panel maintenanceto customers and to ensure technical assistance is always readily available– often negating the need for expensive after hours call outs.With Insurance Companies ever pressing the need for a MonitoredSecurity Alarm System at home and work. W.E.S.T. and Lee are offeringall BGC Staff and friends a discounted rate for Security Alarm Monitoringfor your own homes. Should you not have a home security alarm systemW.E.S.T. and Lee will design a system to suit your home, lifestyle andbudget. Many of the BGC Group General Managers already know Leefrom dealings over the past years and he invites all staff of BGC to pleasefeel free to ask any questions related to security.For Security Control Room call ARM on 9328 3666 and for sales andservice call Lee at W.E.S.T. on 9246 0309 or 0438 280 966.For your contribution to the next BGC Bulletin or for a copy of the new BGC corporatebrochure please contact Gillian Ollerenshaw on 08 9261 18408B U I L D I N GS U C C E S S