Diversity a feature of activities

Press, 5 July 1983, Page 31

Diversity a feature of activities

The diversity of construction activity in which Downer and Company is involved is such that it is simpler to explain what it does not do: It does not build houses.

But Downer does carry out subdivision earthworks, install underground services such as water, sewerage and drainage systems, and build roads—everything except the houses. Civil engineering is where Downer and Company first made its name and still dominates present activities.

It also has big interests in commercial and industrial building, and recently branched into the highly competitive design-and-build field.

Civil engineering means different things to different people, although it usually refers to work carried out

substantially at ground level, or underground.

A look at some of the projects that Downer is working on—or has recently completed—gives some idea of the massive spread of its activities: Earthworks: Coal mine overburden stripping contracts at Stockton, on the South Island’s West Coast, and at Weavers Crossing and Waipuna, Huntly.

Power construction: Nearing completion is an SB.SM tunnel for the Waipori power station, Dunedin, extending an association with that project dating back to Downer’s first contract, awarded in 1934. Work on the Patea local hydro project, Taranaki. Downer won Contractors’ Federation Construction Award and International Federation of Asian and Western Pacific Contractors Gold Medal for performance of Aniwhenua

local hydro project, Bay of Plenty, completed 1981. Airports: Recently completed Chatham Islands airport five months ahead of schedule and, in joint venture with Fletcher Construction, Palau Airport, in Caroline islands, to be opened on July 20, 1983, six months ahead of schedule. Handled Mangere extensions work and international terminal paving in mid-70s. Ports: Wellington container terminal and Tarakohe Wharves completed since mid-70s; also container crane erection at Wellington, Lyttelton and Dunedin. Roading: Recent contracts include Onehunga Bay crossing, Carrington underpass, Mt Wellington highway, Waterview interchange and Arts underpass in Auckland; northern motorway in Dunedin. Quarries in Auckland, Murupara and Wellington provide aggre-

gates for national, local and private roading projects each year. Major projects: Marsden Point oil refinery expansion as partner in construction with the sub-contractor, JVII; all foundations and associated civil works for Waitara methanol plant, cooling tower basin, substations and control building; main civil works contracts for the Motunui G.T.G. project, including concrete structures, underground piping for main process areas; concrete structures for New Zealand Steel stage one. Bridges and structures: Several important Auckland motorway bridges in the early mid-70s, Upper Waitemata Harbour bridge completed 1976, main Air New Zealand repair hangar at Christchurch Airport, including a stressed boxgirder spanning 125 m-long

entrance. Industrial plants: Participation in all three stages of Tiwai Point aluminium smelter including site preparation, foundations, structure erection, cladding and services; construction of pulp mills for Carter-Oji at Whirinaki, consisting of three stages, including the latest, completed in 1982, six months ahead of schedule and under budget; and Winstone-Samsung, at Karioi, in 18 months, three months ahead of schedule. The variety of commercial building undertaken covers everything from warehouses and supermarkets, to hospital buildings and huge office tower blocks.