Project paving the way with jobs

AuthorLaurilee McMichael
Published date26 August 2021
Publication titleTaupo Weekender
The same is happening up the road in Taupō, where it’s not just the town centre that’s being transformed through the work being created. For workers like Morehu Te Hiko, who was recently released from prison, it’s proving life-changing.

The Tūrangi street revitalisation project, which is being funded $6.5 million from the Government’s shovel-ready fund, began on April 19 and is employing 14 people. It is expected to take 18 months. The two-year Taupō town centre transformation project, also being funded by shovel-ready money, started at the end of March, is worth $20.6 million and is expected to create up to 110 jobs.

In Tūrangi locals are already seeing significant progress with the two Downer teams completing Rangipoia Place and moving around to Tureiti Place and Hingaia and Harata streets.

Foreman Dayna Morgan moved from Waiheke to Tūrangi to oversee the street revitalisation project. She explains that once any trees that need removing have been dealt with by arborists, the old, crumbling kerb and channel is dug up using an excavator.

The concrete for the new kerb and channel is laid using a concrete truck with a moulding machine. Once that is set, the stormwater lateral pipes in the berms are reinstated, and topsoil is laid. Street edges will be resealed when the weather improves.

Dayna says almost all the Downer crew working in Tūrangi are locals from Tūrangi and Taupō plus a few who come over from Taumarunui. Some are new and others were already experienced.

Senior project manager Greg Burns says the new team members were recruited this year.

“A number of them came through Downer’s Road Ready programme, which we ran in Taupo at the start of March. It’s a week-long course covering health and safety training, some personal development and the basic training and licences like Wheels, Tracks and Rollers, that new workers need before they head out on the roads. This allows us to have local people improving the place they call home, and be able to show their families what they do.

“One of the biggest problems the infrastructure industry faces is that there are just not enough workers available to fill our crews. We have a number of opportunities across our businesses for all levels of staff in all locations.”

As well as advertising widely, Downer uses agencies such as WINZ (Work and Income) to help it find workers. Potential candidates must pass a drug and alcohol test and have an interview before they are accepted.

Dayna says the work suits anybody...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT