Environment Award for C & R at Waingaro

The contract for C & R Developments at Waikato Quarries’ Waingaro Road Quarry was to undertake large-scale earthworks to provide long-term visual screening of the quarry. A major feature was a bund 200 m x 200 m x 35 m high.

The venture involved moving approximately 400,000 m3 of earth, as well as stream diversions, permanent and temporary culverts and fish relocation. Waikato Quarries’ dedicated sediment control team worked closely with the C & R site manager, Gary James, on the predominantly clay site, and this meant the C&R crew were able to move up to 9000 bcm3 per day.

Gary, who has worked for C & R since 2000, says the site work had its challenges. “It’s the first job of that scale I’ve worked on, and every job has unique characteristics,” he says. “For example, here we had to find a balance between wet clays and good material.”

Work started in February and was finished in August. “We had an enthusiastic and experienced team of up to 16 people, who got the job done right first time,” Gary says. The plant used on the job included two 100 tonne excavators, two 100 tonne Komatsu 785-3 dumpers and three 50 tonne pay haulers.
“We were in regular contact with quarry manager Allan McDonald and held frequent site meetings with engineering manager Phil Houben, who was in charge of design, planning, consents, building the bunds and compliance issues,” Gary adds. “Environment Waikato’s site rep, Peter Stevens, helped in minimising the environmental impacts.”

Re-vegetation of the site was carried out by Erosion Control, with over 50,000 m2 of steep batter cuts revegetated. Stabilisation of several relatively small areas occurred at regular intervals behind the earthworks.

In carrying out the work, C & R Developments received a ‘Site of the Month’ award from Environment Waikato. A relatively new award, it recognises those sites that have achieved a high standard of erosion and sediment control on earthworks through innovation, commitment and improving best practice.
In forwarding the certificate to C & R, Environment Waikato resource officer, earthworks, Leanne Thompson, wrote: “It was agreed the project should be awarded this certificate as an acknowledgment of the tremendous compliance level this site has had through the duration of the project.”

The project was selected for site visits by Environment Waikato’s annual erosion and sediment control workshops. “Five groups of training attendees visited this site,” Leanne reports. “We received very good comments about the site and the efforts the C & R team had gone to with environmental measures – the site showed an excellent standard of erosion and sediment control, and we extend our congratulations to all parties who have been involved in making this site a success.”

For further information, contact: C & R Developments, phone 07 823 5944 or visit www.crdevelopments.co.nz