Case Study

Select Civil and C.R. Kennedy

Select Civil has been providing its clients a range of civil contracting, plant hire and waste handling services since its establishment in 1987, with the business, based in Kembla Grange, around an hour south of the Sydney CBD, focused on delivering high-quality and practical solutions backed by extensive experience and a capacity to tackle large-scale construction projects.

Staff of over 90 personnel, from project managers and engineers to supervisors, plant operators and plant fitters, underpins Select’s service offering and ability to manage and complete a diverse array of projects, with some of its current and recent contracts worth in excess of $10 million.

Having been purchased by French plant hire, civil works and services company Groupe Poisson in 2001, Select has since marked a number of milestones across the respective civil contracting, plant hire and waste management divisions of its business, with it conducting a range of operations both in NSW and other states.

The civil contracting arm of Select’s business is equipped to take on a variety of projects, including: road and bridge construction, bulk earthworks, stormwater drainage, landfill cell construction, water main upgrades and sewage pump station construction, and mine remediation work.

 “We pride ourselves on our ability to provide our clients with a professional and proactive service, a high quality of product and the ability to offer real-world solutions to project issues,” Select General Manager Graham Peace, who joined Select in 2005 and who has close to two decades of industry experience, told EEM.

“We have the ability to diversify and manage a large variety of projects, ranging from projects with a high level of community exposure through to remote access projects requiring access by helicopter.”

This approach has seen Select accumulate an impressive client list over the years, featuring a roll call of industry heavy-hitters, from John Holland to BHP Billiton, while in the public sector, its clients encompass both local and state government, including WaterNSW, Sydney Water and NSW Public Works.

High-Quality Equipment Gets The Job Done

“Our aim is to provide the client with a successful project constructed to the standards they and Select expect, and to deliver it within budget,” Graham explained of Select’s underlying approach. “Select values return business from clients, as this demonstrates client satisfaction in what is a very competitive industry.

“The correct equipment for the job is an essential part of delivering successful projects on budget and within the CQA tolerances set in the specifications. The equipment has to be of a high quality, reliable and, as is essential with all equipment, has to be backed by a good support team to ensure minimal downtime, and quick repair in the event of damage.”

Graham told EEM that Select has incorporated Leica GPS systems across much of its equipment, with the technology providing a range of operational benefits.

“The advanced technology that these systems deliver provides accuracy and ease of use for the operators in the field, it streamlines our works and dramatically improves the on-site efficiencies, while at the same time saving outlay on surveyors,” he said.

Harnessing these efficiencies, Select is currently putting the technology to work for different clients across a range of projects. “We are currently utilising our Leica GPS systems for a road reconstruction and upgrade project for WaterNSW in the Shoalhaven, and also have two long-reach excavators using the systems to place rock protection in estuaries, one in the Illawarra and one in Newcastle,” Graham said. “We also utilise a number of rovers on our landfill projects.”

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