Contractor keeps busy in Cape

contractor keeps busy in cape

building contractor grinaker-lta, part of the jse-listed aveng group, has started 2008 on a high note, with a healthy order book that includes more than r1 billion of work at cape town international airport.

grinaker-lta building cape, in joint venture with stocks africa, is undertaking a r664 million contract to build a new integrated terminal that’s scheduled for completion in december 2009, as well as a r375 million contract for the construction of a new multi-storey parkade at the airport.

the location of the two sites just 1.5m apart will create some challenges, especially during the installation of the precast wall units and the roof, notes kurt schwechheimer, general manager of grinaker-lta building cape, which is the lead partner on the parkade project. the contractors are also contending with the additional challenges posed by working at an operational airport, he adds.

job creation and training is an important element of the construction project, and the builders have undertaken to provide on-site training for the previously disadvantaged individuals employed, and have also committed to achieving stringent ‘preferential procurement’ targets. “there are also rigorous health, safety, and environmental requirements,” schwechheimer states.

another significant project that grinaker-lta building cape is currently busy with is the construction of a new state-of-the-art forensic facility situated in plattekloof, cape town. this r359 million contract for the department of public works is scheduled for completion in march 2010, just a few months before the official kick-off of the fifa soccer world.

the design of this custom-built forensic facility for the sa police service compares favourably with international operations, and will support criminal investigation, schwechheimer reports.

the construction contract will create significant employment and training opportunities. “it forms part of the department of public works’ expanded public works programme, which requires the employment of local unskilled labour who must be trained during the course of the project in both life skills and construction disciplines,” he says.

environmental considerations are also a feature of the undertaking, and provisions have been made in the contract to relocate any movable plant species before work commences on the site. “there are also specific requirements regarding the disposal of cement, contaminated water and other waste products.”

the 17 000sq m facility will incorporate high-tech features and a sophisticated security system. “this is a very unique project, with a number of unusual features and systems, and we are very excited to be part of it,” schwechheimer adds. still in cape town, grinaker-lta building is close to completing a r45 million contract for a new office park in pinelands, cape town. the new parklane office park is centrally located at the junction of the n2 and m5 freeways. a particularly noteworthy feature of this project, schwechheimer states, is that the site is being used as a training platform for artisans, enabling trainees to work in a wide range of trades and attain different levels of trade competency. “we are undertaking training and offering certifications in trades ranging from scaffold erection to brickwork, plastering and tiling,” he explains. the aim of the scheme is to retain and develop a core artisan base within grinaker-lta building cape. “in the past, the western cape was renowned for its high standard of artisan competency. we’re aiming to re-establish this standard and reputation in the current busy construction environment, where the skills shortage is a growing concern.”

reflecting the ongoing development boom in the eastern cape, grinaker-lta building cape is working on two contracts at the coega industrial development zone in port elizabeth, and recently completed a contract for alterations and extensions to aspen pharmacare’s existing warehouse facility on the banks of north end lake.

the r46 million contract for the construction of a new factory for salt supplier cerebos is the latest project awarded to grinaker-lta building in coega, notes port elizabeth operations director leon petrie. “we are also close to completing a r115 million contract for the construction of the coega development corporation’s striking new head office in the idz,” he says.

grinaker-lta recently completed an r85 million contract to refurbish and extend vincent park, east london’s largest shopping centre, while in the eastern cape capital of bhisho, the firm is undertaking a r230 million contract for the construction of the department of public works’ new ‘special youth care centre’, which is designed to accommodate 320 juvenile offenders.