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KIRIBATI ROAD REHABILITATION PROJECT

With a land area of 15km2, little goes unnoticed on the tiny atoll of South Tarawa and the hard work done by the McConnell Dowell team is hard to miss.

The 2km Airport Road seawall, a cement/sandbag structure to protect the road from coastal erosion, is approaching the finish line with only 200m to go. The seawall crew has learnt quickly, allowing operations to accelerate. Initially progressing at a rate of 20m per week, the crew is now achieving 100m of seawall per week.

Notable milestones achieved last month include the completion of the fibre optic duct on the 3.2km Betio Causeway, the erection of the new asphalt plant and the production of a successful trial AC mix.

Upcoming work is focused on the Main Road with crews working on underground service investigations, clearing and grubbing, drainage, kerbs and base course lay down trials.

The Kiribati team is growing quickly with four new expats joining the team. The team was also kept busy last month with ten visitors – the most we have seen in one month thus far. The team here at Kiribati is always open to entertaining curious travellers, so if the warm 28 degree climate isn’t enough to lure you over, here are the top South Tarawa activities and attractions.

American Samoa’s Hardcore AdminA big Fa’amalo and congratulations to our office administrative supervisor Fonotaga Seva’aetasi Alo for her accomplishment of 20 YEARS of service here at McConnell Dowell American Samoa.

Fono is known by all of the employees as our “MacDow Mother.” She greets everyone with a laugh, makes every new staff member feel very welcome, treats everyone equally, and always ends the day with a smile.

Fono has worked with many people throughout her years here. Those people include: Murray Mannion (PM), Nicholas Smith (PM), Ian Wild (PM), Ian Campbell (PM), Robert Clark (PM), Kelvin Hinds (PM), Gavin Hendricks (PM), Geoffrey Prince (PM), Stan Schwalger (PM), Mark Liersch (PM), Keith Griffin (PM), Basil Ake (PM), current Project Manager Stuart Pilat, and under the supervision of Pauline Ashton (FM), Will Southon (FM), Mark Dela Rosa (FM), Kurt Mollet (FM), Peter Duffy (FM), Ray Wall Bank (FM), Geoff Donley (FM), and current Finance Manager Murray Holmes.

Fono says it has been a great honour and pleasure to have met such good people she wants to thank them for always being there for her throughout the years. “McConnell Dowell is not just a workplace, it is also my second family,” says Fono adding that whenever someone leaves, they always take a part of her heart with them.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to her for her dearest husband Kitiona Alo who worked with her all the way through. He is not with her physically but spiritually. Fono has been an inspiration to all of us here and anyone who has

AMERICAN SAMOAby Stuart Pilat

2014 / 2015 is shaping up to be one of our busiest years ever with several good projects underway and many key tenders on the horizon.

The $11m Airport Rd contract is up and running, well led on site by Tapp Lautasi and Simon Burgoyne. The intense programme and the need to keep the local traffic flowing will provide many challenges along the way. The team has taken up the innovation gauntlet and introduced a traffic control truck with VMS board and a dedicated public project website which announces planned traffic switches and reports progress.

Trimarine is also underway and the team is well into the storm water drainage works, with the dredging due to commence shortly. Sam Anania, Fernando Navarra and Graham Pearcy are leading the crew well.

Leone Bridge is moving into the final few months of construction with Craig Langsford and Jamie Stark pushing the team over the final few hurdles. The first section of the 3’ thick in-situ concrete deck was poured on Monday. 140 Yd3 is a big pour for the island (We are not sure if this is a record, but we are claiming it anyway!)

With the work in hand and in the pipeline, we have many new people joining us. The list includes Tony Price (Superintendent) Paul Bannister (QS) Steven Polwort

A traveller’s guide to Kiribati AND a project update from our hard working team by Fidez Oreta

(Concrete Supervisor) Graham Pearcy (Crane Supervisor) and Ken Costin (HSQE Manager). Hopefully there will be a few more to follow if our current tender success rate continues.

Despite all the long hours we all do, we managed to squeeze in a company beach party at Sadie’s by the Sea in late February. Stories of water balloons being thrown in the bar and whipped cream pie fights are just simply not true…

The Auckland estimating team continue to be kept busy and are presently answering all of our post tender questions on the $8.8m Service Wharf in downtown Pago. Andrew is also working on the $2m Afoa village shoreline repair. We are also expecting significant roading tenders and the Airport overlay to come out later this year.

Peter Brannigan and Charlie Atisanoe have not stopped smiling since all the new plant started to arrive on the island. Latest additions to the fleet include 4 new F 150’s, a new roller and a 38T excavator. Hopefully the smiles will continue as there are rumours of new trucks, hiab and a new crusher on the horizon.

Mother McConnell (Fono) has achieved her 20 year service with us here in Am Sam and what an amazing achievement by an inspirational lady!

come to know her. We only hope that as the years come and go, we will always have someone like her here in the office. To Fono: Your perseverance is well appreciated, you truly are HARDCORE. They say that anything to do with ROCK is the most important part of a CONSTRUCTION company, but it’s the people IN IT that keep the company STABLE.” HAPPY 20 YEARS….. and counting.

HistorySituated in a strategic location on the equator, Betio was the site of The Battle of Tarawa - one of the bloodiest battles in World War II. Seventy years later and many of the war relics, coastal guns remain on the shore line for travellers to see.

FishingTry your luck at catching sailfish, blue marlin, giant trevally, wahoo, yellow fin and barracuda. The Gilbert Islands offer some of the best game fishing in the Pacific - if you’re up for the challenge join the team for the monthly Betio Fishing Competition.

Tebontekeke ResortLocated on the border of North and South Tarawa, Tebontekeke is a great place to get away from the crowded streets of Betio. Wade across the channel or take the small out-rigger boat to the Resort where you can order a meal, go for a swim or relax on a hammock.

CuisineSurrounded by a sea abundant with tuna and wahoo, fish is a staple food for the I-Kiribati people. Try some fresh sashimi or ‘oraora’ (fish marinated in citrus juice and coconut milk) at the McConnell Dowell team’s favourite food shack - ‘Titarbakti’ (pronounced Starbucks).

CultureWith a population of 50,000 people, South Tarawa is always full of activity. If you’re feeling adventurous try the local kava bars or night clubs. Known for their warm and friendly nature, the I-Kiribati people are always keen to show expat travellers the local culture.