Council street work contracts creating Downer jobs in Taupō and Tūrangi

Labourer operators Rachel Hurae (left) and Morehu Te Hiko both began working for Downers in March. They are part of the crew upgrading Titiraupenga St in Taupō. Photo / Laurilee McMichael

A project to spruce up Tūrangi is not only bringing in new kerbs and channels, it's also bringing new jobs to the town.

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. The 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 Sts.

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

The kerbing and channelling work on Rangipoia Place, Tūrangi, has already been completed as part of the Tūrangi street revitalisation project. Photo / Laurilee McMichael

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 already had experience.

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 Taupō 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 willing to learn and work and there is ongoing training available.

"The more licences you do, the more experience you gain, it helps you with your pay increase.'

Operator labourer Joseph Marshall lives locally and has been working for Downer in Tūrangi since May doing seal cutting, digger operating and "whatever I'm asked to do". He has worked in landscaping, so he is handy operating machinery, and he also has experience in traffic management.

Joseph Marshall preparing to excavate the old crumbling kerbs and channels being replaced in Hingaia St, Tūrangi. Photo / Laurilee McMichael

Joseph says his team's a good crew who all get along.

"We do all sorts. A lot of people are asking for work but a lot don't want to work or can't pass the drug tests."

General labourer Sky Tahau was unemployed for a year before she landed her position with Downer. She heard about the job through a Winz seminar.

"It's awesome. We have a cool crew, we have a tight little crew, I had no understanding of what was going on when I first started but now I have a lot more understanding. We pretty much know what we're doing here and just do our thing."

Sky Tahau was unemployed for a year before she found work with Downers on the kerb and channelling upgrades in Tūrangi. Photo / Laurilee McMichael

Sky says her job is as an all-rounder and she can do most things except drive the larger trucks or the digger.

"But I do measuring, backfilling the soil, we control the environmental problems - for example, around the cesspits we add silt socks and clothes and things so there's no contamination leaking into the lake. I go to the yard and get loads of top soil. There's lots of stuff involved."

Sky says she would definitely recommend the job.

'You can make a career in Downer and they put you through all these courses where you actually get qualifications so it's really beneficial. Their health and safety is tops, they have high standards and it's necessary. We feel safe with Downer because of their health and safety policies and we watch out for each other."

Rachel Hurae and Morehu Te Hiko are both labourer operators working in Titiraupenga St on the Taupō town centre transformation project.

Rachel previously worked for a recruitment agency and Morehu was recently released from prison. He has been employed in the past but finding a pathway into work from prison is difficult. Morehu was put on to the Downer job by his probation officer and is grateful the company was prepared to give him a chance.

He started in Tūrangi on the street revitalisation project and then was moved to Taupō to the town centre transformation project. He says he would "most definitely" recommend the work.

"The people are good. I just appreciate the job. It keeps me busy."

Rachel says she heard about opportunities to work for Downer via her previous career.

"I liked it as a company. I just liked Downer's standards, especially for health and safety and stuff, it's very comforting. You also get offered that progression. I'm studying level two infrastructure."

As for being outside all day in all weathers, they have all the gear and Morehu says despite the odd wet day, "it's 'not too bad - it's just life, eh".