11 December 2008
Large national contractor committed to Hunter growth
Little did Abigroup’s Managing Director Peter Brecht and Director of
Operations David Jurd realise when they were studying engineering at the
University of Newcastle that it was just the beginning of a long association
not just with the university but with the Hunter region itself.
Abigroup is currently sponsoring four civil engineering, four surveying and
four environmental engineering scholars to complete the five year
integrated degree at the directors’ old alumni. The tier one contractor has
sponsored the University of Newcastle Industry Scholarship Scheme
(UNISS) program since 1999. Next year, Abigroup will sponsor an
additional three students who will combine their studies while working for
the leading contractor.
The scholarships have been a great success with many students going on
to work fulltime for Abigroup. Three graduates of the program are
currently working in and around the Hunter area on Abigroup projects.
Survey manager on the Kooragang Coal Export Terminal, Darron Hughes,
says using local engineering students is a highly efficient way to integrate
students into business.
Site engineer Leighton Rennie, a UNISS graduate currently working on the
Kooragang Coal Export Terminal, also thinks highly of the scholarship
program. “By the end of my degree, I had over 18 months of fulltime
work behind me. This gave me a great head start in my career. I wouldn’t
be in the position I am now without it,” he said.
Another participant in the Abigroup scholarship scheme, Ken Edwards, is
now working as a site engineer on the Karuah to Bulahdelah project
(Sections 2 & 3). Ken said, “The UNISS scheme was beneficial to my
development as a civil construction engineer as it provided me with
continual hands-on experience. Upon completion, I was not a ‘green’
graduate but a graduate with two years experience”.
In the Hunter region, Abigroup is currently undertaking three contracts
(worth approximately $91 million) on the Kooragang Coal Export Terminal
for the Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group (NCIG) and has recently
commenced rail works in the Hunter Valley as part of the Maitland to
Branxton bi-directional re-signalling programmes. Abigroup is also
currently undertaking $160 million of works on the Newcastle Mater
Hospital and opened a Hunter Valley office in Muswellbrook earlier this
year.
Abigroup is investing in the Hunter region, providing educational support
and major infrastructure for the local community and businesses, as well
as creating jobs in the area. More than fifty jobs will be created as a result
of the NCIG contracts and will be sourced largely from the local area. An
additional thirty waged positions will also be available.
Abigroup Contractors is one of Australia’s leading engineering and
building companies. Works are undertaken in areas including
health, residential, retail, educational, leisure and commercial
building and roads, bridges, dams, rail, water, telecommunications
and mining infrastructure. Abigroup is a wholly owned subsidiary
of Bilfinger Berger AG, one of the world’s top ten construction
companies.
[Ends – 423 words]
Further information:
Corporate Communications
Abigroup Limited
Ph (02) 9499 0999
Fax (02) 9499 3822
Email: abimail@abigroup.com.au
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