Major infrastructure project to improve working conditions in northern Hawke’s Bay
Published: 21 June, 2021
Ground has been broken on a new multi-million dollar roading operations hub in Wairoa which will accommodate the workforce of Quality Roading and Services (QRS), the Northern Hawke’s Bay town’s second largest employer.
Long-serving QRS staff members were part of a group who turned the first sod of dirt at the new site.
Long-serving QRS staff were among a group of 12 who turned the first sod during a blessing ceremony at the new hub site last week.
The $4 million hub project is being co-funded by the government’s regional development agency, Kānoa – Regional Economic Development Unit (Kānoa – RDU). It is providing a $2 million loan, while QRS’s owner, the Wairoa District Council, is funding the balance.
QRS says at the moment, its 90 staff are scattered over several locations in older facilities which it says are beyond their design life.
The civil engineering company says the new hub will better meet the needs of its 90 staff and improve their working conditions and training opportunities, while helping QRS grow and employ more people.
Wairoa Mayor Craig Little says it is exciting to have something of this scale built in the town.
“This project is transformational for the company and for the staff as they’re going to have a facility they can train in. Having Kānoa peer review the project was just so valuable to the process,” Mr Little says.
Kānoa – RDU’s Principal Regional Advisor for Hawke’s Bay, Cameron Osmond, says the QRS hub is a key investment.
“I’ve always thought ‘what is this going to mean for the staff of QRS and what is this going to mean for Wairoa?’ It has always been fundamental for discussions and the back story of the application.” Cameron Osmond says.
“This is going to be transformational for QRS, and I know the importance of QRS to Wairoa in terms of the opportunity it offers.” He says.
Construction of the new hub will be complete by August next year.