Infrastructure report: There's no 'raw prawn' here, mate

Joe Hockey. Photo / AP

Australian Treasurer Joe Hockey was blunt in his assessment of the opportunities afforded to Australian construction firms in the Christchurch Rebuild when he visited the city last month.

"I don't think 'Canterbury first' is going to do it because the task is much bigger than the capacity of Canterbury only businesses," Hockey was quoted as saying. "I think [Canterbury parochialism] is to the disadvantage of Christchurch because you know you want to get on with things and the faster you can move, taking all the resources of the world to rebuild your city, the better."

Hockey revealed Australian businesses had been lobbying their Government to step in and shake a "Canterbury first" mindset they claimed to have encountered. But Cera chief executive Roger Sutton, is quick to defend the rebuild process, saying "I don't think you can give what Joe Hockey said much credit.

"As a Government we aren't discriminating where people are from. I think there are local developers who have long-term relationships with local builders, where they are maintaining those relationships.

"Clearly there is a lot of work on. I think there's clearly work for Australians, Chinese, and all nationalities."

Australian construction firms have already secured a number of works within the public sector, with designers Woods Bagot contributing to the formation of the Blueprint for Central Christchurch and BVN Donovan Hill leading the consortium involved in the master planning of the Health Precinct. "There are a number of Australian firms in Christchurch who are providing construction services.

"They've done well through the tendering phase and they have got not only our work in the bus exchange but also a number of private sector jobs," says Christchurch Central Development Unit director Warwick Isaacs.

The $53 million bus exchange precinct was awarded to local firm Southbase in conjunction with Australian engineers Thiess.

The reconstruction of Christchurch's Burwood Hospital has been awarded to a consortium headed by Australia's Cockram Corporation, in association with Leighs Construction.

Says Isaacs: "I'm sure there are a number of other Australian firms around and I'm sure they would always like to have more work, but by and large, Australian firms seem to be doing pretty well."