TO MAXIMUM CAPACITY AND BEYOND

HALCROW GROUP

As featured in Australian Focus To Maximum Capacity and Beyond O N : HALCROW FOCUS

Halcrow Group has a long and rich history reaching all the way back to 1868 when Thomas Meik founded the company (at the time named for Mr Meik), for work on port, maritime and rail- way projects throughout northern and . Hal- crow Group now utilises its extensive expertise to provide infra- structure services and capacity planning measures to clients.

Written By Aleisha Parr bring that plethora of skills togeth- Halcrow Group has a long and er to help clients solve capacity rich history reaching all the way Amid growing market demands uncertainty, capacity forecasting, back to 1868 when Thomas Meik across Australia for new, sustainable and capacity planning around in- founded the company (at the time infrastructure, Halcrow Group is frastructure and related services.” named for Mr Meik), for work on utilising its extensive expertise and port, maritime and railway projects internationally developed skill sets throughout and to not only provide infrastructure “We have a broad Scotland. Sir had services to clients, but also to assist skill range from water also been progressing the com- in key capacity planning measures. management and pany in the early 20th century as Says George Spink, Managing Di- natural resources “a pioneering force in other areas, rector for Halcrow Group, “We notably tunnelling,” and the com- have a broad skill range from wa- capabilities, through pany name was changed in 1941 to ter management and natural re- to our economists ‘Sir William Halcrow and Partners’, sources capabilities, through to and engineers, later to be established as a public our economists and engineers, and company listed under the same more. Our unique positioning is to and more.” name in 1985.

2 HALCROW GROUP: To maximum capacity and beyond Halcrow Group

A little over a decade later, after ex- approximately two hundred and have a very strong tunnelling capa- periencing growth across numerous twenty employees. As a key part bility and other skill groups we are markets (and indeed, countries and of the Halcrow Group Australasian very strong in, and we share that continents), the company and all of super region, alongside operations with the UK and vice versa.” its assorted businesses and divisions throughout Southeast Asia and In- were united under the one name, dia, the Australian arm of Halcrow “We have a good Halcrow Group Limited. Today, Hal- Group enjoys the benefits of skills crow Group employs approximately sharing while also contributing structure where 6000 people internationally through significantly through its own local we share resources its network of ninety-eight offices expertise. Explains Mr Spink, “We across the globe...” around the world. have a good structure where we share resources across the globe... The Australian arm of Halcrow Halcrow Group initially grew up In fact, the tunnelling team in Group was established in 1993, with very strong in the tunnelling area, Australia is so strong that a select a staff of just three in the original that’s one of our key areas, so crew has been working in Hong Sydney office and has since grown there’s obviously a lot of capability Kong with the Mass Transit Rail- to include offices in Melbourne, for that in the UK and elsewhere, way Corporation to help develop Brisbane and Perth, with a total of but also equally in Australia we the line ventilation. Explains Mr

as featured in australian CONSTRUCTION focus 3 Spink, “It’s been a pilot project, ing to offer a steady stream of de- tinued use are replaced. as we carried out ideas for how manding but lucrative opportuni- Halcrow Group has been looking the ventilation was done... you ties requiring capacity expertise, at sustainability and green initia- can actually reduce the height of Halcrow Group has been quick tives in order to offer the most ad- some of those buildings and you to set itself apart in the industry vanced and useful solutions. One can actually create green roofs as a solutions-based, progressive such project on which Halcrow on top of those buildings and not company. Most notably, Halcrow Group is working collaboratively only help with construction costs Group has been teaming up with with the Victorian Government in- but also give a bit of a feel from large mining corporations, working volves the creation of a new type a green perspective.” together from the outset to estab- of concrete that emits lower levels lish water management systems Due to the complex nature of in- of carbon into the environment. and requirements. Explains Mr frastructure capacity solutions, The material Halcrow Group has Spink, “We get involved with com- Halcrow Group has developed a developed is a fibre reinforced panies like Santos and Rio Tinto to broad range of specialties and ca- geopolymar concrete, which will help them manage their water and pabilities, with an exceptional staff thus reduce the level of embodied help it get returned to back to the to support those areas. Boasts Mr carbon in the concrete. streams or rivers once it’s been

HALCROW GROUP O N : HALCROW FOCUS Spink, “We have very strong peo- through the processing. So we do Halcrow Group is also currently ple in tunnelling in particular; we get involved in giving them early involved in areas such as public probably have some of the world’s and up front advice about water transport, assisting with feasibil- leading experts in tunnelling. and water demand management.” ity studies for rail networks and We’ve got some strong water ca- rail links. The purpose of these pabilities, and rail is a strong area studies is to offer insight into the for us - we’ve got involved with “Due to the most effective ways of encourag- the NSW government procure- complex nature ing people to switch over from ment of some new trains. We’re private cars to public transport not procuring them, per se, but of infrastructure in order to reduce the conges- we’re helping the government ac- capacity solutions, tion on roads and emissions into tually get the trains they’re after, Halcrow Group has the environment. so we’ve got some leading rail ex- perts. And then certainly in trans- developed a broad Through these and other forward- port planning, we have a strong range of specialties thinking measures, Halcrow Group capability in helping people plan and capabilities, is able not only to assist its clients traffic flow for government, local in moving beyond current capac- government and councils.” with an exceptional ity, but is frequently able to go further to assist clients in estab- At the moment, those talents are staff to support lishing more sustainable systems focussed on two main areas of those areas. “ so as to increase productivity infrastructure development. Re- and outcomes before maximum source industry support is strong- Another area in which Halcrow capacity is reached. est in WA, QLD and parts of NSW, Group has been an industry leader where mining booms have created is non-destructive testing of rock a strong and continuously evolv- anchors, especially important in ing market for services such as long-wear mining. These anchor water management and road and bolts are commonly used in large rail. Government funded initia- mines and to help hold tives throughout VIC and NSW are the rock faces and ensure safe only just beginning to ramp up and passageways for workers. Hal- gain momentum as the funding crow Group holds the license to comes through, thereby increasing this innovative non-destructive the number of city infrastructure technique for testing the bolts to projects available. ensure that any bolts which have With the resources sector continu- been compromised through con-

4 HALCROW GROUP: To maximum capacity and beyond Halcrow Foundation A registered charity since 2005, Halcrow Foundation was established by Halcrow Group to help relieve suffering around the world. Initially answering to the needs of victims of the Indian Ocean Tsunami, the Foundation now works in partnership with local non-governmental organisations, non-profit organisations and other charities across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas. Halcrow donates one per cent of all of its annual profits to the foundation, which is supported by the generosity of Halcrow and its employees who donate time and resources toward the projects. The charity, which operates entirely autonomously of Halcrow Group, works on numerous projects year round to develop education, health and social services, the improvement of transport infrastructure, water supplies and other communal facilities as well as through the promotion of self-help activities. Says George Spink, “It’s our way of trying to give back to the broader community and to help them improve their infrastructure and essentially, their quality of life.”

as featured in australian CONSTRUCTION focus 5 HALCROW GROUP

www.halcrow.com

8th floor, 55 Hunter Street | Sydney NSW 2000 | PO box 4836 | Sydney NSW 2001 Ph: 02 8412 8119 | ABN 93 143 238 126