Construction World March 2016

QUANTITY SURVEYORS

EXPERTISE FOR REHABILITATION PROJECT Global programme and construction consultancy Turner & Townsend is providing quantity surveying expertise as part of a major programme by the South African government to close and rehabilitate some 660 abandoned asbestos mines and shafts in various regions around the country. MOVING UP A GEAR Instead of spending time leisurely strolling on gentle turf for what many believe are now somewhat hackneyed corporate golf days, the Association of SA Quantity Surveyors is inviting the construction industry to jump into the saddle for a more taxing sport: a cross-country mountain bike relay. > In what ASAQS's executive director, Larry Feinberg, believes is a pioneering move, ASAQS will stage the novel ‘Burn Your Bike Challenge’ at the Voortrekker Monument Mountain Bike Trail on Saturday, 23 April. The total prize money for this event, initiated by the Gauteng Chapter of ASAQS, is R50 000. "Although primarily aimed at the construction industry, our Cross- Country (XCO) Relay event, for teams with up to four riders, is open to all members of the public," Feinberg states. "The XCO lap racing concept is suitable for all skill levels so we are hoping this will become a family fun day to be repeated every year. There are picnic spots at the venue and mountain biking can be spectacular and great fun to watch."

Gordon Bulmer, senior quantity surveyor of Turner & Townsend.

“So far we have worked with the SRK Consulting team on nine abandoned asbestos mine sites in the Northern Cape, KwaZu- lu-Natal and Limpopo,” says Gordon Bulmer, senior quantity surveyor of Turner & Townsend. “With three of these now closed and completed, we are currently involved on a further six mine sites, while we are preparing tenders on another three, with possible additional projects in the pipeline. “It is a privilege to work on projects of this nature

and scale, which will make a difference to the health and safety of commu- nities and the environments surrounding the mines. Apart from the well-re- searched health issues of asbestosis, a chronic lung disease, some of the mines are located next to water courses which pose further environmental and health risks.” “The projects vary in complexity, therefore a key requirement of being awarded the bid for the asbestos mines was our ability to provide the highest standard of quantity surveying expertise in a flexible and agile way. SRK Consulting’s confidence in our professionalism is testimony of our global reputation in this field. “While each mine site is different, the quantity surveyor in this particular government rehabilitation programme plays a key role – both in terms of advance planning as well as control or containment of costs throughout the projects.” The rehabilitation programme falls under the Department of Mineral Resources, which appointed Mintek – a global leader in minerals processing and metallurgical engineering products and services, to provide the profes- sional project management. SRK Consulting has taken the engineering design lead on these proj- ects over the past three years, as a subcontractor to Mintek, delivering the conceptual design, final design, quality control and project management. Chosen for its international track record and world-leading expertise, Turner & Townsend has been selected by SRK as one of the teams supporting the ongoing government programme. “We are involved in these projects from the very outset when the engineer draws up the preliminary design, from the point of preparing the tender document and putting a price to it for budgeting purposes, and again to financially manage the project. This includes making monthly payment assessments, evaluating any changes in design or unexpected site condi- tions, through to final project completion,” says Bulmer.

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ASAQS is presenting the Cycling SA-sanctioned event in collaboration with Cross Country Olympic South Africa (XCO SA). Entries at R600 per team can be done online at www.jumpertrax.com or visit the ASAQS websitewww.asaqs. co.za for more details.

CONSTRUCTION WORLD MARCH 2016