Isaac Construction's Southern branch has experienced exponential growth since it was founded in 2021 to support the increasing infrastructure growth requirements of the Dunedin City Council. Initially, the Canterbury team completed the Peninsular Connection 7 project on a fly-in fly-out basis. The Retail Quarter ‘George Street’, Wharf Street intersection and safety upgrades, and the Malvern Street sewer renewal projects were awarded to Isaac Construction in mid-2021, which enabled the establishment of the branch.

In 2021, the Peninsular Connection 7 Project was recognised by CCNZ, awarding Isaac Construction, National Contract of the Year 2021. Within 12 months we had exponential growth in Otago and built a permanent branch base in Dunedin. To date in 2023 we have grown to a team of over 100 to cover current projects.

Isaac Construction continues to excel as a winner at the 2023 CCNZ Otago Contractor Awards this week. We were acknowledged as CCNZ Supreme Award winner for the year in Otago; in recognition of the exceptional work our team has achieved in the Malvern Street Project, whilst establishing the region. The Malvern Street team also won the Specific Project Category Award. Contributing factors included the technical and environmental complexity of repairing the sanitary sewer that runs underneath the Water of the Leith.

To ensure safety in design and construction methodologies, our Isaac team, led by Branch Manager Kerry Hunter, Construction Manager Quintin Rolston and Project Manager Dane Meek spearheaded a collaborative redesign process and site hub where Dunedin City Council, WSP (Engineers to the Project), KStruct (Civil Construction Sub-contractor) and all key stakeholders, community to transportation services worked together to ensure a successful project. Key considerations included a very complex and confined site, and significant flood risks that were mitigated with a robust temporary works approach, whilst maintaining the natural state and ecology of water in The Leith, an important habitat for aquatic wildlife that also aligns with our purpose, being the only construction group owned by a trust dedicated to the conservation and protection of wildlife and heritage.

Having the ability to draw on expertise from other branches of the Isaac Group, Liddell Contracting supported this project by designing and supplying construction panels that could quickly be modified in the event of flooding to mitigate environmental issues in an event.

This collaboration, innovative design and continuous assessment approach to finding the best outcomes for the Water of Leith, whilst providing cost-effective solutions for the Dunedin City Council saw the Malvern Street team recognised at the Institute of Public Works and Engineering Australasia awards with the Award of the National Excellence in a Water Project.

Our expertise in Three Waters, Streetscape, Safety, Pedestrian and Cycleway assets have proven we can support Dunedin City Council into the future, achieving exceptional projects that will stand the test of time.

Malvern Street timelapse video