Our Customer
Horizons Regional Council looks after the natural resources and transport services in the Horizons Region, a vast 22,200 km2 landscape which extends from Ruapehu and Horowhenua, to Whanganui and Tararua. The Hokowhitu Cable Tower is one of the Council’s assets within its property portfolio.
Project Description
Located on the banks of the Manawatu River next to the Manawatu Golf Club, the Hokowhitu Cable Tower was historically used to measure the river flow. The Tower is still a functioning asset and is used as an electric winch system for sampling and measuring river flows. It is now mostly used in flood and severe weather events to collect sediment samples and derive the river flow and a decision was made to restore its deteriorating appearance with a new coat of paint. The Council approached Programmed for this knowing that we would deliver.
Project Solution
Programmed’s local team of abseil painters had previously painted many buildings and key assets throughout the region, including the Palmerston North Clock Tower. Our demonstrated ability and local knowledge were key to our engagement and the Hokowhitu Cable Tower’s successful repaint.
The flexibility of an abseil team meant access to the higher points of the cable tower could be reached without the need for comparatively more expensive scaffolding. This reduced the project’s overall cost and time needed to complete the project, both of which combined to provide the Council strong value for money.
With the known windy winds of Palmerston North, safe work preparation included properly mitigating the risks posed by challenging weather which the team was at times forced to work through. Another safety action undertaken was to have a safety barrier erected, to ensure public passing by did not enter the site. The team also completed safety inductions, including inductions by the Manawatu Golf Club whose property sits adjacent to the tower.
Project Outcome
The deciding factors for Programmed’s engagement on this Hokowhitu Cable Tower project, was namely our track record for attention to safety and timely project completion, demonstrated once again through an incident-free repaint and on-time delivery.
Not only has the Cable Tower’s revived appearance left the Council very pleased, it now stands from the elements, enabling it to continue as a historic reminder of the river, and keeps Palmerston North’s assets looking their best.
