Fosters Construction Ltd

With experienced staff and strategic relationships in the industry, Foster Construction provides commercial construction services to the greater Waikato region. 

Fosters takes pride in providing the local Waikato community with quality, long lasting infrastructure. This tradition began with the first generation of owners and has been passed on to the second and third generation that now holds the reigns.  All of the company shareholders have worked their way up through the company.

The challenge

Ensuring the commercial construction market in the Waikato region incorporates sustainability as a key focus for quality projects.

Some responses

• Fosters set up the ‘DocsBox’ document control system – a web based system allowing subcontractors to access all the tender drawings that would normally have been printed off and distributed by courier.
• An internal newsletter, ‘Foster Edition,’ is published on a bimonthly basis to keep staff informed and engaged on what is happening with regards to health, safety and environmental sustainability issues.
• Foster Construction purchased the Hebel Aerated Concrete Distributorship. Hebel is an environmentally renewable product that keeps heat in and sound out using a fifth of the mass of raw concrete.
• Foster Construction ensures that employees are educated, trained, aware of and committed to the improved environmental performance of the company and are adequately resourced to enable them to do this.
• Foster Construction works to continually improve environmental performance by establishing objectives and targets and regular audits.

The results

• Waste separation and recycling on construction sites have significantly reduced the amount of construction waste going to landfills.
• Community engagement through sponsorship of local community events and initiatives such as Hamilton Gardens and the Waikato Museum.
• Active involvement in education through an apprenticeship training scheme.
• Entry into the EnviroSmart programme and attainment of the Gold standard.

Waikato Regional Awards judges' comments

• Outstanding performance in this difficult industry in actively working to embed sustainability.
• Foster Construction has shown a high level of commitment to staff and building relationships.
• The introduction of the ‘DocsBox’ system is an excellent achievement, using technology to ensure efficient use of resources.