Quake jobs lure workers

Hundreds of construction workers plan to leave the south to rebuild Christchurch, but Venture Southland says there could be $16 billion of infrastructure projects in Southland in the next few years to lure them back.

A Christchurch construction firm has been advertising for workers nationwide and says it received a great response from Southlanders.

Team Work Solutions owner Sam Knudsen said he had received more than 200 applications in recent months, mostly from tradesmen, roading and civil construction workers, licensed operators and licensed class drivers.

However, Venture Southland enterprise and strategic projects group manager Steve Canny said while some people were off to Christchurch, they could be attracted back within the next eight years because of a potential $15.9b of projects.

They had not been confirmed, but were in the areas of mineral and energy extraction and included lignite projects, silica and offshore oil drilling, he said.

"The timing is not right just yet, but Southland's project work will start streaming in two years' time and we will be asking workers to come south," Mr Canny said.

Amalgamated Builders Stadium Southland site foreman Bruce Molloy said there was no reason for construction workers to move to Christchurch, because there was plenty of work locally, but people needed to chase it.

"I think it's the big money and guaranteed work from insurance companies that's enticing workers to move there."

Mr Knudsen said he was still getting an influx of skilled workers prepared to move north immediately, but not all suitable applicants had been given jobs because of Christchurch's housing shortage. "I told them to hang tight as we are desperately struggling to find accommodation for them. It's a big disappointment."

The company was canvassing places for workers and their families to live and he expected there would be even more work to come in the next two months, he said.

"There will probably be another call to arms for more workers as other areas of the rebuild begin."

Mr Canny said Christchurch was creating an interesting situation in Invercargill, but he still expected Cantabrians to continue coming south, because the region had the ability to house many new residents, had well-developed infrastructure and provided a good quality of life. More workers would both strengthen existing business and attract complementary business, he said.

Amalgamated Builders carpenter Jansen Rogers said he was happy in Southland with his family. "It's a case of better the devil you know, and the big wages up there are relevant to the cost of living," he said.

collette.devlin@stl.co.nz

- © Fairfax NZ News

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