Reeves Envico
West Melbourne (Naarm), Victoria.
Government focus increases opportunities in the Pacific
It has resulted in the employment of more than 80 Australians. We have also engaged more than 250 Pacific-based nationals across the region this year.
Peter Cusack, Reeves Envico Director.
Professional Services winner – Reeves Envico.
Reeves Envico: building a better world
21 November 2024
For almost 4 decades, Reeves Envico has carried out community-transforming infrastructure works across the Pacific region.
The 2024 Australian Export Awards Professional Services winner is currently engaged on 13 active projects across the Pacific. This includes projects in 5 of the 10 least visited countries in the world.
Exporting materials that matter
‘We have learned to approach each country and region as if we know nothing of it,’ says Reeves Envico Director Peter Cusack. ‘We come prepared to learn and adapt our way of working to maximise contributions and resources available in that region.’
Reeves Envico is currently working on infrastructure projects in Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Micronesia, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, Fiji and Papua New Guinea. Last year, Reeves Envico exported more than 350 containers of Australian and New Zealand-supplied construction materials to these countries.
Future-proofing Pacific water supply
Reeves Envico believes that providing basic access to safe water and services is essential to achieving sustainable and inclusive growth in the Pacific.
‘Access to improved sanitation is uneven in the Pacific. Kiribati, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu host 81% of the population without access,’ says Cusack. ‘We have carried out a range of water and wastewater treatment projects to address unequitable access.’ One of these projects is the South Tarawa Water Project in Kiribati. It is constructing two 3.5 million-litre-per-day desalination plants designed to future-proof Tarawa’s fragile water supply.
Climate change drives a new direction
The urgency of climate change has shaped Reeves Envico’s direction in recent years. The company has pivoted towards projects combating climate change.
‘Our role in the Pacific has become all the more important as the effects of climate change threaten life in the region,’ says Cusack. ‘Rising sea levels and extreme weather events continue to exponentially impact Pacific communities.’
Reeves Envico’s remit now includes cyclone-resistant buildings, sustainable design, pipe networks and sea walls.
Government focus increases opportunities in the Pacific
In the past decade, Reeves Envico has worked hard to expand its market by actively engaging with aligned stakeholders. It has developed a reputation for carrying out works in areas where few others can deliver.
The past year has seen renewed focus on infrastructure in the Pacific by the Australian Government and multilateral banks. This has seen Reeves Envico secure a 50% increase in work across the Pacific. ‘It has resulted in the employment of more than 80 Australians,’ says Cusack. ‘We have also engaged more than 250 Pacific-based nationals across the region this year.’
Our role in the Pacific has become all the more important as the effects of climate change threaten life in the region.
Rising to the logistical challenge
Construction projects in the Pacific face several challenges not seen in typical domestic projects.
‘Most countries we work in have fledgling industries,’ says Cusack. ‘Logistics and supply chain management becomes critical to the success of projects.’
Reeves Envico’s in-house teams have developed robust logistics management systems. This ensures all Australian-exported materials and equipment are packed and delivered on time for project use.
Prefabricated construction combats remote location challenges
Reeves Envico has spent the last 5 years working with multiple prefabricated construction companies in Australia to adapt its systems for export. It is now a market leader in prefabricated construction in the Pacific.
Construction types include bespoke panelised systems, volumetric modular units, pods, and precut glue-laminated timber structures. This innovation has allowed the company to construct world-class buildings in locations that would otherwise not be possible.
Establishing new business in Indonesia
Reeves Envico recently established a joint venture office with a Canadian water group in Jakarta, Indonesia. The company hired a business development manager in Indonesia 3 years ago. It has since given this representative equity in the local entity, tying them to the outcome of activities in the new location.
‘We tied our local representation into Austrade activities and attendance at the Indonesian Water Week and the Australian Water Association Activities,’ says Cusack. ‘Through these initiatives, we have met with several Indonesian water companies starting to carry out work in areas aligned to our own.’
Investing in a skilled local workforce
Reeves Envico is committed to developing the skills of Pacific construction workers. It invests in skills development with the Australia Pacific Training Coalition (APTC) and local training institutions.
The company also offers internship opportunities for undergraduates and recent graduates on its projects. It also employs final-year and recent graduates from construction-related courses.
‘We are particularly targeting female graduates to meet our commitments to gender equity,’ says Cusack. These initiatives will contribute to a prosperous region driven by a skilled, productive and safe workforce, buiding a better and more equitable world for all.
Visit Reeves Envico website.
Professional Services winner – Reeves Envico. For the full transcript please visit the Professional Services Award 2024 - Reeves Envico video on YouTube.
