Exceptional quality sees Concrib successfully complete 25 years

Martin Silec founded Concrib Retaining Walls in 1984. As one of the first companies to make and install crib and sleeper wall systems, it was able to maintain high levels of quality control. The exceptional quality of its products laid the foundations for the solid reputation that Concrib still enjoys today.
In 2001, it merged with Grant Sigston and Allan Botha’s company Landplan Solutions, to form Concrib Pty Ltd. The merger added rock mattresses, gabion structures, and segmental block walls to the product offering.
Today Concrib offers a complete range of professional services including design, construction, and certification. The company employs more than 50 people and engages in large-scale turnkey projects (approaching $2m) mainly in South East Queensland, but also overseas and as far afield as Brunei and Malaysia.
Concrib also provides design advice and budget planning services to consultants, engineers and contractors. As well as supplying architectural finishes for crib walls and/or retro fitting new wall segments to fit seamlessly with existing walls.
The company has been a member of CCF for more than 10 years and was recently recognised for its engineering accomplishments as a finalist in the 2009 National Earth Awards.
Directors making a difference
Concrib managing director Martin Silec, attributes the company’s success to the personal involvement of its directors, and their continued commitment to staff development.
“Every member of our team of working directors has an engineering background,” said Martin, “which gives us a unique insight into the challenges involved in all aspects of the business from design through to delivery and installation.
“As engineers we take a hands-on approach. Our technical expertise enables us to understand the issues our clients face. We can talk their language and we can be proactive in finding solutions.
 “At the same time, we are experienced business owners and, as such, we understand how important it is to invest in the personal and professional development of our staff,” he adds.
2009 National Earth Award finalist
Stringent environmental control measures employed during the Trackstar Alliance project, earned Concrib a place among the category 2 finalists in the national Civil Contractors Federation Earth Awards announced in Perth in October.
The project entailed the design, construction, and certification of major retaining walls on the Corinda to Darra Rail upgrade project. Concrib provided concrete crib walls, which offered efficiency of construction, especially in the cut situation.
Challenges included:
•    A rigorous contractor selection process. Trackstar Alliance awarded the project on the basis of compliance with rigorous technical, financial and safety criteria.
•    Technical challenges. Walls at Darra are typically 3 to 6m high and up to 190m long, with a curved face to match the track alignment. A total of 2000m² had to be completed.
•    Worker safety. Great emphasis was focused on Concrib’s ability to comply with some of the strictest site safety procedures in the civil construction arena. A number of critical activities, including working at height, material deliveries, excavation, set out, and construction of the walls, had to be carried out entirely within the rail corridor and in close proximity to energised 25kV power lines.
Concrib, in partnership with Trackstar Alliance management and site personnel, successfully addressed these issues to ensure worker safety was never compromised.
Other major projects
Over the past 25 years, Concrib has been involved in a number of large-scale projects including:
1.    The Observatory at Reedy Creek
A crib wall with a total wall area of about 1000m² and a large section of 10m high wall, retaining engineered fill material.
2.    Miami Beach
A purpose designed rock catch barrier for the capture of mobile rocks and the significant reduction of risk of damage to people and property. The barrier selected is a proprietary system, which is rated at 500kJ. This equates roughly to the ability to arrest a one tonne boulder travelling at 100km/h. The whole system was installed to strict specifications.
3.    Pacific Pines
A design/construct service was provided to facilitate the construction of a stepped gabion weir, built to withstand a one-in-one-hundred-year (Q100) event.
4.    Everton Hills
This was a full design/construct/certify contract, comprising more than 900m² of segmental block walling. The wall was built, incorporating curves and sloping footings, with heights up to 5m.
5.    Crestwood Estate, Gold Coast
More than 8000m² of concrete sleeper walls (some up to 2.7m in height) were built. Sleeper walls are ideal for subdivisional housing lots, because they present a narrow footprint, therefore allowing maximum use of the land.
Investing in the future
Concrib’s vision of improving land values is reflected in the company’s dedication to both product development and improvement, and staff development.
Career development paths are established in collaboration with all employees and the company offers extensive on-the-job training from registered outside training organisations.
“We provide a broad-based training and development program,” said Martin. “In return, we expect high standards of workmanship. So our clients benefit from the best quality products delivered by skilled workers.”
Compliance is critical
In an industry where compliance is critical, Concrib is fully compliant with the National Code of Construction Practice and fully licensed with the BSA.
More information: Grant Sigston, 07 3375 1800, f: 07 3375 1777, grantsig@bigpond.net.au