Early Contractor Involvement.

01 / SEPARATION PROJECT

Compare the options before choosing the route.

The problem

The house sat below road level, making a straightforward gravity connection to the kerb difficult. The owner needed to address Council requirements for more permeable area and reduced peak stormwater flow, including a storage tank. That prompted a review of different discharge routes and construction methods.

Our role

Livic was brought in early to talk through five options and provide buildability and contractor costing advice. The aim was to help the owner understand value for money before committing to a scope.

The constraints

• Access to existing public infrastructure and neighbouring land.
• Available routes, site levels and construction access.
• Approvals, permissions and the receiving environment.
• Upfront construction cost and ongoing operating requirements.

What we compared

The written review compared the initial catchpit proposal, a direct drilled connection to an existing stormwater manhole, controlled kerb discharge, an extended gravity connection and soakage. Wider discussions also considered pumping, an outfall route and drilling methods, including pit-based drilling and horizontal directional drilling (HDD).

A stormwater pump was also considered but was not pursued because of ongoing maintenance and electricity requirements. The kerb-discharge concept relied on a sealed system, discussed as a siphon arrangement, rather than a conventional gravity outlet. Its hydraulic performance and suitability would need to be verified by the designer; it was not an approved solution. We considered how each approach could be built and what would drive the contractor’s cost. The owner could then weigh the options against the project’s value and constraints. These were options for assessment, subject to design, permissions and relevant approvals; this example does not identify a final route or claim a measured saving.

02 / LOCAL TOMATO GROWER

A smoother run. A more focused scope.

The problem

A local tomato grower approached Livic early because the team was struggling to push produce trolleys from the end of each growing run. Deteriorating concrete, rough spots and loose aggregate were making movement increasingly difficult.

The constraint that mattered

The work was inside a growing operation. Dust needed to be kept to a minimum to protect the crop. The scope had to address trolley movement without treating the space as an empty construction site.

Our advice and work

We recommended larger trolley wheels and offered a targeted trial to grind and treat the key problem areas. Livic ground the rough concrete spots, smoothing the surface and removing loose aggregate.

Removing and replacing the concrete was another option, but it would have meant a larger, more expensive scope. The grower’s father had built the greenhouse. We worked with the existing concrete and focused on the areas causing difficulty, rather than recommending a full replacement.

Why early involvement helped

Understanding the grower’s workflow, budget and dust constraints let us define the work around the actual need: easier trolley movement. The advice went beyond concrete replacement to consider the trolley and the surface together.

From the grower

“Thanks Phil, really appreciate your time and effort in sorting this out and sticking to your word. Your two workers were also excellent and did a really good job.”

Haru Growers · Email feedback, 4 November 2026

The grower also left a five-star Google review praising Phil’s honesty, reliability and communication. Read the Google feedback.

EXPERIENCE BEHIND THE ADVICE

Construction thinking, before construction starts.

Our leadership team brings 43 years of combined experience: 25 years and 18 years across construction and civil infrastructure. That gives us practical knowledge to share on buildability, construction methods and contractor costs. Experience gained in previous roles includes separation projects, HDD advice, stormwater and water infrastructure on projects involving Auckland Council and Watercare. This is experience held by our people, separate from projects delivered by Livic Civil.

From a job worth a few thousand dollars to a multi-million-dollar civil project, early advice can help you understand buildability, contractor costs and the decisions that shape value. We agree the review scope around the information available and the decision you need to make.

Discuss your options