Apprent-ICE programme provides up and coming building industry leaders with the opportunity to work in one of the most extreme environments on the planet and will help raise public awareness of the importance of the work New Zealand does in Antarctica.
Antarctica NZ and the Certified Builders Association of New Zealand are making two Apprent-ICE placements to support New Zealand’s southern-most construction project at Scott Base, Antarctica.
Blake McDonald and Peter O’Sullivan, both of Dunedin have been selected for the three month Apprent-ICE programme as a result of a New Zealand-wide search which began in October 2014.
The Apprent-ICE programme provides up and coming building industry leaders with the opportunity to work in one of the most extreme environments on the planet and will help raise public awareness of the importance of the work New Zealand does in Antarctica. The initial search was focused on selecting one up-and-coming industry leader who is passionate about complex construction and able to demonstrate strong health, safety and environmental values. However, the calibre of the large number of Antarctic Apprent-ICE applications received was so high that the opportunity was extended to two applicants.
Mr McDonald and Mr O’Sullivan will live and work at Scott Base from this month until April supporting the major reconfiguration of the Hillary Field Centre. This $4 million project will be completed over the next two construction periods.
Pre-deployment training began on January 8 for the 17-strong project team. This training includes extreme weather survival, the significance and fragility of the Antarctic environment, and the policies and procedures which govern work in Antarctica. They will also underwent two intensive days of fire training in Christchurch and further job-specific and survival training once they arrived at Scott Base.
Part of the HFC Project Team will return to Christchurch in April, a month later than most of the summer staff. The Apprent-ICEs will have a unique opportunity to see what life at Scott Base is like during the start of the winter season with near constant darkness during the day. A smaller team will continue to work on the project, returning to New Zealand in October. The Certified Builders Association actively supports apprenticeship schemes and professional development.
