5 Minutes with Ben Hargraves from Hargraves Landscapes
Posted date: 9 Nov 2011
Ben Hargraves is certainly changing landscapes with his approach to business and most definitely Ben and his team are in very high demand for their talented approach to both civil and landscape project works.
Ben and his team have worked anywhere from Taronga Zoo where they were part of a team that built a state of the art breeding centre and natural habitat for the endangered Tasmanian Devils through to a residential development in Forster NSW where a crane was required to install a raised podium and water feature. Hargraves Landscapes sought after talented flexibility also had them complete the missing link on the famous Bay Run in Rozelle which involved the construction of the concrete pedestrian and cycleway around the foreshore between Leichardt Rowing club and Waterfront Drive.
Ben’s talents become apparent early as even as a kid he worked the garden with his father who founded Hargraves Landscapes in 1964. In 1997 Ben took over the business and has since seen many changes in the industry. Ben says the industry now has a “completely different school of thought and dad did things his way but with technology it makes things so fast”.
“Technology makes things happen quicker which means greater opportunity to improve; and it’s a good thing. It’s a lifestyle; you get used to it.”
Other moments that stand out in Ben’s mind was the increase in work during building stimulus. He was most impressed as to how everyone just got in there and got it done. “It was challenging as a lot of work was thrown at everyone at once but was quite rewarding at the same time.”
Ben also highlights how councils are becoming more and more environmentally aware and is seeing an increase in environmental issues and the targeting of environmentally friendly companies like Hargraves. In fact Hargraves Landscapes have won 2 Landscape Excellence Awards in 2004 and 2007 and were a finalist for a project that Ben and his team were extremely proud - Abbotsleigh Junior School re-development. Hargreaves’ commitment to upholding the highest standards in Quality, Safety and Environmental Management has been proven in their implementing best practice on the ground and in achieving 3rd Party Certification in the Quality Management (ISO 9001:2008), Health and Safety (AS/NZS 4801:2001) and Environmental Management (ISO 14001:2004).
Ben’s experienced team and expertise consists of predominantly in house guys but he also hires contractors with trades such as electricians and concreters when that expertise is required. At the moment the Hargraves team are working on some fantastic and huge projects starting with a 10 month project for the City of Sydney. Johnsons Canal which starts at Glebe and goes for 2.5kms to Blackwattle Bay is having a facelift courtesy of Hargraves with a new pedestrian pass, street lighting, drainage and civil infrastructure works including landscaping, concreting, a bridge re-construction and a new bridge construction.
Currently Hargraves Landscapes are also in completion stages of the redevelopment of Don Lucas Park in Cronulla. The park has a 1km running track, outdoor gym, basketball hoop and court, kids outdoor facility including adventure park for kids, and amazingly a new helipad as well as an outdoor gym for grownups.
A big thumbs up to the environmentally savvy Woollahra Council who also impressed by Ben and his team hired them to create 3 rain gardens which involve digging up the side of road and putting concrete walls so the rain water diverts through rain gardens via free draining material. Instead of all the waste going into the stormwater and into the creek this project means only clean water flows in the creek.
On the topic of ASSETS Hargraves Landscapes have been a long customer and invest in a lot of hardwood products for tree protection, like the Hardwood Stakes, edging, sleepers as well as specially made timber tree frames. Root barrier, fence netting, silt fence, jute tree tie, as well as our Terraform™Ocean Complex are other products Hargreaves are frequent buyers of.
Ben says “we are very happy with the service provided by ASSETS and they try hard and order in things and hold them for us and look after us pretty well.”
Check out Ben’s many projects and his website.
Interested in being our spotlight customer? Contact Jodie in the office on jodie@allstakesupply.com.au