Skilled workers who shifted to Christchurch are returning to Otago as construction work booms in the region.
Development in Dunedin and Otago means skilled workers are hard to come by.
Construction work at the University of Otago’s campuses this year alone will provide more than 1000 jobs, and almost 6000 during the next decade.
Two construction companies said yesterday the flow of workers had reversed, and Christchurch workers were moving south as earthquake rebuild work slowed.
Naylor Love chief executive Rick Herd said in Dunedin, where the construction company was working on the University of Otago’s refit of its commerce building and Otago Polytechnic’s $20 million student accommodation village, it was busier than it had been in years.
The good times looked likely to continue as the university, polytechnic and Southern District Health Board all had significant projects in the pipeline.
Queenstown was also booming as the town continued the process of transforming into a city.
"In the past, it’s been very susceptible to the boom and bust cycles of tourism."
While tourism-related construction remained in demand, the influx of long-term residents also meant infrastructure, such as schools and healthcare facilities, was being built.
To cope with the boom throughout Otago and other parts of New Zealand, Naylor Love and other construction companies had brought in more apprenticeships and cadets, Mr Herd said. The boom was affecting the workloads of current staff.
"We tend to have to take on people with a little bit less experience than we would normally require.
"Those people need additional supervision, so that puts additional stresses on our supervisors."
It was going to become more difficult to attract skilled staff and it was important construction companies took on only those jobs they had the resources to deliver, which could mean turning down work.
"We are being very careful not to overcommit ourselves."
Cook Brothers Construction Otago and Southern Lakes regional manager Blair McGill said it was "definitely" busy in Dunedin after a quiet winter last year. The company had not had "too much" trouble finding skilled workers in Dunedin, but it was an issue finding workers in Southern Lakes, given the transient population, Mr McGill said.
Workers coming to the region from Christchurch had made things easier.
"We are seeing more and more resource coming out of Christchurch for various reasons," Mr McGill said.
"Either they’ve had enough and want a change of scenery, or [work] is slowing down."
Cook Brothers was involved in a number of university projects and had just finished the Dunedin Study’s new building next to Logan Park, started groundwork for the rebuilding of the university’s aquarium at Portobello and was converting the former Wickliffe Press site into a car park.
It was also doing strengthening and roofing work for Cadbury and an extension to Amross Motel in George St.
Arrow International southern director Nick Hamlin said the situation was "absolutely mad" in Queenstown and Wanaka and some of the company’s Dunedin resources had been moved there.
It was "already getting really difficult" to find skilled workers in Otago and Southland, Mr Hamlin said. The company had also noticed some staff who had shifted to Christchurch were moving back, as work there began to "thin up".
"Some of the big projects [in Christchurch] aren’t coming through as fast as what was hoped."
