Everybody Needs Good Neighbours

Neumann Contracting has added some additional partners to assist with the construction of two major road works projects in south-east Queensland – local residents and business owners.

The company is using community relations to help ensure the safety of both road users and construction workers, as well as to quickly identify and address issues of concern.

Neumann Contracting sends out monthly newsletters to all residents and business owners along the construction route, printing out extra information sheets to be given to customers of businesses.

In addition, at key times during construction, further communications in the form of media releases, community service announcements and print advertisements are issued.

Not all the contact is one way. Locals can quickly contact the project manager or provide feedback in general by using either a 1300 number or by going to the Neumann Contractor’s web site.

Effective communications in any project is vital – particularly when a firm is going to be a ‘neighbour’ for quite a period of time, said Jacqui Carling-Rodgers, managing director of Business Communications Management.

“More than anything else people want to be heard and understood,” she said.

“By being proactive in informing the community ahead of time, major companies can avoid being diverted from core business, not to mention the time and cost of addressing complaints.

“As long a people know what is going to happen, they are generally quite happy to either plan alternatives or work around the inconvenience.”