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Testimonials

Built on trust, collaboration and performance. Read what our clients have to say about working with Brefni.

St James Station Maintenance Shaft – Keeping Sydney Flowing

"It was a pleasure working with Cathal and the Brefni team on the St James Maintenance Shaft project. The professionalism, dedication and execution of the team ensured that this immensely challenging project was completed successfully.

Brefni recommended inspection of the old maintenance shaft to check its condition before excavation of the lower chamber. Seeing the gear required to safely carry this out and then having both the Brefni Supervisor and Sydney Trains Site Manager inspect the shaft led to a deep appreciation of the hazards of the job, fragile existing infrastructure, and site complexity. We feared that there might be significant cost and time variations as a result.

The final project cost with variations was significantly less than our contingency budget because of Brefni's thorough planning and professional management. Brefni worked as a team with Sydney Trains throughout planning and delivery. The project was awarded late and there was time pressure for a hard commencement on 13 March and finish on 11 August. The first and last few weeks were really intense, but Brefni met all deadlines as planned.

One of the most amazing aspects of the project was what did not happen. There were no complaints or enquiries. The complaint line was never used; traffic management was smoothly handled; communication was effective. Meetings with Sydney City Council were short, as targets were met and there were no issues to discuss. I wish all projects ran as smoothly as this one."
Caleb Pace
Sydney Trains Senior Manager Major Programs
Transport for New South Wales

Cliff Drive Leura, Falls Creek Central Culvert Replacement
Upgrade to deliver functionality

"It has been a great pleasure working with Cathal and the Brefni team on the Cliff Drive Culvert replacement D&C project. The professional, innovative, and smooth delivery of this project resolved multiple challenges of this unique project effectively, which is impressive.

The project is in a popular tourist destination in a heritage reserve, within a world heritage area. The culvert carries a stream that is part of the Sydney Drinking Water Catchment. The floor of the culvert is about nine metres below the road surface, with steep, heavily vegetated road embankments. High-voltage overhead power lines cross the site and a Sydney Water sewer main is located at the toe of the culvert apron.

The Brefni team had implemented excellent environmental controls and safety management in the delivery of the new culvert. The successful application of the shoring system was a “game-changer” that significantly reduced the project footprint and associated excavation. This flow on effect mitigated safety and environmental risks and reduced overall costs by about one million dollars from the original estimates.

Brefni also provided a sympathetic design in response to the constraints of the natural environmental setting that reduced visual impact and the potential impact on water quality and ecology in the project setting, which is greatly appreciated."
Jierong Chen
Project Manager – Strategic Projects
Blue Mountains City Council

Stockton Seawall Protection Structure — Protecting the City of Newcastle

"The City of Newcastle engaged Brefni as Principal Contractor to deliver the Stockton Seawall Protection Structure, a critical coastal protection project located on the highly visible Stockton Beach.

From the outset, the project presented unique challenges due to its exposed coastal location, including potential for large swells to inundate site from storm events and the presence of buried obstructions such as old building materials and WWII-era tank traps. Brefni approached these complexities proactively and worked collaboratively with the project team to manage risks and minimise impacts on both budget and schedule.

Despite a mid-project design change to incorporate a rock bag structure in the southern 50 metres and a tight delivery timeframe, Brefni delivered the project on time, on budget, and to a good standard. The work was completed without public complaints, an excellent result given the site’s visibility.

Brefni contributed to a successful project outcome and proved to be a reliable and capable contractor throughout."
Noor Timol
Project Manager — City of Newcastle

BlueScope Steel No. 6 Blast Furnace (6BF) - Top Gas Recovery Turbine (TRT) Civil Works

"The No. 6 Blast Furnace Reline Project (6BF) at Port Kembla Steelworks (PKSW) is a Critical State Significant Infrastructure Project delivering a modernised and upgraded Blast Furnace facility to primarily ensure a continuation of sovereign manufacturing capability of steelmaking in Australia, primarily supplying steel to the domestic market for vital infrastructure, building and construction, renewables and defence projects.

Core to the delivery of this project is the objective to improve the environmental performance of 6BF through the implementation of the latest feasible and available technology.

The integration of a Top Gas Recovery Turbine (TRT) is paramount to the delivery of energy efficiencies for the 6BF Reline Project. It is considered to be one of the most critical pieces of infrastructure being implemented as part of the overall project, as it is primarily used to control and stabilise the Blast Furnace Operating Process with the additional benefit of generating electric power (12MW) at the downstream end of the gas cleaning process whilst still allowing the gas to be used as a fuel across the broader PKSW site.

This project is vital in providing a bridge to a lower emissions steelmaking future and is critical to maintaining the sovereign capability of flat steelmaking in Australia.

Brefni were successfully awarded the first major construction package for this specific area of the 6BF Project and had responsibility for the delivery of the TRT Site Civil Works.

This was a very complex package of work which entailed a unique large tabletop foundation (230m3) being built to support critical high-speed machinery, with very tight tolerances. (Total Concrete Volume 723m3)

The site is very congested and posed many constructability challenges throughout the different stages of the Civil Works. The Brefni team brought with them some great ideas, proposals and previous experiences to progress and safely execute the works concurrently on multiple work fronts within the area to meet schedule.

The delivery of this works (mid-late 2025) later enabled the mobilisation of a mechanical construction team to continue with the site installation of major equipment, with the site now targeting completion late 2026.

It was a pleasure working with the Brefni Team throughout the delivery of this complex and challenging project. Their continued focus on quality, quick action and problem-solving skills, and attention to design detail throughout the project to ensure the design tolerances and objectives were achieved, has resulted in BlueScope now being well placed for the successfully delivery of this project for BlueScope PKSW."
Mr. Luke Mayer
Lead Engineer TRT & Gas Cleaning
No.6 Blast Furnace Reline Project
BlueScope Australia & New Zealand
"Brefni's quality of work is very good, particularly considering the challenging working conditions encountered on this project. Environmental controls have been well managed, and the site teams have been excellent in their response to any questions or requests we have had. Their ability to work to programme has been outstanding, with additional field supervision provided that has made a significant difference to daily production.

I cannot speak highly enough of the professionalism and courtesy of the staff when interacting with Signal Energy personnel. We have been extremely satisfied with Brefni's performance and would not hesitate to recommend them."
Terry Dill
Signal Energy
"From our initial meetings, Brefni provided valuable suggestions and maintained a collaborative approach throughout the entire delivery phase. While a fixed completion date was not imposed, the works aligned seamlessly with our overall project timeline.

Throughout the project, our engineers requested changes at various stages, and Brefni’s response was always immediate, professional and free of conflict or unnecessary drama. The quality of the completed works was excellent, and their safety performance was equally impressive.

James was proactive in planning and organising the works and was always transparent in his explanations regarding variations. This was the first time I had engaged Brefni on a major civil contract for BlueScope, and I would not hesitate to work with them again."
Glen Glaister
Bluescope
"Operating under an occupied school environment is a difficult task, however Brefni performed exceptionally well in delivering safety, quality and environmental outcomes throughout the project.

The Project Manager and site team provided excellent service and consistently went the extra mile to deliver a high-quality outcome for the client. The diverse skill set of the project team was a significant contributor to the successful delivery of the works.

With the project located directly opposite a beach, sediment management was critical. Brefni ensured environmental controls were reviewed daily for the duration of the project, demonstrating a proactive and responsible approach.

Both the senior management team and project personnel were highly accessible and responsive to any concerns regarding service and delivery. They were generous with their time, professional in their dealings and managed contract variations effectively and collaboratively.

From project commencement through to completion, the Brefni team was professional and easy to work with. During the defects liability period, representatives responded promptly to minor site matters, ensuring all issues were addressed in a timely manner.

Brefni were a pleasure to work with and delivered a quality finished project on behalf of the Department of Education South Coast. I would have no hesitation in recommending them to a colleague."
Paul Och
Public Works Authority
"Brefni successfully delivered a challenging bridge refurbishment project above active train lines, requiring careful planning, coordination and execution in a live rail environment.

The major and critical possessions were exceptionally well managed and timed, ensuring the project remained on programme and key milestones were achieved efficiently.

Project Manager Stuart was highly responsive to any concerns or queries raised by Sydney Trains and consistently worked to identify practical solutions to challenges as they arose. Having the same Project Manager involved from project inception through to completion was a significant advantage, providing continuity and a thorough understanding of the project's complexities.

Stuart led the project team effectively and worked collaboratively with subcontractors to ensure all works were delivered safely and efficiently. His leadership and commitment contributed greatly to the successful outcome of the project.

Brefni's communication, responsiveness and professionalism throughout the project were impressive. The management team made themselves readily available whenever required and maintained a collaborative approach at all times.

It has been a pleasure to work with Brefni on this project. Thank you to the team for successfully delivering the works. We look forward to working together again in the future."
Phil Nguyen
Sydney Trains
"Brefni was engaged to deliver the reconstruction of a retaining wall on the Princes Highway at Russell Vale, a project involving challenging site constraints and complex working conditions.

Wollongong City Council found Brefni's performance across safety, quality and environmental management to be of a high standard throughout the project. The constrained site was managed effectively, with environmental considerations carefully addressed and site issues proactively managed for the duration of the works.

Project documentation, including the final Works-As-Executed (WAE) submissions, was completed to a high standard and reflected the team's attention to detail and professionalism.

Brefni demonstrated strong cooperation and responsiveness throughout the project, promptly addressing requests from Wollongong City Council and managing the works in a cost-effective manner. The original tender value and submitted variations were considered fair and reasonable.

The project team brought the right balance of experience, technical knowledge and adaptability, responding effectively to latent conditions and programme changes while maintaining project momentum.

Wollongong City Council was highly satisfied with the outcome of the project and would confidently recommend Brefni for future works."
Lance Hazell
Wollongong City Council
"Brefni was engaged by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to undertake the renewal of fire trails within Oolambeyan National Park, delivering the project with a strong focus on environmental protection and biosecurity management.

As biosecurity is a critical priority for NPWS, Brefni demonstrated a thorough understanding of the project's environmental requirements. All plant and machinery arrived on site clean and compliant with biosecurity protocols, and the team carefully adhered to all instructions, ensuring no disturbance occurred outside the approved construction footprint.

NPWS was highly satisfied with both the management of the site and the quality of the completed works. The project was delivered at a competitive tender price, with no variations required following project commencement.

Communication was excellent throughout the entire project, from the tender phase through to completion. Perry Stafford maintained regular and proactive communication, providing updates without prompting and ensuring all stakeholders remained informed of project progress.

When weather-related delays occurred, the team implemented appropriate mitigation measures to minimise impacts and complete the works as efficiently as possible.

Brefni's professionalism, environmental stewardship and commitment to collaboration left a strong impression on the project team. As a result, NPWS has recommended Brefni to other branches within the organisation and looks forward to working with them again in the future."
Mark Bleechmore
National Parks and Wildlife Service
"Brefni's site teams and management consistently foster a positive and collaborative working environment, encouraging open communication and maintaining a strong safety culture across all projects.

The team demonstrates extensive knowledge of environmental management and takes a proactive approach to implementing appropriate controls and mitigation measures. Senior management remains readily accessible and responsive, ensuring any issues that arise are addressed promptly and effectively.

A key strength of Brefni is its ability to resource projects appropriately, providing sufficient personnel to meet programme requirements while maintaining a high standard of service and project delivery. The team is highly adaptable and responds efficiently to changes in scope, ensuring project objectives continue to be met.

The quality and reliability of Brefni's plant and equipment are also noteworthy. Having comprehensive records available online streamlines onboarding processes and provides confidence that equipment is maintained to the highest standards.

Beyond project delivery, the professionalism and capability of Brefni's Estimating and Commercial teams are a significant factor in ongoing repeat business. Their approach is fair, transparent and commercially reasonable, and their tenders consistently provide strong value when compared with competitors.

Brefni is a pleasure to work with, and their commitment to quality, collaboration and performance continues to build long-term client relationships. We look forward to working with the team on many more projects in the future."
John Cosgrove
Laing O'Rourke

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