CASE STUDY

Central Plains Water

How Central Plains Water Streamlined Safety Across 45,000 Hectares

Industry:  
Agriculture/ Infrastructure
Founded:  
2003
Location:  
Christchurch, NZ
Employees:  
22

Key Outcomes

  • Streamlined safety processes and reporting, cutting admin hours by 30% and reducing errors by 40%, making compliance faster and more accurate.
  • Enabled real-time visibility into safety data, helping managers proactively identify and address risks through live dashboards.
  • Improved staff engagement and participation, with increased hazard and near-miss reporting embedding safety into everyday operations.
  • Ensured seamless safety management in remote areas, with offline functionality allowing teams to complete safety checks and incident reports without connectivity issues.
  • Strengthened compliance and risk management, with CPWL’s Top 10 Critical Risks consistently monitored across all sites, leading to improved safety outcomes, better resource allocation, and smoother audits.
“It's a smart, long-term investment in the wellbeing of our people and the success of our operations”
Challenge 1

Upgrading to a More Intuitive Health and Safety System

Managing the South Island’s largest irrigation scheme is no small feat. Central Plains Water Limited (CPWL) oversees 45,000 hectares of farmland and complex infrastructure, including one large dam, a major canal, 350 on-farm turnouts, and multiple pump stations. Their previous system had served them well, but as operations expanded, it no longer aligned with their growing needs. They needed a solution that was intuitive, adaptable, and could seamlessly support day-to-day safety tasks.
Site App Pro provided the user-first design and flexibility CPWL needed. With customisable forms and workflows, the system adapted to their specific operational needs, allowing quick adoption without the headaches of complex software.

“Our old health and safety software was complex and unintuitive, slowing adoption and creating frustration for users. We needed a system that aligned with how our people work—quick, simple, and customisable.”
– Mark McKenzie, Chief Technology and Operations Officer

Now, employees log safety observations with ease, turning what once felt like a burden into a seamless part of their daily tasks. Engagement soared, and processes became faster and more efficient.

Challenge 2

Managing Safety in Remote Locations with Limited Connectivity

CPWL’s infrastructure stretches across rural locations where reliable internet connection can’t always be guaranteed. Remote teams working at pump stations, canals, and dam sites often faced delays in logging safety checks and hazard reports, which slowed down decision-making and created reporting gaps.

With Site App Pro’s mobile app and offline mode, teams no longer have to worry about connectivity. Safety data, inspections, and incident reports can be recorded in real time, even in areas with no signal. Once back online, everything syncs automatically, ensuring no data is lost.

This upgrade has made it possible for CPWL to capture safety data consistently across all worksites, improving decision-making and reducing risks.

Challenge 3

Optimising Reporting for Faster Insights

Before Site App Pro, reporting was time-consuming and prone to errors. Paper-based forms often had missing or incorrect information, and tracking down incomplete submissions delayed critical safety updates. CPWL needed a way to streamline reporting without adding to the team’s admin load.

Site App Pro’s mandatory fields and real-time dashboards changed the game. By ensuring that reports were complete before submission, errors dropped by 40%. Automated workflows reduced admin hours by 30%, freeing up staff to focus on higher-priority tasks.

“Site App - besides solving all our problems! Now we communicate faster, find information quicker, and receive structured data that helps in making quality and rapid business decisions.”
– Mark McKenzie, Chief Technology and Operations Officer

Managers now access live safety data instantly, spotting issues before they escalate and taking faster, more proactive action.

Challenge 4

Embedding Safety into Daily Operations and Boosting Engagement

At CPWL, safety isn’t just a box to tick—it’s embedded in their “Home Safe and Well” culture. But getting consistent engagement from team members to actively log hazards and near misses was a challenge. They needed a system that made safety easy and engaging, encouraging everyone to participate.

Site App Pro transformed safety into something the team does naturally every day. Customisable checklists, pre-start safety talks, and digital toolbox talks have streamlined on-site safety activities, making them faster and more engaging. Employees can log observations and near misses with a few clicks, and safety updates are shared in real time across teams.

“A user-friendly interface has encouraged greater team participation in logging safety observations and following compliance procedures.”
– Cass Flutey – Operations Services Manager

CPWL’s Internal surveys show a noticeable boost in staff engagement, with more employees actively participating in safety processes.

Challenge 5

Managing Critical Risks Across Diverse Work Environments

From large dams to vast farmland and high-pressure pump stations, CPWL’s work environments present a range of safety risks. Managing these risks consistently across such diverse sites was a top priority.

With Site App Pro, CPWL defined and implemented their Top 10 Critical Risks across all worksites. These risks are tracked using real-time checklists and digital workflows, allowing teams to stay proactive in mitigating hazards.

“We recently identified and implemented our Ten Top Critical Risks. Site App Pro ensures these risks are always accessible to our team, providing a reliable safety reference across all worksites.”
– Mark McKenzie, Chief Technology and Operations Officer

This consistent monitoring has improved overall safety outcomes, reduced incidents, and optimised the use of resources, leading to measurable cost savings.

For Central Plains Water Limited, improving safety and efficiency has always been a priority. With their team spread across remote sites and diverse work environments, they needed a system that could support their way of working—simple, reliable, and adaptable. By digitising processes, reducing errors, and making safety data more accessible, CPWL has strengthened compliance, boosted engagement, and created a safer, more connected workplace. Their long-term commitment to environmental stewardship and operational excellence continues to drive them forward, and Site App Pro is proud to support them on this journey.

“Home safe and well is more than a motto at CPWL—it’s how we operate every day. We walk the talk when it comes to our people, and Site App Pro has become an essential tool in ensuring their safety.”
– Susan Goodfellow, Chief Executive Officer

Site App Pro delivers on promise.

283K+

Work sites covered by Site App Pro

4.0M+

H&S forms completed with Site App Pro

98%

Customer Happiness Rating (Based on over 340 reviews)

24.7s

Every 24.7 seconds a H&S form is completed in Site App Pro

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