80 | Fulton Hogan - Auckland T T Karen Phelps Flood repairs demonstrate commitment After the extreme weather events of 2023, the team found itself engaged in additional repair works, particularly the construction of retaining walls to protect Auckland Transport’s roading network. “The challenge was dealing with service relocations, as many of the slips resulted in gas, water, and power lines that needed to be relocated.” CONTRACTING In the wake of Auckland’s devastating floods in early 2023, Fulton Hogan stood at the forefront of the recovery efforts, demonstrating its commitment to the community it has served for decades. The company has been working to rebuild and reinforce the North Shore’s roading network, showcasing its expertise and dedication in the face of unprecedented challenges. Troy Girdler-Brown, Fulton Hogan’s Albany branch manager, oversees the North Urban Maintenance Contract, which is responsible for maintaining the roading network on the North Shore. With a team of around 110 staff, many of whom have clocked up an impressive 20 to 30 years of service, supported by regional teams, Troy’s division has been at the heart of the recovery efforts. “Our normal business involves looking after the roading network, including fixing potholes, managing signage, road sweeping, maintaining road furniture and line marking,” Troy explains. “We also undertake capital maintenance such as asphalt renewals and chip sealing, repairing sections of concrete and asphalt footpaths as well as kerb and channel construction. Additionally, we have a rehabilitation programme for old roads where we come up with a design and reconstruct the road from the bottom to the top.” However, after the extreme weather events of 2023, the team found itself engaged in additional repair works, particularly the construction of retaining walls to protect Auckland Transport’s roading network. “We’ve been tasked with building 38 walls to safeguard the roads,” says Troy. “It’s been a massive undertaking, but we’re on track to complete the walls by early next year.” The scale of the damage was unprecedented. Roads were washed away or at risk of collapse, requiring swift and decisive action. Fulton Hogan’s team, hand-in-hand with its key design partners, conducted thorough investigations and created design options for each affected area. “The challenge was dealing with service relocations, as many of the slips resulted in gas, water, and power lines that needed to be relocated. We also had to contend with things like overhead power lines that made building the walls challenging.” One of the most significant projects was the closure of Glenvar Road, a main route into Torbay, for eight months. “It was a difficult decision,” Troy admits, “but the road was not safe. We spent considerable time on the design to ensure the solution would last into the future.” Fulton Hogan’s model and processes have proven so effective, they are now undertaking retaining-wall work in West Auckland as well. This expansion of the team’s workload speaks volumes about the trust placed in the company’s capabilities, says Troy. As Fulton Hogan celebrated its 90th anniversary last year, its work on the North Shore serves as a powerful reminder of the company’s enduring commitment to New Zealand’s infrastructure, Troy believes. From its humble beginnings in 1933, when Jules Fulton and Bob Hogan joined forces, the company has grown into an industry leader with over 9000 employees across Australia and New Zealand. “We believe resilient infrastructure will help tackle the challenges of a changing world,” Troy says, echoing the company’s ethos. “And we will continue to invest and innovate to play our part.” Fulton Hogan’s unique business model, which includes a network of strategically located quarries and manufacturing plants across New Zealand, has been crucial in its ability to respond effectively to roading needs. This vertical integration gives it direct access to necessary materials, and allows the company to retain full responsibility for all aspects of projects. Troy says Fulton Hogan is not just focused on recovery, but on building for the future. The company is incorporating lessons learned from the recent extreme weather events into their designs and construction methods. “We’re not just rebuilding, we’re improving,” says Troy. “Every project is an opportunity to make our infrastructure more resilient.” Providing civil construction, quality plant and skilled labour hire to the Auckland and wider North Island region. 021 899 643 office@exarocontracting.co.nz www.exarocontracting.co.nz ExaroContracting Proudly supporting Fulton Hogan
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