40 | Fulton Hogan Greymouth T T Karen Phelps Building a resilient highway network Fulton Hogan also works for private clients and has just completed a new subdivision at Lake Kaniere. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT It’s been a busy time for Fulton Hogan’s Greymouth branch, says branch manager Nik Davy. The branch holds the Waka Kotahi highway maintenance contract for the West Coast Region and, along with general maintenance activities, has been undertaking resealing, guardrail upgrades and bridge improvements. Building resilience into the state highway network is key to support the region’s economy, says Nik with tourism and dairy in particular relying on good roads. SH6 runs the length of the area and is prone to closures from slips, rock falls, flooding and crashes. The West Coast and Westland has a challenging geographical environment and there are few connections to neighbouring regions making a resilient network vital. The work Fulton Hogan is undertaking is part of the government’s National Land Transport Programme to help reduce the number of closures and minimise disruption from unplanned events. Fulton Hogan has just completed the last two of seven one-lane bridge projects, which saw timber rails replaced with new safer barrier systems on the bridge and approach. This final project took around six months and the entire project, which was split into multiple tenders, was completed in approximately two years. Nik says local subcontractors form an important part of Fulton Hogan’s wider team and on this project a number of local subcontractors were employed including Westroads, Gray Brothers Engineering, Glenn Monk Contracting and Nayland Scaffold. “We work with predominantly locals as it not only supports their businesses and the local economy but locals are truly passionate about delivering great outcomes for the region,” says Nik. Rail is also an important part of a resilient network on the West Coast and Westland and Fulton Hogan has just completed an early contractor engagement shovel ready project for KiwiRail called the Omoto Resilience Project, instigated after a number of slips at Omoto in recent years caused rail line and state highway closures between Christchurch and Greymouth. The project saw drainage installed and 2.5 kilometres of the hillside at Omoto strengthened. MBD Contracting was employed by Fulton Hogan as a subcontractor for the supply, cartage and placement of gravel and graded rock on the banks of the Grey River to stabilise the hillside that traversed KiwiRail’s Midland Line. Nik says Fulton Hogan was able to provide local resources quickly and local knowledge in terms of solutions, working through any issues day-to-day as a team for a successful outcome. Fulton Hogan also works for private clients and has just completed a new subdivision at Lake Kaniere, which included earthworks, drainage, pavement, concrete footpath and chip sealing, all completed internally by Fulton Hogan. Local subcontractor Westroads upgraded the street leading up to the subdivision as part of the project. Fulton Hogan Greymouth’s team comprises around 75-80 staff. It covers a large geographical area and there is an emphasis on supporting the locals who live there. “We value local people and prioritise employing them and offering them development opportunities,” says Nik. “This is good for the whole community with many positive spin off effects.” He says that Fulton Hogan has established good relationships with local educational institutions, Department of Corrections and iwi. It offers opportunities to Gateway students and focuses on providing pathways for employment for those that want a career in the construction industry. “I think the construction industry hasn’t typically been very good at promoting itself but it offers great and diverse employment opportunities from administration work in an office to out on the tools. For Fulton Hogan it’s about getting out and showing young people the many different career pathways in the construction industry.” Encouraging more people into the industry will be important. With aging infrastructure and a focus on continuing to increase resilience, Nik says Fulton Hogan is expecting to be busy for many years to come helping to deliver great outcomes to the region. MBD is proud to support Fulton Hogan - West Coast PH: 03 768 0218 DARREN: 021 310 453 EMAIL: ADMIN@MBDCONTRACTING.CO.NZ MBD CONTRACTING LTD - 50 ARNEY STREET, PO BOX 114, GREYMOUTH, 7840
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