114 | Foreshore Construction T T Hugh de Lacy The ‘go-to’ firm for jetty building Foreshore Construction works out of a home office, and has a separate yard for storing equipment. BUILDING Wanting to return to his building industry roots after 30-odd years in real estate was what prompted Carl Slade to buy Blenheim’s long-established jetty-building company Foreshore Construction 18 months ago – and the lifestyle that went with the business was another attraction. Under previous owner Neville McCallum, Foreshore Construction had been building jetties throughout the Marlborough Sounds for 20 years before Carl acquired it with his partner Kirsty Kelk, who does the book work. They had been living in Timaru, where Carl ran a successful real estate agency and Kirsty had a hairdressing business. But Carl had long been keen on getting into construction after spending his high school and university holidays working with building companies before being drawn into the real estate industry, so when Neville decided to sell out Carl and Kirsty jumped at the chance. “It was like completing a full circle to be able to go back to building work, and of course working in the Marlborough Sounds is a privilege in itself,” Carl says. Neville continues to be a source of advice to the company, where his son Duncan has been working for 15 years, while the other full-timer on the staff is Malcolm Lucas, who’s been there for nine years. Between them they have brought a wealth of experience to Foreshore Construction, which has completed around 150 jetty construction projects over the years, earning it a reputation as the local go-to company for such work. Foreshore Construction works out of a home office, and has a separate yard for storing equipment. An eight-metre-long motorised barge, backed up by a six-metre pontoon boat, is used to access its worksites. Both craft are transportable by trailer, though the motorised barge is usually based at Waikawa or Havelock. Projects recently completed by Foreshore Construction include an eight-bay jetty with a floating pontoon, boat shed and boat ramp at Tuna Bay, and a six-bay jetty with a floating pontoon at Schnapper Point. That job also included a large boat-shed foundation, and a boat ramp featuring embedded railway irons to accommodate a boat trolley. Another recently completed job was a major extension to an existing jetty at Ahitarakihi Bay, to which seven new bays were added, accessed by steps down to three lower platform levels. Most of the company’s work comes from word-of-mouth recommendations, Carl says. “We’ve got an excellent long-term reputation in the region, and we’re known for delivering a quality product. What most of our clients want is a functional, well-built jetty that’s going to last, and at a reasonable price. “Some clients like to up-spec with the likes of hardwood decking, but functionality and quality construction are the key elements. We also get a lot of repair work on old jetties that need upgrading,” he says. The company’s got plenty of work on, to the degree that Carl says he’s looking at bringing new staff aboard this year. “It’s challenging and inspiring work in a beautiful environment, so we don’t expect to have any trouble attracting new staff.” POWERBOATS MOTORHOMES YACHTS LAUNCHES Proudly Supporting Foreshore Construction Ltd MARINE EQUIPMENT SPECIALISTS Email: info@oddiesmarine.co.nz Tel: +64 3 573 8369 Web: www.oddiesmarine.co.nz Phone: 03 983 5500 waterfordpress.co.nz Your Business, Your Industry, Your News. DO OUR READERS KNOW YOU EXIST?
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