68 | A unique niche... The family-owned firm works on a wide range of projects. CONTRACTING Pidgeon Contracting T T Karen Phelps Maugers Contracting Well-equipped to handle the big projects T T Rosa Watson Pidgeon Contracting has carved out a unique niche in the construction industry by offering both civil engineering and asphalting services in-house. “Because we can provide a complete package, this enables us to keep control of quality and timing of projects as well as deliver cost efficiencies,” says operations manager Luke Crotty. Started in 1983, the family-owned, Canterbury-based business works on a wide range of regional infrastructure development projects, including subdivisions, cycleways, footpaths, stormwater management and car parks. Luke says the business has maintained a family-oriented approach. Matt Pidgeon, who took over as managing director in 2008, continues this legacy of personal service, taking on the day-to-day operation of the company, as well as being on-site running the team and interfacing with clients. Pidgeon Contracting can supply and compact metal course, lay pavers, complete property drainage, planting and grassed berms. The asphalt division specialises in footpaths, driveways and car parks. Its capabilities allow it to undertake construction of small subdiviWhile not the largest firm in the sector, Maugers Contracting has an ambitious approach that is proving its might and versatility as an earthmoving company. The Christchurch-based firm is currently undertaking the biggest subdivision it has been involved with in its more than 50-year history – the Earlsbrook development at Lincoln. This massive subdivision will include 175 residential sections and three commercial lots. It is a vast site, general manager Hayden Greene says, and required the additional assistance of subcontractors, including Christchurch-based drainage company C & A Cox Ltd and Letton Kerb and Channel. “It’s a big achievement for us to be able to do. We were up against tier-1 contractors, and fortunately we’ve managed to edge them out,” Hayden says. The firm has also been involved with the Rosemerryn subdivision, also at Lincoln, that has just released its 22nd stage of sections. Another project underway is earthworks for a “quite substantial” freight precinct at the Christchurch International Airport, which involves removing 50,000 cubic metres of cleanfill from the site and bringing in 20,000 cubic metres of soil from stockpiles around the airport. It was a “steady wee job” that required graders, scrapers, diggers and water carts, Hayden says. Successfully winning tenders on the large developments has allowed the firm to grow, while staying at a sustainable level. sions to local authority standards, and it has the ability to deliver small earthwork projects. With a team ranging from 15 to 20 skilled professionals, Luke says the company’s staff retention is another key to its success, with several team members having worked there for over 35 years. Currently, Pidgeon Contracting runs five construction crews and an asphalt crew, and with five site foremen, works on multiple projects simultaneously. Pidgeon Contracting also boasts impressive equipment, including diggers, excavators, loaders and a unique mini asphalt paver – the only one of its size in Canterbury, says Luke. This specialised machinery, which can operate at widths ranging from 3.6 to 1.4 metres, allows it to tackle projects such as cycleways, and it is often hired out to other companies. Luke says footpaths and cycleways are the bread and butter of the business, with the last one completed being the Prebbleton to Templeton cycleway that will connect the city and Rail Trail in the Selwyn District. The cycleway is being funded by the Selwyn District Council and the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi. “We love to do these cycleway projects,” says Luke. “It’s what we know and are good at, and it’s great delivering projects the community will enjoy.” “It’s allowed us to grow a wee bit. You’ve just got to keep in mind that things don’t last forever, so it’s keeping that balance. “It is hard to strike a fine balance. I think we’re pretty happy where we’re sitting now and we’ll just manage that with what we’ve got and use some of the great subcontractors that we use.” Staff numbers currently sit at around 50, which Hayden says is a comfortable level. There are staff that have been serving the company for over 40 years, some for 30 years and couple that have served 20 years. “We pride ourselves in staff retention. We don’t think there’s too many companies that have these sorts of employees with them. We’ve got a small family business feel. We haven’t gone crazy with management – that frustrates a lot of our guys. “We have a lot of experience behind us, and we’ve worked in all conditions, and it probably helps us in that we know what we’re talking about because we’ve been and done it.” Hayden says he and his wife, Brittany, have worked hard to keep up with new technology, seeing investment in new technology as a big part of moving forward. “(It’s) keeping up with modern plant to eliminate downtime, and giving the guys something to take pride in because it’s new.” The impressive range of equipment includes a Mack bulk tip truck, concrete truck, Nissan logging truck, and a Nissan truck-transporter with a 35-tonne capacity. This year the company has added three powerful Scania P450 truck-and-trailer tandem drive dumps, and a Scania P450 twin steer, Scania P450 tipulator and Nissan CW385 tipulator. www.kerbandchannel.net.nz Phone: 027 433 0531 Office: 03 344 1597 Email: info@kerbandchannel.net.nz Contact Us Proud to support Pidgeon Contracting Ltd ASPHALT PLANT for all hotmix orders 03 941 7621 205 Springs Rd, Hornby, Christchurch 8042 | weighbridge@surfacingsupplies.co.nz Proudly supporting Maugers Contracting Ash Cox 027 714 0905 ash@cacox.co.nz Specialising in all aspects of complete Subdivisions: Sewers, Stormwater, Water, Footpaths, Siteworks, Dewatering and more
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