| 23 T T Bernadette Cooney Family firm thriving in Central The family-owned and operated civil contracting business brings a combined 40 years of experience in civil works, from planning to completion of urban or rural developments throughout Central Otago and Southern Lakes. Contrax Central REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT As John Marnane and I chat over the phone during his commute to work, we’re both reminded of the natural beauty that Central Otago offers him as a backdrop on any ordinary workday. “So, I’m just coming up around below Luggate and I’m looking up at Treble Cone and you can just about see every peak in the snow,” says John, “It’s a beautiful day.” This positivity and ease of communication have been the hallmarks of John’s nearly 20-year ownership of Cromwell-based civil earthworks company, Contrax (Central) Ltd. This family-owned and operated civil contracting business brings a combined 40 years of experience in civil works, from planning to completion of urban or rural developments throughout Central Otago and Southern Lakes. Established in 2005 by John and Robyn Marnane, Contrax (Central) Ltd provides high-quality land development and conversion services. These services include site preparation and landscaping, subdivision development, roading and drainage, and water reservoirs for horticulture, viticulture, and livestock water delivery and storage. “We can do it all in terms of site preparation and drain laying and roading for subdivision projects right through to water storage and drainage solutions for farmers and even land development for horticultural projects,” says John. “We’ve just recently helped shape a small truffle development in Cromwell.” Contrax (Central) Ltd also has an emerging side business supplying rocks and stones for walls and decorative gravels to New Zealand’s landscaping sector. The business is a truly family-orientated enterprise with their son Johnny working as their operations manager, wife Robyn and daughter Catherine taking care of the administration and health and safety requirements. “Johnny was born into earthworks, and he has a lot of experience in agri contracting and open-cast mining. He knows his stuff and is becoming a part of the business.” Other family members help make up their 12 to 20-member local workforce. “I love the family aspect. But it truly is a team effort, and we have a great team across all operations,” says John. Their youngest son Tom is another protégé of his father’s civil works nature and is currently driving the bigger machines in Australia, as John puts it. Raised on a sheep and crop farm in Western Southland, John had early exposure to machinery operation, with his late father running an agri-contracting business in the early years. “In time, it grew to include civil works, and I spent time in mining industry project and senior management before setting up on my own,” says John. Johns’s involvement in civil earthworks stretches back a long way. “I started on toys with no cabs, no heaters, no suspension seats etc and I loved it, “ says John, “now you’ve got lounge chairs in your cab and heating and radios, oh my god – I don’t think today’s generation appreciate how good the gear is today,” he chuckles. Contact John and his team of civil works masters, for a competitive quote on the full range of civil earthworks services for urban or rural, public or private developments throughout Central Otago and Southern Lakes. Heavy Trax Hire Cromwell – 34 McNulty Rd – Ph: 03-445-0010 | Invercargill – 245 Bond St – Ph: 03-218-4444 Dunedin – 45 McGlashan St, Mosgiel – Ph: 03-489-8201 Our People, Our Communities, Central Otago’s future. Fulton Hogan are proud to be Central Otago’s specialists in roading, civil construction, sub-divisions, asphalt and gravel supply, and traffic management for over 90 years. Contact us: Dunstan Road, Alexandra Phone +64 3 440 0500 www.fultonhogan.com Email info@fultonhogan.com
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