Proudly serving the district for more than three decades, Greg Donaldson Contracting Ltd (GDC) prides itself on delivering a full range of civil contracting services across rural, residential and commercial projects with a commitment to providing excellent service, high quality, and professional workmanship in innovative and cost-effective ways.
Founded by Greg Donaldson, GDC has grown to a skilled staff of almost 50 across a full range of site works, excavation, demolition, heavy haulage and supply transport, directional drilling, utility detection, and on-farm (land) contracting. It also offers worldwide patented mole ploughing technology for installing electrical cables, water pipes, and fibre and operating the Ashburton Eco Park.
Locally, GDC has been the driving force behind many crucial projects with Greg keen to contribute to the community that’s supported the company over the years. It sponsors many clubs and events, including Ashburton’s Wheel’s Week.
Greg started as a mechanic, and after completing his apprenticeship, he left his job and decided to go out on his own, fixing things out of the back of his truck. Originally bought up in Greenstreet, he later purchased the Mt Somers Garage, and after 10 years, he sold the garage to continue with contracting. In 2001, Greg moved the set-up to Ashburton, purchasing Bruce Glossip Contracting to expand the contracting business.
“I always enjoyed machinery and fixing things. I started fixing lawnmowers when I was a kid, but contracting was what I always wanted to do. I started with just a truck and a loader, transporting equipment. I grew it from nothing,” says Greg.
During the early 2000s, Greg diversified into other areas, capitalising on the Canterbury region’s growth primarily due to the dairy boom. Following a family fatality, he developed new ground-breaking mole ploughing technology unique to GDC to install ground services faster and cost-effectively with minimal ground disturbance. It’s also much safer than open trenching.
That was followed by the establishment of Directional Drilling Company NZ Limited (DDC) in 2005, a division of GDC, with the purchase of his first drill. DDC specialises in navigating testing conditions to install power, irrigation, and fibre optic networks. The company has developed a reputation for having a “can-do” approach despite trying ground conditions, often designing its own tooling to help complete projects.
Additionally, GDC’s Utility Detection Services (UDS) uses ground-penetrating radar and location equipment to accurately locate existing underground services, such as power and fibre, minimising the risk of damage and potential danger.
In the wake of the Christchurch Earthquake (2011), demolition became a big part of GDC’s business. The amount of waste going to landfills posed a problem, so Greg started the Ashburton Eco Park. It uses an air curtain incinerator to minimise the waste heading to landfill and reduce the company’s carbon footprint. It has resource consent for green waste and other suitable materials, such as untreated timber.
Rural work still makes up a proportion of GDC’s core business, including driveways, vehicle crossings, lane capping with lime, mulching, shingle supplies, grading, and tree work and site clearing, to name a few. It’s through that connection with the rural sector that initiated GDC’s longstanding relationship with Ruralco. GDC first became a merchant in 2001. Greg’s father had been a cardholder since the earliest days of the co-op. “We’ve always had a good relationship with them and look forward to continuing that relationship. We have a lot of farmers that are loyal to Ruralco,” says Greg.
Greg is incredibly proud to have his three sons join him in the company’s day-to-day operations today. Having worked alongside his father for six years, Michael took over as General Manager about eight months ago. Lane, a trained mechanic, has also been working in the business for the past eight years and is now second-in-charge of the company’s in-house workshop. Meanwhile, Blake, who has been working in the business for 14 years, runs the rigs for a subsidiary company, Directional Drilling Company NZ Ltd (DDC), ensuring the companies are in good hands.