The precision and power of Bobcat machines have helped keep Gauci Civil ahead of the game.
Many of the sporting fields and playgrounds in and around Sydney have something in common: they were built and maintained by construction company Gauci Civil Contracting.
Specialising in local council projects, the family business is often called upon for its understanding of the needs of local requirements, making sure its projects have minimal disruption to the community and are run as smooth as possible, minimising the impact on the environment.
As director Chris Gauci explains, the business offers a variety of surface options to suit all sporting needs.
“Whether it’s synthetic turf, natural grass, or rubber soft fall, we provide high-quality installations for tennis courts, cricket nets, soccer fields, pickle ball courts, basketball courts, and more,” he said.
“Our expert team ensures each surface is designed and built to meet the highest standards of durability, safety, and performance, creating top-tier recreational spaces for athletes and families alike.”
But of course, Gauci is also involved in many other civil industry undertakings.
“We focus primarily on local government major projects, such as civil and landscaping needs like carparks, gardens, raised boardwalks, bridges and retaining walls,” he said.
“We also have our new Turf Pro Renovations division, which services the sports field, race track and golf course turf renovations industry with sand grooving, top dressing, scarifying, aerating, sand slit drainage, irrigation and turf maintenance.”
The list of projects that Gauci has been involved with is long and impressive. Recent ones include:
- Harrington Park Reserve Stage 1 sports field construction
- Camden Town Farm — Nepean River Walk
- Colbee Park Reserve Stage 1 construction
- Cawdor Road Shared Pathway construction
- Randwick Environment Park boardwalk
- King George V Park raised boardwalk
- Harry Bennet Park boardwalk at Taree
- Pulpit Point Marina boardwalk
- Bigge Park Tennis Courts reconstruction
- Rutherford Public School basketball courts and playground construction
- Scone Public School synthetic playground installation
- Knapsack Reserve cricket nets, sports field construction and carpark preparation works
- Jack Nash Reserve tennis courts upgrade
The success of Gauci owes much to the determination and experience of Chris, who started the company along with his wife and father-in-law.
“We employ skilled and specialised staff, providing a complete civil solution for all of our customers, clients and business associates,” he said.
“Our staff and contracting partners are dedicated in the provision of top quality workmanship and dedicated customer service to all of our projects, enabling us to complete assignments efficiently.
“We are a small to medium-sized company, with 18 full-time staff currently, but are looking to increase staff numbers by 50-75 per cent in the next 12 months.”
Tools of the trade
For its various projects, Gauci relies on a current fleet of about 30 pieces of equipment and vehicles.
They include a mix of excavators with attachments, slashers, trenchers, augers, a number of tractors with GPS auto steer, sand groover, top dress spreaders, scarifiers, laser-guided trenching wheel, sprayer with auto boom, sports field mowers, rollers, along with an assortment of trucks, multiple trailers and a Mack bogie.
“All of our large excavators, track loaders, graders and tractors run full 3D GPS and laser guidance systems,” Chris said.
Among the machines, one particular brand of equipment holds a soft spot in Chris’ heart.
“I currently have four Bobcat machines: two E20 two-tonne zero-tailswing excavators, a T650 track loader and a T76 track loader with rippers,” he said
Chris said the connection with Bobcats goes back a long way, right from the company’s inception, when he first bought the manufacturer’s skid steers.
“Bobcat machines have been the trusted workhorses of jobsites around the world — and it’s no accident. Built tough from the ground up, every Bobcat is engineered to deliver the kind of unwavering reliability that keeps projects moving and businesses thriving,” he said.
“I have owned seven Bobcat skid steers in the past 15 years, moving from our old trusted G773 wheel machine, through to the S650, then to multiple T650s, the T66 and now the T76.
“I have always liked the feel and comfort of the Bobcats compared to other brands I have been in.
“They never felt underpowered and they have always been reliable, even with the pounding our industry can throw at them.
“Our track loaders now have a slightly easier time pushing and trimming roadbase for pavements, or topsoil/sand for turf installations, than the harder asphalt and bulk earthwork we started off doing many years ago.
“All the Bobcats have done well by me in the most trying of conditions.”
Chris said there were several features of the Bobcats which he valued.
“The anti-stall in the track loaders is a great feature, as well as the ability to change the concentration of push power instead of wasting effort on spinning tracks, where you can adjust to maximise the tractive effort and push through piles you would stall in or slip through in other machines,” he said.
“The E20 excavators also have a great long/high reach in comparison to others in their class, which is why we choose them for the mini size diggers.”
Chris also loved the Bobcat-branded attachments, such as the 108” grader and soil conditioner.
“They are both great attachments and I wish I had bought them earlier,” he said.
The grader attachment excels at high-performance grading, enabling delicate tasks to be completed with powerful precision. The grader attachment has a blade that moves six or eight different ways to grade any surface, while the bolster oscillates to minimise the effect of uneven ground, delivering consistent grading performance in a variety of environments.
The soil conditioner prepares soil while levelling and filling in fewer passes, using a rotating drum with carbide-tipped teeth that rip through clumps and penetrate the soil.
Done deals
Chris gets his Bobcats from Clark Equipment in Sydney, liaising for most of the time with sales representative Brad Breen.
“I have been dealing with Brad ever since we bought our first new Bobcat 15 years ago,” Chris said.
“Brad has been there the whole time and is probably one of the big reasons we have stuck with Bobcat and not bothered looking elsewhere: although having a good product has also helped!
“The service provided by Clark and Brad in particular is what makes this industry great.
“I know I can call Brad with an issue or an order, and one way or another he makes it happen.
“Whether it is help sourcing a part, or needing a machine or attachment to add to the fleet, I know it is just a phone call or text to Brad away from happening.”
Chris could not fault Bobcat’s backup and service.
“Bobcat and Clark have looked after me in a number of situations when they did not have to. They have always turned up when needed for repairs or breakdowns should they occur,” he said.
“Parts aren’t cheap anywhere and Clark is no different, but they are always reasonable and have always been able to get us parts when needed. If not in stock in Sydney, they aren’t usually far away. I’m unashamedly a Bobcat man and will continue to be. They have looked after me over the years and I’ve repaid the favour with repeat business that I can’t see stopping anytime soon.”