For family-run Great Bay Construction, turning plans into finished homes depends on local know-how, quality craftsmanship, control of the process and equipment that earns its place on site.
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\n\n Hobart-based Great Bay Construction manage end-to-end building solutions across Tasmania.\n \n
From the ground up
Great Bay Managing Director, Shane Spaulding, entered the building industry at just 16.
Close to four decades later, the company he founded covers property development, subdivisions, new homes and multi-unit projects, with four employees and around 20 regular subcontractors.
Known for high-quality houses, townhouses and apartments, Great Bay increasingly undertakes its own developments, from approvals, site preparation and earthworks right through to construction and handover.
“We like to stay in control of our own destiny,” Shane said.
“We’ve just finished a major subdivision and unit development, and our next project is a 16-unit development worth around $10 million.”
That approach helps the business manage longer approval periods, higher finance costs and changing lending conditions. It also places greater value on productive machinery kept relatively new, under warranty and ready to work.
To that end, the Hobart-based business has now added a new Isuzu NPR 45-175 Tradepack with all the fruit - specified as a mobile workshop and office.
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\n\n On site: Shane's decked-out new NPR 45-175 Tradepack. \n \n
Hamburger with the lot
The Tradepack is Shane’s fourth new Isuzu, following earlier experience with cheaper, second-hand vehicles that brought maintenance headaches and downtime.
“Along the way it became pretty evident that you’ve got to have the right machinery to do the work,” he said.
“If we’re working 40 hours a week, we want 40 productive hours from our machinery. We simply can’t afford downtime.”
Webster’s in-house manufacturing removed the need to visit multiple suppliers and kept the solution within one support network.
“We basically ordered the hamburger with the lot,” Shane chuckled.
“It’s fitted with large toolboxes, a three-metre under-tray drawer, fridge, microwave, inverter power for charging all my 40-volt Makita tools and another six or so storage boxes.”
A transfer fuel pump allows machinery to be refuelled on site, while the longer 3,395 mm wheelbase preserves tray space even with up to three-quarters of a tonne of tools and equipment carried permanently.
“As the business owner I wear a lot of different hats and this truck lets me do all of them,” Shane said.
“I can arrive on site, refuel a machine, grease equipment, organise the day’s work and have everything I need with me.
“I used to hop around from job to job in the ute, but these days I leave it at home.”
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\n\n 'I used to take my Silverado on the longer trips. Now it stays at home and I drive the Isuzu instead.'\n \n
A smoother working day
The NPR 45-175 Tradepack is powered by Isuzu’s 3.0-litre 4JZ1-TCH turbo-diesel engine, producing 129 kW and 430 Nm. Shane also selected Isuzu’s popular nine-speed dual-clutch transmission, which combines fully automated operation with a clutchless manual mode.
“There’s just no comparison to previous models,” Shane said.
“The ride is much nicer, it’s got better power, better fuel economy and it’s much smoother to drive. The new nine-speed transmission is an absolute game changer.”
The Ready-to-Work body brings a five-tonne-rated aluminium deck, removable dropsides and tailgate, external ratchet rails, ladder racks and lockable storage.
An Isuzu Genuine bulbar that Shane has had powder-coated black completes a schmick, handsome façade, while the 4,500 kg rated towbar supports regular towing of rollers, plant trailers and equipment.
Independent wishbone front suspension, coil springs and double-acting hydraulic shock absorbers have made an equally practical difference on Tasmania’s variable roads.
“My old truck would literally launch my morning coffee over the dashboard on rough roads,” he said.
“The new suspension is fantastic, both for my coffee and for my back. I used to take my Silverado on the longer trips. Now it stays at home and I drive the Isuzu instead.”
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\n\n Shane's Tradepack includes a host of convenient and job focussed efficiency features.\n \n
Safety as houses
With employees also driving, workplace safety was a priority for Shane.
The NPR includes advanced emergency braking, lane departure warning, front cross traffic alert, electronic stability control and intersection emergency braking.
The 9-speed dual-clutch model also comes fitted with full-speed adaptive cruise control and traffic sign recognition.
“The safety technology is excellent,” Shane said.
“It’s much more like driving a passenger vehicle, with the driver assistance systems you’d expect. That’s especially important when my employees are driving the truck.”
Operational efficiencies continue by way of Isuzu’s six-year factory warranty, roadside assistance and a service agreement, with Shane vouching for the predictable monthly costs and fewer surprise bills.
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\n\n Checking in: Webster Trucks' Shane Hilder (right) has a yarn with Shane Spaulding (left). \n \n
The Webster way
The Great Bay - Webster Trucks relationship has developed across six or seven years, with Webster veteran, Shane Hilder, remaining involved after each handover.
“They invest in the relationship before and after the sale,” Shane said.
“This time it really was a one-stop shop. Everything was completed before I took delivery and we’ve been treated fantastically.”
For Great Bay, the finished truck reflects the same thinking applied to its homes and developments: plan carefully, choose fit-for-purpose equipment and get the detail right from the get-go.
“I absolutely love the truck,” Shane said.
“We’ll continue working smarter, investing in reliable equipment and focusing on running the business as efficiently as possible.”