17 years of southern engineering expertise.
DCL Consulting and GRIT Engineering have come together as DCL GRIT - specialist bridge and structural engineers, united by shared values and a commitment to the South.
Two business. One set of values.
DCL Consulting was founded by Dave Charters on a straightforward belief: that personal service, technical excellence and being genuinely close to your clients produces better engineering outcomes. For nearly two decades, that belief has shaped how DCL has worked - across bridge inspection and management, structural assessment, durability engineering and bridge asset management - for councils and roading agencies right across the South Island.
GRIT Engineering was built on the same premise. Founded with a client-first philosophy and a no-BS approach to engineering, GRIT has grown by doing what it says it will do, every time.
When Dave Charters and GRIT's Jason Matthews first crossed paths, through bridge inspector training, a connection built on mutual respect and a shared way of working grew into something more: joint proposals, shared projects, and a relationship that made the next step feel like a natural progression.
DCL GRIT is that next step.
What we do
Specialist engineering across the South and beyond.
DCL GRIT brings together practical experience across the full lifecycle of bridge and infrastructure assets. We work alongside asset owners to understand what’s there, what matters, and what needs to be done next.
Bridge Inspection & Structural Engineering
Proven experience in bridge inspection, assessment and capacity evaluation across a wide range of structures. We focus on clear, usable insight and maintenance strategies that reflect real conditions on the ground. Trusted by NZTA and councils across the Southern regions.
Durability & Corrosion Engineering
Practical advice to extend asset life and reduce unnecessary cost. We focus on solutions that hold up over time, not short-term fixes.
Bridge Asset Management
Long-term, steady management of bridge assets. We help prioritise investment, plan maintenance, and keep networks performing as they should.
Civil & Structural Engineering
Civil and structural capability that supports projects from early assessment through to design, documentation and delivery. Involved where it counts.
Mechanical & Durability Engineering
Additional specialist support through the wider GRIT team, bringing the right expertise when it’s needed.
Same faces. More behind them.
For clients who've worked with DCL, nothing changes about the team you deal with. Dave, Donna, Christine and Josh continue in their roles - the same expertise, the same relationships, the same standards you've come to expect.
What changes is what's behind them. The wider GRIT team adds greater depth, broader capability and the kind of resource that means no project is too complex and no challenge is without a way forward.