Business is doing well in south
There’s definitely a worker shortage in the south, but there’s also a sense of pride in the region. Businessman Dean Cousins shares his views on what is working well in Southland.
The growth throughout the south just keeps on building. It’s always great to hear about the positive things happening, companies growing, more employment opportunities, the increase in new homes being built and the capital growth in the housing market.
Then there’s the large roading and construction contracts being won, continuing low interest rates, and all the great things that Richardson Group are doing in our town.
The past five years have been some of the best I’ve seen during my 27 years of selling heavy machinery, and after one of the best years in 2017-18 we headed into winter predicting the usual slowdown that comes, but it didn’t.
A prime example is the large 40 ton Doosan DX380LC excavator being prepared for delivery to Allistair Whyte (Whytes Gravel at Oporo), and the Doosan 23 ton wheel loader being prepared for Crawford Gravel at Edendale, another new 20 ton Sumitomo excavator for Marshall Excavating at Wyndham, a new 18 ton Sumitomo excavator sits beside Marshall’s to be set up with attachments and additional plumbing head to a large contractor in Central Otago.
Then there’s a new Canadian built Tigercat H855D purpose-built forest harvester sits out back with a Southstar Harvesting Head built in Rotorua, the first one of its type in Southland and this machine will go to DM Logging and will be put to work into a blue gum felling and harvesting operation in conjunction with DT King and Southwood Export Ltd.
This is typical of what the past few years has been like, and all the indications are that it is set to continue for quite some time to come.
When you talk to the likes of Crawford Gravel or Whytes Gravel, in fact all the quarry companies are saying the same thing – we can’t keep up with demand.
The need for materials into the building, roading, forestry and farming sectors have continued to grow.
New forestry crews and existing crews are heavily investing into more mechanical types of machinery to assist with their ever-increasing production targets – investing in people and training as the forestry sector continues to grow every so strong.
There is a need for more people – machinery operators, truck drivers, more mechanics are needed.
All of these areas offer terrific career opportunities for our young people coming into the work force.
I would advise anyone finishing their school years to seriously consider training into any of these areas as the opportunities they offer are so rewarding.
We have continued to train mechanics as the need to support our gear and give our customers they support they required keeps increasing.
I love to hear about the positive stuff and I feel so lucky to work in the industry that I do, the machines and technology keep on evolving and changing so no matter how old or young your are – you are always learning and facing new challenges.
The people that I get to work with everyday are hard working true Southlanders, and I’m so proud to be part of it all.
So, thanks Southland.