Business Central May 2024

52 | The company offers farming clients a wide range of services, from building dairy sheds, feed pads, effluent systems, silage bunkers as well as other farm infrastructure. Experience to the fore in Waikato T T Sue Russell Don Chapman Waikato & Scott Montgomery: Orini Station REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Based in Morrinsville, Don Chapman Waikato Ltd has been led by Shanan White for over a decade now, with Shanan having bought the business from Don in 2013. The company offers farming clients a wide range of services, from building dairy sheds, feed pads, effluent systems, silage bunkers as well as other farm infrastructure He’s pleased to say that the entire office staff are the same today as when he took over the business 10 years ago as well as almost half of the on site staff. This gives the company a great wealth of experience and knowledge. Shanan says it is inevitable that the market has a cyclical nature to it, as demand for their services responds to the rise and fall in the milk pay-out as well as other factors. He’s noticed a slow down through last year but things seem to be picking back up again with a bit more positivity amongst the farming community. “I think now there’s a bit more certainty about the government there’s been a positive uptake within the sector which is very encouraging. Farmers are always prudent about where they spend their money and they are looking for the best possible value for money and quality of service. They want to know there projects are going to be done right, on time and on budget.” Most days Shanan is busy talking with clients about potential projects ahead and works with them to find the solution that is best suited for their operation and budget. Accurate pricing is then done by his in-house quantity surveyor. He does all the liaising with clients through this planning and consenting phase and says its important they know they’re dealing with the owner of the business consistently. “These days a lot of the jobs are green-field sites so we’re not having to work around existing plant.” This also means the workload is more consistant throughout the year and is easier to manage than having to do all the work in the couple of months when the cows are dry. One such project is at Scott Montgomery’s ‘Orini Downs Station’, where a new 70-bale rotary is being built. Shanan expects this project, which has proceeded well, to be completed by the end of May. Work began early December last year. Shanan says he and the team oversee the whole project, however electrical, milking machine installation and earthworks are generally the farmers own contractors. The business usually operates with around 20 staff, which is manageable for the range of projects it takes on and the area it covers. “We’re just finishing fixing a wind damaged cow-shed in Te Aroha and are working on a 60 bale milking shed with feed pad, 1000 tonne silage bunkers and an effluent system in Mangatawhiri.” They are also about to start a 70 Bail Rotary in Waotu. Shanan has noticed that the consenting pathway through Council for projects is taking longer these days than in the past. He says these experiences need to be factored into the time-frame and scheduling of projects, particularly those that have to be completed within a certain time-frame. “It just adds another layer of challenge to work through on some of our jobs.” While based in Morrinsville, the team can be found working across a footprint extending from Rotorua, Tokoroa, Waihi, Bombay, Pukekohe, Waiuku to Otorohanga. When Business Central spoke with Shanan in February, they were also engaged on a stayaway project in Rotorua; a 40 bale rotary shed, that was three-quarters completed. Through the COVID years Shanan says they took the opportunity to refine their ordering systems as time-frames for equipment and materials blew-out. “That was important to do, given the impact waiting for supply of gear was having on our projects.” He’s pleased with where the business is at 10 years on and says he has a good number of staff on board to cope with the upcomming workloads they have. “Farmers are always prudent about where they spend their money and they are looking for the best possible value for money and quality of service.” Don Chapman Waikato & Scott Montgomery - DRAIN CLEANING - EFFLUENT POND CONSTRUCTION - - V DRAINS - UNDERPASS & BRIDGE INSTALLATION - - TRACTOR & SCOOP - SITE WORK & DEMOLITION - - HEDGES & STUMPS REMOVED - BULLDOZER & SCOOP HIRE - - SAND & METAL CARTAGE - GRADER & ROLLER HIRE - - TRUCK / TRAILER HIRE - RACE CONSTRUCTION / MAINTENANCE - - 4, 13 & 22 TONNE MACHINES - 15 METRE LONG REACH - Ph 07 889 3143 or A/hrs 027 497 6386 FOR ALL EXCAVATION & CARTAGE L I M I T E D CONTRACTING

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