80 | Multiple income streams a smart move Alongside operating its own gold mining ventures, the company completes restoration work for other mining operations. Karen Phelps Diversifying back into gold mining has helped ensure Fairhall Agricultural Contracting Co can continue providing reliable year-round services to farmers. Founder Darryn Fairhall says returning to his family’s gold mining roots has strengthened the Greymouth-based business at a time when agricultural contracting has faced economic pressures. “Three years ago contracting was becoming a lot tougher because farmers were doing it hard so we started looking for a complementary business and, strange as it sounds, that led us back into gold mining,” he explains. “Having both businesses gives us continuity. It means we can keep full-time staff employed, keep upgrading equipment and be ready to meet farmers’ needs whenever they need us.” The business, with Darryn and son Cody at the helm, proud to be fourth and fifth generation West Coasters, has been providing agricultural contracting services across the West Coast since 1991 offering farm development, cultivation, fertiliser and lime spreading, land restoration work and earthmoving. While it recently sold its direct drilling division, it continues to provide a broad range of contracting services to rural clients. Outside of the rural industry the company completes a diverse range of projects spanning mine restoration, flood repairs, forestry roading. Gold mining, however, has always been part of Darryn’s story. Born and bred on the West Coast, after leaving school, he spent four years working on a sheep and beef farm in Nelson before joining his father’s gold mining operation on family land on the West Coast for six years during the 1980s. “While we were mining we also had to restore the land back into grass and that’s really where the contracting business began,” explains Darryn. Those restoration skills remain an important part of the business today. Alongside operating its own gold mining ventures, the company completes restoration work for other mining operations and sometimes farmers mining on their farms, returning land to productive farming once extraction has finished. It has recently completed work within Ngia Tahu forestry land and has now also moved onto a gold mining venture on a dry stock farming property. “After mining the ground it’s important to restore it so it can go back into productive land so our skills from the agricultural side of the business serve our customers well in that regard,” says Darryn. The resurgence in gold mining has largely been driven by the dramatic rise in the value of gold. “The gold price has gone up by more than 100 per cent in the last two years so ground that was once considered marginal has become economically viable to mine,” explains Darryn. While mining now forms an important part of the business, Darryn says agriculture remains at its heart. Alongside Darryn and Cody there are two more full-time staff member plus seasonal casuals and the thriving business is looking for two more full time workers. RURAL SERVICES » Fairhall Agricultural Services “The gold price has gone up by more than 100 per cent in the last two years so ground that was once considered marginal has become economically viable to mine.” SERVICES INCLUDE: • General Engineering • Hydraulic Ram Servicing • Transport Engineering • House Beams • Structural Steel • Machine Shop • Certified Welding • Hardened Pins & Bushes • Site Works • Gold Screens 42 Jacks Rd, Greymouth P: 768 0135 E: reception@e-quip.co.nz No job toobigor small at SMHydraulics&Auto-Electrical • Hydraulic & Industrial hose • Components, filters & Vertex hydraulic oil • Reseal hydraulic motors & cylinders • West Coast Wide 24/7 • Century Yuasa batteries of all sizes • Starter motors, alternators & diagnostics • Air-Con repair 144Tainui Street (top of Brewery Hill), Greymouth | Phone (03) 7689393 “Our customers tell us they like our attention to detail and focus on getting it right. From the ground up we work out what’s needed for the job and have the right gear to get it done.”
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