92 | Planting focus for Contour Contracting Kelly Deeks North Canterbury-based Contour Contracting is finding plenty of opportunities in the growing demand for carbon planting, even as looming changes to forestry rules create uncertainty across the sector. Owner-operator Lewis Sinclair, who runs the business with his partner Stuart Poore, says most of the carbon planting work they’re doing is on land that farmers can’t use productively. “Beef prices aren’t great, and farmers are getting paid money out of carbon credits,” he says. “The vast majority of planting we’ve been doing over the last five years has been on steep or otherwise unusable country. Most of what we do makes farms more productive by putting marginal land into trees.” Lewis came to New Zealand from the UK 13 years ago, starting out as a backpacker in forestry before working his way through management roles and eventually going out on his own. He and Stuart put in the hard yards to get Contour Contracting off the ground, beginning with a 120-hectare thinning contract. “It was just the two of us, working a really tough summer, but we saved enough money to buy more equipment, another truck, and bring on some planters,” Lewis says. “We built it up from there, and now we’ve got a great team behind us.” Contour Contracting now offers the full package of silviculture services – from land preparation and spraying through to planting, thinning, pruning, and aftercare. The company works across North Canterbury and Rangiora, with projects as far afield as the West Coast and Southland. Lewis says the sector is extremely busy, with both carbon planting and traditional forestry establishment keeping contractors flat out. “We’re working with forestry management companies and corporate landowners, but one of the best parts of the job is the cockies we meet along the way,” he says. “Farmers like the fact that me and Stu are on site every day, working alongside the team. They see our faces and know we’re putting in the same effort as they are.” Contour Contracting has invested heavily in training, with several team members staying on since the company’s first season. “It’s the camaraderie and working in the countryside that keeps people in this industry,” Lewis says. RURAL SERVICES » Contour Contracting “There’s a great spirit in the teams, and when the work is busy and the trees are going in, it feels like we’re building something important.” But the sector is waiting on certainty, with new rules around forestry on farms due to come in next year. Lewis says that uncertainty has already slowed nursery sales, though he expects planting numbers to bounce back once the rules are clarified. “Last year we planted around 800,000 trees and this year we’ve already planted a million,” he says. “We’ve got good contracts lined up for next season and once the rules are settled, I think we’ll see a lot more confidence across the board.” For now, Contour Contracting is focused on keeping its crews busy, honing thinning skills, and getting ready for another record-breaking season of carbon planting. Forest Management Company www.forestmanagement.co.nz Proudly Supporting Contour Contracting With over 25 years experience in the industry, the Forest Management team o er services in: • Forest Harvesting • Carbon Advice & Management • Establishment of harvested or new sites • Forest projects • Forest valuation & consultancy Lewis and Stu on day one of Contour Contracting in late 2021.
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