| 51 CONTRACTING Otago Vacuum Tank Services Liquid waste just part of the service OVTS’ comprehensive services include septic tank and sump cleaning, wheelie bin cleaning, industrial waste removal, fresh-water delivery, tank cleaning, cooking-oil collection, Portaloo hire and servicing, and hydro excavation. T T Russell Fredric “Waste and stormwater work is Tim’s passion, and he’s really knowledgeable about it.” Self-described as a one-stop liquid waste shop, but also much more, Otago Vacuum Tank Services has experienced considerable growth in recent years. The business has been co-owned and run by Tim and Courtney Giddens since August 2021, when they became shareholders with long-time owner Simon Spark, who also owns, with his wife Lisa, S J Allen Holdings, a well-known waste and event management specialist servicing Central Otago. Tim is managing director of Otago Vacuum Tank Services (OVTS), and Courtney is its commercial manager, a role that includes human resources, sales, marketing and health and safety. They have both worked in New Zealand and overseas, and their complementary skills are a great fit for the business. Tim has more than 20 years’ experience in the drainage and three waters infrastructure industry. Having worked in New Zealand and Australia for some of the largest infrastructure maintenance providers, he brings a wealth of knowledge to the liquid waste industry. “Waste and stormwater work is Tim’s passion, and he’s really knowledgeable about it,” Courtney says. “From a business perspective, he wants to try to do things a bit better and more sustainably within the waste industry.” OVTS’ comprehensive services include septic tank and sump cleaning, wheelie bin cleaning, industrial waste removal, fresh-water delivery, tank cleaning, cooking-oil collection, Portaloo hire and servicing, and hydro excavation. Its fleet has grown considerably since Tim and Courtney bought into the business when it operated just two vacuum units, compared to the six it has now, along with other additions. Being awarded the five-year Dunedin City Council tank services contract in November 2023 was a big boost, Courtney says. “Previous to that, we also had, and still currently have, the septic tank and water-delivery contract with the DCC, so when the vacuum tank contract came out it was a no-brainer for us to go for it. “That was a pretty special moment for Tim and I, especially, just knowing that a lot of other large New Zealand-wide companies with probably a lot more resources had competed. That was quite a rewarding feeling to win that, because we had worked hard for it in terms of the relationships and the service that we provide. We’ve never let them down.” OVTS provides a 24-hour call-out service to DCC, and has been involved in special projects undertaken by the council. “Within that contract it’s been really interesting, because that work is really diversified,” Courtney says. The company is also highly diversified across the overall business, and its reach for liquid waste extends to port services, servicing fishing vessels, cruise ships, aviation and hospitality, among others. The significant amount of cooking oil collected by OVTS is transported to a recycle facility in Gore that processes it into biofuel, Courtney says. Its Portaloo service offers standard long drops and flushable Portaloos for hire, fully stocked with toilet paper and hand sanitiser, along with scheduled servicing and cleaning, for the likes of residential, commercial and event hires. OVTS has a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week emergency spill response for a variety of dust and liquid spills on commercial, industrial and roading sites, as well as emergency sump cleaning. 03 477 5009 | LEVEL 1, 286 PRINCES STREET, DUNEDIN INFO@EMBARKACCOUNTING.NZ | EMBARKACCOUNTING.NZ Dunedin-based Chartered Accountants dedicated to helping you achieve your financial goals. O ering tailored solutions at every stage of your journey, we ensure the best outcomes for you. Contact our team today! Engineering, Hydraulics, Pneumatic and Diagnostic Specialists Proudly Supporting Otago Vacuum Tank Services Ltd 0800 333 305 admin@motionspecialists.co.nz CONTACT US Engineering Hydraulics Pneumatic Diagnostics Nigel Taylor 021 1255 981 0800 854 554 nigel@roadmaterials.co.nz
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