46 | FORESTRY Cable Logging Geraldine T T Aimee Wilson High tech logging makes the grade Protecting local waterways and native ecosystems is always kept in mind during operation and is supported by their relationship with the Forest Industry Contractors Association (FICA), and Port Blakely. Peter Ellis, 021 411 721 peter.ellis@farmside.co.nz P: E: td L Peter Ellis Excavator Hir Proud to be associated with Cable Logging Geraldine Ltd e Heavy Machinery & Hydraulic Repairs Direct Importing Industry experience, shared responsibility, and a strong focus on sustainability underpin the ongoing success of Cable Logging Geraldine. Three years ago, two staff members, Jim Brown and Glen Paul, took on a 50% partnership in the company, when Tracy and Avrill Burrows sold their share to them in 2023, with co-founders Helen and Michael May retaining the other half. Starting work experience with the company straight out of school, Glen was offered full-time work, and after 21 years has never looked back. An opportunity to buy into the company gave him the challenge he was looking for. “The seed was sown early on in my career,” he says. Jim has worked for the company for five years after a change of career from being on the road driving trucks. Eighteen months into the job, Glen approached him to go halves in the 50% share of the company. “I thought the responsibilities of running this company should be shared,” he says. Once employing a team of 12, but now with just seven staff, the company has become highly efficient with their processing of plantation trees since it became fully mechanised. Using the latest innovative harvesting methods to provide high-quality and timely logging at low cost to the environment, they recently became Safe Tree certified. “There is a standard that is set, and we achieved that,” Glen says. Another area of focus for the company is sustainability. Protecting local waterways and native ecosystems is always kept in mind during operation and is supported by their relationship with the Forest Industry Contractors Association (FICA), and Port Blakely. Cable Logging has had a 25-year relationship with Port Blakely and just finished the Te Moana block after 14 years — a total of 1400ha (1250ha productive) averaging 60,000 tonne a year. The company wishes to thank the residents in the Te Moana gorge for their patience and co-operation over the years. They also want to thank Port Blakely for their ongoing relationship. Port Blakely owns and manages forest land across New Zealand, growing, harvesting, and replanting radiata pine and Douglas fir species, and maintains an international certification system covering 38,000ha in New Zealand. This certification is focused on its social, environmental, and economic performance. Port Blakely also has stringent environmental policies in place to ensure the natural environments around their forests are protected. “To meet all of the requirements for waterways and nature areas that falls largely “To meet all of the requirements for waterways and nature areas that falls largely on to us as the contractor, working in conjunction with Port Blakely.” on to us as the contractor, working in conjunction with Port Blakely,” Glen says. Cable Logging Geraldine has just finished a big multi-stage project with two haulers to protect two Canterbury waterways, home to the Canterbury Galaxis fish. “So that changed the method of how we approached it, having to leave a five-metre buffer along the waterways.” The company is about to start the second rotation since the 1990s of the Port Blakely forest near Geraldine. Challenges the forestry industry faces are largely around international markets and fluctuations with prices. The current Iran war isn’t helping, with the impact on diesel prices. The industry is also facing an ageing workforce. “And some of the older guys are starting to retire. Some of the old methods are slowly being forgotten, but there are pockets where the manual ways of doing things are required,” Jim says. The next five years look busy for Cable Logging Geraldine, and there will be a few personal milestones along the way. With new students, trainees and apprentices coming into the company all the time, there are plenty of opportunities to learn on the job. The company won the Logging Contractor of the Year Award in 2021 through the Canterbury West Coast Wood Council, has trained a Modern Apprentice of the Year winner, and taken out a Women in Forestry award. “We just want to log sustainably, maintain high standards, look after our staff, burn some diesel and get some wood out the gate as they say.”
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