Business South March 2021

68 | Steve’s success built on hard work, investment Operating throughout the Otago region the business harvests between 50,000 – 60,000 tonnes of trees annually. T from page 66 TIMBER INDUSTRY Steve Jones Logging A strong culture of health and safety within the team is supported through the use of emerging technologies and wherever possible men are not used on the ground. “The technology is getting better all the time but some of it is still the basic skidders and excavators with a grapple on the end and it comes down to experience and knowledge. It takes a couple of years for staff to get the tickets to operate the machines.” Steve says despite millions of dollars of ma- chinery his crew is by far his biggest asset. “With all the gear we have you take a huge financial risk but you have 5 – 6 guys employed and you have to look after them because they have families and bills to pay. “You can have a million dollar machine sit- ting there but if you haven’t got the right guy operating it and looking after that investment it can get a lot of damage done to it quickly. So your men are your biggest asset in your business.” Steve feels fortunate to be working in the forestry industry and loves the challenges it brings. “You work in some beautiful areas with great views, see country that you wouldn’t otherwise know existed, and meet some great people. But if you think you’re going to come in and make millions, it’s just not like that. “You can have big breakdowns with no money coming in that month but you still have to pay your bills and crew. “These big machines take a lot of money to run and maintain. A big breakdown means your profit can be gone for two or three months.” Steve says that while last year was one of the worst years he had experienced in the industry with Covid and uncertainty in the market, the export market is again looking good and he predicts a great year ahead. Reflecting on the success of his business Steve has no doubt that his crew are a key fac- tor along with the hard yards he continues to put in on a daily basis, but he says the support of his family and wife have also been a strong determining factor. “My wife Gail is awesome. “If I need to buy another machine she says we have to do what we have to do to make the business work.” “You can have a million dollar machine sitting there but if you haven’t got the right guy operating it and looking after that investment it can get a lot of damage done to it quickly. So your men are your biggest asset in your business.” Fulton Hogan 03 478 8200 PROUDTOBE ASSOCIATEDWITH STEVE JONES LOGGINGLTD Fulton Hogan Your Locally Owned & Managed Insurance Specialists We are a Dunedin based insurance broking company providing professional and independent advice across all areas of commercial and domestic general insurance. Our aim is to ensure that you have the most complete and suitable insurance in place at all times, and to assist in the management of any claims to see that they are settled fairly and promptly. Level 4, Rodgers House, 151-155 Princes Street, Dunedin For new enquiries contact Hunter Stevenson - hstevenson@ofs.net.nz 03 471 6800 or 027 438 1288 www.ofs.net.nz