Business South November 2021

44 | The right expertise to access water Barber Drilling has experience in mud rotary, diamond core, cable tool and reverse circulation drilling for water well, piling and oil/mining exploration. Barber Drilling CONTRACTING F or Barber Drilling owner, Bruce Washing- ton, the essence of the industry he has worked in for more than four decades is simple. “Water is life. I’ve been very passionate about water all my life,” Bruce says. Bruce has been involved in the drilling in- dustry for the past 40 years at all levels of the business in New Zealand and Australia. He initially started with his uncle in New Zealand in the 1980’s before moving to Australia and eventually established Barber Drilling there in 1992, undertaking a wide variety of work, including for multi-national companies. Following a significant downturn in the in- dustry in Australia in 2000 and the coinciding dairy boom in New Zealand, Bruce returned with some of his drilling equipment, establish- ing a pattern of capitalising on the economic cycles of each country over the years. Consequently Bruce and his team have developed considerable knowledge and expertise about how to access water, over a wide variety of geography and to considerable depths where necessary. The business was initially established as a family business in Geraldine in 2000 and now operates from the family’s large irrigated mixed cropping farm at Rosewell, Timaru. “We understand farmers’ needs and the im- portance of water in farming operations, from large scale farms to lifestyle blocks. “A six metre deep bore is as important to us as a 200 metre irrigation bore. “The clients are really important.” Barber Drilling has worked closely with ground water consultants, hydrologists, engi- neers and regulatory authorities to offer a full turn-key service. The company is a licensed operator, ECAN approved, and a leader in dual-rotary drilling for water wells in the South Island. “We are very highly qualified, our drilling team have a wealth of experience and knowl- edge drilling deep, straight water wells in the Canterbury region and throughout the South Island. Our equipment is of a very high stand- ard, we have the best equipment with the best technology.” Barber Drilling’s dual rotary drilling is designed to prevent sticking and can drill to a depth of 300 meters plus, with well diameters from 150mm to 600mm. Only thick-wall steel which doesn’t buckle is used which means wells are straighter, en- suring a better quality, long-life well; its wells were tried and proven in the Canterbury earth quakes. “The versatility of our drilling rigs also make it one of the most efficient and cost effective methods for drilling holes in difficult forma- tions. Barber Drilling has experience in mud rotary, diamond core, cable tool and reverse circulation drilling for water well, piling and oil/mining exploration. Work includes the development, testing, monitoring and revitalization of water bores with depths in excess of 200m through to large scale industrial well drilling. With water being a sought after commodity, demand for well maintenance and existing well redevelopment is increasing as regulatory costs increase to control demand. T Russell Fredric • Pr ecision Engineering • Tr ansporter Service • Cr ane T ruck Service • Gener al Engineering • Retail Store • Hydraulic hosing • Farm on-site Maintenance L I M I T E D For all your engineering, fabrication, machining, hydraulic and transport needs  Prompt & Efficient Service Get 5% Rebate  55 Springfield Road, Temuka | 03 615 8035 | 027 447 2594 admin@millarengineering.co.nz | store@millarengineering.co.nz 117 Hilton Highway, Washdyke, Timaru 06 687 4233 0800 436 723 waterforce.co.nz IRRIGATION PUMPING WATER FILTRATION