| 53 CONTRACTING AR Earthworks Ready to Build Your Vision? One team, endless possibilities. New homes, renovations, decks, fences, and general maintenance — we cover all aspects of construction. 027 847 9034 andrew@allenbuilding.co.nz allenbuilding.co.nz S H A P I NG D I R T l t d Queenstown-based Earthworks Golf shaping | Residential siteworks | Land contouring | Lawn prep | Landscaping | Final trim finishing | Topsoil respread | Driveways shapingdirtltd 021 167 0052 T T Russell Fredric Bigger machinery brings greater workload The business now runs two excavators, a three-tonne and a five-tonne, along with Ford L8000 and L9000 dump trucks and a 3.5-tonne tipper. For Rhys Harvey, starting AR Earthworks in 2021 was about creating enough work to justify owning bigger machinery, and taking control of his working week. At the time, he was working during the week for someone else and wanted to make the move to working for himself full-time. “I stopped working weekends and started working all week for me,” Rhys says. The business began with a three-tonne Kubota excavator, initially tackling concrete preparation, vegetation removal, green-waste removal, gravel work, foundation excavation and smaller earthmoving jobs. The first two or three years were largely a learning curve, with Rhys building his experience while gradually developing the business. Growth has accelerated during the past 12 months, driven in part by investment in machinery that has expanded both the scale and efficiency of the work AR Earthworks can undertake. The business now runs two excavators, a three-tonne and a five-tonne, along with Ford L8000 and L9000 dump trucks and a 3.5-tonne tipper, with the purchase of the L8000 as its first large truck, especially, being a catalyst for growth. A five-tonne excavator, purchased about 10 months ago, has also been a game changer. The larger machine, fitted with a grab, allows the company to clear sections and move material much faster, while still accessing relatively confined sites. Together, the dump trucks have also opened the door to larger jobs by increasing the amount of material AR Earthworks can shift. Rhys says the combination means the company can be more productive without necessarily needing a machine that is too large for tighter sites. “Having some big-size gear that you can get into some small spots with means you can do the job faster, a bit more efficient.” Current work includes a growing amount of house-pad preparation and section clearing, including tree and vegetation removal. The company also undertakes concrete preparation, foundation excavation, gravel placement and compaction, trenching and some rural drainage work, while gradually reducing its reliance on the trimming work that helped establish the business. Staffing has also changed as the workload has increased. Joshua Leach joined at the start of this year as a foreman and machine operator, effectively allowing Rhys to step back from being on the digger all day. “I couldn’t keep up just by myself – there was too much on the plate.” The change has given Rhys more time for quoting, billing, client meetings and other business responsibilities, while his wife, Asha, continues working as a nurse and helps with AR Earthworks when she is available. Much of the company’s work comes through word-of-mouth referrals and returning customers. It also fills gaps for larger contractors, taking on smaller jobs they may not have the time or inclination to undertake. Rhys says the company’s point of difference is straightforward: honesty, fair pricing and standing behind its work, while he remains personally involved on most jobs. Despite concerns about fuel costs, Rhys says the current workload is strong. Southland continues to show growth, while a relatively mild winter has helped keep the phone ringing. Looking ahead, Rhys’ aim is to keep building capability, potentially adding another fivetonne or larger excavator and moving towards a truck-and-trailer unit. For a business that began with one threetonne machine, he is pleased with how the business has progressed in just five years.
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