5 minute read
Adapting key to creating a diversified fencing business
Phil Cornelius established CPC Contracting 20 odd years ago as a one-man band, fencing throughout Northland in the many challenging environments that the north has to offer.
Phil was certified in 2009 and is the only Certified Fencer in Northland at present.
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Donna Upton comes from a rural banking background having worked for the largest Agribusiness Bank in the world, she draws on experience she has picked up from some great people along the way. Together, they own and operate CPC Fencing Limited.
“I met Donna in 2011. We rebranded the company to CPC Fencing Limited in 2013 and started Mid North Fencing Limited in 2019,” says Phil.
“The second company was set up to complete the Auckland Motorway extension project Puhoi to Warkworth. This project is very large scale with in excess of 90kms of conventional fencing being completed. Two of our crews are currently 16 months into the project, looking to ramp up in the spring and summer season.”
Both Phil and Donna are on the Board of Fencing Contractors NZ (‘FCNZ’), the industry body for Fencing Contractors, with Phil the President of the Board. Donna has recently taken on the NorthTec Course Coordinator role for the current NZ Certificate in Fencing Level 3 and national roll out of Level 4.
BUSINESS GROWTH
Since 2011 CPC Fencing has grown considerably and now has 18 staff, making up five fencing crews. The business offers late model utes for staff, and features five tractors, UTVs for the lines, two full forestry spec’d excavators, a large transport fifth wheel trailer and a transport truck.
“We have a great crew of staff and subbies to call on. The crews love what they do, particularly the forestry crews, including the challenges and they have a tonne of can-do attitude and enthusiasm” says Donna.
Originally CPC Fencing didn’t work in the Forestry side of fencing, but a couple of phone calls from Nick and Gordy from Northland Forest Managers Limited saw CPC suddenly emersed in Forestry fencing. Phil keeps in contact with the Forestry companies on a weekly basis to make sure everything is aligned.
“Currently we service three of the Forestry companies throughout Northland and enjoy working with the Managers - the crews love working outdoors and in beautiful areas that you don’t often get to see, off the beaten track” says Phil.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Anyone that knows the forestry industry, will know that the Health and Safety and training side is high end and very important, with huge monitoring protocols. The business has a robust policy in place thanks to Danica Wells from Hastrak.
“Adapting it into the Forestry world was key and we implement that flavour across the entire business, making it easy to switch
Rolling out the barb on the helicoptered line
staff and crews in and out of forestry operations” says Donna.
“Our systems are audited 3 times a year through the Forestry and from our recent audit we gained a 99% pass mark and we have also received SiteWise Gold. In my opinion audits are viewed as a good collaborative meeting and you should always be learning from the outcomes” says Donna.
Training and qualifications are key in Forestry. The staff are required to have Forestry units, chainsaw certificates, ATV/UTV units, WTR endorsements for machinery, and first aid.
CHALLENGING WORK
The work is not for the faint-hearted; the staff in the forestry crews thrive on the diverse terrain, challenging and remote lines. One project CPC Fencing has recently completed was a line on a boundary in a remote block.
“Ordinarily you’d not put a fence line there, however, the Trust owners wanted it on the boundary pegs, in this case what the client wanted was what the client got” says Phil. “The line was cleared by hand by silviculture staff, then we helicoptered the materials into the top of the line and the boys completed the line by hand. 500 odd metres, three guys in 13 days - a pretty good achievement in trying conditions in the middle of winter.”
Grace Stewart (left) and Donna Upton after speaking at a Mana Wāhine Mahi event for women in industry
MACHINERY
CPC Fencing has four fully forestry rigged diggers ranging from 13.5t to 23.5t.
“Without these machines we wouldn’t have been able to complete some of the lines we have. When we started in the forestry, we’d have lines bulldozed or cut with diggers, this meant a lot of waiting on other contractors to get jobs lined up” says Phil. “We purchased a 13.5t Hitachi and started prepping all our own lines and had a Revolution rammer on the front, enabling us to complete lines without too much environmental footprint, with less soil disturbance. The diggers also made stripping lines and prepping them that much easier and time efficient. This also removes risk factors on cutovers and with staff on the ground” said Phil.
CPC Fencing in recent years has been adapting and moving to other less traditional jobs.
“The 13t excavator allowed us to get into post-harvest clean-up. Where we invested in two other high and wide machines, a Hyundai 210 and a Hitachi 225, fitted with stick rakes, hydraulic thumbs, meant we could tackle all post-harvest clean-up with minimal footprint” says Phil.
These machines crossed over between the fencing and post-harvest. With the forestry cut slowing in Northland, CPC Fencing recently sold both large machines.
“The 14t Sumitomo working in the business on the motorway project which is a more versatile machine, with a compacting plate and auger, is more adaptable for the business and more cost effective for clients transport wise” said Phil.
The forestry industry has annual awards, with CPC Fencing nominated in 2017 as Contractor of the Year, the first entity that was outside the forestry industry to be nominated. They have been nominated again for the 2021 awards and this year the nomination is the Forestry Excellence Award. The awards will be held online in 2021, hosted by Jeremy Corbett.
Forest boundary, fenced by hand using materials helicoptered to site
“None of the above is possible without great staff, we have a stable workforce and they all want to do an excellent job” says Donna.
“We are currently putting 9 of our staff through their Level 3 via NorthTec, some will go on to Level 4 as soon as it rolls out. Staff buy into upskilling, with ongoing training.”
The business has been growing as opportunities present themselves. Ingenuity, thinking outside the square and being able to bounce ideas off forestry staff has proven to be a great recipe.
