SSE say thank you for the help

CELEBRATING GISBORNE: Chris Hurring and SSE contract manager Justin Dempsey. Picture by Paul Rickard

JUST days after foregoing Australia Day celebrations in favour of ensuring smooth going for motorists on East Coast roads, bosses of the Victoria-based roading company Services South East (SSE) are giving the district a big tick.

Since SSE was awarded the Tairawhiti Roads (Northern) Network Outcomes Contract (NOC) to maintain 886km of East Coast roads at the start of October, the company’s managing director Robert Portbury said he and his staff had been astounded by what a small city had been able to provide a large-scale infrastructure maintenance company.

“You can get what you want right here in Gisborne.”

SSE workshop manager Ian Weightman, who spends most of his working month in Gisborne away from his Melbourne home, said his first day in the city epitomised the company’s experience to date.

“The goodwill, ability and innovation of business people here have been outstanding," he said.

“I came to Gisborne about five months ago with nothing. I arrived on a Sunday and while looking around trying to find where we could possibly build a depot, I came across Chris Hurring of Chris Hurring Logging Ltd., who took me on a 90-minute tour of which businesses could provide me with what expertise.

“Then, when I told him I had a tonne of equipment that needed to be stored, he offered his yard, the use of his workshop and, with a lot of gear needing to be assembled, a staff member to put it together.

“Chris continues to be a tremendous support.”

Since then, SSE has had three purpose-built machines made in the city. Mr Portbury said SSE’s proposal to win the road maintenance contract stated it would bring business to Gisborne.

“We are already doing that and, as a result, one business, Galaxy Group, has the opportunity to export the specialist mower it designed and built for us.

“To date, we have made a multimillion spend within the North Island; a quarter of that in Gisborne itself. We are most appreciative of what Gisborne has been able to provide.”

Today’s Gisborne Herald features a full-page advertisement from the company thanking the many goods and services businesses that helped it get established.