Company more than just ‘snailers’

Endangered native snails were the catalyst for Mike Bygate going from bushman to businessman and establishing MBC Environmental Solutions.

For more than 20 years he operated Mike Bygate Contracting as a sole trader, specialising in animal and weed-control operations in the South Island. Then, in 2006 he was asked by Solid Energy, which owns Stockton Opencast Mine, to “get a few of his guys together” and relocate an estimated 500 endangered Powelliphanta augusta land snails from a ridgeline area that was to be mined.

It turned out that estimate, using standard techniques of the day, was a massive underestimate and there were literally thousands of snails that had to be moved. “Within a short time the company went from being Mike and a few guys who helped him out, to a limited liability company employing 50 people,” says Adam Walker, office manager of the company, now simply called ‘MBC’.

Monitoring the survival of translocated populations of Powelliphanta augusta is ongoing and the most recent data looks promising, “although it’s still early days,” says Walker.  The monitoring can be a real challenge for the team though, as work can only take place at night and only when it’s wet and warm.

“The snails are nocturnal and we are coming into the season when we’ll send our teams in at night. “These guys will work on other projects until the conditions are right. They will then go into the mountains, often walking long distances and crossing streams, not only in adverse conditions, but also in the dark.

“Our people have a real passion for what they do and they know that we place a huge importance on their health and safety when they’re in the field.   “That emphasis on improved health, safety and environmental performance has been one of the great things about working with Solid Energy and Stockton Alliance, their operating partnership at Stockton.

The techniques and approaches we’ve developed together at Stockton are applied across MBC to improve what we do.” Walker says staff are equipped with the latest technology, including satellite phones, mountain radios, personal locator beacons and a “Find Spots” GPS tracking tool.

“People doing this kind of work used to go bush for 10 days and no one would hear from them, but we are in constant communication with all of our teams. The health and safety of our staff is our number one priority and the company draws on a wealth of experience working in the back country.”