Briefcase: Business Snippets from around South Australia
In this week’s briefcase, the state’s most popular homebuilder is recognised, government grant applications open and Bird in Hand looks interstate.
Top SA builder recognised
Grant for space debris solution
Space innovation grant available
Recognition for Detpak
Power Minerals joint venture move
Partnership for Spacetalk
CBRE announces office move
InSync – business events and happenings
New contract and loans for Santos
When to send Christmas mail
Forestry research centre
Bird in Hand’s interstate partnership
Fresh 92.7 launches career hub
National Vineyard Register progress
Hickinbotham Group gets top ranking
The Hickinbotham Group has been recognised as South Australia’s largest residential builder for the 20th year in the Housing Industry Association (HIA)’s 2023/24 HIA-COLORBOND steel Housing 100 report.
The report found the group was the most popular choice for home buyers in the state, with Hickinbothom the only South Australian-based builder to be rated in the country’s top 10 detached house builders, coming in at ninth place.
The company said it had built over 50,000 homes in the past 70 years, with $2 billion of “significant developments” underway, generating over 4000 jobs throughout its supply chain daily.
“We have unmatched ability to build high-quality, affordable homes and housing estates at scale, during the worst period of housing affordability in South Australia,” managing director Michael Hickinbotham said.
– Isabella Kelly
Adelaide company’s space debris solution
Paladin Space has received a $100,000 Seed-Start grant from the state government to go towards its development of a reusable space debris remover, reducing risk to commercial, defence and government space agencies posed by the estimated 9000 tons of space debris orbiting Earth.
Paladin Space founder Harrison Box, who is a former graduate of the University of South Australia’s Venture Catalyst Space Program, said the grant would help the company “explore new image processing techniques with support from the Australian Institute for Machine Learning, refine our novel capture design technology, and demonstrate our debris removal capability on a global stage”.
Minister for Defence and Space Industries Stephen Mullighan said the grant would “provide a boost for Paladin Space and the South Australian space sector and underscores the state’s position as a leading incubator for space technology”.
On top of this grant, Paladin Space will be sponsored by the state government to join eight South Australian startup companies in an Australian delegation to the United States from October 27 to November 2, hosted by Tribe Global Ventures.
The company will have the chance to pitch its technology to companies including Space X and NASA. Paladin Space is aiming to have a prototype of its technology for demonstration completed by mid-2025.
– Isabella Kelly
Space Innovation grants open
The second round of grants under the SA Space Collaboration and Innovation Fund will open on October 30, with a $320,000 grant on offer for one project.
The fund is open to startups based in the state, and small businesses in collaboration with at least one international partner organisation, with grants supporting projects that focus on proof-of-concept or delivery of space capability, with a commercial pathway.
An information session will be held on October 30, when applications open, and they will remain open until February 2 2025.
Minister for Defence and Space Industries Stephen Mullighan said the fund “encourages South Australian industry participation in the global space economy, widening the scope for innovation and further investment”.
– Isabella Kelly
Detpak has received a national design award. Photo: supplied
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Detpak awarded for product design
Detpak received a Product Excellence Award from the Flynn Group, which operates restaurant chains globally including more than 2700 Applebee’s, Tacobell and Pizza Hut.
Detpak produces packaging for the group in Australia and New Zealand, and was recognised for having received no quality complaints, the “harmonisation of its product range at Pizza Hut, the consolidation of its range of Wendy’s packaging”, and its cost.
The company has worked with Pizza Hut for over 20 years and has grown its partnership with Wendy’s in recent years to supply cups, cartons and bags.
Detpak business manager Ben Suttell said the company had “not just maintained, but also strengthened, our solid partnership with the Flynn Group across the region to ensure a great future together”.
– Isabella Kelly
Power Minerals joint venture takes next step
Power Minerals has announced the successful completion of due diligence on a proposed joint venture with Heng Li Technology, relating to funding and development of its Pular Lithium Project.
The two now plan to execute a formal Transaction Agreement, entering a binding Joint Venture. Under a proposed Transaction Agreement, Heng Li would fully fund and manage the development of the Pular Lithium Project.
Heng Li proposed to buy all lithium concentrate produced at the project, with the company agreeing to invest $75,732.44 in Power Minerals through a share placement.
“We see HengLi’s lithium extraction technology and expertise as an ideal partner for us to maximise the commercial outcomes at the Pular Project,” Power Minerals managing director Mena Habib said.
– Isabella Kelly
Spacetalk’s new partnership
Safety technology business Spacetalk has announced a new reseller partnership with Talius group which will make the group the exclusive distributor of Spacetalk’s Mobile Personal Emergency Response System (mPERS) devices in Australia and New Zealand.
The devices will be being marketed and sold from Q2 FY25, growing Spacetalk’s presence in the $21.5 billion Australian aged care industry market.
Spacetalk expects the partnership to lead to thousands of device sales annually, anticipating a significant contribution to its 2026 Annual Recurring Revenue goal of $20 – $25 million.
Spacetalk CEO and managing director Simon Crowther said the partnership was of “great benefit due to Talius’ established relationships with the leading companies in the [aged care] sector”.
“The agreement will significantly add to our revenue and is a powerful endorsement of our products and technology, which we consider among the best in the industry.”
– Isabella Kelly
CBRE has relocated to a new office. Photo: supplied
CBRE announces relocation
Commercial real estate services and investment firm CBRE has relocated its Adelaide headquarters to the top floor of the city’s first all-electric office building at 83 Pirie Street – a building it also manages.
The firm has moved into a 1050sqm space in the $265 million Cbus Property building, which last month was awarded Development of the Year by the Property Council of South Australia.
CBRE workplace consulting director Amrita Vilkhu said the group “developed a well-crafted workplace strategy brief that aligned our space with business goals, driving efficiency, enhancing employee experience, and ultimately increasing organisational value”.
“With a diverse mix of spaces tailored to different work modes, along with areas to relax and recharge, we have created a destination that empowers our people to be their best.”
– Isabella Kelly
Tchin Tchin Networking Evening, a French-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry event with Smart Home Vision Reality as part of the Sustainability Forum, at Lochend Community Hall on October 17.
Business for Good Workshop, a South Australian Social Enterprise Council event covering the fundamentals of procurement, at Inparrila on October 18.
Australia’s Space Future Conference, a French-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry event with REDARC Defence & Space and Neumann Space, at REDARC Electronics on October 29.
Trump vs Harris, an AmCham panel event on predictions for the US election, with Christopher Pyne, Adelaide Football Club chairman John Olsen and more, at the Playford Hotel on October 31.
Newday Leadership Summit, a conference with a variety of speakers and other activities with AFL Max, at AFL Max on October 31.
Design Futures, a forum event with local, interstate, and international architects sharing their experiences, with Dan Hill of Melbourne School of Design and Deputy Premier Susan Close, at Adelaide Town Hall on November 6.
Wake up to Change, an Adelaide White Ribbon event with criminologist and former senior police officer Vincent Hurley on the prevention of violence against women and children, at the Adelaide Convention Centre on November 7.
Demystifying Australia’s defence industry and defence careers, a French-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Executive Women Series event, with a panel of defence professionals, at Eos by SkyCity on November 7.
Premier’s Food and Beverage Industry Awards, a gala dinner by Food South Australia celebrating the food and beverage manufacturing industry, at the Adelaide Convention Centre on November 22.
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Santos announces new supply contract
Santos and TotalEnergies Gas & Power Asia have signed a mid-term LNG supply contract, for the supply of 20 LNG cargoes, or up to 0.5 million tonnes, per year across just over three years.
Santos managing director and CEO Kevin Gallagher said the contract demonstrated the company’s “strong LNG portfolio position and customer relationships in the region”.
The company also announced that its Darwin LNG joint venture had achieved financial close of new syndicated bank loan facilities of $1.2 billion, comprising of a $519.4 billion seven-year loan and a $667.8 billion 12-year loan.
Gallagher said the “debt raised by the Darwin LNG joint venture is wholly consistent with our strategy of securing flexible, long-duration and competitively priced funding”.
“With these facilities in place, Darwin LNG is well-funded to complete the life extension works scheduled for mid-2025 and it positions Darwin LNG to consider future expansion of this important infrastructure, including through the potential provision of third-party carbon capture services in Darwin.”
– Isabella Kelly
Australia Post prepares for Christmas
Australia Post has warned people to get their Christmas mail sent in time, announcing the final dates you can send something in time for Christmas.
For posting to and from “most destinations within Australia”:
- Parcels must be sent by December 20
- Express Post should be sent by December 23
- Letters and cards should be sent by December 13 for interstate, and December 16 for intrastate
For posting internationally (destination dependant):
- Economy Air deliveries should be sent by November 19 – December 4
- International Standard deliveries should be sent by November 26 – December 11
- International Express deliveries should be sent by December 2 – 16
– Isabella Kelly
Forestry research centre unveiled
A new Forestry Centre of Excellence has been unveiled at Mount Gambier’s tertiary precinct, with the centre’s branding, design and new director unveiled by Premier Peter Malinauskas.
Tammy Auld, governing council chair of the South Australian Forest Products Association said the centre “puts Mount Gambier on the map of forest innovation”.
“The Centre brings together local, national and international experts across the diverse research field in forest and wood-fibre innovations.”
“The long-term goal of the FCoE will be to enhance the industries global competitiveness and ultimately increase economic and employment opportunities for the forest industries and the region.”
Professor Jeff Morrell was appointed as the Forestry Centre of Excellence’s inaugural director, due to commence in mid-January 2025.
– Isabella Kelly
South Australia’s Bird in Hand has announced a partnership with the Tasmanian Botanical Gardens. Photo: supplied
Bird in Hand to set up in Tasmania gardens
Bird in Hand winery has announced a branch into Tasmania, where it will set up a tasting room, offer exclusive wine and food experiences and manage the on-site restaurant and kiosk at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens.
The company’s pursuit of the contract with the Botanical Gardens follows its recent acquisition of a long-term winery lease in the West Tamar Valley, and wine production at its property in Seymour.
“With our expansion of wine production in Tasmania, our winemaking team is focused heavily on showcasing the cool-climate qualities of the region,” said Bird in Hand co-founder Andrew Nugent.
“What better place to now pour these spectacular varietals than one of Australia’s premier gardens? When paired with our culinary vision for the Botanical Gardens and the Bird in Hand service style, it’s an alignment we are excited to see evolve over the coming years.”
– Isabella Kelly
Fresh 92.7 launches career hub
Fresh 92.7 has launched its new job seeker platform Fresh Careers, replacing its previous offering Fresh Jobs which was launched in 2021.
Fresh Careers connects job seekers with job listings, courses, training, articles and advice, and allows employers to participate in interviews with Fresh 92.7 to share insights about their job offerings.
“We understand the challenges that job seekers face, especially in a rapidly changing job market,” Darren Pike, Fresh 92.7 executive manager said.
– Isabella Kelly
A National Vineyard Register is one step closer. Photo: supplied
National Vineyard Register progress
A national register collating information on vineyards is one step closer, in a project funded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and identified as a priority in the One Grape & Wine Sector Plan.
Wine Australia has begun sourcing national data on vines, including about locations of bearing and non-bearing vines, age profile of vines, and the location of different varieties.
Wine Australia CEO Martin Cole said the register would be an “incredibly important tool to help manage supply and demand and to support a profitable, resilient and sustainable grape and wine sector”.
“It will enable data-driven planning, provide transparency across the supply chain, and foster greater sector collaboration.”
A framework for the register is expected to be complete by June 2025, with the build scheduled to be completed June 2026.
– Isabella Kelly
