Briefcase: Business Snippets from around South Australia
In this week’s briefcase, a Roxby Downs education program wins nationally, South Australia’s next big battery receives funding, and major business partnerships are announced.
Roxby Downs educators recognised nationally
The Roxby Downs Early Childhood Project won the Early Education and Vocational Education awards at the Australian Rural Education Awards, announced at the National Conference for Regional, Rural and Remote Education.
A Uni Hub Spencer Gulf partnership with BHP, Roxby Downs Children’s Centre and CQUniversity, the project assists students in rural or remote communities to access higher education without having to leave their hometowns.
“It gives participants the chance to apply their learning in a real-world setting without leaving their community,” Uni Hub Spencer Gulf early childhood education lead Sue Barry said.
“As a result we have successfully trained 10 Roxby Downs residents, with six securing employment, significantly reducing childcare wait times and enhancing service quality.”
– Isabella Kelly
BHP development proposal reaches new milestone
In its 2024 financial year results released recently, BHP outlined plans to increase its copper production in South Australia, with proposed growth at its Oak Dam and Olympic Dam assets.
The state government has now declared BHP’s proposed development to increase copper cathode production and associated products as an “impact assessed development”, marking the beginning of a “robust consultation and decision-making process”.
Minister for Energy and Mining Tom Koutsantonis said the declaration was “an opportunity for BHP to make a case for this proposal”.
“This proposed investment would align with the copper opportunity the Malinauskas Government has already outlined in the State Prosperity Project,” he said.
– Isabella Kelly
SA big battery projects land federal funds
ZEN Energy’s Solar River battery and solar farm to be built 110km north of Adelaide has received funding via the federal government’s expanded Capacity Investment Scheme, alongside three other South Australian projects.
ZEN’s 650MWh Solar River battery and a 230MW solar farm are expected to support the South Australian electricity grid as the state moves towards being 100 per cent renewable by 2027.
“ZEN is doing things differently and in partnership with local communities to achieve a successful renewable energy transition,” ZEN Energy CEO Anthony Garnaut said.
“We seek to build renewable energy projects in regions where people don’t have a reliable energy supply, and we build projects on land that has already been cleared.”
The other projects to receive funding are Pacific Green Energy’s 250MW lithium-ion battery near Mount Gambier, Pacific Blue’s 60 MW battery at Clements Gap Wind Farm in the state’s mid-north, and Energy Australia’s 50 MW battery in Canownie.
– David Simmons
Holiday parks join forces
West Beach Parks and Discovery Parks have entered a partnership around the West Beach Parks Holiday Park, which will be rebranded to Discovery Parks – West Beach Parks from December 1.
Discovery Parks was awarded the brand licence for West Beach Parks Holiday Park, including naming rights, complementary sales and marketing, with the park to be bookable through Discovery Parks and G’day Parks platforms.
The management of the park will stay with West Beach Parks, as the partnership provides access to the over 750,000 people who book with Discovery Parks and G’day Parks annually.
– Isabella Kelly
Centrex breaks own shipment record
Centrex announced it completed its largest shipment to date recently, with 26,502 tonnes of phosphate concentrate loaded between August 26 and 31.
The vessel departed from Townsville Port on September 1, heading to an existing Centrex customer.
Centrex said it expects a successful stockpile build-up to support more frequent, and larger, shipments going forward.
“Increasing the size of our shipments from Townsville Port is crucial for improving our international competitiveness and opening new international markets,” CEO and managing director Robert Mencel said.
– Isabella Kelly
Grain Producers to establish emissions baseline
Grain Producers SA (GPSA) is seeking expressions of interest from South Australian grain producers in a project to create a quantified grain production emissions baseline.
Green House Gas Emissions (GHG) baselining to nearly 60 producers across the state will be provided, in the state’s first comprehensive assessment of its kind.
“GPSA is establishing a Sustainability Roadmap for the South Australian grain sector, and the production baseline will play a vital role in that process,” GPSA CEO Brad Perry said.
“Understanding our emissions footprint is crucial not just for market access, but also for improving overall farm management practices.”
Grain producers involved will receive specialist advice and insights tailored to their farm, and a carbon account for their operations.
– Isabella Kelly
Adelaide Hilton up for sale
The Hilton Adelaide has been put on the market for the first time in over 30 years, with an International Expressions of Interest campaign underway by CBRE.
The hotel has 377 guest rooms, 20 conference and meeting rooms, a business lounge, tennis court, gym, and pool.
It is subject to a management agreement with Hilton Hotels of Australia, under which vacant possession will be available from July 1 2026.
You might like
“This is a rare opportunity to acquire a flagship five-star asset in one of Australia’s most resilient investment markets,” Michael Simpson from CBRE said.
– Isabella Kelly
Solar panel partnership announced
Adelaide-based Tindo, Australia’s only solar panel maker, has partnered with Capral Aluminium for the provision of extruded frames for its solar panels.
Following an initial collaboration from an offshore factory, the pair said they will explore the potential for Capral to supply from a domestic facility, as Tindo continues growing its operations.
“While the initial supply arrangement will focus on meeting the requirements for Tindo’s current solar panel production, we are excited by the opportunity to support their ambitious plans to develop a gigafactory supplied by Capral using locally extruded aluminium,” Copral divisional general manager of industrial and supply chain Luke Hawkins said.
Tindo’s $90-100 million “gigafactory” would create 250 jobs and have the potential to produce 7000 solar panels a day.
– Isabella Kelly
National Self-Employment Conference, a two-day event with industry experts and Andrew Leigh, at the Stamford Grand on September 9 – 10.
South Australia’s Strategies for Gender Equality, a CEDA event providing an update on the Gender Pay Gap Taskforce with Minister for Women Katrine Hildyard, location to be determined, on September 17.
Transport and Infrastructure Panel, a French-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry event with Keolis Downer looking at the renewable energy and zero emission bus industry, at The Village Well on September 19.
South Australian Business Index, an InDaily event presenting an independent ranking of South Australia’s top 100 companies, with Premier Peter Malinauskas and media personality David Koch, at the Adelaide Convention Centre on September 20.
Inspiring Women Impacting the World and Beyond – Women in Defence, an Australia Day Council event with Jessica Pisani from the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Kate van Hilst from the Australian Submarine Agency, and Libby Day from the Defence Teaming Centre, at the Allan Scott Auditorium on September 20.
AI Friend or Foe, a Property Council event with the Future Directions and Future Trends and Innovation Committees looking at Artificial Intelligence use in the property sector, at the University of Adelaide on September 20.
Pink Yellow Blue Disco, a Flinders Foundation event raising funds for cancer research and care, at the Adelaide Convention Centre on October 12.
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.
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.
Stay informed, daily
Calder Wealth Management make acquisition
Independent advisory firm Calder Wealth Management has acquired financial planning firm Retirement Strategies.
Retirement Strategies was founded in 2002, with director Ben Cheney saying he was stepping away “with full confidence that my clients will continue to receive top advice and support”.
“Our team will be moving across to CWM and I’ll be hands on providing consultancy support throughout the transition, so our clients won’t notice much change at all,” he said.
– Isabella Kelly
New round of vineyard resting rebate trial opens
A new round of a vineyard resting trial has opened, giving red wine grape growers the chance to save up to $2000 per hectare in input, water, and management costs.
Under the trial, plant growth regulator Ethephon is applied to crops, providing a temporary reduction of yield for farmers who may not have a contract for their 2025 grapes.
Growers involved in the trial can apply for a $40 rebate per hectare sprayed, covering the cost of Ethephon for up to 1,000 hectares.
The state government said the trial would give growers more freedom to decide on their course of action amid an ongoing oversupply of red wine grapes.
– Isabella Kelly
World Wine Tour comes to Adelaide
US-based wine preservation company Coravin is bringing its world wine tour to Adelaide in partnership with the Halliday Wine Companion, showcasing award-winning wines on a special-edition wine list.
Hosted at 2KW Bar & Restaurant throughout September, this is the first time the event will appear in Adelaide, with over 150 wines on offer selected from the 2025 Halliday Wine Companion Awards.
“It’s long been our aim to make the world of fine wine more accessible by the glass, so we’ve partnered with Halliday for our second-ever Coravin World Wine Tour in Australia to give wine fans the opportunity to taste the country’s top wines without the hassle, commitment, or the price tag, of purchasing them by the bottle,” Coravin founder Greg Lambert said.
– Isabella Kelly
Helping women grow their businesses
The state government has given insight to its LaunchMe SA program which provides personalised business coaching and small business loans to women.
More than 2000 women have been supported through the program, with resulting business growth of up to 40 per cent. 31 women received business coaching and help to access loans in the 2024 financial year.
The program is available for women earning under $75,000 who have a viable business idea and is delivered in a partnership between the Department of Human Services and Good Shepherd Australia and New Zealand. Ithas received government funding up to June 30, 2025.
– Isabella Kelly
Online quota service for commercial fishing
A new Quota Trading Service (QTS) has been launched by the state government, an online portal that will replace the previous paper-based system.
It intends to improve efficiency, reducing delays in applications and human error and allowing fishers to manage transactions online, with integrated payment processing.
“When circumstances mean that quotas can’t be filled, and the remaining portions have value that can be purchased, removing cumbersome paperwork will mean that commercial fishers can efficiently recoup their costs and easily transfer their quota,” Minister for Primary Industries Clare Scriven said.
– Isabella Kelly
