Briefcase: Business Snippets from around South Australia
In this week’s briefcase: a development milestone reached, South Australian export records broken and a Santos acquisition. Plus the business events not to be missed.
Development milestone reached
SA vineyards world’s best
Exports on top
Fair Work’s financial year
Sustainable cemetery option
Santos project acquisition
Disability care partnership
Credit Union and Foodbank donations
Fibre network expansion
Voting opens for wine tourism
Luxury apartment development milestone
The topping out ceremony took place last week for the 200 East Terrace $130 million apartment development by Global Intertrade and Minuzzo Project Management, with 33 residencies to be created.
The ceremony marked the official structural completion of the building, as it heads towards a September 2025 completion.
The milestone comes as a sub-penthouse was sold for a record price of $6.1 million, with the penthouse expected to be purchased shortly.
“Having owned this site for nearly three decades and lived in this vibrant area for over 25 years, I am thrilled to see our vision come to life,” Global Intertrade director Manuel Ortigosa said.
– Isabella Kelly
Three SA vineyards named ‘world’s best’
Three South Australian vineyards are in the Top 100 of the world’s best, according to a global Awards organisation.
The only Australian wineries in the Top 100 list of the ‘World’s Best Vineyards’ for 2024 were in South Australia.
Of the SA wineries, d’Arenberg was number 32, Magill Estate (Penfolds) came in at 37, and Seppeltsfield Barrosa was 84th.
d’Arenberg was also awarded ‘The Best Vineyard in Australasia’.
For the full list, head here.
– David Simmons
South Australian exports stay on top
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South Australia’s exports have exceeded $17 billion for the 20th consecutive month, beating its China export record by $100 million as $4.37 billion of local goods were sold to the market in the year to September, a 48 per cent increase.
A national export decline of over 8 per cent was recorded at the same time, as trade restrictions remain with the Chinese Government around Australian rock lobster amid the dropping of several tariffs throughout the year. Restrictions on lobster are set to lift by the end of this year.
Total exports from the state to the United States were at $2.14 billion in a 34 per cent increase, making it SA’s second-largest trading partner.
– Isabella Kelly
Fair Work recovers over $400 million back-pay in financial year
The Fair Work Ombudsman has recovered $473 million for around 160,000 workers in 2023 – 2024, bringing total back payments in the last three years to $1.5 billion for underpaid workers.
The Ombudsman also secured the largest penalties in its 15-year history, with $21.2 million in court-ordered penalties.
Over half of the FY24 recoveries were from large corporate sector employers, who made up more than $333 million of back-pay to nearly 110,000 workers.
“Our investigations and enforcement actions send a clear message that employers must place a higher priority on ensuring they are meeting their workers’ legal entitlements, and that includes by improving their payroll systems and governance,” acting fair work ombudsman Michael Campbell said.
– Isabella Kelly
Living memorial on offer
Centennial Park has introduced South Australia’s first sustainable living memorial, with its new Living Legacy partnership option which involves ashes being detoxified and infused into the roots of its Forever Flower Garden.
“Traditionally people scatter ashes in nature and waterways, not realising the harm caused by the high alkaline levels which are similar to bleach,” Living Legacy founder Warren Roberts said.
For every person in the garden, Living Legacy said it would donate 20 trees to be planted in their honour.
Centennial Park CEO Janet Miller said the process was a “ground-breaking and an environmentally sensitive way to personally memorialize and connect to loved ones through a natural and living landmark”.
“We recognise there is generational shift towards sustainable end-of-life choices, and as part of our own environmental and sustainability goals, we want to accommodate the wishes of individuals and their loved ones now and into the future.”
– Isabella Kelly
Santos project holding acquired
Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited has finalised an acquisition of additional equity in Santos’ PNG LNG Project, following a part payment of $535 million earlier in the year, increasing its shareholding in the project to 19.2 per cent.
“Kumul Petroleum having an increased shareholding in the PNG LNG Project is clearly of great benefit to the company and the country. The project will be fully depreciated by end of 2024 and project finance fully repaid by 2026, which means this additional equity is expected to provide high returns immediately and strengthen KPHL’s balance sheet,” managing director Wapu Sonk said.
– Isabella Kelly
Connect @ DTC, A Defence Teaming Centre event for South Australian businesses looking to pursue opportunities in the US submarine supply chain, venue TBD on November 18.
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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.
Hydrogen Summit, a French-Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry event with a panel discussion including Mike Rann, Deloitte’s Maxence Cateau and SMART ENERGY COUNCIL’s Joanna Kay, at Festival Tower on November 26.
Christmas Tchin Tchin, a French-Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry event to network, with the SA chapter head Florence Masters and YESmarketing CEO Darryl Durrant, at Club De Pétanque D’Adelaide on December 5.
Partnership to enhance disability care in Adelaide
SA-based online marketplace The Chooze Shop has partnered with SACARE – a subsidiary of ONCALL Group Australia – which will see the former’s range of assistive technology and consumables integrated into the latter’s accommodation facilities.
The Chooze Shop’s products will also be featured in sensory-friendly spaces at entertainment and community events such as the Adelaide Fringe, Royal Adelaide Show, Adelaide 500 and more to create a more welcoming environment for all attendees.
“Our partnership with The Chooze Shop represents a commitment to enhancing the lives of our participants through innovation and accessibility,” SACARE CEO Chloe Kempe said.
“By integrating their high-quality products into ONCALL | SACARE’s supported accommodation, we’re able to provide greater independence and comfort for those we support.”
– David Simmons
Credit Union and Foodbank partnership
Credit Union SA has donated over 15,000 meals to Foodbank during the first nine months of the year under a partnership it launched in January, which has seen 20 meals donated to Foodbank SA for every home loan settled with Credit Union SA.
Foodbank is the country’s largest food relief organisation, giving food and grocery relief to over 2800 charities.
“Learning that more than 135,000 South Australians rely on Foodbank’s service every month has given us a reality check. With the cost of living rising, there are many families who struggle to put food on the table,” Credit Union SA senior manager lending Kym Downie said.
– Isabella Kelly
Fibre network expansion
Australian digital infrastructure provider Vocus and South Australian not-for-profit high-speed research and education innovation network SABRENet have completed a 35km fibre path network expansion.
The path was installed between Edinburgh Parks and Adelaide Airport, delivering an increased fibre capacity and diversity for SABRENet, while allowing Vocus to provide additional network services to its customers.
“Vocus is deeply committed to collaborating with industry to build the essential infrastructure that powers Australia’s digital future. Across the country, Vocus delivers the high-capacity fibre that enables smart cities, powers research and innovation, and helps our regions realise their economic potential,” Vocus chief customer officer Matt Walsh said.
– Isabella Kelly
Voting opens for best wine tourism businesses
South Australians can vote for their favourite wine businesses in the running to be crowned the best in the world.
There are six South Australian wine businesses up for Global Best of Wine Tourism People’s Choice Awards, including:
- Beresford Estate, McLaren Vale – Accommodation category
- Dandelion Vineyards, McLaren Vale – Architecture & Landscape category
- Sidewood Estate, Adelaide Hills – Culinary Experiences category and Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices category
- McLaren Vale Distillery, McLaren Vale – Innovative Wine Tourism Experiences category
- Watervale Hotel, Clare Valley – Wine Tourism Services category
- Kimbolton Wines, Landhorne Creek – Wine Tourism Services category
Voting for the People’s Choice Awards is open from 4-18 November. Visit: www.greatwinecapitals.com/best-of-wine-tourism/peoples-choice-award
– David Simmons
