Briefcase: Business Snippets from around South Australia
In this week’s Briefcase, BHP steps up on renewables, sods turned on a new housing development, Unley’s winning businesses and the Whyalla Steelworks searches for more workers. Plus, the latest business events.
- M2 Custom Homes turns the sods on $31m housing development
- Pikes Beer Co. celebrates 10 years of brewing in the Clare Valley
- SA Grain Industry Awards to return in 2026
- Whyalla Steelworks seeking new workers
- Work starts on $20m Mount Barker Health Hub
- William Buck Impact Awards Finalists
- Subsea cable a ‘landmark moment’ for SA
- Redarc’s $50m facility takes shape
- Female agricultural leaders graduate from program
- BHP pens new agreement
- Winners of City of Unley Business Awards
M2 Custom Homes turns the sods on $31m housing development
M2 Custom Homes has launched a $31 million residential land and housing development that will provide affordable housing for first home buyers under the Affordable Housing Scheme.
Construction on Salisbury Park Estate officially began on September 24, with 45 allotments and 38 fixed price houses and land packages from $675,000 to be completed by December 2026.
“We are passionate about creating communities where people can achieve their dream of home ownership,” M2 Custom Homes founder and managing director Rob Marciano said.
“It is a project we are incredibly proud to bring to Salisbury Park and one that we are proud to say will address the current housing shortage in South Australia.”
Pikes Beer Co.’s decade of brewing in the Clare Valley
Pikes Beer Co. will celebrate its 10th birthday milestone with an event at their Clare Valley estate to be held on Saturday, October 11.
Manager of Pikes Beer Co. Alister Pike has led the company since it opened 10 years ago. He said consumer preferences and brewing techniques had shifted “dramatically” over that period.
“Yet Pikes Beer Co. has remained not only relevant but consistently delivers an exceptional core range alongside a dynamic lineup of limited releases,” he said.
The team at Pikes will commemorate the occasion with a limited edition ‘Anniversary Release’ Sparkling Ale to be brewed specially for the birthday event.
SA Grain Industry Awards to return in 2026
Grain Producers SA (GPSA) has announced the return of the South Australian Grain Industry Awards in 2026 following the success of its inaugural event in 2025.
The awards will bring together key members of South Australia’s $4 billion grain industry to recognise outstanding leadership, innovation and excellence across 2025.
GPSA Chief Executive Officer Brad Perry said the event has quickly become a staple for the industry calendar.
“Last year’s awards showcased the very best of South Australia’s grain industry – from the innovation happening on-farm to the leadership being shown right across the sector. With more than 300 people attending, the energy in the room was palpable,” Perry said.
“The 2026 awards will build on that success, with the second intake into the SA Grain Industry Hall of Fame and undoubtably another outstanding line-up of nominations, finalists and winners.”
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The SA Grain Industry Awards take place at Adelaide oval on February 3, 2026.
Whyalla Steelworks seeking new workers
Whyalla Steelworks is seeking an immediate start for more than 60 skilled workers in fitting, machinist, mechanical, instrumentation, electrical and fabricating trades as production ramps up.
The urgent need for tradespeople comes following record production levels as the steelworks site prepares for new owners—after OneSteel Manufacturing entered administration in February this year.
Whyalla Steelworks general manager of operations Amrit Mangat said strengthening the workforce was a key focus to continue the upward trajectory of production.
“This continued investment in employees, across all skills and functions, is essential for building stability and driving continued growth in production output,” Mangat said.
“We have already recruited more than 83 new production operators this year and we now need to further strengthen the workforce by bringing in additional skilled tradespeople.”
New staff were promised full training at the steelworks along with 12-hour shift rates, penalty rates and benefits.
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Young Carer’s Voices and Hearts Luncheon: The 2025 Young Carer Voices & Hearts Luncheon will be an exclusive gathering at Adelaide Oval on Thursday, October 9, 2025. This event is dedicated to honouring the remarkable contributions of South Australia’s Young Carers and amplifying their voices. 2025 AHA|SA Hotel Industry Awards for Excellence: The Awards Gala Dinner is your opportunity to help celebrate the hospitality industry’s achievements on October 21. South Australian Zero Homelessness Summit 2025: This event on October 23 aims to unite key stakeholders from across the state to foster practical solutions for ending homelessness in South Australia. |
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Work starts on $20m Mount Barker Health Hub
South Australian real estate developer Leyton Property has broken ground on a brand new $20 million Mount Barker Health Hub on the corner of Adelaide Road and Druids Avenue.
Jones Radiology would occupy 1000 sqm of the 1500 sqm development to meet the increased demand for radiology services in the Adelaide Hills region.
“The Mount Barker Health Hub will be at the heart of allied healthcare in Mount Barker providing maximum visibility and convenience for patients and practitioners,” Leyton Property managing director Hamish Brown said.
The Mount Barker Health Hub was scheduled for tenant handover in 2026 and was expected to open to the public in the third quarter of 2026.
William Buck Impact Awards Finalists
Six South Australian companies that range from manufacturing, technology, defence and space have been named as finalists in the 2025 William Buck Impact Awards for their innovation, growth and contribution to the state economy.
“We are incredibly proud to announce this year’s finalists, whose transformative work continues to shape South Australia’s future,” William Buck Impact Awards Director Seth Thuraisingham said.
The 2025 William Buck Impact Awards Finalists are:
- Bespoke Aluminium – Leading independent aluminium extrusion supplier specialising in custom design, prototyping, and manufacturing of aluminium products.
- Neutrog – Pioneer in premium organic and biological fertilisers, delivering microbe-based solutions for sustainable agriculture with international market presence.
- Novafast – Advanced composite manufacturer serving energy, marine, water and defence sectors with solutions including pipelines and naval applications.
- Consunet – Sovereign technology developer focused on cyber and electromagnetic warfare solutions for defence, government and industry applications.
- Humanihut – Provider of rapidly deployable infrastructure solutions in disaster response, including for displaced communities and emergency responders.
- Southern Launch – Satellite launch services provider
Winners will be announced at the official ceremony on November 13, 2025.
Subsea cable a ‘landmark moment’ for SA
South Australia has seen the arrival of the world’s largest cable laying ship —the Ile d’Yeu— arrive in Adelaide to begin construction on the state’s first 5000-kilometre subsea data cable.
Premier Peter Malinauskas announced that the $400 million data cable was expected to connect to Adelaide at West Beach and will enhance SA’s digital connectivity to other Australian and global markets.
The cable would deliver faster, more secure and reliable data capacity to grow the state’s economy, while improved digital connectivity will assist key innovation, machine learning and artificial intelligence development opportunities, he said.
Malinauskas said the development would be a “landmark moment” for the state.
“This will be a game changer for South Australian businesses especially in our growing data-intensive industries like defence, energy, space and manufacturing.”
Redarc’s $50m facility takes shape
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South Australian family-owned business REDARC has completed the first stage of its $50 million two-storey Advanced Manufacturing and Technology Hub in Lonsdale.
The new facility was set to create 200 highly skilled jobs for engineers, technicians and defence experts by 2032 as the Malinauskas Labor Government looks to boost the state’s defence and space industries.
Construction on the Hub was expected to be completed by 2028 to house advanced research and development, manufacturing and testing spaces for defence and space technology.
Reynell MP Katrine Hildyard said the REDARC facility would showcase SA’s “space-ready technology” on a global stage.
“This new, world class facility is an excellent, groundbreaking step forward for our state’s role in defence and space and for the generations of engineers and technicians who will have the opportunity to work here,” Hildyard said.
Female agricultural leaders graduate from program
Fifteen South Australian women have become the latest graduates of an eight-month Stepping Into Leadership Program aiming to strengthen the presence of women in agricultural leadership roles.
The program—run by Women Together Learning and supported by the Department of Primary Industries and Regions — provided participants with face-to-face workshops, mentoring and webinars to support women stepping into leadership roles in agriculture related industries.
“Through this program, participants are developing leadership skills, expanding their networks, and gaining the confidence to take on influential roles in agribusiness and beyond,” Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister Clare Scriven said.
More than 160 women have started agribusiness leadership roles since the program’s inception more than a decade ago.
2025 Stepping into Leadership participants
- Annie Morris – Kangaroo Island
- Amy Blenkiron – Barossa Valley
- Amy Trevilyan – Limestone Coast
- Brianna Guidera – Mid North
- Chelsea Koch – Mid North
- Deborah Laver – Kangaroo Island
- Emily Clark – Limestone Coast
- Genevieve Kelly – Limestone Coast
- Jorja Gibbons – Murray and Mallee
- Kelly Lunn – Adelaide
- Lucy Porter – Adelaide
- Melody McAllister – Fleurieu
- Sarah Noble – Eyre and Western
- Steph Campbell – Fleurieu
- Whitney Rickett – Adelaide
BHP pens new agreement
BHP has signed a baseload agreement with Neoen — its third and largest renewable electricity supply arrangement in the past four years —with 100 megawatts of renewable electricity to be supplied to power BHP’s Copper SA province.
It is BHP’s second renewable electricity arrangement with Neoen starting in July 2025 and is part of BHP’s efforts to invest in renewable electricity supply.
Its leadership team said the latest renewable electricity arrangement reflected BHP’s target to reduce operational greenhouse gas emissions by at least 30 per cent by 2030.
“This arrangement reflects our commitment to more sustainable operations and long-term partnerships,” Copper SA Asset President Anna Wiley said.
“Together with our initial arrangement with Neoen, we expect to be able to meet about 70 per cent of Copper SA’s electricity needs from renewable electricity in FY2030.”
Winners of City of Unley Business Awards
Five businesses have secured gongs in the 2025 City of Unley Business Awards.
The awards recognise businesses and individuals that make significant contributions to the City of Unley’s economy and community—with five key categories being awarded this year.
List of winners:
Outstanding Contribution to the Community sponsored by Kelledy Jones Lawyers
Winner: Arkaba Hotel
Leader in Sustainability and Environment sponsored by Bright Eye Films
Winner: Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of SA
Leader in Transformation and Innovation sponsored by Arkaba Hotel
Winner: Complete Cafe Services
Emerging Business of the Year sponsored by City of Unley
Winner: Metcalf Group SA
People’s Choice Award sponsored by Haigh’s Chocolates
Winner: Custom Podiatry Services
