Briefcase: Business Snippets from around South Australia
In this week’s Briefcase, Adelaide Lightning scores new owners, VOK releases a new tequila, a new plan for a fruit-fly-free Ceduna and construction starts at Southwark Grounds. Plus, the latest business events.
- Adelaide Lightning welcomes new owners
- VOK Beverages announces brand new coconut tequila
- Construction begins at Southwark Grounds
- Ceduna to be fruit fly free
- More space missions for South Australia
- Southern Ocean Lodge wins major award
- Tech merger to boost SA AI
- South Australian training awards winners celebrated
- KI Ports upgrades completed
- Ambra Spirits raises $1.18 million in crowdfunding
- Construction starts on NDIS development in Lewiston
- South Australia to boost AI sector
Adelaide Lightning welcomes new owners
The Adelaide Lightning basketball team has announced a new group of South Australian investors to take over franchise ownership.
The investors included Drakes supermarket director John Paul Drake and former AFL player and managing director of influencer marketing company Launchd, James Begley.
President and co-founder of cybersecurity company DTEX Mohan Koo, and founder and director of investment company RADventures Jeevan Koo were the other investors.
“To have such a passionate group of South Australians investing in Adelaide Lightning signals the importance of this team and women’s basketball in the state,” Adelaide Lightning CEO Melanie MacGillivray said.
The announcement followed Adelaide Lightning’s deal with the South Australian Government to save the Lightning ahead of the 2025-26 WNBL season.
VOK Beverages announces brand new coconut tequila
South Australian-based Vok Beverages has announced the release of a brand-new coconut tequila as part of its ‘El Toro’ tequila range.
Vok Beverages Brand Manager Eloise Penny said that tequila was under represented in Australia and there was a “blue-ocean opportunity” for El Toro to define the coconut tequila market.
“Australians already love coconut flavours; pairing that familiarity with tequila gives venues and bottle shops a fresh, premium option that works neat, over ice or mixed,” she said.
Australia is currently the fourth-largest tequila market by revenue in the world and is projected to grow by 4.36 per cent in 2025.
Construction begins at Southwark Grounds
Construction has officially commenced at Southwark Grounds — the former West End Brewery site — where 1300 new homes will be built.
The Malinauskas Labor Government — through Renewal SA — announced details of the redevelopment earlier this year, with up to 250 new homes expected to take shape over the remainder of the year.
Minister for Housing and Urban Development Nick Champion said Southwark Grounds would be a “generational urban renewal project for South Australia”.
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“The former West End Brewery site will soon become a world class-development for people to live and work right on the doorstep of the Adelaide CBD,” Champion said.
Ceduna to be fruit fly free
Ceduna is expected to be free of Mediterranean fruit flies (Medfly) following first detection on 25 February of this year.
Sterile insect technique (SIT) is aimed at controlling wild insect populations through the sterilisation of male Medfly pupae via X-ray irradiation.
The sterile pupae are then sent to Ceduna where they are grown into flies and released.
More than one million sterile Medflies are expected to be released into Ceduna as the eradication program looks to complete by 11 November.
“SIT releases are an effective strategy that disrupts the fruit fly breeding cycle and helps protect South Australia’s fruit-growing regions, which are so important to our state,” Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Claire Scriven said.
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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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More space missions for South Australia
South Australia is set to be the first jurisdiction globally where routine commercial orbital re-entry operations would take place.
South Australian-based company Southern Launch and US based company Varda Space Industries have signed a new deal to facilitate 20 new spacecraft return missions at Koonibba Test Range by 2028.
The capsules, launched as part of the SpaceX rideshare mission, would return to earth after conducting experiments in microgravity.
South Australia was geographically poised to secure the deal as one of the few places globally to enable safe land-based returns.
“To establish South Australia as the first commercial spaceport to accept commercial returns speaks volumes to our reputation as a global leader in this field,” Premier Peter Malinauskas said.
Southern Ocean Lodge wins major award
Kangaroo Island’s Southern Ocean Lodge has been named winner of the American Express Travel One To Watch Award ahead of The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025 Awards on 30 October.
The award comes five years after the Southern Ocean Lodge was destroyed in KI’s bushfires in 2020 and then later rebuilt.
“Southern Ocean Lodge is a truly special property, with an inspiring and heartfelt story, so we are thrilled to recognise it with the American Express Travel One To Watch Award 2025,” Head of Content at The World’s 50 Best Hotels Emma Sleight said.
The Lodge was awarded for its architectural design, natural beauty, service and sustainability initiatives which include the planting of 45,000 native plants.
Tech merger to boost SA AI
Adelaide-based companies Firehouse Technology and Mortar Group have merged to create Mortar Tech; a developer of proprietary technology solutions for global partners.
Firehouse specialises in artificial intelligence and data analytics for government and Mortar Group works with AI to drive growth for marketing groups.
CEO of Mortar Group James Zipeure said Mortar Tech would “redefine our capabilities” to move beyond advising and become a fully integrated partner to deliver end-to-end digital transformation.
“Mortar Tech will be where our engineering talent meets Mortar’s global ambition, creating products and solutions that can reshape markets,” Firehouse Technology managing director Nilan Mihindukulasooriya said.
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South Australian training awards winners celebrated
The winners of the 2025 South Australian Training Awards, which celebrates excellence in vocational education and training (VET) across the state, have been announced following a record number of nominations across 14 categories.
“The South Australian Training Awards continue to provide an important opportunity to recognise the achievements of apprentices, trainees, students, training organisations, and employers,” Minister for Education, Training and Skills Blair Boyer said.
Winners in eligible categories would represent the state at the 2025 Australian Training Awards in Darwin in December.
2025 Individual Award winners
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year – Callan McKenzie
• Apprentice of the Year – Bethany Jones
• School-based Apprentice or Trainee of the Year – Mikayla Dawson-Sincock
• Trainee of the Year – Lili O’Connor
• Vocational Student of the Year – Stephanie Griffiths
• VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year – Anthony Julianto
• Lifetime Achievement Award – Adrienne Nieuwenhuis
2025 Organisational Award winners
• Adult Community Education Provider of the Year – Community Access and Services SA
• Large Employer of the Year – BHP
• Large Training Provider of the Year – MTA Training and Employment
• Small Training Provider of the Year – Ironwood Institute
• Small Employer of the Year – Bowhill Engineering
• VET Innovation for Schools – Playford International College
• Industry Collaboration – First Nations Foster and Kinship Carer Career
KI Ports upgrades completed
The State Government has announced the completion of upgrades at the ports of Cape Jervis and Penneshaw, which are essential links for cars, freight and passengers between Kangaroo Island and the mainland.
The new upgrades would facilitate an increased number of ferry services and improve safety for passengers and vessels during adverse weather and storms.
“The State Government has completed its infrastructure upgrades and negotiated with SeaLink to deliver cheaper fares for locals, additional daily services and maintain the current freight rate for livestock until the end of 2026,” Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Emily Bourke said.
SeaLink advised the State Government that delivery of its two new, larger ferries had been delayed but confirmed the vessels would be operating from June 1 next year.
Ambra Spirits raises $1.18 million in crowdfunding
Adelaide-based distillery Ambra Spirits has raised $1.18 million in crowdfunding from 716 investors which includes Australian cricketer Adam Zampa.
The $1.18 million will assist Ambra with the launch of a pink limoncello, an expanded rooftop bar at its Adelaide venue and export growth in New Zealand, US, China and Europe.
“With this strong show of confidence, we are now positioned to accelerate our expansion, strengthen our hospitality and e-commerce offerings, and continue to deliver exceptional spirits that embody authenticity, passion and Italian-inspired warmth,” Ambra managing director Finn Healey said.
Construction starts on NDIS development in Lewiston
A one-of-a-kind 20,000 square metre NDIS facility is to begin construction by NDIS provider Choice N Control in Lewiston.
The Lewiston property is currently home to Choice N Control’s day program which includes a swimming pool, gym area and specially designed accommodation among other facilities.
The $3 million development would see the expansion of the existing site with outdoor gyms, outdoor therapy and sensory gardens to be added over the next two years.
“This project is about bringing everyone together, our clients and their families, staff, volunteers, and the wider community and celebrating what makes Choice N Control unique,” Founder of Choice N Control Sanamdeep Singh said.
South Australia to boost AI sector
Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Joe Szakacs met with American tech giant NVIDIA and Australian business SouthernCrossAI to explore Artificial Intelligence technology opportunities in South Australia.
The meeting follows NVIDIA’s partnership deal with OpenAI which would see the tech company invest US $100 billion.
The potential opportunities would include the development of data centres in South Australia to facilitate the expansion of AI technology in the future.
“We stand on the precipice of a global shift in technology, and South Australia has the chance to be at the forefront if we act decisively,” Szakacs said.
“The scale of investment flowing into AI and data centres is unprecedented, and we must seize this moment to position our state as a natural home for the industry.”
