Briefcase: Business snippets from around South Australia
In this week’s Briefcase, a new health precinct for a 10-storey Bowden apartment project, and total employment in the state hits a record high.
- Health centre for Bowden development secured
- SA leads the nation in ANZ Stateometer
- Copper SA stands out in BHP results
- Adelaide scores high in hotel occupancy report
- Total employment in SA hits 1 million
- Mayfield land acquisition drives $30m expansion
Health centre for Bowden development secured
A 10-story apartment complex, featuring a multi-level health and wellness centre named FLOWE, has been secured for Bowden by South Australian developer Otello.
The complex overlooks Bowden Park and will feature over 100 apartments of up to three bedrooms. Otello has committed to 20 per cent affordable housing through HomeSeekerSA.
Construction is set to begin mid 2026 and is expected to create 200 direct and indirect jobs.
“FLOWE Bowden’s health and wellness centre will be something that brings the community together and will be a destination for people keeping active,” housing and urban development minister Nick Champion said.
“On top of this, over 100 more homes for South Australians will be built as we continue to activate the city fringes as premium living destinations”.
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SA leads the nation in ANZ Stateometer
The ANZ Stateometer, which measures annual growth of Australia’s states and territories relative to each jurisdiction’s trend growth rate, has South Australia on top for the latest quarter.
The September survey said that “SA maintained its stand-out performance as it recorded the fastest index growth relative to its long-run trend nationally for the third consecutive quarter”.
It found that the state remains above the trend, citing a “re-acceleration in economic momentum”, with inflation and employment below the national average.
Premier Peter Malinauskas said “South Australia’s top billing on the latest ANZ Stateometer reinforces what we have heard across several recent surveys, including from the Business Council of Australia – that SA is a great place to do business”.
Copper SA stands out in BHP results
BHP’s latest quarterly activities review shows Copper SA delivered record material mined in the final half of 2025.
The report said increased copper production guidance, capitalising on strong prices, was responsible.
The review also found that there has been a 32 per cent increase in copper prices, and a 4 per cent increase in iron ore prices year on year. Spence and Copper SA are tracking to plan, with Copper SA achieving record refined gold output.
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BHP CEO Mike Henry said “BHP delivered another half of very strong performance with operational records at our copper and iron ore assets”.
“This was achieved safely and in a positive commodity price environment, with copper prices up 32 per cent and iron ore prices 4 per cent higher year on year,” he said.
Adelaide scores high in hotel occupancy report
Adelaide has achieved a high result in the nation’s hotel occupancy report conducted by Accommodation Australia (AA). The nation overall achieved an A- in the hotel occupancy end of year report card.
“Adelaide’s strong second six months had it ending the year with a 5 per cent increase in occupancy rates, only beaten by Sydney CBD which saw a 5.2 per cent increase to an average of 83.6 per cent for 2025,” AA CEO James Goodwin said.
“A good mix of international sporting and cultural events, world class performers and festivals across the year definitely contributed to the results as well as renewed confidence in business events and corporate travel,” Goodwin said of the country’s overall result.
Total employment in SA hits 1 million
SA recorded the equal-lowest unemployment rate of all Australian states in the latest labour force figures released from the Australian Bureau of Statistics this week.
The number of people in full-time work also rose to a new record high, increasing by 15,500 people to 659,800.
“The state is building – over the course of our busy four years in Government the total number of people employed has grown from 900,400 at the time of the 2022 state election to today’s record of 1,000,200 for the month of December,” Premier Peter Malinauskas said.
“That’s almost 100,000 new jobs created.”
Mayfield land acquisition drives $30m expansion
Mayfield Group Holdings, which designs, manufactures and services electrical infrastructure, has acquired 10,410 square metres adjacent to BE Switchcraft operations in Royal Park.
The $8.4 million acquisition will enable the company’s $30 million contract pipeline expansion project, supporting pipeline conversion across data centre, renewable energy, and defence infrastructure.
The acquisition of the land will provide immediate operational benefits, with the physical proximity allowing for shared crane access and consolidated inventory, as well as the expansion of BE Switchcraft.
“This acquisition eliminates significant operational inefficiencies we’ve experienced across separated sites. The adjacency to BE Switchcraft creates immediate synergies whilst flexible configuration supports both business units’ growth requirements,” managing director Andrew Rowe said.
