German company signs on for more South Australian launches

Southern Launch and German launch services provider HyImpulse have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for HyImpulse to conduct more missions from Southern Launch’s Koonibba Test Range and explore the use of the Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex for HyImpulse’s SL1 orbital vehicle.

HyImpulse completed the maiden launch of its single stage Sr75 11.5 metre tall rocket from the Koonibba Test Range last month.

The MoU will see the two companies collaborating on further launches of HyImpulse’s SR75 sub-orbital rocket, providing opportunities for local researchers to conduct micro-gravity experiments without the need to travel overseas.

HyImpulse co-CEO Christian Schmierer said the unique Koonibba Test Range provided the company with “a launch site that cannot be found anywhere else”.

“Being able to recover the rocket and understand what happened during the flight accelerates our engineering process and we are already looking forward to our next launch,” Schmierer said.

– Isabella Kelly 

AML3D wins government grant

The large-scale metal 3D printing company announced a $2.24 million investment to accelerate the company’s ARCEMY Increase Deposition Rates project, with a $1.12 million grant from the South Australian Economic Recovery Fund, matched by AML3D contributions.

AML3D’s AIDR project will run for 15 months from August, creating four advanced manufacturing and development jobs. A functioning AIDR metal 3D print system will be able to produce large-scale exotic materials faster, with less energy and less waste.

AML3D CEO Sean Ebert said the grant would “facilitate a significant investment to keep AML3D and South Australia at the leading edge of advance manufacturing”.

“From our global base in Adelaide, we are delivering ARCEMY systems and metal 3D printed components to support the US Navy’s submarine industrial base, the Australian Defence and Science Technology Group and tier one, global customers such as Boeing and Chevron,” Ebert said.

– Isabella Kelly

Santos pipeline complete

Santos’ $5.7 billion Barossa gas export pipeline in the southern Timor Sea has been completed, built by subsea construction company Allseas.

The 262-kilometre-long pipeline was the subject of a dispute in the Federal Court with Tiwi Islanders who argued the pipeline would destroy cultural heritage sites.

The Federal Court ultimately dismissed the challenge in January this year, allowing Santos to continue with the pipeline.

Santos plans to extract natural gas from the Barossa field and transport it through pipelines to an existing liquefied natural gas facility in the Northern Territory.

– Isabella Kelly

Copper concentrate from Hillgrove’s Kanmantoo Underground project. Photo: Hillgrove Resources

Hillgrove loads first shipment

Unley-based miner Hillgrove Resources has loaded its first copper concentrate shipment from the Kanmantoo Underground project, shipping 10,099 wet metric tonnes.

The shipment is an accumulation of copper production on the site since it began processing in February 2024.

Hillgrove CEO and managing director Lachlan Wallace said the shipment was a “significant milestone for the company”.

“Achieving the first shipment less than 12 months since operations commenced at Kanmantoo is a testament to the teams’ dedication,” Wallace said.

“The timing of becoming Australia’s newest copper producer could not be better, with copper prices recently hitting all-time highs.”

– Isabella Kelly

Gas project on the fast track

Kent Town-based Jade Gas will fast-track gas production plans at its field in Mongolia, following “highly successful results across its gas field that currently extends over 45 kilometres”.

In a statement to shareholders, Jade Gas said the move to accelerate plans was driven by “high gas demand from customer markets”.

The company has selected a drilling contractor for its gas production program, which is expected to commence in the coming weeks.

“The scale and value of its strong gas results achieved to date have provided the company with a foundation that provides optionality for early gas production,” Jade Gas said.

Executive chairman Dennis Morton said it was an “exciting time for all Jade stakeholders as we transition to the resource development phase focused on a faster pathway to gas production”.

– David Simmons

Australian Space Cyber Forum, an annual event welcoming international speakers and Treasurer Stephen Mullighan, at the Adelaide Convention Centre on June 26.

Building Sustainability in Australia’s Health System, a CEDA live stream looking at the critical link between environmental and human health, with Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association CEO Kylie Woolcock and Tays Heart Hospital vice president Aki Haukilahti, June 21.

SA State of the State: focus on critical service delivery, a CEDA event exploring critical services, the economy, government regulation, health and ageing with Ministers Nick Champion, Chris Picton and Nat Cook at the Adelaide Convention Centre on July 24.

Smartgroup workforce grows

Employee management services business Smartgroup is hiring more than 40 people in its Keswick office, taking the group’s South Australian workforce to over 200.

Smart is currently providing salary packaging and novated leasing employee benefits services to more than 25,000 employees in the state, across over 150 employers.

Smartgroup CEO Scott Wharton said the group would be “helping the thousands of nurses, teachers, police officers and firies, and other public servants… increase their take-home pay”.

“Salary packaging and novated leasing unlock more of people’s pay by saving them money on things they need, like a car, while reducing their cost of living,” Wharton said.

– Isabella Kelly

Benson Radiology has opened a clinic in Mount Barker. Photo: supplied

Benson Radiology opens Mount Barker clinic

Benson Radiology’s new clinic opened at 75 Hutchinson Street on June 3, making it the medical imaging provider’s 27th clinic in the state.

The clinic features the Adelaide Hills’ first 3T MRI scanner, allowing for faster scans, better image quality and more confidence in diagnosing.

Benson Radiology CEO Tamsyn Alley said the clinic had “the latest in imaging technology, particularly with our advanced 3T MRI scanner”.

“Mount Barker is one of the fastest-growing regions in the state, so our new clinic will help meet the increasing demand for health services,” Alley said.

“MRI is one of the most powerful diagnostic tools in modern medicine and we are proud to be delivering patients with the highest level of imaging and service anywhere in the region.”

– Isabella Kelly

City of Unley announces new Business Awards

The City of Unley is holding its Business Awards for the first time, and is seeking nominations across four different categories: Business Community Leader, Leader in Sustainability and Environment, Leader in Transformation, Innovation & Growth and People’s Choice Award.

Unley Mayor Michael Hewitson said the council “greatly value our business owners’ role in our community and want to shine a light on the excellence and innovation of our local enterprises, showcasing their achievements and inspiring others”.

The awards will be sponsored by the Community Bank Goodwood, Norman Waterhouse Lawyers, TOOP+TOOP and the City of Unley.

Nominations can be made on the City of Unley website and are open until July 19, with finalists announced on August 16.

– Mahala Gainer

The Fraser Institute survey of mining companies has been released. Photo: Unsplash

Mining trends survey released

The annual Fraser Institute Survey shows South Australia has dropped almost 16 places among the most attractive mining jurisdictions globally, ranking it fourth in Australia behind WA, Queensland and the Northern Territory.

Australia fell from the number one most attractive jurisdiction for mining investment to second place, below the United States.

All Australian jurisdictions decreased in the survey from the 2022 results.

Western Australia continues to be the nation’s highest-ranked jurisdiction, despite a three-point decline.

– Isabella Kelly