This week:

• Family-owned car hire business expands
• SA businesses lead the way for investments
• China Southern Airlines returns to Adelaide
• Sidewood Estate gets international recognition
• Tindo launches new solar panels
• Small business dispute resolution bill
• BlueScope and HILT CRC collaborate
• Record profits for Duxton Water
• Centrex records first India shipment
• Airport releases developable land
• Magnetite Mines to raise $4 million
• 40 Under 40 alumni recognised

Car hires drive expansion

Family-owned Simba Car Hire has commenced an expansion to three new states, with two new branches opening since June, and a third on the way.

Simba’s first Brisbane operation and second Cairns branch have opened this year, with a Melbourne branch set to open in October.

Simba was founded in Adelaide with three cars in 2019, and now offers 1200 cars across six operations in Adelaide, Sydney, Cairns and Brisbane.

The business is undergoing a planned expansion to bring vehicle numbers to 4000 and annual turnover tripled to $29 million by 2029.

– Isabella Kelly

South Australian businesses big on investing

New Australian Bureau of Statistics data has shown South Australian businesses are leading the way in new equipment investments.

In June, the ABS reported $1.2 billion was spent by SA businesses on plant and equipment, 20.6 per cent more than in the previous quarter and 19.9 per cent more than the same time in 2023.

Business investment in the quarter totalled $2.5 billion, over four percentage points higher than the country’s average.

Business investments in buildings and structures saw a 9.2 per cent decrease.

“Despite a softening national economy, South Australian businesses are still exhibiting enough confidence in our economy to invest in their operations,” treasurer Stephen Mullighan said.

– Isabella Kelly 

China Southern Airlines return to Adelaide

China Southern Airlines will resume direct flights to Adelaide in December, making it the largest international service to return to Adelaide, with nine direct international airlines now offering services to Adelaide.

From December 12, the airline will fly direct to Adelaide from Guangzhou three times a week, with 798 seats available weekly.

The flight path was launched in December 2016, but ceased in March 2020. The annual tourism economic impact of the now-relaunched flights has been estimated at over $69 million.

“The three weekly China Southern Airlines flights will make South Australia that much more enticing for potential visitors from China, an international market once worth $384 million to our state’s visitor economy,” said Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison.

– Isabella Kelly 

Sidewood Estate gets best of three at international awards

SideWood Estate’s 2023 Mappinga Chardonnay was awarded Best Wine in Show, Best White Wine in Show and Best Australian Wine at the 2024 International Cool Climate Wine Show (ICCWS) against 60 Chardonnays entered worldwide.

ICCWS chairman Paul White said the wine “demonstrated the finesse and characteristics of a cool climate wine”.

“Collecting three trophies in this show is a rarity, which is a tribute to Sidewood’s wine-making skills,” he said.

These awards follow several previous state and national recognitions for the Sidewood Chardonnay, which is a limited release.

– Isabella Kelly

Tindo’s new panel packaging allows for up to 31 panels per pallet. Photo: supplied

Tindo launches new solar panel series

Tindo has announced its new Walara Series solar panels, implementing new technologies in an Australian first, allowing the panels to capture light from both sides.

The panels use half-cut cell technology, reducing energy loss and increasing efficiency, with new 35mm framing minimising cracks and improving long-term performance.

“We wanted to create a unique competitive advantage for local suppliers and installers, offering value-based options for customers seeking to use solar energy to enhance their energy security,” Tindo CEO Richard Petterson said.

“Our priority remains driving innovation through domestic manufacturing, and in doing so, providing Australian consumers with locally made technology designed to thrive in local weather conditions.”

– Isabella Kelly 

Dispute resolution bill for small businesses

The state government has introduced a bill to Parliament to widen the Small Business Commissioner’s powers, allowing them to assist in dispute resolution in an attempt to avoid legal action.

The bill would give the Commissioner the power to initiate and enforce dispute resolutions among small businesses, including an ability to enforce participation in dispute resolution before any legal proceedings.

“From time to time, disputes between small businesses arise whether that’s a landlord and a tenant or between neighbouring businesses and we are making it easier for small business owners to resolve disagreements quicker and more affordably,” said Minister for Small and Family Business Andrea Michaels.

– Isabella Kelly

South Australia’s Strategies for Gender Equality, a CEDA event providing an update on the Gender Pay Gap Taskforce with Minister for Women Katrine Hildyard, location to be determined, on September 17.

Transport and Infrastructure Panel, a French-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry event with Keolis Downer looking at the renewable energy and zero emission bus industry, at The Village Well on September 19.

South Australian Business Index, an InDaily event presenting an independent ranking of South Australia’s top 100 companies, with Premier Peter Malinauskas and media personality David Koch, at the Adelaide Convention Centre on September 20.

Inspiring Women Impacting the World and Beyond – Women in Defence, an Australia Day Council event with Jessica Pisani from the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Kate van Hilst from the Australian Submarine Agency, and Libby Day from the Defence Teaming Centre, at the Allan Scott Auditorium on September 20.

AI Friend or Foe, a Property Council event with the Future Directions and Future Trends and Innovation Committees looking at Artificial Intelligence use in the property sector, at the University of Adelaide on September 20.

Pink Yellow Blue Disco, a Flinders Foundation event raising funds for cancer research and care, at the Adelaide Convention Centre on October 12.

Australia’s Space Future Conference, a French-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry event with REDARC Defence & Space and Neumann Space, at REDARC Electronics on October 29.

Trump vs Harris, an AmCham panel event on predictions for the US election, with Christopher Pyne, Adelaide Football Club chairman John Olsen and more, at the Playford Hotel on October 31.

Wake up to Change, an Adelaide White Ribbon event with criminologist and former senior police officer Vincent Hurley on the prevention of violence against women and children, at the Adelaide Convention Centre on November 7.

BlueScope Steel collaborate with HILT CRC

BlueScope Steel and the Heavy Industry Low-carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre (HILT CRC) have joined forces to continue driving Australia’s largest steel producer’s emission-cutting and decarbonisation efforts.

“BlueScope’s extensive experience and leadership in the steel industry make it an invaluable partner in our mission to drive the decarbonisation of heavy industry,” HILT CRC CEO Jenny Selway said.

BlueScope is joining more than 50 other organisations working with HILT CRC to research and developed low-carbon technologies to assist in industry decarbonisation.

– Isabella Kelly 

Duxton Water record profits

Duxton Water has reported its highest half-year net profit on record of $8.3 million after tax, in a 196 per cent annual increase.

The company’s entitlement portfolio saw market value of $354 million, with 61 per cent of its permanent portfolio under lease at the end of the financial year.

The company said it expected to generate around $1.7 million in forward contract sales for the coming water year.

– Isabella Kelly 

Centrex celebrates landmark India shipment

Centrex has announced Australia’s first phosphate export to India as it prepares a 25,000-tonne shipment scheduled for late September.

India is the world’s largest import market for rock phosphate, with Centrex’s entry into the market aligning with the federal government’s India Economic Strategy.

“For many in Northern Australia, it’s been a long-held dream that the immense phosphate endowment of the Georgina Basin could one day help feed Asia’s burgeoning economic and population growth,” said Centrex CEO and managing director Robert Mencel.

“Centrex’s first shipment of high-grade, low-impurity phosphate concentrate into this strategic market is beginning to turn this dream into reality.”

– Isabella Kelly 

The new land release is part of an ongoing Airport Junction precinct development. Image: supplied

Airport land release under upgrade

Adelaide Airport has released 27 hectares of developable land in its biggest release since 2002, under the next phase of its Airport Junction precinct development.

The airport will expand its industrial land footprint into its current airfield space, and offer direct airside freight access to the main international and domestic terminal from the airside road network.

“We’re currently seeking expressions of interest for multiple sites ranging from one to 10 hectares in size. These opportunities extend from full turn-key development to tenant specific premises project managed by Adelaide Airport, to long term ground leases,” said Adelaide Airport executive general manager, property, James Sangster.

“We intend to further activate Airport Junction with freight and logistics companies, making it an attractive location for businesses looking to create supply chain efficiencies and form part of a vibrant commercial community.

“With the current severe shortage of large parcels of employment-use land in Adelaide, the timing for the release of Airport Junction is ideal and will help to meet the pent-up demand for industrial land.”

– Isabella Kelly 

Magnetite Mines seeks $4 million raise

Magnetite Mines has invited shareholders to partake in a Rights Issue to raise around $4.1 million for its Razorback Iron Ore Project.

“In July 2024, the Company achieved a major milestone by signing a Heads of Agreement with JFE Shoji…that will provide funding support for the completion of a Definitive Feasibility Study for the Razorback Iron Ore Project,” Magnetite Mines chair Jim McKerlie said.

“The Board believes that a stronger balance sheet will enable Magnetite Mines to continue to build on this progress, secure the strategic partnerships for the development of Razorback, and to progress the essential regulatory approvals required to build the Project.”

– Isabella Kelly 

Small Business Leaders awarded

4o Under 40 alumni Madelene Ragno was recognised as a Top 50 Small Business Leader by Inside Small Business.

Ragno is the founder of MADE. Marketing, and attended the Inside Small Business celebration in Melbourne recently.

– Isabella Kelly