The Construction Source Australia

Welcome to the latest issue of Construction Source Australia, the magazine that highlights the best in building and building products across the country. The company on our cover, McHugh Steel, is a prime example – they are family-owned steel manufacturing and building supply company based in Bundaberg, Queensland. From their locally owned-factory, they have been producing high quality steel solutions for well over 30 years. These days, they service a wide variety of residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural clients. Demi Pressler-McHugh, the COO and second generation leader, talked to us about their history and versatility. In our talk with Demi, we also discussed some of the company’s recent landmark projects, including their work on Budget Car & Truck Rental Depot in Kensington, which won the category for ‘Retail Facilities up to $5 million’ at 2025 MBA Wide Bay Burnett Housing & Construction Awards. Demi described that award as “recognition of the level of detail, coordination, and effort that goes into all our projects.” Meanwhile, in the custom home sector, this issue also features industry leaders in My Style Homes and Portrait Custom Homes. The former is a Cairns’ most-awarded builder, specializing in homes built to the highest quality and specifications and tailored to Far North Queensland’s climate. The latter is a Perth-based builder of luxury homes and renovations, known for their customercentred, transparent approach and ability to solve technical challenges. We caught up with the leaders of both companies and talked about their passion for using local products. We also highlighted some of their recent industry-acclaimed projects, including one that won the HIA’s coveted ‘Australian People’s Choice Home of the Year.’ For those stories – and many more like them, about other award-winning and innovative builders – just keep reading. All the best, The Editorial Team We will keep adding business units that enhance our offering and separate us from our competition. “ ” Editor From The Dear Reader,

SEPTEMBER 2026

The Construction Source Australia With a readership exceeding 136,000 senior executives, The Construction Source Australia takes immense pride in providing an enticing platform to amplify your message to the most pivotal audience – your valued customers. Whether your aim is to promote an exciting new condo development, attract crucial financial investments for upcoming projects, or establish a commanding brand presence, we’re here to assist you every step of the way. To explore opportunities for featuring your company or showcasing your latest project in The Construction Source Australia, please reach out to our Group Publisher. Jermaine Poulsen e:info@theconstructionsource.com.au The Construction Source Australia Suite 11.01, Level 11, 175 Castlereagh Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia info@theconstructionsource.com.au ABN: 42 976 059 923 Executive Publisher Jermaine Poulsen COO Alexandra Box Editor in Chief Zach Janes Director of Operations Jacqueline Van Belois Business Development Managers Cheryl Ezinicki Production Manager Brennan Midghall Digital Strategist Pranim Thapa

SEPTEMBER 2026 Industry INNOVATIONS Product of the Month The Kights Scanner JMB MODULAR BUILDINGS A revolution in construction OLIVER KELLY GROUP A can-do approach CHP GROUP Luxury boutique excellence FREEDOM POOLS & SPAS Safety and eco-friendliness key to Freedom Pools’ success GJ GARDNER HOMES franchise ties “crucial“ to this builder’s success HAMILTON GROUP Driving the change they want to see IN THIS ISSUE JULY 2026 JMB MODULAR BUILDINGS OLIVER KELLY GROUP

SEPTEMBER 2026 Aluminum expected to accelerate worldwide adoption of electric and self-driving vehicles Material takes on an ever-widening role in tomorrow’s vehicles For more than a decade, concerns about fuel efficiency have been encouraging OEMS to replace steel with aluminum on vehicle bodies, doors, trunks, hoods, bumpers, crash boxes, brakes, cables and wheels. With the advent of electric and autonomous vehicles, OEMs worldwide are discovering new uses for aluminum. The need for battery casings and heat exchangers in electric vehicles, combined with autonomous vehicles’ demands for high visibility and structural integrity, is expected to exponentially increase the use of sheet aluminum in tomorrow’s cars, trucks and buses. Supporting the transition to battery-powered vehicles Four major design challenges confront OEMs in their transition to electric vehicles. Extending vehicle range Improving battery and passenger safety Increasing passenger comfort Optimizing cooling systems for lithium-ion batteries The substitution of sheet aluminum for steel helps resolve OEM concerns. Industry INNOVATIONS

The Construction Source Australia The lighter the vehicle, the longer its range. According to Ducker Worldwide, aluminum is expected to contribute more than half of the anticipated vehicle mass reduction demanded by electric vehicles (EVs) to extend range. Ducker reports that in North America alone, aluminum content in EVs will increase to nearly 565 pounds (256 kilgrams) per vehicle by 2028. The larger the vehicle, the heavier the battery and casing required to optimize the EV’s range. It is the larger EVs, i.e., sedans, SUVs, taxis, trucks and buses, that will realize the greatest benefits from a steel-to-aluminum conversion. In the U.S., a vehicle’s gross weight determines which class of commercial driver’s license (CDL) will be required. Without lightweighting, some EVs could demand a higher-class license or additional endorsements due to the added weight of the battery. In older European cities like Brussels or London, some bridges and tunnels only allow vehicles up to 3.5 tons in weight, a target that is very difficult to meet for larger EVs without lightweighting. For heavier material transport EVs such as trucks, weight reduction enables an increased payload, providing a significant monetary benefit. Generally, the larger the vehicle, the higher the payback. Particularly relevant for larger human transport EVs such as buses and taxis, the weight reduction made possible through aluminum provides the added benefit of reduced CO2 emissions and improved air quality, of value not only to vehicle operators, but to the communities they serve. The thermal and anti-corrosion properties of aluminum make it ideal for battery frames. Sea-water resistant, highly formable, highly surfaced aluminum alloys provide the strength necessary to pass side-impact crashworthiness testing, protecting passengers and the battery should impact occur. Casing floor plates made out of aluminum are not only strong, but also capable of resisting corrosion related to weather exposure. These characteristics enable aluminum battery casings to resist weather-related deterioration and impact from road debris, minimizing the risk of related fires and further securing passenger safety. Optimizing battery and human safety Extending range Dispersing heat The batteries used in EVs produce energy while charging and decharging, requiring the use of heat exchangers to dissipate heat. But the types of heat exchangers used in vehicle air conditioning systems are inadequate to meet this new challenge. Aluminum clad brazing (which connects multiple layers of aluminum together to disperse heat) requires heating in a controlled atmosphere (e.g., a vacuum) to achieve optimum joining. Aluminum heat exchangers designed specifically to meet the challenges presented by electric vehicles can use as many as five types of aluminum sandwiched together, with the layers providing gradient properties to optimize cooling. These specialized processes and materials address OEM concerns, ensuring adequate dissipation of the heat generated by battery-powered vehicles. An experienced aluminum processing partner can help OEMs specify the right process and alloys to meet specific vehicle temperature thresholds, ideally working side by side with OEM engineers early in the design process to maximize the performance of electric vehicles. IT IS THE LARGER EVS, I.E, SEDANS, SUVS, TAXIS, TRUCKS AND BUSES, THAT WILL REALIZE THE GREATEST BENEFITS FROM A STEEL -TO-ALUMINUM CONVERSION .

SEPTEMBER 2026 The luxury sedan market will likely be the first to transition to self-driving electric vehicles. Passenger comfort and safety, and an expansive view of the surrounding environment, are expected to be top priorities for this market. The hefty B pillars used in conventional vehicles to meet structural requirements for crashworthiness are undesirable in a self-driving scenario. To enable large windows and an unobstructed view without sacrificing passenger safety, lightweight aluminum will be the strong material of choice. Supporting the eventual transition to autonomous vehicles In addition to the design challenges presented by EVs, society’s demand for sustainable solutions will likely continue to be a driver in the transition to aluminum-lightweighted vehicles. A Forschungsgesellschaft Kraftfahrwesen mbH Aachen (fka) study, using a Volkswagen Golf as its reference vehicle, determined that an electric aluminum-based vehicle could meet the same safety standards as its steelbased equivalent, while emitting 1.5 tons less greenhouse gases over its lifecycle, taking into consideration production, a total driving distance of more than 93,000 miles (150,000 kilometers) and eventual recycling. Ongoing environmental concerns Conclusion Aluminum alloys are ideally suited to the design challenges presented by electric and autonomous vehicles. By aligning with aluminum partners deeply experienced in developing processes and alloys to meet demanding performance requirements, transportation vehicle OEMs are accelerating the pace of EV and self-driving vehicle adoption throughout North America. .

The Construction Source Australia

SEPTEMBER 2026 Business World Australia

The Construction Source Australia Business Worl d Australia

A revolution in construction

SEPTEMBER 2026 Detailed Design Drafting using SolidWorks Mild and Stainless Steel Fabrication Precision Machining Fully Automatic CNC Turning Centre Lathe & Machining Centre 300 Tonne 5 Axis Sync Brake Press 110 Tonne 7 Axis Sync Brake Press Fiber Laser Cutting 6 Axis Kuka Welding Robot 6 Broomfield St, Shepparton Victoria 3630 Phone: (03) 5831 5995 Engineering Pty. Ltd. Est. 1994 www.jmarengineering.com.au SERVICING THE GOULBURN VALLEY & BEYOND FOR 32 YEARS 30Kw - 4m X 2m Table Size 8Kw - 4m X 2m Table Size 4Kw - 3m X 1,5m Table Size

JMB Modular Buildings is an Australian volumetric modular construction company based in Shepparton, Victoria. Over the past 15 years, they have evolved and changed from a conventional regional builder into an advanced industrial manufacturer. These days, they operate out of a high-tech production facility called Advanced Manufacturing Centre #1 (AMC1), which features an automotive-style moving production line with eight workstations, allowing their buildings to progress systematically through framing, services, interiors, and finishes – all under the safety of one roof. Using this innovative and industry-leading model, JMB’s goal is to deliver buildings that arrive on site more than 90 percent complete, compressing timelines, reducing risk, and demonstrating how modern methods of construction can deliver greater certainty around programme, quality, safety and productivity. James Briggs, the founder of JMB Modular Buildings, is a construction industry veteran who started his first company at 20 years old, not long after finishing his apprenticeship. He started by building traditional custom homes, but a passion for innovation soon led him to pursuing alternatives to conventional building methods. In 2015, he began investing heavily in modular construction, research and development, building systems, and advanced manufacturing. For several years, JMB Modular Buildings did a mix of modular and site-built projects, and their work took them all across Australia. By 2019, however, James was burnt out from the travel and the volume of work. To make matters worse, THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

he ended up in and out of the hospital with two consecutive back surgeries. Circumstances forced him to reconsider his vision for the business. During his recovery, he and his wife Rachel came up with the plan for what would become AMC1. Firstly, James and Rachel worked out how to secure land for an industrial-scale facility, then how to fund it. They took that plan to investors, eventually finding partners willing to buy equity in the business, and used that capital to build the facility in Lemnos, a suburb located just eight miles north-east of Shepparton. JMB received their certificate of occupancy in February of this year. The design of AMC1 reflects years of research well beyond the construction industry. James traces some of his design thinking back to 2017, when he became a helicopter pilot and learned about weight, balance, and moment calculations that would later prove essential for engineering modules that can be lifted safely without twisting or warping. A trip to China in 2018 further shaped his approach to advanced manufacturing. “Where I take my inspiration from is the automotive industry, the shipbuilding industry, and the aerospace industry,” James explains. “You look at what works for them and how you can grab their technologies, their moving production line process, their takt times, and their way of thinking, and introduce it into an advanced manufacturing facility to effectively create industrialized construction.” That thinking is now embedded in the physical layout of AMC1. Each module begins at station SEPTEMBER 2026

one and works its way through eight stations, each with its own task and a target takt time of four days. “A module starts in station one and spends four days getting its structural steel,” James says. “Gantry cranes pick it up and move it into station two, where the frames go in. Station three is wiring and services, and so forth. It progresses down the line until, ultimately, in station eight, you’re left with a complete module that gets commissioned, wrapped, loaded on the truck, and sent out to site.” But the innovation at AMC1 goes beyond simply moving construction indoors. JMB has designed the facility around Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) principles, with each module developed not only for the finished building, but also for how it will be manufactured, lifted, transported, installed and connected on site. That approach has driven the development of a highly integrated production system combining digital design information, repeatable manufacturing processes, controlled lifting methodology, quality hold points and continuous improvement across each workstation. “We’re not just taking conventional construction and putting it inside a factory,” James says. “The building has to be designed around the manufacturing process from the very beginning. You have to think about how every component is fabricated, how the module moves through the factory, where it is lifted, how it travels, how it connects on site and how you remove THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

unnecessary work at every step.” AMC1 has been developed to support that philosophy. Digital building information is brought directly into the manufacturing environment, while specialised lifting systems allow modules to be moved repeatedly through the facility as construction progresses. JMB has also developed ways to complete more of the building in the factory, including cladding, internal finishes, joinery and integrated concrete floors. The result is a production model designed around repeatability and certainty rather than relying on individual trades to solve problems differently from project to project. “Construction has traditionally treated every building as a prototype,” James says. “Our ambition is to retain architectural flexibility while applying manufacturing disciplines — repeatable components, controlled environments, digital information, takt times, quality hold points and continuous improvement.” For James, the future of construction will not simply be about moving work offsite. “It’s about fundamentally designing buildings for manufacture and assembly. That is where the real productivity improvement comes from.” Today, that system is being tested against a market where the regulatory, insurance and finance frameworks are still adapting to modern methods of construction. “From a manufacturing perspective, we know the model works,” James says. “The challenge now SEPTEMBER 2026

is making sure the systems around construction evolve at the same pace as the technology.” One of the biggest issues is that traditional construction finance and insurance models have largely been designed around buildings being progressively constructed on site. In volumetric construction, a significant portion of the building is manufactured offsite before being transported and installed, which creates a different risk profile that is not always well understood. JMB has been working closely with clients, financiers, insurers and regulators to help bridge that gap and create greater confidence around the delivery model. “Housing is still a major part of why we built AMC1,” James says. “We believe advanced manufacturing can play a significant role in delivering more housing, more predictably and at greater scale. The opportunity now is to align the regulatory and financial frameworks with the way these buildings are actually designed, manufactured and delivered.” While those frameworks continue to mature, JMB is also applying their manufacturing platform across commercial, key worker accommodation, social housing and other projects where speed, programme certainty and repeatability provide significant value. For these clients, the sooner their building is delivered, the sooner they are generating revenue, which makes it worth it to spend a little bit more up-front. The company’s most advanced current project is a four-storey hotel and apartment building – that features one level of on-site ground-floor car parking topped by three levels of apartment units, made up of 21 modules. All 21 modules are currently moving through the factory in various stages, with the ground floor fully framed, the second level having its structural steel welded to the floors, and the third level’s concrete floors already poured. The project is also an important proof point for JMB’s manufacturing system. Rather than limiting volumetric construction to detached homes or low-complexity accommodation, the company is applying its DfMA, lifting and structural systems to multi-level development. For James, that is where the next stage of modular construction becomes particularly significant. “The real opportunity is not just making houses faster,” he says. “It is proving that advanced manufacturing can be applied to increasingly complex buildings while still giving architects, developers and builders the flexibility they need.” THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

In recent years, modular building has started growing more popular in Australia due to soaring construction costs and severe labour shortages. According to James, what sets JMB Modular Buildings apart from a lot of the more recent entrants into the market is their reliability, their efficiency, and their honesty. “You see companies that come out and say they can build a house in two days, but that only includes the time on site, it doesn’t include the manufacturing time, and time to import the materials from overseas,” he explains. “There can be confusion around modular construction programmes because site installation time is sometimes presented as the total construction period. At JMB we measure the entire manufacturing and delivery process, because programme certainty has to be transparent for the client.” A real game changer SEPTEMBER 2026

Once manufacturing commences, JMB targets a fixed 40-business-day pathway through manufacture, installation and completion, with the home move-in ready at handover. At the end of those 40 business days, the home is “move-in ready, meaning the client can sleep in their bed that night.” The company can achieve that kind of turnaround time and certainty, James explains, because their facility was conceived and designed to advance their modules “as far as possible” under one roof. As previously mentioned, their homes are more than 90 per cent complete by the time they are shipped. That’s a credit to their built-in lifting system – which allows them to complete the cladding, tiles, and joinery all in the factory. JMB has also developed a way to integrate concrete floors into its volumetric modules during factory production – an important development for multi-level construction, acoustic performance, durability and the ability to complete more work before the module ever reaches site. “For us, integrating concrete floors into the manufacturing process has been a real game changer,” James says. “It allows us to push the building further towards completion inside the factory and opens up more opportunities for larger and more complex projects.” Despite moving so quickly, JMB never compromises on quality along the way. The company operates using Procore, with ISO-style checklists at hold points throughout the production line, meaning no module advances from one station to the next without sign-off from a station manager. THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

“We spent a lot of time writing out our build methodologies and our inspection checklists,” Rachel says. “There’s no making it up as we go along. The guys are following the formula, and they’re doing all the inspections.” Another key part of the system is JMB’s integrated lifting methodology. Modules are engineered to be repeatedly lifted through the manufacturing process and again during transport and installation, allowing the company to complete significantly more work in the factory without compromising the module during handling. That capability has become particularly important as JMB moves into larger, multi-level volumetric projects where lifting geometry, structural behaviour, tolerances and site installation all need to be considered during the design phase rather than after manufacture. James adds that the repeated lifting each module undergoes inside the factory doubles as a stress test. “When one of our homes leaves the factory, they’ve already been lifted eight times,” he says. “If there were going to be any defects, they would happen within those lifts.” Another point of differentiation is that JMB operate as a manufacturer as well as a builder – meaning they can take a project from design through to on-site handover without bringing in a separate contractor. “That’s another thing that sets us apart,” Rachel says. “A lot of modular manufacturers are just manufacturers, and they’re not a registered builder, so they can only offer a module. For the client to take that module, they need a registered builder to do the site work. That’s something we can do completely in-house, from design conception to handover, and we’re registered for it.” Over the years, JMB Modular Buildings has also formed a number of key partnerships with vendors and suppliers, and James says the strength of those relationships also helps the company stand out. For example, he cites their close ties with Jmar Engineering – an established Australian mechanical engineering and manufacturing company, also based in Shepparton. Jmar specializes in precision component manufacturing, metal fabrication, and mechanical repairs. They provide the kind of high quality plate cutting, laser-etched metal components, automated robotic welding, and CNC-machined parts needed to feed high-volume, automated production lines like JMB’s AMC1 facility. SEPTEMBER 2026

Moving forward, James and Rachel are focused not only on growing JMB, but also on helping shape the broader framework for volumetric modular construction in Australia. James believes the current regulatory system does not always fully recognise the differences between conventional site-based construction and advanced offsite manufacturing. “Volumetric modular construction still needs to comply with the same fundamental building standards, but the way those buildings are designed, manufactured, inspected and delivered is very different,” James says. “The opportunity is to develop a framework that recognises that difference without compromising safety, quality or accountability.” For JMB, one of the key opportunities is greater recognition of Pushing for change THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

repeatable manufacturing systems and productbased certification. Rachel explains that consistency is essential to achieving manufacturing scale. “If every module or building has to be treated as though it is being produced for the first time, it limits the efficiency that advanced manufacturing is designed to create,” she says. “Where you have repeatable systems, controlled processes and strong quality assurance, there should be a pathway that recognises that.” James compares the opportunity to other advanced manufacturing industries. “In automotive, aerospace and other manufacturing sectors, the product, process and quality systems are developed together,” he says. “Construction has an opportunity to move further in that direction while still maintaining the sitespecific engineering and compliance that every project requires.” JMB is now participating in industry roundtables and engaging directly with government, regulators and industry bodies to help develop a clearer pathway for modern methods of construction. “We want to be part of the solution,” Rachel says. “The industry has a real opportunity to increase productivity, improve quality and deliver buildings more predictably. That requires manufacturers, builders, government, regulators and financiers to work together.” James and Rachel see AMC1 as a proof of concept for what advanced construction manufacturing can become in Australia. “We deliberately called it Advanced Manufacturing Centre #1,” James concludes. “The vision was always bigger than one facility. With the right pipeline, partnerships and regulatory settings, we believe this model can be replicated and scaled.” “I think one of our greatest strengths is the IP and technical capability we have developed. If you combine that with the resources and delivery capability of a Tier 1 or Tier 2 construction partner, there is an enormous opportunity to advance modern methods of construction in Australia.” SEPTEMBER 2026

THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA For more on JMB Modular Buildings and their mission to solve Australia’s building challenges – and to get in touch with James, Rachel, and the rest of their team – visit www.jmbmodularbuildings.com.au/

A can-do approach

SEPTEMBER 2026

Oliver Kelly Group is an industry-leading construction company based in Devonport, Tasmania, and capable of operating all across the country. Since forming in 2010, they have delivered a wide variety of projects, ranging from aged care facilities and commercial spaces to major civil infrastructure upgrades. They have also grown to a team over 100 with multiple divisions in-house, including construction, civil works, and plumbing. That depth of capabilities enables them to provide clients with an end-to-end service and deliver “absolute value and quality outcomes,” according to founder and leader Matthew Kelly. “We’ve grown a lot in a short time and we’ve built a reputation for delivery,” Matthew says. “We’re known for exceeding our clients’ expectations. We believe this is due to the exceptional and diversely skilled team that we have put together, and to our ‘can-do’ approach to business.” “We have a lot of flexibility in our team, so there’s not a lot in what we can’t do,” adds Rick Speers, director and co-leader of the company. “We can do so much in-house. We can take a job from a greenfield site to a finished product, whether there’s a school or a subdivision or a multi-unit development. We can start from scratch and get it all done under one roof. That’s because of our people and our attitude.” Oliver Kelly Group was originally formed by Matthew and Damien Oliver, both of whom came from long careers in construction – Damien previously ran a homebuilding company, while Matthew had worked for many years for Tasmania’s largest commercial and industrial construction company. In 2010, they teamed up with the goal THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

of creating a commercial building company “with an inherent customer focus, unwavering integrity, and a steadfast commitment to the environment.” Like most new ventures, the company’s earliest days were about proving themselves with the opportunities available. Matthew leaned on the networks he had built during his years in commercial construction, and those relationships opened doors into the education and aged care sectors. From there, one project led to the next. Their first contract was valued at roughly $200,000. Growth came steadily over the following years, and a turning point arrived when Oliver Kelly Group secured a $3 million dollar contract with Simplot to build a new office facility at the company’s potato processing plant in Ulverstone – Matthew points to that project as a milestone that helped establish Oliver Kelly Group as one of the coast’s leading commercial builders. Over the years, the company’s workforce grew alongside their project list. They started with a staff of about eight people, mostly carried over from Damien’s original business, but they have since expanded to a team over 100. A major shift in the company’s direction came in 2014, when Rick joined as a director. A qualified plumber with extensive experience in civil construction across Australia, Rick brought an entirely new dynamic to the business. His arrival allowed Oliver Kelly Group to add civil works and plumbing as standalone divisions, giving the company additional revenue streams and a broader base of expertise to draw on. Today, that combination of construction, civil, and plumbing capabilities allows Oliver Kelly Group to SEPTEMBER 2026

take on an unusually wide range of work. Their current project list includes a $20 million new research centre for the University of Tasmania in Launceston, a $22 million dollar aged care development in Devonport, and an $18 million dollar apartment build in Hobart – plus other major plumbing and maintenance jobs that keep their divisions active, including the company’s growing mining division. Geographically, the company’s work has mostly taken place in Tasmania, but they have also been known to travel nationwide and their capacity knows no geographic limits. As a delivery partner for John Holland and VisionStream on the National Broadband Network rollout, Oliver Kelly Group had crews stationed in South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland, Victoria, and the Northern Territory. “We predominantly work all around Tasmania, but in our journey we’ve been all over Australia,” Matthew says. “We’re not scared to go anywhere.” When pursuing work, Matthew explains that they don’t really look at scope or geography – instead, they look for a challenge. They favour work that pushes them into doing new things. “We like things that are a little bit different, but we’re mindful that we’ve got to have the skill set to deliver,” Matthew explains. “We review every project from head to tail to make sure we’ve got the capabilities. And if we haven’t, we’ll make sure we get them so we can deliver it. We do a pretty detailed risk analysis, make sure we can price it properly, and then once we win the work, we sit down as a crew and figure out how we’re going to make it happen.” THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

That appetite for ambitious work has taken the company from building toilet blocks to pouring dams. One standout recent project is the Henderson Dam on Flinders Island, a remote outpost off Tasmania’s coast where every load of concrete and gravel had to be barged in. The project involved extensive in-situ concrete work to form a dam face and spillway within existing rock structures, all while meeting the exacting specifications demanded by a major water utility client. According to Matthew, that project represents precisely the kind of large-scale, technically demanding civil work that Oliver Kelly Group has increasingly built their reputation around. And that reputation, more than price, is how he believes they earn repeat business. “We’re known for delivering,” he reiterates. “A lot of our work now comes from repeat clients, which tells us they’re happy with what we do. We’ve got to a point where a lot of it isn’t price-driven. We’ll put in a tender and sometimes we’re a bit higher, but we still get awarded the work because of our previous deliveries and outcomes.” Once again, Rick also credits that client loyalty to the high calibre of the people on their team. “We’ve been able to build a pretty solid team over quite a few years,” he says. “You’re only as good as the people around you, and we’ve got some wonderful people who hold themselves to very high standards and take pride in what they deliver. That’s what drives the outcome we expect and want.” SEPTEMBER 2026

Over the years, Oliver Kelly Group has built some very strong and very long-lasting relationships with customers. For example, their partnership with Tasmanian water utility TasWater – which was initially cultivated through Rick’s industry contacts – has lasted over a decade, and Matthew credits them for helping develop their company’s systems and processes. He says the way they prepare a tender today is “poles apart” from how they did it in the company’s early years, a shift he credits to the guidance and expectations of clients like TasWater. Additionally, the company has worked with the aged care provider Meercroft on an ongoing basis for nearly eight years straight. Currently, they are working together on Oliver Kelly Group’s largest project to date – a 145-bed aged care facility for Meercroft in their home city of Devonport, valued at roughly $22 million dollars. Seizing opportunities THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

Like many long-established aged care sites, that Devonport facility has been extended piecemeal over the years, leaving several older wings in need of replacement. Oliver Kelly Group’s current work is being delivered in stages – an eight-bed wing, followed by a new twelve-bed memory support unit, another eight-bed wing, a double-storey addition bringing 24 new beds, and a brandnew kitchen and laundry. The company has just handed over the first stage, with the broader project scheduled to run through to June 2028 and two to three crews committed to the site for its duration. “We’ve developed a wonderful relationship with Meercroft,” Matthew says. “We’ve been able to help them out in other areas too. We’ve been doing some maintenance work for them with our plumbing division. The relationship has evolved, and if anything major needs to happen at one of their facilities, they give us a call.” Moving forward, both Matthew and Rick are excited for Oliver Kelly Group to grow, but they don’t have a fixed target. Instead, they will let the company’s future be shaped by the opportunities the Tasmanian market and the markets across Australia continue to present. Matthew notes the state is “quite buoyant at the moment,” with plenty of expressions of interest coming their way, and the company intends to keep building out their civil division in particular. “It all comes down to the opportunities that knock on our door,” Rick concludes. “If the opportunities are there, we’ll grow with those opportunities. We’re confident we have the team in place to respond to whatever the market throws at us.” SEPTEMBER 2026

THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA For more on Oliver Kelly Group, their services, their past projects, and to hear from their past clients – and to get in touch with Matthew, Rick, and the rest of their expert team – visit https://oliverkellygroup.com.au/

Luxury boutique excellence

SEPTEMBER 2026

CHP Group (Combined Heyer Property Group) is a family-based property development business committed to setting a new benchmark in each and every one of their projects. Whether it’s a commercial or residential development, they invest their time, resources and energy into fostering collaborative relationships with others that share their vision and values. Combined with a people-first attitude and unrivalled attention to detail, CHP delivers projects that build a better future for their community. CHP Group is a collaboration between Jordan and Chris Heyer, as managing director and chairman respectively. Chris had spent his career working and owning car dealerships, as well as completing commercial developments, while Jordan had a background in residential development, having worked for a few large developers. “We put our minds together to focus on the luxury residential space up north,” Jordan says. “The six units in Kingscliff was our first luxury residential build, which introduced us into that niche market in Kingscliff and really kicked off what you see as CHP Group today,” says Jordan. That original project sold out in two weeks, and Jordan thought they should look at other opportunities. In October 2021 they found another one in Yamba, a luxury boutique four-townhouse project an hour and a half south of Kingscliff. Soon thereafter they chose a third opportunity 15 minutes south of Kingscliff in Cabarita Beach – eight apartments with retail on the ground floor. The group now has another six projects on the North Coast in the pipeline. “We want to continue that boutique trend, looking at 4-to-12 units, with bigger apartments,” says Jordan. In 2023 Jordan introduced a construction entity to CHP Group. “As developers, a big risk item is always the builder, especially in these challenging times within the industry. In 2022, we were lucky to complete a project right before our builder fell into administration. That’s when we decided we THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

SEPTEMBER 2026

needed an internal build entity and started CHP Construction,” he says. Now that they’ve started building the development portfolio, construction acts as an internal entity for CHP Group, says Jordan. CHP Construction is currently building both Yamba and Cabarita projects, and added two new partners in Tony Vickers and Jordan O’Driscoll. Tony is head of construction, and Jordan is project manager on the company’s Yamba project. The Yamba project is a $4.5 million build, and Cabarita is closer to $8 million. CHP Group has another circa $90 million in the construction pipeline, says Jordan. They have another boutique project in the Cabarita area for circa $9 million, a light industrial commercial project in Queensland around the $5 million mark and on the other end of the spectrum they have a large subdivision and light industrial project in the Whitsundays. CHP Group’s first project in Kingscliff was Stellar Pacific. “It’s a beautiful project with six big luxury units in it, 800 metres from town and 15 minutes from airport,” says Jordan. Stellar Pacific effortlessly defines a vision of sun-soaked indulgence and contemporary architectural excellence. Just steps away from the matchless sands of Kingscliff, these six, four storey residences bless the iconic esplanade with a lavish, modern look that’s both impressive and inviting. Buoyed by the success of Malie, which has now sold out,, Jordan is excited for CHP Group’s upcoming and second Cabarita Beach project with retail units on the ground floor and nine units above. “It’s on the first corner you come to THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

Concept Design - Design Development Development Application Documentation Construction Documentation Project Management - Contract Administration Sunshine Coast Office: Suite 10, 68 Jessica Boulevard Minyama Qld Airlie Beach Office: 4 Henderson Street, Cannon Valley Qld M: 0419 799 935 E: admin@morriarchi.com.au | W: www.morriarchi.com.au Concept Design - Design Development Development Application Documentation Construction Documentation Project Management - Contract Administration Sunshine Coast Office: Suite 10, 68 Jessica Boulevard Minyama Qld Airlie Beach Office: 4 Henderson Street, Cannon Valley Qld e: admin@morriarchi.com.au | w: www.morriarchi.com.au in town, and it will be a statement piece for the whole of Cabarita Beach,” he says. The jewel of CHP Group’s projects that Jordan is looking forward to developing is next to the one they already completed in Kingscliff. This build will comprise of three apartments with a double floor penthouse and infinity pools overlooking the ocean. “At 320-to-500 metres internal dimensions, they’re house sized apartments,” he says. While there are many choices when it comes to technology when considering these builds, CHP Group mainly sticks to new technology around safety protocols. Jordan O’Driscoll uses the Hazard Co to track safety across both sites. It’s the most beneficial app they’re using at the moment. CHP Group does look at new products on the market when considering their builds. They have started using Speed Panel, an interlocking façade system. If the project is being erected in between two existing buildings and you can’t get behind your façade to access it, this speed panel allows each panel to be dropped in from the top and installed and fixed from the inside. “Each panel interlocks and it’s quite amazing to work with.” These luxury builds would not be completed with the detail CHP Group demands without their partnerships. “We have a really good partnership with Winnings Appliances and Harvey Norman Commercial,” says Jordan. “Having these partnerships allows us to ensure we have efficiency and things are on time. Looking after each other and having good partnerships is important to us.” SEPTEMBER 2026

Jordan Heyer MANAGING DIRECTOR DEVELOPMENT & CONSTRUCTION Tony Vickers HEAD OF CONSTRUCTION Jordan O’Driscoll DIRECTOR PROJECT MANAGER Amelia Purseglove HEAD OF OPERATIONS William Foxton DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Arabella Cossalter COMPANY ASSISTANT TRAINEE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Adam Keyes SITE FOREMAN Cassiano Correa SUB SITE FOREMAN Clay Keyes SUB SITE FOREMAN CHP GROUP TEAM THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

With more than one office and eight employees across construction and development, Jordan gives his people a lot of autonomy. “We are scattered across a large territory,” he says. They get together every quarter, and in between they have a headquarters in Tweed Heads and Sydney, so they try to catch up as much as possible. “We give a lot of freedom and trust to our staff to get the job done and manage their own workload. With our projects being so spread across the East Coast we rely heavily on having the right people in the right roles to ensure we are operating as efficiently as we can even though we are not always together.” “Together there’s a really good mix of people with experience and knowledge across construction, development and finance, and those times when we are together it’s very beneficial to everyone,” says Jordan. This mix of talents makes a strong core team at CHP Group. “We try, in terms of marketing, to have a reputation that we deliver the product to the highest quality with no unexpected surprises when our purchasers walk in on handover. We market ourselves as a quality developer and builder and we try to deliver a product we’re proud of now and in the future and ensure anyone who buys in our developments will want to re-buy in the future.” Jordan says he is comfortable to stay in the boutique development space for now. “We can deliver a very nice product up to that 12-apartment size. We would like to have more projects operating at any one time but we’re happy with the scale we’re at right now. Our pipeline looks strong and we’re excited to deliver the projects we’re working on. The future holds more boutique developments for us.” SEPTEMBER 2026

For more information on what CHP Group can do for you, visit their website https://chpgroup.com.au THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

Safety and eco-friendliness key to Freedom Pools’ success

SEPTEMBER 2026

When he started 50 years ago, Bob Biernat sold water tanks to farmers. Now in their golden anniversary year, Bob’s company – now called Freedom Pools & Spas – is a leading swimming pool manufacturer, with three factories in Australia and one in Spain. “As a family owned and operated business, our reputation means everything and making our customers happy is at the heart of what we do,” says Bob. Bob, a mechanic by trade, first set up as a fibreglass tank maker in Country Western Australia in the town of Narrogin. That business quickly grew, and “soon we were installing pools for the farmers,” Bob recalls. Within 12 months, they had their own moulding facility. “After 10 years we moved the business to the city and we’ve never looked back.” Freedom Pools’ first pool factory was established in Perth then Adelaide. Following that, the company developed their largest factory in Queensland. “Business went really well, and 20 years ago we also established a factory in Spain to service European contracts,” says Bob. “Before that we were shipping product to Europe and costs got too high.” “Many people in Australia have a pool because it gets so hot here,” says Bob. “And we’ve had great successes in Europe. All the big suppliers there compliment us for lifting the bar over there in terms of quality manufacture. European standards for swimming pools were lax for a long time. Now suppliers are trying to make a better product. It’s good for the world.” Freedom Pools manufactures swimming pools using the highest quality eco-friendly fibreglass and gelcoats available. This ensures the pools are extremely strong and built to withstand the elements and the test of time. “We don’t skimp on the quality of our materials, production methods and processes, so you can enjoy years of swimming enjoyment,” says Bob. THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

“All our pools are built to exacting Australian standards at state-of-the-art factories, to ensure they suit our harsh Australian weather conditions. Our locally made swimming pools are held in such high regard that they are exported to countries all over the world in Asia, North America, Europe and the Middle East.” Freedom Pools’ edge is their leadership in new technology, says Bob. “Other companies have one color. We’ve developed a machine that sprays four colors at once. The ‘MarbleTech’ pool surface looks like marble. You can have any shade of marble you want, and that makes our product unique in the world.” “We have also developed a unique and proven technology process to ensure the quality of a new swimming pool is guaranteed to provide the customer with a product that looks great for many years into the future,” says Bob. This threepart technology, called ‘Pool Armour Protection Technology’, consists of: FloTechTM, TransTech, and MarbleTech, all of which are exclusive to Freedom Pools. MarbleTech is an interior surface protection technology that improves the fade resistance of the swimming pool. “All our fibreglass pools are finished with this innovative marine gelcoat finish developed by us,” says Bob. “MarbleTech has the luxurious appearance of marble and is also fade resistant, giving our customers the peace of mind that their swimming pool will continue to look great for years to come.” The interior finish that the customer chooses for their swimming pool helps create the colour and reflective qualities of the water in the pool. MarbleTech finishes are SEPTEMBER 2026

THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

available in a wide range of beautiful colours and effects. Secondly, there is TransTech which is a special translucent resin that allows us to roll out all air from the lamination eliminating the risk of trapped air causing future blistering of the surface. The third piece of the puzzle is FloTech, a surface protection technology that assists in protection against ground contaminants once installed. “When these three technologies are combined you get the very best quality swimming pool available, with lifetime warranties,” says Bob An additional safety feature from Freedom Pools is Aquaguard. “We wanted to offer protection against harmful bacteria without a pool full of chemicals. That’s why we use Aquaguard – a revolutionary microbial inhibitor included in the gelcoat of every swimming pool we manufacture,” says Bob. Aquaguard offers protection from up to 99 per cent of harmful bacteria. This makes every Freedom swimming pool more hygienic and safer without the over-use of chemicals. “The customer spends less time and money playing around with chemicals and more time playing in their pool. It’s the perfect solution for a more natural, ecofriendly swimming pool.” Bob is constantly looking for ways to improve the product they offer, and belonging to industry associations has been advantageous for this. “The organizations in Australia and Europe are beneficial for meeting other people in the industry and growing credibility,” says Bob. Freedom Pools is a proud member of the SEPTEMBER 2026

Swimming Pool & Spa Association of Australia (SPASA), Australia’s peak swimming pool and spa industry body. Bob cites five reasons to choose a SPASA member for your pool or spa installation: First, SPASA members must have demonstrated a history of ethical and competent trading, and carry sufficient public liability insurance cover at all times, to protect consumers and contractors on your project, Bob says. Secondly, by dealing with a SPASA member, clients have the peace of mind that comes from the SPASA ‘Guarantee of Completion’ – protecting the consumer in the event that your pool builder experiences problems. “If your builder cannot complete your project, SPASA will arrange for another SPASA member to step in and finish it, at no additional cost to you,” says Bob. As well, SPASA members have access to training programmes to ensure their construction staff carry out all work with technical excellence, and members perform all work in accordance with Australian Government Standards. Lastly, only SPASA members can issue clients a SPASA contract – the essential contract of the well-informed consumer. “Essentially, all this means the consumer is dealing with a professional business you can trust,” says Bob. This customer confidence in Freedom Pools’ high standards of quality and design has been recognised internationally and across Australia with countless swimming pool awards over the years. These industry accolades include THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

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