Brookfield widens focus

BROOKFIELD Multiplex has announced a management restructure to support the launch of a new engineering and infrastructure division.

The group has won several major infrastructure projects over the years but this work has always been done from within its core construction and development business.

In fact, it is currently the preferred tenderer on three major infrastructure projects worth $1.6 billion, including work related to the Roy Hill and Karara iron ore projects.

The group has decided to step up its pursuit of engineering and infrastructure contracts by establishing the new division with its own management, while also deciding to establish an infrastructure services division.

John Flecker, who was previously joint managing director of the group’s contracting business, has been promoted to a new role as CEO of Australasia and South-East Asia, giving him oversight of the three divisions.

Sydney-based George Kostas, who shared the joint managing director role, has been appointed managing director of the Australasian construction and development division.

Projects currently under construction by Brookfield include the City Square office tower in Perth and the Fiona Stanley hospital.

Mark Elliott has been recruited from Lend Lease subsidiary Conneq to establish the infrastructure services division, which will focus on maintenance work.

Mr Flecker said the group has not yet appointed an Australian managing director for the engineering and infrastructure division.

However the group already has Rainer Rasmussen in the role of managing director WA for engineering and infrastructure.

Mr Flecker said the new engineering and infrastructure division would focus initially on WA, which has one of the largest pipelines of infrastructure work in the world.

It planned to expand to Queensland and other parts of the country, and would also explore international opportunities.

This could include South-East Asia and even Brazil, where the group’s parent company, Canada-based investment company Brookfield, has a large presence.

The group’s prospective infrastructure projects include the Mundaring water treatment plant for the Water Corporation. It is also preferred contractor for the process plant and material handling facility at Hancock Prospecting’s Roy Hill iron ore mine.

A third prospective contract, via a joint venture with Laing O’Rourke and NRW Holdings, is the planned upgrade of Westnet Rail’s Mid West network to service Gindalbie Metals’ Karara iron ore project.