As mining and construction projects continue to increase in scale and complexity, the industry’s shift from single-service contractors to fully integrated delivery partners are accelerating.
For Western Australian-based Silverstone, this approach forms the foundation of its business model, combining Power, Water, Survey and Recruitment services under one organisation to support the resources sector.
Operating across some of Australia’s most challenging and remote environments, Silverstone has established itself as a large-scale, multi-division mining services provider capable of supporting projects from early-stage development through to full operational delivery.
By integrating multiple specialist services under one umbrella, Silverstone helps mining and construction operators streamline project execution, improve coordination between disciplines and reduce delivery risk across major resource projects.
Silverstone’s Managing Director Kenny Keogh said the company’s integrated model was designed to simplify project delivery and reduce clients’ reliance on multiple contractors.
“Our goal was to create a one-stop shop for power, water, surveying and recruitment services, giving clients a single point of contact instead of managing four or five separate service providers,” he said.
Integrated capability
By bringing together four specialist divisions under a single brand, Silverstone enables clients to engage one provider across multiple project requirements.
Mr Keogh said the integrated model improves efficiency, streamlines delivery and enhances service outcomes for customers.
“Having a single point of contact allows us to operate more efficiently, achieve greater scale and deliver a higher level of service.”
The structure also enables Silverstone to allocate resources across divisions in response to project demand, supporting workforce continuity and faster mobilisation.
“It provides greater continuity for our clients and gives us the flexibility to move people between divisions as demand changes.”
Power shift to hybrid
Energy remains a critical component of mining and infrastructure projects, particularly across remote and off-grid operations.
Silverstone’s power division has evolved from traditional power generation into a fully integrated service offering spanning design, construction and maintenance, with a growing focus on hybrid energy systems.
Silverstone’s power division has significantly expanded its capabilities in recent years.
“Our team has been building power stations for the past 15 to 20 years, but more recently we’ve brought design, construction and drafting capabilities in-house,” Mr Keogh said.
Silverstone now delivers hybrid power solutions that combine diesel generation, solar energy and battery storage systems. This capability has been further strengthened through Silverstone’s acquisition of Ultimate Energy Engineering, which added in-house control systems expertise to the business.
“As diesel prices continue to rise, we’re seeing significantly greater demand for solar and battery integration within power station applications.”
The transition reflects a broader industry shift towards more reliable, cost-effective and lower-emissions energy solutions for remote resource operations.
Managing water at scale
Water management remains a critical consideration for mining projects, playing a central role in maintaining productivity, operational efficiency and site continuity.
“Water is one of the most critical components of any mining operation - it is a non-negotiable aspect of capital investment,” said Mr Keogh.
Silverstone delivers end-to-end water infrastructure solutions for the resources sector, including dewatering systems, pipelines, pump stations and site-based water management infrastructure tailored to remote mining environments.
“We design, supply, install and commission turnkey water solutions for mining applications.”
The company also supports groundwater management through monitoring programs and operational modelling designed to optimise water usage and minimise environmental risk.
Across both greenfield and brownfield operations, effective water management continues to grow in importance, with mining companies increasingly focused on efficiency, reliability and standardised infrastructure delivery.
Surveying underpins delivery
Surveying plays a foundational role in mining projects, particularly in remote environments where accuracy directly impacts construction outcomes.
“Survey is usually one of the first things that comes up on a project in the mining environment,” Mr Keogh said. “It plays a key role from the initial phase through to the detailed delivery phase.”
Accurate surveying ensures infrastructure is aligned correctly, reducing the risk of delays and rework. “If the set points don’t line up, then the system won’t line up.”
Silverstone’s surveying capability supports both internal project delivery and external clients, integrating with its broader service offering to improve coordination and decision-making across sites.
Workforce capability supports project delivery
Silverstone’s recruitment division complements its technical service offering by sourcing and supporting skilled personnel across the mining sector.
Saul Contera, Director at Silverstone and head of the company’s workforce solutions division, oversees recruitment operations across the business and said the division provides workforce support across a broad range of mining disciplines.
“Our recruitment division supports all areas of mining, including production, crushing, trades and labour, processing and metallurgy, as well as both blue- and white-collar roles,” Mr Contera said.
The division supports both Silverstone’s internal projects and external clients, helping ensure access to experienced and site-ready personnel.
“It also enables us to secure high-quality people who have been tried, tested and proven to be the right fit for the role.”
In an increasingly tight labour market, particularly for FIFO positions, workforce availability continues to present a major challenge for the resources industry.
“There has definitely been a shift over the past five to seven years, with fewer younger workers wanting to pursue mine site-based roles.”
Positioned for growth
Demand for integrated service providers continues to increase as mining projects become larger and more complex, with operators placing greater emphasis on efficiency, reliability and streamlined delivery.
In response to this market shift, Silverstone has experienced significant growth, particularly across its power, water and surveying divisions.
“We’ve grown by almost 200 per cent as a business over the past two years,” said Kenny Keogh.
Mr Keogh said the growth has been driven by strong demand for Silverstone’s technical capability, reliability and integrated service offering.
“We’re seeing strong demand across the power, water and surveying sectors, largely due to our reliability, skill set and the breadth of our service offering.”
Looking ahead, the company is continuing to invest in renewable energy solutions and expanding its engineering and design capabilities to support future growth opportunities.
“We’ve recently invested further into our renewables division and strengthened our design-and-construct engineering capability.”
“Over the next few years, the integration of solar, renewable energy and battery storage systems will become a major focus area for our growth.”
As the resources sector continues to evolve, integrated delivery models will play an increasingly important role in supporting efficient and scalable project execution.
