Rapley to build on Blue Ridge

Construction and property development group Rapley Wilkinson is eying a greater share of Western Australia’s booming regional housing market following its acquisition of transportable homes manufacturer Blue Ridge this month.

The deal comes just eight months after Blue Ridge founder Alan MacKenzie bought back the Kewdale-based business from insulation and air-conditioning company Cool or Cosy.

Rapley Wilkinson managing director Alan Thomas said the acquisition was a good fit for his company, which had 30 years’ experience providing permanent workforce housing for the minerals and energy industries in the Pilbara and Great Southern.

The company plans to move Blue Ridge and its 50 staff to larger premises in Welshpool.

“We can’t get contractors to take on many of the opportunities we get so this will give us the chance to control the process and make houses in transportable form to help fill the orders,” Mr Thomas said.

“We see many opportunities beyond the resources sector and will aggressively position Blue Ridge into being a provider of choice for a range of industries, including tourism.”

Mr MacKenzie established Blue Ridge in May 2005, following his departure from a senior role with the transportable accommodation industry’s biggest player, Fleetwood.

Blue Ridge has since built a considerable client base including Fortescue Metals Group Ltd, Precious Metals Australia, Coates Hire and Aspen Parks.

Mr Mackenzie has previously told WA Business News that Blue Ridge generated nearly $4 million in sales in its first nine months of business and expected to post at least $12 million in sales in 2006-07.

Mr MacKenzie would remain with the business, which would not be changing its name.

Rapley Wilkinson has been on the look out for a bolt-on acquisition such as Blue Ridge for some time, having established a core business around construction of workforce housing for mining companies in Port Hedland, Karratha and Hopetoun.

The group has also built a strong presence in resort development, its latest projects being the $30 million Tropicana Resort and Palm Grove Holiday Park redevelopments in Broome, and the Frangipani and Rendezvous Sanctuary Resorts.