SPG thinking outside the box

Seven years ago, an old hand in the mining industry and a former SAS sergeant major started a business providing housing solutions for companies operating in remote Western Australia.

With the skills learned from Steve Walsh's 24 years in senior mining management roles, and Peter Green's two decades in the SAS, Site Projects Group set out to provide complete site accommodation management, specialising in the hiring and supply of mobile camps, caravans and temporary buildings.

Today, SPG employs 36 full-time and part-time staff, and is preparing to double its workforce over the next year by expanding nationally and targeting industries besides mining.

Messrs Walsh and Green's business strategy for SPG involved taking control of nearly every aspect of the camp supply chain, from building, hiring and selling units, and looking after infrastructure such as resident inductions, catering, power supply and sewage storage and removal.

Their combined experience in planning, logistics, remote operational needs, and comprehensive workplace health and safety systems allowed SPG to deliver a one-stop-shop service.

From its first job hiring out two accommodation transportable units to a mine site, SPG has grown to have a hire fleet of more than 70 site caravans throughout WA.

SPG developed its client base in the resources industry, providing turnkey accommodation solutions to Rio Tinto Iron Ore, BHP Billiton, Fortescue Metals Group and a number of mining services companies.

As SPG's client work increased, it invested in a hire depot in Newman, a manufacturing yard in Kewdale, and property in Bullsbrook earmarked for later expansions, to complement its head office operations in Welshpool.

SPG is now looking to provide larger camp accommodation solutions, targeting the oil and gas sector and increased investment in regional and remote projects across Australia.

The strategy to maintain in-house control of all processes will need to be altered to increase manufacturing capability by sourcing non-critical manufacturing components from offshore suppliers.

By keeping the vast majority of processes in house, SPG aims to maintain a high level of service to clients, while also providing its staff with full-time, long-term careers.