PERTH water management company Welltech has had the biggest win of its 20-year history with a contract to work on Brisbane’s largest capital works project.
Welltech has been contracted to bypass sewage during the construction of the $80 million Woolloongabba Sewer Upgrade Project, which involves John Holland installing more than five kilometres of sewerage pipes in the city.
The contract is expected to keep Welltech busy for 18-24 months and, at a value of $20 million, is more than double any of its previous contracts.
Welltech co-founder David Henderson told WA Business News the contract would help the company chase turnover in the region of $30 million in the 2013 financial year - up from $20 million in 2011-12.
The company has built its core business around water management in construction but entered the sewage bypass market after completing a job for Water Corporation.
The dispute erupted when Yum! sought to close 15 of Mr Cowin’s 46 KFC franchises when their franchise licenses were due to expire.
Mr Cowin, who is the founder of Competitive Foods, argued the fast-food giant was not acting in good faith and that closing the restaurants would result in the loss of 600 jobs.
A spokesperson from Yum! told WA Business News negotiations were still under way in an attempt to resolve the issue.
The federal government’s review will include a focus on end-of-term arrangements for franchise agreements, including lack of clarity and fairness around benefits a franchisee is entitled to when they leave the franchise in recognition of their contribution to the goodwill of the franchise system as a whole.
Arguments against the introduction of a good faith clause have typically come from the Franchise Council of Australia, which claims such a clause would lead to increased uncertainty and unnecessary costs.
While the council has welcomed the announced review, it reiterated its view the code was already adequate.