Safety Watch Australia has gone into voluntary liquidation owing almost $400,000

A Brisbane fire alarm inspection firm has collapsed blaming the impact of the pandemic for its financial woes.

The Covid pandemic has claimed a national risk-management compliance business which has gone into voluntary liquidation, owing creditors almost $400,000.

Based in Hendra, Safety Watch Australia Pty Ltd (SWA), which had about 20 full time and part time staff, ceased trading on November 9 and appointed Jarvis Archer of Revive Financial as liquidator.

The company was established in 2006 and provides risk-management systems for smoke alarms, safety switches, RCD electrical safety switches, corded blinds, pool barriers and earth stakes.

According to a company search David Keith Robson became SWA’s sole director in 2021. Mr Robson could not be reached for comment.

An electricity meter safety switch.

Archer says while his investigations were ongoing but SWA attributed their financial difficulties to operational and cashflow issues resulting from the pandemic.

“Lockdowns and other pandemic restrictions impeded the company’s ability to carry on its business which involved attending residential properties to conduct regular maintenance of smoke alarms and other household safety items,” he says.

“More recently, rising costs and supply chain issues have caused turnover and cashflow to suffer, impacting the viability of the business in its current financial position.”

Archer says at this stage SWA owed creditors $392,745, the largest being the ATO for $169,000. The holding company Safety Watch Group Pty Ltd has also entered liquidation.

Archer says despite its difficulties, the company operated a significant longstanding business which he believed could provide a strong growth opportunity for another operator.

“Accordingly, we’re urgently seeking interest from prospective purchasers of the business with a view to preserving business value, saving jobs and providing a better return to creditors,” he says.

Growth plan

One of South East Queensland’s oldest public relations firms Promedia has been acquired by growing Sydney-based Bastion Amplify.

The company says its purchase of Gold Coast-based Promedia - headed by Jeremy Scott - has created a “beachhead” for more acquisitions planned in the communications, creative and experience sectors in Queensland over the next six months.

Bastion has more than 350 staff across offices in Melbourne, Sydney, South East Queensland, Auckland, Wellington, Los Angeles, and New York City, as well as agency partnerships in 10 Asian markets.

Bastion Amplify Queensland managing director Jeremy Scott.

Founder and group CEO Jack Watts says Brisbane and the Gold and Sunshine coasts were experiencing an unprecedented surge in population and economic growth and the 10-year runway to the 2032 Olympics was just starting.

“We want to be in the thick of that action,” he says.

Promedia has been operating on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane for 39 years and will be incorporated into Bastion Amplify’s existing operations spanning Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.

The agency was started by Paul Wilson and Rod Spence in 1983. Scott became the sole director in 2015 and through Scott Corporate Communications it is its sole shareholder.

Scott will head up Bastion Amplify Queensland as managing director and says the deal was “about setting us up for the next 40 years”.

Promedia’s existing client list includes Mirvac, Brookfield, Consolidated Properties,

Cedar Woods Properties, Bond University, Healthscope and Feros Care. 

Moving on

WE hear JLL senior director – Industrial at JLL Gary Hyland has left the building.

There are plenty of rumours about where he’s going but we understand Hyland’s frequent collaborator Melbourne JLL head of Capital Markets Industrial & Logistics – Australia Tony Iuliano has gone to Cushman & Wakefield.

Perhaps that’s a clue or there’s talk he may hook up with another US brand. Regardless, when contacted by Citybeat Cushman & Wakefield refused to comment.