REVEALED: The big Mackay construction companies winning tenders
From mega road upgrades to city-shaping projects, these construction industry movers and shakers are at the forefront of Mackay’s urban transformation. SPECIAL REPORT
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Behind each city-defining building project is a construction company battling to keep its dreams alive in a competitive landscape increasingly shadowed by rising insolvencies.
In 2023, Mackay can boast a sweep of players with the capability to take on multimillion-dollar tenders, some with several decades of experience behind them.
Construction firms tend to be classified into three tiers based on their size and capability, with Tier 1 reserved for mostly international firms that can take on complex multibillion-dollar infrastructure work.
Tier 2 refers to contractors that use subcontractors to complete much of the project and Tier 3 refers to entry-level firms.
Vic Vassallo leads the Tier 2 Vassallo Constructions and says the industry is “cutthroat”.
“Construction is very complex and very competitive,” he said.
“To become a major player … you need to have some really strong capabilities, especially in the engineering space.”
Mr Vassallo said the industry’s future would likely hang on local, state and federal government infrastructure spending.
“You have got to have a really good strong government to keep bringing the work in the five to 10-year space,” he said.
“If that is not the case, then money is not flowing, then the construction industry will dry up.”
Fergus Builders part-owner Ben Hilders said while the industry was “cyclical”, the next two years would be “fairly buoyant” for Mackay firms.
Mr Hilders also said residential construction had “dropped right off” in response to rising interest rates and the same supply-chain and labour pressures bearing down on companies across the state.
“You just can’t go to a local hardware store and pick up something you might have five years ago,” he said.
“You have to have orders in place, people aren’t carrying as much stock.”
Those pressures were also flowing through to the council.
Mackay Regional Council organisational services director Angela Hays said project costs had increased due to rising supply costs and labour shortages.
Here are some of the region’s biggest movers and shakers set to transform Mackay in the coming months and years.
Vassallo Constructions / Pointglen Developments – Mount Pleasant
Vassallo Constructions was founded in 1995, with Mr Vassallo the current managing director.
He is also the managing director of Pointglen Developments, the company behind residential estates Richmond Hills and Shoal Point Waters.
Vassallo Constructions was the team behind the $63.5m rebuild of the Shute Harbour Marina Terminal following Cyclone Debbie in 2017.
At present it is transforming the Mackay coastline after winning a $7m contract for the new Seaforth Esplanade with a children’s play area, upgraded beach access, and improved disability access.
Vassallo Constructions also recently won a $6.1m contract to upgrade the flood levee at Valetta Gardens and Kay Court and a $671,000 contract to upgrade part of Graffunder and Goldsmith St in South Mackay.
Other major Vassallo Construction projects:
– $18m revitalisation of Mackay CBD
– Upgrade of Hay Point Rd roundabout
– New carparks as part of Caneland Central’s expansion
– Reconstruction of the breakwater at Hay Point’s Tug Harbour
– Widening of Shute Harbour Boat Ramp
– Subdivision works at Andergrove’s Woodland Estate, Beaconsfield’s Kerrisdale Estate and Airlie Beach’s Galbraith Park
– Civil works for Hamilton Solar Farms
Maximum Revenue: $60m-$120m (Category 5)
Woollam Constructions – Brisbane
Led by Mackay native Craig Percival, Queensland powerhouse Woollam regularly competes against Vassallo for multimillion-dollar tenders, including Seaforth Esplanade.
But though it lost out on that job, Woollam nabbed a $5.5m tender to redevelop Mackay’s waterfront as a part of the state-designated priority development area.
It is also building the new $31.5m Sarina hospital, due for completion this year.
Other projects include the $220,000 Brownsey Court Park upgrade in 2020 and a $1.3m contract to replace air conditioners at Mackay West State School.
Mr Percival, who has been with Woollam for 33 years, also leads ReNew Mackay, a consortium that hopes to reform Mackay’s CBD liveability.
Founded by Thomas Woollam in 1884, Woollam Constructions now has three shareholders, one of whom is Grant Woollam, a family descendant.
Other notable Woollam projects:
– $12.7m Bluewater Lagoon, opened in 2008
– $33.8m Ozcare Mackay, opened in 2020
– $2m refurbishment of 21 Sydney St, Mackay
– $4.5m Junior Learning Centre at Cannonvale State School, opened early 2017
– $14.2m Sydney Street Markets, opened 2006
– $3.75m refurbishment of 8 River St
Maximum Revenue: More than $240m (Category 7)
Fergus Builders – Mackay
Fergus Builders is a versatile builder that has nabbed multiple tenders in recent years, winning large-scale roadworks projects and also contracts to build specialist housing for disabled residents, including a stunning $1m home in South Mackay.
In 2022, it nabbed a $700,000 tender to rectify the roof of Mackay North State High School’s hall and a $613,000 contract for a student set-down facility at Mackay District Special School.
In 2021, it won three asphalt pavement repair tenders totalling nearly $8m in value.
Garry and Jann Fergus founded the privately-held company in 1983.
It is now owned by Ben Hilder, Nathan Borg and Adam Wright.
Mr Hilder has been with the company since 1992 and said its success was built on effective internal processes.
“We have a core group of contractors, we don’t go out of town to bring sub-trades in,” he said.
“We just go through our process and procedures.
“When we are tendering a project, we pull it apart and work out the best way to build it.”
Other notable projects:
– Construction of Resources Centre of Excellence, Paget
– Refurbishment of Dudley Denny City Library, Victoria St, Mackay
– Refurbishment of CentaCare offices along Sydney St, Mackay
– Redevelopment of Mackay CQRescue hangar
– Upgrade of Camilleri District Park
– Construction of shared pathway at Sarina’s Brewer Park
– Construction of Better Pet Vets in Andergrove
– Construction of the new Aldi store in Andergrove
– Construction of the new Whitsunday Anglican School science and technology centre, scheduled to open in September 2023
– Construction of St Brendan’s Catholic Primary School including library and extra classrooms
Maximum Revenue: $30m-$60m (Category 4)
WHF Group – Mackay
Paget-based WHF Group boasts a range of substantial, city-defining projects on its books.
In 2022, it built a new $5m warehouse for CQ Field Mining Services Group in Paget.
In 2020, it won a council tender for a $3.3m upgrade to the Animal Management Centre and also the $1.3m North Mackay Rotary Lookout.
It also built Ooralea’s GP Superclinic as well as the $3.5m Northern Beaches Medical Centre.
More recently, it was hired to renovate the Mackay North McDonald’s store.
Bill Frier founded the privately-held company in 1993.
Other notable projects:
– $7.98m construction of Southern Cross Industrial Group shed in Paget
– $7.2m of redevelopment works at Shute Harbour
– $6.1m construction of heavy vehicle workshop at South Walker Creek Mine
– $3.7m build of JJ Richards Paget site
– $5.7m construction of Caltex Rural View service station
– $5.1m build of Hungry Jacks and KFC at Rural View
– $213,000 towards upgrading Slade Point lookout
Maximum Revenue: $12m-$30m (Category 3)
CiteCon - Mackay
Brad Gardner, with almost five decades of building experience in his heritage, formed CiteCon with his family in 2020.
The operations manager and director is the grandson of the late Francis Kevin Gardner Snr, the founder of one of Queensland’s largest construction companies, FKG.
The CiteCon team was recently awarded a contract to build a seven-tenancy industrial complex on Maggiolo Dr in Paget which includes a 5000sq m build including more than 5500sq m of concrete hardstand, and almost a kilometre of landscaping.
Mr Gardner said they also have more than $30m of tendered projects in the pipeline and another $40m of tenders on their horizon.
“We have a strong focus on forming complementary and collaborative relationships with clients and key contract services,” Mr Gardner said.
“At CiteCon, our clients are our business. Delivering buildings and infrastructure to a high standard and finished with finesse - that is our speciality.”
Other notable projects:
– $1.5m refurbishment of retail and tavern area in Glenden
- $7.8m refurbishment of 60 units and three penthouse units in Airlie Beach
- $8.2m design and construction of new workshop and office in Paget
- $2.6m design and construction of specialised workshop in Paget
- $6m construction of two-storey bespoke childcare centre in South Mackay
- $400,000 for earthworks and general site remediation in Paget
Maximum Revenue: $12m-$30m (Category 3)
Charlie Camilleri
Charlie Camilleri has redeveloped a number of buildings across Mackay, including a former Queensland Rail building in Boddington St, the old Coles store on Sydney St, and more.
He has also put forward a number of renewal and development proposals, including a $40m plan to build a retirement village and hotel next door to the Mount Pleasant Shopping Centre.
Sentinel Property Group
The property investment firm sits at the heart of Mackay’s built landscape with ownership of shopping mecca Caneland Central and the Len Shield St industrial property at Paget.
Brisbane-based Sentinel bought Caneland for $280m in December 2022 and has pledged a sweep of immediate improvements to one of North Queensland’s star retail hubs, including the installation of a new travelator and 4000 solar panels.
Seaforth Civil – North Mackay
Seaforth Civil is another major construction player, winning multiple tenders over the years.
In 2021, it won an $866,000 contract to build the Mackay-Eungella Road shared pathway and a $2.5m tender for pipework upgrades along Shakespeare St.
In 2019, it won tenders to build the Eungella Rd footpath and extend the Constant Creek carpark south of Cape Hillsborough.
Don Smith founded the privately-held company in the late 1980s.
Don and his brother Bob own the company.
Other notable projects:
– Civil earthworks and drainage for Stage 1 Great Barrier Reef Arena at Harrup Park
– Civil works for Coles Andergrove
– Drainage work for the $189m Eton Range realignment project
– Fifth Lane Revitalisation, Mackay CBD
Maximum Revenue: $12m-$30m (Category 3)
Roebuck Civil – Cannonvale
Roebuck Civil nabs work that might not draw public attention, specialising in plumbing, civil construction and minor roadworks.
In 2021, it secured a $2.5m contract to replace the Sydney St water main and in 2020, it won an $852,000 tender for Mackay’s sewage pump station switchboard renewals.
It is currently refurbishing the sewage pump station in a $2.3m contract.
Ian Roebuck founded the privately-held company in 2009.
Maximum Revenue: $3m-$12m (Category 2)
Crusade Developments
Formerly with Woollam, Robert Tisdell branched out on his own to start Crusade Developments.
For his first major contract, he rebuilt the Toys R Us building after it was destroyed in the infamous 2012 Greenfields fire.
More recently, Crusade refurbished the Metropolitan Hotel.
It was also awarded building and landscaping work as part of the $8.8m revitalisation of Queen’s Park which included a new grand entrance, significant landscaping, improvements to the Orchid House entrance, new dog parks, and a yarning circle.
The company also refurbished the Mackay Court House and knocked down the old Mackay fire station on the corner of Sydney St and Alfred St.
Maximum Revenue: $12m-$30m (Category 3)
Haber Constructions – Erakala
Erakala’s Haber Excavations won a $1.1m contract in 2021 to build the Willets Road shared pathway and pedestrian bridge.
It also built a new pathway in the Botanic Gardens in 2020 and a shared path on Yakapari-Seaforth Rd in 2021.
Maximum Revenue: $12m-$30m (Category 3)
JMac and BMD Constructions – Brisbane
Both part of the larger Brisbane-based BMD Group, these two companies are emerging to the forefront of Mackay’s construction landscape.
JMac won a $3.8m tender to build out the Pioneer Valley mountain bike trail head at Finch Hatton.
The work is part of a larger $27m project to develop a world-class tourist draw in the Valley.
BMD Constructions won a $7.4m contract in 2021 for pavement rehabilitation works on a North Mackay road.
The company established a Mackay office in 2006.
Mick Power founded the private company in 1979 and it is understood the Power family continues to hold control over the company.
BH Building – Mackay
BH Building works across the residential and commercial sectors.
In 2021, the company upgraded Nell Baker Park in Marian for $450,000 and restored the historic Cattle Creek Mill Administration building in Finch Hatton.
The company will finish revitalising the Griffin St Park in West Mackay in the next few weeks.
Bryan Harris owns the privately-held company, which was founded in 2010.
Megan Harris, Mr Harris’ wife, said the company held contracts with Mackay Regional Council, Telstra and Energy Queensland.
“We hope to continue our relationships with them,” she said.
Maximum Revenue: $3m-$12m (Category 2)
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