Darwin business Orrcon Steel to close after 25 years, workers facing redundancies

A DARWIN steel distributor — which has operated for 25 years — says it is laying off workers and shutting down in the face of the decline of the local construction industry

The Orrcon Steel branch in Darwin will cease business on February 28. Picture: Natasha Emeck

A DARWIN steel distributor has said it is laying off workers and shutting down in the face of the decline of the construction industry.

National steel distributor Orrcon Steel will cease business at their East Arm branch on February 28.

Branch manager Richard Riedel said the closure marked a sad ending for a Darwin business which has been running for about 25 years.

He said a decision was made by head office to close the branch due to the economic decline and now six full-time employees were facing redundancies.

“The market’s been down dramatically and the construction industry has fallen,” he said.

“That’s the tragedy of Darwin’s boom and bust cycle.

“We have informed our customers and any residual orders that are left over will be honoured and fulfilled by March.”

He said Orrcon Steel has offered the workers in Darwin a chance to relocate interstate but nothing was yet confirmed.

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“It’ll be hard to leave because everyone’s got lives and families here,” he said.

“The last employment date is in the middle of May, so we’ve got until then to sort it out.”

The East Arm shed is expected to be emptied out by the end of April, with all the left over steel trucked out to the east coat.

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