Think Water and PoolSmartz shut doors, under liquidation

As the investigation into the now defunct Think Water and PoolSmartz continues, new details reveal thousands of dollars owed in tax and 18 workers finding themselves unemployed — but not all them were paid out, according to the liquidator.

North Queensland business folds, closing four storefronts.

The debt owed by a liquidated North Queensland pool shop and irrigator has more than doubled as new creditors come forward to claim what’s owed.

N.Q Water Services, operating under the name Think Water, and subsidiary PoolSmartz went into liquidation on May 29, 2024 shutting four storefronts.

More than a dozen employees lost their jobs.

Started in 2006 by St Patrick’s College alum Anthony Kliese and business partner Chris Manera, Think Water specialised in agricultural irrigation, but rapidly expanded to industrial pumps and domestic water filtration, offering these services to Mackay region residents and a number of mine sites in the Bowen Basin.

N.Q Water Services advertised itself as a low-cost, energy-efficient business and covered a huge variety of services from mine site dust suppression to facility management for commercial pools across its two brands.

Six creditors have come forward claiming to be owed upward of $45,000 while liquidators KordaMentha have confirmed that the business owes more than $100,000 to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

In the wake of the liquidation it has been revealed that 10 Think Water employees were made redundant while a further eight left their jobs for reasons including “voluntary cessation or dismissal”.

Anthony Kliese and Julie Kliese at an awards night where NQ Water and subsidiary, Poolsmartz won the award for the AstralPool Sustainable Product Sales for Queensland for 2016. Photo contributed.

Jobs are still advertised on Think Water’s website calling for fitters, plumbers, pump technicians, small motor mechanics and trade assistants at mine sites limited but not exclusive to Anglo Grasstree, Aquila, German Creek, Lake Lindsay, Hail Creek and Moorvale, as well as positions based in Mackay.

While KordaMentha investigate, they have been advised by company directors, including Mr Kliese, that the company’s downfall was the result of “economic conditions”.

PoolSmartz opened a location in Mount Pleasant, Nebo Rd and even Townsville, all of which are now shut. Photo: LinkedIn

In 2014 Mr Kliese entered the pool market, creating the subsidiary PoolSmartz and opening their first shop at Mount Pleasant, with another location opening on Nebo Road and an expansion to Townsville over the next 10 years.

The award-winning business started as a three person team, but grew to more than 25 employees in just two years, winning two awards for sustainability and consumer friendliness.

Mr Kliese started NQ Water and PoolSmartz with business partner Chris Manera. Photo: LinkedIn

Mr Kliese emphasised commitment to customer service as the driving force of his businesses success.

“In our industry there are a lot of products out there but it’s about concentrating on the products we stock- having a really solid understanding of each one so we can inform customers as best we can about what each product can do and not do for them,” Mr Kliese said.

All PoolSmartz locations have since shut and the business went into liquidation on the same day as Think Water with one creditor identifying themselves as being owed $566.

From its location in Mackay, Think Water was spread across farms and mines throughout the Greater Whitsundays. Photo: LinkedIn

Mr Kliese has declined to comment.

More to come.

Originally published as Think Water and PoolSmartz shut doors, under liquidation