AN indigenous Sunshine Coast business is flying high after winning a major Commonwealth Games contract.
Kennelly Constructions, based at Chevallum, is building 170 flagpole bases for the Gold Coast Games, including the base for the 9 metre tall flagpole which will tower over the opening ceremony.
Member for Fairfax Ted O’Brien said Kennelly Constructions was a shining example of indigenous entrepreneurship here on the Sunshine Coast.
“Shane and Adam Kennelly are proud Bunjalung men and indigenous entrepreneurs,” said Mr O’Brien.
“Their company is already well established within the defence industries sector and it’s exciting that Sunshine Coast ingenuity will also feature so prominently at international sporting arenas during the Commonwealth Games.”
Managing Director of Kennelly Constructions, Shane Kennelly said the bases needed to support the flagpoles and flags in winds of up to 150kmph.
“They’re concrete bases around 1 metre in diameter and each weighing 700 kilograms,” he said.
“We have 170 to make and install, four have already gone in at the Uniform & Accreditation Centre at Burleigh Waters. The rest will be installed across 11 venues on the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Townsville in March. ”
Mr O’Brien was joined by Minister for Indigenous Affairs Nigel Scullion who said he was pleased to visit this leading Sunshine Coast Indigenous business to see first hand how they are competing with the biggest and best.
“Kennelly Constructions is a great example of what can be achieved when government works in partnership with Indigenous businesses to overcome barriers they face to grow and hire more people.
“There are a whole range of historical reasons as to why these barriers exist but we are determined to address these.
“That’s why this Coalition Government is putting our money where our mouth is with things like the Indigenous Procurement Policy which has recently eclipsed $1 billion, up from just $6.2m in 2012-13.
“The PM also announced the Indigenous Business Sector Strategy which includes a $27 million Indigenous Entrepreneurs Capital Scheme to de-risk commercial finance for more Indigenous businesses into, a refocusing of Indigenous Business Australia’s Business Development and Assistance Program to focus on those businesses that require more intensive one-on-one support, and a doubling of the Microfinance to help turn CDP activities into micro businesses.
“This builds on the $90 million Indigenous Entrepreneurs Fund which assists Indigenous businesses in regional and remote areas purchase plant and equipment.
“To bring together the myriad of new and existing support services, we will be launching new Indigenous Business Hubs across the country to act as a one-stop-shop.”