Barossa winery wins big at world’s biggest wine awards

Chaffey Bros was one of eight Australian wines to be awarded a Best in Show award at the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) in London.

The Evangeline Eden Valley Syrah is now on the top 50 wines globally for 2024 after receiving the award, with DWWA judges assessing over 18,000 wines.

Chaffey Bros co-founder Daniel Chaffey Hartwig said the group was “absolutely delighted” with the recognition.

“It is an exciting time for Australian red wine, with the Syrah style signalling something different from Australia which is being recognised both at home and now on a world stage,” he said.

– Isabella Kelly

Beach Energy announce potential divestment plans

In its strategic review outcomes report, Beach Energy announced it was considering harvesting, re-purposing or divesting non-core assets as it aims to cut field operating costs.

The non-core assets identified by the company are based in New Zealand, the Bass Basin, and the SA Otway Basin.

The company said it hoped to achieve a 20 per cent reduction in sustaining capital expenditure and a 30 per cent reduction in unit field operating costs to less than $11 per barrel-of-oil equivalent.

Operating cost reduction was also proposed to come from organisational structure efficiencies, labour cost reductions, service provider contracting efficiencies, and increased production from low-operating cost assets.

– Isabella Kelly

Defence giants announce joint venture

HII and Babcock have formed a new joint venture and entity H&B Defence, which will work to accelerate critical sovereign capability development for the AUKUS submarine program.

The entity will support AUKUS in workforce, nuclear infrastructure design and build, submarine refuelling and decommissioning, nuclear waste and future sustainment.

Headquartered in Canberra, the company will work with the government and industry and academic stakeholders, with Royal Australian Navy veteran Tim Brown appointed as managing director.

“H&B Defence’s mission is to transform Australia’s submarine landscape to position the nation to operate nuclear submarines,” Brown said.

“This joint venture will focus on equipping Australia with the requisite industrial base, supply chains, and workforce required to support and manage all aspects of the nuclear-powered submarine lifecycle.”

– Isabella Kelly

Magnetite Mines seek to raise $5 million

Magnetite Mines has proposed to raise $5 million in order to lodge a Mining Lease Proposal application and provide working capital as it continues negotiations with potential partners.

Existing shareholders will be entitled to purchase one new share for every six existing shares, at $0.31 per new share. There are over 16 million new shares on offer.

Magnetite Mines chair Jim McKerlie said the company had positioned itself to “take full advantage of the emerging ‘green iron’ production and export opportunity”.

“Green iron can only be made using premium-quality magnetite iron ore concentrates, and Magnetite Mines’ Razorback Project is one of only a handful of magnetite projects worldwide that can produce that quality at scale,” McKerlie said.

– Isabella Kelly

Mighty Kingdom announce Fitbit collaboration

Independent game developer Mighty Kingdom announced its involvement in Fitbit’s new Fitbit Ace LTE, a kids smartwatch with kid-centric development software encouraging movement through gameplay.

A content development partner for the Fitbit Arcade games, Mighty Kingdom worked with Google for over 18 months to contribute to the device’s game portfolio.

Mighty Kingdom CEO David Yin said the company looked “forward to seeing the success” of the product.

“We are very excited to see the launch of such an iconic device by Google and are very happy to have worked closely with Google on delivering a selection of games for the device,” he said.

– Isabella Kelly

MGA Thermal CEO Mark Croudace and Erich Kisi. Photo: supplied

MGA Thermal receives federal funding boost

MGA Thermal has received $2.48 million from the federal government’s Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), tripling the group’s steam-dispatch thermal energy storage technology project backing.

ARENA previously invested $1.27 million into the project, as MGA Thermal aims to provide zero-carbon renewable energy storage for grid and industrial applications.

MGA Thermal CEO Mark Croudace said “the world’s Industrials are at a critical juncture in their renewable energy, decarbonisation journey”.

“A behind-the-meter energy storage solution that helps balance utility-scale renewables with distributed energy storage is vital for Australia to effectively manage the evolving supply-demand dynamics of a clean energy future,” Croudace said.

– Isabella Kelly

Australian Space Cyber Forum, an annual event welcoming international speakers and Treasurer Stephen Mullighan, at the Adelaide Convention Centre on June 26.

Recession or Depression, a breakfast to discuss Australia’s economy with Rick Persse from the Department of Treasury and Finance, Tammy Barton from MyBudget and senior economist Dr Genevieve Knight, at the Playford Hotel on June 26.

Tchin Tchin, Meet with the Councillors, a French Australian Chamber of Commerce event with Unley Mayor Michael Hewitson, Fragile to Agile CEO Glenn Smyth, and more at the Unley Oval on June 26.

Charting New Waters, a conversation around AUKUS with the director-general of the Australian Submarine Agency and more, at the Playford Hotel on July 2.

Executive Women Series with LK, an event by the French Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry SA Chapter discussing leadership in design with Diane Dixon, Josephine Evans, Fiona Slechten and more, at Lot Fourteen on July 4.

SA State of the State: focus on critical service delivery, a CEDA event exploring critical services, the economy, government regulation, health and ageing with Ministers Nick Champion, Chris Picton and Nat Cook at the Adelaide Convention Centre on July 24.

2024 CEDA Economic Outlook, an event presenting the latest on the global, national and state economies with CEDA’s senior economist Melissa Wilson at KPMG on August 15.

Westfield Tea Tree Plaza is jointly owned and operated by Scentre Group. Photo: supplied

Tea Tree Plaza sale

A 50 per cent share stake in Westfield Tea Tree Plaza has been sold for over $300 million.

Scentre Group established a jointly managed fund with Barrenjoey Private Capital investment bank to purchase the 50 per cent stake in Westfield Tea Tree Plaza and Tea Tree Plus for $308 million.

The shopping centre, which is co-owned by the Scentre Group, was put on the market by property group Dexus in July 2023, with the sale negotiated by Simon Rooney from CBRE.

Rooney said the “opportunity to acquire a 50 per cent stake in a dominant and strong performing regional shopping centre…garnered both domestic and offshore investor interest”.

“This interest was underpinned by the centre’s genuine value-add potential, robust investment fundamentals, South Australia’s stamp duty exception and attractive yield spread relative to Sydney and Melbourne,” Rooney said.

– Isabella Kelly

Barton Gold make big sale

Barton Gold Holdings Limited announced to shareholders it had sold approximately 1400 ounces of gold produced in its December 2022 mill cleanout and preservation program.

An initial deposit payment of $4.25 million has been received, with a final payment to be a “balancing payment” based on an assessment of the materials by WSMD.

Barton Gold managing director Alex Scanlon said the sale had been “achieved on extremely competitive terms”.

“Barton continues to differentiate itself not only via the cost-efficient advancement of its development projects, but also a growing track record of asset monetisation,” Scanlon said.

– Isabella Kelly

Elixir Energy awarded tender by Queensland Government

Elixir Energy announced it has been appointed as the preferred tenderer for a new exploration area in Queensland.

The 526 square kilometre area is prospective for both deep and shallow gas targets. Elixir will now obtain an Environmental Authority and carry out necessary native title processes before it is granted the Authority to Prospect.

Elixir managing director Neil Young said the company was “pleased to be recognized by the Queensland Government”.

“That recognition in part at least acknowledges the good work undertaken by our team since we have entered Queensland two years ago,” he said.

– Isabella Kelly

A vineyard in Mt Barker has been awarded Vineyard of the Year in Melbourne. Photo: supplied

Ngeringa vineyard recognised at awards

Ngeringa’s Summit Vineyard in Mount Barker was awarded Vineyard of the Year at the 2024 Young Gun of Wine Awards in Melbourne on June 11.

The award recognised Erinn and Janet Klein’s ongoing commitment to biodynamic farming practices, with a focus on sustainable viticulture, innovation, and the pursuit of healthy vineyards and quality wines.

The Summit Vineyard was planted in 2001 – 2002, now growing the fruit for Ngeringa’s Single Vineyard Summit Chardonnay and Summit Pinot Noir.

– Isabella Kelly

Entries open for Tasting Australia Spirit Awards

Entries have opened for the seventh annual Tasting Australia Spirit Awards to recognise distillers around the country, with entries closing July 26.

The awards recognise 11 categories, with industry experts Krystal Hart from Campari Academy Australia and drinks writer Fred Siggins to provide feedback and tasting notes.

Tasmanian distiller Bill Lark will return as the Spirit Awards Patron for this year’s awards, with a presentation to take place in Adelaide August 28.

Winners will have their brand integrated into the programming for next year’s Tasting Australia, following a record-breaking attendance of 77,000 this year.

“Since the awards began seven years ago, we have seen the country’s distilling industry grow exponentially, with South Australian producers leading the way and helping showcase our state’s premium products on a national stage,” Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison said.

– Isabella Kelly

The new Flinders University Health and Medical Research Building. Photo: Shannon McGrath

Flinders medical research building opened

Flinders University has officially opened its new Health and Medical Research Building, a $280 million building that is home to over 600 medical researchers, clinicians, and support staff.

The development is equipped with cell imaging equipment, one of the state’s largest banks of PC2-rated physical containment labs, and BC2 biosecurity containment zones.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attended the unveiling, saying the building would be “making breakthroughs and changing lives for the better for many generations to come”.

“I’m incredibly excited to see history being made at the HMRB – whether it’s better understanding neural pathways to control chronic pain, unravelling the secrets in our DNA to address debilitating genetic conditions, supporting the health of mothers and babies – there are endless possibilities to what the 600 researchers here will be able to achieve,” Albanese said.

“When I speak about a Future Made in Australia – this is what it looks like. Australian research, hard work and ingenuity keeping us at the global cutting edge.”

– Isabella Kelly