Whelans

Project engineering outfit Emerson Stewart Group expects to boost its annual revenue by $17 million after it today announced a $9 million merger with private WA company Whelans.

Just months after completing a reverse takeover of listed engineering consultancy Emerson Stewart Group, Ocean to Outback Contracting says it is planning to sell the consulting subsidiary and focus on its contracting and surveying businesses.

Contractor OTOC has completed a major restructure by selling its Emerson Stewart Consulting Division less than a year since the two merged.

THE strength of the resources sector continues to offer opportunities for local surveying companies, many of which have diversified their business to take advantage of contracts coming out of the state’s north-west.

Several surveying firms have responded in one of two ways during the past year in response to slowing work opportunities in Western Australia – they have consolidated operations, or cast the net wider for business.

In the final installment of our four-part series on EY Entrepreneur of the Year nominees, we talk to chief executives of six contracting and consulting businesses.

Sixteen years after establishing Asphar Survey Group, and then building it into one of Western Australia’s largest surveying firms, Anthony Asphar is heading back to the jobs market after the demise of his business. Click through to also see the updated BNiQ list of WA's Top 10 surveying firms.

SPECIAL REPORT: How does a tech startup in Northbridge backed by a mining consultancy in West Perth manage to secure work on the world’s largest privately funded infrastructure project, in Nicaragua? Business News profiles how CSA Global, Lycopodium, OTOC and PwC have chased diversification strategies.

OTOC has further grown its presence on the east coast with the acquisition of a Sydney-based land surveying firm for $4 million in cash and shares.

After a year of acquisitions and big contract wins, diversified business OTOC has returned to the black and will pay its first-ever dividend.

A Karratha-focused property developer that was jointly established by Boom Logistics director Terence (Jack) Hebiton has been placed into voluntary administration.