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Downer Group

Article Discussion

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Downer Group is an integrated services company active in Australia and New Zealand.

Listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and New Zealand Stock Exchange as Downer EDI (DOW), Downer is an ASX 200 company.

Downer Group employs approximately 33,000 people across more than 300 sites, primarily in Australia and New Zealand, but also in the Asia-Pacific region, South America and southern Africa.Template:Citation needed

HistoryEdit

Downer's foundations were laid in the 19th century, when Walkers Limited and Clyde Engineering were founded in Australia, and the Public Works Department and Electrical Telegraph Department were founded in New Zealand. They merged in the 20th century to form parts of the Downer Group. The 20th century also saw the purchase of companies that now make up Downer's core divisions: railway manufacturer Evans Deakin & Company (EDI) and mining contractor Roche Brothers.<ref name=History>History Downer Group</ref>

In 1933, the Downer Group was founded in New Zealand by Arnold Downer, as Downer & Co, focusing on providing engineering and construction services to the public and private infrastructure sectors in New Zealand, including the New Zealand Public Works Department. In 1954, Downer & Co merged with William Cable Holdings and, in 1964, with A&G Price, to form Cable Price Downer.<ref name=History/>

In 1994, Downer merged with Hong Kong-based Paul YITC. In 1996, the company purchased Works Corporation, the state-owned enterprise civil construction arm of the New Zealand Ministry of Works & Development. In 1997, mining contractor Roche Brothers was acquired.<ref>A Family History Roche Brothers</ref> In 1998, Downer purchased major roads contractor Technic Group, and was first listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.<ref name=History/>

In 2000, road-sealing business Bitumix was acquired from BP.<ref>Works Civil cleared to acquire Bitumix Commerce Commission New Zealand 27 July 1998</ref> In 2001, Downer merged with Evans Deakin Industries to form Downer EDI.<ref name=History/><ref>Company name and ASX code changes 2001 Australian Securities Exchange</ref> Between 2003 and 2008, Downer also acquired Stork, QCC, Snowden, Emoleum and Excell Corporation. In October 2014, the construction assets of Tenix were acquired.<ref>Downer EDI buys Salteri family's Tenix business for $300m Sydney Morning Herald 20 October 2014</ref>

In March 2017, Downer acquired Hawkins, one of New Zealand's largest builders, and in June 2017, took majority ownership of Spotless Group Holdings through a hostile takeover.<ref>Downer launches $1.27b bid for Spotless The West Australian 21 March 2017</ref><ref>Downer EDI seeks seats on Spotless board Special Broadcasting Service 27 June 2017</ref> It took full ownership of Spotless for $1.27 billion in October 2020.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Spotless acquisition was the largest in Downer's history.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Major projectsEdit

Projects undertaken by the company have included:

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  • Gruyere Gold Project<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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  • Meandu Mine operations<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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OperationsEdit

Downer reports its financial results under five service lines: Transport; Utilities; Facilities; Engineering, Construction and Maintenance (EC&M); and Mining.

Rail/BusEdit

Downer Rail was formed in March 2001 as EDI Rail following the purchase of Evans Deakin Industries by Downer Group. Evans Deakin operated the former Clyde Engineering plants at Kelso and Somerton and Walkers Limited, Maryborough plant. It reopened the former Cardiff Locomotive Workshops to build CityRail M sets. In July 2007 it was renamed Downer Rail.<ref>Downer EDI launches new company names and branding approach Downer EDi 2 July 2007</ref>

In 2008 Locomotive Demand Power was established as a subsidiary to lease locomotives. In November 2009 Downer Rail became a tram operator through its 49% shareholding in Keolis Downer that operates the Yarra Trams franchise in Melbourne.<ref>Melbourne tram and train operators selected Template:Webarchive Railway Gazette International 25 June 2009</ref> In July 2014, Keolis Downer commenced operating the G:link light rail line on the Gold Coast.<ref>GoldlinQ selected to build Gold Coast light rail Template:Webarchive Railway Gazette International 6 May 2011</ref>

In March 2015, Keolis Downer purchased bus operator Australian Transit Enterprises which operates the Hornibrook Bus Lines, LinkSA, Path Transit and SouthLink operations with 930 buses.<ref>Operator ATE Sold Australasian Bus & Coach 11 March 2015</ref> In July 2017, Keolis Downer commenced operating bus and ferry services in Newcastle under the Newcastle Transport brand.<ref>Keolis Downer awarded contract to run light rail, buses and ferries says Baird government Template:Webarchive Newcastle Herald 12 December 2016</ref><ref>Keolis Downer awarded Newcastle Transport Contract Template:Webarchive Keolis Downer 12 December 2016</ref>

TransportEdit

Transport comprises Downer's road services, infrastructure projects, and rail & transit systems businesses. It conducts transport infrastructure services that include earthworks, civil construction, asset management, maintenance, surfacing and stabilisation, supply of bituminous products and logistics, open space and facilities management and rail track signalling and electrification works.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In June 2023, Downer Group sold the transport projects business to Gamuda Berhad who rebranded it DT Infrastructure.<ref>EY tows Malaysia’s Gamuda into Downer projects arm Australian Financial Review 23 February 2023</ref><ref>Downer completes sale of Australian Transport Projects business Downer Group 20 June 2023</ref><ref>History of DT Infrastructure DT Infrastructure</ref>

UtilitiesEdit

The Utilities service line provides services to customers across the power and gas, water, communications and renewables sectors. Downer designs, builds, operates and maintains steel lattice transmission towers, electricity and gas networks, wastewater treatment plants, water assets, wind farms, solar farms and telecommunication networks such as the NBN.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

FacilitiesEdit

The Facilities services line operates in Australia and New Zealand delivering facilities services to customers across a range of industry sectors including: defence, education, health government and hospitality. Facilities businesses include Spotless, AE Smith, Alliance, Ensign, EPICURE, Mustard, Nuvo, Taylors and Envar.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Asset ServicesEdit

Downer's Asset Services line includes its Oil and Gas, Power Generation and Industrial businesses and it works with customers in the public and private sectors delivering services including design, engineering, construction and maintenance of critical assets. In the oil and gas sector, Downer's capabilities cover the full range of services including maintenance, shutdown, turnaround and outage delivery, sustaining capital program delivery, project and commissioning services.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Downer also has a Defence business which offers professional and managed services, asset sustainment and estate upkeep services to the Australian and New Zealand defence forces.<ref name="downergroup.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

MiningEdit

On 1 February 2021 Downer completed the sale of its Open Cut Mining West business to MACA Limited.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The remainder of the Downer Mining business was divested in December 2021 upon sale of its Open Cut Mining East division to Buma Australia Pty Ltd. <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Use of pseudoscienceEdit

In 2019 Downer admitted to using dowsing, in an attempt to find water pipes while contracting to the Wellington City Council. Dowsing is considered a pseudoscience and there is no scientific evidence that it is any more effective than random chance. Downer told New Zealand Skeptic's chair Craig Shearer that Downer has no concern about the public perception that ratepayer money is being spent on a technique considered pseudoscience. Downer's general manager of business excellence and reputation Brooke Dahlberg said "the method is safe, and it has no plan to ban staff from using it – the choice to use it was up to individual employees."<ref>Wellington ratepayers foot bill for pseudo science Newsroom 6 March 2019</ref>

In December 2019, at the New Zealand Skeptics annual conference, the Downer Group was co-awarded the Bent Spoon by NZ Skeptics for "showing the most egregious gullibility in 2019" for the contractor's use of water divining to find underground pipes.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

SponsorshipsEdit

Downer Group was the naming rights sponsor of the NRL Auckland Nines in 2016 and 2017.<ref>Downer becomes 2016 Nines naming rights sponsor National Rugby League 19 January 2016</ref><ref>Downer secures NRL Auckland Nines naming rights sponsorship for 2017 and 2018 NRL Auckland Nines 5 July 2016</ref> It also sponsored the 2016 Anzac Test at the Newcastle International Sports Centre and the 2018 World Club Challenge.<ref>Downer to sponsor Test Match National Rugby League 13 April 2016</ref><ref>Downer partners with World Club Challenge Melbourne Storm 6 February 2018</ref> Downer will be the major sponsor of the Rugby League World Cup 9s.<ref>Major sponsorship announcement Downer Group 30 November 2018</ref>Template:Needs update

In 2017, Downer signed on to be the major sponsor of the Sunshine Coast Lightning netball team.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2021 Downer joined mental health organisation Beyond Blue as its Major Partner.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

ReferencesEdit

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External linksEdit

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