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MINING |Whittens
WHI
A family-run constructi
ITTENS
ion business with Australian mining expertise
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MINING |Whittens
Whittens Group was formed in 2001 by Clayton, Tyron and Louise Whitten, who shared a vision to create a family-run business with a nationwide reputation. Since its inception, the contractor has developed into a giant of the Australian construction industry, servicing multiple sub-sectors and working with the biggest and best firms in heavy industries such as oil and gas and mining. The wholly Australian-owned private enterprise provides a full turnkey service to its clients or specialised jobs at any stage of the construction cycle. Over two decades, Whittens has established a stellar reputation for successfully delivering high profile, large projects through closely aligning its approach with the needs of the client. The company has been built with strong family-orientated values at the very foundation and continues to be led by the Whitten family. Clayton and Tyron remain at the forefront in executive director roles, while Louise continues as CEO after amassing over 20 years’ experience in senior management roles. Whittens maintains that the success and gradual expansion of the business over the
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MINING |Whittens
last 15 years or so is intrinsically linked to
our performance and shaped the identity and
its foundation values. These values extend
culture of our business from day one. Values
across several overarching principles such
are extremely important, especially in a large
as safety, passion, team work, loyalty, hard
company where values can become diluted.
work, and professionalism. These core values underpin the entire business and are a pre-
“Companies don’t perform, people do! If
requisite for all Whittens employees.
you want to attract and retain engaged, productive and passionate people that
“When Clayton, Tyron and I started this
perform in challenging environments, you
business we knew what we wanted to stand
have to work hard at keeping the culture that
for and what we wanted to achieve,” Louise
has made the business a success.
proclaims. “Whittens’ success can largely be attributed “Our values have supported our vision, driven
to a core team of long-term, multi-skilled
“
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“COMPANIES DON’T PERFORM, PEOPLE DO! IF YOU WANT TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN ENGAGED, PRODUCTIVE AND PASSIONATE PEOPLE THAT PERFORM IN CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENTS, YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD AT KEEPING THE CULTURE THAT HAS MADE THE BUSINESS A SUCCESS.”
“
LOUISE WHITTEN, CEO
employees that demonstrate our values
Other tailor-made services provided by
every day.”
the company to its partners are water
Construction capabilities
management, structural, mechanical and
piping (SMP), remedial and ancillary works.
The construction division has consistently delivered high value to its clients across a
“Whittens commenced business in
variety of offerings which include bulk and
residential construction and then moved
detailed earthworks from site clearance,
into commercial and industrial construction.
haulage, excavation and water cartage.
Today, we service many industries including
Whittens also specialises in many forms
infrastructure, oil and gas, mining, defence,
of concrete construction all of which are
energy and utilities.”
underpinned by ISO approved quality systems.
Simply glancing at the company’s extensive highlights reel of completed projects begins
MINING |Whittens to give an idea of the strength and breadth of its services to the sprawling Australian construction industry. Beginning with water infrastructure, Whittens is currently working alongside UGL WSP JV to deliver the Riverstone Waste Water Treatment Plant for Sydney Water. The scope of the project involves provision of formwork, reinforcement and concrete pouring for the construction of a biological reactor, biological reactor distribution chamber, secondary flow distribution, secondary clarifiers, three off RAS pump stations, tertiary flow distribution chamber, and tertiary clarifier. The company also executed a major bulk and detailed earthworks and concrete project for MMG, at Dugald River. Included amongst the concrete package are major structures such as a reclaim tunnel raft foundation, together with foundations for the SAG, ball and regrind mills. The plant site bulk earthworks comprises the construction of roadworks, drainage, HDPE lined ponds
“Whittens has adapted and diversified and
and tailings storage facility, together with
evolved as opportunities have arisen to grow
the installation of HDPE piping and electrical
and develop the business” says Louise.
cabling. “Today, we employ some of the best people Another standout development which
in our industry. Again, it’s all about our
Whittens took part in was the massive Gorgon LNG project on Barrow Island, WA. The scope of work undertaken involved providing resources for the construction of in-situ concrete works and other civil and underground services as required by the project leaders up to the end of 2015.
“LEADERSHIP IS THE KEY ELE SUCCESS OF A PROJECT IN A R EACH OF OUR LEADERS TO BUSINESS, WE REDUCE MANA QUICK MANAGEMENT DEC LEADERS THE OPPORTUNITY T LOUISE WH
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people and the performance of our people.
“
The skills of our people in combination with the systems that we have developed over
time are applied to all projects, regardless of the industry.”
EMENT THAT CAN DECIDE THE REMOTE AREA. WE EMPOWER O ACT LIKE THEY OWN THE AGEMENT LAYERS TO ENSURE CISIONS AND WE GIVE OUR TO SELECT THEIR OWN TEAM” HITTEN, CEO
Mining expertise
The national mining industry makes up a significant portion of all construction-related business in Australia, and over the years Whittens has repeatedly tapped into this and developed a strong level of expertise, gaining the trust of clients from junior outfits right up to the biggest mining companies in the world. The first mining project that jumps off the page from Whittens’ portfolio is the massive Roy Hill iron ore project in the Pilbara, WA. Back in 2014, Whittens delivered concrete works to the mine site, which included three ROM walls and the coarse ore stockpile
MINING |Whittens
tunnels and vaults. The combined volume
$10 million contract, its sixth major contract
of concrete used by Whittens at the project
win of 2017, for work on Pilbara Minerals’
equated to 16,000m³ of concrete.
Pilgangoora lithium-tantalum mine in WA. Along with the provision of 5,800m³
The quality of the service provided at the
of concrete, Whittens will complete the
Roy Hill mine was confirmed in the fact that
construction of crushing, wet processing
the owners came back for repeat business
and spodumene concentration dressing
with Whittens not long afterwards when the
infrastructure, as well as processing plant
purpose-built iron ore port facility at Port
services.
Hedland was being constructed. One of the main challenges faced by Whittens Of the mining projects that Whittens is
in the Australian mining sector is working
currently engaged on, it is undertaking repair
on remote sites, such as those found in the
and renovation work at BHP’s Mt Whaleback
Pilbara region of WA. “Whittens overcomes
iron ore mine in the Pilbara, proving that the
these challenges associated by planning each
company can provide its high-quality services
project well in advance,” reveals Louise.
even at the post-construction stage. “We collaborate closely with our clients and Most recently, the company was awarded a
our project team prior to anyone going to
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site. Leadership is the key element that can
across all its current focus sectors notably the
decide the success of a project in a remote
mining and resources industries.
area. However, one project that it is currently “We empower each of our leaders to act
working on does provide a glimpse into
like they own the business, we reduce
the company’s future business. Whittens is
management layers to ensure quick
constructing concrete bases at the Sapphire
management decisions and we give our
Wind Farm in NSW, and with Australia on
leaders the opportunity to select their own
the cusp of a renewable energy revolution,
team. This has proven to be a very successful
Whittens might just fancy itself to take on all
business model for us.�
the heavy lifting in this burgeoning industry.
Looking forward, Whittens will continue to build on its business with the original family values still at the heart of its endeavours
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Published by Anderson Murray Media Ltd
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