RSK Group taps into Aussie infrastructure boom with acquisition of Civil Geotechnical Consultants

The Australian arm of UK-based RSK Group has acquired Brisbane-based Civil Geotechnical Consultants (CGC), building on plans to become a major player in the Australian engineering and environmental consulting industry.

The deal taps into the Australian infrastructure spending boom and brings on board a company with a 10-year history working on major projects in NSW and Queensland.

The Brisbane-headquartered CGC, which also has offices in Cairns, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Sunshine Coast and Townsville, has an engineering team of 35 delivering services from site investigations, design and analysis, construction services and advisory services to aerial mapping and asset management.

RSK Group, which is the UK’s largest environmental and sustainability consultancy, established an Australian division in 2021 to pursue growth opportunities in the region.

In September, the company acquired Capire, Australia's largest standalone community engagement consultancy, for an undisclosed sum.

Earlier that month, the company joined Australia’s Clean Energy Council looking at opportunities that membership could offer.

“CGC is an excellent addition to the RSK businesses currently bringing a range of multidisciplinary skills to our strong Australian offering,” says Mark Haydock, the divisional director for RSK Australia.

“RSK is known for being a global leader in the delivery of environmental and engineering solutions and CGC joining the group greatly enhances this commitment, providing our clients with end-to-end solutions in Australia.

“We have been hugely impressed with CGC’s depth of skills and project delivery, including its TMR GE3 qualification, the highest level of geotechnical accreditation for major transport projects in Queensland, paving the way for some impressive project wins and a great future for this team and RSK, as we continue to make our contribution to Australia’s ongoing development.”

CGC has worked for a range of clients including local and state governments in Queensland and NSW, and corporate majors such as Fulton Hogan, McIlwain, JF Hull, John Holland, Laing O’Rourke, Georgiou, ACCIONA, SEE Group and CMC.

Among the more recent projects, CGC has delivered geotechnical consulting services to clients in the transport infrastructure sector in both road and rail.

These services have included investigation, design, construction phase support and tender design services on large nation-building projects, including the direct Sunshine Coast rail project and the Coomera Connector freeway currently under construction to eventually link Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

RSK Australia has not disclosed financial details of the transaction.

However, CGC directors Barry Land, David Carson and Ian Thompson will continue to lead the business.

“We were drawn to RSK because the group’s acquisition model allows us to retain our identity while supporting our growth ambitions,” say the directors in a joint statement.

“Joining the group opens up new markets, resources and geographies to our business with the opportunity to support large-scale multidisciplinary projects.”

The acquisition is the latest in the Australian infrastructure sector and comes the same day as Symal Group (ASX: SYL) revealed it is boosting its presence in Queensland through the $28 million acquisition of civil contracting and haulage businesses Timms Group and L&D Contracting.