Published 21 Aug 2008: Government program attracts Plenary to SA

The State Government's program of public private partnerships - particularly the Marjorie Jackson Hospital - has prompted international infrastructure investor Plenary Group to open an Adelaide office.

``Our approach has been to invest in a local presence where we are confident there is a potential pipeline of infrastructure projects, coupled with the highest quality local management teams,'' Plenary Group's principal, John O'Rourke, said in opening the office last night.

``The establishment of an Adelaide office was a relatively easy decision - recognition of the growing infrastructure agenda of the State Government and the need for a local presence to ensure we can be as competitive as we possibly can.''
Plenary's Adelaide office - its third in Australia after Melbourne and Sydney - will be headed by health sector professional Jenny Richter.

Most recently, Ms Richter was director of clinical planning in the Department of Health's major projects office.

``Social infrastructure is an important focus of Plenary Group's business,'' Mr O'Rourke said.

Plenary, which has a strategic relationship with Deutsche Bank, is also established in Singapore and Canada, where it has more than C$1 billion in healthcare projects under development.

In SA, the company completed nine police and court developments across regional areas in 2006 and maintains the facilities.

It is short-listed to bid for the design, construction, financing and ongoing maintenance of the Education Department's super schools.