Killarnee collapses despite Gorgon contract
A private resources contractor which has been building major infrastructure at Chevron's Gorgon project has suffered a financial collapse.
Killarnee Civil and Concrete Contractors was put into the hands of administrators on Monday. The business is believed to still be operating.
Founder Paul Thompson just two weeks ago was among WA nominees taking the stage at a Perth ceremony for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year award.
An Irish immigrant, Mr Thompson and wife Elma established Killarnee in 1998. The business grew from doing small concrete formwork to big, multi-year projects, employing up to 250 people.
The $120 million Gorgon contract with client CB&I involved construction of two 180,000 cubic metre LNG tanks plus four condensate tanks.
Sources said late last year that Killarnee workers were among hundreds of employees laid off the Gorgon project at short notice. Killarnee did not comment at the time.
The contractor was also affected by the sacking of construction workers at Rio Tinto's Argyle diamond mine in early 2013.
Killarnee is based in Osborne Park and has depots in Geraldton and Karratha.
Insolvency firm Ferrier Hodgson is handling the administration of three Killarnee entities. A first creditors' meeting will be held in Perth on September 10.
