Textum

LEADING ROOFING AND CLADDING EXPERTS IN THE NT

Textum won multiple safety awards for their commitment to OH&S standards on the INPEX Oil and Gas project, with works including over 30,000m² of roof sheeting, 15,000m² of wall cladding and 7000m² of soffit sheeting.

TEXTUM: LEADING ROOFING AND CLADDING EXPERTS IN THE NT

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hen it comes to Australian conditions, cyclones, extreme heat and torrential downpours sit at the pointy end of the ‘difficult’ scale, but it’s these challenges that make the successful delivery of multimillion-dollar projects and satisfied return clients all the sweeter for Northern Territory-based roofing specialists, Textum.

Established in Darwin in 1987, the company has gone from strength to strength, steadily becoming a major player in the Top End’s residential and commercial roofing market, before segueing into the defence sector.

Majority of their current projects now specialise in defence, and with a recent delivery list that includes living-in accommodation at RAAF Tindal, and Delamere Air Weapons Range for the Australian Airforce, plus current projects at Robertson Barracks for the United States, Textum general manager Darren Mullan is busier than ever.

Construction Outlook Magazine (CO): Welcome to Construction Outlook Magazine, Darren.

Textum has dominated in the defence scene for over three decades, and is now one of the most trusted roofing and cladding contractors across Northern Australia. Was this something you envisioned when you first began 35 years ago?

Darren Mullan (DM): Textum’s come a long way from its humble beginnings, but some things have remained a constant; a focus on quality workmanship, delivering on our commitments and long-term relationships. We always had a vision of what the company could be, and along with plenty of hard work, this success is a genuine reflection of the people in our team. People remain our greatest strength, and we’re extremely proud to have longserving employees that have reached 20, 18, 12 and 10 years of service. I’ve been with the company since 1992, and the breadth of knowledge and experience within our team is invaluable. As a manager, I think it reflects a strong safety culture, exceptional workmanship and enduring client relationships.

Palmerston Regional Hospital: A 15-month project supporting the construction of a major regional healthcare facility, utilising 16,760m2 of roof sheeting and a combination of external wall cladding.

It takes a strong team of skilled specialists to work in these complex environments. As well as the capability to manage large-scale projects, our team is experienced working safely at extraordinary heights, in extreme weather conditions, in some of the most remote parts of Australia.

A trusted delivery partner in defence, the team at Textum consistently meet the rigorous quality, safety and security standards for defence infrastructure, while working in live operational bases.

CO: In the early years, Textum played a significant role in Indigenous housing rectification programs throughout the Northern Territory. That chapter of the business was a completely different direction to the projects you work on today, but I expect it was a foundational experience?

DM: It was a great introduction to the unique conditions and vastness of the Top End, travelling through wetlands and deserts in outback Australia to some of the most remote communities. This 10 year project took the Textum team down to the Red Centre, across to the West Australian border, north to the islands across the Top End, and throughout Arnhem Land. We also worked on extensive residential roofing and cladding projects within Darwin city and suburbs, Palmerston, and the nearby towns of Katherine, Kununurra and Gove.

Those projects really set the tone for Textum’s future direction, honing the logistics expertise and resilience that still underpins the business today.

Over the years, our portfolio has included critical infrastructure projects for Power and Water Corporation, refurbishment of major water storage tanks in Darwin and Katherine, the INPEX Ichthys LNG Project, works at Ranger Mine and McArthur River Mine, and numerous commercial and industrial developments throughout Northern Australia. Other project highlights include rebattening the uniquely-shaped Mindil Beach Casino before recladding with Colourbond, roofing the new Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre in the isolated but spectacular Kakadu National Park and a highly complex roof and façade at the Darwin Convention Centre.

Delamere Air Weapons Range: Recent roofing and cladding works were completed ahead of schedule for the Royal Australian Air Force during the NT’s biggest wet season on record.

CO: What prompted the company’s transition into commercial and industrial sectors?

DM: We saw a clear demand for more infrastructure to help meet the needs of the Territory’s booming population, which grew by about 30,000 people in our first decade in business. As well as targeted opportunities to grow the business alongside Northern Australia’s infrastructure needs, we continued investing in the Top End, using a local workforce, a Territory-first procurement model, and private investments to deliver complex projects that strengthen the NT’s future, its people and its infrastructure.

Katherine Ground Water Tank: The roof removal and reinstallation on the Katherine 9ML ground water tank was a multi-faceted delivery for Power Water, involving over 17,000m2 of aluminium roof sheets and over 1965 lineal metres of aluminium purloins.

These critical refurbishment works were delivered on time and to specification — ensuring minimal disruption to essential water services.

Defence capable contractors: As a trusted delivery partner for defence, the Textum team have worked on extensive structures to protect all manner of military aircraft, including the F35 jets.

CO: Northern Australia has a longstanding defence presence, and Textum has collaborated on many projects across the Australian and United States bases. Was it straightforward to move into this space?

DM: I’ve always believed anything worth doing is worth doing well, whether it’s replacing a house roof in the outback or a specialist commercial contract delivering complex defence projects.

I wouldn’t say it was straightforward, but it was an excellent direction for our company, and the skills, experience and capability of our team.

As a strategic gateway to the Indo-Pacific, Darwin has always had a strong defence presence and multiple military bases throughout the region. The major expansion of Robertson Barracks during the 1990s marked a significant period of growth that kept Textum actively engaged in defence construction projects.

RAAF Darwin Joint Health Command Building: A complex but highly-rewarding project featuring products from the Lysaght Zenith architectural cladding range, completed during an exceptionally heavy wet season.

As well as being CAL accredited for all NT Government projects, and NCIP compliant for federal government projects, all Textum workers have DCAC passes to enable easy access to defence critical job sites, ensuring a swift start to projects. We’ve successfully delivered roofing and cladding works at RAAF Base Darwin, RAAF Base Tindal, Delamere Air Weapons Range, Larrakeyah defence Precinct and Robertson Barracks, and consistently meet the rigorous quality, safety and security standards required for defence infrastructure, while working within live operational bases. Supporting Australia’s defence estate has paved the way for many professional highlights. We’re continually looking for opportunities to contribute within this industry and strengthening the strong working relationships we’ve developed on these projects.

CO: Can you share some of those highlights within the defence sector?

DM: There have been many over the years, but more recently the NACC 8000 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Squadron Facilities and the AIR 7000 Phase 1B MQ-4C Triton Remotely Piloted Aircraft System Facilities, both at the RAAF Base Tindal, are prime examples of Textum’s quality workmanship and scope. These nationally significant projects showcase our specialist roofing and cladding systems, and our drive to support Australia’s sovereign defence capability and critical operational infrastructure.

CO: Looking to the future, can you share what’s in the pipeline for Textum?

DM: We’ve recently been awarded two further defence projects: the Santaka Defence Project at Shoal Bay and the NAVFAC American P949 Project at RAAF Base Darwin. These projects are again a reflection of our hard-working team. We’re proud to be a trusted delivery partner for defence and allied infrastructure programs, bringing local knowledge, disciplined delivery and a strong safety culture to complex, high-security environments.

CO: For those who haven’t visited Darwin, there are two distinct seasons – the Dry and the Wet. I imagine those severe climatic conditions, including cyclones, high humidity and monsoonal rain, must prove challenging at times?

DM: The harsh weather certainly factors into our planning, workflow and product choices, but after

decades of experience living and working in such conditions, we’ve gained a reputation for delivering high-spec projects on time and on budget. Over the years, we’ve carefully refined our techniques to undertake demanding work in the NT’s extreme weather conditions.

CO: As well as roofing and cladding, what else does Textum offer?

DM: We provide expertise across all areas of roofing, cladding, flashings, section J compliant insulation systems, vapour barriers, soffit lining, architectural cladding and insulation systems and permanent height safety and access systems. We also install single and double stage wall louver systems, vent ridge systems, and can supply and install all aluminium and stainless steel purloins and components, as showcased in the Power Water critical infrastructure upgrades.

Holding a Commercial Builder’s License also adds another layer of professionalism to the Textum offering, and we’re passionate about building the infrastructure that builds the Territory. We warmly welcome new clients to get in touch via our website www.textum.au With more than 35 years of proven performance, 48 Northern Territory construction awards, an experienced workforce and an unwavering commitment to quality, safety and delivery, Textum provides specialised roofing and cladding solutions for government, defence, commercial and industrial clients across Northern Australia.

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RAAF Base Tindal: Textum’s roofing upgrades help protect the Air 7000 drones from the harsh NT elements.

PRODUCED BY APAC OUTLOOK MAGAZINE

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