The market has certainly seen a vast improvement in activity both in Western Australia and interstate, with KEE Group engaged by a loyal customer for a major project in South Australia, requiring a large amount of high-spec machines to operate at the BHP Olympic Dam site.

At the beginning of the year we took delivery of the first L260H Volvo Loader received into Australia and we were very proud to see the new machine join our fleet, bound for South Australia in March.

Local activity has also seen a spike with both government and contracted works commencing in and around Perth Metro and in most instances you can see KEE equipment and operators hard at work.

Perth born and bred, James Coad, or Coady to everyone who knows him, has been in the asphalt business for 26 years. Coady worked for several well known companies, including Pioneer Road Services, Asphaltec and Downer before setting out on his own. As an entrepreneur, Coady selected a team of eight men and started his own company called West Coast Asphalt, working the area for six years. It was in 2011 when he decided to join KEE Group and he was asked to head their asphalt division.

He first met Damon and Clayton when they were running the trucks for their dad. Coady now works from the KEE Group HQ in Landsdale; “Humour is what takes the edge off of a stressful day. The banter in the office just keeps everyone upbeat, even if we are under pressure. If we’re working on a project we can bounce ideas off each other; it’s good to be surrounded by such an experienced team.”

Of his time working on projects, Coady recalls; ”The first thing you learn on an asphalt site is that when you’ve finished your section of the job, you don’t down tools. You move on to help your mate. It’s a good culture to be in and I have tried to instil this attitude into everyone I have taught or brought on board.”

Keen to pass on his knowledge of the industry, Coady encouraged one of his sons into the business. Mason, 21 (also pictured) began working for KEE four years ago, starting on the wash bays and then moving up into a diesel apprenticeship. He has two other sons, Blake 19, who is a soldier in the army and Chase, nine.

Five years ago Coady found a new passion and started kayaking. He has since competed three times in the 124km Avon Descent. “I spend more time out of the boat that in, but it’s great fun,” he joked, “the last race I competed in I bounced off a rock, got sucked into a rapid and was then spat out like a cork, jetting into the air! There was a huge crowd watching and they all clapped as if it had been intentional!”

Coady and his white-water acrobatics can be seen at this year’s Avon Descent, on Saturday 4th August 2018…

Words and pictures by Katharyn Quinn

KEE Group celebrated it’s ten year anniversary in February with a cocktail function at The Point Bar and Grill, welcoming all team members and their partners.

The company has been built on relationships and trust over the past decade and it has grown to be a significant, diversified company, having passed the traditional benchmarks for a small company. Antonia, Clayton and Damon would like to again acknowledge the contribution the team working at KEE Group make.

Every person has a reason to be both proud of the company’s achievements and of the great service they provide to our clients.