Programmed purchase Pindan’s Pilbara assets

Ninety region jobs and the future of thousands of properties undergoing maintenance in the Pilbara has been secured with the purchase of Pindan Asset management.

Today the State announced Programmed Facility Management purchased the former public housing service provider to ensure limited disruption to it’s “critical government services”.

It follows the successful purchase of Pindan Asset Management which went into liquidation in May.

Department of Communities had engaged with Pindan’s administrator, EY, while the State decided on a long term solution.

Pindan sub-contractors are set to benefit from the transfer with Programmed already an existing maintenance service provider to the Department of Communities.

The Department will continue to work with EY and Programmed to organise necessary contract arrangements to support the sale process.

State housing Minister John Carey said the Labor Government has taken measured steps in considering the Pindan contract.

“(This is) despite repeated calls of the National Party opposition to immediately terminate the contract which would have resulted in an instant loss of jobs in the regions,” he said.

“I want to acknowledge the work of the Department of Communities, along with EY and Programmed to deliver this outcome - particularly within such a tight timeframe.

“Not only does this mean the jobs of around 90 existing Pindan Asset Management employees have been secured, it also ensures critical maintenance work will continue on thousands of social housing properties in the Mid-West, Gascoyne and Pilbara regions.”

He said he hoped the news would provide trade people with reassurance their jobs were secure and they had jobs into the future.

Programmed managing director and group chief executive Glenn Thompson said the group was proud to provide certainty to workers and tenants.

“Social housing is an integral and important part of Australian culture and we are delighted to be playing our part in maintaining these important community assets,” he said.

“Programmed already provides social housing support in the South Metropolitan, South West and Great Southern Regions, and we are proud to add the Pilbara and Mid-West Regions to those communities we serve.

“We are committed to supporting the Government’s vision to create and retain work opportunities, provide quality social housing maintenance, boost apprenticeships and support local employment outcomes for Aboriginal people.”