Needs + challenges

Bejo Australia required a purpose-built seed processing facility to support the next stage of its growth in Australia while increasing processing capability, efficiency and long-term operational capacity. As a highly specialised agricultural facility, the project needed to accommodate complex processing workflows, dedicated drying and storage infrastructure, and future equipment installation, all tailored to Bejo’s operational requirements.

Adding to the complexity, construction was undertaken while Bejo’s existing seed processing operations remained fully operational. Maintaining a safe, productive working environment for both site personnel and Bejo staff required detailed planning, careful staging of works and ongoing coordination between all project stakeholders to minimise disruption and keep the business running throughout construction.

Success made simple

Working in close partnership with Bejo Australia and the wider consultant team, Bison Constructions delivered an integrated Design & Construct solution that aligned the project’s design, planning and construction from the outset. Early collaboration enabled key decisions to be made with certainty, reducing risk, maintaining programme momentum and ensuring the facility met Bejo’s long-term operational objectives.

The result is a purpose-built seed processing facility that provides the foundation for Bejo Australia’s future growth while strengthening Australia’s seed processing capability. Delivered through a collaborative approach and a shared commitment to quality, safety and practical outcomes, Project GRASP represents a significant investment in Tasmania’s agricultural industry and a facility designed to support innovation for decades to come.

Needs + challenges

Rimanui Farms required a purpose-built grain drying and storage facility to improve harvest timing, protect yield, and support a high-output mixed farming operation. With multiple crop types and tight seasonal windows, the ability to harvest earlier and manage moisture levels was critical to maintaining productivity and maximising returns.

As one of the first projects of its kind in Tasmania, the facility also needed to provide long-term operational confidence at both farm and board level, with clear cost certainty and performance outcomes.

Key challenges included:

• Creating a facility that could handle variable moisture conditions and enable earlier harvesting without compromising crop quality.

• Designing for operational efficiency across grain drying, storage, and rapid crop turnaround to maintain continuous production cycles.

• Scaling the solution from initial concepts, from 2,000 to 5,000 tonnes, while maintaining clarity on scope, cost, and performance expectations.

• Ensuring fixed budget certainty and transparent cost control to satisfy internal reporting requirements and board-level approvals.

• Mitigating risk of yield loss due to weather delays, storage limitations, and reliance on external facilities.

• Delivering a seamless planning and approvals process, including permits and coordination, to avoid delays and maintain project momentum.

Success made simple

Bison Constructions partnered with Rimanui Farms to deliver a purpose-built grain drying and storage facility that gives the operation full control over harvest timing, moisture management, and product storage. Clear communication, early-stage planning, and exposure to proven facilities helped refine the brief and remove uncertainty before construction commenced.

A fixed price contract and structured delivery approach provided certainty at every stage, allowing Rimanui to confidently manage internal reporting, cash flow, and project expectations without surprises.

Needs + challenges

Cherry Hill Coolstores plays a vital role in the agricultural industry, handling substantial volumes of high-value products, including:

• 15,000–16,000 tonnes of potato seed
• 5,000–6,000 tonnes of raspberry and blackberry canes
• 34,000 tonnes of carrots.

To sustain their large-scale operation and meet growing demand, they required purpose-built facilities, including a potato processing facility, a cane storage shed, and a cool storage shed with a dedicated carrot wash line. The challenge was to deliver these solutions efficiently while tailoring them to the specific demands of the agricultural industry, allowing Cherry Hill to remain focused on their core business.

Success made simple

According to Cherry Hill Coolstores: “Working with Bison really gives us the confidence to allow them to do what they do best … build the facilities that we need, to do what we do best.” This partnership resulted in:

• Purpose-built spaces for potato, cane, and carrot operations.
• Streamlined construction with minimal disruption to daily work.
• Facilities tailored to handle the scale and complexity of their agricultural processes.
• Cool storage that controls temperature and CO₂ levels, and uses ambient air to assist with humidity and energy requirements

Needs + challenges

Australia’s leading supplier of decorative timber, Porta stands as testament to over 90 years of excellence in the Australian timber industry. When their Bridgewater plant needed new warehousing and sawmill facilities, Bison was considered “the obvious choice”. According to Tasmanian Operations Manager, John Meehan, Porta valued our methods and technology for lifting structures into place, which proved to be safe, quick and cost-effective. The Porta team needed a warehouse for dry material being sent on to Victorian factory. Priorities were an open design, access from different sides, height and
flexibility. For the sawmill, priorities were achieving the optimal space and layout for equipment, as well as speed of construction – to be up and running as quickly as possible.

Success made simple

Porta Timber’s industrial warehouse and sawmill were custom-designed to achieve new efficiencies every day, with easy flexibility for future growth. A key advantage of the new warehouse space is the ability to bring a truck into the loading area for the first time. With the structure’s large span, a full Tautliner can be loaded inside out of the rain. The overall warehouse design has provided more versatility and capacity to respond to daily demands. The new sawmill is purpose-built to accommodate Porta’s large amount of equipment. It was installed and operational quickly and the Porta team appreciated our “active and consistent approach: in terms of putting the sheds up and getting the two
aligned”. John says construction went ahead without a hitch and safety was paramount at every step. Bison’s approach to building the shed from the ground enabled electricians to do a lot of pre-installation work, and John added that Bison worked well with – and helped coordinate – many other contractors, making the “project flow a lot easier”.