Pest company’s deep dive into Big Rivers

AN Aboriginal-owned and run pest management business has expanded its operational footprint across the Northern Territory.

Centre Pest Management has been servicing clients in Central Australia and the Barkly region since 2016 and recently set up a base in Katherine to undertake work in the town and nearby Aboriginal communities.

The company is the brainchild of long-time Alice Springs residents Stephen and Rachel Ellis, along with their daughter and son-in-law, Lyndelle and Tim Gibbons, and was successful in obtaining support from Aboriginal Investment NT (formerly Northern Territory Aboriginal Investment Corporation) through its initial round of business grant funding.

Aboriginal Investment NT is an Aboriginal-led investor tasked with granting and investing Aboriginal money to achieve long-term social, economic and cultural impact.

“Backing from Aboriginal Investment NT has allowed us to install fencing around the business base we have here in Katherine. We’ve also installed secure undercover parking for vehicles and were able to purchase quite a bit of equipment which has allowed us to grow our team.”

CPM prides itself on being a 75% Aboriginal-owned company, providing a culturally safe and trusted service to a growing list of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal clients.

“We decided to come up to Katherine because Stephen is originally from the area, but we also saw an opportunity to provide good pest management for Aboriginal people living in the region,”
Rachel said.

“Since we’ve expanded the business into the Big Rivers region, we’ve done quite a bit of work with Kalano Aboriginal Corporation which has allowed us to treat houses in a couple of the communities they look after around Katherine.

“What we do is general pest treatments for domestic and commercial premises along with communities and pastoral stations. We generally treat cockroaches, spiders, ants, termites, really any other bugs that could be getting into homes and buildings.

“At the beginning, it was a little bit difficult, but now we’ve completed a few treatments the residents are more welcoming, and they can also see the benefits of having these treatments regularly.”

Rachel said undertaking extra work had allowed CPM to employ more people.

“When we started out, we had four people, now we have 10 employees, and majority are Indigenous.

“We know it’s important to employ local Aboriginal people who have local knowledge. In Alice Springs, we have a team of locals and now in Katherine, we’ve employed a technician and an administration officer, and both have been around Katherine for a very long time.

“Looking ahead, we’re not really looking to head to the Darwin region because there’s quite a bit of competition there. We feel that as a culturally safe Aboriginal, family-owned and run company, we can make a real impact servicing existing and new clients in Central Australia, the Barkly and Big Rivers region.”