Owning and operating his own civil construction company had been a lifelong dream of Robert Micallef. And helping him along the way to success with RPM Pro Civil has been his choice of machinery.
Working in the mining and infrastructure industries – building pipelines, roads, solar and power stations – Robert had been in a rewarding career, but found himself often forced to work remotely away from his family.
The Queensland man subsequently vowed to start up his own business so he could be with his two daughters as they grew up.
The ambition turned into reality in 2012, when Robert began sub-contracting work before taking the big leap of faith into forming RPM Pro Civil, working directly with clients and developers from start to finish on each project.
Servicing mainly the nearby Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast Areas – and further afield if time permits – RPM offers a range of services including road construction, complete land subdivisions, infrastructure works including water mains, sewer and stormwater, and various civil and electrical tasks.
“We are committed to providing high-quality, end-to-end infrastructure solutions across the region. With a strong foundation in safety, reliability, and precision, we specialise in delivering civil works for public, private, and commercial developments,” Robert said.
“From initial site prep to final handover, we manage every phase of the project with professionalism and expertise.”
And that’s no exaggeration.
For bulk earthworks projects, for example, RPM carries out site clearing and preparation, cut and fill operations, ground remediation and compaction, along with GPS-guided excavation and levelling.
If RPM is tasked with concrete works, then its capabilities include formwork, reinforcement, and finishing; kerbing, footpaths, driveways; and structural concrete and pavements.
For road construction, RPM is adept at subgrade preparation and base installation, asphalt and bitumen paving, rural and urban road development, and road widening and intersection upgrades.
On the civil drainage and utilities front, RPM is often contracted for activities such as stormwater and sewer infrastructure; water main installation; electrical and communications conduits; and manholes, pits, and junction boxes.
Even smaller tasks such as retaining walls get the same amount of professionalism and high standards, from concrete sleeper and block walls, gravity and reinforced retaining systems, drainage and backfill integration, through to engineered solutions for slope stabilisation.
RPM’s reputation continues to grow, with some of the tasks completed including two 20-lot subdivisions, Moreton Bay Council road widening intersection upgrades, and a major carpark upgrade for the Bribie Island Bowls Club.
Robert attributes the success to two main factors: the decision to bring in a business partner, and the use of the right equipment.
“RPM business partner and Operations Manager Dean Deeks-Boss has helped greatly increase our capabilities and the network team as a whole,” Robert said.
“Dean has been in the civil industry since he was 17, starting from all aspects on the ground to machine operator, running a pipe crew, and supervising subdivisions all the way up to Tier 1 projects.”
“We have no shortage of enthusiasm and want to take the company to the next step.
“RPM has recently secured a 20-acre site, so bigger developments are on the horizon.”
Robert said the company began with three machines in the fleet, expanding over the years into 15 by 2025, along with a staff of about 20.
“Our journey has been helped by the strong relationship we have with RDO Equipment,” Robert said.
“We always aim to keep a fleet of modern equipment, which includes a truck and dog, a side tipper, roller, compactors, Posi-tracks, multiple sized excavators, a water cart, dozer, grader, and a Moxy.
“As the business grew, and our equipment fleet needed upgrading, we found that, at RDO, John Deere offered a great financing and customer service deal for us to trial the machines.
“We bought our first John Deere machines from RDO’s Richlands branch two years ago and have had an ongoing business relationship with them since then.
“The machines have never let us down.”
As if to emphasise Robert’s statement, a trio of John Deere machines were hard at work when we caught up with Robert and Dean and their team at a 90-lot sub-division at the suburb of Caboolture.
“Today we’ve got a JD 850J crawler dozer, a 21t E210LC-II excavator and a 317G compact track loader out at the site, carrying out bulk earthworks, clearing, trenching, and various final trim operations,” he said.
Robert said he could not fault the service from RDO.
“The service has been excellent, as has the service, repairs, maintenance and generally looking after us,” he said.
“We will definitely be coming back for more John Deeres.
“They will help us grow as we continue to maintain the highest standard of project delivery, from planning to execution, ensuring seamless coordination and efficiency.”
RDO Richlands sales professional Brian Daubney said RPM came on board looking to partner with a dealer it could trust.
“They were a growing business and wanted a dealer who understood the support and flexibility needed to make a difference,” he said.
“RPM undertakes a wide range of works across civil and municipal sectors, with work such as sewerage, water mains, bulk earthworks and subdivisions.
“The John Deere models it acquired, such as an E18 ZS mini excavator, the 317G CTL and the E210 excavator, together give RPM the flexibility to undertake any task, large or small.”
Brian highlighted some of the features of the John Deere products that helped them stand above their competitors.
“The 850J-II Dozer has great pushing power, especially in the turns and it’s easy to operate with a very smooth transmission,” he said.
“The cab provides good vision all round and the low track noise makes it a dream to operate.
“The 317G Compact Loader is an extremely capable machine, pushing well above its weight, and operators love the spacious air-conditioned cabin and smooth ride.
“And RPM finds the E210LC excavator’s exceptional power and rugged construction allows them to achieve high productivity in larger earthworks and bulk handling tasks.”
Brian also stressed the quality aftermarket support provided by RDO Equipment Australia.
“We are dedicated to providing our customers with excellence with our unparalleled branch network, resident service technicians, and comprehensive range of services,” he said.
“We are well-equipped to meet the diverse needs of our customers and ensure the ongoing success of their operations.
“As RPM grows, RDO will be there to support them as a trusted partner, whether with field service, new machines, finance or long-term rentals.”
