Cedar Mill Group Acquires Security Firm, Launches New A/V Division
Cedar Mill Group, a new player in the live sector with two major tourism developments in NSW, continues to expand.
The Winarch Capital-owned company has acquired Secure Events and Assets (SEAA) and launched a new audio-visual division.
SEAA was set up in 2007 by Jim and Tara Fidler offering a range of security services at events and major venues with a workforce of 500.
These cover site and asset protection, crowd control, event public safety, occupational health and safety and risk management, personal security, and venue liaison and training.
SEAA also had a global footprint working at the Olympic Games (London 2012), the Commonwealth Games (Glasgow 2014), the World Cup Cricket 2019 and Glastonbury.
As part of the deal, the Fidlers remain in the business.
Jim returns next month after more than two years with Live Nation as director of Security Operations for the APAC region.
“Jim and Tara, and their team, bring over 15 years of experience handling some of the country’s biggest events and providing asset protection across the country,” Cedar Mill Group CEO Kyle McKendry said.
“They have an admirable reputation for reliable and ethical delivery.
“We are thrilled to welcome them on board and very much look forward to working alongside their skilled team in future opportunities.”
This acquisition builds upon the 2021 acquisition of event management, logistics and production planning companies, Humm, which was rebranded as Humm Events.
The new audio-visual division, Cedar Mill Productions, offers clients TV ads, short films, documentaries, safety and educational films, event coverage, podcast creation and immersive and interactive VR productions.
It is headed by cinematographer and director Andy Gallagher who’s worked on brand campaigns for Aldi, Visit NSW, Yancoal, Asus and Sony.
Building work has also begun on the $235 million redevelopment of the Cedar Mill Lake Macquarie tourism precinct.
It includes a 30,000 capacity outdoor amphitheatre for concerts and events, as well as cafes and restaurants, accommodation and Australia’s largest aquatic play park.
Cedar Mill Hunter Valley’s amphitheatre will hold 22,000. It is expected to open in 2023 at a cost of $107 million.
This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.