Locale: Scaling essential work across critical networks

Locale has spent its first year with Symal doing what it does best: delivering the essential work that keeps critical electricity networks running. 

Acquired by Symal Group in August 2025, Locale is a specialist utilities and network contractor operating across one of Australia’s largest and most complex regulated electrical distribution networks. 

For Will Carrington, Head of Commercial and Compliance, the business has always been built around a model that works. 

“Our model is proven, operating at the heart of critical infrastructure, delivering essential work at scale every day.” 

That model has continued to gain momentum since joining Symal. 

During FY26, Locale extended its incumbency with CitiPower and Powercor, securing the emergency call-out and fault response contract across the three largest depots across the two networks. The business also secured scheduled works that extended its reach beyond Melbourne and into regional Victoria, including Mildura. 

“With Symal behind us, we're scaling fast,” says Will. 

That growth has been matched by the size of the Locale team, which grew from 40 to more than 70 people over the year. Today, Locale operates 18 crews across Victoria, delivering high-volume, technical and repeatable work spanning maintenance, fault response, customer lead-ins and asset replacement. 

“Locale now leads the delivery of high volume, repeatable work, that keeps the network running every day.” 

The opportunity is now to take that proven capability further. 

With Symal’s broader platform behind it, Locale has been able to access additional resources, systems and expertise while maintaining the specialist capability that has made it a trusted partner in the regulated utilities market. 

That combination is opening the door to larger and more complex opportunities, while supporting Locale’s expansion across regional Victoria. 

Looking ahead, the focus is on continuing to broaden Locale’s capability into overhead civil construction across standard distribution and transmission-grade assets, strengthening its regional presence and increasing the amount of work delivered by its own crews. 

It’s a natural next step for a business that has spent its first year with Symal building on a proven model — and creating more room to grow. 

From critical networks to regional Victoria, Locale is scaling its capability and strengthening its role in the infrastructure that keeps communities connected.