At Elridge Estate in Jimboomba, the sun shone on more than a slab pour. It illuminated what true collaboration looks like, a developer, a builder, suppliers, engineers, and trades all standing together to celebrate an achievement that speaks volumes about what can be done when an industry works collectively.
The occasion? Ryse Construction’s 100th Biax slab pour. A milestone that is not just about numbers but about progress, innovation, and the relationships that make both possible.
“Surreal. Unbelievable. And something we couldn’t have done alone.”
That is how Ryse Construction General Manager, Greg McGee, described the day.
“Such a cool day for us. But more importantly, the true value today is seeing all your smiling faces. The people we do business with, the people we interact with, the people we like having in our lives. Two years and three months ago, we started something. Today, we’re preparing slab number 100. Totally unbelievable,” Greg said as he addressed the crowd of builders, trades, and suppliers who turned out for the celebration.
Greg’s gratitude was clear: for the KDL Property Group team who backed Ryse from day one, for suppliers who embraced innovation, for trades who made the vision real, and for his own team who have built Ryse into what it is today.
Greg McGee and Kent Leicester (Managing Director KDL Property Group) pictured below.
A Vision That Started with Purpose
That vision began with Kent Leicester, Managing Director of KDL Property Group, who saw an opportunity to do things differently.
“We had a dream a few years ago to add to our brand at KDL,” Kent explained. “At the time, we were primarily a land developer. But we saw the chance to establish a housing brand that built not just homes, but homes with purpose — environmentally friendly, sustainable, and aligned with products like the Biax slab system.”
For Kent, this was about creating something that lasts. A developer willing to give a leader and builder the freedom to innovate laid the foundation for what Ryse has now become.
Leadership in Practice: Greg and April’s Impact
If there is one thing we at The Good Builder have always applauded about Ryse Construction, it is this: they have not only embraced change, they have shared it. Greg and April have used every opportunity to support not just their own team but the broader building community.
They have opened conversations that matter, invested in education, and shown that leadership in this industry is not about guarding secrets, it is about collaboration and courage.
April Williams, Operations Manager, reflects on what this milestone means:
“It’s been huge. From where we started to where we are now — it was just Greg and me in the beginning, and now we’ve grown to a team of eight. When Greg first asked me to join him, I said no. I was scared. But when I met Kent and the KDL team, it felt like home. And here we are.”
April’s humility speaks volumes, but Greg is quick to highlight her influence. She has been the driver of systems, culture, and the operational strength that has taken Ryse from an idea to a recognised leader in less than three years.
April Williams pictured second from left.
Innovation That Stands the Test of Time
The Biax system, at the heart of this milestone, is more than a product. It is a rethink of the way foundations are done in Australia. Made from 100% recycled plastic, Biax void formers replace traditional EPS pods, reducing concrete use and eliminating polystyrene waste without compromising strength.
It is an innovation that aligns perfectly with Ryse’s philosophy of “considered homes”: building with awareness of impact on families, communities, and the environment.
“Reaching this milestone with Ryse is something I’m incredibly proud of. From the beginning, Greg and April have shared our vision for a smarter, more sustainable approach to building. They didn’t just adopt Biax; they championed it. They saw what it could mean for their clients, their sites, and the future of the industry. That kind of leadership takes courage. This partnership proves that when innovation meets trust and shared purpose, real change happens — and this 100th slab is proof of that.” Jim Prior, Managing Director of Biax Foundations said.
Why This Day Matters
Yesterday wasn’t just about concrete setting under the Queensland sun. It was about proving what happens when the industry drops the ego and works together.
It was about a developer giving a builder room to innovate. A builder using that freedom to lead change. And suppliers and trades who said yes to something better.
As Greg put it, “The more we share, the more we interact, the better it gets for everyone. There are no secrets anymore. We’re all building homes and we all want the same thing: to get people into homes and do it the right way.”
This milestone is not the finish line. It is a signal of where the industry can go when leadership looks like this.
At The Good Builder, we believe what Ryse and its partners achieved yesterday is more than an event. It is a blueprint for how to build better…together.
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