From the remote and expansive Pilbara region to the multi-lane Kwinana Freeway in Perth, we’re helping Main Roads Western Australia deliver infrastructure and support for communities across Western Australia (WA).
We proactively engage with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and companies on all our contracts for Main Roads WA, to identify opportunities for employment, procurement and subcontracting services.
Alison Coffey, our Transport Regional Manager for WA, chairs our First Peoples Working Group and has been a leader in deepening our relationships with Aboriginal communities.
“Our efforts to encourage Aboriginal participation is integral to the work we do for Mains Roads,” Alison says. “It’s important to our client and it’s important to us. Working together with Indigenous communities, we provide the opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to build the infrastructure that serves their communities.”
STATE-WIDE ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE CONTRACT
Main Roads’ road network is one of the most extensive in the world, covering 18,400 kms. The breadth of its electrical asset portfolio is equally impressive, including 1,000 traffic signals, 3,900 electronic school zone signs, 517 CCTV cameras and a 250,000m optic fibre network.
We maintain these assets across WA as part of the VentureSmart joint venture with Johnson Controls.
In addition to safe and reliable service delivery, VentureSmart is committed to building and optimising local industry participation, including with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-owned companies.
One example of how the team are creating opportunities across the state is through the procurement of many of our supplies through locally-owned Aboriginal businesses including PPE, stationery and medical services.
We are also providing opportunities to several young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people including three Electrical Apprentices and a Warehouse Operations Trainee.
Lance Pickett, 4th year Electrical Apprentice
“Our long-term goal is to help develop a quality workforce and supply chain capable of supporting all aspects of electrical infrastructure design, installation and maintenance across WA,” Alison says.
PILBARA RURAL NETWORK
In the Pilbara, Ventia manages the region’s rural road network which spans almost 3000km of main roads and highways.
We work closely with nine Indigenous businesses and associations to create employment and procurement opportunities.
One of the companies we work with is earthmoving specialist Binbirri Contracting, which employs 63% Aboriginal people across all of its projects.
“The work that we have started with Ventia is very important to our business and our local Aboriginal people,” says Binbirri’s Kevin Eckerman. “This great opportunity will provide support and stability within our community.”
Ventia has collaborated closely with the Pilbara’s local communities for many years. We held the Pilbara Integrated Services Arrangement (ISA) contract for six years prior to winning the Pilbara Rural Network Contract in November 2018.
“Through our approach of buying local and supporting Aboriginal companies, we’re helping to build skills and sustainable businesses in our industry across the Pilbara,” says Tony DiFelice, WA Business Development Manager.
“We’re proud that our work with Main Roads is having a positive impact on local economies.”
The SmartWays Alliance team
KWINANA SMART FREEWAY
As part of the SmartWays Alliance, we are delivering Perth’s first Smart Freeway. Smart technology will be used to open and close traffic lanes in the event of an incident and to adjust speed limits during busy periods.
Indigenous engagement is a key priority for the SmartWays Alliance, as it is for Main Roads. The project has a target $1M spend on Aboriginal contractors and 10% of people hours with Aboriginal employees and trainees.
The Alliance is also looking at incorporating Aboriginal public art into the design of the smart freeways project. We’re proud that our work with Main Roads is having a positive impact on local economies.
Tony DiFelice, WA Business Development Manager
MEET TIFFANY BLURTON
Variety is one of the things Tiffany Blurton says she likes most about her role as a Control Room Dispatcher on Ventia’s Statewide Electrical Infrastructure Services contract.
Each day, Tiffany receives job alerts from the Main Roads WA Customer Information Centre which she then triages to determine which of our multi-skilled technicians will be sent to site to inspect and repair – and when.
Tiffany proudly identifies as Aboriginal and says that when she was offered the role at Ventia, she was pleased to read about the work being done to create an inclusive work environment.
Based in our Jandakot depot in the southern suburbs of Perth, Tiffany interacts daily with the technicians working on the contract. Each of them is qualified to assess and repair different classes of assets.
“It’s important that I know the team well,” Tiffany says. “I need to understand everyone’s specialist skills, their availability and current job schedules.”
Tiffany says they’ve built a great culture that is focused on working together as a team, and she is looking forward to growing her career with Ventia.
“I enjoy the opportunity to build rapport with the people I work with, whether they are clients or teammates,” Tiffany says. “I also love that each day I am learning something new about the assets we manage.”
