Project Welcomed by Locals

We are delivering a project to complete the sealing of the Broome Cape Leveque Road on behalf of the Shire of Broome. The remaining 90 kilometres of road will be sealed improving access to Aboriginal communities and local industry, especially during the wet season when there can be lengthy road closures.

The 205 kilometre local government road under the care of the Shire of Broome provides the main transport link through the Dampier Peninsula. The route enables vehicle access to the estimated 1,425 population including 71 Aboriginal communities, pastoral stations, pearling industries and tourist destinations.

The project was identified as a priority in the Northern Australia Infrastructure Audit as a road requiring upgrade. The audit acknowledged the significant influx of tourists to the region during June to October often resulting in a tripling of the population from 13,000 to around 40,000 people.

Using the State Government’s new Aboriginal Procurement Policy and the Australian Government’s Framework to maximise indigenous employment and business opportunities in Northern Australia, a Project Procurement Strategy was developed. It set Aboriginal engagement targets and included strategies to maximise Aboriginal employment and business engagement.

These targets include seeking to achieve Aboriginal employment of 45 per cent, of which 80 per cent will be local and Aboriginal business engagement at 20 per cent. To ensure these targets are met, all tender documents contain clauses relating to Aboriginal employment and training. In addition, preferences are applied for local and Aboriginal businesses and employment under an extensive Plant Panel contract.

The project will be delivered over three to four years to ensure the employment outcomes are sustained. While the project is in its early stages, 12 of the 16 contracts awarded to date have been to local Aboriginal businesses. Aboriginal employment on site in the first month of construction was 86 per cent, of which 95 per cent were local people from Broome and the Dampier Peninsula. The project and delivery approach is being embraced by local Aboriginal people.

Minister for Transport, the Honourable Rita Saffioti participated in a traditional smoking ceremony with Aboriginal elders and community members at the site locally known as ‘Dinner Camp’. Traditional Custodians from Jabirr Jabirr / Ngumbarl, Bindunbur, Yawuru, Bardi and Jawi also took part in the ceremony and were joined by local contractors Nirrumbuk, Roadline and the Main Roads’ project team. As part of the celebrations fifteen Aboriginal Elders spoke about what the project meant to them.