Transitioning maintenance in-house
- 400 new employees have now transitioned
- Regions benefit from long term job opportunities
- Appointment of four Aboriginal stakeholder engagement advisors
Last year we welcomed a further 300 employees across the Goldfields-Esperance, Metropolitan, Pilbara, South West and Great Southern regions, as well as the Metropolitan Bridge Maintenance Crew and Incident Response Service. This follows the successful transition of staff in the Wheatbelt and Mid West - Gascoyne regions in late 2022.
The Western Australian Government had announced, back in April 2022, a shift from contracting out road maintenance to a new model of in-house delivery for maintenance and some minor capital works. The business model relied on us being able to transition the skilled workers from the road maintenance contractors to become Main Roads employees. Transitioning in each region has been very successful, with most of the contractors' workers choosing to become our employees.
To support the transition, we have procured 202 new vehicles across the state along with 44 new staff houses purchased or leased in Broome, Port Hedland, Karratha, Newman, Onslow, Geraldton, Northam, Narrogin and Kalgoorlie.
In addition, we have established a new depot in Onslow, which includes two large sheds, a small office, staff amenities area and one-bedroom dwelling. The facility will help reduce operational costs, assist with the attraction and retention of employees and improve serviceability to the road network in the southern coastal and western areas of the Pilbara.
A new depot has also been set up in Welshpool for the Metropolitan Incident Response Service and bridge maintenance crew, and a new office has been leased in Manjimup to accommodate 20 new staff and assist with increased road network management responsibilities.
Along with the transition to maintenance contractors' skilled workers becoming our employees, four Aboriginal Stakeholder Engagement Advisors have been appointed. The advisors are working to develop relationships with local businesses and individuals, helping enable future employment and business opportunities in regional areas.
Since the transition to in-house maintenance commenced, the number of employees who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander has increased from 30 people in June 2022 to 90 people in February 2024. There are also more than 65 Aboriginal businesses now part of our Panel Contracts supporting the delivery of in-house maintenance.
Once fully implemented, the in-house delivery model is expected to save the state more than $25 million each year. Regions will also benefit from the provision of long-term job opportunities and additional increased Aboriginal employment opportunities.
Kimberley Region is the final region to transition, in November 2024.
Visit our YouTube channel to find out how we managed the transition in each of the regions
