Aboriginal jobs and businesses a key part of massive Newell Highway upgrade project
The ongoing Narrabri to Moree heavy duty pavement upgrade project has enjoyed particular success engaging with the local Indigenous community, employing large numbers of Aboriginal workers and supporting local Aboriginal workshops.
Transport for NSW Regional Director West Alistair Lunn said Indigenous participation in the Narrabri to Moree project highlighted Transport’s commitment to employing a diverse workforce in an area where Aboriginal residents made up 17.8 per cent of the population.
“Right from the start of the Narrabri to Moree project, Transport and lead contractor Fulton Hogan have been focused on engaging the local Indigenous community and we are exceeding all project goals in terms of Aboriginal participation,” Mr Lunn said.
“To date, 92 Aboriginal people – including seven full-time staff and 85 sub-contractors or labour hire personnel – have been employed on the project, representing 21 per cent of all hours worked on the project.
“Four Aboriginal businesses have been engaged to work on the project through contracts totalling $4.2 million and we’ve spent over $2.4 million on Aboriginal employment, significantly exceeding the required total project spend on Aboriginal participation.
“From the wider Narrabri and Moree communities we have engaged 61 local businesses to supply concrete and quarry products, electrical and plumbing services, truck, plant and equipment hire, accommodation, catering, cleaning, traffic control and safety equipment.
“This project is investing in both the local infrastructure and local community, providing opportunities and developing skills that will continue paying dividends for years to come.”
Away from the work site, the Narrabri to Moree project has also supported local community initiatives including a school program for Aboriginal youth and maintained collaboration with members of the Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC).
“Transport for NSW and Fulton Hogan sponsored renowned Gomeroi artist Mona Fernando Munro to run school holiday projects for Aboriginal children with the Miyay Birray community organisation, including traditional basket weaving with reeds collected along the Mehi River,” Mr Lunn said.
“In appreciation of our involvement, Uncle Lloyd Munro and artist Mona are planning to present two pieces of Mona’s art to the project team in coming weeks.
“The paintings are the Moree area’s totem, the goanna, and the python which is the totem for Mungindi, Mona’s home country.”
The team will continue to engage and collaborate with the local Indigenous community as the project progresses.
The Australian and NSW governments are investing $261.17 million to upgrade more than 20 kilometres of the Newell Highway between Narrabri and Moree, including new heavy duty road pavement, intersection improvements, wider road shoulders and five additional overtaking lanes.
This project will improve safety for motorists, reduce future maintenance requirements and costs, improve the highway’s flood resilience between Narrabri and Moree, and improve freight productivity and access to the Moree Special Activation Precinct and Narrabri Inland Port.
Construction began in mid-2022 and more than 840 people have been inducted to work on the project so far.
More information is available on the Newell Highway upgrade project page.