Narrabri locals invited to learn how to join the teams upgrading the Newell Highway in the north west
Up to 400 employees have been busy working on the $261.17 million Newell Highway heavy duty pavement upgrade from Narrabri to Moree, with more opportunities available for local job seekers and businesses.
Transport for NSW Regional Director West, Alistair Lunn said a focus of the joint Australian Government and NSW Government project was local employment, sourcing local suppliers and Aboriginal participation.
“We’ve sourced local businesses to supply concrete and quarry products, electrical and plumbing services, truck, plant and equipment hire as well as accommodation, catering, cleaning, traffic control and safety equipment,” Mr Lunn said.
“Moree and Narrabri and surrounds are part of Kamilaroi Land and the Gomeroi nation, with significant Aboriginal populations, and we’re proud to be exceeding our Aboriginal participation targets.
“We have four local Aboriginal suppliers from Moree and Narrabri and five Aboriginal trainees working on the project.”
Labourer trainee and proud Gomeroi man Fred McGrady returned home to Moree after years living in South Australia and is thriving in his career change.
“I enjoy a fast-paced workplace, I thrive on it and in this job we’re managing multiple things while we’ve got five or six machines running at the same time,” Mr McGrady said.
“I’m really enjoying it, I find learning new things really stimulating and I’m thriving again as a result.
“It was instilled in me from my parents to always take pride in your work and being in this job it’s there to see every time I drive down that road. I can say ‘I built that’ to the kids and grandkids.”
The first stage of the project involves upgrading four priority sections of the Newell Highway with new, hard wearing road pavement, carrying out intersection improvements, widening road shoulders and building five new overtaking lanes.
Since construction started in July last year, 400 staff including sub-contractors have been inducted on-site and up to 640 jobs are expected to be supported throughout this major project.
“Work has now commenced on the next section and there will be multiple opportunities available in the Narrabri area including in construction, labouring and administration roles,” Mr Lunn said.
“We’re holding a drop-in session for job seekers and local businesses in Narrabri on Thursday 27 July, and we welcome anyone who is interested to come and talk to our Transport for NSW and Fulton Hogan project team about the opportunities available as part of the next two sections of work.”
The drop-in session is being held from 3pm to 6pm at The Tourist Hotel, Narrabri. For more information, contact newell.upgrade@transport.nsw.gov.au or call 1800 800 741 636 (option 3).
More information on the Narrabri to Moree Newell Highway Heavy Duty Pavement Upgrade can be found at nswroads.work/n2m.