CCF WA NEWS

The Women in Civil Awards recognise exceptional women for their leadership and commitment to excellence within the WA civil construction industry. This year, we introduced four new awards: Industry Leader; Emerging Leader; Trainee/Apprentice; and Corporate Leader.

The nominees for 2025 are...

Emerging Leader

• Mairead Breen, FSC Civils
• Aimee Crofton, Georgiou Group
• Leonie Cunningham, Georgiou Group
• Tracey Daly, APEX Utilities
• Jennifer Gaitan, BOS Civil
• Katelyn Gibson, Brooks Hire Service
• Emma Lauriston, BMD
• Tessa McGrath, DM Civil
• Hadiah Mojaddidi, Melchor
• Libby O'Brien, BMD
• Jordan Pedley, Barakee, MAX Plant
• Melinda Preece, BMD
• Meghan Roger, Western Geotechnical & Laboratory Services
• Maria Vermeulen, CPB Contractors
• Natasha Veurink, Tracc Civil

Industry Leader

• Kate Chapman, CPB Contractors
• Nancy Chen, Tracc Civil
• Nayelly Garcia, CPB Contractors
• Kim Haynes, SRG Global Infrastructure
• Kelly Hillary, SJ Traffic Management
• Jutta Klocke, Geoquest Australia
• Anna Massey, BMD
• Emma Moebius, BMD
• Hilary Morup, Mallard Contracting
• Barbara Tighe, CPB Contractors
• Elizabeth Ward, CPB Contractors

Trainee/Apprentice

• Elise Ewen, Georgiou Group
• Abbey-Lee Johnson, Apex Utilities
• Deborah Williams, Motivation Foundation
• Brianna Fretwell, Laing O’Rourke

Corporate Leader

• FSC Civils
• BMD

The winners will be presented at the 2025 Women in Civil Lunch by Minister for Women the Hon. Simone McGurk MLA.

Tickets are on sale until 5:30pm Wednesday, 9 July.

Western Australia’s peak civil construction industry group says planned major road projects must be brought forward to ensure WA retains the skilled workforce needed for an expected surge of infrastructure construction activity later this decade.

Civil Contractors Federation WA CEO Andy Graham said the recent State Budget included many road projects scheduled to get underway around 2028 (see list below). Construction works on these projects will coincide with a forecast rise in public and private sector construction activity including Westport and Western Trade Coast enabling works (road and rail), Perth Airport runway and redevelopment, Clean Energy Link projects, Defence upgrades at Garden Island and Henderson, and development of Strategic Industrial Areas.

Mr Graham said bringing some road projects forward would help smooth the infrastructure pipeline and ensure WA retained workforce capability.

“We’re optimistic about the long-term pipeline of work but the next couple of years are a concern,” Mr Graham said.

“With the METRONET program wrapping up, more and more civil contractors and subcontractors are geared up and ready for work, but they can see very few new tendering opportunities in the next 18-24 months.

“The State Budget forecasts show Main Roads will spend about a billion dollars per annum statewide on road construction in 2027/28 and 2028/29, which is back to the levels of about ten years ago and a massive drop in real terms.

“It makes sense to bring some road projects forward. Otherwise, we’ll pay the price in skills shortages a few years from now. Civil engineers, supervisors and others will go east where the work is.

“We can’t expect to retain workforce capability if WA is pushing the pause button on new projects while other states are pushing ahead with big infrastructure programs.”

Mr Graham said CCF WA also urged the Federal Government to support any State Government initiative to bring forward road projects.

“Federal funding support will be essential,” he said. “And with WA currently set to receive only 5% of all Federal infrastructure funding from 2027 to 2029, there is undoubtedly plenty of scope for the Federal Government to step up with a fairer deal.”

Road projects that could be brought forward include:

Kwinana Freeway Widening ($700 million). Federal funding (50%) confirmed. New State Budget includes $460M to widen between Roe Highway and Mortimer Road, commencing 2027.

Tonkin Highway and Kelvin Road Grade Separation ($122 million). Funding and delivery timeline on this project not clear as State Budget aggregates Tonkin Highway improvement. Works originally scheduled to commence in 2024.

Great Northern Highway Bindoon Bypass ($275 million). Fully funded since 2019; delivery deferred as part of 2021 pipeline smoothing process. State Budget shows major works funded from 2027/28. May need additional Federal funding.

Canning Bridge Bus Interchange ($200 million). Federal funding confirmed in 2023. State Budget includes $140 million for construction, likely commencing early 2028. May need additional Federal funding.

Reid Highway and Erindale Road Grade Separation ($450 million). Federal funding (50%) recently confirmed. No significant State Budget funding for construction works until 2028/29.

Nicholson Road and Garden Street Grade Separation ($80 million).  Was scheduled to commence early 2026 but new State Budget has no significant funding until 2028/29. Likely to need additional Federal funding.

West Swan and Reid Highway Interchange ($175 million). Federal funding (50%) confirmed in 2020. No significant State Budget funding for construction works until 2028/29. Likely to need additional Federal funding.

Roe Hwy/Great Eastern Highway Bypass Interchanges ($368.5 million): Design of interchanges at Roe/GEH Bypass and Abernethy/GEH Bypass is completed, but more Federal funding is needed for construction.

Pinjarra Heavy Haulage Deviation ($250 million). Federal Government withdrew funding support in November 2023. No significant works funding in this Budget cycle.

Federal funding of major transport projects in Western Australia is set to fall to less than one-sixth of current levels over the next four years.

CCF WA’s analysis of the Federal Government’s Infrastructure Investment Program shows WA will receive just $688.4 million in 2028/29 – less than 5% of the national total.

Confirmation of 50% funding for the Leach Highway/Manning Rd intersection upgrade and the Kwinana Freeway widening is welcome. It's been reported the Budget includes a substantial allocation for “decisions taken but not yet announced” so in the lead up to the Federal election we may also see a commitment to match the State Government’s $225 million commitment to fixing the intersection of Reid Highway and Erindale Road.

Disappointingly, there are no new major commitments to fixing WA’s regional roads.

The Federal Budget does include $1 billion in defence spending brought forward and an additional $10.6 billion in total over the next four years. Some of that is expected to go towards WA infrastructure upgrades needed for the AUKUS submarine deal – CCF WA is seeking more information on the details.

Civil apprentices miss out again

Our sector has again been dudded with civil construction apprentices not eligible for a $10,000 bonus (increased from $5000) while employers of civil apprentices will miss out on a $5000 Priority Hiring Incentive.

Civil Contractors Federation National CEO Nicholas Proud called for recognition and funding of the civil construction sector as a priority workforce, essential to unlocking both infrastructure investment and national housing targets.

“Until governments invest in the men and women who deliver roads, water, power, and subdivisions, the housing pipeline will remain stalled,” Mr Proud said.

“You cannot invest a dollar in housing until you invest a dollar in civil. Australia’s housing challenge cannot be solved without civil construction.”

What else is in the Federal Budget for businesses?

The Business Council of Australia says the 2025 Federal Budget should have done much more for business, including positive action to incentivise state and territories to undertake economic reform and improve productivity.

About 1 million small businesses (defined as those with annual electricity consumption of less than 50MWh) will receive a $150 electricity bill rebate.

The $20,000 instant asset write-off scheme will be cut to $1,000 from July 1.

Peak business groups criticised the Government’s decision to ban the use of non-compete clauses for employees earning less than $175,000.

CCI WA’s Aaron Morey said: “This measure will make it harder for businesses to protect their legitimate interests by ensuring workers do not unfairly use insider knowledge to help a new employer.”

Western Australia’s peak civil construction industry body welcomes the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to fair and reasonable security of payments protections for subcontractors.

Civil Contractors Federation Western Australia CEO Andy Graham said today's Federal response to the 2018 Murray Review reinforces that security of payments protections are necessary in the construction sector. “As the Review stated and the response acknowledges, there is an inherent power imbalance in our industry between extremely large head contractors and small subcontractors,” Mr Graham said. “That’s why security of payment legislation exists in all states and territories.

"Here in WA, our State Government responded proactively to the Murray Review, implementing new security of payments legislation that aims to improve protections and provide more certainty for head contractors, subcontractors and suppliers.

“CCF has a unique perspective on this issue as our membership includes some of the largest head contractors and smallest subcontractors. More than most groups, we know how important it is to get the balance right and ensure that subcontractors are fairly paid, without tying all businesses up in complex and sometimes ineffective red tape.

“We share the Federal Government’s concern that project bank accounts and statutory trusts impose a huge administrative burden on all parties, while not really addressing key issues such as disagreements over contractual entitlement.

“CCF looks forward to further consultation with the Federal Government on this important issue, led by CCF National CEO Nicholas Proud, our representative on the National Construction Industry Forum.”

The exclusion of civil construction trades from a new $10,000 apprentice incentive shows the Federal Government still hasn’t grasped the need for more skilled workers to build housing enabling infrastructure, says the Civil Contractors Federation WA.

CCF WA CEO Andy Graham said apprentice civil plant operators and pipelayers deserved the same support from the new Key Apprentices Program as apprentices in the housing trades.

“While the Federal Government continues to announce generous funding for housing-enabling infrastructure, it has ignored the apprentices in the trades that actually deliver it,” Mr Graham said.

“Without housing lots, there’s no houses, and it’s critical we attract and retain the skilled tradespeople we need to build those housing lots.

“Do the Feds understand that building subdivisions requires a highly skilled workforce? Don’t they get that the apprentice plant operators and pipelayers building subdivisions are every bit as important as the bricklayers and carpenters building houses?

“If we sound frustrated, it’s because the CCF has been telling the Federal Government this for 15 years. Yet every time a new Federal apprenticeship incentive is announced, civil construction apprentices miss out.

“This month alone we’ve been snubbed twice – firstly excluded from the new GTO Reimbursement Program, and now this apprentice completion incentive.

Mr Graham said the consistent lack of Federal support for civil trades was in stark contrast to the strong support shown by the Western Australian Government.

“Our State Government consistently provides equal support for civil construction skills. It understands that you can't build houses without housing lots. For example, we’ve just seen excavator operators and pipelayers included as eligible for the $10,000 relocation bonus, aimed at encouraging interstate migration.

Mr Graham said the State Government was also a strong supporter of civil construction skills through its apprenticeship funding programs – unlike the Federal Government, which refuses all civil construction apprentices, including apprentice plant operators, access to its Australian Apprenticeship Incentive System funding.

CCF National CEO Nicholas Proud said the Federal Government had to start prioritising civil trades or risk further delays in addressing Australia’s housing and infrastructure challenges.

“We are building 60,000 fewer homes than we were in 2021, so it is baffling that the Government has chosen to defer action on civil trades,” Mr Proud said.

“Civil construction is the foundation of every housing project, enabling essential services like subdivisions, roads, sewerage, and water. Without a skilled civil workforce, the housing sector simply cannot function. The longer we delay investing in these trades, the further we fall behind on delivering the infrastructure and housing Australians desperately need.

“Unless the Government is intending to build homes without cleared lots, connective roads and utilities, we are not going to see any progress on housing until the Government prioritises the civil skills that unlock new homes.”

The Civil Contractors Federation (CCF) welcomes the Government’s commitment to boosting Vocational Education Training (VET) and addressing skills shortages through the Free TAFE Bill 2024 but cautions that private RTOs – which play a crucial role in civil construction training – should not be disadvantaged.

CCF warns that a focus on TAFEs, to the exclusion of other VET providers, could exacerbate issues such as the lack of recognition and support for civil construction skills and the unique needs of contractors delivering housing-and energy enabling infrastructure.

CCF CEO Nicholas Proud said private Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) were often the only viable option for contractors seeking skilled workers to meet the demands of vital infrastructure projects.

"We urge the Commonwealth to broaden its focus and take further steps to support RTOs that specialise in civil skills training," Mr Proud said.

"Relying solely on TAFE risks overlooking the specific, industry-led training solutions that private providers offer, which are crucial for equipping workers with the specialised skills needed in our sector.”

In response to these challenges, the CCF is also calling on the Commonwealth Government to formally recognise the vital role of apprenticeships and trades within the civil sector, by funding civil construction apprenticeships through the Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System

"As a country we are waking up to the urgent skills shortfalls we need to address to deliver the housing-enabling infrastructure and renewable energy projects Australia urgently needs. We need to focus every strategy and dollar to tackle this crisis.

“This means not only prioritising support for the private RTOs that are training the skilled workforce to make it happen, but also addressing the current unfair funding policies that severely disadvantage civil construction apprentices compared to nearly all other construction trades

Without equal support for private sector training providers, and fair funding for civil construction apprentices, we risk falling short on the infrastructure and energy goals that underpin our nation’s future."

The CCF remains committed to working alongside the Government, training providers, and other industry stakeholders to develop a robust skills pipeline that supports the nation’s infrastructure goals.

CCF WA welcomes reforms to WA’s local government legislation that will improve transparency by requiring councils to publicly disclose how they assess tenders and why they have chosen a successful contractor.

CCF WA says the new legislation will increase transparency by ensuring councils explain how they assess tenders and why they have chosen a successful contractor.

CCF WA CEO Andy Graham said the civil construction industry applauded Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley for listening and acting on the concerns raised in a recent CCF WA report. 

“Our report showed the lack of procurement transparency allowed by WA's Local Government Act is way out of step with similar legislation in other states,” Mr Graham said.

“The current commercial-in-confidence provision in our legislation is so all-encompassing, it basically allows councils to suppress all internal assessments and discussions related to contracts awarded. 

“The new Act will strike a much better balance by allowing confidentiality where tenderers have shared commercially sensitive information, while ensuring councils can’t use the excuse of commercial-in-confidence to avoid any explanation of why they chose one tenderer over another.

“Happily there are some councils that already recognise the importance of transparency and accountability. Progressive LGAs such as Cockburn, Gosnells and Joondalup publish detailed information when awarding contracts, including prices bid, and explain how and why the successful bidder was chosen -- so for these councils the reforms will be business as usual.

"We look forward to all councils achieving a similar standard.

“For construction contractors, the increased transparency will provide invaluable insights. Contractors understand they’re not going to win every tender, but what really frustrates them is when they lose but have no idea why, because the council claims that information is confidential.

“It’s hard to see how greater transparency is anything but a good thing, not just for contractors who want to know how they fared in the assessment process, but also for ratepayers seeking to understand how their rates are being spent.”

Background to the Local Government Act procurement reforms

Section 5.23 (2)(c) of the Local Government Act 1995 currently allows local government authorities to close council meetings to the public for any discussions and decisions related to “a contract entered into, or which may be entered into, by the local government”. This effectively allows councils to withhold all information related to contract awards, typically in confidential attachments to council minutes.

Section 5.23 (2)(c) will be replaced by a new commercial-in-confidence provision – 5.23 (4)(c) – which will specify that councils can only withhold “information contained in a tender received by the local government for a contract to the extent that the information is a tendered price, or a tendered methodology for calculating a price”.

The Minister for Local Government’s office has advised that work is underway to progress the implementation of the new Section 5.23.

Next year CCF WA proudly celebrates our 50th anniversary of representing the WA civil construction industry. By John Feary

It was a meeting at the iconic Herdsman Lake pub in the Perth suburb of Wembley that changed the course of the earthmoving industry in Western Australia. The meeting was in June 1975, although it seems no one is sure of the exact date.

Given the historic liking of hard-working contractors for a cool drink on a hot day as well as the Herdy’s reputation as one of Perth’s most popular entertainment pubs in that era, it would be easy to assume this was a rowdy gathering.

But there was a serious purpose this time. This was the meeting at which many of Perth’s hardest working and most resourceful contractors agreed to set up the Land Development Contractors Association.

In June 2025, the Civil Contractors Federation WA branch will celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of that meeting, recognising the establishment of the LDCA represents the foundation of the modern earthmoving and civil construction industry body in Western Australia.

The LDCA operated in Perth for just 12 years, fighting on behalf of its members for greater access to the emerging business opportunities. Then, in 1987, the growing influence of national decision-making on infrastructure development and issues such as industrial relations resulted in the LDCA members agreeing to become the WA branch of the national Australian Earthmovers and Road Contractors Federation. Eight years later, with WA delegates taking an increasingly important role in national decision-making, the AERCF transitioned into the modern Civil Contractors Federation with branches in all states and its national office in Canberra.

What was once considered rather fondly by many members as “a bit of a gentlemen’s club” has become a peak industry group for companies involved in all aspects of civil construction and a federally registered employers union providing balance on industrial relations issue.

In the coming months, the CCF Bulletin will explore the events, the decisions and the background to the transition, drawing largely on the recollections of some of the people who were there. Given the nature of the industry 50 years ago, written records are quite sparse but the available evidence demonstrates clearly how these giants of the past assessed the circumstances, recognised the opportunities and protected the industry in very challenging circumstances.

Minister for Planning and Infrastructure Hon. Alannah MacTiernan MLC with the WA Earth Awards winners, 2002.

Prior to the famous Herdy meeting in 1975, there had been several attempts by earthmoving contractors as well as equipment suppliers to form representative groups in Perth. Most were probably focused more on picking venues for long lunches than industrial politicking.

For, despite its critical importance to all aspects of construction, earthmoving as an industrial sector was barely recognised in the early years of Western Australian development.

When the first European settlers led by Captain James Stirling arrived off the Perth coast in June 1829, it should have been obvious that the task of building a new settlement from scratch in the vast landmass would require a large and trained workforce.

It should have been obvious, but within 10 years the critical shortage of skilled workers had left the economy on the brink of collapse due to the inability to clear land and construct roads.

While the Swan River Colony had been proudly planned and promoted as a free settlement, the colonists were now demanding access to convicts from the UK’s teeming prisons to save them.

Nearly 10,000 convicts were transported to Fremantle between 1850 and 1887 with the specific aim of creating a workforce for public construction and infrastructure. These were not all the uneducated, unskilled city vagrants of popular imagining. A number had experience as carpenters, blacksmiths and stonemasons, others had worked on farms before falling foul of the law.

In addition, the British authorities had set up skills training courses inside the UK prison hulks that would equip the law-breakers to work in brickmaking, construction of walls and simple buildings. The unskilled prisoners could be used to build roads, clear land and plough fields, produce crops and collect shells to crush for lime mortar.

During and after the convict era, prisoners who had completed their jail time (known as ticket of leave men) then became available to work for private citizens as well as on public projects. The state and federal government departments that were responsible for major public works relied heavily on private contractors, generally appointed through public tendering, to complement their large workforces.

Throughout the century that followed, the provision of essential services and infrastructure including roads, railways, ports, bridges and public buildings became increasingly critical to the growth of residential and industrial projects, land developments and the emergence of the mining sector.

The West Australian gold rushes that began in the 1880s and completion of the Goldfields water pipeline in 1903 helped underpin the state’s growth against further downturns, and there was a further dramatic economic recovery from the inrush of European migrants following World War 2.

By the 1970s, the growth in the mining sector and increasing government infrastructure investment was intensifying. One acute frustration for the more ambitious contractors was that state government departments such as Main Roads and the Water Corporation, as well as many local councils, refused to open jobs such as roadworks and utility works for outside tenders.

Under the leadership of inaugural president Ross Walker (1975-79) and subsequently by Dudley Campbell (1979-82), Mike Moloney (1982-84) and Jim Giumelli (1984-87), the LDCA lobbied strongly for earthmovers for the right to undertake a full range of work in land development.

The transition of the LDCA to the AERCF under president John Vincent (1987-89), followed by Alex Wolfe (1989-92) and Lance Croker (1992-94) delivered the independence as well as the national partnerships that the industry needed. Then, its next big step was to set up its own administrative structure.

AERCF National Executive Director Doug Huett at an AERCF National Council Meeting in WA, 1993.

Lance Croker (centre) accepting his CCF National Life Membership with CCF WA CEO Mike Morris (left) and President Philip Marsh (right), 1998.

The LDCA/AERCF originally operated as one of many industry units within the Confederation of WA Industry (subsequently the Perth Chamber of Commerce and Industry), which provided secretarial services and could be called on to lobby on the members’ behalf. However, the members became increasing concerned that part-time lobbying effort was not always effective, particularly when their issue might conflict with the views of the chamber’s bigger and more powerful member companies.

In early 1993, the AERCF recruited civil engineer Mike Morris from Victoria to be its initial executive director. Morris worked closely with Lance Croker and Reg Toohey, who was the state’s first delegate to the national body, in robust and occasionally heated national debates that ultimately led to AERCF making way for the new Civil Contractors Federation in 1995.

Over more than 13 years, Morris took responsibility for the introduction of high standards of occupational health and safety, training, environmental responsibility, human relations and compliance for the whole of the WA industry. He also built an extensive calendar of seminars, workshops, networking and social activities that became, and remain, a key factor in the CCF’s popularity.

The CCF Bulletin will trace other aspects of the last 50 years in its 2025 editions.

The voice of the industry for 50 years

WA’s peak civil infrastructure industry group says it’s unfair to criticise the WA State Government for the Federal Government’s failure to adequately address shortages of skilled excavator operators.

Civil Contractors Federation WA CEO Andy Graham said the State Government should be commended for consistently striving to provide excavator operators and other civil construction workers fair access to migration and training incentives – in stark contrast to the Federal Government’s appalling record in both areas.

“There’s no doubt the Federal Government has again dropped the ball with the exclusion of excavator and crane operators from its Core Skills Occupation List,” Mr Graham said. “But for our industry, this is just another setback in a long history of civil construction skills shortages being ignored by the Feds.”

Mr Graham said the omission of skilled excavator and crane operators from the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) was inevitable given the Federal Government’s insistence on basing the list around the outdated ANZSCO skills classification system, which classifies all plant and machinery operators as unskilled and therefore ineligible. He said CCF had been advocating for years for the Federal Government to abandon this ‘computer says no’ attitude and recognise genuine civil construction skills shortages, with no success.

“But recent commentary that the State Government should share the blame for Canberra's mess makes no sense either,” Mr Graham said. “In fact, our State Government deserves a pat on the back for consistently acting to boost civil construction skills, and showing it understands that you can't build houses without housing lots, which requires skilled plant operators and pipelayers.

“We saw evidence of this only a few days ago when excavator operators and pipelayers were included as eligible for the $10,000 relocation bonus, aimed at encouraging interstate migration.

“And earlier this year, the State Government ensured the inclusion of excavator, loader and directional drill operators in its new WA Designated Area Migration Agreement, which helps employers bypass Federal migration roadblocks.”

Mr Graham said the State Government was also a strong supporter of civil construction skills through its apprenticeship funding programs – unlike the Federal Government, which refuses all civil construction apprentices, including apprentice plant operators, access to its Australian Apprenticeship Incentive System funding.

“This State Government actually created the civil construction apprenticeship, upgrading it from a traineeship three years ago,” Mr Graham said. “And our apprentices enjoy the same level of Construction Training Fund financial support as the building trades.

“In addition, civil apprentices working in residential subdivision construction are eligible for the State Government’s ongoing Group Training Organisation Wage Subsidy program.

“With this track record of practical actions supporting civil construction skills, we think it’s absurd to suggest that the Premier and his Government are somehow responsible for the Federal Government’s continued failure to show anything like a similar level of support.

“By all means though, we encourage the Premier to use his influence to try to sway Federal policy – the more voices calling for common sense, the better.”

Tracc Civil’s Watermark Stage 1 Bulk Earthworks and Civil Works project is the recipient of the new WA Earth Award for Land Development projects.

WA Earth Awards Chief Judge Peter Rowles said the Watermark project was the strongest of three high-quality land development projects entered by Tracc Civil in the 2024 WA Earth Awards.

“It was great to see Tracc put forward three projects this year, as quite often we don’t see any entries from subdivision contractors,” Mr Rowles said. 

“With this special Earth Award we want to celebrate excellence in land development and challenge the perception that building a subdivision is just routine civil construction. 

“In many ways, it can be just as, if not more challenging to build a subdivision than a major government road project. Land development contractors need to manage earthworks, drainage, sewer, water, electrical, NBN, gas, pavements, concrete and other structural works as well as environmental, safety, and community engagement – often with minimal resources and sometimes to incomplete designs and very tight schedules and budgets.

“That’s why we think land development deserves an Earth Award. We hope other states agree and it can become a national award.”

CCF WA CEO Andy Graham said it had been a pleasure to congratulate the Tracc team on their win.

“We originally thought of inaugurating this award next year, as part of our 50th birthday, but the judges were so impressed with the quality of Tracc’s work at Watermark that we thought it would be a shame to wait,” Mr Graham said. “It’s a project that certainly deserves to be recognised.”

Tao Bourton (Yolk Property Group), Frank Janssen (Tracc Civil), Earth Awards judge Peter Rowles, Simon Hull and Debarnab Shankar Roy (Tracc Civil) on site at the Watermark project.