CCF WA NEWS

Western Australia was highlighted as being at the forefront of innovation and technology in infrastructure at an industry event facilitated by the Civil Contractors Federation WA today. Innovations in civil construction are improving the safety of workers, reducing travel times and contributing to positive environmental outcomes.

Manufactured aggregates, innovative traffic management applications and Perth’s Smart Freeway network all featured with several Western Australian and Australian firsts.

Manufactured aggregate is a product which will be produced from the Incinerator Bottom Ash (IBA) resulting from the Avertas Waste to Energy (WTE) plant in Kwinana – Australia’s first large scale waste to energy facility. The WTE facility will process household waste ordinarily disposed of at landfill and convert it into electricity.

Blue Phoenix Group will transform IBA minerals into safe and reliable aggregates which can be used in civil construction works as a replacement for primary material, such as road base. Blue Phoenix Group’s site development in Kwinana is the first IBA processing facility in Australia.

Perth’s first Smart Freeway Network went live in August 2020 and has reduced congestion on the Kwinana freeway, saving an average travel time of five minutes on the Smart Freeway section despite a 13 per cent increase in traffic since the onset of COVID-19.

The project included technologies of Stopped Vehicle Detection (SVD), Lane Use Management Signs (LUMS), Dynamic Message Signs (DMS), and Automatic Incident Detection (AID) which uses a combination of radar and thermal units to detect incidents and obstructions to traffic in real time – another Australian first.

In the traffic management space, products and devices such as mobile barrier systems, combined traffic lights and booms, and auto cone trucks are being adopted in an effort to save lives, including those of traffic controllers.

CCF WA CEO Andy Graham said it was pleasing to see WA pioneering innovation and technology in civil construction.

“There is some great work happening through Main Roads relationship with the Infrastructure Sustainability Council and a lot of good work going on through the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, the waste reform advisory group and the construction and demolition reference group, as well as a highly successful Smart Freeway project now being extended to the Mitchell Freeway southbound.”

Presenters included Blue Phoenix Group South East Asia Managing Director Ian Lynass, Kwinana WTE Project Operations and Maintenance Director for Macquarie Capital Alan Jones, Managing Director of JDN Consulting and Engineering Solutions and Director of Prizstine Consulting Jason Gavranic, and President of the Traffic Management Association of Australia and Managing Director of WARP Group Stephen O’Dwyer.

The event was sponsored by W.A. Limestone, Construction Training Fund and Kais Hire.

The CCF WA 2021 Earth Awards for Excellence in Civil Construction were presented to companies Enviro Infrastructure, Maritime Constructions, Vasse Joint Venture, WBHO SRG Joint Venture and Metropolitan Road Improvement Alliance last night at the industry’s gala dinner event.

CCF WA CEO Andy Graham said the 29th CCF WA Earth Awards featured a strong field of 13 finalists across six categories.

“It’s a busy time for our industry and resources are scarce, so we’re very grateful to all finalists for taking the time to support the Earth Awards and demonstrate their commitment to excellence in civil infrastructure,” Mr Graham said.

“With the State Government’s massive transport infrastructure program dominating our sector’s pipeline of work, it was only fitting that three of the six category winners were road projects.

“Two category winners were local government projects, highlighting the importance of local government works to our members. The other category winner was a project delivered for Water Corporation, another important client to the local civil construction industry.”

Earth Awards for Excellence in Civil Construction Winners –

Project Value more than $75 million: Metropolitan Road Improvement Alliance (comprising Main Roads Western Australia, CPB Contractors, Georgiou Group, W.A. Limestone, GHD, BG&E and AECOM) for its Murdoch Drive Connection project.

This project connects Murdoch Drive with Roe Highway and Kwinana Freeway, improving access and journey times to major hospitals and the Murdoch Activity Centre. Placing the huge 48.5-metre-long bridge beams straddling the Kwinana Freeway was no small task and took more than six months of preparation. The Alliance worked closely with Main Roads to reduce the environmental impact of construction activities as much as possible and environmentally sustainable crushed recycled concrete was used as pavement material on the Kwinana Freeway Widening portion of the works.

Project Value $30 million to $75 million: WBHO SRG Joint Venture for its Wanneroo Road/Ocean Reef Road Interchange project.

Collaboration, innovation, open and effective stakeholder engagement and sustainable delivery were the drivers to ensure project success. A constrained site and needing to lower Ocean Reef Road by four metres and raise Wanneroo Road by three metres required a range of complex services and utilities relocations and modifications. Constructing a multi-grade solution on the site required an innovative traffic management approach including the concept of ‘building a road, to build a road’ and the development of ‘the Kraken’, which enabled multiple complex refigurations to match construction staging.

Project Value $10 million to $30 million: Vasse Joint Venture (comprising Westforce Construction and JWI Contracting) for its Vasse Diversion Drain Upgrade project.

Primarily designed to protect against a one-in-100-year flood event, the upgrade will also lead to future improvements in water quality, waterway health, and management of an internationally significant wetland system. This project is a leading example of how innovation, problem solving, design excellence, dynamic construction and successful client/contractor collaboration can deliver outstanding civil construction, community and environmental outcomes. More than six kilometres of the Vasse Diversion Drain was upgraded, and the Vasse River Diversion Dam reconstructed, during the eight-month project delivery window which also included the design of the pedestrian bridge and redesign of the concrete lined drain section. Despite unforeseen challenges, this project was delivered eight weeks early and half a million dollars under budget.

Project Value $5 million to $10 million: Maritime Constructions and Shire of Esperance for its Esperance Replacement Jetty project.

An innovative overhand construction approach, which included a customised piling guide system, significantly de-risked this highly complex jetty construction which would have potentially been hampered by weather if using traditional jack-up barge construction. Use of the piling guide system also enabled construction of three types of bridge decks – including a timber heritage section – using just the one frame. The project offered an ideal training ground for the enhanced development of Maritime Constructions’ engineers and supervisors who visited site to witness the system in action, providing the company with enhanced skill and confidence in applying similar systems on future projects.

Project Value $2 million to $5 million: Enviro Infrastructure for its Bridge 34 Structural Refurbishment and Widening project.

The bridge’s location on the major heavy haulage transport artery between Perth and the Great Southern meant detailed traffic management planning had to be undertaken, particularly when the deck overlay was removed and highway traffic reduced to a single lane. Due to extensive propping required, the project team decided to hardstand the entire underside of the bridge to the extent of the clearing limits, installing culverts to carry the flow beneath the worksite and allowing clear access for machinery and propping equipment across the entire site. This allowed work to continue in almost all conditions, effectively eliminating weather delays to the sub-structure works.

Project value up to $2 million: Enviro Infrastructure for its Whitfords Nodes Fitness Staircase project.

Located in Hillarys in an area of high environmental significance, the new structure at Whitfords Nodes Park was designed to become the ‘Jacobs Ladder or the North’ and will help to revitalise the area, becoming a focal point for group fitness, young families and community events. Innovative solutions were developed to reduce the clearing footprint and implement a crane lift plan which cleared the Tuart trees that framed the staircase. An unexpected environmental issue meant a versatile approach was needed to swap out concrete footings from the design and replace them with screw pile foundations, with the construction team working in exceptionally challenging conditions to install them.

The Civil Contractors Federation WA has welcomed Premier Mark McGowan’s first Budget as Treasurer, which shows a strong and consistent pipeline of civil infrastructure works over the next four years.

CCF WA CEO Andy Graham said despite the challenges of COVID-19, the State’s major infrastructure delivery agencies and corporations – Public Transport Authority, Main Roads, Water Corporation, DevelopmentWA and Western Power/Horizon Power – had partnered with industry to deliver a record $4.3 billion civil infrastructure program last financial year, nearly $700 million more than the previous financial year.

“That’s been a huge effort under the circumstances by all involved, and demonstrates the strong working relationship between civil contractors and suppliers and our major clients in State Government,” Mr Graham said.

“This financial year, those infrastructure agencies and corporations are budgeting to spend a combined $5.4 billion, out of an overall $8 billion State Government asset investment program.

“That’s going to be a huge challenge given the skills shortages our industry currently faces, which is why we endorsed the State Government’s proposal to smooth the transport infrastructure pipeline.

“In the short-term, however, it has resulted in fewer opportunities for some contractors with spare capacity who were keen to bid on the new projects that have been deferred. So we encourage the government to work with those companies and find ways to support them in retaining that capacity.

“Going forward, we will continue to advocate against excessive aggregation of major projects. It makes sense to encourage a sustainable local contracting industry by procuring projects as head contracts that align with local capacity. This requires the delivery agencies to be adequately resourced so they aren’t compelled to aggregate projects.” 

The Civil Contractors Federation WA has partnered with a coalition of Western Australian construction industry associations and trade unions to release an updated COVID-19 risk management guide. The group has renewed its call for constant vigilance and close observance of infection avoidance protocols on all WA construction sites.

CCF WA CEO Andy Graham said it was vital that civil construction sites in WA continued to follow COVID safety protocols around distancing and hygiene.

“As recent construction industry closures in other states have shown, we can’t afford to be complacent,” Mr Graham said. “COVID-safe protocols should be at front of mind on sites and observed at all times.”

The updated COVID-19 health, safety and wellbeing guideline for the Western Australian building and construction industry is available for download here.

The joint Construction Industry Leaders Group media release can be viewed here.

The Western Australian civil construction industry needs 3,900 additional workers to help it deliver a strong pipeline of infrastructure projects, according to a survey conducted by the Civil Contractors Federation WA.

Plant operators are most in shortage, with more than 1300 skilled operators of earthmoving, paving and other machines needed to meet demand state-wide. There are also significant shortages of concreting workers, plant mechanics/fitters, and civil engineers/project managers.

CCF WA CEO Andy Graham said the wide-ranging labour shortages identified in the survey reflected the current healthy activity in private and public sector civil construction.

“There’s a good pipeline of government works, particularly in major transport projects, along with strong activity in new subdivisions and in mining construction,” Mr Graham said.

“When you combine all that with a highly competitive WA jobs market in general, and severely limited access to skilled workers from overseas and interstate due to COVID-related travel restrictions, the result is thousands of job opportunities.”

Mr Graham said civil contractors were actively working with their clients in government and in the private sector to ensure projects stayed on track where possible.

“We’ve had good discussions with the State Government on smoothing the transport project pipeline, which will take some of the pressure off the next year or two and free up more people and equipment for other work,” he said.

“Contractors and suppliers are also working with their private sector clients in land development, resources construction and other sectors to manage issues created by the buoyant civil construction market. Through a spirit of collaboration, we can minimise the effects of current labour shortages and escalating equipment and materials costs, and ensure businesses stay healthy and projects stay on track.”

Mr Graham said strong civil construction activity was good news for Western Australians, especially people looking for entry-level roles.

“The industry strongly supports the government’s ‘WA jobs’ focus. The Infrastructure Ready program, which will give hundreds of Western Australians a fresh start in civil construction, is a good example of how we’re working with government to create local jobs. Our message to Western Australians is, if you’re up for the challenge of working in civil construction, then we want to give you a chance.”

Mr Graham said recent additional government training incentives had been welcome and had led to strong take-up of civil construction traineeships, reinforcing the industry’s commitment to training.

“We expect the proposed introduction of civil construction apprenticeships, currently being considered by the Government, will create a clearer, stronger career pathway into our industry,” he said.

“But the reality is we’re short of skilled and experienced people, right now. Excavator, loader, and grader operators, for example, can take years to reach the level of skill and productivity required on complex infrastructure projects. Just like any other construction trade, it takes time. So we do need to look at increasing skilled migration to fill some of critical skills gaps in the short to medium term.”

For further media enquiries please contact Caroline Boyer, Ph: 0406 083 396, cboyer@ccfwa.com.au

CCF WA Western Australian Civil Construction Workforce Availability Survey

Summary of results

All civil construction/maintenance companies currently active in Western Australia were invited to

complete the CCF WA Western Australian Civil Construction Workforce Availability Survey during

June 2021. There were 49 respondents with a combined civil construction and maintenance industry

workforce of 4,274 workers, comprising 21 per cent of the total WA civil construction workforce of

20,358*.

Survey respondents reported a total of 964 unfilled job vacancies. Allowing a conservative 15% error

margin, this equates to at least 3,900 additional civil construction workers required state-wide to

meet current demand.

Other key survey findings:

• 88 per cent of businesses reported they had job vacancies (publicly advertised for two weeks
• or more) that can’t be filled.
• 63 per cent of businesses surveyed said their ability to deliver existing contracts is
• moderately to severely constrained, while 61 per cent said their ability to tender for more
• work is being moderately to severely constrained.
• The jobs identified as most in need are plant operators and concrete workers
• (carpenter/joiners, concreters, and steel fixers).

CIVIL CONSTRUCTION JOBS	WORKERS NEEDED
Plant operators	1,334
Concrete workers	873
Other trade-level roles	518
Plant mechanics and fitters	424
Civil engineers, project managers, & other professionals	408
Site supervisors	188
Truck drivers	188

* Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics: Labour Force, Australia, Detailed – Employed persons by Industry group of main job (ANZSIC), Sex, State and Territory. The total construction industry workforce in WA (12-month average to May 2021) is 121,701. CCF WA calculates civil construction workforce from Land Development and Site Preparation Services (100% of total) and Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction (85% of total) workforce data.

Western Australia’s civil construction industry peak body welcomes the State Government’s new Western Australian Procurement Framework as a step towards simpler, smarter and more effective procurement of civil infrastructure works across Government.

Civil Contractors Federation WA CEO Andy Graham said the Framework, supported by the new Procurement Act, could significantly streamline the way infrastructure projects are tendered and procured.

“This could be a game-changer that will reduce red tape, help create more long-term local jobs, and deliver greater value-for-money for taxpayers,” Mr Graham said.

“Let me be clear, though, that this is not about centralising procurement decisions – we know that doesn’t work, and we strongly support the proven principle that key decisions around project planning and design, contractor selection and project management are always best left to the agency responsible.

“What this is about, however, is getting government agencies on the same page where possible. For example, following agreed processes for advertising and evaluating tenders; using standard forms for safety and compliance; and using a standard construction contract with a consistent risk profile.”

Mr Graham said the Western Australain civil construction industry delivered large and small infrastructure projects for a wide variety of State Government agencies and corporations.

“They’re our industry’s biggest single client and we are of course grateful for the opportunities,” he said. “Right now though, all of these agencies and corporations do things very differently – their tendering processes and bid documentation vary widely and most have unique contracts and risk allocation, schedules, prequalification systems, and safety and environmental requirements.

“All of this translates to a massive waste of time and money for the contracting industry and for the Government, and a distraction from what we should all be focusing on – delivering high-quality infrastructure safely and efficiently.”

Mr Graham encouraged all Government agencies and corporations to embrace the new Framework and look at where they could start transitioning to the standardised templates and guides.

“Achieving standardised procurement practices right across Government will no doubt be a long and challenging journey, but the payoff will be worth it. Congratulations to the State Government for getting the ball rolling,” he said.

The Western Australian civil construction industry celebrated its eleventh annual Civil Contractors Federation Western Australia (CCF WA) Industry and Training Awards Gala Dinner last Friday, April 16, at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre with a record 68 nominations across 18 individual and corporate award categories.

The event was attended by more than 430 people from 50 civil construction and associated companies and government agencies, with the Minister for Education and Training, the Hon. Sue Ellery MLC as guest of honour presenting the training awards.

CCF WA Chief Executive Officer Andy Graham said it was an honour to have Minister Ellery in attendance and participating in the Training Award presentations.

“After the disappointment of having to cancel the awards night last year, it was a great thrill to see such a fantastic response this year, with 68 exceptional nominees. By taking the time to nominate and be part of this celebration of individual and corporate excellence in our industry, you have all helped ensure this night is a success.

Mr Graham said the event was made possible thanks to the support of major sponsor Dial Before You Dig and supporting sponsors Zenith Search, Iplex Pipelines, Lavan, Construction Training Fund, PSC Insurance Brokers, Major Motors ISUZU, CJD Equipment, Kais Hire, Development WA and the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia.

The winners of the eleventh CCF WA Industry & Training Awards are below, with a special feature on all of the high achieving nominees available online here:

Apprentice of the Year (sponsored by Construction Training Fund): Joshua Roche, DM Civil

Pictured: Construction Training Fund CEO Tiffany Allen, Joshua Roche (DM Civil), Minister for Education and Training Hon. Sue Ellery.

Aboriginal Civil Trainee of the Year (sponsored by Construction Training Fund): Blair Anderson, Fulton Hogan

Pictured: Tiffany Allen, Chris Hathaway (Fulton Hogan), Hon. Sue Ellery.

Certificate II Trainee of the Year (sponsored by Construction Training Fund): Cheyenne Cherry, Motivation Civil and Mining Academy

Pictured: Tiffany Allen, Cheyenne Cherry (Motivation Civil and Mining Academy), Hon. Sue Ellery.

Certificate III Trainees of the Year (sponsored by Construction Training Fund): Ericka Maxwell, Traffic Force and Andrew Joynt, Buckby Contracting

Pictured: Tiffany Allen, Ericka Maxwell (Traffic Force), Andrew Joynt (Buckby Contracting), Hon. Sue Ellery.

Certificate IV Trainee of the Year (sponsored by Construction Training Fund): Peter McGowan, BMD Constructions

Pictured: Tiffany Allen, Peter McGowan (BMD Constructions), Hon. Sue Ellery.

Training Coordinator of the Year (sponsored by Construction Training Fund): Dann Evans, WBHO Infrastructure

Pictured: Tiffany Allen, Dann Evans (WBHO Infrastructure), Hon. Sue Ellery.

Training Employer of the Year (sponsored by Construction Training Fund): Georgiou Group

Pictured: Tiffany Allen, Kristyn Roberts (Georgiou Group), Hon. Sue Ellery.

Safety Coordinator of the Year (sponsored by PSC Insurance Brokers): Brad Cole, RJV

Pictured: CCF WA President David Della Bona, Brad Cole (RJV), Rod Tonzing (PSC Insurance Brokers).

Safety Program of the Year (sponsored by PSC Insurance Brokers): Melchor

Pictured: Rod Tonzing, Dylan Ogilvie (Melchor), David Della Bona.

Workplace Health & Safety Award (sponsored by PSC Insurance Brokers): Buckby Contracting

Pictured: Rod Tonzing, Stephanie King (Buckby Contracting), David Della Bona.

Aboriginal Engagement Award (sponsored by Development WA): Central Earthmoving

Pictured: Development WA Chief Operations Officer Dean Mudford, Stephen Broad (Central Earthmoving), David Della Bona.

Environmental Achievement Award (sponsored by Public Transport Authority of Western Australia): Altona Group

Pictured: Paul Monaghan (Public Transport Authority of WA), Luke Calder (Altona Group), David Della Bona.

Admin Coordinator of the Year (sponsored by Dial Before You Dig): Karen Van der Walt, Georgiou Group

Pictured: Karen Van der Walt, Jason Stern, Kristyn Roberts (Georgiou Group).

Site Supervisor of the Year (sponsored by Dial Before You Dig): Richard Haddow, DM Civil

Pictured: David Della Bona, Richard Haddow (DM Civil), Justin Scotchbrook.

Engineer of the Year (sponsored by Major Motors ISUZU): Fionnan Beirne, BMD Constructions and Tessa McGrath, DM Civil

Pictured: David Della Bona, Fionnan Beirne (BMD Constructions), Tessa McGrath (DM Civil), Frank Johnston (Major Motors ISUZU).

Project Manager of the Year (sponsored by Major Motors ISUZU): Declan Tobin, Ertech

Pictured: David Della Bona, Declan Tobin (Ertech), Frank Johnston.

Plant Operator of the Year (sponsored by CJD Equipment): Vincent Dichiera, Enviro Infrastructure

Pictured: David Della Bona, Vincent Dichiera (Enviro Infrastructure) , Keith Shugar (CJD Equipment),

Women in Civil Award (sponsored by Kais Hire): Tanya Johnson, Red Dust Holdings

Pictured: David Della Bona, Tanya Johnson (Red Dust Holdings), Kylie Bronleigh (CCF WA).

Western Australia’s civil construction industry peak body has congratulated the McGowan Government on being returned and called on it to prioritise procurement reforms that will reduce red tape, help create more long-term local jobs, and deliver greater value-for-money for taxpayers.

Civil Contractors Federation WA CEO Andy Graham said the Government’s first term was notable for the introduction of important legislation that could provide a framework for comprehensive and much-needed reforms in procurement and security of payments.

“A hallmark of this Government has been its consultative approach, and we have appreciated the opportunity to contribute to the development of new legislation,” Mr Graham said.

“One important but possibly under-appreciated piece of legislation is the new Procurement Act, which has the potential to drive some revolutionary changes to the way infrastructure projects are delivered, right across Government.

“Full credit to this Government for setting the wheels in motion. Now it will require strong will and commitment at all levels to break down the procurement silos that have been built up over many decades.

“Most businesses that contribute to infrastructure projects in WA, whether as a head contractor, subcontractor or supplier, do so for multiple Government agencies and corporations. Every day, they must deal with a multiplicity of contracts, documentation and processes, from beginning to end of project procurement and delivery.

“All of this chews up time and resources and distracts them from their real job of delivering high-quality infrastructure safely and efficiently.

“Ultimately, this web of procurement red tape translates into much higher costs, both for the contractors and for Government itself, and increases the risks of mistakes being made.”

Mr Graham said the scope of the Act should be extended wherever possible to the major Government corporations that are major procurers of infrastructure works, including Development WA, Western Power, Water Corporation and the port authorities.

“If these corporations continue to operate as procurement silos, with unique contracts and processes, all developing their own versions of ‘best practice’, then these reforms will be half done,” he said.

“As the Government’s Procurement Reform website notes, ‘inconsistencies in procurement processes are challenging and frustrating for agencies and industry’. That frustration extends to dealing with the corporations too, and so we encourage them to get on board.”

Mr Graham said the other important procurement reform was the new Security of Payments legislation currently before Parliament.

“CCF WA welcomed the introduction of the Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Bill 2020 into Parliament last year,” he said.

“Security of payment is an ongoing issue in the construction industry and when enacted, this legislation will help ensure businesses get paid on time, avoiding company failures and saving jobs.

“Procurement reform will play a part in this too, as unnecessary complexity and duplication in Government procurement also contributes to business failures.”

Western Australia’s civil construction industry peak body says an expected boost to subdivision construction activity from the extended Federal Government Home Builder incentive is easing fears of a ‘hard landing’ for Western Australian land development contractors and suppliers in early 2021.

Civil Contractors Federation WA CEO Andy Graham said the HomeBuilder extension – providing a reduced $15,000 grant for contracts signed between 1 January and 31 March 2021 – would give land developers the confidence to commission more stages to meet demand.

“We’re already hearing that developers are looking to take advantage of the extended incentive – which when combined with the State Government First Home Owners Grant and stamp duty concessions, can mean a saving of close to $40,000 for first home buyers,” Mr Graham said.

“With both the State and Federal home building incentives previously requiring a contract signed by December 31 this year, there were concerns that the current high activity in subdivision construction would be followed by an abrupt downturn early next year.

“For the subdivision sector, which has been extraordinarily busy for the last six months, the Federal Government’s extended incentive will help ease the transition to more normal workflows.”

More contractors are sought for work placements

It was great to see Minister for Transport Hon Rita Saffioti MLA visiting North Metropolitan TAFE this morning to meet students taking part in the Infrastructure Ready training program - including some who have just completed their work placement (the final step of the program). Minister Saffioti and the Government are justly proud of this program and CCF WA has been pleased to be involved in its development from the outset, providing a vital industry perspective.

Program participants undertake a 3-week skill set (comprising 6 introductory-level units of competency, as recommended by CCF's Training Committee) followed by a 4-day work placement.

The feedback from contractors who have hosted work placements has been very positive. The robust screening process for Infrastructure Ready candidates, developed by industry in collaboration with Government, has proven effective, with candidates demonstrating they are 'work ready' and eager for an opportunity. Already we are hearing success stories, with some participants finding jobs directly with their work placement hosts.

I visited a number of our Contractor Members hosting work placements this week, including Enviro Infrastructure who are doing some works for PTA in East Perth. Pictured below are Enviro Infrastructure HSEQ Officer Joe Nash, Infrastructure Ready program participants Allan Holper and Paul Holmes, and Enviro Infrastructure Site Supervisor Cam Matthews.

Enviro Infrastructure's General Manager David Schlueter said: "We applaud the efforts of DTWD, OMTID and CCFWA in accelerating the prioritisation of upskilling initiatives such as Infrastructure Ready. Enviro are embracing the opportunity to redeploy workers from sectors affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and retrain them in the challenging, diverse and highly rewarding WA civil industry.”

How you can help

The Government aims to put 250 people through the Infrastructure Ready program before Christmas, and potentially hundreds more next year, and has asked CCF to assist with finding companies to host work placements, whether this year or early next year. So if your company is willing to host a work placement, or interested in finding out what's involved, please contact the program facilitator at irp@dtwd.wa.gov.au. It's not expected that all hosts will be able to offer immediate employment to candidates, and we understand the Government is currently finalising an online portal where graduates can be 'matched' to potential employers.

Some background

CCF WA has engaged extensively with the Office of Major Transport Infrastructure Development (OMTID), the Department of Training and Workforce Development, and other Government stakeholders on the design of the Infrastructure Ready program. From the outset, OMTID has made it clear that it expects our industry to find jobs for hundreds of Infrastructure Ready graduates on its projects, and it will be setting contractual targets to ensure that happens.

OMTID has however also acknowledged that placing a high volume of entry-level workers on complex projects will affect productivity on those projects, and that contractors will need to be fairly recompensed for the reduced productivity of new workers, and the higher level of supervision they require. Those discussions are still ongoing.

While there will no doubt be issues to work through, the Infrastructure Ready program does offer an opportunity for our industry to work with government to help address skills shortages that are already hitting our sector and will get more severe in the coming months and years. Furthermore, this program, and the level of publicity it is getting thanks to Minister Saffioti and others, is also raising community awareness of civil construction and highlighting that our industry can offer fulfilling and rewarding trade-level and professional careers. Increasingly, civil construction is gaining broader recognition as an industry in its own right and not just an offshoot of the building or mining industries. I hope we can look back in a couple of years and recognise this program as a game-changer.

(And speaking of game-changers, our proposal to have Civil Construction traineeships re-classified as Apprenticeships is still being considered and we remain hopeful of an announcement soon. This would be another important step in raising the status of civil construction as a 'real' trade-level career.)

- Andy Graham, CCF WA CEO