Barangaroo project sets a new benchmark

BESIX Watpac has strengthened its Indigenous partnerships and progress towards Reconciliation in NSW by creating a national Indigenous supply chain network, providing cultural awareness training for employees, hosting Indigenous business forums and participating in educational initiatives including an Indigenous high school work experience program. 

National Indigenous Affairs Manager James Alley said following on from the success of its Indigenous engagement program established in 2019 and rolled out initially on Townsville projects, the company was now setting and achieving new benchmarks across several projects.

“The Sydney Metro Barangaroo Station project in NSW has become a flagship project for us in this respect,” Mr Alley said.

“Located in an area with cultural and historical significance for Indigenous people it is incredibly important that we acknowledge and respect the elders past and present on this project.”

Named after a courageous and spirited Aboriginal woman of the Cammeragal people, Barangaroo, the station is also located on the ancestral home of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation.

The BESIX Watpac team is already achieving and exceeding the Indigenous targets set for the Sydney Metro Barangaroo Station project, with the project procuring services from 12 Indigenous businesses.

“We have 61 people on the Barangaroo Station project who identify as Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander, ranging from our most senior managers to new recruits,” Mr Alley said.

These targets are being reinforced by a supportive workplace culture with the team participating in cultural awareness training, engaging in cultural understanding tours and taking part in a Welcome to Country ceremony.

To celebrate Reconciliation Week, the project participated in a company-wide National Reconciliation morning tea, hosted an Elder Talk and site barbecue (Friday 3 June) and worked with an Aboriginal cultural advisor to create artwork around the site.

The Barangaroo Station Project also recently announced a partnership with DIZ Footprints, which will provide seven Aboriginal High School students a chance to develop real life skills.

The students will gain hands-on experience in skills such as carpentry, concreting, masonry, scaffolding and electrical engineering, as they work towards obtaining a Certificate II in Construction Pathways while completing their HSC, giving them a solid start to a rewarding career in the construction industry.