Boggabilla and Toomelah

Project Scope:

Wildgeese Building Group Australia was successful in achieving a contract with the New South Wales Government for the construction of 20 houses within two Indigenous Townships of Boggabilla and Toomelah, New South Wales.  The purpose of this project was ultimately the construction of all houses.  An equal component was the creation of Indigenous employment and training opportunities.  As a result this construction project was specifically staged across a two-year period to maximise exposure to the community and increase involvement at all levels by Indigenous people.  Our primary scope related to:

• Construction of eight houses at one time
• Complete construction of four houses
• Application of a five-star rating efficiency
• Installation of recycled sewage systems
• Source of all products locally

Services: Project Management, Construction

Value: $8.2 Million

Challenges:  The completion of this project provided a number of unique challenges.  As a new organisation delivering outcomes within a southern-based Indigenous community challenges directly related to:

• Trust and Respect:  As a Northern Territory organisation engaged to complete this project we faced many challenges in building trust and respect within these communities. Wildgeese Building Group Australia spent significant time engaged in building relationships that ultimately resulted in the achievement of outcomes as highlighted below.  We also gained significant credibility through delivering outcomes as promised in relation to training and employment.
• Productivity and Cost:  The dual purpose of this contract in providing employment and training opportunities had a significant impact on productivity and cost.  Trainees were taken on without subsidy from the Government in relation to wages.  We applied an advanced level of planning, resource and budget analysis to successfully meet the requirements of this contract and maintain a sustainable costing model.
• Remote Management:  Wildgeese Building Group Australia overcame a number of challenges in relation to the remote management of this project as a Northern Territory-based organisation.  The application of effective communication and successful selection of qualified and experienced project managers reduced this issue significantly.

Wildgeese Building Group Australia undertook this project with the clear understanding and knowledge of the primary outcomes to be achieved at a construction and community level.  Our success in achieving these outcomes indicates the standard to which we apply internal systems and mechanisms across a diversity of environments and challenges.

Personnel: The following mixture of tradespeople, subcontractors, management and trainees applied to this project:

Outcomes: This project was recognised as one of the most successful Indigenous training and employment programs within this region.  At a training and employment level relevant to indigenous communities we were successful in achieving the following outcomes:

• 10 Indigenous employees completed Certificate II in Construction
• 4 Indigenous employees over the period of the project became qualified carpenters currently utilised in Northern Territory projects as mentors

At a construction level we were successful in delivering high-quality housing through the region.  Evidence of this success included:

• Construction of all 20 houses within an extended timeframe as directed by the principal and New South Wales government
• Receipt of more than 30 renovation projects as a result of our construction methodology

Benefits:  Wildgeese Building Group Australia demonstrates through this project a capacity to deliver houses within a community context.  We achieved significant results directly transferable to the this contract inclusive of construction, training and Indigenous employment outcomes.