Indigenous contractor awarded $4.5m works

Pre-construction works for stage one of the Bussell Highway dual carriageway project have begun, with the $4.5 million tender awarded to a joint venture between indigenous-owned and operated DK Kaartdijin and civil contractor BCP Group.

BCP Kaartdijin JV also recently announced a partnership with civil and engineering construction business, Fulton Hogan.

The joint venture will undertake pre-construction works on the Bussell Highway project on behalf of Fulton Hogan, which Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said would engage and support local Aboriginal people.

“(It’s) a terrific added outcome for this important project,” she said.

“The pre-works will pave the way for construction to begin on the five-kilometre section between Capel Bypass and Hutton Road, once funding can be secured from the federal government.”

Ms Saffioti said she had written to the federal minister requesting that some of the $1.2 billion set aside for the Perth Freight Link project was redirected to the Bussell Highway dual carriageway.

“Completing these pre-works now will mean once funding is secured, we will be ready to start work faster,” she said.

Pre-construction works on the Bussell Highway project are expected to complete in January.

BCP Group director Kyle Jackson said the joint venture with DK Kaartdijin would create employment opportunities for Indigenous Australians in the South West.

DK Kaartdijin was formed in 2017 and operates out of Perth, Busselton and Bunbury.

Managing director and sole shareholder Murray Jones said DK Kaartdijin projects provided work for about 35 workers through its supply chain.

“Forming a joint venture with BCP Group, an established South West business, enables new opportunities for DK Kaartdijin to become involved with some great projects,” he said.

DK Kaartdijin is certified with Supply Nation WA, which provides Australia’s largest national directory of verified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses.