Three builders on NW panel

Three building companies with strong indigenous links have been appointed to a panel that will handle at least $25 million of state government housing work in the Pilbara and Kimberley regions.

Kununurra-based MGC Building & Maintenance, along with Broome-based firms Kullarri Building and H&M Tracey Construction, have been appointed to the North-West Urban Construction and Development Builders Panel.

They were selected based on their capacity to deliver housing construction and refurbishment works in towns in the Kimberley and Pilbara regions, while also meeting Aboriginal training and employment targets.

Staged over the next four years, these capital works projects are designed to maximise Aboriginal apprenticeship outcomes.

The first project, budgeted to cost $25 million, involves the construction of 50 transitional houses in the East Kimberley.

This work will be shared between MGC and Kullarri.

Works in the West Kimberley will be shared between Kullarri and H&M Tracey, while projects in the Pilbara will be undertaken solely by H&M Tracey. 

The West Kimberley dwellings were co-designed with Binarri-binyja yarrawoo Aboriginal Corporation.

The panel will only handle works in regional towns, with construction work in remote communities open to other builders.

Housing Minister Peter Tinley said the North-West Aboriginal Housing Fund would achieve multiple outcomes.

“Building capability and capacity in Aboriginal people and organisations is central to the government’s regional services reform program,” he said.

“The panel attracted a strong field of interested organisations and I’m very pleased that all the successful applicants have effective mentoring programs in place to attract, develop and retain Aboriginal apprentices. 

“The successful builders are all local businesses that have demonstrated their desire to increase Aboriginal employment and training outcomes in the region.

“Staging capital works will increase Aboriginal employment and apprenticeship opportunities and build capacity in the Aboriginal workforce across the Kimberley and Pilbara regions.”