INDIGENOUS contractors operating in Western Australia have achieved a run of success this month, with Pindari WA signing an agreement with Doric Contractors and several other groups signing new joint venture deals.
Dunsborough-based Pindari and Doric have forged what they expect is the start of a long-term alliance, which will start with work upgrading the Pilbara port town of Wickham.
The signing of their agreement coincided with Rio Tinto awarding two major contracts this week to joint ventures that include indigenous contractors as 25 per cent shareholders.
Leighton Contractors and Ngarda Civil and Mining (half-owned by Leighton) have been awarded a $104 million contract for earthworks at the Hope Downs 4 mine site.
And a joint venture between Pilbara Logistics and Forge Group-subsidiary Cimeco has been awarded an $80 million contract for construction of the mine building and support facilities on the same project.
Rio Tinto chief executive, iron ore and Australia, Sam Walsh said the group had awarded more than $700 million of work to Aboriginal contractors under its current expansion program.
Pindari managing director David Pidek said support from Rio had helped his group to become established, and it was hoping to achieve even more through its alliance with Doric.
The contractor started as a labour hire company and has since added building and electrical testing services.
Executive director Natalie Venosi said the business was keen to diversify, and currently had tenders out on a range of Pilbara projects.
Doric Constructions general manager Joseph Martin said his group targeted the north of WA about four years ago and had since won several large contracts.
Mr Martin said Doric was impressed by Pindari’s skills, the calibre of the people, and the shared values.
“They have a strategy and a plan to develop their people,” Mr Martin said.
Mr Pidek said Pindari recruited staff from across the state, and aimed to have a minimum of 30 per cent indigenous staff.
He said this approach to recruitment made the business more robust, and also recognised that many Aborigines had left the Pilbara and lived in Perth.
One reason they had left was that once they started paid work they lost access to subsidised housing in the Pilbara and could not afford to stay.
However, Pindari has also developed a relationship with Roebourne’s traditional owner group, which is keen to find local work.
Meanwhile, Ngarda’s new joint venture contract with Rio Tinto has added to its standing as one of Australia’s major indigenous contractors. Ngarda commenced in the year 2000 with a single landscaping contract and six staff.
Since then, it has won multiple contracts with Rio, BHP Billiton, Woodside and other companies.
The largest is its $300 million mining contract at BHP’s Yarrie mine. The two companies have also established a training institute at Yarrie, with up to 80 trainees a year.
NRW Holdings, which has become one of the most active civil contractors in the Pilbara, has formed joint ventures with two indigenous contractors – the Ngarluma and Yindjibarndi Foundation and Eastern Guruma.
These joint ventures have won three contracts this year with Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals Group collectively worth $340 million.
Another indigenous contractor to have won work in the Pilbara this year is Geraldton Line Haul, which teamed up with Abigroup.
