The Rozelle Interchange Project & Western Harbour Tunnel Southern Tunnel Works – Economic Outcomes
Describe WHAT you have done and HOW you have done it.
In 2018, the John Holland CPB Contractors Joint Venture (JHCPB) was contracted by Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW) to deliver the $4.6 billion Rozelle Interchange Project and Western Harbour Tunnel Southern Tunnel Works(RI) – the final stage of the WestConnex program of works and the initial stage of the Western Harbour Tunnel.
WORKFORCE CAPABILITY AND TRAINING
During the project tender, JHCPB quickly identified the need for a robust training strategy to build workforce capability and contribute to the upskilling of the NSW workforce.
JHCPB’s workforce capability and training strategy involved resourcing and revitalising the WestConnex Training Academy, a purpose-built facility designed as a construction training hub. JHCPB has utilised the facility to deliver:
• Skills training and development
• Trainee and apprenticeship programs
• Pre-employment programs
Much of the specialised training delivered at the Academy is provided in collaboration with Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) and with the support of the NSW Department of Industry. These relationships ensure access to industry-leading techniques and the agility required to adequately train staff for a major infrastructure project such as the Rozelle Interchange.
The considerable workforce capability upskilling achieved by the Project is represented by the following statistics:
• >62,000 hours of accredited training delivered
• >700 full qualifications delivered (including Cert IVs and diplomas)
• >19,700 workers onboarded since 2019, all of whom have participated in half-day project induction training
• 249 trainees and apprentices engaged, of which over 7% identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
LOCAL ECONOMY
In addition to contributing to closing the state-wide skills gap, JHCPB has delivered measurable benefits for the local economy through targeted employment of local residents and engagement of local businesses. Over 337 local residents have been employed on the Project to date, over 13.9% of whom were unemployed prior to working on RI. Furthermore, 13% of the subcontractor and supplier contracts issued (no. 120) have been awarded to local businesses (headquartered in the Inner West and City of Sydney), injecting millions of dollars into the local economy. This local engagement proved greatly beneficial for supporting the local economy during COVID-19.
The benefits to the local economy of the RI Project will extend long after the completion of construction works.
• Once the new tunnel network is open, ‘through traffic’ will bypass Victoria Road in Rozelle, returning the area to local traffic and pedestrians after many decades as a major traffic thoroughfare.
• The new Rozelle parkland up to 10ha in size being constructed as part of the Project will attract leisure-seekers to the suburb, revitalising the area and bringing a host of new, long-term business opportunities.
What were the OUTCOMES and how were those outcomes shared?
WORKFORCE CAPABILITY AND TRAINING
Through the WestConnex Training Academy, JHCPB has:
• Delivered >183,700 total training hours
• Onboarded and inducted over 19,700 workers, including 249 trainees and apprentices, of which over 7% identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
• Delivered >62,000 hours of accredited training.
• Addressed the skills shortage in critical tunnelling competencies by retraining and upskilling hundreds of workers in shotcreting and rockbolting:
o 185 shotcrete courses delivered
o >100 rockbolt courses delivered
• Pioneered the development of Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) compliance training for spoil truck drivers
o 6,500 HVNL truck driver inductions completed
o 200 accredited HVNL chain of responsibility statements of attainment issued
• In partnership with Aboriginal Work Placement Provider, Goanna Services, delivered the RI Work Readiness Program. This program was created to provide Aboriginal participants with training, mentoring and employment support. The program led to participants receiving formal qualifications, including a Certificate II/III in Civil Construction. Following completion of this program, 12 participants were offered full-time job opportunities, creating sustainable employment relationships for these individuals.
• >700 full qualifications (including Certificate IV and Diplomas) delivered
• >2,000 high risk work licenses delivered
• >1,700 first aid certificates delivered
• >5,100 earthmoving plant statement of attainments delivered
• >35,000 accredited safety training statement of attainments delivered
The breadth, volume and quality of training delivered by the Rozelle Interchange has created a genuine skills legacy in NSW. The Training Academy can be credited with upskilling a large cohort of workforce and staff, who are now equipped with the competencies needed to construct high-quality tunnelling infrastructure. Workers who have been trained on RI are highly sought after for their competency, and have gone on to deliver other state significant infrastructure such as Sydney Metro City & Southwest, Western Harbour Tunnel, Westgate Tunnel and Cross River Rail.
LOCAL ECONOMY
The local economy has benefitted from the Project in the following ways:
• >337 local residents employed on the Project, over 13.9% of whom were unemployed prior to working on RI
• 13% of the Project’s contracts (120 total) have been awarded to local businesses (headquartered in the Inner West and City of Sydney), injecting millions of dollars to the local economy. This local engagement has proved particularly vital to supporting the local economy during COVID-19.
Spirit Group, a local business engaged by the Project, said: “Our relationship supplying [the Project] with print & design services over the last few years has allowed our business to not only survive through COVID, but thrive. Enabling us to grow our team… and expand into a larger premises... The impact has been sensational in terms of the growth of the business”– Glen Ella, General Manager, Spirit Group.
ARA Aboriginal Services said “… throughout the project we have been able to create many opportunities for our community to come in and learn with some of the best of the business their craft in the tunnelling and infrastructure industry.” – Rohan Tobler Williams, ARA Aboriginal Services.
The benefits to the local economy of the RI Project will extend long after the completion of construction works:
• Once the new tunnel network is open, ‘through traffic’ will be removed from Victoria Road in Rozelle, returning the area to local traffic and pedestrians after many decades as a major traffic thoroughfare, revitalising the local commercial/retail district.
• The new Rozelle parkland of up to 10ha in size being constructed as part of the Project will attract leisure-seekers to the suburb, revitalising the area and bringing a host of new, long-term business opportunities to the local economy.
SHARING OUTCOMES
The successes of the training academy in upskilling workers, and lessons learned, have been shared in several forums, including at:
• NSW Government Construction Leadership Group Forum in 2021
• TfNSW Sustainability Knowledge Share Forum in July 2022
• Presentation at an Engineers Australia knowledge share forum in June 2022
• Various presentations to key decision-makers (including the executive leadership teams) within John Holland and CPB Contractors
• Internally through the Project’s sustainability portal, project newsletters, reports and one-pagers (https://rozelleinterchange.com.au/media/ykcp1szs/training-academy-2023.pdf)
Knowledge of the successes of the WestConnex Training Academy have been shared through the John Holland and CPB parent companies, which have now seen it utilised as the training facility of choice by other NSW-based Projects, including:
• M6
• Sydney Metro SBT
• Sydney Metro ETP
• M7-M12
Describe WHO benefited from your initiative, innovation, or approach?
The following stakeholders have benefitted from JHCPB’s workforce capability upskilling and investment in the local economy:
• Workforce. Workers benefit from receiving high-quality, industry-recognised training that equips them with the skills and knowledge to perform their roles safely and effectively. The skills taught are transferrable, enhancing workers’ employability and resilience to industry change.
• Construction industry. The industry benefits from the addressing of skills shortages by ensuring a consistent supply of workers with the skills and knowledge to deliver high quality work safely and effectively. Trained workers reduce compliance and safety risks, lower costs and foster innovations that enhance business processes and reduce construction program durations.
• Government. The employment opportunities offered by the Project reduce local unemployment rates, one of the key metrics used to measure quality of living. Training opportunities delivered by government projects create transferable skills that give workers long-term employment opportunities. Both of these outcomes enhance the reputation of governments and their social licence to continue to deliver these major infrastructure projects.
• Local economy. The local economy benefits directly from the employment of local workers, who invest their earnings in the local economy and stimulate local business. The engagement of local business (13% of all RI contracts) has injected funds into local enterprise, helping support the economy – particularly during the economic downturn associated with COVID-19.
• JHCPB. In offering quality training, JHCPB has become an employer of choice, attracting high-quality workers and retaining them for the duration of the project. With higher quality workers, projects are delivered on-time and on-budget.
• Youth, diverse and disadvantaged communities. The pre-employment programs delivered by the RI Training Academy have created accessible employment paths for diverse and disadvantaged communities, including long-term unemployed persons, school-based trainees and apprentices, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. These participants benefit from the opportunity to secure flexible employment with John Holland or CPB that caters for their specific needs, while also receiving quality training and upskilling.
What LEGACY and UN SDG CONTRIBUTION was achieved?
JHCPB is proud to have created a genuine skills and training legacy for future NSW construction works, creating a more resilient and diverse workforce capable of delivering the upcoming pipeline of works safely and effectively.
JHCPB’s training, development and local employment successes align with the achievement of numerous Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:
SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth)
• With 249 trainees and apprentices engaged by the Project, the Project has contributed to achieving target 8.6; to substantially reduce the proportion of unemployed youth.
• The project also aligns with Target 8.3, supporting decent job creation and encouraging the growth of small- to medium-sized businesses through the revitalisation of the Rozelle area.
SDG 4 (ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promotion of lifelong learning opportunities).
• In delivering over 183,700 training hours in the areas noted above, JHCPB has contributed to Target 4.4; substantially increasing the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills. The Project has delivered >700 full qualifications, including Cert IVs and diplomas.
The transferability of the skills developed on RI has seen the Project’s workforce become employees of choice in the industry, as is evident in the high percentage of employees who have been redeployed to other construction projects following the completion of their scope on RI.
• The Project has made concerted efforts to create training opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders through its Indigenous pre-employment program and focus on recruitment of our First Nations peoples (currently >4% of all employees on the Project identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander). This aligns with Target 4.5, to ensure equal access to vocational training for vulnerable persons, including indigenous peoples.
• The Project has taken significant strides to achieve Target 4.7, which pertains to teaching skills in sustainable development. All 19,700+ workers who have been onboarded on the Project were educated on the Project’s sustainability goals and ISC targets during the project induction. The commitment to sustainability is not just introduced once and forgotten; it is reinforced throughout the project during construction pre-starts, toolbox talks and environmental skills training.
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