Golf Links Road Upgrade creates social impact

New roads and bridges are not the only legacies we deliver for Victorian communities, with our projects also strongly focused on achieving social, economic and environmental benefits.

The recently completed Golf Links Road Upgrade is a great example of the social outcomes our projects can accomplish.

Our construction partner, MACA Ltd, partnered for the first time with First nations Traffic Management (FNTM), a certified Victorian Aboriginal owned and controlled traffic management business. FNTM provides long-term employment opportunities for First Nations people in the civil construction industry.

A significant proportion of FNTM’s workforce consists of people transitioning out of long-term unemployment, many of whom face complex barriers to work including domestic and family violence, drug and alcohol dependency issues, housing instability as well as previous contact with the justice system.

“Our mission is to empower people through work, because we have seen firsthand the significant impact a steady job can create in a person’s life” FNTM co-founding Partner, Lionel Dukakis says.

MACA’s business partnership with FNTM was facilitated through our Program Delivery Approach model which supports commercial contractors to diversify their supply chains. The partnership demonstrates how social procurement can create a positive impact for principal contractors, social benefit suppliers like FNTM and the people that work in those businesses.

Both MACA and FNTM acknowledge that while the partnership was not perfect, particularly at the start, there was a shared committed from both sides to making the collaboration work because of the potential social impact that could ultimately be achieved.

“We were initially cautious about going outside our established supply chains, but we’re delighted with the outcome and now have another strong relationship with a company to partner with for future work” remarked Simeon Mieszkowski, MACA’s Project Manager.

By maintaining ongoing and respectful communication, establishing reciprocal performance ground rules, prioritising safety and an inclusive workplace culture, MACA and FNTM collaboratively created the environment required to adequately support employees transitioning out of long-term unemployment.

Over the 15 month partnership, a total of 21 Indigenous FNTM staff were employed on the project and the impacts to their lives have been significant:

• 11 traffic controllers were able to buy a new car solely with the income the received from working on the project
• 3 others were able to transition from social housing or refuge accommodation into their own rental properties
• 2 traffic controllers were able to save a deposit for their own home.

“We take great pride in this project. A lot of hard work has been performed by the entire project team. The project’s safety record, successful delivery and social impact speak for themselves” says Simeon Mieszkowski.

MACA and FNTM are currently in talks to work together on another Big Build project.

Major works on the Golf Links Road Upgrade are now complete and all roads are open to traffic. The upgrade has improved safety in the area and made it easier for motorists to travel to Peninsula Link, Somerville, Hastings and Western Port Highway.