Port Wakefield to Port Augusta Alliance
- Improving transport links and pathways for increased opportunities and regional community benefits.
- Delivering quality infrastructure and leaving lasting social and economic benefits for all South Australians.
About
The PW2PA Alliance has recognised safety as the most important priority throughout the planning, design, construction and delivery of the projects.
Our goal is to eliminate the potential for fatalities and permanent disabilities while systematically reducing all other injuries, ensuring everyone returns home safely.
The PW2PA Alliance has a strict zero tolerance to alcohol and drugs and will continue to maintain a strict regime of testing to ensure that the wider project team and local communities are safe every day.
The PW2PA Alliance is continuously monitoring government health advice regarding the coronavirus pandemic so that we can effectively protect our people and operations.
The PW2PA Alliance is committed to minimising the risk of exposure in our workplace by:
- practicing and adhering to social distancing practices;
- encouraging frequent washing of hands with soap and water, or hand sanitiser;
- promoting increased levels of personal hygiene;
- avoiding handshakes and personal greetings;
- effective schedules for cleaning of hard surfaces multiple times per day; and
- adhering to good food safety practices.
The Alliance workforce is constantly provided with the latest government advice through pre-start meetings and toolbox talks from dedicated COVID-19 Support Officers assigned to the project.
In working with stakeholders and the community, the PW2PA Alliance will always endeavour to:
- make the most of all opportunities to involve local communities and stakeholders in the projects;
- arrange engagement activities at times and places that are convenient to community members, including residents, businesses and other stakeholders, and provide online options, where practical, to reach a broader audience;
- respond to reasonable requests for additional engagement activities and information;
- acknowledge and understand diverse views on the projects; and
- actively engage with the community to ensure that community feedback is considered as part of the projects.
The PW2PA Alliance also acknowledges the vast and diverse population who live, work and enjoy life in the communities on which we will be delivering the projects.
The PW2PA Alliance is proud to be afforded the opportunity to deliver the Port Wakefield to Port Augusta regional projects. We want the communities, in which we are operating, to feel connected, engaged and proud of the results we all achieve, delivering long lasting legacy outcomes for decades to come.
The PW2PA Alliance acknowledges and respects Aboriginal communities’ strong and ongoing connection to the lands on which we operate. We want to ‘Connect, Grow and Sustain’ these communities through all aspects of project delivery.
For the purposes of the PW2PA Alliance, the Department for Infrastructure and Transport has nominated five key Aboriginal stakeholder groups, namely the Barngarla, Nukunu, Narungga, Kaurna and Kokatha. However, we also acknowledge the many Aboriginal groups and community members who maintain a strong and ongoing connection to the lands on which the Alliance is delivering its projects. The PW2PA Alliance sees this opportunity as being another step in our collective reconciliation journey.
The PW2PA Alliance is actively engaging with Aboriginal communities through a number of approaches and is focused on the employment and training of Aboriginal community members, along with engaging Aboriginal owned businesses in the delivery of the works. Additionally, we are working closely with Aboriginal stakeholder groups to support the inclusion of Aboriginal artistic elements into the projects-built forms.
We take responsibility to ensure our approaches reflect the values of inclusion and diversity throughout our workforce and in the way we operate, recognising that diverse teams deliver better project outcomes.
The Alliance is committed to ensuring that road users are informed of traffic restrictions which may, or will have, significant impacts to travel time and that such restrictions do not exceed the advertised periods, so that road users can elect to take alternative routes.
The PW2PA Alliance acknowledges that the projects are being delivered on major transport routes, and our approach extends to including traffic alerts across the network, in advance of local traffic restrictions being implemented.
The PW2PA Alliance’s aim is to deliver sustainable infrastructure to regional South Australia in a manner that balances economic, environmental and social needs.
Key sustainability targets for these works include:
- provision of infrastructure that provides and drives lasting benefits to the community;
- creation and enhancement of local opportunities for employment and business development;
- minimisation of environmental impacts from construction and operation;
- avoidance of impacts to cultural heritage; and
- minimisation of resource consumption and the disposal of waste to landfill.
The urban design objectives for the PW2PA Alliance projects are to:
- create memorable and exciting daily experience for the public;
- deliver enhanced functionality within the project scope;
- create attractive places; and
- draw on the local landscape and community influences.
Amenity planting, new Shared Use Paths for pedestrians and cyclists, educational and interpretative elements and involvement of the local communities, with a focus on Aboriginal project artwork, will provide vital community connections.
As part of the delivery of urban design elements and artworks for the project, the Alliance is collaborating with Aboriginal stakeholder groups Owners in the planning, design and realisation of the urban design and art elements to strengthen local identity, community pride and interpretation of place.
The urban design will embed art as an intrinsic experience, offering multiple ways for road users, pedestrians, cyclists, and local communities to access and engage with it.
The PW2PA Alliance is serious about managing construction impacts, including noise, vibration, dust, mud and light spill. The Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) was implemented to ensure any impacts are mitigated as much as reasonably practicable.
Dust
Dust during construction is mostly generated from excavation, stockpiling, loading trucks and vehicle movement and can be worsened by dry and windy conditions. Dust will be addressed by:
- setting low speed limits on unsealed surfaces and stabilising disturbed areas as soon as possible;
- using dust suppressants over work areas and stockpiles;
- limiting works during dry and windy conditions;
- installing grids and rubble at work site exits and using street sweepers; and
- using dust monitors to monitor the performance of these measures.
Noise and Vibration
Heavy machinery, generators, light towers, truck loading and movements and general construction activities will produce noise.
Vibration can occur as a result of rock or concrete breaking, or where vibratory rollers are used to compact surfaces.
Some noise disturbance can be expected at times while works are completed, however, the work will be managed to minimise disturbance to local residents and businesses as much as practically possible.
Measures to mitigate noise and vibration impacts include:
- scheduling the noisiest works during the day or early evening, where possible;
- providing timely notification to residents of works that may cause disturbance;
- enclosing stationary equipment, such as generators;
- using low level reversing squawkers, where possible;
- using static or reduced vibration rollers, where possible;
- using radios for crews to communicate; and
- using noise and vibration monitors to monitor performance.
Erosion, Mud and Water Quality Impacts
During rain, erosion can occur, resulting in mud and sediment-affected runoff, potentially affecting neighbouring streets/roads, residual vegetation, waterways and habitat.
Works within waterways present a direct risk to water quality, which must be confined to the minimum area possible. Erosion and water quality impacts are addressed by:
- planning works to avoid areas of risk during wet weather;
- installing erosion and sediment controls, including silt curtains for works within water;
- stabilising disturbed areas as soon as possible;
- installing grids and rubble at work site exits and using street sweepers; and
- using inspections and water quality monitoring to monitor the performance of these measures.
Light Spill
During night works, temporary lighting is needed to illuminate work areas for the safety of the workers and the community.
Light spill into nearby residences is minimised by:
- keeping the amount of light to the minimum required for safe access and works; and
- directing light towers away from houses where possible.
Marine Fauna
During piling for the Joy Baluch AM Bridge duplication, underwater noise presented a risk to marine fauna. Measures to minimise this risk included:
- planning the works with the assistance of a marine ecologist; and
- carrying out observations during the works for marine mammals and other species, with stop-work procedures applied as required.
The PW2PA Alliance is passionate about undertaking its projects with environmental care, aiming to minimise any adverse impacts associated with their construction and long-term operation. We appreciate our South Australian environment and know that we are operating within communities that are also deeply interested in maintaining and, where possible, enhancing their natural and cultural surroundings.
As a part of the Alliance’s commitment to caring for the environment, the projects are:
- providing a supportive environmental culture by embracing actions that contribute to a sustainable future;
- minimising our environmental impacts and preventing pollution by applying a hierarchy of controls to eliminate, substitute or mitigate such impacts;
- promoting the efficient use of energy, reduction of waste and recycling of materials in all activities;
- complying with environmental legal requirements and approval conditions applicable to the project; and
- engaging with relevant stakeholders and community representatives on a regular basis, with the aim to inform and build strong relationships.
The PW2PA Alliance projects operate in accordance with a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP), which describes the management of environment risks associated with the project and controls our actions to ensure that our practices are fully compliant.
The PW2PA Alliance creates unique and diverse career opportunities through work which offers challenge and growth.
We are committed to maximising opportunities for employment and development and building local workforce capability to leave a lasting legacy for South Australians.
If you are interested in connecting and growing with the PW2PA Alliance, visit our ‘Working with us’ portal here to search current career opportunities with the Alliance.
The PW2PA Alliance is committed to working with South Australian based businesses, in particular, regional and Aboriginal businesses for the delivery of the projects.
If your business has previously registered interest in the project via the ICN SA Expression of Interest (EOI) webpages, you will not need to re-register your business details. All EOI’s previously received by the ICN SA have been provided to the PW2PA Alliance to support industry engagement and procurement activities.
If your business has not previously registered interest, then please email procurement.pw2pa@pw2pa.com.au with your business details, including your business name, ABN, contact person and your business profile (if available).
Upon receipt of this information, your business will be registered into the PW2PA Alliance procurement platform, known as Felix. You will then receive a Registration Questionnaire, followed by pre-qualification requirements, for completion.
Businesses that have previously registered through the initial EOI process, will be automatically registered into Felix by the Contracts and Procurement Team (no further action required).
Projects
Joy Baluch AM Bridge Duplication
The Australian and South Australian Governments have committed $200 million ($160 million from the Australian Government and $40 million from the South Australian Government) for the Joy Baluch AM Bridge Duplication Project.
Port Wakefield Overpass and Highway Duplication
The Australian and South Australian governments have committed $124.5 million ($99.6 million from the Australia Government and $24.9 million from the South Australian Government) to the project. The Port Wakefield Overpass and Highway Duplication Project is reducing traffic congestion on two important state highways and improving road safety.
Dublin Saleyard Access Upgrade
The Australian and South Australian governments have committed $11 million ($8.8 million from the Australian Government and $2.2 million from the South Australian Government) as part of the SA Rural Roads Package to upgrade access for higher productivity vehicles (triple road trains) to the South Australian Livestock Exchange (Dublin Saleyard), located on Carslake Road, Dublin.
Lower Eyre Peninsula Overtaking Lanes
The Australian and South Australian governments have committed $32 million as part of the Roads of Strategic Importance initiative to upgrade Eyre Peninsula roads, following the closure of the Eyre Peninsula Rail Network. The funding was split across a number of priority projects, including the construction of a total of four overtaking lanes on Lincoln Highway, Flinders Highway and Western Approach Road, with further work being undertaken to explore the opportunity to improve overtaking on the Tod Highway.
Augusta Highway Duplication
The Australian and South Australian governments have committed $260 million (80:20) to the Augusta Highway Duplication Project. This includes the duplication of the Augusta Highway from Port Wakefield to Lochiel. The Augusta Highway is the key road corridor between Port Wakefield and Port Augusta and forms part of the National Land Transport Network, providing crucial connectivity to regional South Australia and interstate.
Augusta Highway Overtaking Lanes
The Augusta Highway Overtaking Lanes Project is jointly funded (80:20) by the Australian and South Australian Governments as part of the South Australian Rural Roads Safety Package. The Augusta Highway is the key corridor between Port Wakefield and Port Augusta and forms part of the National Land Transport Network, providing crucial connectivity to regional South Australia and interstate. Two overtaking lanes are being built between Lochiel and Redhill to improve road safety and efficiency for all road users, improve freight productivity and, importantly, improve the resilience of this critical road link.
Port Augusta Swimming Pontoon
In August 2021, the State Government announced $1 million in funding for a swimming pontoon to be built in Port Augusta.
Working with PW2PA Alliance
Careers with PW2PA Alliance
The PW2PA Alliance creates unique and diverse career opportunities through work which offers challenge and growth.
Business Opportunities
The PW2PA Alliance is committed to working with South Australian based businesses, in particular, regional and Aboriginal businesses for the delivery of the projects.