1 April 2021
In April 2021, National Aboriginal Construction Partners Projects Australia Pty Ltd (NACP Projects) was awarded a Head Contract for $23.9 million to build the Nulka Missile Assembly and Maintenance Facilities at Defence Establishment Orchard Hills in NSW. NACP Projects Australia was procured under the Commonwealth’s Indigenous Procurement Policy to support indigenous entrepreneurship and business development. The use of the Indigenous Procurement Policy was an outstanding success, with seven Supply Nation accredited Construction Companies tendering for the Head Contract.
NACP Projects commenced work on the project in April 2021, with completion anticipated in early 2022. In delivering this project, NACP Projects Australia are expected to employ around 200 workers, which is anticipated to provide a major boost for other smaller indigenous businesses.
The Nulka Missile Assembly and Maintenance Facilities project is the second largest contract NACP Projects Australia has been awarded and will be their third project delivered in Sydney. NACP Projects Australia is celebrating a massive achievement regarding indigenous procurement on this project. The original expenditure target for indigenous procurement was 4% (circa $1 million). To date NACP Projects Australia have a local indigenous procurement expenditure of approximately 16% (circa $3 million). This has created further opportunities within the local indigenous community and will boost the development of skills/capabilities within the construction industry.
NACP Projects Australia’s project team have advised that their Contractors Representative – Seth Dunn – is a proud Darug Man and has a special connection to the land on which this facility is being built. They have stated that they are grateful to deliver such an interesting, challenging and technical project, with the Nulka Assembly and Maintenance Facilities project already having provided their business with exposure and connections within the Greater Sydney/Darug Nation.
Noting that the name “Nulka” is of Australian Aboriginal origin and means “be quick”, it is appropriate for an indigenous company to deliver a uniquely Australian project.
Defence’s Capital Facilities and Infrastructure Branch has consistently realised significant success in its application of the Indigenous Procurement Policy. The Branch currently has 25 prime contracts with indigenous businesses, with a total value of more than $400 million. Further there are over 230 subcontracts with indigenous businesses, totalling close to $200 million in value.
NACP Projects Australia is a Supply Nation Registered business delivering commercial construction projects with a difference, through Indigenous management, leadership, and 50% Indigenous ownership that strives to increase the involvement of Indigenous Australians in the building industry.