Indigenous-owned business Ngurra has joined the team that’s delivering stage 2 of the Main South Road duplication project—a move that is leading to benefits for everyone concerned.

A total of 65 businesses, including a number of Indigenous-owned enterprises, have been awarded tenders to provide materials and services for the Main South Road duplication project—Aldinga to Sellicks Beach. Most of the successful companies are South Australian-based.

Ngurra is an Indigenous civil and construction company based in metropolitan Adelaide, which works on projects around Australia.

Executive Director Will Darley says: ‘Ngurra is honoured to be part of the Main South Road upgrade, contributing to significant improvements in southern Adelaide.’

He says the company’s focus on Stage 2 is delivering essential drainage solutions and completing minor structural works. The opportunity to be part of a project with long-term benefits is highly valued.

‘As an Indigenous company, we are deeply committed to supporting infrastructure that benefits the community, and this project provides a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact,’ he says.

‘Collaborating with top-tier companies on this project has pushed us to perform at our best and has provided valuable opportunities to strengthen industry relationships and expand our expertise,’ he says.

Will says Ngurra’s Indigenous employees have had the opportunity work on the FC Alliance project and their feedback has been ‘overwhelmingly positive’.

‘Our Indigenous employees have had the opportunity to work on the FC Alliance project, and their feedback has been overwhelmingly positive,’ he says. ‘They value the collaborative environment and are proud to be part of such a significant infrastructure development.’

The Fleurieu Connections Alliance is committed to providing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, businesses and communities with the opportunity to participate in employment, training and contracting opportunities on our projects. Part of this is a commitment to identifying opportunities to engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses and suppliers in our supply chain.

A total of $7.7 million in packages of work on stage 2 of the Main South Road duplication project have so far been awarded to Indigenous businesses, including Ngurra.

Such collaborations have positive benefits beyond building a road. Will says: ‘Collaborations foster knowledge-sharing and skill development, benefiting both Indigenous and non-Indigenous teams. Indigenous businesses gain expertise in specialized areas, while non-Indigenous companies can learn about sustainable practices and community engagement strategies.’