Two Indigenous footballers from the Fitzroy Stars club have joined the Ison Road Overpass project in Victoria as part of a partnership between labour hire provider Yurringa and Major Road Project Victoria’s (MRPV) construction partner Decmil.
Jai Burns has been employed as a spotter, directing trucks on the site, while Keadin Ronnan is undertaking labouring and plant operation at the Victoria’s Big Build site at Manor Lakes on the far western edge of Melbourne.
The overpass will provide Manor Lakes and Wyndham West with a link to the Princes Freeway, passing over the Melbourne-Geelong railway line.
Up to the beginning of May, 236,000 cubic metres of soil had been trucked to the site to build the 8m-high embankments.
Established to help Indigenous communities overcome inequality and disadvantage, Yurringa aims to improve the prosperity of First Nations people through employment opportunities.
The Indigenous-owned-and-operated firm works with employers committed to diversity and inclusiveness, defining success as employees feeling safe and welcome at work.
MRPV’s Program Delivery Approach (PDA) ensures that construction partners meet social procurement requirements to support Indigenous businesses, social enterprises and jobseekers from across Victoria.
Yurringa Managing Director Daniel Briggs sad working with organisations like MRPV and Decmil, who are committed to fostering diverse and inclusive workplaces, was vital to the commitment of assisting Indigenous people achieve prosperity through employment.
“Achieving positive employment outcomes while supporting employers’ social procurement objectives is a win-win for all Indigenous people involved and for our business partners who provide the opportunities,” he said.
Due for completion by the end of 2025, the overpass is set to cater for nearly 29,000 vehicles a day by 2036.
Around 505 tonnes of rocks and logs from the project have also been donated to a new Asian elephant habitat at Werribee Open Range Zoo.
The purpose-built Elephant Trail will comprise a 21-hectare open range habitat to accommodate Zoos Victoria’s growing Asian elephant herd following its relocation from Melbourne Zoo in late 2024.