Welcome
Welcome to the Winter 2023 edition of Capability News. With the weather cooling down, it’s time to turn up the heat on your business and take advantage of the many projects our Australia-wide network is partnering on.
Find out about how ICN has been integral to the ARTC Inland Rail project and its delivery partners to both prepare and promote local supply opportunities during the delivery of Inland Rail, Australia’s largest rail infrastructure project.
Victorian regional businesses have the chance to get involved in a range of opportunities to get the state ready for hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games. With construction and associated work in Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, Gippsland and Shepparton, it’s time to put up your hand.
Across in South Australia, ICN is working with L3Harris to identify supplies for the Royal Australian Navy’s unmanned sea boat, as well as a range of maritime communication projects. Our SA Office is also helping Lendlease sound out the local construction industry in preparation for the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
Up in the Top End, Sitzler has engaged ICN to identify local suppliers with capacity and capability to be involved in Darwin’s $88 million State Square Art Gallery and precinct redevelopment.
Over in Queensland, the Cross River Rail project is well underway with CPB Contractors, as part of the Unity Alliance, winning the contract for Rail, Integration and Systems. We also have a feature on Bridgemen, an Indigenous business located in Queensland.
Across the border in New South Wales, in the Illawarra area, BlueScope Steel has released a new scope of works for a reline of the No 6 Blast Furnace at Port Kembla. And you can read about how Park Fuels won a major contract to supply fuel to Snowy 2.0.
Meanwhile, ICN WA is working with Perdaman Industries, who are developing a $4 billion urea fertiliser plant north-west of Karratha.
In national news, the Australian Parliament has passed a Bill to officially establish the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund. And we bring you an update on our Inaugural Defence Day by ICN, held online on 7 June.
And for suppliers who are interested in selling to government, we have some handy information provided by the Department of Finance.
Finally, with the ACT and Tasmanian offices recently re-joining the network, we introduce you to Louise and Bruno, who are ready to take local businesses to the next level.
We hope you enjoy this edition!
Bettina Venner
Chair, ICN Executive Directors
Company Showcase – Bridgeman
Supporting an Indigenous supply chain
Award-winning Supply Nation certified Indigenous metal manufacturing and construction company, Bridgeman, is leveraging its success to support smaller Indigenous companies.
Founded in 1997, the Queensland company has now been a Supply Nation certified Indigenous business for 2½ years, and in that time has increased its Indigenous employees from 2 per cent to 12 per cent of its workforce.
It’s also created the “Yarning Circle” a unique Indigenous supply chain network.
Company Showcase – Park Fuels
How Park Fuels is fuelling Snowy 2.0
Park Fuels won a major contract as a fuel supplier to the Snowy 2.0 project in Australia’s Snowy Mountains after connecting with ICN NSW and ICN Gateway.
Project Showcase -Inland Rail
For more than four years, ICN consultants in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland have been working with ARTC Inland Rail and their delivery partners to prepare and promote local and First Nations businesses for supply opportunities during the delivery of Inland Rail, Australia’s largest rail infrastructure project.
ICN News
Holistic approach for Tasmanian supply chains
In the 18 months since re-establishing an ICN office in Tasmania, Industry Adviser Bruno Ferreira and his small team have listed more than $1.3 billion worth of Tasmanian project opportunities on Gateway.
They have also presented more than 1,600 local businesses to project owners and have seen the active number of Tasmanian Gateway subscribers double.
New ACT office a small team with big plans
Opportunities and support for SMEs in Canberra are expanding with ICN’s newest office opening in the ACT.
Louise Wakefield, appointed as ICN ACT’s business manager earlier this year has big plans for supporting Canberra businesses and further promoting the services of the national network.
Louise’s skills and professional experience in local government, property development and business make her eminently qualified to lead and thrive in this role.
Project News
New Women’s and Children’s Hospital for South Australia
Lendlease has been working with ICN South Australia to sound out suppliers and subcontractors throughout the construction industry in preparation for the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital (New WCH).
Commonwealth games to bring lasting legacy to regional centres
Victoria’s regional areas are set to be seen on the world stage as hosts of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
ICN Victoria is working with the State Government to identify local suppliers with capability to support a wide range of sporting infrastructure throughout the state.
Bringing art to the heart of Darwin
Northern Territory company Sitzler has been awarded an early involvement contractor worth $88 million to build Darwin’s Northern Territory Art Gallery and redevelop the Civic and State Square precinct redevelopment.
Sitzler is working with the ICN NT to identify local suppliers with capacity and capability to be involved in this major project.
Defence supply chain opportunities
As technology continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, the realm of autonomous vehicles has seen remarkable advancements. The Australian arm of US-based multinational company L3Harris is working with ICN to identify supplies for the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) unmanned sea boat, as well as a range of maritime communication projects.
State-of the art fertiliser plant for WA’s Pilbara region
Western Australian multinational group, Perdaman Industries (Chemicals & Fertilisers), is developing a $4 billion urea fertiliser plant north-west of Karratha WA.
Major rail project to transform transport across SE Qld
CPB Contractors, as part of the Unity Alliance, has won the contract for the Rail, Integration and Systems (RIS) works for the Cross River Rail (CRR) Project in south east Queensland, and is working with ICN to maximise local content.
Government News
Australian Government procurement and contracting opportunities
The Australian Government purchases a wide range of goods and services for delivery right across Australia, including regional and remote areas. This offers businesses of all sizes and industries the potential to participate and grow their business.
There are some specific rules that relevant Australian Government organisations must follow when purchasing goods and services. The Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPRs) outline expectations and procedures for Australian Government buyers to ensure procurement processes are open, fair, transparent and ethical, and achieve value for money.
More information can be found here.
