Winter
Capability News


Welcome to the Winter 2019 edition of Capability News. Things might be very cool in parts of the country, but opportunities for local suppliers are heating up.

Major construction firm Sitzler Pty Ltd has teamed up with ICN to create a Gateway portal to showcase work packages for a number of projects across Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia. The company aims to support local suppliers and subcontractors for every project, as well as maximise indigenous involvement where possible.

Another major partnership for ICN is with the Naval Shipbuilding College to ensure Australian business can benefit from the Federal Government’s $90 billion commitment to the shipbuilding industry.

In good news for the Northern Territory, the Commonwealth Government has extended the major project status for Project Sea Dragon, set to become the world’s largest prawn farm.

Across in Queensland, ICN Qld is working with the Townsville Local Content Committee to help rebuild the town after the devastating February floods. 

Meanwhile, in New South Wales, the State Government is investing $50million over the next three years to fast track the replacement of the ageing XPTs and deliver a new rail fleet for rural and regional customers using the North Coast Line, Western Line and Southern Line. NSW is working with project owner, Momentum Trains, to ensure local suppliers are exposed to opportunities.

Staying in regional NSW, the $274m Batemans Bay Bridge replacement project will have 18 work packages opening and closing on Gateway as the project develops.

Further south, ICN VIC is collaborating with Lendlease on the Joan Kirner women’s and Children’s Hospital in the Melbourne’s western suburbs. ICN’s involvement began with help at the tender phase and will continue through the life of the project.

Aside from work packages, our consultants across the country have also been engaging with local suppliers through workshops and events, including Regional Opportunity Showcases throughout Victoria.

We also bring you the second in our Q & A series with Jeremy Satchell, Principal Supply Consultant from our SA office.

And last, but not least, ICN Gateway has been updated to include a new Defence taxonomy, making it easier for Australian companies to take advantage of millions of dollars of Defence industry contracts.

Mike Swart
Chair ICN Executive Directors


Gateway portal leads to spike in contractor interest

Sitzler Pty Ltd has teamed up with ICN to create a Gateway portal for a number of projects across Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia.

Pre Contracts Manager for Sitzler, Jamie Porrovecchio, said working with ICN has led to “a lot of benefits in a short amount of time”.

“ICN is very proactive trying to understand our requirements, and we have very quickly seen a fairly big spike in contractor interest. Our subcontractor coverage is getting a lot wider,” Jamie said.


Developing a sovereign naval shipbuilding workforce

ICN has partnered with the Naval Shipbuilding College to ensure Australian business can fully benefit from the Federal Government’s $90 billion commitment to a continuous naval shipbuilding industry.

Bill Docalovich, Program Director at the Naval Shipbuilding College (the College) said more than 15,000 jobs will be created as part of the continuous Naval Shipbuilding Program.


Tweed Valley Hospital a boost for Northern NSW economy

Northern New South Wales business are set to benefit with the construction of a brand new, state-of-the-art hospital on a greenfield site at Kingscliff, just south of Tweed Heads.

The $582 million Tweed Valley Hospital is expected to be completed by the end of 2022, and open for patients early 2023.


Milestone for major aquaculture project

The Commonwealth Government has extended the major project status of a $1.5 billion aquaculture project in the Northern Territory.

Project Sea Dragon is the world’s largest prawn farm and is expected to create 1,600 jobs in the Top End.


Townsville flood recovery

As businesses and households in Townsville continue to count the cost of the devastating floods in February, local suppliers are being encouraged to get involved in recovery work.


Improved access for Batemans Bay

Drivers traveling to and from Batemans Bay along the Princes Highway will enjoy a new 4-lane bridge across the Clyde River.


ICN Victoria Regional Opportunity Showcases

ICN Victoria has recently hosted two Regional Opportunities Showcases. The first took place at the GMHBA Stadium in Geelong, on the 21st of May, covering the Barwon and Great South Coast region. The showcase was hosted by Geelong footy legend Cameron Ling and included presentations from WestWind Energy, Regional Development Victoria, Rail Projects Victoria, the City of Greater Geelong and the Local Jobs First Commissioner.


NSW regional rail fleet set for upgrade

Following a two-year procurement process, Transport for NSW has awarded the $2.8 billion project to design, build and maintain the new regional rail fleet to Momentum Trains.

The project will deliver a new rail fleet for North Coast Line, Western Line and Southern Line customers in rural and regional NSW.


Joan Kirner Women's and Children's Hospital

Lendlease and ICN Victoria a Cooperative Relationship

Planning for both present and future demand on health care in the west led to the development of the Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Sunshine.


Defence contracts made easier

ICN has made it easier for Australian companies to take advantage of millions of dollars of Defence industry contracts.

In announcing the change, ICNL Executive Director Derek Lark said a new Defence taxonomy in Gateway will allow Australian small and medium businesses to better showcase their capabilities and be exposed to more relevant work packages.


Q&A with Jeremy Satchell

In the second of our series profiling ICN industry advisors, we sat down with Jeremy Satchell, who joined the ICN SA team in 2018.