Split Rock Inca Alliance wins National Training Award

An alliance created to complete an upgrade of the Barkly Highway has won more accolades for its contribution to training outcomes for Indigenous workers in north west Queensland.

Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said the Split Rock Inca Alliance, was awarded the prestigious Australian Training Initiative Award at last night’s National Training Awards in Hobart.

The alliance was recognised for its achievements in providing employment and training opportunities for Indigenous people.

The Split Rock Inca Alliance – comprising Main Roads, Seymour Whyte Constructions and Myuma, a company managed by the area’s traditional owners, the Indjilandji-Dhidhanu people – constructed 35km of road and built three new bridges to complete the Barkly Highway upgrade in late 2006.

"The Split Rock Inca Alliance won the Australian Training Initiative Award for its innovative approach to providing sustainable employment and training opportunities for Indigenous people in the state’s north west," Mr Pitt said.

"This project provided 53 Indigenous people with employment, with 26 receiving nationally-recognised qualifications in civil construction and hospitality.

"Trainees who worked on the project have now gained employment in the construction and mining industry.

“The project has also led to Myuma forming a working group with state and federal agencies and departments, training organisations and mining companies to develop and deliver more civil construction and mining skills training programs.

"This award – as well as the many others won by the alliance - shows that Main Roads is not only building infrastructure projects for communities, but also providing great skills and training opportunities to help build skills and capability within Indigenous communities.

"This project has left a lasting legacy for people in north west Queensland.”

Main Roads District Director (North Western) Peter Trim was in Hobart to collect the National Training Initiative award, and said the win was a great accomplishment for all those involved in the alliance.

"This award is testimony to the hard work and dedication by all those involved in the Split Rock Inca Alliance project and the continuation of this work beyond the project to provide ongoing training and employment opportunities for Indigenous people in North Queensland," he said.

The alliance has also won a number of prestigious awards for its achievements, including two Premier's Reconciliation Awards for Business – in the partnerships category and the overall Premier's Award.

It has also won the Premier's Innovation in Skilling Award at the Queensland Training Awards, a Civil Contractors Federation Earth Award and a Queensland Engineering Excellence Award in the project management category.

Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819