More support for Aboriginal businesses on journey to reconciliation

SA Water’s commitment to reconciliation has seen Aboriginal-owned project management business, Zancott Knight, engaged to deliver $600,000 worth of water storage tank upgrades in Marla, located in the state’s Far North, and Millicent in the South East.

Based in Adelaide and with operations across Australia, Zancott Knight have hit the ground running with work already underway to refurbish SA Water’s 28-metre-high concrete elevated water storage in Millicent.

As part of the project, the tank’s walls, roof and internal and external pipework will be refurbished, protecting the ongoing structural integrity of the concrete while securing reliable water services for local customers.

The upgrade of Marla’s elevated steel tank, which commences this week, will see the steel structure and platform floor refurbished, external pipework recoated, and the tank’s access infrastructure restored.

Zancott Knight Managing Director Cameron Buzzacott said they were delighted to partner with SA Water for the first time and expand into the water industry.

“It’s encouraging to see more organisations share an emphasis on enabling economic opportunities for Aboriginal businesses and communities,” Cameron said.

“For every project we take on, we’re one step closer to helping bridge the economic gap and empowering our communities, by supporting job creation and developing the capabilities of our employees.

“SA Water demonstrates a conscious and genuine desire to promote the value of Aboriginal businesses, and we’re thrilled to partner with an essential service provider who has enabled our business to break into a new industry and deliver a project that ensures a reliable supply of water for its customers.”

Work to the two water storage tanks is expected to be completed in June, and forms part of SA Water’s sustained network maintenance program.

SA Water’s General Manager of Sustainable Infrastructure Amanda Lewry said supporting Aboriginal businesses was one of the many initiatives embedding reconciliation across the organisation.

“As a large employer and purchaser, we have a role to play in sharing with our own people and the wider industry, the importance of investing in local Aboriginal businesses and services,” Amanda said.

“Providing a diverse range of opportunities for businesses to deliver work across our asset portfolio is one of the actions we are taking to foster meaningful progress on our journey towards reconciliation and support Aboriginal communities.

“During the past 12 months, our direct procurement from Aboriginal businesses, and indirect procurement via our contractors, achieved a total spend of more than $2.2 million – placing us firmly on the path to reaching a key goal of our Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan for 2020-23.

“We are pleased to be working together with Zancott Knight, who included additional value as part of their tender by engaging local contractors to support the delivery of each tank upgrade.”

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