Building local connections at Lake Cargelligo

Hands on site visit for students

The opportunity to develop meaningful and positive local collaborations has been a welcome benefit of the Lake Cargelligo Embankment Upgrade project.

“WaterNSW, with our construction partner Diona, have been building relationships with TAFE NSW Lake Cargelligo Campus and the Murrin Bridge Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) to increase and support training and employment opportunities,” WaterNSW Manager First Nations Programs & Engagement, Russell Hill, said.

“We’re not only providing support to increase local opportunities, just as importantly we’re also building our connections with the local First Nations community," Russell said.

The project team recently hosted an open day for 11 TAFE students enrolled in Certificate II in Construction, providing a firsthand experience of a construction site.

The day involved an overview of the project, learning about the roles and responsibilities of site positions, testing out plant equipment, and listening to the stories and experiences about working in the construction industry from other locals.

Man in digger
Graduating students testing plant equipment and learning about working in the construction industry from other locals.
Woman in digger
A student getting firsthand experience of plant machinery. Four of the 11 graduating students are women, an encouraging sign.

Praise for partnerships

Lake Cargelligo TAFE coordinator, and proud Ngiyampaa woman Narelle Hall, thanked WaterNSW and Diona for the open day.

“I want to say how impressed we (TAFE staff) are with your generosity to invite the students out onto the worksite for a very informative and engaging day,” Narelle said.

“To see our local boys who are currently employed with you, was truly awesome. Our students were in complete awe of what you guys are doing and the impact it is making for our community; it is much needed.”

As part of the upgrade project initiatives WaterNSW and Diona have provided the students with personal protective equipment (PPE), including pants, boots and the jointly branded work shirt featuring Murrin Bridge LALC’s artwork.

Indoor briefing
TAFE Certificate II in Construction graduating students attending the Lake Cargelligo project open day to learn about roles and responsibilities of site positions in construction.
Outdoor briefing
TAFE students getting an on-site overview of the Lake Cargelligo project from WaterNSW and Diona staff, firming up the collaboration.

Future opportunities

WaterNSW is working in partnership with the local TAFE campus and Murrin Bridge LALC to support TAFE’s application to provide a Cultural Sites course at the Lake Cargelligo campus later this year.

“We know that the area around Lake Cargelligo is home to significant Aboriginal cultural heritage artefacts and values,” Russell said. “As part of our upgrade work we engage cultural heritage sites officers from the Murrin Bridge LALC to help protect the areas where we work.

“By supporting this course to run locally, the LALC will have representatives who can guide and monitor cultural heritage work into the future.”

Narelle also acknowledged and thanked Murrin Bridge LALC: “They play a huge role in the community to ensure culturally appropriate relationships.”

WaterNSW continues to strengthen its relationships and partnerships with First Nations communities through our Reconciliation Action Plans. The upcoming launch of our Innovate RAP will further develop employment and procurement pathways to help improve cultural, social and economic outcomes within First Nations communities.

Related links

Lake Cargelligo embankment dams

In the flow

First Nations programs

Published date: 19 June 2023

WaterNSW acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands and waters on which we work and pay our respects to all elders past, present and emerging. Learn more