Local company contracted to survey major M80 upgrade

Trainee Mark Rothwell from Indiya Geospatial courtesy of Victoria’s Big Build.

Majority-owned Indigenous company, Indiya Geospatial, has been contracted to survey the M80 upgrade from Sydney Road to Edgars Road.

Indiya Geospatial began surveying works in July 2020, to measure and mark out the location of works to ensure construction of the project reflects design.

The surveying works will be integral to the construction phase, ensuring all elements of the job fit together and providing detailed plans of the construction works at completion.

Indiya Geospatial has a focus on providing employment opportunities for young Indigenous people to develop careers in the construction industry. Through on-the-job training and mentoring, trainees develop skills and accreditations required to become fully qualified surveyors.

The long-term goals of Indiya trainees contributes to closing the gap for the small number of Indigenous surveyors currently working in the construction industry.

Trainee surveyor Mark Rothwell, in his second year of the mentoring program, has recently joined the M80 Upgrade. Mark is a Kokatha/Wirangu Aboriginal descendant from the Far West Coast of South Australia.

Victoria’s Big Build has an Aboriginal employment target of 2.5 per cent of total hours worked.