Who is Laing O'Rourke?
Laing O'Rourke is one of the world's most dynamic and innovative construction and infrastructure companies. The business operates across the world, with more than 30,000 employees and an operating turnover of more than $12 billion.
It's 100 per cent privately owned, meaning we focus on people, not share prices.
Laing O'Rourke began operations in Australia in 2004. Its diverse capabilities include building, development, rail, mine infrastructure, power, water and civil projects.
Laing O'Rourke has a unique understanding of delivering infrastructure in regional and rural locations. We also have a strong history of delivering jobs and investment in country NSW.
Laing O'Rourke is delivering jobs like the freight rail expansions in the Upper Hunter Valley, new mine infrastructure in the state's Central West, and operating the Austrak concrete sleeper factory in Wagga Wagga which supplies rail projects around Australia and internationally.
What is the 'Building the Revolution' (BER) Program?
Building the Education Revolution is part of the Australian Government's Nation Building - Economic stimulus Plan. More than $8 billion will be spent on school infrastructure and social housing across NSW in less than two years.
The Federal and NSW Governments are working together to roll the programs out, and have engaged Managing Contractors to assist them in that task. Laing O'Rourke is serving as Managing Contractor for the Riverina and Western NSW Regions.
Within Building the Education Revolution (BER) there are three programs: P21 – Public Schools for the 21st Century, a National School Pride maintenance and upgrade program, and a science and language centres for High Schools program.
For more information on the BER visit www.economicstimulusplan.gov.au
What buildings will you provide?
The buildings range from School Halls, Libraries and Covered Outdoor Learning Areas, (COLAs) to classrooms and classroom refurbishments.
The BER authorities rank their priorities as libraries, halls, classrooms, then refurbishments. Projects that fall outside of the general scope will be assessed as the Program continues.
How many schools will you be working on? Which schools are they?
Laing O'Rourke is the Managing Contractor for 329 Primary Schools across the Riverina and Western NSW Regions. A full list of sites is available through the www.economicstimulusplan.gov.au website, and follow the Education links.
When will school projects be started and completed?
Funding for P21 projects is scheduled to be released in three rounds between May and September 2009. Round One projects must be started no later than June 2009 and be completed by December 2010. Round Two projects must be started no later than July 2009 and be completed no later than January 2011. Round Three projects must be started no later than September 2009 and be completed by March 2011.
Laing O'Rourke plans to have all projects in the Riverina and Western NSW Regions completed by 16th December 2010.
What local jobs will be involved?
Laing O'Rourke will partner with local builders and suppliers for the construction stage, through a competitive tendering process. The school facilities will be delivered by local trades people with Laing O'Rourke acting as the Managing Contractor to ensure community needs are met and the Government's stimulus plan is achieved.
We expect to have 30-50 delivery partners who will then engage their own sub-contractors and suppliers in each region.
How many jobs will be created in the Western NSW and Riverina Regions?
Based on our current estimations of the size of the projects and the number of working days to complete the projects across the Western SNW and Riverina regions, we calculate that 2020 positions will be sustained and supported across the two regions, and that 20% of these will be apprentices / trainees as per our Managing Contractor agreement.
How do school communities have a say in what's built?
School communities were asked in February to prepare submissions based on the Commonwealth BER Guidelines for Round 1 funding. Round 2 submissions were required by 15th May and Round 3 submissions were required by 10th July.
Seconded School Principals working in the Integrated Project Office liaise with Principals initially to define the scope of works for each school, based on the Building the Education Revolution funding guidelines and priorities.
Will Laing O'Rourke offer our schools any other work or advice about future work?
Laing O'Rourke is on site and working closely with local school principals about the BER Program, to ensure time targets are met. Obviously BER Projects must take first priority, as we are working to a very strict timeframe and funding conditions for schools.
Will you have local offices?
We have established Regional Offices in Dubbo and Wagga, and Zone Offices in Albury, Griffith and Orange. There will be approximately 6 people based in each of these offices.
How many people will Laing O'Rourke be sending here?
Laing O'Rourke has appointed in excess of 40 staff as full-time workers on the Building the Education Revolution Program. There will be approximately 6 people based in each of the Zone Offices. There are many others helping to support that task behind the scenes, as just part of their other work.
How will this Program help our economy?
The 'Primary Schools for the 21st Century Program' component of the BER funding for NSW totals $2.7 billion across more than 1800 sites. This translates directly in jobs for local tradespeople, new accounts for suppliers and local small businesses, and investment in related industries like hospitality, restaurants, petrol stations, and retail outlets.
It's part of Laing O'Rourke's role to manage those local jobs, to take management pressure off local tradespeople and allow them to deliver the work, and be paid promptly for it.
In addition, the school facilities such as School Halls have been designed for the entire community's use, not just school classes, leaving each local area with a tangible legacy long after the Program's rollout has concluded.
What do you know about the Riverina and Western NSW Regions?
Laing O'Rourke has undertaken, or is currently working on, a wide range of projects in regional Australia, and understands the unique demands of serving a country community.
We have built power and water plants, mine infrastructure, roads, schools and hospitals in regional, rural and remote locations.
Currently in NSW we're delivering a massive new mine project for Centennial Coal in the central west, that will play a vital link in the state's export coal chain.
We're building the heavy rail links that carry economically vital freight through the upper Hunter Valley, and working on the Melbourne-Sydney-Brisbane freight line. In the heart of the Riverina – at Wagga Wagga – we own and run the Austrak concrete sleeper factory. When we built the factory in 2007, and we recruited and trained 95 per cent of our workforce from the surrounding community.
How do we get more information?
The Commonwealth Government has provided a comprehensive website at www.economicstimulusplan.gov.au which links to all the state-based delivery agencies.
Who are the IPO?
The Integrated Program Office (IPO) has been set up by the NSW Government to manage the overall roll-out of the Building the Education Revolution - Primary Schools for the 21st Century Program across NSW.
Personnel have been seconded into the IPO from the Department of Commerce and Department of Education for the life of the BER project. A primary role of the IPO is to ensure that the Managing Contractors adhere to the GC21 Contract conditions and requirements for the delivery of the project.
How does the design approval process work?
- IPO agrees scope of work with the School Principal
- IPO issues scope of work to Federal Government for approval
- Federal Government approves scope of work
- IPO issues project brief to Managing Contractor (MC)
- MC undertakes site investigation and prepares schematic design based on agreed scope of work
- MC issues schematic design to the IPO for approval
- IPO approves schematic design
- MC prepares detailed design
- MC issues detailed design to the IPO for approval
- IPO approves detailed design
- MC prepares final Approved For Construction (AFC) documentation
- MC issues final AFC documentation for information
Why are the Schools Facilities Standards (SFS) used as the basis for building design?
The Schools Facilities Standards have been established as a 'standard' for school design and building in NSW over a period of approximately 30 years. They have evolved in a tried and tested manner, and now serve as a benchmark for ensuring that all NSW Public Schools provide safe, secure and durable buildings to facilitate effective teaching and learning.
The SFS also serve to ensure that there is equality and consistency of provision of facilities across the state, so that all students have equal opportunity and access to educational facilities of a high standard.
What does a School Principal do if they have problem with their Scope of Work?
The Principal Liaison Officer (PLO) establishes the Scope of Work in consultation with the School Principal. Should there be any issues with clarification of the Scope of Work that are not resolved with the PLO assigned to their School, School Principals should in the first instance contact their Local School Education Director who will then offer advice as to the pathway for resolution.
Whilst Laing O'Rourke supports meeting school community needs, there are parameters and conditions that are tied to the BER funding, and Laing O'Rourke, as a Managing Contractor, does not have the jurisdiction to operate outside of these.
How will Laing O'Rourke adopt Child Protection Policy for all personnel visiting and working in school sites?
There is an online Induction process for all personnel entering and working on School site. This includes a requirement that Child Protection 'Prohibited Employment Declarations' and 'Consent to Employment Screening' Forms are read and signed. These are available to the School Principal via the Site Supervisor.
We know of locals who applied to do the work but they haven't been selected. Why not? What can be done about this?
The process has commenced and is ongoing. Laing O'Rourke has sought local businesses through an advertising process, and has established a database for future use as the Program develops. Local Builders may request an EOI to become involved directly from Laing O'Rourke via BER@laingorourke.com.au
Advice on all available and registered trades people is also being sent through to Managing Contractors through the Integrated Program Office administering this program for Government.
I know a local electrician and plumber who want to get involved – how do I get them into the process for consideration?
Laing O'Rourke will be appointing building Delivery Partners through an extensive competitive tendering process based on the BER Guidelines for funding, the ability to deliver value for money in relation to the Schools Facilities Standards, (SFS) and their local area knowledge across the regions. It is important that local sub-contractors connect with their local Delivery Partners who will be responsible for appointing sub-contractors if their local areas.
If local sub-contractors interested in being involved are not able to determine their Laing O'Rourke appointed local Building Delivery Partners, they may contact Laing O'Rourke at BER@laingorourke.com.au and we will ensure details are added to our database of Sub-Contractors and Suppliers, which will be published on our BER Website, so that Delivery Partners are aware of interested local trades peope and suppliers.
How will you choose local builders to assist?
Laing O'Rourke has been inundated with local firms and builders keen to be part of this Program, and we look forward to working with them.
There is a competitive tender process to work through these applications, and to ensure the best value for money for the community. Other local builders or suppliers wishing to contact us should email BER@laingorourke.com.au
Once they contact Laing O'Rourke builders will be asked to complete the BER Expression of Interest Form which requires details relating to the BER Guidelines such as an Aboriginal Participation Plan, Training Management, Insurance, Quality & Environmental Management Systems and locality knowledge. This will ensure that local builders are part of the tendering process Laing O'Rourke will manage to determine the various building partners for localities across the Riverina and Western NSW region.
How do local trades people find out who the Delivery Partners are in their local area?
All companies expressing an interest in being involved in the BER Program via our email address BER@laingorourke.com.au as a sub-contractor, supplier or consultant to local Delivery Partners will be advised via email when our BER website is established.
All Laing O'Rourke Delivery Partners will be progressively published on the website with the names of the school projects they will be delivering, so this is the reference point for all those companies interested in working with the successful local tenderers.
What is the amount of paperwork required in the subcontractor reporting processes required in the GC21 Contract?
The BER Program has a number of weekly and monthly reporting criteria that is reflected in the GC21 standard and special condition of contract. Delivery Partners will be expected to populate reports (in Excel format) provided by Laing O'Rourke, to meet required time restraints.
What is the Laing O'Rourke payment period on subcontractor invoices?
Laing O'Rourke's payment term for Delivery Partners is a step down from the head contract, being 14 days from agreement and notification of a payment schedule. Typically, this is 28 days from receipt of a payment claim or invoice from the Delivery Partner.
I am a school Principal and I have three competitive quotes from local builders to complete our Hall and Outdoor Covered Learning Areas. Will Laing O'Rourke select one of these?
The first thing you need to do is send the detail of these local builders into your Managing Contractor Laing O'Rourke at BER@laingorourke.com.au . We will require the Company name, contact person, phone and email contact details.
Laing O'Rourke will then issue a Delivery Partner Expression of Interest Form (EOI) that requires potential delivery partners to give detail relating to the BER Guidelines such as an Aboriginal Participation Plan, Training Management, Insurance, Quality & Environmental Management Systems and locality knowledge. This will ensure that local builders are part of the competitive tendering process Laing O'Rourke will manage to determine the various building partners for localities across the Riverina and Western NSW regions.
As Laing O'Rourke is managing delivery and service supply logistics across vast areas of NSW in tight timeframes whey will appoint delivery partners based on their ability to deliver the buildings to all the required standards to the timelines linked to the funding availability. It is important to remember that the BER Program is about providing job opportunities in communities whilst enhancing the provision of school facilities.
Will there be jobs for apprentices?
The Managing Contractor agreement requires that we are required to meet training and apprenticeship targets to ensure sustainability of jobs during the Program and into the future, as a legacy of the Program.
Laing O'Rourke has developed relationships with Group Training Companies so that they can support the supply of Apprentices to Delivery Partners, where required, for the life of the BER Project. These vary from region to region.
Where will you get the materials?
Laing O'Rourke are developing supply chains and synergies for provision of materials based on tendering for preferred suppliers and invitations to suppliers issued across the Riverina and Western NSW Regions.
Building Partners will be seeking local suppliers, and Laing O'Rourke will also be keeping a database of interested suppliers, and their details will be passed on to Delivery Partners when selected, if required.
If local builders will do the work, what does Laing O'Rourke do?
Our role is to help find the most efficient and cost-effective way to procure the services and supplies your local schools will need, ensure all approvals are achieved quickly, and that all the GC21 Contract and BER Funding Guidelines and conditions are met, then report back to the Integrated Program Office.
More than 1800 Primary School building projects will be up and running, virtually at once across NSW. The Managing Contractor's role is to ensure value for money on the ground and a rapid delivery process, while at the same time giving safety, quality and child protection the highest priority in dynamic school construction sites.
Why can't local builders just do this work, instead Laing O'Rourke?
Local builders will construct the school buildings. This Program's first priority is to provide jobs for local workers in the building sector.
Managing Contractors have been appointed by Government to oversee the entire Program, to ensure approvals go smoothly and supply chains can be managed at a time of unprecedented demand. We can provide a smoother interface with Government, and look after local workers.
Remember, the works only get funded if they can be completed by the end of next year. The Managing Contractor will monitor these issues, ensuring local trades people focus on the job at hand.
How will you manage the Risk to Hazardous substances?
Laing O'Rourke will engage licensed Hazardous Material consultants and contractors to identify and remove the material.
When will the BER Projects be completed?
Funding for the P21 Projects in the BER Program will be released in three rounds, and as a consequence the works will be staggered, depending on the Round release and the size of the project. All the P21 BER Projects in Primary Schools in the Riverina and Western NSW Regions of NSW will be completed by 16th December 2010.
