Building a   sustainable and   prosperous   tomorrow

Year in Review 2023-24

Welcome

This year, NSW Public Works (NSWPW) has navigated a dynamic landscape of opportunities and challenges to help deliver economic and community development benefits throughout the state. We adapted to a government fiscal repair agenda while continuing to develop smarter and more sustainable infrastructure delivery strategies. 

NSWPW was at the forefront of delivering innovative infrastructure that brings communities to life, including partnering with the Bradfield Development Authority to help develop Australia’s first major city in more than 100 years.

We collaborated with the NSW Rural Fire Service to construct an Aviation Centre of Excellence, the first of its kind in Australia, and another national first was the delivery of the Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre, a groundbreaking initiative helping women to recover from trauma.

Housing remained a priority, with more than 1,000 homes upgraded for teachers and police, since 2018, and 90 homes reconstructed for flood victims.

In water infrastructure, we worked on the upgrade of the Eurobodalla Southern Storage Dam and supported a statewide $50 million Flood Levee Repair Program.

These projects, and many more, exemplify our work across a range of asset classes that change lives and enhance communities. We are very proud of the real human outcomes our work delivers. NSWPW’s focus will remain on reimagining what is possible in community capacity building. 

Thank you to everyone at NSWPW, and to our clients, who work to make our state a better place to live. 

Drew Varnum signature

Drew Varnum, Executive Director NSW Public Works

Portrait of Drew Varnum

Our impact

Building a better way of life for the communities we live and work in.

1,910
projects in 2023-24

48
asset classes

$237m
social procurement spend in whole of government contracts (July 2018–June 2024)

$4.6bn
worth of infrastructure

300
state and local government clients

85%
customer satisfaction achieved

699
government and industry leaders trained in GC21 and MW21 contracts

480
staff

20
offices across NSW

Projects across NSW

NSWPW is NSW’s central infrastructure advisory and delivery agency. In 2023-24, we worked across approximately 126 local government areas (LGAs).

Projects per LGA

Sustainability

Leveraging innovative procurement strategies and technical expertise to help clients meet their ambitious sustainability targets and secure critical natural resources for future generations. 

Case study
First Building leads with green design and industry innovation 

First Building exterior
First Building exterior
First Building exterior with digger
A look back at progress on the First Building: (top video) April 2024 - timelapse of construction, (bottom photos) July 2024 - progress on-site
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Location: Bradfield City, Western Sydney 

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Client: Bradfield Development Authority

93%
recycling rate of waste generated from project to August 2024

$12.5m
spending with local suppliers and subcontractors, as of July 2024*

Bradfield City Centre is one of Australia’s largest urban development projects and the first major city to be constructed in over a century. It is envisioned as a global hub of culture, creativity, and innovation.

At the heart of this visionary city is the First Building, set to become a cornerstone of innovation. This cutting-edge facility will house industry tenants and the Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility, aligning with the NSW Government’s ambition to boost research and manufacturing productivity.

NSWPW is assisting Bradfield Development Authority in managing the design and construction of the building.

Connecting and designing with Country is central to the First Building’s design. Taking inspiration from the surrounding area, including the natural waterways and the Cumberland Plains, the building will be open and welcoming, surrounded by green and open spaces where residents, workers and visitors can gather.

Key design features

  • Unique urban pavilion design of three buildings under one roof, including an advanced manufacturing hall, offices and a space for exhibitions, talks and events.
  • Roof top viewing platform and green roof.
  • Large roof structure for solar energy generation and water collection for reuse.
  • Low embodied carbon materials including timber and rammed earth.
*~$1.4m (Liverpool LGA) and ~$11m (Camden, Fairfield and Campbelltown LGAs)
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Collaborating with NSW Public Works has enabled our vision for the First Building to become a reality. The building embodies Bradfield City Centre’s core objectives of being advanced, green and connected and provides a key statement in establishing Bradfield’s credentials as a 22nd century city.” 

 

Kris Letsch, Project Director, Bradfield Development Authority

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Housing  

Planning and delivering flexible housing options and essential enabling infrastructure to support rapidly increasing service delivery demands and population growth.

Case study
Over 1,000 houses in remote towns upgraded for teachers and police 

Two-bedroom manufactured homes
Adapting housing solutions to the environment: two-bedroom manufactured homes in Ivanhoe bring modern comforts to regional frontline workers
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Location: Various locations across NSW 

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Client: Teacher and Police Housing 

1,139
homes installed with more efficient heating, cooling and solar, since 2018 

322+
properties refurbished, since 2018

Since 2018, NSWPW has been constructing, acquiring, and refurbishing housing for teachers and police in remote areas across NSW, ensuring comfortable and sustainable housing for essential workers.

To support these efforts, NSWPW developed a comprehensive database of property condition assessments, enabling Teacher and Police Housing to efficiently plan and budget for refurbishments and upgrades (heating, cooling, and solar installations) of 1,900 properties.

A key focus of our procurement strategy is engaging regionally based builders and contractors to maximise economic benefits for local communities. Our strategically located regional offices employ local staff and contractors, reducing travel costs and directly contributing to local economies.

To date, we have refurbished over 322 teacher and police properties and installed heating, cooling, and solar systems in more than 1,139 properties. This initiative has enhanced the regional economy and improved the attraction and retention of key workers crucial to the education, safety, and wellbeing of regional NSW.

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NSW Public Works, as our partner, has been instrumental in helping us design, procure and then build the new homes we need.”

 

Denny Alevizos, Principal Project Manager, Teacher Housing Authority  

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Activating regions 

Harnessing deep expertise in procurement, project and contract management to create world-class enabling infrastructure that supports growing NSW communities.

Case study
Australia’s first aviation firefighting training facility opens in Dubbo  

RFS Aviation Training Centre building facade
Aviation Centre of Excellence
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Location: Dubbo

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Client: NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) 

The new Aviation Centre of Excellence at the RFS State Training Academy in Dubbo is the first of its kind in Australia. This state-of-the-art facility hosts training in specialist aviation and incident management roles to prepare personnel for responding to emergencies such as bush and grass fires.

Completion of the Aviation Centre of Excellence marks a significant milestone in the ongoing development of Dubbo as a regional emergency services hub.

NSWPW provided project and contract management services during the centre’s construction. The project’s success was driven by regular communication and close collaboration with the RFS, Dubbo Regional Council and the local builder. 

The centre uses the latest technology, including virtual reality simulators to create realistic scenarios that candidates are likely to experience in the operational environment. The two-storey facility has training and meeting rooms and two auditoriums, as well as 27 accommodation rooms, a laundry, a lounge and workspaces to accommodate RFS personnel and those from partner emergency service agencies across NSW and interstate.

The cutting-edge centre supports the NSW Government’s commitment to expand specialist aviation firefighting capacity, increasing the state’s overall readiness for major bush and grass fires, and increasing capability to support other incidents.  It’s also a step forward in establishing the Dubbo Regional Airport emergency services precinct and training in regional NSW, strengthening growth in the regional community.

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NSW Public Works was a critical partner in the successful delivery of the RFS Aviation Centre of Excellence, providing exceptional project management and relationship management, and applying considerable problem-solving experience to some unforeseen site challenges which emerged during construction. 

 

Assistant Commissioner Paul Seager, Director Training and Doctrine, NSW Rural Fire Service   

Related content

Community 

Maximising the power of government contracts and construction projects to achieve industry diversity and deliver essential community facilities.

Case study
Landmark trauma recovery centre co-designed by women with lived experience

Inside of Illawarra's Women's Trauma Recovery Centre
Illawarra Women's Trauma Recovery Centre
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Location: Shellharbour

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Client: Illawarra Women’s Health Centre

9 month
accelerated delivery (full design and construction)

Women who have experienced family, domestic and sexual violence in the Illawarra will now have access to crucial new support, with the completion of a landmark healing and recovery centre. 
 
The first of its kind in Australia, the Illawarra Women's Trauma Recovery Centre offers specialised support to victim-survivors of family, domestic or sexual violence. 

NSWPW supported the co-design and construction of this landmark Centre. We managed the project from start to finish, including site selection, design, construction and procuring furniture and equipment. The project engaged women with lived experience as well as an Aboriginal Women’s Reference Group in a co-design process to ensure the facility met real needs. 

With no existing benchmark for the building’s design approach, led by the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre, we developed a unique design process and engaged a consultant capable of delivering this innovative process, which proved key to the project’s success.

The project also prioritised Aboriginal participation and female inclusion when selecting the head contractor, ensuring the delivery of an impactful facility that will give victim-survivors in the Illawarra area a stable foundation to rebuild their lives.

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The services provided by NSW Public Works were best practice – the gold standard of professionalism, experience, expertise and sensitivity.  We could not have completed this critical high-quality project, on time and within budget without NSW Public Works."  

 

Sally Stevenson, Executive Director, Illawarra Women’s Health Centre

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Response and recovery

Leveraging our agility and technical expertise to restore critical infrastructure, ensure safety in crises, and support communities to recover and rebuild with increased resilience.

Case study
Leading the repair and improvement of urban flood levees  

Lidar image of flood levee
Lidar survey of the South Grafton urban levee

124km
of levees protecting urban areas and communities

68
urban levees assessed by specialist external consultants 

The severe weather and floods in early 2022 had a catastrophic impact on many communities statewide. Local government areas were declared natural disaster zones as floodwaters caused extensive damage to residential properties, public infrastructure, agriculture, businesses and the environment.  

Under the Flood Levee Repair Program (FLRP), NSWPW is working with partner agencies, the community and local government teams to repair, restore and improve urban flood levee assets impacted by the floods. 

As program lead, we developed frameworks for fair fund distribution and guided the program through its phases. We also leveraged specialist external consultants to assess all 68 urban levees. This was undertaken using various methods including industry-leading survey technology and on-ground engineering assessments. 

The work done under the $50 million FLRP will continue to build the resilience of NSW communities and protect critical services.  

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