Federal member for Page Kevin Hogan today congratulated Grafton-based company Orara & Clarence Industries which has an agreement to provide survey pegs for the $5.6 billion duplication of the Pacific Highway between Ballina and Woolgoolga.
“This is great news for the Clarence Valley and shows what a jobs bonanza the duplication of the Pacific Highway can be for our local community,” Mr Hogan said.
The announcement of the agreement follows deals with two other Grafton-based companies to work on the highway, including Herb Blanchard Haulage, and Wicks and Parker.
“These contracts will lead to more jobs for our community,” Mr Hogan said.
“During the peak of construction, 4000 people will work directly on this section of the duplication, with a further 12,000 working indirectly on the upgrade. Major construction materials suppliers all the way down to local businesses will enjoy the flow-on benefits of construction.”
Orara & Clarence Industries is the Australian Disability Enterprise (ADE) division of Caringa which has been providing services to the disabled in the Clarence Valley since 1953.
The company currently employs 53 Supported Employees across two sites, its Disability Enterprises Manager Dean Broughton said.
“Gaining the supply of Survey Pegs to Civil Mining and Construction for the highway upgrade plays a major role in our long term viability,” Mr Broughton said.
“We always emphasise to our Supported Employees that they not only come to work to make quality products they are playing their part in building the new highway for the benefit of everyone.”
