After small and local businesses were left devastated by the 2019–2020 Australian bushfire season, the Business Council of Australia, with the support of WSP, stepped in immediately to assist. Together, we’re helping affected communities to get back on their feet.
Designed to run for five years, the BizRebuild initiative was established to help businesses recover, create jobs, rebuild stronger communities and restore thriving local economies in bushfire affected regions.
South Australia’s iconic Kangaroo Island (KI) is one such community, ravaged by the bushfires.
WSP is proud to be involved by providing pro bono work in two key BizRebuild projects in the region.
The first is the West End KI Community Recovery Project, in which the scope is to construct workers’ accommodation for 10 persons in individual rooms including recreation space, kitchen and ensuites. Included in the project scope is a 40-bed bunkhouse (which is seeking alternative funding) for school groups and other gatherings at Western KI Caravan Park. WSP’s stakeholder engagement expertise played a key role in facilitating genuine participation with the community to self-determine and lead these projects, building upon the existing resilience and strengths of the community and connections on Kangaroo Island.
Left image: BizRebuild team on KI (Jennifer McDonnell and Joanne Chong WSP staff present) also in the photo is Rupert Hoskin (BizRebuild PM), Martin Ross (BizRebuild) and Shauna Black from KI Brand and Alliance (KIBBA).
Right image: West End KI Community Recovery Project: Project Reference Group members -includes (Jennifer McDonnell and Joanne Chong WSP staff present) includes Mark and Fiona Jago owners of the Western Caravan Park where the project will be constructed.
The second project is the renovation and refurbishment of the Parndana Town Hall.
Lisa Paul AO PSM, Coordinator of BizRebuild says, “We are delighted with the wonderful pro bono contribution of the WSP staff. I congratulate you on the quality of your people and please accept my thanks again for WSP’s valuable contribution to BizRebuild.”
The WSP team is led by Jennifer McDonnell, Principal Stakeholder Engagement Consultant, with contributions from Stacie Reeves, Jodie McPhee and Joanne Chong.
In her role as KI BizRebuild Project and Community Liaison Manager, Jennifer McDonnell has been a key asset in our contribution to getting this community back to business.
Lisa says, “Jennifer McDonnell has been very active in community engagement and project management for our initiatives on KI. I would like to make special mention of the quality of her work and the strength of her commitment. She has a real flair for this role: balancing the need to be attentive to community sensitivities with the need to develop implementable solutions.”
Lisa also praised Stacie Reeves’ coordination of the WSP efforts.
For more information, listen to the Sky News Paul Murray TV Show, where Lisa Paul AO PSM Coordinator of BizRebuild mentioned WSP’s contribution.
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