PROJECT IN THE SPOTLIGHT
BAAKA CULTURAL CENTRE, WILCANNIA
REINVIGORATING A REMOTE COMMUNITY WHILST CELEBRATING ITS HERITAGE Architect David Kaunitz of Kaunitz & Yeung Architects explains the concept design to community members in the park Wilcannia (Source: PWA)
Public Works Advisory (PWA) is project managing the delivery of a Cultural Centre for the Baakantji people in Wilcannia, NSW. Public Works Advisory (PWA) is part of Regional NSW within the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment and bridges the gap between the government and the private sector. PWA is a specialist engineering and project management group that provides technical design, advisory, planning, delivery and support services, across a wide range of disciplines to its clients. PWA has a strong representation in Western NSW with offices based strategically throughout the region to effectively provide services to the many Government and Non Government agencies.
DEDICATED TEAM PWA Project Manager, Peter Hughes and PWA Construction Manager, Paul Theoharidis are leading the delivery of the project. They sat down to answer how they are tackling this project.
Paul, what is your industry experience? Over 3 years with PWA, 10 years in structural engineering and fabrication and before that 25 years in the mining industry in Broken Hill.
And, what do you enjoy about this project? This project brings a sense of ownership. Being a local Broken Hill resident, and even though Wilcannia is around 200kms from Broken Hill, the township is within the Far Western District of NSW Community.
A CULTURAL CENTRE The Baakantji People are synonymous with the Darling River, the river holds significant cultural and heritage value to the people and the community. There is also a strong European influence on the community given the paddle boat trade that was prominent in the early days of settlement up until modern road transport took over. The Project will deliver:
Peter, what experience do you bring to this project?
•A Cultural Centre for the Baakantji people to practise their living culture, including art, recorded history and tradition
Over 30 years’ experience working in Project Management with NSW Government Agencies
•P rovide a keeping place for Baakatji tangialble and intangiable artefacts, language, and memories
What do you enjoy about working on this project?
•S upport inter-generational and inter-cultural teaching through the keeping place and language lab that has partnerships with local schools and research institutions
The interaction with the local community and Elders of Wilcannia, the People of Wilcannia are welcoming and positive about the project. I also enjoy the challenge of promoting Indigenous Community Working Opportunities and collaborating with the designated agencies for work placements and experience. 18
•D evelop a keystone enterprise that can leverage the significant economic opportunity present in the flow of tourists through Wilcannia, and
