The City of Bayswater has engaged with disability employment service providers to manage and maintain the City’s natural areas, in line with its commitment to advancing access and inclusion opportunities in the City.
The City awarded a three-year contract to social enterprise, Workpower, to carry out environmental management services for the City, such as weed management, planting, erosion control, brush cutting and pruning.
City of Bayswater Mayor Dan Bull said the new contract was awarded following a competitive procurement process, and Workpower were selected based on their ability to offer the best overall service to the City.
"It's really rewarding to see organisations like Workpower, who provide opportunities for people of all abilities, to receive this contract to deliver services for the City.
"The Workpower workforce will support the City to conserve, enhance and repair our natural and urban areas and undertake additional restoration projects as required.
"The City has 44 natural area sites across 152 hectares and these natural assets are super important in providing a range of conservation and passive recreation benefits."
The City also selected Intelife, an organisation offering employment to empower people with disability, to undertake the mowing of unkempt verges with a three-year contract.
Mayor Bull said the City approached registered West Australian Disability Enterprises requesting quotation submissions for the mowing contract, and Intelife was successfully chosen from the procurement process.
"Inclusion is at the forefront of the City's decision making and we want people of all abilities to have opportunities for meaningful and inclusive employment and economic independence," he said.
"The City has been working hard to improve practices in procurement to promote access and inclusion, and increase the representation of people with disability in employment.
"As part of the City's Disability Access and Inclusion Plan, we set out practical initiatives to guide us toward making meaningful improvements in the access and inclusion space across the City from 2020 to 2024.
"This includes advancing employment opportunities for people living with disability, establishing partnerships with Disability Service Providers and progressing employment initiatives.
“As a local government, we have an important role to play in creating equal opportunities for everyone, and engaging with contractors like Workpower and Intelife, enhances our ability to do so.
"Both organisations are passionate about providing valuable employment which enables people living with disability to participate and contribute in the community in a really positive way.
"Employing people from diverse backgrounds offers increased opportunities for fostering an inclusive workforce that better reflects the local community, and offers innovation through capitalising on different perspectives and ideas."
The City awarded the tender for Environmental Management Services to Workpower for a three-year period from 1 February 2021 to 31 January 2024, and Intelife was awarded the City's verge mowing contract from October 2020 to September 2023.
Intelife has also been contracted by the City for the maintenance of the 52 barbecue facilities throughout the City's parks and reserves since 2012.