Australia: QCLNG Construction Village Ready

The first construction village units and pioneer dining facilities for the Queensland Curtis LNG Project on Curtis Island near Gladstone are ready for occupation.

The “pioneer camp” is the first phase of the 1700-person temporary construction village and recreational facilities for non-local construction workers employed on the project which is operated by QGC Pty Limited, a BG Group business.

Workers started occupying the pioneer camp at the weekend and it is scheduled to have 240 beds by early New Year and will increase as more workers arrive on site.

QCLNG Project Director David Craft said the construction village was part of QGC’s integrated housing strategy that was designed to reduce the impact of the project on the Gladstone housing market.

“We are pleased that the first rooms are ready well before the QCLNG work force approaches its peak,” Mr Craft said.

“By having the temporary work force accommodated on the island, we will reduce pressure on rents in Gladstone, particularly as the construction phase involves mostly fly-in, fly-out workers.”

Bechtel Gladstone General Manager Kevin Berg said construction of the workers’ accommodation on Curtis Island was a key priority.

“We have been working really hard to get the pioneer camp up and running as soon as possible and now that’s established, we should see the village increase very quickly over the coming months,” Mr Berg said.

On completion, the village will have modern conveniences and sporting and other facilities to make working and living on the island comfortable for shift workers who will be away from their homes for weeks at a time.

The village will include ensuite air-conditioned sleeping quarters with television and internet, kitchen, dining room, laundry and recreational amenities.

The units were made by Brisbane-based ATCO Structures & Logistics Pty Ltd which is also installing the construction village.

The village will be removed and the area rehabilitated when the LNG plant is built.

QGC’s integrated housing strategy includes new housing stock, rental assistance and camps to house the temporary construction workers and operations staff from Chinchilla to Gladstone.

Under the strategy, QGC will provide about A$60 million to facilitate construction of up to 100 houses in the Western Downs and Gladstone.

In Gladstone, QGC will provide A$28 million for 45 new homes; A$1.1 million towards development of more than 250 housing lots at the Clinton Estate; A$5.7 million for affordable dwellings in Gladstone, including $500,000 towards indigenous housing; and A$1.2 million for rental assistance for apprentices.

The funding does not include the construction village on Curtis Island or staff incentives for new long-term operations personnel to build or buy houses when they relocate to Gladstone.

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Source: QGC, November 2, 2011