ACCIONA Australia recently built a 300-bed accommodation village in Yass NSW, to house workers who are constructing the Humelink East transmission lines in the area.
The specialist capabilities across the business were on display recently when ACCIONA delivered a 300-bed, repurposable accommodation village in Yass for HumeLink East.
Leaving home for work can be tough, especially for long stretches, so giving people a comfortable, homely space to return to each day matters. The Yass camp was built on time, and on budget, while being made to feel like a home away from home.
Working to a tight timeframe, ACCIONA bought together three of its specialist capabilities: Rail, Plant & Equipment (P&E) and Agua, to deliver new accommodation for the HumeLink East workforce. The village, located in Yass NSW, is now operational and can accommodate up to 300 people who are constructing the transmission line through the area.
In simple terms, the Rail business provided the foundations, the Plant and Equipment team supplied the prefabricated buildings, and the Agua team built a water treatment plant to supply potable water to the village.
“It’s a great example of the combined effect we get when our specialist capabilities work together,” said Sean Bonham, Executive General Manager – Specialist Businesses. “The collaboration between Rail, P&E and Agua meant we hit our target ‘heads in beds’ date in September – and all within budget.”
The scope included:
- 300 heated and air-conditioned bedrooms with ensuites
- A full kitchen
- BBQ area, faith room, fully fitted gym and recreation area
- Offices, car parking and communal spaces
- A water treatment plan
Early feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with many workers pleasantly surprised by features they didn’t expect in a temporary camp.
The team also boosted the local economy by engaging Yass-area plumbing and electrical businesses as their main subcontractors, and by using other local services such as photographers.
Importantly, by providing on-site accommodation, the project helps alleviate pressure on short-term stays in nearby townships.
Project Director Carel Nagel said, “It’s a testament to our teamwork that we completed the camp installation in 12 weeks. Collaboration with the client Transgrid and the specialist businesses was key. We aimed to reach 100 beds by 21 September and successfully delivered all 300 at once. Safely and on time. Congratulations to everyone involved in building this ‘home away from home’ for our team.”
Once the accommodation is no longer needed, the prefabricated units can be repurposed, supporting the project’s sustainability goals.