Narembeen Accommodation Village

Award Criteria

Architectural Excellence

The accommodation village was purpose-built to house 120 workers at a nearby gold mining operation. The village is located 25kms from the mine and a mere 500 metres from the nearby rural Western Australian town of Narembeen. The camp location was chosen in consultation with the mining client and nearby township, to encourage a close connection and integration between the workers village and nearby town. The two are connected by a pedestrian path, and the workers are encouraged to use town facilities such as the gymnasium, bowls club, swimming pool and sporting clubs. The camp houses the following facilities: 28 single person quarters (SPQ’s), 2 x Disability Discrimination Act compliant units, kitchen/dry mess, linen and laundry, administration/first aid, recreation room – including TV, free internet access & pool table, concreted outdoor covered recreation area, central ablution block, and car parking for 50 vehicles.

Technical Innovation & Sustainability

A prefabricated solution and building materials were carefully selected to withstand the unique demands of the rural location, 298kms from the nearest major city. Steel frames rather than concrete foundations streamlined offsite manufacturing processes and ease of transport. ASKIN prefabricated walls with an EPS-FR core were a cost-effective solution, using very little natural resources to manufacture and no Ozone Depleting Substances such as CFCs, HCFCs or HFCs. Other proven benefits include: excellent thermal efficiency, flame retardant properties, ISO rated acoustic insulation and concealed fix systems. All windows were upgraded to meet Bushfire Alert Level compliance and a thin mesh vermin barrier installed at the rear of exposed buildings. The protective barrier prevents infestations from common wild animals, e.g. snakes, rabbits and wild cats. Lastly, a wastewater treatment plant was installed, as existing wastewater infrastructure was unable to meet the increased demand.

Cost Effectiveness

Reuse and relocation of infrastructure was a key motivation as the mine site has a projected short-term life span of only five years. The camp may be re-activated for a second life cycle or retained as short-term accommodation. All screw piles are removable (less intrusive than traditional construction methods) and the camp footprint may be restored to its previous state. Construction was completed a mere six months between commencement of site works to handover. The entire project was managed in-house, including civil works, in-ground services, pathways, verandahs, and landscaping, resulting in significant time and cost savings. To combat extremely poor soil conditions, site preparations included clearing topsoil and importing clean fill to transform it into a Class A site. Partnership with the town of Narembeen and use of town facilities eliminated the need to construct an additional wet mess and recreational facilities. Local contractors were also engaged to reduce labor costs.