Client
Wilpena Pound Resort
Location
Wilpena, South Australia
Value
$0.5 million
Duration
January 2019 to March 2019
Type
Lump Sum Construct Only
Project Overview
Wilpena Pound Resort is the sole accommodation located within the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, 430km north of Adelaide. The resort comprises of 60 hotel rooms, 15 glamping safari tents, accommodation for staff, a picturesque campground, a National Park Visitor Information Centre, restaurant, bar/bistro, swimming pool and general store. The campground consists of 40 powered campsites suitable for caravans, campervans, camper-trailers and tents, as well as over 300 unpowered bush campsites. The campground has three amenities blocks, two with laundry facilities, a pay phone, and is close to the general store selling groceries, petrol and firewood.
A recent asset assessment study identified a backlog of maintenance across the facility and the need for lifecycle maintenance for several key assets. The assets identified included the existing staff accommodation building and three camping ablution blocks. All buildings were fitted with required water supply, sewerage, electricity and gas reticulation, but required works. Wilpena Pound engaged Intract Australia to undertake these works.
Refurbishment works included new first and second fix hydraulic services, fixtures and tap wear, the installation of new internal walls and shower dividers, flooring, eco-lighting, external rendering of blockwork and painting throughout.
The staff accommodation received an upgrade to fire, hydraulic and electrical services. General maintenance works included tile replacement, painting, flooring upgrade, fly-screen replacement, and rubbish removal.
The project required multiple specialist subcontractor packages which was a challenge due to the remote location and wide work fronts on site. Despite the challenges, works were completed approximately one month ahead of schedule.
Safety Performance
Wilpena Pound is a remote outback location in northern South Australia which presented several safety risks to the project, particularly as the project was undertaken in the summer months. Heat exhaustion was the highest risk so personnel kept hydrated at all times. Daily pre-start meetings identified labour intensive tasks and scheduled these in the early mornings or late evenings when the temperature was cooler. Despite the challenges, works were completed without incurring any recordable safety incidents.
Environmental Performance
Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park has a rich and complex cultural heritage combining Aboriginal and pastoral history. The park is co-managed by a board consisting of Adnyamathanha and Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources representatives. The Adnyamathanha people (meaning hills or rock people) are the traditional custodians of the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park. Their connection with the land stretches back many thousands of years.
Intract placed the upmost importance on protecting fauna, flora and the surrounding environment during the works. All construction waste was appropriately segregated and disposed of in roll-on roll-off bins, then transported to licenced waste receiving facilities.
Since works were undertaken in the summer period during hot conditions, fire danger was an ever-present risk. Fire risks were controlled by implementing an no hot work policy during peak heat periods.
Indigenous Participation
The project employed five Indigenous personnel achieving an Indigenous Participation rate of 45% for the project. Indigenous trades included carpentry and plumbing.
