The 700-bed facility will be built on the site of the existing Bay Village in Karratha, Western Australia, and will have a 30-year design life. Multiplex – a global contractor – will build the facility. Compass Group – a provider of food and facilities management services to the resources industry – currently supports Woodside operations on the North West Shelf, and will manage the facility for 15 years. DIF – a leading independent fund management company and long-term investor in infrastructure assets in Australia and worldwide – meanwhile, is the project investor and manager. Finally, Brookfield Financial will serve as the financial advisor.
Chris Palandri, Multiplex WA Regional Managing Director, said: “We look forward to working with Woodside to deliver a first-rate accommodation facility.
“Local content and employment is a key focus for the project, with the vast majority of procurement expected to take place in Western Australia. We have achieved more than 85% local Pilbara employment on the Karratha Health Campus project and expect to exceed that figure for the construction of Woodside’s facility.”
Shelley Roberts, the Managing Director of Compass Group, added: “We value our longstanding relationship with Woodside and are excited about bringing the latest innovations in service excellence and workforce welfare to the Woodside team in Karratha.”
Marko Kremer, the Managing Director of DIF, said: “We are proud to have been selected to work with Woodside in the delivery and long-term operation of this important new facility for Karratha.”
Once operational, Multiplex claims that the servicing of the new facility is expected to create approximately 40 jobs.
The consortium will now look to progress primary approvals for land and its development concept. Once these have been satisfied, Multiplex claims that a formal contract will be awarded. The contract value for the initial 15-year term is approximately AUS$400 million, with further 15-year extension options.
Once the State of Western Australia has executed a lease with the consortium and development approvals are attained, construction work is expected to commence in February 2018. The facility is expected to be fully operational in February 2019.