Planning for future workforce accommodation

Hydro Tasmania is progressing our planning for how we will deliver a future pumped hydro project at Cethana. It is important that we accommodate our construction workers while focusing on the impacts and opportunities that a large construction project can bring to local communities.

We have started the process of identifying suitable land for an accommodation facility close to the construction site.

The construction workforce accommodation facility is one part of our accommodation strategy. Our strategy will explore opportunities for housing people directly and indirectly employed on the project in ways that share the benefits of the project with the local community.

The first stage was an ‘expression of interest’ process to identify landowners in the local area that had an interest in nominating their land for either purchase or lease. This was managed by local land agent – Elders Commercial (based in Devonport) and is now complete. We are now assessing the submissions from that EOI process and considering the land parcels put forward against our selection criteria and various planning and environmental considerations. This process will take some months and we will provide updates in early 2025.

About the project and worker requirements

Cethana is a major infrastructure project, requiring a large workforce during the construction phase. We expect that around 350 workers will need purpose-built accommodation.

We will encourage our head contractor to employ as many locals as possible. But we know that there are labour and skill constraints locally, so we are likely to need people from interstate to work on the project. We would expect that they would commute to site for their block shift periods.

Providing high quality, purpose-built accommodation will have benefits including:

Help attract and retain a skilled workforce
Limit impacts on local and regional housing availability and affordability
Reduce impacts on short-stay and tourism accommodation in the region
Help foster positive health and wellbeing outcomes for workers through high quality accommodation, amenities and services
Minimise traffic volumes on local roads during the construction period
Create opportunities for local employment and businesses
Minimise impacts on services in host communities
Provide opportunities to potentially repurpose the accommodation for local community benefit at the end of construction.

Common questions

What is temporary workforce accommodation?

A construction workforce generally works long hours, requiring accommodation close to the construction site to rest and eat. The accommodation will be high quality self-contained modular units. There will also be catering and dining halls, laundry facilities, administration and parking areas and access to recreational activities.

It’s essentially a self-contained village for those working on the project. It is referred to as temporary because it provides accommodation during the construction period only.

We are looking at a mix of options for accommodation, with the temporary facility being an important one.

Where will the accommodation village be located?

We are still working through the process of assessing suitable land nominated as part of the EOI process. The areas we are interested in are within 30 minutes of the proposed construction site.

Shorter commutes allows us to better manage construction traffic between the accommodation facility and the construction site.

How many people will live there?

The accommodation facility will be designed to house around 350 people. This will cater for the construction workforce through the peaks of activity.

When will construction of the workforce accommodation start?

The accommodation would need to be built ahead of construction starting on the pumped hydro project. Kentish Council approval will be needed for the workforce accommodation and we will lodge a Development Application with them in due course.

The Cethana pumped hydro project has a separate Development Application. We don’t expect construction on the pumped hydro project to start before 2026.

Who will build it?

We will source a contractor for construction of the civil works and to manufacture and install the modular units. This will be done through our normal tender process.

What happens to the buildings and the land once the project is completed?

After the project is finished, we will look into ways to repurpose some of the modular units for community use, perhaps as social housing. We will also ensure the land is restored to its original condition.

Who will live in the temporary workforce accommodation?

The accommodation will house the construction workforce, covering many different disciplines including engineering (civil, mechanical and electrical), project design, civil construction, project management, tunnelling, trades, and more.

It is expected that the number of people living there will go up and down over the life of the construction phase, based on requirements as construction progresses.

A small number of the construction workforce may choose to live locally in Sheffield and possibly relocate to the area with their families for the duration of construction.

Why an EOI and what is next?

Having an open expression of interest ensures it is an equitable and transparent process for interested landowners.

The land nomination period has now closed. Those sites that were identified as suitable based on selection criteria have now been assessed. Our team will survey the land to gather environmental and site-specific data. These surveys are an essential and standard step in assessing land suitability for workforce accommodation.

Will there be opportunities for the workforce to live in or near a regional town and contribute to the local economy?

We want to work with locals to find ways to bring benefits from the economic opportunities brought by the construction workforce, without affecting the community's livability.

Our plan includes building temporary accommodation for construction workers close to the site, but we're also considering housing some people directly or indirectly engaged in the project in nearby towns. We're discussing the advantages and disadvantages of this approach with various stakeholders.

We're also finalising our 'local benefits sharing' strategy which seeks to support local businesses and suppliers and to leave a positive legacy, such as increasing the housing supply where it's most needed.

Stay in touch

Questions about the project can be directed to our Engagement Team who are committed to keeping the community informed of project milestones and opportunities for feedback. Check back to our project webpage for updates or get in touch directly.