City of Karratha release $3m service workers’ accommodation upgrades to tender in bid to ease rental crisis

Karratha’s rental crisis could soon be eased, with the City of Karratha seeking tenders to refurbish 30 service worker units in Bulgarra. Councillors at their January 31 meeting unanimously endorsed a motion to put the project out to tender with the hopes of having the works on all 30 units completed by January 2023. The City bought the units in early December 2021 and will funnel half of its 2021-22 budget surplus into the project. Main site metering upgrades, new distribution boards, smoke detectors and split-system air-conditioners will be installed as part of the upgrades, which are expected to cost around $3 million. The work is in response to 124 submissions made during the City’s expression of interest period on the need for service workers’ accommodation. There are currently 146 State Government-owned service worker accommodation dwellings in Karratha. Mayor Peter Long said affordable accommodation for service workers was a significant issue facing the City. “We’re going out for tender immediately and we expect the work will be done in a number of stages,” he said. Cr Long said aside from interior works, further improvements in fencing and outdoor spaces would be completed. Rio Tinto will contribute $300,000 to the project, with the City of Karratha seeking a further $500,000 in grant funding from the Department of Communities.