Yuendumu Township
Providing a new watermain to the largest remote Aboriginal community in Central Australia, Yuendumu.
Power and Water Corporation
Services
Plumbing
Overview
Challenge
With Yuendumu facing ongoing water issues, it was essential that we could update the town’s water supply, with minimal disruption while works were being done. The remote location also posed challenges as we upgraded critical water infrastructure for this local town.
What we faced:
Remote Management: Managing subcontractors in remote locations can be difficult due to distance, limited oversight, and variable access to resources and communication channels.
Minimising Disruption to Water Supply: Plumbing works in remote communities must be carefully managed to avoid disrupting the community’s essential water supply.
Delivering In Isolated Locations: Working in remote communities in the Northern Territory means extreme distances, harsh climate, limited infrastructure, long travel times and restricted access during the wet season.
Sourcing Skilled Workforce: Attracting and retaining skilled tradespeople in remote Northern Territory regions presents unique challenges, with limited local availability and high turnover.
Respectful Community Engagement: Working in remote communities requires strong stakeholder engagement and cultural awareness to ensure projects align with local expectations and minimise disruption.
Solution
To deliver essential water infrastructure upgrades in Yuendumu, we implemented a carefully staged approach that prioritised continuity of supply and minimised disruption for residents. Our team worked closely with local stakeholders to coordinate works, adapted our logistics to the remote setting, and leveraged our experience in challenging environments to ensure the project was completed safely, efficiently, and with lasting benefit to the community.
What we delivered?
Connected & Trusted Teams: We engage reliable subcontractor's familiar with remote work, maintain regular communication and progress checks, and provide clear expectations to ensure quality, safety, and timely delivery across all project stages.
Careful Planning & Communication: We carefully plan and sequence our works to maintain uninterrupted water access for residents, minimising any impact on daily life. Clear, timely communication ensures the community is always informed of any planned disruptions, reflecting our commitment to transparency and respect for those we serve.
Operational Excellence: We plan each project with detailed logistics mapping, local supplier partnerships, and flexible scheduling to minimise travel delays. Our teams are equipped with everything need to do the job, such as tools, equipment, and spare parts. Ensuring seamless delivery even in the most remote areas and challenging terrain.
Building Local Capability: We invest in local training, apprenticeships, and community partnerships, while maintaining a core team of experienced tradespeople who rotate through remote projects to ensure reliability and continuity.
Partnering With Leaders: We prioritise early consultation, clear communication, and collaboration with community leaders and Traditional Owners. Building trust and ensuring our work delivers long-term benefits for the people we serve.
"Owning a Tennant Creek property and living interstate doesn’t have to be stressful or a concern when you have the right people on your team. We use Irish and the beautiful Sarah from Barkly Plumbing to manage our plumbing maintenance needs and we are extremely satisfied with the results."
Together, with community, government and industry, we’re building the water and gas infrastructure the Northern Territory depends on.
