Worker Accommodation

Rottnest Island Authority is the developer for the project, with the units also to be managed by RIA. 

Rottnest Island’s workforce is critical to maintaining essential services and supporting visitor operations. The current housing facilities are insufficient to meet demand, particularly during peak periods. This new worker accommodation will address those needs and help ensure the island can continue delivering quality experiences to visitors. The new modular worker accommodation will also mean fewer workers staying in visitor accommodation, freeing up affordable options like Kingstown Barracks.

The new modular worker accommodation will be located at Parker Point Road, adjacent to the Army Groyne and bounded by the Oliver Hill Railway.  

The worker accommodation will serve a range of essential island workers including facilities and maintenance contractors, police, nurses, teachers, island business staff, and RIA staff. There is an increased demand for staff accommodation to support the businesses operating on the island.

This accommodation will ensure the island has sufficient housing for its workforce, which is essential for the continued operation of businesses and services. By supporting workers, we enhance the island’s ability to maintain high-quality services for visitors and residents alike, contributing to the island’s long-term sustainability. 

The Parker Point modular worker accommodation will delivers121 units across a mix of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom configurations, providing 150 bedrooms in total. This mix allows for flexibility as seasonal demands change and addresses the varying needs of different businesses and operational contexts. 

Modular units will begin arriving on the island in late 2026. A prototype unit will be fabricated and assessed before mass production commences, to ensure quality before full delivery. The broader program is expected to be complete by 2030. 

A Construction and Traffic Management Plan will be in place during construction to minimise impacts to island visitors and businesses. Works will be conducted during normal working hours with the impact of construction limited to traffic, noise, general machinery and construction workers on the island. 

A clearing permit has been submitted to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) for assessment. Geotechnical investigations will be completed to further inform the project and help respect the island's environmental values. 

The development will be designed in accordance with Rottnest's Design Guidelines, recognising the constraints of the site. The development is dependent upon relevant environmental approvals, including a native vegetation clearing permit from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation. 

We are working closely with relevant authorities to ensure all environmental risks are mitigated, and the development appropriately addresses sustainability guidelines. 

The Parker Point Road site was surveyed, including archaeological subsurface test-pitting, in June 2023. No items of cultural significance were identified within the project area. Whadjuk Traditional Owners will be engaged to monitor ground-disturbing activities, and a heritage management plan is in place for the project. 

RIA also has protocols in place for all ground disturbance works undertaken on the island. These protocols include the presence of Aboriginal heritage monitors on site to observe significant works and monitors were present during the activity of these works. 

RIA will be seeking responses via an open tender process available via TendersWA for the staged construction, with relevant works packages being released once design elements for the site have been finalised.