Camp on the Cobb - A snapshot into the Transgrid Cobb Highway Camp near Hay

Pictured is Hayley Morris, who originally worked in the Balranald camp, and transferred to the Cobb Highway camp late last year. Hayley gave Kimberly and Cheyenne from The Riverine Grazier a tour of the camp. The camp sports an enviable gym, dining area and comprehensive living facilities. Image: The Riverine Grazier/Cheyenne Hurst.

By Kimberly Grabham

If you have driven south on the Cobb Highway recently, you’d have seen a veritable village pop up on the horizon.

This sea of modular buildings set on a hard ground base is home to 250 people, workers for Transgrid and Elecnor.

Calling it a camp is almost deceptive, but in a positive way. It is a truly comprehensive village.

“A lot of planning goes into providing high quality accommodation for workers as it is a key step in progressing construction and ensures people are safe and comfortable,” Transgrid Executive General Manager of Major Projects Gordon Taylor said.

Long story short, Transgrid is the owner of the assets and supervisor of all goings on. Elecnor are the skilled constructors of the asset. Once everything is built, the viallage and the new electricity trnasmisson line, Elecnor hands the assets to Transgrid.

The Cobb Highway camp is one of five in the region. There is a 240-bed camp in Lockhart, a 460-bed camp near Coleambally called Dinawan, a 268-bed camp in Balranald and a 411-bed camp in Buronga.

In order to best manage safety issues and worker fatigue, all of the camps are situated close to each other, so there is no more than an hour’s travel for a worker to find a warm bed, a hot shower and a good meal.

Hayley Morris is originally from the Balranald camp, who transferred to the Cobb Highway camp towards the end of last year.

“We have been in to Hay a few times, and we really love it there,” she said.

“The South Hay Pub is a popular venue for many in the camp, and we had our Christmas party at the Bowling Club.”

All progress reports on the project are good. Word is, later on this year, people from Hay will be able to see the pop-up everywhere.

So, what is in the camp?

Anything an employee could ever want is here. Air conditioning to die for in the midst of the area’s high temperatures.

An ice and water room so the employees can stay cool and hydrated.

Multiple laundry rooms so everyone can keep their clothing clean. Spacious rooms to lay their heads down at the end of a ten-hour shift.

A gym stocked with enough shiny equipment to service a small city.

Their kitchen and dining area is expansive and pristine, a marvel of shining stainless-steel surfaces.

As you enter the area, you go into a small room and then through a second door, so there is an extra layer of protection from bringing flies in every time someone enters or exits.

There are different stations, and items on offer which would rival a great motel. There is a station where you can make your own sandwiches, and there are fresh juice options on tap, and cordials.

Hailey said Christmas lunch had everything you could ever want in the year’s biggest holidays food options; seafood of every description, turkey, and so much more.

A healthy spattering of snake bite kits can be seen throughout the camp. They also have vital services such as first aid stations.

Above: Hayley Morris and construction manager Brian O’Hare onsite at the Cobb Highway camp.

Each bedroom includes its own ensuite bathroom, fridge, TV and air-conditioning.

There is even a vending machine in the common area, and plenty of room for employees to do whatever they choose.

The workers at the camp are friendly and helpful. No matter where you turn, someone is smiling.

Feedback from the employees at the camps is very positive. The camps foster a sense of family and community, a home away from home.

Elecnor Australia (formerly SecureEnergy) was awarded the engineering, construction and procurement (EPC) contract for the new 700km 330kv transmission line extending from Wagga Wagga NSW to the South Australian border of TransGrid’s EnergyConnect project in June 2021.

In its entirety, EnergyConnect includes a new 900 kilometre electricity transmission line, known as an interconnector, that will connect power grids across three Australian states. TransGrid says this will drive competition in the wholesale electricity market.

The interconnector is being built between Wagga Wagga in New South Wales and Robertstown in South Australia, with a connection to Red Cliffs in Victoria.

“A lot of planning goes into providing high quality accommodation for workers as it is a key step in progressing construction and ensures people are safe and comfortable,” Transgrid Executive General Manager of Major Projects Gordon Taylor said.

 “Facilities like this one at Booroorban allow us and our delivery partners to bring workers into communities without taking up housing local families may need.

“It’s one way we can ease pressure on the rental market and accommodation providers in the Riverina. 

 “These camps also mean workers can stay closer to where they are working which reduces travel times to construction sites and helps ensure the health, safety and well-being of our personnel.” 

Video production: The Riverine Grazier / Cheyenne Hurst