Following the successful delivery of Responsive and Planned Maintenance since 2013, RTC was approached to scope and carry out numerous upgrade programs in regional and remote Aboriginal communities throughout South Australia for the South Australian Housing Authority (SAHA). These include Davenport, Dunjiba, Iga Warta, Indulkana, Nepabunna, Point Pearce and Umoona Aboriginal communities.

The majority of work was deemed as “major upgrade” due to the current condition of the properties and the absence of a consistent maintenance repair program.

The scope for these major upgrades included: new bathrooms, laundries and kitchens; complete window, door, internal linings and vinyl replacement. Properties often required both electrical rewire and plumbing replacement as well as a full painting both internally and externally.

In cases where it was deemed as non- viable to upgrade a property due to poor condition, demolition was recommended. This resulted in RTC subsequently demolishing 35 properties across the seven communities.

Conditions in these remote locations are often extreme, with temperatures approaching 50 degrees, adding another complexity in regard to creating safe working conditions regardless of location.