Karratha infrastructure strategy: supporting Woodside's residential workforce and the Karratha community

Abstract

This extended abstract discusses Woodside’s Karratha Infrastructure Strategy (KIS) as a measure to attract and retain the residential workforce in Karratha and to support the wider community. A high-level overview of Woodside’s workforce model to support its operations on the Burrup Peninsula is also provided. Attracting and retaining a substantial residential workforce in a regional area such as Karratha poses challenges (remoteness of the community, high demand for health and education services, and ageing community infrastructure) to its development and and residential workforce critical to Woodside’s operations. As a response, Woodside is delivering its KIS, which focuses on working with key local stakeholders to scope and deliver community infrastructure projects in areas of identified need, including health, education, culture, and recreation. These targeted investments that align with business needs and the external environment contribute to helping Woodside’s residential workforce, lifting the quality of services and infrastructure available, and improving the long-term sustainability of Karratha and its surrounding communities. The presentation details key elements of KIS, including the strategic approach to project selection and development, successes to date, and lessons learnt. It is relevant to a range of industry stakeholders interested in contributing to a community’s sustainable development and understanding and managing the challenges of supporting a residential workforce in a regional area.