Goldfields hotel to spend a million on FIFO worker accommodation

Tennant Creek’s accommodation shortage is set to be eased with a million dollar plan. Read what’s being built.

Goldfields Hotel Motel, Tennant Creek. Picture: Alex Treacy

Another Tennant Creek motel is set for a makeover courtesy of the town’s resurgent mining sector.

Goldfields Hotel Motel has an application with the Development Consent Authority to build 16 self-contained worker accommodation rooms in four blocks of four to house FIFO mining workers.

The million dollar project will be built on Lot 68, adjacent to the Goldfields Hotel Motel on Paterson Street.

The project was prompted by the three-to-five year lease agreement the hotel-motel’s holding company Redondo Pty Ltd signed with Northern Iron, the privately-owned company operating the Warrego mine rehabilitation project, about 50km northwest of Tennant Creek.

Goldfields Hotel Motel, Tennant Creek. Picture: Alex Treacy

And the developers hope Northern Iron will be one of a number of users of the facility as the Barkly’s mining sector continues to re-emerge.

The development will consist of 16 self-contained, demountable-style units with ensuites, in clusters of four, with meals served at the nearby pub.

Landscaping will comprise local trees and shrubs to street frontage, side and rear setbacks.

Goldfields Hotel Motel general manager Jason Groves said the units would be a single room with ensuite targeting FIFO workers to be built in time for the Dry Season.

“It’s a big investment in Tennant Creek which hasn’t been done for ages,” he said.

“Goldfields Hotel Motel, which is Redondo, are doing it ourselves.

“We’re running it on behalf of Northern Iron for their workers and other workers so we’re doing it all properly for workers’ accommodation.”

With 24-rooms at the Goldfield, he said the additional 16 would free-up visitor beds.

“At the moment in Tennant Creek, you can’t get accommodation because everything’s going ahead a little bit,” he said.

Goldfields Hotel Motel general manager Jason Grove with the pub's pet snake. Picture: Facebook

“Barkly was shut-out when Steve Edgington beat the Labor candidate here (in 2016) and it got overlooked for a few things.

“We can see a bit of positivity coming in through a change of government and a few positive things coming for the Barkly. I hope they keep moving forward and get rid of a lot of red tape.”

Alice Springs builder ANT NT is expected to take about a month to six weeks to complete the project.

Barkly Regional Council mayor Sid Vashist said the build could help ease the shortage of accommodation for miners, government workers and visitors.

“For the last 10 years people have been talking about Tennant Creek as being on the cusp of a mine and energy boom,” he said.

“That cusp has already been reached and we need to act to meet that increase in activity in the town.”

Tennant Mining, which is leading the Nobles Nob mine rehabilitation, bought the El Dorado hotel for worker accommodation.

Originally published as Goldfields hotel to spend a million on FIFO worker accommodation