QBuild's MMC Program for government housingModular housing provides for government workers in rural and remote areas

Designing site and dwellings infrastructure in parallel

As Principal Consultant, Aurecon was responsible for managing the investigation process for each site as information on the land, services and climatic conditions was collated from several sources including local councils, environmental authorities and specialist subconsultants engaged by QBuild.

Sites required earthworks as well as the design of services infrastructure (potable water, sewerage, stormwater, communications, and power). There were hard and soft landscaping requirements, allowing safe accessible links from the new dwellings and garages to the local pedestrian and road networks.

The sites ranged in size and complexity, from individual residential blocks to groups of lots with their own internal roads to form small subdivisions. Houses ranged in size from two to four bedrooms and featured a wide range of layouts, materials, and architectural forms. This variety allowed for differing architectural styles, finishes and interior features to suit a range of climates, from arid to semi-tropical.

By designing the site infrastructure in parallel with the housing companies designing the modules, Aurecon was able to closely collaborate with these designers, allowing both sides to adapt their evolving designs to suit each other’s outputs.

Fostering a culture of collaboration

QBuild set an ambitious program for MMC Phase 1 (works across eight separate locations), to achieve 42 homes ready for occupation by early 2024. Fostering a culture of collaboration, where all team members work together towards a shared vision and goals, was vital during such a fast-moving works program.

During construction, communication between Aurecon technical experts and on-site contractors needed to be nimble and highly responsive. Regular phone calls, sharing of on-screen data and markups to communicate solutions were all extensively used to ensure contractors received technical answers as quickly as possible. This fluid communication style resulted in a close relationship across the program and made resolution of issues more seamless as the project progressed.

Prioritising health and safety for on-site personnel in remote locations

The MMC model also offered health and safety benefits to its labour force. Construction within a factory meant worker safety could be prioritised within this environment. It also led to fewer on-site personnel working in remote areas where the nearest adequate medical facility could be some distance away.

On-site workers also benefitted from the design, which was optimised in terms of safe access under the housing modules, cut and fill balance of earthworks and utilities layouts to drive safe construction.

Another safety aspect to consider was the longevity and maintenance of construction finishes, to help lower the risk of repair or replacement in harsh climatic conditions. Materials were selected for their robustness and significant advancements were made in the MMC program to standardise design selections where possible, to minimise bespoke procurement and ensure long-term maintenance could be more easily achieved by owners and occupiers, contributing to the scalability of the program.