Project Overview
The Woomera Range Complex comprises the Woomera Test Range (Air Force Test Ranges Squadron), RAAF Base Woomera (20SQN) and Nurrungar Test Range. It is located in the north-west pastoral region of South Australia, with the operational area of the Range encompassed by the Woomera Prohibited Area, which covers sparsely populated outback land.
RAAF Base Woomera provides essential operational support to the Range, and includes Woomera airfield, hangars, technical areas and village.
Ventia provides mechanical and electrical maintenance, facilities maintenance and fire emergency services to Defence bases across Australia, including the Woomera Range Complex.
Scope of Work
McMahon Services subcontracts to Ventia, delivering ongoing building maintenance works across the Woomera Test Range including many remote facilities and technical areas, RAAF Base Woomera, and the Woomera Village. Maintenance works include first and second fixes in carpentry, roofing, cladding, hydraulic works and painting across various buildings, offices, warehouse, workshops, hangars and accommodation units.
In 2020, the project team provided support works to the Department of Defence, Australian Space Agency and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) during the Hayabusa2 mission to return samples from the asteroid Ryugu to Australia’s Woomera Prohibited Area, the first-ever sub-surface asteroid samples returned to Earth.
More than 90% of works are self-performed, with teams of up to 12 trade specialists working within the Range at any one time. Indigenous Participation on the project is at 35% across all works.
