31/08/09 - 14/09/09
Week 1 - The Heritage Site Project
On the 31st of August 16 people were enrolled into the program by IST. Click here for details on the units that the students will be undertaking as part of the projects
This week, three concrete slabs at the heritage area have been poured. BBQ’s made out of block work have been built on two of the slabs.
The final load of materials will arrive this week, and work on the airport shelter will commence on the 7th of September.
Newsflash!
Saturday 5th of September - Semi trailer arrives at 7:00pm, and is unloaded by the team at 5:00am the following morning to ensure the return run to Darwin can be completed prior to nightfall. The fully loaded road train takes approximately 4 hours to unload, and another 4 hours to sort through and put into the compound.
Week 2 - Demolition Begins!
On Monday the 7th of September demolition on the airport shelter began. Excavation took place on the 8th of September, and the concrete slab has now been poured.
IST resident Boiler Maker Trainer arrived the following day on Tuesday afternoon and has started preparation for the fabrication and welding of the steel framework. IST will have to make changes to their training schedule in relation to the welding as the workshop which has been allocated to them is having the power supply upgraded by contractors and was due to be finished last week, but at this stage is only half completed.
Wednesday 9th of September - There has been a death in the community. The person was a traditional elder. Derek thinks that sorry business may have started as the body was flown in on Wednesday morning at 10am and the students had to stop work, but did return at 12:30pm.
Please Note: Deaths in Indigenous communities, also known as sorry or sorrow business can sometimes impact on activities in the community for up to a month or more. Non Indigenous visitors are asked to stay away during this time, and non Indigenous residents of the community may sometimes even be requested to leave.
Stumbling Block
As part of contracted services, the community is responsible for supplying all of the plant and equipment needed for the construction projects.
In addition to the airport shelter, IST and the students have also been working on the set out of a roof over a nearby outdoor stage. Unfortunately the ground at the site is extremely hard / rocky, and the auger attachment on the skid steer loader supplied by the community is not sufficiently big enough to drill the footings. The footings for the stage roof need to be 600mm wide and 1800mm deep.
The Roper Gulf Shire has been liaising with a private contractor who is currently in the community to see if they can assist. The private contractor is willing, but needs to leave Ngukurr on Monday the 14th of September.
As a result, Derek and the team at IST will need to work over the weekend to get the job done before the contractor leaves on Monday.
