Manteena was engaged as the Head Contractor for the construction of a new Community Health Facility on Christmas Island.

The scope of works included:

• Construction of a new physiotherapy room
• multidenominational room (prayer room)
• offices
• kitchen upgrade
• internal refit of the Oral Health Unit, consisting of two compliant oral dental surgeries, instrument processing room, dental laboratory, storage rooms and offices.

The external services works comprised landscaping and provision of 10 additional car parking spaces. Manteena provided assistance with the resolution of design solutions to meet the client’s budget whilst still achieving the required quality.

A key challenge for the project was logistics, including long sea freight durations and limited air freight for small items, which was heavily dependent on local weather and local capacity.

Manteena also worked closely with hospital staff and implemented procedures to address infection control within the operational health facility. These measures included airtight hoardings, sectioning off the works site from the main building, creating a
negative pressure zone in the works zone and HEPA filtering all air from the site. Continual air and dust monitoring occurred throughout the duration of construction.

The project also required conformance with all environmental protection mandatory conditions within the unique ecological zone on the Island including consideration of the red crab migration.

An important aspect of Manteena’s delivery strategy was the integration of the works within existing activities and the economy of Christmas Island thus providing a wide range of
benefits to the community. This involved ongoing local community engagement, working with local trades and assisting them to develop professional business systems; and ultimately completing the works which will improve health capacity and services for the
Island.

Manteena’s performance on the project was validated in the written reference by the client who said “proactive management and detailed forward planning by Manteena ensured the project was delivered on schedule within budget and fit for purpose” and “the impact of the construction activity on the daily operations of the hospital was minimised through the successful implementation of infection control.”