Project Overview
In September 2021, Wilcannia – a remote town with a predominantly Aboriginal population became the epicentre of one of the most urgent COVID-19 outbreaks in regional NSW. With overcrowded housing and no access to safe isolation facilities, the community was at severe risk.
Conventional accommodation options didn’t exist. So, the response team brought the solution to Wilcannia – establishing a Community Support Accommodation (CSA) made up of 30 self-contained motorhomes. Set up at Victory Park in just a few days, the temporary village gave families the space to isolate with safety, privacy, and dignity.
The Wilcannia model was later replicated in Bourke and became a reference point for rapid community-first responses across regional NSW.
Our Involvement
Lachlan was approach lead on-ground delivery of the Wilcannia CSA, part of Health Infrastructure’s COVID-19 Response Team. Lachlan travelled to the Far West at the height of the Delta outbreak to oversee site establishment.
Responsibilities included:
- Acting as the boots-on-the-ground lead for site planning, coordination, and execution
- Directing rapid deployment of motorhomes and services (power, water, waste) in real time
- Collaborating with local partners - including the Far West Local Health District, Aboriginal Affairs NSW, NSW Police, and emergency services - to ensure cultural safety and operational readiness
- Establishing a second CSA site in Bourke one week later under the same high-pressure conditions
This was crisis management in its rawest form – and it demanded calm, fast decision-making and deep respect for the community being supported.
Our Approach
The project was reactive by necessity – there was no playbook. From the moment boots hit the ground, the goal was to listen, respond, and adapt. Designs were sketched on site. Layouts were revised by the hour. Every step required hands-on problem solving and tight coordination with local services, logistics teams, and community representatives.
The approach blended pragmatism with care. Sites were designed to support families, not individuals. Motorhomes were clustered for cultural connection and privacy. Outdoor areas were cleared for fresh air and community support. Every decision was grounded in respect, urgency, and a commitment to protecting lives.
Legacy & Impact
The Wilcannia and Bourke CSAs provided more than emergency accommodation – they created a culturally safe solution in the middle of a crisis. These pop-up villages slowed the spread of COVID-19, eased the burden on overstretched local services, and gave residents the ability to isolate safely on Country.
For Mara Ba Kumba, it was a powerful example of what can happen when government, community, and culture work together – quickly, respectfully, and without excuses. It also reinforced a core truth: some of the best solutions come not from rigid plans, but from shared purpose and the ability to think on your feet.
Lachlan brought a level of cultural understanding and communication skills to improve the outcome in the setup of the temporary facilities. As the facilities were being handed over for operation there were a number of events where the level offsite planners poor understanding of issues at odds with the local community became very apparent and a risk of the facilities being accepted by the local communities.
Lachlan identified promptly identified these risks and was able to have the risk mitigated before they became apparent to the local communities.
