Project Information
This information will assist you to become familiar with the Gorgon Project and Barrow Island.
- About the Gorgon Project
- Health, Safety and Wellbeing
- Protecting Barrow Island
- Life on Barrow Island
Although some information may also be applicable to other work, the scope of this website is limited to work associated with the construction of the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) domestic gas plant and related facilities on Barrow Island.
Please consider carefully all the provisions outlined on this site before considering employment on the Gorgon Project. Policies and protocols must be adhered to at all times; breaches are treated very seriously and may result in removal from, or denial of access to, the island.
About the Gorgon Project
The Gorgon Project is one of the world's largest natural gas developments and the biggest single resource project in Australia's history.
The Gorgon Project is operated by Chevron Australia Pty Ltd (Chevron Australia), an Australian subsidiary of Chevron Corporation, and is owned by a joint venture comprising Chevron Australia (approximately 47 per cent) and Australian subsidiaries of ExxonMobil (25 per cent), Shell (25 per cent), Osaka Gas (1.25 per cent), Tokyo Gas (one per cent) and Chubu Electric Company (0.417 per cent).
The project involves the joint venture partners developing the Greater Gorgon Area gas fields, located about 130 kilometres off the north-west coast of Western Australia, and constructing on Barrow Island a 15 million tonne per annum LNG plant and a domestic gas plant with the capacity to provide 300 terajoules per day to supply gas to Western Australia.
Chevron Australia and its joint venture participants have contracted the Kellogg Joint Venture - Gorgon (KJVG) to design the LNG plant, the domestic gas plant and related infrastructure, to procure all the necessary equipment and materials, and to manage the contractors and subcontractors during project construction and commissioning. KJVG is a joint venture between Kellogg Brown & Root, JGC Corporation, Hatch and Clough. KJVG manage this official recruitment site.
A resource project the size of Gorgon will help position Australia as a leading gas producer and generate a new source of wealth for Western Australia and the nation. It will support regional economic growth and energy security for up to 40 years. Importantly, the project also creates opportunities for employment and local businesses.
Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Incident and Injury Free
Chevron Australia and KJVG are committed to creating an Injury and Incident Free (IIF) environment as part of their safety culture. The vision of IIF is that every person goes home safe, every day. IIF is about people and relationships - it focuses on living and working safely every day, having a mindset intolerant of injury, and taking responsibility for your own safety and for those around you. It also extends to eliminating environmental and quarantine risks and incidents.
All project personnel will receive information about IIF leadership, culture, behaviours, commitment and intention.
Health and Safety
We value the safety of everyone working on this project above all other considerations. We expect everyone to perform their work activities in a safe and responsible manner, be mindful of work surroundings, the environment, and watch out for their work colleagues.
Project health and safety practices are governed by mandatory policies, standards and procedures. Project personnel must actively cooperate in the implementation of these practices.
Fitness for Work
In line with our commitment to providing a safe and healthy work environment, project personnel are responsible to report to work in a fit state. Fitness for work means being:
- in the right mental state
- in the right physical state
- not under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- rested and not fatigued
Any of the above factors compromise your ability to work safely and can put both yourself and others at risk.
All project personnel are required to undergo, and successfully pass, a pre-employment fitness medical, including a test for illegal substances.
Random drug and alcohol tests will also be conducted on the island. Project personnel must cooperate with the testing as refusal to be tested will be treated as a positive result.
Respecting Others
We are committed to creating a workplace that is free from bullying, harassment and discrimination, where people are respected and diversity is accepted. To achieve this goal we all need to:
- treat people with respect, courtesy and honesty
- respect different values, beliefs, cultures and religions
- work co-operatively and value the contribution of other people
- not bully, intimidate, harass or discriminate against other people
Protecting Barrow Island
About Barrow Island
Barrow Island is a 234km2 island located 56 kilometres off the coast of Western Australia. The Gorgon Project facilities on Barrow Island will be constructed on an area limited to 300 hectares of previously uncleared land - representing around 1.3 per cent of the island's land mass. The Gorgon Project facilities on Barrow Island have also been located especially to avoid areas of particular conservational significance.
Barrow Island is a Class A Nature Reserve that is home to a number of plant and animal species that are rare or extinct on the mainland. In becoming a temporary custodian of the land and sea, you will have a responsibility to ensure the environment remains intact for the life of the project and beyond. This will require your full cooperation in adhering to all environmental and quarantine protection measures.
Environment
Barrow Island at first glance appears as an arid island consisting of little more than limestone cliffs and spinifex. But investigate further and the island's biodiversity comes to life, providing a snapshot in time of what the Australian mainland was like some 8,000 to 10,000 years ago.
Environmental management is a key consideration in all aspects of the project and a comprehensive environmental management system is in place to protect the island's unique flora and fauna.
If employed on the Gorgon Project, personnel accept the responsibilities associated with minimising the impacts on this sensitive environment - it is our responsibility to protect Barrow Island for Australia and the global community. This is achieved in a number of ways including limiting unnatural light and noise, reducing waste, and conserving fresh water.
Quarantine
Comprehensive quarantine screening is aimed at preventing the introduction of non-indigenous species to Barrow Island.
Inspection methods and barriers include x-ray machines, detector dogs, physical inspections, specific requirements for imported products and a ‘new or as new' policy for machinery and equipment. These detection techniques are complemented by monitoring and surveillance programs, incident response plans and eradication strategies.
There are a number of items that are classified as ‘prohibited goods' which cannot be taken to the island. Personnel who travel to Barrow Island will have their luggage inspected for any prohibited goods and footwear soles will be inspected for dirt and seeds and the like. Long trousers with cuffs and Velcro fasteners should not be taken to the island as they also have the potential to carry seeds.
Items such as shells, plant and animal material cannot be taken when departing Barrow Island.
All personnel will participate in awareness programs before mobilising, as well as attend ongoing training to further develop skills, knowledge and behaviours critical to managing quarantine risk effectively on Barrow Island.
Life on Barrow Island
Fly-In, Fly-Out
The construction workforce for the Gorgon Project is Fly-In, Fly-Out (FIFO). This means commuting to Barrow Island by plane and living in on-site accommodation villages during the work cycle.
Working a FIFO roster is a lifestyle choice and may not suit everyone. Whilst there are benefits of higher remuneration, new work opportunities, meeting new people and being part of a small community, FIFO workers can also face unique challenges and pressures with the lifestyle. Some of these challenges and pressures include decreased communication, change in routines, separation from family and isolation. Before considering work on Barrow Island, it may be worthwhile to discuss the FIFO arrangement and the possible impacts with those closest to you.
Travelling
To Barrow Island from Perth: Cobham commercial charter jets depart for Barrow Island from the Cobham Terminal, Perth Domestic Airport. The flight to Barrow Island is direct and takes approximately two hours. Please note that Cobham does not participate in the Qantas Frequent Flyer program.
To Barrow Island from Karratha: Until Gorgon Project accommodation is adequately established on the island, personnel may have to first mobilise to Karratha, live in project provided accommodation and travel back and forth daily to Barrow Island.
Potential employers will advise if accommodation will be based on Barrow Island or initially in Karratha, and can provide additional information if required.
Accommodation
Gorgon Project accommodation in Karratha and on Barrow Island typically consists of a single air conditioned room with ensuite facilities. Rooms are serviced regularly and have televisions with cable and free-to-air stations.
There is no permanent room allocation and personnel are required to book out of their room when leaving the island for R&R or other purposes. The project has a locker-style storage system which can be used to store some items between visits.
Clothing
Minimum work site clothing includes long trousers and a collared, long-sleeved shirt (or overalls), safety boots, safety helmet with sun brim and safety glasses. All work clothing must be 100 per cent cotton. Further information will be supplied by potential employers.
When using the mess and other camp facilities, clean casual clothes must be worn. Work clothes and singlets are not permitted in the evening.
The project provides a laundry service at Barrow Island free of charge. However, if they wish, personnel can do their own laundry in buildings located around the camp. Laundry powder is provided at no charge.
Hours of Work
Depending on the scope of work, different contractors may operate different working arrangements. However as an indication most contractors work ten hour days with a half day off every second Sunday. Potential employers can provide specific details of work arrangements.
Food and Beverage
For quarantine reasons, food cannot be bought onto the island. Personnel will be able to select and prepare their own crib and lunch at Barrow Island.
Alcohol: There are restrictions on the sale and consumption of alcohol on Barrow Island. Alcohol is limited to four cans of light or mid-strength beer per person per day. Alcohol cannot be taken to the island.
Island Facilities
Lifestyle Coordinators organize regular classes and activities for on-island personnel including social club events, gym, tennis, cricket and swimming in the pool. More facilities will become available as village construction progresses.
The canteens have EFTPOS facilities and sell a limited range of small items such as stamps, toiletries and phone cards. Personnel should bring all toiletries and any prescription medications required.
Barrow Island has a well-equipped medical centre staffed by doctors, nurses and paramedics. The medics are available for consultation during the day and are on call at all times in case of an emergency.
A general postal service is available for Barrow Island.
The postal service to and from Barrow Island is also subject to quarantine screening and tests. Prohibited items must not be sent in the mail.
Climate
Barrow Island has an arid, sub-tropical climate with highly variable rainfall often associated with cyclones. Below is a summary of average weather conditions throughout the year.
| JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC | |
| MINIMUM (C) | 25 | 25.7 | 25.6 | 23.9 | 21.1 | 18.3 | 16.9 | 17.4 | 18.6 | 20.3 | 21.9 | 23.6 |
| MAXIMUM (C) | 33.9 | 34.4 | 34.7 | 32.6 | 28.3 | 25.1 | 24.3 | 25.7 | 28 | 30.3 | 31.5 | 33.2 |
| RAINFALL (mm) | 21.3 | 54.9 | 54.3 | 20.7 | 42 | 60.5 | 18.5 | 9.8 | 3.5 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 12 |
Police
The West Australian Police will establish a small station on Barrow Island for the duration of the project.
Phones
Public phones are available for use in communal areas, and when construction of the accommodation village on Barrow Island is complete, every room will have a landline phone.
Telstra's Next G Network provides mobile phone coverage to Barrow Island.
Electronic devices
Electronic devices such as mobile phones and iPods cannot be taken onto the job site. Cameras and video recorders or other ‘photography or recording' devices cannot be taken onto any construction sites or any work locations. Such items must also be left at personnel accommodation.
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted in any buildings, accommodation rooms or vehicles. During work times, smoking is limited to designated areas and only during rest and meal breaks. Cigarette butts must not be dropped on the ground and must be deposited in the containers provided.
Driving
Vehicles are only permitted to access pre-approved areas on the island; venturing outside these areas or driving vehicles off formed roads is not permitted. To drive on Barrow Island specific driving training must be completed. Monitoring systems are fitted to all vehicles and will monitor and report on driver's speed and engine revs.
Swimming
Pool facilities are available on the island. Swimming or wading in the ocean is prohibited due to strong currents, high tidal movements and highly dangerous marine creatures found in the surrounding waters.
Fishing
To satisfy our environmental management commitments, project personnel are not permitted to fish while on the island. With a construction workforce expected to exceed 3000 workers, restrictions need to be put in place to minimise the impact on fish in the marine park and surrounding bays.