Because of the scarcity of flat ground at Panguna, it was necessary for Bougainville Copper to provide two residential areas to accommodate company personnel in 1971.

• At Panguna (the mine site) 323 houses were built and were available for occupation at 31 December 1971. Other accommodation included a number of two bedroom flats and ten three-storey blocks providing quarters for single personnel.
• At Arawa (on the coast - 22 km from Panguna) 399 houses were available for occupation by company employees and their families.

Erection of the 250-bed Arawa Hospital , high school and a technical college were completed in 1972. The year 1973 saw the construction of additional amenities and recreational facilities including a 50-metre (Olympic size) swimming pool, a gymnasium and squash courts. At Panguna a church for use by all denominations was completed and dedicated.

Mindful that variety is the keynote to recreation, BCL sponsored and encouraged the development of a wide range of leisure activities. Football and basketball fields, tennis courts, floodlit for night games, were popular for both participant and spectator. The golfers were proud of their nine-hole course at Arawa.

A house construction program, undertaken to increase the level of married accommodation available to employees, was completed in 1978. This increased the total number of married accommodation units to 1,966. In addition, 80 self-contained units had been constructed for single staff. In November of that year, heavy rain caused damage to the Mine Training College , service facilities and Panguna township. No production was lost and quick control of the situation minimised damage.

During 1979/1980 a civil works program was undertaken to reduce the exposure to flooding both in the town of Panguna and in the mine service areas. Changes in drainage patterns resulting from mining operations coupled with the high rainfall in the area required ongoing flood mitigation works.

Construction of a further 127 houses in Arawa utilised all the building sites available to BCL, and increased married accommodation to house over 2,000 families in 1980, An extension to one of the main single quarter complexes provided additional and improved facilities is Panguna.

Under the terms of the Bougainville Copper Agreement , the Government was responsible for the provision of satisfactory community health, education and police facilities. However, BCL found it necessary to progressively increase its role in community support activities.

In September 1981, a contract for supply and installation of solar water heaters to BCL houses in Arawa was awarded. This was one of the world's largest single contracts for domestic solar heating units. Additional accommodation constructed included 60 additional houses for married staff at Arawa and Birempa, and Kusito Camp for single employees in Panguna.

River improvement works continued during 1981 along the Kawerong and Jaba Rivers . This included completion of the North Channel extension, concrete lining of the Kawerong Dam, extension and reinforcement of levees and the construction of a bridge to provide access to the northern bank of the Jaba River . Diversion of the Panguna to Jaba public road around the edge of the pit was completed early in 1982.

A new single men's mess facility at Loloho, the first stage of a complete rebuild of this complex was opened for catering in January 1985. On completion the 900 man camp had a minimum life of 20 years. Additional housing in Arawa and a further 21 duplex dwelling were constructed at Birempa.

The incidence of crime in the community was significantly lower than the national average for urban centres. This was attributed to the continued use of BCL's mobile patrols together with the use of the police mobile squads.