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ALSO INSIDE: EKO BY CROWN Crown Group BLUETONGUE BREWERY Pacific Beverages / Qanstruct SYDNEY AIRPORT Baulderstone ALSTONVILLE BYPASS The Reed Group SWINBURNE UNI Kane Constructions 223 WILLIAM STREET Hansen Yuncken COMMON GROUND Grocon CITY TEMPO APARTMENTS Brookfield Multiplex BANK APARTMENTS Probuild TOWNSVILLE WASTEWATER UPGRADE Baulderstone ENERGEX BUILDING FKP BUNDABERG BASE HOSPITAL Northland Constructions HALE ST LINK Brisbane ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT AT PORT STANVAC AdelaideAqua DRY CREEK RAILCAR DEPOT Baulderstone BEACHSIDE LEIGHTON Mirvac NEW ACTON
KONE JumpLift Exterior hoists have been used for over 40 years at construction sites around the world. Yet, concerns continue to grow about the safety and efficiency of these systems. How often have we thought, ‘There must be a better way’? Now there is – the KONE JumpLift solution.
KONE has introduced an advanced elevatoring solution for use during construction. This technology largely replaces the traditional exterior hoisting system and brings real value to the construction phase of the project. The KONE JumpLift solution increases the safety of the job site, improves efficiency, and speeds up the construction work. Using the KONE JumpLift solution will give builders a competitive advantage when tendering for projects with lower costs and faster delivery. The KONE JumpLift uses the building’s permanent hoistway for construction time use, putting completed floors into action while allowing the installation to continue above. The KONE JumpLift has a temporary fixed machine room that moves upward (‘jumps’) in the hoistway as the construction work progresses. When the building structure is finished, changing over to the permanent elevator is a straightforward matter of installing the final machinery and finishing the material surfaces of the elevator car, landing doors and signalization.
How it works As soon as the building has reached the 7th floor, a temporary machine room is installed inside the shaft and the elevator can begin service for the first two floors. The KONE JumpLift follows the rise of the building, adding new floors into service (three recommended, maximum of five) as the building requires. 2
The benefits generated by the KONE JumpLift can be seen by every member of the construction site team. The increased productivity helps every trade and service partner to complete their work in the safest and most efficient way. The building owner can choose to put completed floors into active use, offering the option to generate business faster. With the KONE JumpLift, today’s innovative builder enhances their value and brings a new, competitive advantage to the table. 'The JumpLift System is a safer way for us to transport our equipment and workers during construction and the fitting-out phases. We can use it in any kind of weather too, which considerably improves the progress of the construction site.' Mr. Herman Knoop Executive Vice-president, Aannemings Maatschappij J.P. van Eesteren B.V. The Netherlands
Enabling a faster, safer construction process Less waiting time Since the KONE JumpLift travels at faster speeds with automated door openings and closings, traffic capacity can increase to three times that of a traditional exterior hoist.
Earlier closing of the façade With all vertical transportation taking place inside the building, lower floors are completely closed up and ready for finishing much earlier, saving the cost of finishing the façade at a later stage, as required by traditional exterior hoists.
Smoother CTU traffic A builder appointed lift attendant ensures that the installation is used properly, and that any damage is logged.
Safer transportation Operating under the standard EN81-1 elevator code, with standard operating panels and buttons, traffic with the CTU JumpLift is as safe as with a standard elevator. The use of standard lift doors with their protective equipment provides a great advantage over manual doors.
All-weather operation With all transportation activities taking place inside, in a dry and windproof shaft, construction activities can go on unhindered, even in the worst of conditions.
Reduced down-time As the jumps are executed following the meticulously drawn jump plan, downtime of the lift installation is reduced to a minimum.
Earlier availability of permanent elevator At the end of the construction stage, getting the elevator ready for normal operation requires considerably less time.
Less construction space required Since the KONE JumpLift operates in its own designated area, no extra space is needed for a temporary elevator.
Better organized construction site Having a smoothly running elevator system makes the construction site a more convenient place to work. Platform KONE MonoSpace® Special
KONE MiniSpace™
MAX travel
MAX load
MAX speed
120m
1600kg
2.5m/s
180m (1600kg) 200m (1350kg)
1600kg
2.5m/s
400m
4000kg
4.0m/s 3
CONTENTS
NEWS ARCHITECTURE NEWS ENGINEERING NEWS
FE ATURES CEO INTERVIEW - Greg Steele - Hyder Consulting
ESD SPECIAL FOCUS MORE LIFE - LESS SPRAWL High Density Living Special Feature PPP SPECIAL FEATURE - Dr Chaaya
.08 .14 .16
.18 .20 .24 .94 .162
PROJECTS • ACT
NEWACTON - THE APARTMENTS
.46
• NSW
BLUETONGUE BREWERY Pacific Beverages & Qanstruct EKO BY CROWN Crown Group SYDNEY AIRPORT RESA Baulderstone ALSTONVILLE BYPASS The Reed Group
.58 .70 .78 .84
• VIC
BANK APARTMENTS Probuild 223 WILLIAM STREET Hansen Yuncken CITY TEMPO APARTMENTS Brookfield Multiplex SWINBURNE UNIVERSITY Kane Constructions COMMON GROUND Grocon
.98 .104 .112 .118 .126
• QLD
TOWNSVILLE WASTEWATER UPGRADE Baulderstone ENERGEX BUILDING FKP BUNDABERG BASE HOSPITAL Nor thland Construction HALE STREET LINK
.132 .142 .148 .150
ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT AdelaideAqua DRY CREEK RAILCAR DEPOT Baulderstone
.164 .208
BEACHSIDE LEIGHTON Mirvac
.220
• SA • WA
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AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL SPECIAL FOCUS CONSTRUCTION REVIEW ANCR
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CONSTRUCTION
NAWIC Annual Awards for Excellence Ball – Winners The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) NSW chapter has announced the winners of its annual Awards for Excellence. The awards program celebrates industry leaders for their promotion of women working in the construction industry.
NAWIC Annual Awards for Excellence Ball held at the Westin Sydney
NAWIC announced the winners at the annual Awards for Excellence Ball, held Thursday 26 August 2010, at the Westin Hotel, Sydney. The ball, one of the industry’s most prestigious events, attracted over 700 guests and was hosted by Brendon Moar from Dryspell Gardening on The Lifestyle Channel, Foxtel. The prestigious Rider Levett Bucknall Crystal Vision Award was jointly awarded to Tony Costantino, Chief Executive Officer of Bovis Lend Lease, and Marianne Foley, Sydney Office Leader and Principal of Arup. NAWIC’s NSW Chapter President, Bridgeen Rocks, said she was extremely impressed by this year’s winners. “Both Tony Costantino and Marianne Foley are worthy winners of the Crystal Vision Award. Tony is committed to being a role model and mentor for advancing and
furthering the interests of women, which is evident through his active participation in initiatives such as the Diversity Council, ensuring a strong level of female representation in his senior management team and the time and dedication he has displayed in the career development of a number of women. Marianne is passionate about actively promoting gender diversity within Arup and the industry. Marianne is influential through the use of her management leadership skills and technical expertise. We are delighted to celebrate the contribution of industry leading men and women who share NAWIC’s vision - to promote the contribution of women working in the construction industry,” she said.
Tony Costantino, CEO of Bovis Lend Lease, and Marianne Foley, Sydney Office Leader and Principal of Arup
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ANCR CONSTRUCTION NEWS
Other award recipients included: • Mia Feasey, Siren Design CB Richard Ellis Business Woman of the Year Award • Melissa Chandler, Bovis Lend Lease Brookfield Multiplex Award for Contribution to a Project’s Development • Bovis Lend Lease Master Builders Association NSW & Clinton Recruitment Award for Innovation - Team • Alicia Maynard, St Hilliers Baulderstone Award for Contribution to Sustainability • Kathleen Crone, Broadcast Builder Bovis Lend Lease Scholarship for Future Leaders
• Sophie Poole, Baulderstone Leighton Contractors Award for Achievement in Construction, Refurbishment and Fitout • Kathy Franklin Stockland Award for Innovation in Design • Monica Senff Acoustic Logic Consultancy Tradesperson Scholarship • Elizabeth Fensom, University of Sydney NAWIC University Scholarship Nominees for the awards represent any on the various conduction fields including, engineers, architects, interior designers, project managers, lawyers and developers. A panel of industry experts select winners based on strict award criteria. Sponsors: Award sponsors include; Rider Levett Bucknall, Mast Builder’s Association NSW, TAFE NSW, Brookfield Multiplex, Stockland, Bovis Lend Lease, workarena, Acoustic Logistic, Baulderstone and Leighton. Award supporters include; Clinton Recruitment, HASSELL, MPA Projects, Davenport Campbell and NSW Department of Commerce. With special thanks to Corporate Culture for their kind donation of a Cassina LC4 Chaiselongue for the night’s action prize. For further information visit www.narwic.com.au
Entries open for the 2011 Vision Awards If you have recently completed, or are currently working on a project that uses energy efficient Viridian glass, now is your chance to submit your work for the 2011 Vision Awards. Recognising the role that glass plays in transforming the internal environment of both commercial and residential buildings, Viridian are offering a total of $20,000 in prize money for innovative uses of glass. Categories for submissions include, energy efficiency and glass innovation for commercial and residential design and creative use of glass in interior applications, commercial and residential. “The awards are designed to draw attention to the increasingly more sophisticated and innovative applications of glass that transform buildings and have a profound and positive impact on those living, working and spending
time within those buildings,” said Lachlan Austin, Marketing Manager for Viridian. “The quantity of entries is growing every year for these awards and the quality of submissions is always of such an excitingly high standard. “We hope this year will be the biggest yet, and encourage the industry to get involved as we see their achievements deserve recognition.” said Mr Austin. Submissions will be accepted up until 31 March 2011, for projects completed between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2010. The awards will be presented on 15 April 2011 at the AIA National Architecture Conference. To download application information visit www. viridianglass.com.au/visionawards/default.aspx
NEW GREEN ADVOCATE JOINS GBCA The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has appointed Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) Director of Sustainability Darren Bilsborough to its Board of Directors. “Darren Bilsborough has had a long association with the GBCA, and is a qualified Green Star Accredited Professional,” says GBCA Chief Executive, Romilly Madew. “He is a valuable addition to the GBCA’s Board of Directors, and we look forward to benefiting from his experience and dedication to sustainable development.” Mr Bilsborough, who has long been at the forefront of sustainable development issues in the built environment, said he looked forward to contributing to the GBCA leadership team.
“The green building movement has achieved some worthy milestones – there is potential for this momentum to extend from buildings to broader green urban environments – including communities. “To create sustainable cities Australia must pursue innovation in both technology and in planning – for greener buildings, energy efficiency, water use and integrated transport. “The GBCA has a vital role in promoting these principles of environmentally sustainable urban environments. “I look forward to using my experience to help GBCA push forward with this work,” says Mr Bilsborough.
BAULDERSTONE’S FIVE STAR GREEN RATING Leading sustainable builder Baulderstone has constructed the first office building to be awarded a 5 Star Green Star rating in the expanding North Ryde market in NSW. Originally designed to a 4 Star Green Star standard, Baulderstone’s Triniti Business Campus has exceeded expectations. The Green Building Council of Australia has awarded Buildings 1 and 2 of Triniti with a 5 Star Green Star.
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Amongst the sustainable features of Triniti were the use of recycled steel and concrete materials, and installation of an onsite rainwater collection facility and water-efficient cooling towers. The company had re-used or recycled 80% of construction waste. Working alongside Stockland, Baulderstone completed Triniti two months ahead of schedule in 2009 and, despite the global financial crisis, achieved a 100% leasing precommitment for the 28,000m2 office campus.
By Anthony Albanese Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
LABOR’S NATION BUILDING AGENDA ENTERS ITS SECOND TERM Just two months ago Australians voted in what turned out be an historic general election, one from which no political party emerged with an absolute majority in the House of Representatives. It was also an election in which debates about the nation’s infrastructure needs featured prominently and voters were given a clear choice: continued record investment in the nation’s social and economic infrastructure with Labor or cuts and the shelving of projects with the conservatives. As it turned out, the majority of Australians and almost all the independents chose the former. The Gillard Labor Government is more determined than ever to put right the neglect and policy drift we inherited, building on the strong foundations and long term reforms put in place during our first term. Indeed, since coming to office we’ve overhauled the way our nation plans, finances and builds the infrastructure it needs, most notably by establishing Infrastructure Australia to rigorously evaluate and objectively prioritise major new project proposals. Together with these sweeping institutional and regulatory reforms, we’ve also lifted public infrastructure spending by almost a third. In addition to initiating the largest school modernisation program and beginning the roll out of high speed broadband to the nation’s homes and workplaces, we’ve more than doubled the roads budget, increased rail spending tenfold and made the first significant Federal investment in urban passenger rail. All up, we’re spending $37 billion over six years to modernise and expand the nation’s transport infrastructure. continues page 12 ANCR CONSTRUCTION NEWS
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comment By Jeffrey Holmes Principal Woods Bagot
From New York to Sydney are ‘Icebergs’ a Solution for Frozen Construction Sites One of the unfortunate results of the Global financial crisis has been the plethora of stalled sites, in cities around the world. As I contemplated these blue-boarded “frozen” construction sites on my daily commute from Penn Station to my office in New York, I considered how to reimagine and revitalise the City’s urban fabric with the promise held by such captivating physical spaces. Developers spend money every day to cover these idle sites, and people are hesitant to build on them in the meantime, I wanted to make something high quality with a real presence that was useful as well. We came up with a design that is innovative and iconic, yet flexible, dynamic and sustainable, one which we called ‘Icebergs’ – like their namesakes, these temporary structures provide maximum impact with minimal means – multipurpose architectural placeholders until developers resurrect their projects. The design uses a modular and reusable steel frame, wrapped in translucent polycarbonate panels and topped by inflated pillows of super-lightweight ETFE (Ethylene Tetrafl Uoroethylene). Designed specifically to engage the audiences of brand and mission driven organisations, Icebergs are unique physical spaces that support a wide range of uses: from destination and interactive retail, to exhibitions and cultural events; from local start-ups and not-for-profit organisations to regional and global brands. Programmed to flex and seem directly embedded in the City, Icebergs are an experience venue and a marquee space where the building becomes iconic and the temporal architecture is an integral part of the event. continues page 13 10
CONSTRUCTION NEWS NEWS ANCR CONSTRUCTION
Retirement of Leighton Holdings CEO – Wal King "Wal King is one of Australia’s most successful and well-respected corporate leaders who has made an enormous contribution to the construction industry in Australia and throughout the world," Australian Industry Group Chief Executive Heather Ridout said today. "Wal is one of a kind - a real intellect with extraordinary energy and an engaging personality. He has a genuine love for his company, his industry and for the people who have worked for him over more than four decades. "Ai Group has worked closely with Wal for many years, including through our strong connection
with the Australian Constructors Association, of which he has been President since 1994. "He has delivered extraordinary value for Leighton shareholders and for the tens of thousands of people that have worked on Leighton company projects in Australia and globally. "He has always had a big view of Australia’s potential performance and had the courage to take the risks that would see the Leighton Group become a long-term participant in Asian and Middle-Eastern construction and mining markets. "I am sure that Wal will continue to make a major contribution to Australian corporate life and we wish him well in the next stage of his career," Mrs Ridout said.
ANCR Excellence Awards Innovation, daring and determination have been key features of many of the outstanding projects Australian National Construction Review have profiled throughout 2010. From forward-thinking civil infrastructure initiatives and groundbreaking Green Star developments to new star attractions in the built environment, it has been a year of magnificent achievements in the industry. ESD considerations have been inspiring architects, engineers, contractors and
subcontractors alike to deliver highly sustainable construction outcomes, ensuring this year's projects deliver long-term benefits to the entire community for many years to come. Here at ANCR, we are currently reviewing the nominations for our ANCR Excellence Awards, and will be announcing the winners across key categories in the January 2011 edition.
Conneq – a new name representing over half a century of success Conneq is the new name for the specialist engineering, construction and asset management contractor formerly known as Bilfinger Berger Services in Australia. Conneq Managing Director, Mark Elliott, said the new name was created to highlight the company’s role in connecting industries and communities with vital infrastructure.
“The integration of these operations into Conneq has created a company with broad ranging capabilities and a track record of success, based on decades of experience and achievement.
“While Conneq may be a new name in infrastructure markets, its represents an organisation with roots reaching back more than half a century in Australia,” Mr Elliott said.
“On a typical day you may find Conneq crews servicing mining assets in the Pilbara, building a power station in regional Victoria, rolling out broadband cable in Tasmania, operating a road tunnel in Perth, replacing power poles in Newcastle, installing a power substation in Queensland and repairing a water network in Melbourne,” Mr Elliott said.
“In recent years, the company that is now Conneq has merged the operations of several former providers, including Abigroup Asset Services, Simon Engineering, Clough Engineering and Maintenance Pty Ltd, Skilled Power Services, Baulderstone Operation and Maintenance Division, Techscape and i.Power Solutions.
“Industries served by Conneq include energy, utilities, resources, industrial and process, transport and social infrastructure.
Conneq, with sister companies Abigroup and Baulderstone, are members of Valemus Australia Pty Limited, formerly Bilfinger Berger Australia Pty Limited.
The King tries a trade at the FOGS Indigenous Employment & Careers Expo
comment By Romilly Madew Chief Executive Green Building Council of Australia
Public buildings get a Green Star makeover From left: FOGS Allan “Alfie” Langer, “The King” Wally Lewis; SkillsTech Australia Project Manager Eric Davis; FOGS and Indigenous player Colin Scott; and former Brisbane Lions and Indigenous player Darryl White. SkillsTech Australia, the lead TAFE institute in trade and technician training, and the Brisbane North Institute of TAFE (BNIT) were well represented at the 2010 Former Origin Greats (FOGS) Indigenous Employment and Careers Expo at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium earlier this month. SkillsTech Australia Project Manager Eric Davis said it was the largest expo to date, with a great turn out of more than 3500 Indigenous job seekers and school leavers and special appearances by a host of FOGS and Brisbane Broncos players, including ‘The King’ Wally Lewis. “It was great to see so many FOGS there, such as The King, Artie Beetson, Sam Backo, Steve Walters and Gene Miles, to mention just a few; all there supporting the Indigenous community,” Mr Davis said. “Along with the team from SkillsTech Australia and BNIT who presented a comprehensive WorldSkills Australia Try’a Trade section to give Indigenous job seekers a practical,
hands-on look at what opportunities training in a trade can offer. “There were eight WorldSkills Australia Try’a Trade displays featured at the annual event for the Indigenous community with the painting and decorating, carpentry, bricklaying, electrical, auto mechanics and auto electrical trades presented by SkillsTech Australia while hair and beauty and cookery were presented by BNIT. “The WorldSkills Australia Try’a Trade was embraced by visitors who engaged with FOGS to try the skills required in the construction, electrical, hair and beauty and hospitality industries through activities, such as making a picture frame, building a brick wall, creating an electrical circuit and icing a cake.” The event was officially opened by the Federal Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development Mark Arbib, who then visited the Try’a Trade area to try his hand at laying bricks with the guidance of SkillsTech Australia staff. The 2010 FOGS Indigenous Employment and Careers Expo has been held on the Gold Coast and in Cairns, Rockhampton, Mount Isa, Mackay and Brisbane with a collective attendance of close to 10 000 Indigenous Queenslanders. The expo will next be held in Townsville on Wednesday 7 October. For more information about the FOGS Indigenous Employment and Careers Expo visit www.fogs.com.au
Brisbane Broncos Indigenous player Corey Norman checks out one of the WorldSkills Australia Try’a Trade displays at the FOG Indigenous Employment and Careers Expo.
For more information on Indigenous student support services available at SkillsTech Australia, go to http://www.skillstech.tafe.qld. gov.au/services/support/indigenous.html
While hospitals, schools, shopping centres and industrial sheds have been able to achieve Green Star ratings for some time, public buildings such as law courts, museums, art galleries and places of worship could not. This is about to change, with the release of the Green Star – Public Building PILOT rating tool. Green Star is Australia’s only national, holistic and voluntary environmental rating tool for buildings. Green Star evaluates the sustainable attributes of building projects in nine categories, including energy and water efficiency, indoor environment quality and materials selection. This new Green Star tool for public buildings will ensure that industry has access to best practice benchmarks for public buildings, as well as a system of independently-verified certification which clearly demonstrates the sustainability credentials of leading public buildings around Australia. The evidence for greening our public buildings certainly stacks up. Green buildings are built for both energy and water efficiency, so they are cheaper to operate – routinely consuming around a quarter less energy than the average building and generating around a third less greenhouse gas emissions. Green building practices also increase productivity, reduce liability and risk, and are more likely to attract grants, subsidies and other incentives. Increasingly, people around the world perceive green buildings as the modern, ethical and proactive choice – and companies, councils, governments and community organisations associated with green buildings benefit from these perceptions through community pride, satisfaction and well-being. continues page 13 ANCR CONSTRUCTION NEWS
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CONSULT AUSTRALIA APPOINTS NEW NATIONAL PRESIDENT
Alain Mignot Executive Director Alliancing Association of Australasia
Consult Australia (formerly the Association of Consulting Engineers Australia) has appointed Mr Jamie Shelton as its new National President. Jamie Shelton is a Principal and the Sydney Regional Manager of Northrop.
NEW TREASURY ALLIANCING GUIDELINES CAUTIOUSLY WELCOMED
Jamie commenced his career with Northrop in 1988 as a graduate engineer in the Canberra office. In 1996 he became an Associate, was appointed a Principal in 1998 and was elected to the Northrop Board in 2007.
Australasia’s peak collaborative contracting industry body cautiously welcomes two draft components of a new national Alliance Contracting framework released by a joint committee of state treasuries. Alliancing Association of Australasia (AAA) Co-Founder and Executive Director Alain Mignot said it is important the framework strengthens the adoption and practice of alliancing, rather than strangle the essence of collaboration which has served public infrastructure very well so far. Mr Mignot said alliancing practitioners are urged to review documents released by the InterJurisdicational Alliancing Steering Committee, chaired by Victoria’s Department of Treasury and Finance (DTF). These include the DTF’s Practitioner’s Guide to Alliance Contracting and Model Project Alliancing Agreement (PAA); and the recently approved Victorian Policy for Alliance Contracting will apply to Victorian Government public sector agencies and departments. Mr Mignot said the guidelines replace the wellregarded 2003 version, which provided a critical point of reference for industry and agencies as the then “new” form of collaborative contracting was embraced. “This framework validates and formalises alliancing in the government sector, similar to the earlier framework developed for Public Private Partnerships (PPPs),” Mr Mignot said. “The AAA has committed its support to DTF in finalising the new guidelines and is assembling its members in regional discussion meetings during August for a consolidated input to Treasury,” he said. continues page 13 12
CONSTRUCTION NEWS NEWS ANCR CONSTRUCTION
Jamie is a senior structural engineer with over 20 years of experience in servicing clients and managing engineering design teams, and is valued for his innovative and pragmatic approach to building design. Jamie has had significant involvement in Consult Australia for over ten years, first as a member of the NSW Committee in the late 1990’s. He has held various roles on both the Association of Consulting Structural Engineers Australia (a branch of Consult Australia's NSW division) and the NSW Consult Australia Committee including Secretary, Treasurer and Division Chairman. He has also been a National Director of Consult Australia since 2006. “Considering a few of the big issues facing our Nation; climate change, infrastructure, population growth, fossil fuel dependency, housing affordability: it's very clear that the skills of Consult Australia's members are crucial to Australia's future. I look forward to working with our members to bring to
the public debate an informed position that can guide government policy, planning and funding.” said Mr Shelton. "Our members provide world class professional services that are competitive and effective. It's important that the commercial and regulatory conditions remain favourable to business so that we retain the capability to service the ever challenging needs of the built and natural environment." Over the next two years of his Presidency, Jamie aims to bring drive and focus to the Association which will further cement its status as the peak industry body for consulting firms providing services to the built and natural environment in Australia. Paul Reed, who has been National President for the past two years, and the rest of the Consult Australia Board welcome Jamie as Consult Australia's new President.
continued Anthony Albanese continued from page 9
Over time this investment program will make our economy more productive, our regions more prosperous and our cities more sustainable, while in the short term creating new commercial opportunities for local builders, engineers, architects, construction companies and suppliers.
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As well as responding to Australia’s immediate infrastructure needs, we’re also planning for the nation’s future. In coming months, Infrastructure Australia will release the first ever national port strategy and national freight strategy – two long term blueprints which together with the National Priority List will guide future investment in our vital transport infrastructure.
While our progress has been substantial, we’ve always said it would take more than one parliamentary term to put right a decade of neglect and require both sustained levels of investment as well as proper long term planning.
Mr Mignot welcomed robust guidelines for less experienced agencies and government departments seeking to leverage the benefits of collaborative engagement with industry, while ensuring tight alliance management practices.
The Gillard Labor Government will continue to do both and move our nation forward.
View the DTF Alliancing Framework at: http://www.dtf.vic.gov.au/project-alliancing
Jeffrey Holmes continued from page 10
Paul Reidy continued from page 15
Embracing the financial and temporal realities of stalled sites, I believe that Icebergs represent fresh thinking about the intersection of use, function and design. Icebergs reactivate and reinvigorate these now-dormant spaces. Icebergs can offer new opportunities for businesses and institutions to expand awareness, drive engagement, build sales or advance their mission. Scalable and conceived to address a global issue through local results, each Iceberg’s offthe-shelf components are reusable and easy to maintain – ensuring low life-cycle costs and a minimal environmental footprint. Importantly, Icebergs are transportable in a single shipping container – easily set adrift to dilapidated sites in cities around the world.
Romilly Madew continued from page 11 The new pilot rating tool will soon be trialled on a handful of specially-selected pilot projects and the GBCA is currently seeking expressions of interest from building projects to participate in the pilot process. For more information, including eligibility criteria, visit the GBCA website: www.gbca.org.au
Alain Mignot continued from page 12 “It should allow wider use of collaborative approaches beyond water, roads and transport; where alliancing has mainly been used in some 296 projects to date. Urban planning and sustainable redevelopment, health and energy would benefit greatly from a more collaborative approach. “Broader application of the model would assist tackle the significant infrastructure and productivity challenges we face in the next decade.”
The commercial sector must learn from the education sector to meet the needs of the future workforce. If traditional speculative office building design has not evolved to accommodate the changing needs of the user, how will we go forward? I suggest small steps must be taken, just as in the education space, in order to be at least relevant if not leading change in 10 years time.
Megan Motto continued from page 17 if so, if Australia has to adapt, what are the implications, challenges and costs associated with changing the way we do business? “The key to any successful project is clear, concise understanding between architects, engineers, construction professionals, facility managers, and owners. In the US as well as in Europe, BIM has proved to break down barriers and bridge communication between extended design and construction teams, providing consistent and reliable information across the scope of a project” said Ms Motto. “These Roundtables will examine the impact IPD is likely to have on practice going forward. The forums will look into where the trends are heading and when/if and how consultants have to change the way they do business to stay competitive.” Consult Australia and the Australian Institute of Architects will make available and publish all relevant information about the BIM forums. Through opening communication within the built environment and understanding the impact to each of the sectors, better technology, education and information can be developed to support and encourage the industry to progress into the future.
comment Ian McFarlane Industrial Sales Manager Uni-span Group
new industrial sales manager announced for uni-span Uni-Span are proud to announce the recent appointment of Ian McFarlane as Industrial Sales Manager. Ian brings to the role sixteen years of experience in the Scaffolding Industry. His hands-on understanding of logistics, stock management, manufacture, concept design and management will be an asset to both Uni-Span and client projects. “One of the most appealing points about Uni-Span, is being involved in a company that is privately owned and very pro active in developing a strong business model; that offers the construction industry a one stop solution to scaffold and formwork supply, along with many years of experience backing the company. With the company having a vision and commitment to service commercial and industrial customers Australia wide, it’s an exciting time to be involved,” said Ian. The Uni-Span Group continue to forge ahead in the Industrial sector in both contracting, scaffold and formwork system supply, consolidating a reputation for professional and reliable solutions based approach - building sales from service. Focus area will include: • Power Generation and Shutdown Maintenance • Refinery Construction and Shutdown Maintenance • Mining and Natural Resources Above and Below Ground • Bulk Terminal Construction and Infrastructure including Maintenance and Upgrades. Talk to Ian today and find out how Uni-Span can add value to your business by contacting him on 1300 822 825 or email ian@uni-span.com.au. www.uni-span.com.au
For further information contact Benjamin Jung at Consult Australia. ANCR CONSTRUCTION NEWS
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ARCHITECTURE
DORIC’S BRILLIANT SOUTHERN STAGE PRESENCE Applying incredible ingenuity in construction, DORIC have been resolving an extraordinary array of build ability challenges as they complete the Albany Entertainment Centre in South West WA. From the steeply pitched angled roofs and zinc clad walls to the submerged performance areas, this is a project to be justifiably proud of handing over in a turn-key state, ready for the audience.
Doric’s Albany Entertainment Centre in South West WA
The AEC comprises a 620 seat theatre, with raised and lowered tiers of seating; a large concrete orchestra pit; conference and multifunction studios; VIP areas; a cafe; an observation deck with over looking views of the harbour; and spectacular foyers featuring broad expansive skylights 40 metres long. “The logistical side of things is one of the most exciting aspects of the project; this is as far from a standard building as you are going to get, it is all angles” said DORIC Project manager, Michael Van Dongen. “Building a theatre, acoustic standards have to be extremely high. It has been very enjoyable getting to understand the integrate details required for a theatre construction.” “The four roofs have unique pitches. Installation with scaffolding was not possible, so it had to be done with harnesses and ropes connecting to anchor points in the roof peaks; the roofing crews used static lines and lanyard systems and had to abseil to their work points.” Aside from build ability constraints other major issues to overcome evolved from Albany foreshore’s high wind and wet
weather conditions – the site’s large tower crane and the concrete boom pumps all had limits on their use due to weather constraints. Below ground, the high water table required efficient and ongoing dewatering to allow construction of facilities like the orchestra pit. The footings are below sea level - during site preparation, 350 screw piles were put in. Over 282,580 man hours to date have been worked by 20 DORIC staff and up to 100 subcontractor workers on peak days, with only one LTI thanks to a site-wide commitment to safety. Other parts of the iconic structure designed by Cox Architects required clever resolution. “The 25 metre high, 12x24 metre concrete fly tower in the theatre was poured in situ, and required eight separate jump form systems to build. The structural pedestals, each supporting several large spanning roof trusses essentially
anchored to the ground via a 150mm dia solid steel pin, had tolerances with nil room for error. You know it’s an integrate and complex job when you have to make decisions such as installing the ceiling before you install the roof,” said Michael. The construction methodology concluded by DORIC for the most rapid construction was to drop the ceilings elements onto the birdcage, install the main support trusses and then raise the acoustic ceiling support framing and the lighting bridges (below) to connect to these roof trusses, all before the roof sheets could be installed. DORIC consulted Engineers to design props and jacks to essentially bring the trusses in before concreting the pedestals into position – effectively, the roof was brought to the pedestals. “It is a fantastic building, and has been a fantastic job to work on personally,” said Michael.
A JOINT PUSH FOR UNIVERSAL HOUSING DESIGN July saw architects, developers and construction industry leaders join with the disability and ageing sectors to agree on an aspirational target that all new homes will be built to disability-friendly Liveable Housing Design standards by 2020. The official announcement on July 13 by Bill Shorten MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services Parliamentary Secretary for Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction was the outcome of the National Dialogue on Universal Housing 14
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Design. The Dialogue was convened by Mr Shorten last year, to improve the availability of Liveable Housing and engage leaders in industry and disability and ageing in joint efforts to promote it. The voluntary Liveable Housing Design guidelines consist of three levels: Silver, Gold and Platinum, and outline the key features which are required to achieve these standards. The central tenet of Liveable Housing Design is homes should be built in ways which allow for adaptation to meet the changing needs
of residents over their lifetime, needs which include acquired disabilities. Members of the National Dialogue from the construction, design and property development sector are Australian Institute of Architects, Australian Network for Universal Housing Design, Grocon, Housing Industry Association, Lend Lease, Master Builders Australia, Property Council of Australia, Real Estate Institute of Australia and Stockland.
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ARCHITECTURE
SIX STAR GREEN
SA ARCHITECTURE
STAR PROJECTS
WINNERS
SCOOP AWARDS
ANNOUNCED
At this year’s Victorian Architecture Awards presented in July by the Australian Institute of Architects, The Melbourne Convention Centre and Exhibition Centre by joint venture architects, Woods Bagot and NH Architecture was honoured with the 2010 Victorian Architecture Medal for successfully crossing design boundaries and taking out awards in four categories: the William Wardell Award for Public Architecture, the Steel Architecture Award, an Award for Sustainable Architecture and the esteemed Melbourne Prize. The centre is the first convention centre to be awarded a Six Green Star rating by the Green Building Council of Australia.
Adelaide Zoo’s recent upgrade project, including the Panda Exhibit, took out five awards at this year’s Australian Institute of Architects’ 2010 South Australian Architecture Awards, held in July.
Another Six Green Star project, the ANZ Centre by HASSELL and Lend Lease, was honoured with the Marion Mahony Award for Interior Architecture and a Commercial Architecture Award. The ANZ Centre is the largest 6 star green commercial office building in Australia.
The recently opened Adelaide Zoo Entrance Precinct by Adelaide-based national practice HASSELL was awarded the prestigious Jack McConnell Award for Public Architecture, the top Robert Dickson Award for Interior Architecture, an Urban Design Architecture Award and a Sustainable Architecture Award. The Adelaide Zoo Panda Exhibit by HASSELL also received a Public Architecture Commendation. The new bridge over the River Torrens, which connects the Adelaide Zoo and Botanic Gardens to Northern Adelaide, won the annual Adelaide Prize. The pedestrian and cycleway bridge, conceived by urban designers Oxigen and built by construction firm Watpac, is Adelaide’s first new river crossing since 1937 and melds the values of both public infrastructure and public artwork. The award winning and six green star Melbourne Convention Centre
By Paul Reidy Principal and Design Director Rice Daubney
EMERGING TRENDS IN EDUCATION AND THE IMPACT ON FUTURE OFFICE SPACE Lifestyle, technology and educational practices have revolutionised the way we work and office fit outs have evolved but our concept of commercial office buildings has not. Higher and even primary education has moved towards a student-centred pedagogy promoting active, collaborative and problem based learning. What impact will these changes have on future office buildings? This shift to a learning model requires a rethink of physical environments. New methods of teaching and the spaces required are cutting edge and students are experimenting and testing these ideas with promising results. The change in how we think and importantly interact will obviously impact future office buildings. Commercial buildings are outdated compared with this educational equivalent. As Universities cater to a new learning landscape, commercial buildings must follow suit to tap into the future workforce’s full potential. Spaces that generate interaction should be based around people not technology. Capable of adaptation, these free flowing spaces take many forms from small hideaways to large gathering spaces, allowing more opportunity for thought, interaction and progress. Some businesses have already recognised the need to encourage staff to work in a more collaborative way by providing a range of interior and exterior spaces for staff to congregate, socialise and collaborate within. With employers becoming more aware of the importance of designing for the next generation of employees, collaborative working models will become a “must have” feature. continues page 13 ANCRCONSTRUCTION ARCHITECTURE NEWS ANCR
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ENGINEERING
A LIGHTHOUSE ON PEAK OIL’S ROCKY SHORE Griffith University in Queensland will be in a position to advance current Australian sustainability practise, with the new $33m Sir Samuel Griffith Centre (SSGC). The emission-free, completely sustainable high-rise building is being designed by Cox Rayner Architects, with a construction contract expected to be signed at the end of 2010 for a 2013 handover for occupation by the University’s staff and students. The SSGC will feature cutting edge Australian and world technology, and generate all of its own power by solar powered hydrogen energy. As a centre for teaching and research focused on sustainability, the structural design challenge for the Architects is to maximise the mingling of disciplines, especially through the creation of collaborative spaces. The engineering challenges extend across the field, from structural and materials engineering, through to IT and electronics. Collaborative partners from Industry including AGL, Cisco Systems and Darwin’s Power and Water Corporation, and experts from within the engineering profession both in Australia and abroad will contribute their expertise to bringing the project to fruition. Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) Ned Pankhurst said the project will be ‘taking us into a new space’. “This is a lighthouse project. We will use our networks internationally, as everybody’s done parts of this (project), but no one’s put them all together in something of this scale. Something that connects all the dots and has a renewable energy system built in from the bottom up,” he said. He described a range of engineering challenges associated with the project, first and foremost, the energy generation system. “We will be looking at innovative ways to build enough solar capture into the building and integrate PVs (Photovoltaics) into the structure. There has been a fairly strong addiction to either flat roof or tilted stack PVs. We need to have enough capture to make the building grid-free. It will be a challenge finding the right PV materials to adapt to the external shape with the appropriate amount of capture. “The truly innovative part is our solution for energy storage. We estimate the building 16
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will run 85% on PVs on medium load, the other 15% will feed into the electrolytic conversion of water to hydrogen, with the hydrogen stored in metal hydride stacks; then in solar off-peaks, the building will use the hydrogen through hydrogen fuel cells. The system will be designed with up to six days storage capacity. “The building will be connected to the grid for safety and compliance reasons; we anticipate over the annual cycle it will be a net contributor, when fully charged, there will be excess supply to feed in. “There will be engineering decisions to make over storage materials, around the size of the stack - 300kg of hydrogen – and conformation. The larger and more integrated we can make the storage units, the better. There will be some decisions over how we organise the fuel arrangement. We have to think about the location of the fuel assembly; traditionally it is in the basement, but it may need to be on the upper levels to prevent losses (during distribution).” Design challenges abound - including managing passive heating with a large amount of solar surface comprised of transparent windows. Passive heating/cooling through appropriate siting will allow the cool side of the building to assist with managing thermal loads. Use of recycled materials will be emphasised, in line with the Six Star goal. A project like this one needs a sophisticated energy management system that integrates the energy systems; Cisco Systems will be contributing the best technology available to ensure the SSGC meets expectations with the energy budget. In terms of materials, the challenge lies in the heavy nature of PVs; structural engineering expertise will be required to ascertain where and how this weight can be supported. “The ideal PV is light, flexible and 100% efficient, but we won’t get that. There will have to be some compromises in terms of materials and technology,” commented Professor Pankhurst. “There will be a number of things this project contributes to Griffith University in terms of research and teaching spin-offs:
Sir Samuel Griffith Centre is located at Nathan, Australia's premier environmental campus surrounded by Toohey Forest Conservation Park PV management; issues around conversion efficiency and the electronic trickery involved in a system like this; systems management issues; electronic and IT issues; issues around hydrogen storage; and the long term use and management of hydrogen fuel cells. “This will showcase one of the energy efficiency opportunities available for Australia in the storage of renewable energy. We are not using the grid as a storage mechanism - using the grid as a battery does not help systems managers deal with peak loads. We will demonstrate solutions that will work in off grid situations such as places in the NT and QLD where current storage is unreliable or not safe, or the only power is still provided by diesel generators. Currently the hydrogen conversion and storage component is expensive technology, but if we build a demonstration project which shows it is possible, more will be built and the cost comes down. “For new projects which are pushing the envelope, you can’t always show an example of what you are going to achieve.” Griffith has a Technical Advisory Group developing the technical brief for the project, which has attracted $21m from the Federal Government’s Education Investment Fund. Griffith are contributing $10m, the Queensland Government $1m from the state government and Cisco Systems are themselves contributing $1m to the project’s construction budget. Ultimately, Professor Pankhurst believes the project can bridge the gap between scientists and business, an essential path to achieving a global uptake of sustainability principles.
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ENGINEERING
According to the synopsis, “The Zero Carbon Australia 2020 Stationary Energy Plan (the ZCA2020 Plan) outlines a technically feasible and economically attractive way for Australia to transition to 100% renewable energy within ten years..... With a combination of energy efficiency, fuel switching from gas and oil to electrified energy services, then using a combination of commercially available renewable energy technologies, Australia’s energy needs can be met with 100% renewables. Wind and Concentrating Solar Thermal (CST) with Molten Salt Storage are the two primary technologies used, with minimal contingency backup from biomass and existing hydro. Modelling on a half-hourly timescale shows that this combination can ensure 100% reliable supply.
A ZERO CARBON NATION – LEADING ENGINEERS BACK AMBITIOUS PLAN Multinational engineering firm Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) have put their informed support behind the Zero Carbon Australia 2020 Stationary Energy Plan, produced by the not-for-profit group Beyond Zero Emissions and published by the Melbourne University Energy Institute. Launched at Parliament House in Canberra in July, The Zero Carbon Australia report is the culmination of 12 months of pro bono work by engineers and postgraduate university students, and provides a detailed blueprint for transitioning Australia’s stationary energy sector from fossil fuel baseload electricity to 100% renewable energy sources by 2020. Andasol solar thermal plant in Spain
“Implementing the proposed renewable infrastructure over a ten-year timescale would require a small percentage of Australia’s industrial capacity, in terms of resources and labour force. The required investment of $37 Billion/year is the equivalent of 3% of GDP. Estimated funding cost, including generation and grid upgrades, would be equivalent to an additional 6.5cents/kWh on delivered electricity.” This is no airy-fairy discussion, the extremely detailed document sets out a blueprint including mapping out the transmission network, and estimating the materials required for all the infrastructure upgrades and construction works required. All the Plan’s elements are based on currently available technology and materials. Sinclair Knight Merz were involved in the Plan’s peer review process, investigating the proposed transmission network; SKM concluded the design is feasible, economical and functionally efficient. To download a full copy of the report, or the abstract, go to http://beyondzeroemissions. org/zero-carbon-australia-2020. Abengoa PS20 solar plant near Seville in Spain
By Megan Motto CEO Consult Australia
Is BIM good for business and what implications and challenges are associated with changing the way we do business? Consult Australia have entered into a partnership with the Australian Institute of Architects and Autodesk, and will be organising high profile round table discussion groups in various States to analyse and evaluate the use of BIM (Building Information Modelling ) and the Integrated Project Delivery applications for Australian consulting firms within the Built & Natural Environment. “The potential move towards BIM is not without challenges that as an industry we need to identify and so that as we move towards a more integrated approach for project delivery we are equipped with knowledge and can prepare ourselves” said Consult Australia’s CEO Megan Motto. These discussion forums will be critically looking at the obvious challenges, such as cost of implementation, cultural change, IP ownership and the amount of data that firms would need to deal with against improved working collaboration, earlier decision-making, better documentation, and the evaluation of alternatives for sustainable design or improvements using analysis before construction begins. With architects, engineers, constructors and owners representing their part of the cycle, the aim is to identify the challenges, successes and failures of using BIM to create integrated principles within their business and the broader industry. The list of new projects around the world based on alternative delivery methods, mediated by digital design grows daily as designers, builders and owners increasingly move towards IPD (Integrated Project Delivery). But is Australia being left behind? Are the worldwide markets adapting ‘BIM’ principles that we are not implementing here and why? What affects is this having on our projects? And continues page 13 ANCR ENGINEERING NEWS ANCR CONSTRUCTION
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greg steelE
australasian Managing Director,
hyder consulting
H
yder Consulting is a multi-national advisory and design consultancy providing engineering, environmental, planning and project management solutions to clients in three key market sectors: property, transport, and natural resources. With over 150 years’ experience including contributions to projects such as The Sydney Harbour Bridge, London's Tower Bridge and the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Hyder combines global expertise with local knowledge to help their clients achieve sustainable, exceptional project and management solutions. Australasian MD, Greg Steele looks at infrastructure growth and sustainability in Australia's construction sector. Interview by Malcolm Harrison
MH You have recently said, “Australia is in the middle of a massive investment in infrastructure.” What were you referring to in particular? GS Well, it’s absolutely essential that Australia be very competitive in how we get our products to market. In an infrastructure sense we’re behind, we’ve underinvested in infrastructure generally and I think everyone would acknowledge that’s been the case for the last twenty or thirty years. I’m referring to water and sewerage, road and rail, ports, those elements of public infrastructure, although some of it’s now run privately. Our freight facilities are not great by world’s standards and access to and from our ports is not that efficient. It often struggles through suburban streets and things like that. Traditionally, neither state nor federal government would take responsibility for freight, but I do sense an understanding from most people now, including politicians that we need to streamline and develop that infrastructure. And so the comment that we are in the middle of something, well we could be at the beginning, it’s hard to say. MH Why is it so difficult? GS The hard thing is asset management. We’ve got billions and billions of dollars of existing assets including existing roads and rail and they need maintenance. Politicians often wont see the value of putting money into maintenance because the public doesn’t see it. Most of the stuff ’s underground. And there’s no votes in that. Compared with some other nations around the world we don’t have many engineers who are politicians. But there is increasing government and private sector acknowledgement that we must invest in this stuff, so being a consulting engineer is a good space to be in at the moment. MH From your point of view is it a fair assessment that most of your work is business as usual for you, or do you feel that you are constantly expanding your customer base, are you branching out and picking up a different kind of work? GS Look it’s a bit of both. We have our emphasis on key account management, which means giving our attention to a few clients to really understand their business and keeping that very focussed, and that’s the core of our business. But we also diversify into new sectors, and that’s where we’re picking up and need to pick up new clients and new work to keep growing. So the answer is a bit of both. We have thirteen key clients which give us about sixty-five to seventy percent of our revenue. Work for these clients is core business for Hyder, but moving into say the resources sector to do rail for a coal mine is something that, whilst we’ve done it, we’d like 18
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to be doing more of it. As well as the focus on key account management, the other big part of my day is taken up with expansion through sectors and acquisitions that meet our strategy and enable us to move into new geographic areas like South Australia and Western Australia. MH I hear the word “sustainability” in many areas of the construction industry. What does this word mean and more specifically, what is “sustainable infrastructure” and what did we used to do instead? GS There has been a massive shift. These days it’s all about doing things that won't deplete resources for future generations. And right now we’re very active as a consultant in sustainability. We have a couple of groups here in Sydney and in Melbourne where we provide advice to our clients, building owners, infrastructure operators, on how to be more sustainable. What we mean by that is six star rated buildings, for instance. MH What does sustainability mean in practice? GS Well it’s using less energy and not creating so much waste, it’s minimising impacts, the carbon footprint. It’s all of those aspects. For instance, the Westgate Alliance we’re on in Melbourne. Sustainability here means creating less waste and really driving the reuse of materials on the existing project. In the past it would have been, “Gotta knock that bridge down, okay put it in a truck, take it to the dump.” Now it’s, knock it down, pulverise it, and reuse it for new concrete. Let’s make noise walls out of photo-voltaic cells so that we can pump energy back into the grid to run the lights for an interchange. Or if there is an industrial area close by which has waste water, instead of them tipping it down the drain, lets use that waste water, treat it and use it in the making of concrete. And then there are all those elements in the design of our projects that help minimise the delay and congestion of traffic which also minimises CO2 emissions. AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
HYDER CONSULTING Level 5, 141 Walker Street North Sydney NSW 2060 t. 02 8907 9000 f. 02 8907 9001 www.hyderconsulting.com
MH How do you minimise the impacting traffic? GS Microsimulation modelling of the traffic flow. We go down to the nth detail in modelling the traffic streams, making sure we can make that as efficiently as possible. And so we’re quite skilled at that type of work now. We’re also moving into other quite different sustainability areas. We did a piece of work for Fairshare, in Victoria. Food Rescue was the project. What they do is take waste food from a lot of the restaurants and then distribute it to the homeless. We looked at the waste generated by groups like Coles and Woolworths and ended up proving that there was a huge environmental benefit for these outlets in reusing their waste food and giving it to the homeless as well as the obvious social benefits. And because all this potential waste was being consumed there was a considerable carbon footprint savings. It’s been enormously successful. MH Environmental and heritage concerns have given rise to quite dramatic changes in construction practise in the past two or three decades. Do you see anything else that is equivalent to environmental concerns that is likely to drive change in the future? GS It’s beyond the immediate environment now. It’s really looking at the whole of the life of a piece of infrastructure. Sustainability is dear to my heart, my family house is sustainable - including a chemical free home, biodynamic gardening water re-use and those sorts of things, so its dear to my heart. And rather than just designing and building for a twenty or thirty year design life, it’s looking beyond that. In a sustainability sense with infrastructure, we’re early days yet. You can get a five star or six star rating on a fridge but we cant do it with infrastructure yet. You can on a building, not quite there on infrastructure but it’s something we’re driving towards. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
MH Inbuilt obsolescence was a recognised and accepted part of manufacturing processes in the last decades of the twentieth century, and also spread to other sectors, including construction. You seem to want to address some of the anomalies and contradictions this strategy implies. GS Yeah, I hate seeing a piece of infrastructure being built and then fifteen, twenty years later knocked down again. I see a requirement for a piece of infrastructure to be in place a lot longer. Which is good. I mean in fact its back to the future. I’m continually amazed at the forefathers of engineering who did really good long range visionary planning for our cities. It’s essentially disappeared. Instead, there’s been a lot of short term thinking. But by just knocking something down and building something new there’s a massive cost in a sustainability sense. So there’s some quite different thinking coming through I think that today when we’re designing things we also need to take into account the cost of the inbuilt energy, which includes the value of existing elements and their replacement costs. And keeping whatever is savable and not just dumping everything and starting from scratch. MH So, short term planning leads to problems of sustainability. I’d like you to illustrate what the opposite would look like. GS We’ve just done some long range planning for Hanoi in Vietnam, a great historic city with some fantastic architecture. Our brief was to design a city of twenty million people which is carbon neutral, and to plan out for a period of one hundred years. What really prompted them to look at that was that the Hanoi Metro was being planned and how can you plan a metro if you don’t know what the shape of the city is going to be like. So, amazing new thinking had to go into that. I don’t see any of that in Australia. I see a lot short term planning and we really have to push out the planning horizons and start getting a few more of the sustainability goals into our planning concepts for our cities. MH What do you see for the future for Hyder and for yourself? GS Hyder is a medium sized company by world standards but we have the kind of global knowledge and exchange of ideas that enables us to solve client problems outside of the box, as it were, and so that’s the beauty of a true global consultant. So the future for Hyder is to be even more integrated globally and get even closer to our clients. And I often find in my position, which I enjoy greatly, being across all our sectors, water, property, environment, transport, finding what is business as usual in one sector is quite innovative in another. Whereas you might have the RTA or VicRoads applying best practice for roads and highway construction, it’s very hard for them to get outside that sector, and so as a consultant coming in you can often apply some quite different thinking and be a source of innovation. I think that the Global Financial Crisis, to paraphrase Paul Keating, was the GFC Hyder had to have. It enabled us to really take a good look at ourselves and meet some challenges and do some things differently. We’ve gone to a national structure now. Our focus on clients has been strong, in fact we’ve reduced our number of clients by over two hundred, because Hyder was trying to everything to everyone and that’s clearly not possible nowadays. Less is more for me. So the future for Hyder is to reach it's potential and for me, I'd love to be part of that journey. ANCR SPECIAL FOCUS
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A GREENER APPROACH FOR CLEANER STORMWATER
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here’s few tasks more unpleasant than clearing foetid muck and rotting debris carried by stormwater. For Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC), it was a job that had to be done, to maintain both the ecological values and tourism values of sites such as Katoomba Falls and Wentworth Falls. Then BMCC installed Baramy Gross Pollutant Traps (GPTs). “Initially at Katoomba Falls there was only a vertical trash rack, which once it was loaded, tops over, with the debris going down into the Warragamba Dam catchment,” explained BMCC’s Geoffrey Smith. “One of the rare and endangered species there, the Dwarf Mountain Pine, was being affected also, as the amount of sediment going over the falls was smothering plants, as well as the sediment attracting weeds. Previously, we would need volunteers to abseil down the Falls to dislodge sediment and remove the weeds. “As it is a National Park and World Heritage Area, we wanted to improve the water quality and stop the sediment. A dual vane Baramy GPT system was installed; a vane array guides the water into the containment bay where it slows the water and traps the sediment, while the gross pollutants are also collected by the GPT system. One metre of sediment was trapped during the big rain event in February, literally a full truck load was saved from entering the natural Watercourse. “The previous situation was an ongoing problem – our maintenance crews hated the trash rack; they would have to wear waders and deal 20
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with decomposed rubbish and localised fish kills. With the new system they come in with a bobcat, use the ramp that’s installed, scoop out the collected pollutants, which contains anything and everything – pallets, urban rubbish, shopping trolleys – it works really well. Now it is one of the devices they keep an eye on and maintain regularly.” Baramy are designers of innovative pollution control devices for storm and waste water systems, and pioneers of the “Dry Rubbish Principle”. This is the separation of rubbish from the water flow, preventing toxic fermentation of the mix of man-made and natural pollutants, which gets swept into stormwater with every heavy rain. The success of the Baramy GPT at Katoomba since it was installed five years ago, and the success of the GPT installed 18 months ago at Wentworth Falls made the innovation a logical choice for use around the Wentworth Falls Lake, to protect adjacent hanging swamps. Sediment was smothering the swamps and introducing exotic weeds, and the velocity of storm water was also damaging these Federal and State listed endangered ecological communities (EECs). A Baramy GPT slowing the water down and collecting the sediment allowed BMCC to use innovative soft engineering techniques for rehabilitation of the hanging swamps, a project which was recognised with a national biodiversity award. “We created a stormwater treatment train at the urban interface,” said Geoffrey. “If we are looking after the macro, then the micro AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
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can look after itself. The Baramy’s are proving to be easier to maintain (than previously used products) and produce better environmental outcomes.” Baramy GPTs operate on the principle of ‘let the water do the work’. They were invented by Designer Peter Bennett and his father, John Kevin Bennett, working with the principles of physics and engaging in a process of designing, testing and refining Perspex models. The resulting GPTs, constructed of concrete and galvanised steel, use the storm water’s momentum to direct suspended solids into a quickdraining containment bay. The innovative excellence of the Baramy Gross Pollutant Trap was recognised with an Australian Design Award in 1997, and in 2003 won the Western Sydney Industry Award in the category of Environmental Management - Development and Manufacture of Environmental Systems, Products, Technology or Services. “Our systems allow the rubbish to dry and reduce the nutrient level in stormwater,” said Baramy Director and Designer, Peter Bennett. “They are sustainable, visible and educational. High levels of organics going into the stormwater outlets are prevented, which is better for the environment, as we are not overloading waterways with high nutrient loads. The Baramy Traps have the hydraulic efficiency to cope with a wide range of flows and velocities as well as being one of the most environmentally sound products on the market”. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
“An inlet protection system we installed at Camden replaced one which would block every time it rained. The area went from a three month drainage period to 2-3 days, and the amount of regeneration of native vegetation since is due to both the reduction of gross pollutants, including sediments, and the reduced period of saturation.” Baramy offers a range of sizes and configurations, from multi-bay systems with Baramy Energy Dissipators capable of slowing and cleaning peak flows in large urban storm water channels though to basket system suitable for rain gardens. Marulan Service Centre has just installed Baramy baskets for the rain gardens which are a feature of its recent redevelopment. Penrith City Council now specify dry cell traps for all their new developments, and Baramy systems have been incorporated into the highly awarded water harvesting project at Orange, NSW. Installation of standard GPTs can be done in one day; larger more complex designs are cast in-situ. Options available to customise traps for specific sites include access ramps, wet and dry sedimentation pits, oil skimmers, lids (both trafficable and non trafficable) and security fencing.
Baramy Engineering Pty Ltd PO Box 357 Katoomba NSW 2780 t. 02 4782 5741/1300 302 269 f. 02 4782 3430 e. info@baramy.com.au www.baramy.com.au ANCR ANCR ESD SPECIAL SPECIAL FEATURE FOCUS
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BRANCHING OUT IN THEIR TRADE
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othing is wasted when Advance Tree Lopping (ATL) undertake a job. At Hinze Dam for example, where the company has been at work for the last four years undertaking clearing for the dam’s expansion, mulch produced by their operations goes to the Condong Sugar Mill for electricity generation. Wood which can be productively used is taken to the mill operated by ATL founder, Wayne Seaward, milled and slabbed, and turned into timber products – some of which will probably be going back to Hinze Dam for use in the landscaping works.
Coast City Council, for use in waterways as fish habitat, to prevent silt and erosion issues and for slowing down storm water flows.”
“We try and recycle everything we can,” said Wayne.
The company’s core of expertise in tree lopping is regularly called on for insurance jobs, maintenance of trees for Gold Coast City Council, Logan City Council and Brisbane City Council and for tree surgery on commercial, residential and civil projects. All ATL’s workers are extremely well-trained in avoiding the occupational risks involved in
“We have just sold timber back to the Brisbane Airport Link which came from trees we cleared for that project. We also supply a lot of trees with stumps intact which we have removed from jobs to the Gold 22
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ATL recently added an inline grinder to their mobile plant, giving them the capability to remove trees from sites and immediately mulch them efficiently. The company also owns and operates three excavators, two cherry pickers, skidders, five chippers, seven trucks, stump grinders, bobcats and dozers, which are at work across civil projects, residential developments and Councils in South East Queensland.
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
arboreal manoeuvres such as using chainsaws at heights; a testament to their excellent OH&S is the company’s impeccable, LTI-free safety record since commencing business in 1992. ATL have completed a broad range of assignments recently, including remedial and routine maintenance works at Amberley, clearing for new roads for Logan City Council, and both tree lopping and clearing for Delfin’s Woodlands residential development. Regular civil contractor clients include Thiess John Holland, Shamrock Civil, Baulderstone, D Nash, BMD and CB Constructions. Committed to a professional approach, ATL’s management are working with other established businesses in the field to develop an industry association and code of conduct for tree lopping and WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
clearing, incorporating the environmental and worker safety aspects which are fundamental to best practice in the trade.
Advance Tree Lopping Pty Ltd PO Box 1276 Beenleigh QLD 4207 t. 1300 85 1515 f. 07 3805 1468 m. 0402 20 9925 e. advancetree@austarnet.com.au ANCR ANCR ESD SPECIAL SPECIAL FEATURE FOCUS
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Reed Construction Data moves forward as Cordell Information
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eed Construction Data, Australia’s premier provider of construction information for the past 41 years, has changed their name to Cordell Information. This change took effect from July 1. The Cordell name is a “household” word within the construction industry, so after seven years known as Reed Construction Data it was decided to reflect this rich history with the new brand, Cordell Information. In addition, the Reed Information Services tender notification division will be brought under the new Cordell Information brand. This change won’t alter the structure or personnel of the company, which will continue to provide innovative information solutions and services to its customers. Cordell Information remains part of Reed Business Information Pty Ltd, which is a wholly owned division of Reed Elsevier, the world’s leading provider of professional information solutions in the science, legal, business, medical and construction sectors. The name change to Cordell Information was timed to coincide with the release of upgraded versions of two of Cordell Information’s flagship products - Cordell Connect and Cordell Estimator.
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“This is not a case of going back to the old Cordell brand but moving into the future with a new, vibrant brand that represents where we are as a business today yet respects and recognises the rich history of Cordell. The name change will not affect our management, operations or our strong commitment to our clients, suppliers and partners. This commitment is, and will remain, the cornerstone of the service we provide,” said Chief Executive Officer, Rob Wild. Cordell has been providing information on construction projects and construction costs to its Australian customers since 1969 and more recently tender notification for all industries. Cordell Information helps their customers pinpoint profitable business opportunities, where and when they are needed. Cordell Information has 160 dedicated employees with offices in Sydney (Head Office), Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. The company is split into three divisions - Cordell Construction Projects, Cordell Costing Solutions and Cordell Tenders Online. The Projects division concentrates on researching and tracking construction projects from early planning right through to when AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
construction actually commences. Cordell's products have been developed to enable flexible delivery options ranging from hard copy bulletins through to their state of the art online tool, Cordell Connect. The Costing group provides continually updated building cost information on a vast range of building materials, labour, and equipment hire. Supply and fix costings form the backbone of this division and enable users to estimate efficiently and accurately. Flexible delivery options include printed, electronic and web-based solutions. Fully functional estimating software is also available to help users manage their information requirements more effectively.
Cordell Information has worked with some impressive clients including Boral, CSR, Bovis Lend Lease and Leighton Contractors. If you are looking for construction sales leads, vital market intelligence, innovative estimating solutions for builders or the latest tender information then Cordell Information has the solution for you!
The third division, Cordell Tenders Online, keeps customers informed of the latest tender opportunities across almost every industry sector. Tender notification gives customers access to a huge array of potential opportunities from small local jobs right through to some of the largest Government contracts. Cordell Information also produces a range of insurance-related products that interrogate and interpret building cost data. This gives users who are unfamiliar with the specialised area of building estimating, the ability to produce insurance valuation and claims estimates quickly and accurately. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
Cordell Information Level 10, 10 Help Street Chatswood NSW 2067 t. 1800 80 60 60 e. marketing@cordell.com.au www.cordell.com.au ANCR SPECIAL FOCUS
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CINTEC ANCHORING THE PAST TO ENSURE THE FUTURE
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hen a Heritage structure needs reinforcing, or even worse, deteriorates dramatically, Cintec Australasia are the experts to call. The unique patented Cintec anchors and socks have been used to rehabilitate, protect and strengthen structures around the world, including some of the oldest constructed landmarks in the Middle East. In Australia, Cintec’s first project was the refit by internal reinforcing of Newcastle’s Christ Church Cathedral after the 1989 earthquake. 4,000m of anchors were installed, making it still one of the world’s largest ever internal reinforcing jobs. Cintec Director, Bill Jordan, gave expert advice as a specialist conservation engineer and structural engineer, ensuring a successful outcome and launching Cintec onto the Australian market. Cintec has trained installers around the nation, backed up by Bill’s recognised expertise in Heritage structures. The Cintec anchors are fast to install; manufactured in Wales from stainless steel, they meet the Australian Standard AS/NZ 2699.1:2000 for Inclusions in Masonry. The polyester sock and grout are manufactured in Germany, and both Portland Cement-based Grout and pure Lime Grout are available. When a project requires a rapid response, such as the 2009 reattachment of the parapet to the Rail Bridge in Sydney, grout or any other parts can be flown out to minimise delays. “Cintec products turn unreinforced masonry into reinforced masonry,” said Bill. “This gives increased resistance to such action as earthquakes, wind shear, ground vibrations and heavy traffic; in Europe the products have also been used for blast strengthening.” 26
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Old Parliament House in Canberra has Cintec strength. The project managers for the building’s conservation refurbishment needed a way to preserve the existing cement render, which had become ‘drummy’. A grid of 75mm long Cintec CHS anchors was used to ensure the render could not detach from the walls. Also in Canberra, the Yarralumla Brickworks chimney was repaired with Cintec CHS10 anchors up to 2.2 m long, after time and lightning strikes had damaged the brickwork and comprised structural stability; then the whole structure was fitted with an internal frame acting compositely with the brickwork using Cintec corbel anchors to strengthen for earthquakes . Bill Jordan also provided the structural analysis and conservation advice for this Heritage preservation project. In Tasmania, Australia’s oldest surviving brick arch bridge, the Red Bridge across the Elizabeth River at Campbelltown completed in AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
the high shear forces across the brick/concrete interface to achieve the composite structural action.
From left to right: Yarralumla Brickworks Chimney (Canberra), Red Bridge (Campbelltown), Christ Church Cathedral (Newcastle) from the north-west, Christ Church Cathedral (Newcastle) from the north, Duck Creek Culvert (Granville)
1838, was given structural strength to the new SM1600 loading. The clay brick bridge on the main highway between Launceston and Hobart was rehabilitated by Cintec and Van Ek Contracting of Tasmania working as an alliance, utilising 54-30mm dia X 5m long anchors installed over a period of several weeks. The project was undertaken in 2000, and after a decade of test by traffic, shows every sign of ensuring the bridge is fit for purpose for another century or so. In 2009, Railcorp engaged Bill Jordan & Associates to analyse the structure of the Duck Creek Culvert at Granville and develop strengthening recommendations. The 6 metre span brick arch culvert carries three tracks of the suburban rail system, and overloading had produced structural failure. The solution proposed was a thin concrete lining which acted compositely with the existing brick structure; Cintec anchors were the only system capable of transferring WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
Cintec anchors made from 20 mm deformed stainless steel reinforcement bar were installed in 80 mm diameter holes, the hole diameter being determined by the need to distribute the large shear forces into the brickwork. Only Cintec gives the ability to design the anchor body and hole size independently to optimise the stress distribution in an anchor installation. The installed anchors were then used to support standard concrete reinforcement for the “shotcrete” lining, which was given tightly specified smooth finish to enhance the culvert’s storm water flow capacity. Cintec works in close collaboration with a project’s engineering and architecture team during the design phase to ensure any refit, refurbishment, Heritage repair or conservation project gets the ideal result – 21st century structural strength and integrity which does not detract from a structure’s visual appearance or Heritage values.
Cintec Australasia t. 02 4929 4841 f. 02 4949 7933 e. solutions@cintec.com.au www.cintec.com ANCR SPECIAL FOCUS
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Experience beyond their years
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nternational Quadratics has been a supplier to the swimming pool and spa industry since the early 1970’s and pioneered many products and chemicals into this market. In 2008 International Quadratics acquired the assets of A.H.Pierce (Pierce Pool Supplies) and formed an even stronger brand that is highly recognised within their field. Pierce Pool Supplies was established in 1898 as a wholesale distributor of hardware products. In the late 1930’s the Australian Government introduced a ‘stimulus package” to help our country rise out of the great depression. They loaned significant amounts of money to local councils in order to fund the installation of sewerage systems and substantially large, public swimming pools. Pierce Pool Supplies was the original importer and packer of chlorine based products for swimming pools. They introduced a specialised chlorinated rubber paint (Swiftvulc) suitable for painting the popular concrete pools. The Swiftvulc brand is still available today and is used extensively in many of the older style swimming pools. Over the years, the range of swimming pool products available from Pierce Pool Supplies has expanded, and today their catalogue features
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over 3000 product lines including personal swimming accessories, sports equipment, pool furnishings, storage equipment, chemical dosing equipment and an extensive range of chemicals. Pierce Pool Supplies stock a large selection of products for commercial pools including government, council and community pools, public and private schools, swim schools, hospitals and hotels. The unmatched knowledge and experience gained over many years is the reason the company has become the No.1 supplier to commercial swimming pools throughout Australia. Their trained staff and range of specialised chemicals can solve almost any problem encountered by commercial pool and spa operators. International Quadratics supplied many of the products to the new fitness complex at Amberley Air Base in Queensland, which included the starting blocks, lane ropes, solar blankets and water polo equipment. You will find more information on the Amberley Air Base in this edition. The Presbyterian Ladies College at Croydon have fitted out their pool almost exclusively from International Quadratics. Pool furnishings have included learn to swim equipment, storage equipment and a Granudos dry chemical feeder system. AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
In recent years International Quadratics has introduced world leading technology to the commercial and public pool market and are now being recognised as experts in commercial pool water treatment. Many architectural engineers use International Quadratics when specifying a new fit out or pool build, as they are able to obtain technical specifications for most equipment from one single source. OH&S, Environmental Protection Act and WorkSafe regulations now make the use of dry chlorine an attractive option to the traditional dosing of liquid chlorine. International Quadratics have supplied many Granudos automatic controllers and feeders around the Country, which can be used to dose dry chlorine to pools from 1,000 litres up to 4,000,000 litres. HMAS Creswell at Nowra have recently fitted several of the Granudos units for their swimming pools and effluent water treatment. When it comes to EPA and WorkSafe regulations, International Quadratics are able to help clients meet stringent industry requirements while minimising financial outlay. International Quadratics knowledge, WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
connections and buying power allows them to be extremely competitive in their industry. The management and staff offer a level of experience and knowledge in Pool and Spa water treatment which is second to none in Australia. The company is committed to providing their customers with the highest quality in products, packaging, service and technical assistance. This commitment extends to their continual search for new and innovative products.
International Quadratics Pty Ltd Po Box 395, 1/16 Nelson Ave Padstow NSW 2211 t. 02 9790 4200 f. 02 9790 5200 www.pierce.com.au ANCR SPECIAL FOCUS
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SUPER-SKILLS WITH STEEL Q ueensland construction projects can now call on Active Steel Pty Ltd to provide them with their reinforcement requirements opening a new 2,000m² facility in Crestmead in January 2009. Active Steel is a privately owned Australian family business which commenced operations in Sydney NSW in 1995, specialising in the manufacture, supply and delivery of steel reinforcing product. The company is one of the most technologically advanced operations within the industry. Significant investment in the latest computer aided design and European manufacturing systems have given Active Steel the ability to produce to exacting tolerances with speed and efficiency. Active Steel’s Crestmead facility has also been fitted out with the latest technology for the cutting and bending of steel. “This represents a significant investment” explains the company’s owner, Terry Stokes, “Everything is brand new and we have the most up to date equipment available from Europe.” Active Steel has experienced and quality personnel to be able to deliver on the most challenging of projects, combined with an open and innovative approach and advanced manufacturing facilities it is not surprising they are involved in some of the largest projects past and presently underway in NSW. The majority of their projects have been civil infrastructure – bridges, sewerage treatment plants, major commercial projects, hospital upgrades and large residential developments. With experience and adaptability in providing the required product efficiently and within time and scheduling constraints, Active Steel 30
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also communicates and coordinates with clients to establish the most effective solutions to challenges presented. As the Queensland building boom continues its momentum, they are looking forward to providing superior service and product across the full spectrum of civil infrastructure, commercial, industrial and residential projects. Active Steel’s Crestmead operation will offer a full range of reinforcing products and services – Reinforcement Detailing Service, Square and Rectangular Mesh, Engineered Mesh, Pile Cages, Swimming Pool Steel, offsite prefabrication of columns and beams, Cutting and Bending of Bar and delivery of goods to site/store. A complete range of accessories will also be available for the tying and placement of reinforcement steel. With full third party accreditation by ACRS (Australian Certification Authority for Reinforcing Steels) products are made to meet the Australian Standard (AS/NZ4671), Active Steel is also a member of the SRIA (Steel Reinforcement Institute of Australia).
ACTIVE STEEL PTY LTD 44 Magnesium Drive Crestmead QLD 4132 t. 07 3803 7304 f. 07 3803 7194 e. activesteel@pnc.com.au www.activesteel.com.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
In Good Hands S
M Interiors specialises in lightweight walls and ceilings for apartments and commercial buildings. This family owned business has been growing successfully for many years. The companies experience enables them to take on even the most difficult of projects, putting them ahead of their competitors. S M Interiors have worked on many notable developments such as; Crown Casino Melbourne, Eureka Residential Apartments, Foreign Affairs Building Canberra, Governor Macquarie and Governor Phillip in Sydney, the refurbishment of GPO Martin Place Sydney and many other projects that are not mentioned here. As part of their ongoing commitment to Occupational Health & Safety, S M Interiors provides support, training and instructions to each of their employees to maximise their health and safety when working onsite. By ensuring all workers are highly trained in safe workplace practices, S M Interiors is able to enhance the health and safety of their employees and minimise workplace risk and injury. S M Interiors takes advantage of all the latest industry innovations such as new and improved tools and materials. By keeping up to date with advancements in the construction industry, S M Interiors are able to supply the highest level of service to their clients. Waste minimisation, pollution control and related health issues are also high on their agenda. S M Interiors carefully plans and evaluates each project and they have built a solid reputation when it comes to taking care of these issues and their workers.
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One of the more recent projects S M Interiors has been appointed is the A’Beckett Tower in Melbourne. This $55 million project consists of 287 residential apartments, is over 33 storey’s high and features a unique façade. S M Interiors has embraced the challenge of providing exceptional service on this development and finished the project well ahead of schedule. They now look forward to working on many more landmark buildings throughout Australia.
S M Interiors Pty Ltd 13/39 Walpole Street Kew VIC 3101 contact: Mark Komadina t. 04 1769 5155 f. 03 9077 9601 ANCR SPECIAL FOCUS
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sargent security - for peace of mind
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eliable performance and value for money is what you can always expect to receive from Sargent Security. Forming strong relationships with key stakeholders and clients alike, Sargent Security provides an unrivaled service in the security industry. With offices in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Canberra, Sargent Security has the appropriate resources to secure any project on the Eastern seaboard of Australia. Their dedicated management team caters specifically for construction security, offering cost competitive guarding and patrol solutions for all construction projects, small or large. Some of their major clients Include: • • Leighton Contractors • • John Holland • • Baulderstone • • Laing O’Rourke • • Abigroup Contracting • • Fulton Hogan • • Watpac • • St Hilliers Construction • • Parkview
Meriton Apartments Southern Cross Constructions ADCO Constructions Built NSW FDC Construction & Fit Out Buildcorp Contracting Mainbrace Constructions Richard Crookes Constructions Grindley Constructions
The management team at Sargent Security boasts a combined 60 years of industry experience. With this solid background and knowledge, they have created the best systems and procedures for managing security officers on construction sites. All security officers at Sargent Security are qualified specifically in the strategies and protocols that are required on construction sites. Site-specific duties are drawn up for each individual project and every 32
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guard must demonstrate a sound knowledge and understanding before commencing duties onsite. At Sargent Security safety is a priority, and they have the record to prove it. It is a mandatory requirement that all guards in the construction division have undertaken First Aid Certification and General OH&S Safety Induction relevant to their state. Furthermore, Safe Work Method Statements are completed for every project and implemented onsite before work commences. Sargent Security has numerous patrol vehicles that provide random supervisory checks of staff, as well as responding quickly to alarms and provide back up when required. Sargent Security also supplies additional security solutions by way of alarms, access control, CCTV and back to base monitoring. ‘Our customers rely upon experience, professionalism and competitive pricing consistently choosing to use us first time, every time.’
NSW Master Licence: 409 660 995 QLD Firm Number: 3239319
Victorian Licence Number: 796-753-01S ACT Master Licence: 1750 1895
sargent security australia wide Level 1, 199 Woodpark Road Smithfield NSW 2164 t. 02 9604 0644 f. 02 9729 0998 www.sargentsecurity.com.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
graham group in focus
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he Graham Group has been setting the benchmark for product, service and quality for over 50 years.
As a leading manufacturer of steel products and hot dip batch galvanising services in Australia, the Graham Group has developed commanding positions in FORGEBAR® Steel and non-steel Grating, Drainage, BALL TUBE® Handrail, Steel Lintels and Galvanising. The group services markets in infrastructure, mining, residential, commercial, industrial and utilities markets with fabricated steel and Aluminium products. The recently completed shared pathway at Red Bluff, Eleebana, NSW, clearly showcases the Group’s capability in supplying and manufacturing Weldlok® fibreglass walkways and Weldlok® Aluminium grating infill panels. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
With dedicated branches located across Australia, Graham Group has the knowledge, products, quality and reputation for customer service.
●Galintel® ●Galvanising ● Rolling Mill ●Mastermesh® ●Weldlok®
Graham Group contact: Geoff Lee 117-153 Rookwood Rd Yagoona NSW 2199 t. 02 9707 5000 f. 02 9790 1013 www.grahamgroup.com.au ANCR SPECIAL FOCUS
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BD Harvest Pty Ltd B
D Harvest is well known for providing a reliable and flexible service to our customers and maintains a quality fleet of trucks and equipment. We have a large range of walk-in-bins starting from 6 cubic metre bins to 30 cubic metre bins. Size range is 6m, 8m, 10m, 16m, 20m and 30m3. We also have a range of Lug Bins that have been certified to be used by cranes. As a fully certificated waste transport asbestos specialist, BD Harvest services have been in high demand on many high profile projects throughout the state including Mercy Hospital in Albury, 150 Clarendon Rd, East Melbourne, Bourke St, Myers and Bandiana in Wodonga. “We are here to provide a service to make your life easier not harder� 34
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Call BD Harvest on 0408 128 402 or 9333 2442 or email bdharvest@bigpond.com AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
COMPLETE CUT – A Cut Above the Rest C omplete Cut is a Canberra-based concrete cutting and drilling company that offers exceptional service and outstanding results to their clients.
as Construction Control, Bovis and Hindmarsh. “We pride ourselves on going on-site and working closely with the foremen to ensure we offer the best possible service to our clients,” Mr Clark said.
Although Complete Cut is a small company with less than ten employees, they make up for their size by providing a large range of services and cutting edge technology to the building and construction industry.
“As a result, we have really enjoyed working with our clientele and are looking forward to further opportunities to provide our expert services to exciting projects in the near future,” he said.
With a 680-deep road saw and a 920-deep wall saw, the largest of their kind in Australia, Complete Cut is able to perform any job, no matter how big or small.
It is without a doubt that Complete Cuts technological and industry experience makes them a ‘cut above the rest’ and as a result, your company’s first concrete cutting and drilling choice.
In addition, their unique electric road saw produces no fumes whatsoever and unlike regular fuel powered saws, can even be used indoors. Furthermore, such technology makes it an environmentally sustainable choice to use on-site. Another unique service Complete Cut is able to provide clients with is a drill bit capable of drilling holes of widths up to 800mL, a first of its’ kind in Australia. Given such expertise and their ability to be on-site with minimal notice, it is no surprise Complete Cut has been involved in a string of prolific building and construction projects across NSW and the ACT. Duane Clark, Director of Complete Cut, said they had recently been involved in major projects for a number of high profile companies such WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
COMPLETE CUT OPERATORS contact: Duane Clark t. 02 6294 3495 f. 02 6294 6618 e. completecut@atrax.net.au ANCR SPECIAL FOCUS
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cost solutions W
ill construction costs rise or fall in 2010? This is just one of the critical topics addressed by Mitchell Brandtman in a recent update to clients and a strong indicator of the company’s commitment to providing the industry with both quality services and informative accurate information. A dynamic Quantity Surveying and Construction Costs Management company, Mitchell Brandtman provides comprehensive, hands on specialist services to your construction projects including Budgeting, Estimating, Contract Administration, Asset Services, Procurement and Finance Management as well as a comprehensive consultancy providing Construction Expert Opinion for legal cases should the need arise. While celebrating 40 years in the business this year, Mitchell Brandtman have retained a youthful, innovative and vibrant attitude promoting proactive thinking and a collaborative environment which benefits all parties involved in the project.
Q
ueanbeyan-based ACT Horizontal and Directional Boring offer a wide range of drilling and boring services from basic sprinkler bores under footpaths and driveways to multiple pipes under major roads, trees and buildings.
This factor is greatly appreciated by Mitchell Brandtman’s valued clients who reap the benefit of proper cost control generating real savings. With offices in New South Wales, Queensland and Canberra and associated groups in other Australian states, Mitchell Brandtman is well positioned to handle projects throughout Australia. Mitchell Brandtman Thailand completes our network servicing projects throughout the Asian region. Mitchell Brandtman Unit 10 15 - 23 Kumulla Rd Miranda NSW 2229 contact Greg Brandtman t. 02 9525 8000 f. 02 9540 2553 e. syd@mitbrand.com www.mitbrand.com
ACTHDB maintain an impressive fleet of equipment and highly skilled workforce and are well-equipped to handle both large and small size projects.
ACTHDB’s trenchless solutions are particularly effective as they can be applied to situations when work is required around trees, garden beds and houses without causing damage to the property. Since taking over the business in 2005, owners David Sturzaker and Paul Engel have built on the company’s solid reputation and expanded their portfolio of projects to include the upgrade of hospital car parks, expansion of schools, relocation of service utilities on major road upgrades and several projects at Canberra Airport. 36
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ACT HORIZONTAL & DIRECTIONAL BORING 1126 Old Cooma Road Queanbeyan ACT 2620 contact: David Sturzaker t. 02 6299 7555 f. 02 6299 7655 e. acthdb@live.com.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
AVOIDING EMBEDDED RISKS D
rilling into a concrete wall can be a risky proposition – beneath the surface lie PTC’s, services, power cables and data/ communications lines. The Concrete Scanning Company, based in Brisbane, are specialists in high resolution concrete scanning (formerly known as X-raying) and 3D Imaging. They provide clear, precise and easy-to-understand Imaging Reports of what lies within and below concrete and other structural materials. Concrete Scanning minimises risks for any company or industry where there is a need to cut, core or drill through concrete structures; the accurate identification of sub-surface elements means a clear, hazard-free path can be determined. Their services are also of enormous value in determining cover depth, detecting utilities and voids as well as locating pipes and conduits. This is need-to-know information for projects such as refurbishments, especially where existing structural and services data is inaccurate, or incomplete.
to in order to strengthen the existing structure,” explained Concrete Scanning Company spokesman, Ian Groom. “Lately a lot of our projects have been testing concrete structures for steel size, location and cover depth to ensure they are up to safety standards of load bearing. These vary from large commercial offices in Melbourne to residential homes in the Sunshine Coast. Most Property Building Managers now demand Concrete Scanning be carried out before anybody is allowed to core or drill in their building. This is simply to prevent any costly mistakes and embarrassment if services, data or electrical cables are hit.” Concrete Scanning Company are constantly in demand for scanning floors, ceilings and walls of retail malls and commercial buildings for proposed core holes required by plumbing or electrical services. Essentially, they provide the structural equivalent of dialling before you dig.
The company uses the latest Canadian Conquestview scanning system combined with state of the art Imaging software, capable of scanning to a depth of 1 metre whilst providing mapping images of every 25mm depth slice. “In a recent project we were scanning the roadbridge for clear routes for dowel holes to be cored into the side of the bridge. This was to avoid the structural steel inside the existing part so the bridge could be expanded across the road to ease traffic flow. We scanned each ends of the bridge as well as the middle pylons to allow them to be added WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
THE CONCRETE SCANNING COMPANY 45 Tilquin Street The Gap QLD 4061 t. 04 3058 1993 f. 07 3162 6821 e. info@theconcretescanningcompany.com.au www.theconcretescanningcompany.com.au ANCR SPECIAL FOCUS
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style, service and sustainability
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etro Tiles, an Australian-owned business specialising in the supply of quality tile, stone and glass products, was established over 50 years ago and has its head office in Brisbane. Metro Tiles prides itself on its use of environmentally friendly manufacturing processes and its sourcing of the latest ecologically sustainable products. The company supplies a range of projects, from small jobs to major infrastructure works, across all facets of the building industry in Australia and the rest of Oceania. Its range is vast, encompassing everything from external tiles to wall and floor tiles to cladding, natural stone and feature and mosaic tiles. Metro Tiles’ purpose-built bulk warehouse facilities enable the importing and stocking of hundreds of thousands of square metres of tile, stone and glass, which means delivery times are reduced and that there is minimal batch variation. As a result of its long-standing relationships with the top international manufacturing plants, Metro Tiles is able to provide its customers with trendsetting and exclusive designs that come with a very competitive price tag. Its dedicated and highly experienced staff are committed to providing exceptional service and insightful professional advice. Central to the Metro Tiles philosophy is its ‘Footprint’; that is, the impression the company leaves on the people it has dealings with and
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the places where its products are used. The Footprint encompasses three key elements that are embedded in every aspect of the business: style, service and sustainability. Currently, Metro Tiles products are being used in the construction of the Queensland Emergency Operations Centre at Kedron Park, a $71 million state-of-the-art communications and disaster coordination facility that will be the largest of its type in the southern hemisphere. Other recent projects Metro Tiles has supplied include the Brisbane domestic and international airport passenger terminal extensions, and other major infrastructure works such as the Princess Alexandra Hospital redevelopment and the Titans NRL Football Stadium facilities on the Gold Coast.
Metro Tiles Head Office P/L 192 Granite Street Geebung Brisbane QLD 4034 contact: Lorenzo Colussa t. 07 3216 5800 f. 07 3216 5254 m. 0409 511 600 e. lorenzo@metrotiles.com.au www.metrotiles.com.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
SCAFFOLDING that DESERVES A STANDING OVATION R
estricted access, curves, heights, and a Heritage building with a timber sub floor – there’s a set of challenges to give the average scaffolding company. Fortunately for Kane Constructions and the Brisbane City Hall, Superhire, a part of the Uni-Span Group, are anything but an average scaffolding company. They have the skills, products and experience to deliver a customised solution which ticks all the boxes – safely providing access to the work sites within the main auditorium. Steel was not an option given the risk to the underlying timber; but Superhire’s Ali-Scaff is entirely made of aluminium, reducing the load on the floor considerably while still having the strength and weight-bearing qualities required. Ali-Scaff is also comprised of components which could be delivered through the narrow patron entries which were the only access to the work site. The scaffolding needed to provide a safe working platform for reconstruction of the 25m high domed roof of the auditorium, which at 80 years old is a valued part of Brisbane’s architectural and cultural history. Superhire utilised their design skills and 3D CAD modelling to customise a solution which could address all the difficulties, such as putting scaffolding over the curved upper balconies and allowing for the safe removal of the 120 year old pipe organ for refurbishment and protection, during ceiling works. 30 years of experience in the business gives Superhire the knowledge to resolve these technical design elements and provide world class solutions. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
The package provided entailed 20,000 cubic metres of scaffolding erected in two weeks, which are due to remain on site for six months. The final result – one satisfied contractor and one works program proceeding safely and securely.
Key features: Ali-Scaff – manufactured by SuperHire, part of the Uni-Span Group, this aluminium scaffolding is capable of an infinite variety of configurations, quick to assemble and suitable for any location, even in water. Corrosion-proof, lightweight and strong. Safety components: mesh guards, manufactured from aluminium, from 760mm to 3010mm wide, provide worker protection at height, and also prevent tool and material falls to protect those working below. Access components: ladder access hatches and ladder access transoms; designed to complement Uni-Span Aluminium Ladders and Access Stairs. We are proud to be involved in the preservation of this important Brisbane icon. superhire pty ltd (Member of Uni-span Group)
16 Computer Road Yatala QLD 4207 t. 07 3386 1224 f. 07 3807 1954 e. peter@superhire.com.au www.superhire.com.au ANCR SPECIAL FOCUS
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energy efficient solutions C ommitted to providing sustainable building service solutions and delivering energy efficient results, AE Smith is ahead of its game.
AE Smith was engaged on a Design and Construct contract for the Leighton HQ project in Brisbane with Ashley Robinson as Senior Project Manager. The HQ development is a commercial office precinct consisting of two office towers, which provides 43,500m2 of commercial office and boutique retail space. Following on from a solid conceptual design foundation set by Floth sustainable building consultants, AE Smith focused on detailed design and delivering a building services system that would achieve the highest quality in energy efficiencies. The HQ project was recently recognised by the Green Building Council of Australia, as a world leader (6 Green Stars) in environmentally sustainable office design. The installation has attained a 60% reduction in greenhouse emissions, as well as reaching the top energy ranking from the National Australian Built Environmental rating system. AE Smith is the largest, privately owned mechanical services contractor in Australia. Their team boasts 650+ professionals and is organised into four separate, yet complementary, business units. Each unit focuses on its core competency and together, delivers solutions to clients across Australia. 40
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These units consist of the following: • Heating, Ventilation & Air Condition (HVAC) • Mechanical Services • Building Technologies • Energy Efficiency. AE Smith also secured the contract to design, supply and install a full package cogeneration solution including for Brisbane’s King George Central building. This project represents the first time a mechanical services company – rather than an electrical contractor – has been responsible for delivering the entire cogeneration including full emissions control package in a commercial office building project. Given the amazing success AE Smith has come to embrace, they are certainly in a position to deliver real results for their clients in terms of energy efficiency and overall environmental performance. AE Smith & Son Pty Ltd contact: Steve Jackson - GM for SEQ 107 Fison Avenue West Eagle Farm QLD 4009 t. 07 3332 0333 f. 07 3332 0399 www.aesmith.com.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
strength to strength S tarting the business in 2005, Eureka Steel Fixing has grown from strength to strength. Over the past five and a half years they’ve had the privilege of working on some quality projects such as Southport Central, Green Square, Grande Pacific, Freshwater Point, Allure Apartments, Riverwalk, Kirra Surf, Sierra Grande, Bundall Coorprate Centre, Suncorp Tower, Oracle, Emerald Lakes Stage 1 and Goodna Water Treatment Plant, just to name a few.
One of the methods being used on the Soul project is the double jump form. Jump form describes the method of self-climbing formwork systems which are specifically designed to construct concrete walls and columns in high-rise buildings.
One of the major projects Eureka Steel Fixing is working on at present is the Soul Tower in Surfers Paradise. This high profile complex will stand 77 storey’s high, with up to 288 apartments and 40 retails outlets.
Eureka Steel Fixing specialises in the steel reinforcement of concrete on all types of projects, commercial and residential. Eureka Steel Fixing is well known in the industry for valuing its employees and acknowledging their contribution to the company’s growth.
This method has proven to be cost effective with significant safety qualities as well.
Having commenced work on the Soul Tower in 2008, Eureka Steel has up to 50 steel fixers working on site at any one time. Eureka have found the Soul project a breeze to work on given the support and open communication they have shared with Grocon Management. Grocon is building the $850 million Soul Tower with developers, Juniper. Helen Paximadas, Managing Director of Eureka Steel Fixings said, “Every step of the project is discussed with us and we are able to make a contribution in the everyday workings of the structure.” WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
Eureka Steel Fixing Pty Ltd 4 Barnett Place Molendinar QLD 4214 t. 07 5571 5618 f. 07 5574 5225 ANCR SPECIAL FOCUS
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In the best of Hands
W
ith more than thirty years experience in the construction and associated industries and over five hundred staff, Delta Group is a national company offering a comprehensive range of services, which includes civil construction, bulk excavation, site retention systems, site remediation, hard & soft landscaping, foundation works, demolition, asbestos removal and recycling of building materials. The specialist skills and services of Streetscapes are a natural complement and extension to Delta Group’s capabilities. Streetscapes is one of Australia's largest exterior works contractors with extensive experience and a proven record in civil work, landscaping, environment construction and maintenance. Since 1984 Streetscapes has been involved in a wide range of projects, including Government and Council projects, civil and development works, industrial and residential estates and large infrastructure works. Streetscapes success is a result of their wide range of specialist skills and qualified personnel who are equipped with the knowledge, training and equipment to provide the best possible service for every job. With a team of more than 30 staff, Streetscapes offer clients a one stop shop for all their landscape and horticulture needs. Streetscapes features four core service divisions: • • • •
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Landscaping Re-vegetation / Hydroseeding Turf Management & Landscape Maintenance Commercial Tree Farm ANCR SPECIAL FOCUS
Clockwise from top: Grant Street, Melbourne, Tree Farm, Guilfoyles Volcano Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne.
These core service divisions enable Streetscapes to provide a service which covers all areas from environmental considerations and ongoing maintenance to sourcing and installing unique features, thus completing the total landscape contracting package. Their commercial tree farm houses over 30,000 trees. One significant project they have worked on is the CityLink in Victoria. Streetscapes were responsible for large-scale planting of over two million plants and trees, as well as wetland rock embankments and ongoing maintenance. With their proven work procedures, problem solving skills and effective communication, Streetscapes can provide an optimum world's-bestpractice service to every project.
Streetscapes 577 Plummer Street Port Melbourne VIC 3207 t. 03 9646 8277 f. 03 9646 6877 e. street@streetscapes.com.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
Recruitment Solutions P
eople Resourcing takes pride in providing the highest quality, personally tailored, recruitment services both nationally and internationally. As an Australian owned and operated business, they have offices throughout NSW and QLD. Employing over 3000 people per year, People Resourcing was involved in the supply of skilled and non-skilled labour for the development of the Illawarra Health & Medical Research Institute. This substantial project, worth in excess of $30 million, includes a clinical research and trials unit as well as international standard research laboratories. People Resourcing assisted in resolving issues that arose by supplying specialised tradesman skilled in the task at hand. They also supplied additional labour on short notice during unexpected peak times. People Resourcing is currently the preferred supplier of tradespeople on Australia’s largest construction site, the Airport Link in QLD. Taking the hassle out of payroll, People Resourcing provides payroll solutions for large and small businesses and contractors on a permanent and part-time basis. People Resourcing Unit 1, 14 Beach Street Wollongong NSW 2500 t. 02 4225 1866 f. 02 4225 1899 e. wollongong@peopler.com.au www.peopler.com.au
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the leaders in raised flooring C
ubic Access Floors, established in July 2009, is an Australian distributor, supplier and installer for Tate Access Floors, the US-based company that is the biggest manufacturer of raised flooring products in the world.
any flooring product on the market. Cubic Access Floors’ managing director Rob Migliorino has been instrumental in bringing this product to Australia and Cubic Access Floors is now proud to be supplying it to local architects and builders.
Cubic Access Floors supplies and installs raised access floor systems – ‘false floors’ that allow services such as HVAC, electrical power, voice and data cabling and other utilities to be run along the concrete slab of the floor. “They work in 600x600 tiles in a modular grid system,” explains Cubic’s Andre Neradovsky.
Cubic Access Floors are subscribers to the National Building Specification (NATSPEC), the comprehensive national specification system endorsed by government and professional bodies. NATSPEC is for all building structures, with specialist packages for architects, interior designers, landscape architects, structural engineers, service engineers and domestic owners.
There are many and varied benefits of raised access flooring. It promotes enhanced indoor environmental quality through superior IAQ, ventilation effectiveness and improved acoustics; allows maximum occupant thermal comfort; and easily adapts to technological and organisational changes over the building’s life cycle at low cost. Sustainable advantages include a reduced amount of materials required to deliver HVAC, electrical and data services to the occupants; energy efficiency through greater economiser operation and less fan energy; and reduced waste during reconfiguration by reusing wires, cables, diffusers and PosiTile carpet. Tate has recently developed a wood core flooring product, manufactured in Canada, that has the highest recycled content of 44
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Access flooring and underfloor service distribution offer a more sustainable and cost-effective solution for the design and construction of commercial buildings. For more information, contact Cubic Access Floors.
Cubic Access Floors Unit 4/4 Avenue of Americas Newington NSW 2127 contact: Andre Neradovsky t. 1800 202 490 f. 1300 056 369 m. 0422 037 698 e. andre@cubicgroup.biz AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
Genuine builders deserve genuine industrial building solutions.
Building capabilities
Australian owned and operated, Wide Span Industrial is the industrial division of Wide Span Sheds specialising in the design and supply of prefabricated portal structures ideally suited to complex, nontraditional industrial building applications.
The scope for built up structures is close to limitless with Wide Span Industrial’s proven ability to supply massive buildings up to 11,300 metric tonnes with heights of up to 34 metres and clear spans up to 100 metres. We also provide the capacity for cranes and extra loadings.
For larger projects, Wide Span Industrial use a built up portal system, combined with superior features, advanced engineering and flexible design options. These built up design sections along with balanced connections utilise the best of compression, tension and offset engineering techniques for structural efficiency. A fabricated built up structure, engineered efficiently can be lighter than conventional steel buildings by up to 30%, resulting in significant savings for the building overall.
These pre-engineered fabricated portal buildings are manuactured using state-of-the-art machinery including fully automated, sub-merged arc welding lines in several facilities that currently output more than 120,000 metric tonnes of pre-engineered steel buildings every year.
buildings can be designed and manufactured quickly, usually taking 12 weeks (depending on project size) as opposed to 20-26 weeks with a conventional steel building. The erection process is streamlined in time, due to lightweight sections that are easy to construct without the need for extensive field labour or heavy equipment. The result is a quick to deploy, efficiently designed and cost effective building solution.
Professional service, reliable advice We pride ourselves on quality steel building solutions ideally suited to builders requiring complex, yet economical structures for their building projects.
Building advantages
For professional advice on buildings custom designed to suit your solution requirements,
Under the pre-engineered portal frame, system
Call 1300 WIDE SPAN (1300 94 33 77).
Call 1300 WIDE SPAN (1300 94 33 77) Visit www.widespanindustrial.com.au
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011910
Industrial fabricated frame buildings
Main The foyer reflects the beautiful co-operation between craftspeople, contemporary artists and specialist designers. Inset The shimmering exterior of NewActon - The ApARTments.
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The ApARTments
The finer details are what make this project so special, from beautiful finishes and appliances to the imaginative application of beautiful art.
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Below One of the many apartment types available from this creative project.
a.c.t. on art World class residential achievement adorns the nation’s heart.
Showing a curved glazed façade to the world, The ApARTments reflect Canberra’s coming of age as a cosmopolitan National Capital. Situated on one of the Central City areas main arteries, and with a clear green view across to Lake Burley Griffin, the residential project is the jewel in the crowning achievement of the NewActon development undertaken by Molonglo Group. Fender Katsilidis Architects, responsible for other outstanding projects such as Eureka Tower, designed the 18 level glass, steel and concrete tower, with its distinctive curvilinear design rising from a three story podium. The project offers the most residential amenity of any Canberra project, including a fully equipped gymnasium, theatrette, 600m2 residents-only rooftop garden and secure basement car parking. A pedestrianised internal street comprised of gentle stepping paved and grassed terraces enlivened with public art gives access to an entry lobby designed to impress and inspire, and also provides a seamless link to the multi-award winning NewActon Pavilion
and NewActon East, with its mix of retail, recreational and commercial spaces. The finer details are part of what makes this project so special: stainless steel appliances in chef-standard kitchens featuring stone benchtops; expansive use of double glazing to allow the natural light into homes; high ceilings; luxurious carpeting; stone tiling in bathrooms and exacting fitouts executed to perfection. The double height entry lobby features stone flooring, folded timber cladding panels and distinctive lighting fixtures designed solely for this project. A large number of art pieces were especially commissioned for the project, including paintings by Dan Maginnity and sculptures by Warren Langley and Arthur Wicks, working in contemporary media including optic fibre, LED projections, and waxed rusted mild and stainless steel. Australian sculptors Anne Ferguson and Robin Blau have also created works for the site, as have timber designer/artisans Kevnin Perkins, Gordon Smith and Derek Whiffen.
These art pieces appear throughout the project – adorning the pedestrian access landscape; in the entry lobby; and also in the podium level gardens designed by Oculus, the landscape architects for this project. A motion-sensing interactive sculptural work has also been incorporated into NewActon’s Marcus Clarke Street frontage. A wide variety of apartment sizes have been created, all with proportions commensurate with a private detached home. The ground floor comprises two level loft style apartments with one bedroom, private courtyards and double-height living spaces. Levels two and three of the Podium are also in the majority one bedroom apartments, with balconies and a high standard of fitout and finishes. On level four, garden lovers find paradise in the city, with 1-2-3 bedroom apartments which both open onto the podium’s rooftop garden and feature private gardens for each home. On levels 5 to 10 of the tower, a diverse choice of floor plans allows for a diversity of home styles, all with views of either the lake or the city, Black Mountain and the Brindabellas. From levels 11 to 14 a larger floor plate running the entire length of the tower means every apartment has complete panoramic views. Level 15 has been developed as sub-penthouses with 300m of floor space, multiple balconies and expansive use of glazing to maximise the amenity of the views for residents. On levels 16 and 17 four penthouses with 270 degree views give double storey luxury with a clear eyeline to all the main features of Walter Burley Griffin’s classic plan for the heart of the capital. A landmark in its own right, the combination of quality materials, excellent workmanship and a design which echoes the curves which are a hallmark of the overall design of Canberra, The ApARTments represent an outstanding achievement for the entire team who brought the vision to life.
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Main The design echoes the curves which are a hallmark of the overall design of Canberra's city plan.
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Main Micos Group's new IGU suite contributed to both the appearance and energy efficiency of the building. Insets Sliding or revolving, Micos Group can design the glass door you want.
Design, engineering and production capacities of the highest order went into the façade envelope of The ApARTments at NewActon Stage 2. Micos Group developed an entirely new Insulated Glass Unit (IGU) suite for the project, which not only delivered the distinctive artistic appearance the architect wanted, but also made a major contribution to the project’s outstanding energy efficiency. The façade had to be designed and engineered with particular reference to the slab edge to ensure it appeared to be curtain wall, even though a slab to slab system was used. The entire façade envelope aside from the composite sheet cladding was fabricated and installed by Micos expert teams, and included sliding doors, awnings and fixed panel windows. Micos had a team of seven people working on research and development, drafting, technical, and project management for a period of four to six months to develop the new profiles with the engineers and architect, and to finalise the shop drawings and details which enabled the company’s manufacturing operation to cut the new profiles for the project. Up to twenty staff worked on site undertaking the installation, over a period of six to eight months. “It was a pleasure working with FKM Architects and PBS Building on such a challenging project. The main challenge was designing the new suite to ensure compliance with thermal, structural, acoustic, wind load and aesthetic appeal,” said Con Micos. “The onsite installation required detailed planning for vertical and horizontal movement to the install position. “The project is the highest star rating for energy efficiency, hence all the façade is Insulated Glass Units (IGU’s). It will be a benchmark for units not only in Canberra but in Australia. With the installation of IGU’s, this will allow the occupants to minimize their use of heating and cooling devices, saving energy and the environment.”
on acoustic, thermal and wind compliance which has been showcased on other high profile projects around the country. They specialise in glass and aluminium façade solutions, including high-rise residential aluminium windows and doors; high-rise Unitised Curtain Wall; Public Works; and Architectural and Frameless Glass Entries. The company has the design and engineering capacities to deliver detailed project-specific products, matched by a 13,300m 2 factory complex with state of the art equipment enabling sufficient manufacturing capacity to meet the needs of large numbers of concurrent major projects. Currently, Micos is at work on the entire façade for the Soleil Meriton project in Brisbane. Soleil is a 77 storey masterpiece of residential apartments in Brisbane CBD, encased exclusively with Micos products. These include Unitised Curtain Wall, complemented by awnings, composite cladding, vertical glass feature fins, express box beads, feature glass boxes, horizontal extruded sunshades, awning windows, frameless glass and auto entries. Other projects displaying Micos expertise include the Gloucester Street Apartments for St Hilliers in Sydney and The Royal for Mirvac at Newcastle. The company’s staff of 115 has a skill base including estimating , drafting, project management, procurement, production, research & development, installation, maintenance and service, all with a wealth of knowledge gained from five decades of product development and successful installations. Growing from beginnings in the door and window trade in inner city Sydney, the family run operation has expanded their capacities in leaps and bounds, while maintaining core values of integrity, quality and ongoing innovation. For more information contact Micos Group, 318 Horsley Road Milperra NSW 2214, phone: 02 8707 7800, fax: 02 8707 7801. Email: enquiries@micos.com.au, website: www.micos.com.au.
Micos also supplied and installed some of The ApARTments finer details with special shop front and entry lobby foyers featuring revolving doors, all with Architectural curved glazing. With a track record stretching back to 1958, the Micos Group have a depth of knowledge WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
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Below Gungahlin Concrete Services pumped around 15,000m3 of concrete during their 12 months onsite.
Everything about the NewActon Stage Two project was challenging – the architecture, the scale of the project, and the timeframe. For Gungahlin Concrete Services (GCS), who undertook the pumping, placing and finishing of concrete for the 18 level tower, podium and external areas, this job represents new realms of achievement. GCS were onsite for twelve months, and pumped around 15,000m3 of concrete. Meeting the tight works program and the structural challenges of the project itself was enabled through close teamwork between GCS, Elvin Group the concrete supplier, IC Formwork the formwork subcontractor and PBS the construction company. GCS take pride in their ability to enter the field with a team-playing attitude which produces the kind of stunning results on display at The ApARTments. “At the time, this project was the biggest job GCS had ever worked on. The pace at which the job ran at was fast and challenging, but GCS delivered a quality product throughout the whole project,” said GCS Managing Director, Peter Marcantonio. “We believe in long term relationships with our builders and feel we are different from our competition, not through our concreting skills but through the fundamentals of our core business values. Our values 52
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are trust, integrity, and communication. We have a win, win philosophy and work hard to build a strong team spirit amongst our employees and clients,” added General Manager, Robert Belmonte Founded in 2001, GCS quickly established a reputation as one of Canberra’s best concrete companies, and the growth of the business has reflected their successful track record on numerous commercial, retail and residential projects. Currently, GCS are working on the extension to the Westfield Shopping Centre Belconnen ACT, which might be more on the horizontal at only two storeys, but will be in total a bigger pour volume than NewActon Stage Two. With a positive vibe left between PBS and GCS after the completion of the ApARTments, GCS hope to commence work on Acton Stage 3 with PBS in the coming future as ground works have started. For more information about Gungahlin Concrete Services contact either Robert Belmonte (General Manager) mobile 0402 122 028 or Peter Marcantonio (Managing Director) mobile 0411 147 919. newacton the apartments/ gungahlin concrete services AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
Below Erincoole Building Services were responsible for the Rimex feature fin and the beautiful timber façades.
One of the most outstanding features of The ApARTments is the handiwork of award-winning ACT building company, Erincole Building Services Pty Ltd (EBS). They were responsible for the supply and install of the Rimex feature fin that runs the length of the tower from levels 4 to 18, a task requiring an extremely high level of trade skills to maintain the feature’s straight line. Unique and challenging façades are what EBS specialises in, leading the industry in the ACT and New South Wales when it comes to installation and fixing of new-generation façade products. EBS are also experts in timber construction and flat bed routering, and supplied and installed 1600m 2 of Western Red Cedar lining boards and trims for the NewActon Stage Two project. EBS also supplied and installed Brushed Alcobond Cladding, Alpolic Wall Cladding and Coroten features including the ‘rusty steel’ waterfall, and had up to twenty skilled workers on site between July 2009 and September 2010 completing the works. The EBS Queanbeyan base has facilities to process aluminium composite panel and medium-density fibreboard materials, enabling precise fabrication of specific façade products which meet the exact requirements of project designs. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
Industry recognition includes MBA Awards for External Building Façades in 2003, 2004,2005, 2007, 2008 and 2010, and being named ACT Sub-contractor of the year in 2007 and 2008. These awards are an outstanding endorsement of the company’s core team of experienced supervisors and tradesmen. “Our 20 years in the industry working on buildings such as Brindabella Business Park and Acton has earned EBS a reputation for delivering innovative and complex external façades, whilst completing projects on time and on budget,” said EBS Director, Wayne Richards. “EBS’s goal is to exceed the expectation of every client by offering innovation, flexibility, value for money, whilst delivering a quality product on time. Our reputation coupled with extensive industry knowledge makes EBS the ideal choice for your next development or project.” For more information contact Erincole Building Services Pty Ltd, 14 Silva Avenue Queanbeyan NSW 2620 , phone 02 6297 1399, fax 02 6284 4099. Email: erincole@erincole.com.au, website: www.erincole.com.au.
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Below The NewActon project has become a showcase of J&J Interiors magnificent work.
NewActon Stage Two, The ApARTments, is J&J Interior’s finest and biggest project to date: a showcase of their ability to deliver outstanding craftsmanship on a large scale project. J&J Interiors had a varied and unique role in this project ranging from Design and Site Management, to the core business of interior fit-outs. “This was an amazingly detailed job. These apartments are something Canberra’s never seen before. There were 182 apartments, and over 50 different designs involved. Challenges included the shadow line details to exposed concrete ceilings and door head panels on most doorways. In the bathrooms, everything had to be installed to zero tolerances to achieve the precise junctions between stonework glass and plasterboard. This is the biggest project we’ve done, a real learning curve for us and an amazing accomplishment for our company.” said J&J Project Manager, Joe Corby. J&J had up to 70 workers on site during peak days of their 18 month works program at The ApARTments. The finished product is a testament to the company’s high expectations of their employees, their professionalism and pride taken in the work they produce. This project extends on the successful work J&J undertook on NewActon Stage One, and crowns a decade of residential projects. 54
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J&J is a family owned company, with over 26 years experience in the Canberra region. Directors John, Jacqui and David McGilvray have built a company focused on delivering high quality results for their clients. With extensive experience across materials, methods and management of skilled labour, J&J Interiors have the expertise to deliver on ACT’s most demanding and exciting projects. For more information contact J&J Interiors, Unit 13, 65 Tennant Street Fyshwick ACT 2609, phone: 02 6162 3616, fax: 02 6162 3617. Email: admin@jjinteriors.com.au.
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Below Southern Plumbing Plus and their products met the new benchmarks in quality and design being set by the project.
Bathroom and plumbing products for the NewActon development were supplied by a local Canberra company, Southern Plumbing Plus. Southern Plumbing’s Managing Director, Warwick Beutler, said the prestigious project set a new benchmark for quality and design – not just in Canberra, but in Australia. “We sourced products for the wet areas from a range of foreign and domestic suppliers,” he said. “There are custom finished hand basins from Apaiser, sleek toilet suites from Parisi, Duravit basins from Europe, and tonic motion sink and basin mixers from Rogerseller. Rogerseller also provided the bathroom accessories, while the baths came from local supplier, Caroma Dorf, and the showers came out of the Brisbane factory of Ram Taps.” Mr Beutler said it was unusual to get such a mix of products in the one project. “But it certainly works well,” he said. Southern Plumbing Plus is the largest independent supplier of plumbing, bathroom and kitchen products in the Canberra region. It has major stores at Fyshwick and Mitchell in Canberra, and operates regionally as well – in Albury, Wagga Wagga and Goulburn. The company has grown strongly from its origins more than 30 years ago as a small plumbing WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
supply outlet in Fyshwick. It now employs more than 100 people and its retail outlets, under the brand Southern Innovations, are regarded as among the best in Australia. “We take pride in being that little bit different,” Mr Beutler said. “We get involved with large building projects like NewActon by providing products which are not run-of-the-mill. They’re well-designed, functional and contemporary. And most importantly, they have an air of exclusivity about them which developers and marketers are demanding.” For more information contact Southern Plumbing Plus at their headquarters, 21 Lyell Street Fyshwick ACT 2609, phone 02 6126 1111. Email: sales@spplus.com.au, websites: www.southerninnovations.com. au or www.spplus.com.au. Alternatively visit one of their other stores at 149 Flemington Road Mitchell ACT 2911, 51 Bennu Circuit Albury NSW 2640, 32 Pearson Street Wagga Wagga NSW 2650, 110 Clinton Street Goulburn NSW 2580.
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Below The Natural Stone installed to the common areas lobby floor, feature walls and lift façades by Professional Tiling Services.
Their name sums them up: Professional Tiling Services (PTS); and for over a year they gave The ApARTments at NewActon South the same level of scrupulous workmanship with quality materials which have made them a preferred subcontractor for some of the ACT’s most discerning commercial builders and private clients. Their highly skilled crews of tilers, stonemasons, waterproofers and labourers installed all tiling, waterproofing and wet area feature stone work for the internal units, including the supply and installation of Smart stone to bath surrounds and waterproofing and paving to balconies. They also supplied and installed Bluestone to the common areas lobby floor and feature walls, and stone to the lift façades. Balconies at The ApARTments received special treatment, with Versipave paving pads used in conjunction with Uniroll soundproofing – a Greenstar Council accredited product. PTS also used Greenstar accredited Mapei adhesives and waterproofing membrane throughout the project. This job came with a number of challenges: there were numerous unit designs, each with differing bathroom and tile layouts; pavers had to be cut for curved balconies in a manner which ensured a level finish with the paver pads; and the 20mm Bluestone thresholds to wet area doors needed to be installed at a level which exactly matched finished floor 56
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levels in the adjoining rooms. PTS pride themselves on attention to finer details, such as incorporating the stone width with the wall tiles to create interest on the shower walls, and ensuring exact shower base levels in order to incorporate a flat tile positioned in the centre which integrated the round smart waste. PTS are dedicated to excellent OH&S, and had to ensure the transport of large amounts of stone, tiles and materials up and down the project’s 17 levels was carried out without injury. Their work practices on all projects are certified compliant with the National Code of Practice for the Construction Industry, and PTS are members of the HIA and MBA. In seventeen years of business, PTS have undertaken projects across the ACT and surrounds in all sectors, including private residential work. Their major successes include ATO Canberra City, ACT Prison, DFO Canberra, Bimberi Youth Justice Centre, Old Parliament House Refurbishment, Dendy Cinemas, and they are an ongoing contractor for DHA Housing. For more information contact Professional Tiling Services, phone 02 6161 6501, fax 02 6161 6502. Email: admin@protiling.com.au. AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
Below LANDdata Surveys provided a range of surveying services for the NewActon project.
LANDdata Surveys is proud of its long association with the Molonglo Group and has been providing surveying services to the prominent NewActon site since 1998. Throughout the NewActon Stage 2 project, this highly skilled company undertook surveys for design of buildings and civil works; boundary surveys, subdivision and easement creation; sub lease measuring and floor area determinations; and set out of complex structures. Work as executed surveys and preparation of unit title plans for this high profile project were also done by LANDdata, utilising leading edge technology and innovative surveying techniques to deliver productivity gains and optimal project outcomes.
Below I.C Formwork's experience in solving construction challenges provided solutions for buildings of unique architecture such as NewActon.
Providing formwork for the ApARTments in the NewActon precinct showcased the talents of I.C Formwork when it comes to delivering solutions for architecture which is outside the square. In this case, the structure is an 18 storey curvilinear tower on a three storey podium, so innovative approaches had to be implemented. I.C Formwork has the experience to solve construction challenges, and has been providing their building services and expertise to the formwork industry since 1983. With more than 170 employees, I.C Formwork has been involved in a wide variety of high profile, demanding projects, in both Canberra and NSW.
“Typically the surveyor is one of the first consultants to step onto the project site and one of the last to leave,” said LANDdata Managing Partner, David Sloan. “With over thirty staff and ten experienced survey teams in the field each day, we have been able to ensure that the skills and resources required for this project have been delivered. Our client focus assures a close relationship with the developer, the builder, other consultants and all trades on the project. Our “team approach” ensured the best possible result for this project.”
In order to achieve the best construction outcomes, the highest quality materials, such as falsework and formwork are provided, with a commitment to ensuring products are on site on time. Given the company’s abilities and track record, and the demonstrated commitment to providing reliable and affordable services, projects looking for superior formwork specialists need look no further than I.C Formwork.
For more information contact LANDdata Surveys Pty Ltd, 3/151 Newcastle Street Fyshwick ACT 2609, phone: 02 6239-3088, mobile: 0417 430 521. Email: david.sloan@landdata.com.au, website: www.landdata.com.au.
For more information contact I.C Formwork, 5 Daly Street, Queanbeyan NSW 2620, phone 02 6297 7137. Email: steve@icformwork.com.au, website: www.icformwork.com.au.
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bluetongue brewery Main Construction Company : Qanstruct project manager : Gallagher Jeffs Consulting construction completion : June 2010 project end value : $120 Million
Breaking world records
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he Bluetongue Brewery in Warnervale on NSW’s Central Coast will be very technologically advanced, combining not just world’s best practice in water and energy efficiency but also hi-tech brewing capabilities that give it a flexibility in production that will set the standard for other modern breweries. Pacific Beverages, a joint venture between Coca-Cola Amatil and SABMiller, the second biggest brewer in the world, will not only be producing beer for the domestic market, but also for the export market as well. When the project is running at its full potential capacity, the brewery will be producing around 150 million litres of beer annually. “Normally a brewery is set up to brew a particular kind of beer, but at the Bluetongue Brewery we are aiming to brew a wide selection of brands. These require different technologies and equipment which we have imported into Australia from various locations around the world. Mike Shirbin, the Project Director, outlined that part of his brief was to try and localise as much of the spend as possible. To achieve this end, he says the brewery’s construction was broken into seven contract packages. “We could have gone down the easy route and used an overseas company to do the lot, but we made a commitment to
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use Australian companies and more specifically local contractors. We worked with AusIndustry to ensure that where possible local businesses and contractors are being given preference for the construction contracts at the new Brewery” he says. “Five of the packages were given to Australian contractors including the water recovery plant, civil works, building works, the boilers and the refrigeration. The other requirement was that once installed and completed the brewery and its equipment will be maintained by Australian companies so there has been a lot of technology transfer to Australian contractors throughout the project. “The construction process has placed considerable emphasis on using local contractors, from roofers to concreters. Of the Project cost of $120m, $40 million went to the Central Coast and Hunter region and by the end of the project we expect to have generated close to $80 million for the national economy.” Qanstruct was the principal building contractor on the Bluetongue project and was responsible for co-ordinating all the building works in accordance with the design requirements, including hiring a number of local contractors to create employment and growth in the region. AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
The company specialises in industrial/commercial design and construct and has more than 20 years industry experience. It has also been recognised for its quality in construction, receiving Master Builders Association Awards for the delivery of Coles Distribution Centres across three separate states. Qanstruct already has a close association with Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) following the construction of its distribution facility in Mentone, Victoria. Damien Toppi, Business Development Manager for Qanstruct says the company used its experience in-house architectural and project management team to deliver the project for Pacific Beverages’ requirements with specific care towards the environment and local community’s needs. “Our environmental focus was to manage aspects of the construction process to minimise erosion, protect existing vegetation zones, fuel management, noise consideration and management of waste including recycling of construction waste products where possible,” he said. “We worked on all the in ground drainage and services, structural steel, wall cladding, concrete support structures and tanks, internal and external paving and car parking.” WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
Qanstruct started work on the project in April 2009 with design and began work on site in June 2009 with building completion achieved in May 2010. “When we were appointed, design for the equipment and pipe work was still in its infancy so a lot of the details had not been worked out. It was a challenge to provide a structural solution while those things were still evolving and it required us to work as a very strong team with all involved in the project to bring it all together.” Throughout the construction process, Mr Toppi said Qanstruct had around 150 employees on site, with a combination of trades including concreters, steelworkers, electricians, in ground trade waste and sewer specialists.
Qanstruct 500 Burwood Road Hawthorn VIC 3122 t. 03 9810 8300 www.qanstruct.com.au
Pacific Beverages 18 Burnet Road Warnervale NSW 2259
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worth every drop W hen the first glass of brew flows from the tap on June 21 at the Bluetongue Brewery, the crew from the TFG Pty Ltd and Triplenine Stainless Joint Venture will be there to taste it. After more than eight months’ work installing the intricate stainless steel fermentation vats and brewing equipment that first sip of the amber liquid will let the nearly 60 staff and the Joint Venture Management realise that all the hard work has been worth it. But their work won’t be finished in June. The crew has also been on hand to install the bottling and packaging plant for the brewery. TFG Pty Ltd started operations in July 1995 and since then has continued to provide specialised products and services to meet the particular needs of the brewery, food and beverage industry including dairies and the commercial and industrial sectors. TFG Pty Ltd is at the forefront of providing total solutions integrating quality products and installation to industry. Triplenine Stainless was formed in 2004 as a result of the strategic alliance of JPR Brooks Pty Ltd (trading as Jweld) and Achill Engineering Pty Limited and the combined resources of both these companies has seen Triplenine become one of the biggest in the design and fabrication of stainless steel process systems for the pharmaceutical, food and beverage industries. The Bluetongue Brewery project is the first time the TFG Group and Triplenine have worked as a Joint Venture that has allowed for an efficient installation of the brewhouse, cellar and fermentation vessels, and also enabled each company to continue to service their other clients. “On the Bluetongue project the Joint Venture installed the brewhouse, the cellar and fermentation vats as well as all vessels and equipment. In all it required about 16km of pipework,”. “As part of the job we also installed the pumps, heat exchangers, all valves, and instruments, and most of the welding was completed by specialists in sanitary welding.” said Tom Moultrie, TFG Pty Ltd General Manager. 60
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TFG Pty Ltd and Triplenine Stainless Joint Venture engaged tradesmen who meet the highest quality industry standards to meet the objective of the Bluetongue Brewery installation. As well as the sanitary welding specialists the Joint Venture partners had fitters and electricians on site, as well as a project management team. For most of the project the partnership supplied around 50 crew and during the installation of the bottling plant that number grew to 60. Although TFG Pty Ltd and Triplenine Stainless Joint Venture do their own manufacture of the stainless steel vessels and equipment needed in the food and beverage industry, Mr Moultrie said on this project the manufacturing was completed overseas and sent to Australia “One of the components was the installation of 48 silos consisting of fermentation and storage vessels which were approximately 18m in height. The installation of the silos required the management of two cranes for a top-and-tail operation and we completed the installation at a rate of four per day,” said Mr Moultrie. He said the biggest challenge faced by the Joint Venture partners was the fact the project required complete installation and commissioning within an eight months’ time frame which was achieved. Justin Brooks, general manager of Triplenine Stainless said working on Bluetongue with TFG Pty Ltd had worked out well and as two of the only companies that specialise in this type of work he said it made sense to collaborate. TFG Pty Ltd and Triplenine Stainless are both accredited members of ASDDA.
Triplenine Stainless 17 Fariola Street Silverwater NSW 2128 t. 02 9748 7200 f. 02 9748 2355 www.tripleninestainless.com.au
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TFG Pty Ltd 181 Welshpool Road Welshpool WA 6106 t. 08 9451 7300 f. 08 9451 7311 e. admin@tfggroup.com.au
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Another step towards success At the bluetongue brewery M
illenniumair has been evolving its expertise since 1990 and the Bluetongue Brewery was another step in its evolution as one of Australia’s leading air-conditioning specialists. Although all modern industrial facilities require robust air-conditioned environments a world-leading brewery like the Bluetongue project required Millenniumair to combine its expertise not just in the manufacture and installation but also in design to ensure the strict environmental standards were met.
“Air-conditioning technology in the 21st century is a more precise science than previously. Industrial and commercial systems need to provide our clients with an environment that meets their exacting specifications for factors such as temperature, humidity, purity,
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and odour,” said Allan Holt, Millenniumair Director/Design and Estimating Manager. “Millenniumair offers only the latest technology, materials and practices to its clients. Air-conditioning impacts the environment in many ways.” “As well as making living space comfortable, the systems we design seek to optimise energy efficiency and operate in harmony with the environment.” Mr Holt said the complexity of the project as well as the logistics required to complete it were challenging but Millennniumair’s in-house resources met the contemporary design requirements.
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“We provide turnkey solutions for clients that include the latest computer design tools, including CAMEL load estimation. On this project we worked with a consultant mechanical engineer to help with the design,” he said. “Design works comply with Australian standards, and industry codes of practice, including environmental sustainability.” The system for Bluetongue was also manufactured by Millenniumair at its Hallam factory in Victoria, using the latest technology, equipment, methods and materials to ensure that all components were produced strictly to specification. The project took five months to complete and required eight staff from design through to installation.
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“To ensure every project is completed to the client’s satisfaction, a senior project manager is appointed to oversee every aspect of the project. Our installers have an average of 20 years experience in all aspects of the mechanical services industry – from small to large. No project is handed over until full commissioning and balancing is complete, and operation and maintenance manuals have been compiled,” Mr Holt said.
Millennium Airconditioning Factory 1, 22 Rimfire Drive Hallam VIC 3803 t. 03 9702 4627 f. 03 9702 4628 e. aholt@millair.com.au
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Production Line, Bluetongue Brewery, NSW
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Not your average plumbing company C
B Commercial Plumbing Pty Ltd isn’t your average plumbing company. Sure they do the types of jobs that regular commercial plumbers take on – industrial drainage and waste systems – but the Sydney-based outfit also specialise in those plumbing jobs that require finesse and expertise like the Bluetongue Brewery project.
The company is a partnership between Peter Cormack and Simon Bridge. Cormack had been operating as a hydraulics contractor in Victoria for more than 20 years and seven years ago, with Bridge onboard, expanded the business into Sydney where CB Commercial Plumbing Pty Ltd has become known as a specialist in jobs that require high quality work and attention to detail. The Bluetongue Brewery project didn’t just require a normal industrial waste system but one that could deal with the alcoholic waste the brewery will produce. And for that the 10 tradesmen onsite for the three-month installation needed more than 1.5km of HDPE trade waste pipe work . The project also required 1.2Kkm fire service and domestic water ring main.
“They are stainless steel because the application which they will be used for requires a high strength durable, non corrosive material, and it is rare to have so many installed in one job,” he says. “For trade waste we used a type of pipe which is known as HDPE (Brand Gebrit supplied by Reece plumbing supplies), which like the stainless steel was chosen because of its high strength, durable, non-corrosive qualities and can deal with all the industrial drainage requirements such as oil and petrol, as well as the by-products of beer manufacture.” Bridge says because of the intricacies of the job, deadlines were stringent as the waste system for specific beverages had to be delivered at specific times. As well as the Bluetongue Brewery project, CB Commercial Plumbing Pty Ltd has worked on a series of specialised industrial projects including the Aldi Distribution Centre in Prestons, Bev Chain/Tooheys Distribution Centre in Auburn, the Unilever Cold Storage in Minto and Hooker & Cockram project for the Elizabeth MacArthur institute of agriculture laboratory stage 1 and 2.
On top of this CB Commercial Plumbing Pty Ltd supplied approximately 180 stainless steel sumps which function as a catchment space for spillages throughout the brewery.
CB Commercial Plumbing Pty Ltd t. 02 9608 2518 f. 02 9608 1082 m. 04 0868 8897 e. cb.plumb@three.com.au www.cbcommercialplumbing.com.au 66
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Eye catching design T
he staircase and balustrade in the Bluetongue Brewery aren’t just an addition to add to the already eye-catching design of the project – they’re also there to function as a safety feature in the world-class facility.
Command Contracting Engineering from Campbellfield in Victoria constructed the stainless steel balustrade and the glass infill panels in the balustrades for the facility. Although not one of its bigger jobs, the manufacture of the components was highly specialised and required Command Contracting Engineering to work closely with architects and design engineers to ensure that measurement and installation were exact. “We probably did about 100m of the balustrade. It’s quite a specialised field,” said Eric Magiris, director of Command Contracting Engineering. “The builder had drawn up what they wanted on the site and we then had to measure for the staircase and build it to those specifications. The steel was bought and we manufactured it to the design.” The balustrade was installed on both sides of the staircase, along the walkway in the brewhall and along a second walkway around the brewing tanks. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
“As well as the safety aspects of the balustrade it is also a feature of the design,” Mr Magiris said. The project took around a month to complete with four employers working onsite for installation. “There were safety factors to consider during the installation, and our staff are specialists in welding. Our crew in Melbourne made the balustrade, while we also manufactured the posts, which had to be bought in separately, with the top rail and welded onsite.” Command Contracting Engineering also did some structural steel work in the waste water treatment plant, more specifically the RO building roof structure and staircase with platform, two canopies F101 and C101, and an access stair with platform to a rectangular concrete tank.
Command Contracting Engineering 46 Colbert Rd Campbellfield VIC 3061 t. 03 93578380 f. 03 9357 8382 e. eric.cceng@optusnet.com.au www.commandeng.com.au NSW PROJECT FEATURE BLUETONGUE BREWERY
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the refrigeration specialists
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s one of Australia’s premier refrigeration specialists, Gordon Brothers was well equipped for handling the unique requirements needed on the site for Blue Tongue Brewery. The company, part of the Hastie Group, is a leading provider of refrigeration systems for a range of industries, and after establishing itself in 1917, now operates throughout Australia and the UK.
specified level. Chilled water is also used for wort cooling and deaerated liquor cooling for the brewery to help maintain high efficiencies by keeping compressor suction temperatures high. Gordon Brothers also installed two large evaporative condensers that are used to supply a single liquid receiver and liquid ammonia for thermosyphon oil cooling of the compressor sets.
Gordon Brothers worked in conjunction with Germany’s Ziemann to design and supply an efficient, state-of-the art refrigeration plant to meet all of the process cooling loads of the plant which are world’s best practice and environmentally a cut above any that had been installed in Australia – or around the world.
The design had to take into account the brewery’s plan for expansion and the future need for another compressor and condenser. In keeping with the need for environmental efficiencies, each compressor has been fitted with variable speed drives allowing a speed range of 1000 rpm to 3800rpm to give maximum flexibility to manage the large variation in loads which occur when the brewery is in operation.
The plant design incorporates the latest technologies developed by Gordon Brothers over its many years of working with breweries throughout Australia and the world. One of the most innovative concepts in the Blue Tongue brewery is the installation of screw compressors - one dedicated to water chilling and liquid ammonia subcooling and the other for cooling the fermenters directly using pump recirculated ammonia. Pumped ammonia is also used for cooling glycol to - 4C through welded plate heat exchangers. The ammonia and glycol systems are reticulated throughout the brewery providing cooling at the various process loads. As part of the contract a number of beer to glycol heat exchangers were also supplied with glycol recirculation loops used to prevent freezing of the product by setting glycol temperatures at a level consistent with keeping the product outlet temperatures to their 68
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Variable speed drives were also fitted to the condenser fans with smart condenser control using ambient wet bulb temperatures to set condensing temperatures. A powerful PLC control system manages all of the control functions for the refrigeration plant with optimisation of the system giving low power consumption. On completion this will set the standard for design of refrigeration systems for breweries.
GORDON BROTHERS INDUSTRIES 21 Michael Street Brunswick VIC 3056 t. 03 9389 6666 f. 03 9387 8878 e. david.hudson@gordonrefrig.com.au www.hastiegroup.com.au/GordonBrothers AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
albany opens new doors
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he high performance RollTex doors installed by Albany Doors at the Bluetongue Brewery not only provide the brewery with one of the most advanced high performance door systems in the world, but also a safety standard that is world’s best practice. Albany Door Systems’ High Performance Doors are engineered to withstand the harshest of environmental conditions. The doors are constructed of strong, long-lasting fabrics, and durable steel and/or aluminium mechanical components. The company is Australia’s leading manufacturer for the supply and installation of high speed doors to the Australasian market. “The doors at Bluetongue Brewery are made from a polyester mono-filament coated with PVC. They are tensioned and balanced precisely and the beauty of that is that they can be disengaged from the motor at any time and operated by hand in the case of an emergency,” says Les Davies, Albany Doors product and marketing manager. “These doors will run at three metres a second which means when something like a forklift comes into the enclosed area the door will go up and come back down again very quickly to ensure no dust, dirt or rubbish can penetrate that area.”
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Albany Doors installed five doors in the brewery which took two specialised electricians around two weeks to complete. “The doors were manufactured overseas and each is produced specifically for individual sites. They are measured to within three millimetres and each takes around a week and half to manufacture,” says Mr Davies. “One of the challenges on this project was that the door openings were much wider than normal, and they have a lot of safety aspects incorporated in them which are unique to Albany Doors. This means that we have to have specifically trained electricians for the installation to ensure the special control systems are correct and working at their optimum.”
Albany Door systems 9 Mc Ilwraith Street Wetherill Park NSW 2164 t. 02 9756 4330 f. 02 9756 4340 www.albanydoors.com/australia/default.asp NSW PROJECT FEATURE BLUETONGUE BREWERY
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eko by crown Main Construction Company : Crown Group Construction Pty Ltd developer : Crown International Holdings completion : July 2010 architect : Joshua International structural Engineer : VDM Consulting project end value : $130 Million
a crown design M
ore than 80 per cent of the EKO by Crown development in Newington was sold off the plan – testament to the high quality of the project and the desire for investors to buy properties that have set the benchmark in luxury and sustainability. Crown International Holdings Group is one of Australia's leading property groups and over the past has cemented its reputation for developing prestigious, high quality residential developments. As a privately owned company with an extensive property portfolio Crown provides its clientele with long term security. Its record can be judged by a range of luxurious developments throughout the Sydney suburbs of Bondi, Bondi Junction, Ashfield, Epping, Eastwood, Strathfield, Five Dock, Homebush, Pennant Hills, Parramatta and Rhodes. Internationally renowned designer Iwan Sunito founded Crown International Holdings with his business partner Paul Sathio in 1996. The company has since grown from two employees to in excess of 40 and expects to develop residential and mixed-used business developments valued at $1.1 billion across Sydney over the next five years. “What we do is stick to what we want to be (known for)- design excellence and sustainable growth," Mr Sunito said. The EKO by Crown is the latest in a long line of developments and is already making a name for itself as a unique project in one of Sydney’s premier inner suburbs. EKO is the first new development in Newington which offers buyers not just access to the CBD but also the opportunity to live in one of the city’s most up-and-coming residential areas. The EKO development offered what the other apartments in the area did not - lifts, air-conditioning and underground parking. And as well as these essentials for the modern family, EKO also features many resort features that added to its appeal such as a gymnasium, spa, sauna, residents’ lounge, theatrette and two private music rooms, one with a baby grand that residents can book for private tuition. “Due to the maximum number of dwellings that are now constructed in Newington, EKO is a rare example, so we have no doubt, this project will provide owners and investors with a valuable investment,” said Mr Sunito.
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“We are delighted to have this unique opportunity to create a truly remarkable addition to Newington. Our decision to push ahead with the project, when many other developers were being forced to put developments on hold, demonstrates our confidence in the Crown product and its ability to attract strong demand." With Stage 1 and 2 completed, residents are already taking advantage of the luxurious living. “Due to the variety of designs, EKO has fulfilled the needs of Baby Boomers and Empty Nesters with its courtyards, a small pet policy and penthouses with huge terraces that attracted this demographic,” Mr Sunito said. “The penthouses and indeed many of the apartments have amazing panoramic views of Sydney Olympic Park and the ANZ stadium. And EKO is walking distance to all these fantastic facilities and Bicentennial Park.” Convenience is just one of the many features that has put EKO on the map of modern city living. Its emphasis on sustainable design and environmental living has also garnered much attention. The project is the concept of Joshua International architects, teamed with award winning Watermark Interior Designs. Each spacious apartment is designed to maximise space, light, and air, with state of the art bathrooms and kitchens boasting the finest of fittings and appliances. Interiors flow seamlessly out onto entertainment sized, tiled balconies and terraces. EKO was designed with a strong emphasis on communal areas and multi-function rooms throughout its five buildings. The project encapsulates resort-style living and encourages community integration through its tranquil gardens, while at the same time showcasing a sustainable design focus. The feedback Crown has received thus far regarding EKO has confirmed that the developer has succeeded in positioning the development as the premier residential development in the area.
CROWN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS Level 11, 68 Alfred Street Milson’s Point Sydney NSW 2061 t. 02 9925 0088 f. 02 9925 0598 e. info@crowngroup.com.au www.crowngroup.com.au WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
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Apartments and pool area, Eko by Crown, NSW
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going the extra mile
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oing the extra mile in ensuring their product is one of the most environmentally sustainable on the market secured OneSteel Reinforcing the tender for supplying all the reinforcing steel required for the Eko on Crown development. Because of its insistence on meeting Green Star rating, the Eko on Crown project was not a run-of-the-mill one for OneSteel which used the Reo for the Ultrafloor system for the ground breaking development. “The project had to be monitored very carefully,” says Veera Nagarajah, Reinforcing Services Manager for OneSteel Reinforcing. “Our steel is made from recycled materials and we are very environmentally friendly. We had to manufacture the Reo for the Ultrafloor system to exact dimensions and it was a very technical project.” OneSteel Reinforcing is Australia's premier supplier of steel reinforcing solutions for commercial, residential and civil construction as well as the mining and agriculture industries and manufacturing sector. A national branch and distributor network service customers Australia wide supplying quality steel reinforcing products to Australia's largest construction companies and the home renovator. OneSteel Reinforcing has ACRS certified world-class manufacturing facilities and innovative engineered reinforcing solutions to reduce labour needs and streamline construction. In addition to providing customers with steel reinforcing solutions across the entire building and construction industry, OneSteel Reinforcing have an experienced and highly skilled team of schedulers, engineers and technical service personnel and reference resources. 74
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OneSteel Reinforcing reference guides such as REODATA, ACRS brochures, Slab and Beam Design booklets and 500PLUS® computer software are utilised by structural and civil engineers and engineering students. One of the attractions of using the OneSteel Reinforcing system for the Eko on Crown development was that steel used in the process has been recycled. OneSteel believes sustainable development is about meeting the needs of its current generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. OneSteel recognises the importance of a sustainable approach to its operations across the entire value chain, from the extraction of raw materials through to the manufacture of finished steel products and the distribution to its customers. A new prerequisite for achieving Green Star credits on steel is that the steel must come from a manufacturer that is both a member of the World Steel Association’s Climate Action Programme and has valid ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS). OneSteel Market Mills meets both compliance criteria. OneSteel Market Mill’s Polymer Injection Technology (PIT), used at its electric arc furnaces is classified as an energy reducing process. This has allowed OneSteel Market Mills to achieve an average 66 per cent of reinforcing rod for mesh and 82 per cent of reinforcing bar by mass that is produced using this technology, and this also enables grant of a point in the new Green Star credits. ONESTEEL REINFORCING 33 Shaddock Avenue Villawood NSW 2163 t. 02 9794 1000 e. nagarajahv@onesteel.com AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
a glass act
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t’s clear why the Eko by Crown has all the boxes ticked in its quest for sustainable and environmental living. From its eco-friendly design to the magnificent outlook provided by the glass frontage around the development, the high-end residential apartments have incorporated the best quality and highest standard materials throughout. Trinity Window Systems provided for the development all the windows and glass including that for the glassed-in gymnasium, pool area and the magnificent glass features at either end of all the residential blocks. In keeping with the brief for a sustainable development, Trinity Window Systems provided low-energy glass which acts by slowing down the transfer of heat in and out of the building. “This type of glass keeps the building cooler in summer and warmer in winter and reduces the development’s energy consumption,” says Jim Jammal of Trinity Window Systems. “The use of this type of glass gives the architect the flexibility to introduce as much of the glass as he wants. “A film is applied to the glass at manufacture for the low-energy component, and each pane is also laminated to reduce not just the transfer of heat but also of sound,” Jim says. “Although the glass is single glazed it met all the acoustic requirements for sound insulation.” Despite being a relatively new company Trinity Window Systems has succeeded in establishing connections with some of the most
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prominent glass and aluminium manufacturers locally and overseas. The success of the stream-line aluminium framing at Eko is attributed to the fine fabrication technique assisted by the latest in CNC. Machinery installed at the trinity windows factory. Our in-house engineer and site manager (Rene Revano and Robert Betrous) seamlessly coordinated the fabrication-installation process for maximum efficiency for our company and to meet the demand of a fast track construction program. “All our glass is safety glass so there is no compromise. It is actually 6.38mm thick which goes beyond the Australian standards requirements for the project,” says Jim. “The challenge on this project was the time frame we had to keep to. At any one time there were up to 12 installers on site, and with the pool we had to use Stainless steel patch fittings to achieve a frameless effect which not only prevented deterioration from the pool environment but added a very futuristic look to the overall finish.” Trinity Window Systems is now working again with Crown on future projects and has also just completed another large develop for the Youth Hostels Australia at Sydney Harbour.
TRINITY WINDOW SYSTEMS U 5/ 49-53 Victoria street Smithfield NSW 2164 t. 02 9609 6867 e. jim@trinitywindows.com.au NSW PROJECT FEATURE EKO BY CROWN
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infinity and beyond T he infinity edge of the 35m pool that residents of the Eko by Crown will enjoy adds another level of sophistication to the already luxurious development.
working with large developers, councils and government nationally. They have another Commercial office in Brisbane and are currently working with the Alice Springs Council to build a community facility.
Crystal Pools infinity edged pool is surrounded by tropically landscaped gardens to create an enticing image and coupled with the subtle lighting, dark tiles and magnificent water quality, it is sure to be one of the main attractions of the residential project.
The Eko by Crown infinity pool and spa was designed in conjunction with the developers to encompass the environmental and sustainable qualities for which the project is known and includes a sand filtration system, an automatic water quality and chemical system.
Crystal Pools is Australia's most experienced pool builder with a reputation for excellence in swimming pool design, installation and renovations. They have been building Residential and Commercial swimming pools in Sydney, Central Coast and Newcastle since 1957. Crystal Pools has also been working on many projects up and down the east coast and for many years been expanding its commercial department
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CRYSTAL POOLS 1 Central Avenue Thornleigh Sydney NSW 2120 t. 02 9875 4555 f. 02 9484 1019 www.crystalpools.com.au
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DM Consulting specialises in the use of 3D structural Modelling Analysis and 3D documentation packages such as BIM and REVIT. Leading the way with this technology in analysis and documentation we have enabled our client Crown International to coordinate & construct the most cost effective and efficient structure for EKO.
STRUCTURAL & CIVIL ENGINEERS
STRUCTURAL & CIVIL Sydney – Melbourne – Brisbane - Gold CoastENGINEERS – Darwin - Perth Enquiries: mark.davies@vdmgroup.com.au
Sydney – Melbourne – Brisbane - Gold Coast – Darwin - Perth Enquiries: mark.davies@vdmgroup.com.au WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
(02) 9436 0433
(02) 9436 0433
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s y dne y airport r.E.S.a. more than meets the eye B
aulderstone has successfully completed construction of the Runway End Safety Area (RESA) at the western end of Sydney Airport’s Runway 25. Despite enormous inherent difficulties in both the planning and construction phases of the project, Baulderstone completed the construction well within the estimated time frame.
RESAs are cleared ground areas located at each end of a runway at international airports. They are intended to minimise the harm to passengers in the unlikely event that an aircraft overruns or lands short of a runway. The complex work took a year and a half to complete at a cost of around $100 million. There is not a lot to see - only a paved and concreted area of flat space. Most of the impressive work is below the surface of the ground. Spanning the M5 East Tunnel and Sydney’s largest sewer culvert, the RESA was constructed on a series of land-bridges, making it Australia’s first suspended concrete RESA deck. The deck is a 8,100m 2 surface of raked concrete, designed to enhance aircraft deceleration and to support emergency vehicles and equipment. The SWSOOS culvert is supported on a separate structure which was 78
constructed used the largest pour in Australia of specially mixed self-compacting concrete. Sydney Airport Corporation Limited (SACL) was required to provide a Runway End Safety Area (RESA) at the end of all its runways to comply with new Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) requirements. The new standards – which are consistent with international requirements – aimed to improve aviation safety and ensure the requirements of larger, new aircraft such as the A380 are catered for. As well it required a load bearing capacity to accommodate the heavier aircraft that are likely to be developed in the future. The RESA for Runway 25 was the last and most complex of the six constructed at Sydney Airport. Work on the site was complicated by its proximity to an operating runway, the Cooks River, and the site difficulties of construction within reclaimed ground following disturbances from previous work on the sewer and the M5 tunnel. More significantly, the project faced critical engineering challenges because the new 25 RESA spans: • The busy M5 East Motorway Tunnel • The largest sewer culvert in Sydney, Sydney Water’s heritage listed
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Client : Sydney Airport Corporation Limited MANAGING CONTRACT CONTRACTOR : Baulderstone Pty Ltd DESIGN CONSULTANT : Aurecon Pty Ltd Project end Value : $100 Million Completion : June 2010 Area size : 8,100m2 Surveying Services : Ross Robinson Surveys Dilapidation Survey : Tasman Associates Temporary design works : Hawkins Engineering MJ Civil Engineering
and extremely fragile South Western Sydney Ocean Outfall Sewer (SWSOOS). This sewer – the largest in Sydney – is capable of carrying over 4 million litres of sewage per hour and serves a major portion of western and south-western Sydney • The existing airside, perimeter road • Energy Australia’s realigned 132kV gas impregnated HV cables • Ethane gas pipeline Problems were successfully resolved following rigorous consultation and cooperation with Sydney Water, Energy Australia, the RTA and Sydney Airport to ascertain and thoroughly implement their requirements for the new construction. To reduce the time the runway use was restricted, work was carried out seven days a week, generating around 770 construction jobs. There was also ongoing night works including excavation and jet grout piling works, removal of substantial volumes of excavated material, pavement construction work, and construction of a storm water detention basin. The project also included a significant community consultation and stakeholder engagement program. On-going 24/7 construction noise WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
monitoring, as well as the unavoidable disruption to aircraft noise sharing during the 19 month construction period, each had a potential impact on people living close to the work site and, more broadly, on people living around the airport or under flight paths. SACL ensured affected residents were kept regularly informed about progress with the project, and ensured an effective complaints handling process was in place. The completion of the work means that the usual aircraft noise sharing arrangements have resumed. Baulderstone was the managing contractor entrusted with the management and delivery of the construction works. Despite the complex technical difficulties of the project, the work was completed successfully to the satisfaction of SACL and its stakeholders as well as the Australian Government. BAULDERSTONE Triniti Business Campus Level 4, 39 Delhi Rd North Ryde 2113 NSW t. 02 9935 7100 f. 02 9935 7090 www.baulderstone.com.au
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Building IN mud M
enard-Bachy specialises in a wide and comprehensive range of geotechnical and civil engineering services. It has been involved in the business of soil stabilisation since the 1960s. It’s original founder, Louis Menard, started the Menard Company in France fifty years ago. Louis Menard developed many of the ground improvement techniques in use today including inventing a now commonly used Pressuremeter to predict the settlement of soils and their load bearing capacity. The company has since had an impressive history. Baulderstone retained Menard-Bachy in 2008 to stabilise the ground for the construction of the underpass of the perimeter road for the now finished Sydney Airport’s Runway End Safety Area (RESA). The perimeter road goes underneath the heritage listed main Sydney Southern Sewer. The construction of the underpass, with its foundations at a depth of 6m below sea level, was mostly in the soft clay and presented specific geotechnical problems. The site at the RESA was originally low lying but the ground contours had been altered during previous construction works, leaving the density and composition of the earth highly variable to depths of 14 metres. Menard-Bachy proposed the use of the technique of Jet Grouting to resolve the multiple problems of ground stabilisation. Temporary works involved a buttressed cofferdam of interlocking Jet Grouted columns, designed to prevent water seepage and provide ground retention. The base of the coffer dam was treated by Jet Grouting which allowed the then improved ground to provide a brace for the excavation, as well as reinforcing the soft clay material, creating stable ground for the construction of the base slab, drainage lines, pit and pump station. The complex scheme of Jet Grouting included around 1600 columns ranging in length from 1.5m to 13m. Despite movement being limited around the sensitive structure, 500 of these were installed under the sewer and in between its supporting piles. Jet Grouting columns were also installed down to the sand layer to support the formwork of the Sewer Support Structure, before the load was transferred to four external large bored piles and the old piles removed. The overall results were extremely satisfactory and both Menard-Bachy and Baulderstone were pleased with the outcome.
Menard Bachy Pty Ltd 13-15 Lyonpark Road Macquarie Park NSW 2113 t. 02 9491 7100 f. 02 9491 7111 e. info@menardbachy.com.au www.menardbachy.com.au
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AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
The Sydney Airport Runway End Safety Area Project
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Soils ain’t soils. Enviropacific is a company that prides itself on its overall capabilities in the specialist fields of environmental remediation and demolition. Enviropacific maintains a core focus on contaminated site remediation, including the safe and reliable handling and disposal of complex wastes. Enviropacific specialises in asbestos management, hydrocarbon remediation of contaminated areas like former gasworks and petrochemical industrial sites, and treating contaminated water in and ex situ. It also undertakes large scale demolition works. Enviropacific were enlisted by Baulderstone to manage and treat the estuarine soils that were excavated from the Sydney Airport’s RESA site adjacent to the Cook’s River. This involved treating the potential and actual acid sulphate soils, and restoring their pH balance for beneficial reuse on site. The problems at the RESA site were typical of the wide range of obstacles remediation specialists must overcome. Enviropacific had some issues regulating the end pH of the estuarine mud, however on re-evaluation of the treatment procedures this problem was overcome. All treatment work successful, resulting in safe, neutralised, reusable fill which was then used in the backfilling process. Enviropacific works with impacted soils of all kinds. The company offers a broad range of environmental services, a proven track record in project delivery, Quality Health and Safety and Environment accreditation, with the in-house resources to undertake remediation projects of all complexities. An example of this is the former BHP steel works site at Mayfield, NSW (see picture above). Site work involved the ‘capping’ of over ten hectares using a combination of site sourced fill, slag and imported capping material. Contaminants included acid sulphate soils, heavy metals and hydrocarbons. Enviropacific’s role was to coordinate all validations and reporting requirements with the environmental consultant, as well as providing extensive material tracking and treatment for the project. Other projects Enviropacific are currently working on include a creek restoration and contamination capping project in Balmoral, and a challenging remediation project at the Australia Post Distribution centre in Alexandria. With the latter site covering an area of 25,000 square metres, this is arguably Enviropacific’s most technically complex undertaking to date.
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Meanwhile their demolition team is dismantling and packaging up a textiles factory in Lisarow on the NSW Central Coast for relocation overseas. Enviropacifc has been operating in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria for nine years. They employ seventy people, amongst them in-house staff consisting primarily of environmental and civil engineers supported by a diverse range of project managers, engineers, and environmental and chemical scientists. Enviropacific makes full use of all of their staff ’s wide and varied expertise in the development and management of all projects. Enviropacific has a vast inventory of mobile specialised environmental remediation equipment that can be deployed for treatment of contaminants in soil sludges, industrial residue and groundwater. A substantial amount of this equipment has been designed and constructed in-house and is based and derived from improvements suggested by hands on experience. Their state-of-the-art pieces of equipment include a mobile Direct Fired Thermal Desorption Unit, a highly mobile direct injection unit for in situ ground water treatment; an Hitachi soilfixer with remarkable capabilities for soil stabilization; and ozone injection systems capable of in situ and ex situ groundwater treatment. Enviropacific invests heavily in research and development to ensure they offer sustainable and scientifically robust solutions to contaminated soil and water problems. They are always trialing new products and techniques and their in-house chemists are constantly occupied in the research and development of such products and techniques. They have a strong relationship with other research centres and the various regulatory bodies which ensures the company has its finger on the pulse in a rapidly evolving industry.
1/28 Barcoo Street Chatswood NSW 2067 t. 02 9882 4200
f. 02 9882 4250
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STA Bus Depot Remediation; Ph stabilization of excavated spoil for reuse onsite
BHP Mayfield Closure Area Stage 1- The identification and management of Spoil from 1050m of two open drains treating 9038m3 of PASSnsite
Newcastle
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Sydney
Melbourne
Brisbane
Adelaide
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Alstonville Bypass
The Reed Group and RTA have overcome numerous technical and environmental challenges along the way to produce a bypass that represents a win for everyone involved. THE REED GROUP
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THE REED GROUP is delivering AN ALL-ROUND WINNER Redirecting the highway traffic to help a village with its circluation. Alstonville bypass/ THE REED GROUP
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Below Looking down the line of a section of the Alstonville Bypass project overseen by The Reed Group.
The long-awaited Alstonville bypass will represent a win for everyone. The Alstonville community will no longer have the Bruxner Highway traffic in the village and North Coast commuters will be able to get to places earlier. The project timeframe has been extended due to the North Coast’s ongoing heavy rainfall events, with extended wet periods a feature of the entire construction period and proving a major impact on works. Maintaining the planned rate of progress with bulk earthworks was complicated by a wetter than average winter, during which the region’s clayey/silty volcanic soils were regularly saturated and had little drying potential during the cooler months. Similarly there were risks during the summer months due to damaging storms that developed with minimal warning. Partially completed earth embankments required constant surveillance, with The Reed Group’s project team maintaining vigilance in executing normal protective measures such as sealing off, grading to promote overland runoff and construction of intercept drains and lined batter chutes to protect fill batters. Overall, it has been challenging completing the bulk earthworks and pavement phases of the project, while also managing large quantities of sediment-laden runoff water. The RTA sets high environmental standards in its projects requiring a strong contractor commitment. Managing the installation and on-going maintenance of a vast array of erosion and sedimentation control measures and sediment basins situated over the 6.2km length of the project required, and continues to require, a significant commitment by the project team. THE REED GROUP NSW Head Office Level 3, 41 McLaren Street North Sydney NSW 2060 PO Box 6395 North Sydney NSW 2060 t. 02 9965 0399 f. 02 9955 8812 www.reedgroup.com.au
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The project involves a 5.5 km “green field” section of new carriageway through acquired land comprising farmers’ paddocks with creeks and other intermittent watercourses. The sequencing of this work involved clearing, topsoil stripping, construction of three sealed access roads to local properties, drainage culverts, bulk earthworks and structures,
subsurface drainage, pavements, traffic barriers, street-lighting and road furniture. At the eastern and western ends of the project, “tie-ins” are being built to connect back onto the old Highway and internally onto local roads at Kays Lane. This work involves construction of temporary side-roads on which to move the traffic, around 15,000 vehicles per day, away from the work zone. The work zones are typically separated from moving traffic by long runs of concrete jersey barriers and considerable sections of work were carried out in a staged manner under traffic control. The RTA specification required traffic on the Bruxner Highway between Lismore and the Pacific Highway to be only restricted by lane closures between the hours of 9.30am and 2.30pm. Also, carrying out night work during reduced traffic periods was subject to stringent noise mitigation controls in order to avoid nuisance to surrounding residents in the sensitive semi-urban/rural environment. Up to sixteen of The Reed Group staff worked on-site undertaking project management, site engineering, survey, quality assurance, site administration, OH&S and environmental management. This team was kept on its toes meeting the challenges of site safety, environmental protection, effective management of more than twenty-five sub-contractors and an extensive array of heavy equipment including blasting equipment and a peak daily workforce of around eighty-five people. Structures constructed comprised two bridges with precast super-T girders and an 18m wide concrete arch over Maguires Creek. An innovative “top down” construction technique has been used for the single span bridge at Wardell Road, which entailed installation of piled bridge abutment foundations and construction of the substructure and bridge deck before excavating the natural ground under the bridge to NSW PROJECT FEATURE alstonville bypass
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Below The Wardell Road Bridge. Some of the work along the 6.2km length of the project. Below Left An aerial view of the Kays Lane interchange.
form a cutting for the bypass. This method provided both a time and cost saving in not having to wait for completion of the bypass excavation work and subsequent construction of a reinforced earth retaining structure at each abutment, before commencing work on the bridge abutment sill beams. It also enabled the bridge to open to traffic somewhat earlier, before completion of work underneath the superstructure to complete shotcrete infills between the bored foundation piles. Environmentally, on the project there has been a range of measures including frequent monitoring of vibration, noise, water and air quality; dust mitigation by screening and watering; vibration controls on compaction plant; timely revegetation of completed earth batters; strict controls on blasting activities; and muffling of reversing beepers on plant used outside normal work hours. Noxious camphor laurel trees cleared from the site were transported to the Broadwater sugar mill for power generation. Any threatened species or native vegetation in clearing zones were identified by a specialist for trans-location to adjacent undisturbed areas. Non-noxious cleared vegetation was mulched for use on planting beds and stripped top soil was re-used on finished earth batters prior to revegetation. For future management of storm water, two large stormwater detention basins with a combined capacity of around twentythree mega-litres have been used to temporarily store the runoff generated by significant rainfall events during construction. The basins have been designed to discharge fully into existing town stormwater systems within a few hours via outlet pipes. Designed to cope with 1 in 5 year storm events of 3 hours duration, they also incorporate spillways to prevent over-topping.
Concrete lined clean water swale drains up to 3 metres in width with gabion basket energy dissipaters have been constructed along the toe-line of the major embankments on the project, designed to transfer runoff from the new bypass into local watercourses without scouring or erosion. Large culverts have been installed under the fill embankments to carry stormwater runoff in approximately the same routes as before construction commenced. Due to the intensity of rainfall experienced in the Northern Rivers region, these culverts include double 1500dia and triple 1500dia pipe cells, a 3 metre x 3 metre box culvert and the 18 metre wide x 6 metre high arch structure at Maguires Creek. The RTA is acutely aware of the importance of the project to the local community and need to keep motorists on this critical link between Lismore and the Pacific Highway informed of construction activities. As a result, significant community information strategies have been used. Regular interactive community information sessions have been conducted, as well as the use of variable message boards, letterbox drops and media advertising. alstonville bypass/ THE REED GROUP 88
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Below Anti-throw screens were an RTA safety requirement. Wardell Road Bridge showing top-down construction method where piles under abutments and wingwalls are exposed. The bridge will provide a grade-separated crossing of the new Bypass.
When the RTA and The Reed Group needed expertise to resolve some important design and engineering issues on the Alstonville Bypass project, they turned to the multidisciplinary team in the Sydney office of Opus International Consultants. Opus was involved in the project throughout construction, from June 2009 through to April 2010, and its project team designed the foundations for the arches supplied by Humes for the Maguires Creek Bridge, the base slab, wingwalls and apron slabs for a fauna and cattle underpass, and redesigned the bridge that carries Wardell Road across the new bypass. Bridge designer Long Bai said: “The original RTA concept design geometry for the Wardell Road bridge, especially the wingwalls, had to be altered to avoid services.” The bridge, as built to the revised design using top-down techniques, is 25 metre long, with one end leading to a roundabout, requiring that end to be flared. This meant the conventional design of parallel beams had to be replaced with beams which were each tapered at the top flange so the super T girders would fit to the tapered plan. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
Long Bai added: “One problem caused the Wardell Bridge to be changed in a major way. Once the contractor was on site they found there were conflicting underground services; this created a lot of design issues for us. We worked closely with Reed to ensure the RTA was satisfied. It was a good three way relationship.” Other recent successes for Opus include a futuristic yacht club on Hamilton Island which received an Excellence Award from the Engineers Australia Sydney Division this year; designing parts of the stations for the Chatswood to Epping Rail Line; and designing 23km of new rural road and five bridges for the Tillegra Dam project, north of Newcastle. For more information contact Opus International Consultants at their Sydney office, Level 12, North Tower,1-5 Railway Street Chatswood NSW 2067, P.O. Box 5340 West Chatswood NSW 1515, phone 02 9325 5600, fax 02 9904 6777. Website: www.opus.com.au
alstonville bypass/ opus international consultants NSW PROJECT FEATURE alstonville bypass
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Below Vibropile's history has equipped them with the skills and resources to contribute to the Alstonville Bypass project.
Vibropile specialise in giving major projects strong foundations. In the case of the Alstonville Bypass project, their skill in dealing with difficult geophysical situations and sensitive areas was an asset to the project. The company is no stranger to the North Coast and the challenging combination of extreme environmental sensitivity and extreme rain events which are an added factor of difficulty when working on and below the ground. Having laid the foundations for the Byron Bay Village development, Vibropile know their way into the North Coast soil types. Add to this the company’s leading edge equipment, which includes four Enteco E25SD drills, custom made to the company’s specifications and amongst the most powerful CFA drill rigs in the world. All of Vibropile's CFA piling and Displacement Screw Piling rigs are equipped with the latest in quality assuring digital technology, with on board computer monitoring systems displaying and recording every piece of critical data during pile construction. This information is not only displayed for the operator, giving him eyes below the ground, but also automatically downloads back to Vibropile’s office as each pile is completed. 90
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This is the kind of attention to detail which earned the company ISO 9001 Quality Assurance Accreditation from SAI Global, which promises every project they undertake has a successful resolution. Since 1966 Vibropile have been designing and installing deep foundations, becoming award-winning industry leaders in CFA technology, hard rock drilling and large diameter bored piling, with Australia’s largest fleet of high capacity drilling rigs, and a selection of hydraulic hammers and vibrators for installing pre-formed piles and sheet piles. Other recent major projects include Melbourne Convention Centre and South Wharf precinct for Brookfield Multiplex and Contexx; Wodonga railway bypass waterway bridge for John Holland; Fiona Stanley Hospital for Brookfield; and Port Hedland Railway for BHP Billiton; and the Gateway Bridge Alliance for Leighton Abigroup JV. For more information contact Vibropile, PO Box 7986 Baulkham Hills BC NSW 2153, phone 02 8866 1177, fax 02 8866 1176. Email: nsw@vibropile.com.au, website: www.vibropile.com.au. alstonville bypass/ VIBROPILE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
Below Onsite Environmental Management gave the highest level of commitment, experience, knowledge and diplomacy as an independent advisor on environmental matters.
In a region like the North Coast, where environmental issues and environmental values are of acute concern, the role of Environmental Representative and the task of environmental management on the Alstonville Bypass project required the highest level of commitment, experience, knowledge and diplomacy. Onsite Environmental Management (OSEM) was appointed by the Department of Planning (DoP) as an independent advisor on environmental matters, with the formal role of Environmental Management Representative (EMR), also known in more recent approvals as the Environmental Representative (ER). “The EMR was involved in the project from the construction environmental management planning phase, through construction and into post- construction to ensure all conditions of approval are closed out,” OSEM Principal David Bone explained. “OSEM was present on site at Alstonville on a fortnightly basis to review monitoring, implementation of management plans and to discuss upcoming issues; acted an environmental advisor for both the construction team and RTA; audited management plans and actions to ensure that compliance with commitments and requirements of environmental approvals were achieved and monitored complaints and enquiries from the community and government agencies.” WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
Other aspects to the ER role include being part of the project’s community information group, regular reporting to DoP, monitoring rehabilitation, flora identification and weed management advice. OSEM also assisted with approval of construction related environmental documents such as management plan modifications, and gave advice for establishment of ancillary facilities including site offices, batch plants, stockpiles and water storage management options. OSEM has extensive experience in the field of environmental auditing, biodiversity assessment, EMS and CEMP preparation, contaminated site investigation, environmental reporting, and monitoring of air, water, noise and vibration. A senior environmental scientist, David has completed due diligence auditing for over 300 projects both around Australia and overseas for industries including construction, manufacturing, mining, utility and infrastructure development. OSEM’s track record over the last five years includes such major contracts over $200m as Cronulla Rail Duplication Alliance, Kooragang Island Coal Export Terminal, Coopernook to Herons Creek Pacific Highway Upgrade Alliance, and Tomago to Tomaree 132Kv Powerline Upgrade. For more information contact David Bone (Principal) at Onsite Environmental Management, P.O. Box 3233 Valentine NSW 2280, phone 02 4946 1066, fax 02 4946 1077, mobile 0407 461 092. NSW PROJECT FEATURE alstonville bypass
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Below NJ Construction ordered, transported and installed over 100 lights for this link.
One of the final things that needed to be done for the Alstonville Bypass Project to be complete was turning on the streetlights, supplied and installed by NJ Construction. They were involved with the project from the earliest stages, and are one of the last contractors to wind up at the site. Established in 1994, NJ Construction provide electrical and communications infrastructure services including engineering and design; installation and construction; upgrade and refurbishment; and maintenance of both underground and overhead transmission and distribution services. NJ Construction have a strong track record of completed projects across South Eastern Australia, and a growing client base around the state. Having a depot at Alstonville meant the company was perfectly situated to manage this project. Five NJ Construction staff worked in the field on the installation of over 100 street lights for the new section of this vital link between Lismore and the Pacific Highway, supported by two designers and four administration staff. The logistics of ordering, transporting to site and installing so many lights was the project’s main challenge, one overcome by experience and excellent supplier networks. 92
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The Alstonville Depot has over 20 field staff servicing a diversity of projects in the booming North Coast region. NJ Construction head office is in Queanbeyan, and the company has another depot at Port Macquarie. The company’s resource base in terms of staff and capital equipment has continued to grow as more diverse projects have been ‘sparked up’ successfully. These have included the 2003 Hudson Creek to Berrimah Transmission Line out of Darwin for Power and Water Corporation; Moree to Bellata 66kV Transmission Line for Country Energy; Awoonga Dam 66kV Transmission Line Relocation at Calliope, QLD, for Ergon Energy; and Boeing High Frequency Modernisation (Riverina, NSW), for Thiess. For more information contact NJ Construction Pty Ltd, 34 Kays Lane Alstonville NSW 2477, phone 02 6628 8430, fax 02 6628 8450. Email: alst@njconstruction.com.au, website: www.njconstruction.com.au.
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Below The Alstonville Bypass project taking shape.
For over fifty years, the Australian Seed Company has been supplying bush-collected seeds of trees, shrubs, and understorey species to nurseries in all states, forest plantation projects, construction projects, hydromulching services, rural landholders and mine rehabilitation projects. For the revegetation works on the Alstonville Bypass Project, they supplied The Reed Group with seed for trees, shrubs and grasses, which had been collected over several months from both the local area and similar ecosystems. The Australian Seed Company collect, process, store and supply seed for over 1,500 native species ranging from trees to wetland species and grasses, send orders around the nation and have exported to more than forty countries. Owners and Managers, Bourne Forestry Services, have been forest consultants and forest managers for over forty years. This commercial forestry and silvicultural experience gives the Australian Seed Company expertise on the varied seed production cycles of tropical, temperate, cold-tolerant and arid-zone species. Their access to quality collection sources and efficient time-tested methods ensure a viable result. For more information contact the Australian Seed Company, P.O. Box 67 Hazelbrook NSW 2779, phone 02 4758 6132, fax 02 4758 7022. Email: info@ausseed.com.au, website: www.ausseed.com.au. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
Above The Australian Seed Company provided the seeds for revegetation of the native plants in the project. NSW PROJECT FEATURE alstonville bypass
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High Density Living
SPECIAL FEATURE
MORE LIFE - LESS SPRAWL Constructing community in urban spaces.
Below The 37 storey, green built Aspira building located in the heart of downtown Seattle, and the living room from one of the apartments.
Written by/ Willow aliento
Controlling suburban sprawl and the associated environmental impacts and infrastructure dramas makes increasing the amount of high density residential development in urban areas a logical step. How to do it without creating towering, energy-sucking human filing cabinets is the challenge, one being tackled by forward-thinking designers, developers and builders around the world. In the USA, where the high rise apartment block is an iconic part of the urban landscape, a committed team including Urban Partners ,
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O’Connor Capital Partners, Real Estate Capital Partners, Keller CMS, Inc., Union Labor Life Insurance Company, LMN Architects, Turner Construction and Pinnacle Realty Management Company has developed Aspira, a 37 storey, green built, pet-friendly apartment tower in the heart of downtown Seattle. Aspira combines green construction with creation of a vertical community, rather than just a place to rent where tenants mostly only meet in the elevators. Here, windows open for fresh air, even at 350 feet up and both humans and dogs are encouraged to mingle.
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Aspira’s design and construction goals were carried out under the auspices of the Built Green program, a local program with the goals of working in partnership to improve and protect the valuable natural features and resources of the local environment and to promote safer, healthier buildings. This is the first multi-family development to achieve a Four Star Built Green rating. In constructing the development, innovations such as a unitised curtain-wall system were utilised, with windows in five foot increments to
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make the most of natural light and ventilation, reducing individual energy use. As a whole, the building’s heating and cooling is provided via hydronic (water-source) heat-pumps which either draw heat from or add heat to a centralised loop. A 98 percent efficient rooftop natural gas boiler system maintains the loop temperature, which integrates with the individual heat pumps for each of the 325 apartments. In the mornings when the south side is cooling their apartments and distributing heat into the system, the north side can draw on that heat to warm up. Other energy saving measures include stairwell lighting controlled by motion sensors, and garage lighting which is 2/3 controlled by motion sensors. Apartment floors are a mix of a wood veneer with an HDF core, which is low VOC and qualifies for LEEDS Certification (similar to Australia’s Green Star); and carpet with a carpet pad made from non-toxic recycled
materials, underneath are post-tensioned concrete slabs. The structural performance based design was peer reviewed by several structural engineering firms. The ductile core design reduced the amount of rebar and concrete needed and allowed a column spacing of 34 feet. The core from level seven, the first of the residential floors, was built with self-consolidating concrete, which limited the amount of formwork required. Creating community is a major part of the overall package. “We have a program called Active Building at Aspira, which includes a website for the building,” explained Keller CMS’s Project Manager for Aspira, Patrick Merritt. “The 11th floor includes a party room all residents can use, with a full kitchen. There
is a media room with a 70 inch flat screen and Dolby Surround Sound, a state of the art fitness centre and yoga room, a business centre with computers, a conference room and a 6,300 square foot outdoor deck with bbq’s and a fire pit. Aspira has dog runs (spaces with artificial turf and disposal facilities); we put a lot of effort into building community and adding amenities. “There is 6,000 square feet of retail on the ground floor, which will include a specialty grocer and restaurant. The building is located right in the downtown core, close to public transportation. We spent several months working with local artists, there are several original sculptures and paintings in the lobby and on the 11th floor, (the community floor). We plan to build an art gallery on the ground floor – amenity gets people there. We have gone lateral with it, to bring people in and get them interested.” Across the pond, in England, where there is very little unused space available for new developments, land for projects has to be virtually created by remediation of sites such as Middlehaven in Middlesborough. This former steel town in the North West is undergoing a transformation, with the UK’s first zero carbon mixed-use development ‘Riverside One’ under construction. The developer is BioRegional Quintain, a unique corporate entity that combines passion for the environment with an innovative drive to take construction and community development into new realms. The first stage is a residential building, Community In A Cube, an eight storey building of studio apartments with a central open space and a pub on the ground floor. “Sprawl damages the environment and ecology more per person than compact urban development,” said BioRegional Quintain CEO, Pete Halsall. Pete is qualified in building physics, and drives the conceptual designs for the renewable energy strategies for the developments and, along with his team, sets all the material specifications for their projects. Everything must follow the 10 ‘One Planet Living’ principles that BioRegional Quintain implements at each stage of each development, and a Sustainability Integrator on every project ensures the sustainability goals are met. “If you are going to deliver a sustainable project, it is about process as well as product,” he said.
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High Density Living
“We run a One Planet Living induction, which everyone in the supply chain businesses attends for one day, and over a thousand people on the One Brighton project (a recently completed residential development) attended these. Very green specifications are developed with the contractor and then implemented via the construction contract. We have a strict construction chain control procedure; there is no change to the specifications without approval, as we need to be constantly vigilant on that point. “From a materials point of view, we are very technically based and knowledgeable, and thus confident in the agreed specifications meeting our sustainability performance criteria. You have to know how to deliver
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coppiced willow; the project’s marketing suite is powered by hydrogen fuel cell, and a 2-3 MW wind power development is planned. This part of the world has quite cold winters; and an intelligent and energy efficient heating system installed for both hot water and heating interiors. The district heating system distributes water from a central boiler which incorporates a remote metering system, and a second leg supply which goes into a MV HR unit for fresh air heating; then a ducted system distributes the pre-warmed fresh outside air, obviating the need for the ventilation holes generally required to meet building regulation specifications for indoor air quality, creating a far more efficient thermal envelope and dramatically improving acoustic insulation.
Below left An artist's impression of Riverside One, the United Kingdom's first zero carbon mixed-use development.
Anish Kapoor’s latest huge sculpture, and this is set to place Middlehaven on the International art and cultural map – driving footfall and further interest in the project. “Middlesborough was an industrial town, which has been in economic shock since the 1980s. There is a clear economic and value driving rational to create a new quarter for the town that’s so futuristic, making a place that is so attractive people don’t want to leave. Middlesborough is looking at promoting itself as a digital city and this helps considerably. At Middlehaven, you can go to college, get training, and live and work on the waterside. Part of the story of Middlehaven is you can create a productive, sustainable and high quality environment – it is about the triple bottom line.” Oi Choong, Director of Australian firm Context, has vast experience in master planning, urban planning and landscape architecture in both Australia and Asia. She sees that a key to creating liveable urban environments is achieving the right quantity and quality of open space, whether at ground level or in mid air and on roof tops. Equally important, is social space, especially in a city like Sydney where many people live alone.
“The concrete frame system is lean and green, and we used post-tensioning, a French technique, enabling us to reduce slab thickness from 350mm to 250mm. The concrete design uses 100 per cent recycled aggregate and 50 percent cement substitute of ground granulated blast furnace slag, reducing the embodied CO2 by over 30 per cent.”
Middlehaven’s masterplan will by completion create 500,000 square feet of residential space, 350,000 square feet of communal space, 50,000 square feet of hotel space and 100,000 square feet of leisure and retail space; that leaves half of the 40 acre site for open space, in addition to the existing docks. Infrastructure including power and lighting for festivals and public events has been incorporated into the overall design for the open spaces. Another element of the master plan is a further education college, which will provide training in construction, leisure, retail and hospitality.
The consented development at Middlehaven is a million square feet, with sixteen buildings planned. A biomass energy centre will supply each building via phased energy centres and fuelled by locally grown short rotation
To ensure the sense of community ownership was a major drive for BioRegional Quintain, with Pete seeing his developer’s role as facilitator of that sense. In conjunction with our public sector partners, we have recently launched ‘Temenos’,
sustainability as a developer. Having built 172 residential units at Brighton, we have made sure that lessons learned will be applied at Community In A Cube.
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“It is about improving our public domain and streets; a lot of life occurs on that level, it is about trying to get our public domain working better. Good urban planning involves orienting things within walking distance, it is about creating communities, not just about architecture but about social life and personal space,” she said. “There is definitely a cultural difference between how personal space is experienced in the East and West. In crowded Asian cities, people are more used to rubbing shoulders in narrow streets, sharing the same small piece of public domain and living in smaller rooms with larger families. Because of this, it seems to me that they do more of their socializing and ‘living’ in the streets –their streets become extended living rooms and that adds to the vibrancy of their cities. This also puts a lot of pressure on their public parks especially in cities in countries like China. In our projects there, our clients place a huge emphasis on the quantum of open space and landscaping in new developments– although this in no way meets AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
Below right An artist's impression of Community In A Cube, the first stage of development at Riverside One.
the current Australian standards (approximately 2.83 hectares per 1000 population). “In new developments, the provision of private open space is as important as public open space; although in denser inner city areas, this is often compromised and there is greater reliance on city parks and gardens to provide the sense of sanctuary. “We need to be more opportunistic in the design of new medium density housing such as creating more roof gardens for the residents or better quality community open space, providing communal gardens and the like.”
creating new parklands, to the promotion of vertical gardens in high rise apartments and ambitious ‘gardens in the sky ‘ such as at the Integrated Resort in Marina Bay by architect Moshe Safdie “Australia is catching up but we’re not there yet. There has been a piecemeal approach due to lack of good strong leadership in design. Following years of lobbying, Landscape architects now have a key role in contributing their design skills and knowledge in the provision of major public infrastructure, bringing about not just an aesthetic dimension but major environmental benefits as well.
in buildings to reduce the carbon footprint of the city and also an increased number of cycle ways and the light rail network to discourage the reliance on cars. “I think there is an inevitable link between city planning, architecture, landscape architecture and philosophy, social sciences, the arts and cultural factors . The great cities of the world – Paris, Rome, London, New York - are cities where all these ingredients are most successfully fused. “The better developers in Australia are certainly taking a more holistic view in planning new
In New South Wales, SEPP 65 provides a set of guiding principles for residential development above three storeys- the buildings must relate to the surrounding context; have the right urban form and scale; have good amenity including solar access and cross ventilation, quality landscaping (including habitable roofs) and good social and community opportunities. “It goes without saying that good management and stewardship of our natural and cultural open space resources is critical. This requires leadership and funding from government as well as the community – who are in fact only ‘borrowing’ it from future generations,” said Oi. “Two world cities that are greening up their urban landscape on a large scale are Chicago and Singapore. Under the leadership of Mayor Daley, Chicago is championing a number of “Green Streets” and “Green Roofs” programmes with highly effective social, environmental and aesthetic benefits. The city is leading the world in the number of ‘green roofs’ which help to lower urban air temperatures and combat the heat island effect, provide good insulation, and of course visibly enhance the urban skyline. “Singapore has taken their limited land resources very seriously – focusing on density, good infrastructure (such as quality roads, city wide metro) and high quality landscaped spaces for its growing population. It has invested highly on the environmental and aesthetic qualities of its landscape, branding itself as “A City in a Garden”. “The Singapore National Parks Board plays a very proactive role in creating and managing the city’s landscape spaces including WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
“The RTA now incorporates quality landscaping in our new and upgraded road systems so that they act as green links and environmental corridors at the same time as carrying vehicular traffic. We (Context) recently re-instated endangered Cumberland Plain Woodland species along some 40 km of the M7 Westlink orbital, increasing the area of this now rare, almost depleted Sydney vegetation in western Sydney. We have done the same with rainforest varieties in the upgrade of the Pacific Highway in northern New South Wales. “The City of Sydney also takes its environmental responsibilities seriously, there are plans to introduce co-generation and trigeneration of power, water and air conditioning
communities – they realize it’s not just about infrastructure and building but also about building new communities, creating a sense of place and engendering pride in the community. To their credit, social planners and place makers are now part of the design team from a very early phase in the master planning - along with architects, urban designer and landscape architects. There is a lot more healthy dialogue between the different disciplines – and also consultation with the public to gauge their values and needs. As designers and planners, we need to understand and incorporate the ingredients that make healthy, sustainable and successful communities - it’s not just good enough to have an image or brand without the heart and soul to go with it.”
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BANK APARTMENTS PROJECT: THE BANK APARTMENTS, SOUTHBANK HEAD CONTRACTOR: PROBUILD CLIENT: SALVO PROPERTY GROUP PROJECT VALUE: $103M COMPLETION: LATE 2011 ARCHITECTS: URBAN DESIGN ARCHITECTS PTY LTD STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: RINCOVITCH CONSULTING PTY LTD ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES ENGINEERS: WSP LINCOLNE SCOTT LIFT ENGINEERS: TDC FIRE ENGINEERS: AURECON PTY LTD FAÇADE ENGINEERS: MEINHARDT FAÇADE TECHNOLOGY BUILDING SURVEYOR: PHILIP CHUN & ASSOCIATES
ENERGY EFFICIENCIES ARE IN THE BANK ust over halfway through the construction stage and progress is on the money at The Bank Apartments project. Strategically located within walking distance of the CBD, in the heart of Melbourne's vibrant Southbank area and featuring a 6 Star energy efficient residential tower, the $103M residential development is a landmark project. Roughly a three-minute walk to Crown Casino, the Crown Entertainment Complex and the Yarra River, the development is designed to take full
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advantage of vibrant South Melbourne and surrounding fringe suburbs, as well as the many offerings of the Southbank precinct. Comprising 360 modern apartments, a gymnasium, swimming pool, sauna, spa, business lounge and three Ground Floor retail tenancies, the project boasts a large number of modern environmental initiatives, including rainwater storage tanks, water efficient fixtures and solar panels. A central gas heating system, inclusive of a ring main system for hot water adds to the building’s efficiency credentials. Probuild was awarded the design and construction contract for the landmark development following a competitive negotiation in 2008. The unique design of the project - masterminded by Urban Design Architects Pty Ltd - called for a seamless meld between the heritage-listed façade of the Bank of New South Wales building and the contemporary and innovative architecture of the 6-star energy efficient apartment tower. The tower also features a striking doubleglazed curtain wall from level 30 up to level 40, and is complemented by metal-clad finishes at the lower carpark levels. "We worked with Salvo Group as the preferred contractor and were involved in cost planning, value management and buildability reviews in the lead up to the project," says Probuild’s Project Manager , Matt Bready. "It's all about planning - right down to the last detail.” Despite some obvious challenges involved in working with unpredictable ground conditions, Probuild has driven a number of successful outcomes on the project already.
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"We have been able to successfully tackle and overcome several challenges on The Bank Apartments project that would possibly have daunted other construction firms," Matt says. “The prevailing ground conditions were very unstable and unpredictable. This meant that we had to adopt a bored pile foundation system to support the loads from the 40 storey building above. It is worth noting that these piles were in the order of 35m deep. In addition, we encountered significant ground water not far below the surface, and this also put the pressure on us to get up and out of the ground as safely and quickly as possible.” As Victoria’s first 6-Star energy efficient apartment tower, The Bank Apartments project is already ahead of the pack in meeting and exceeding current required energy efficient standards. Through low energy lighting, high performance glazing and harvesting rainwater, the project team has designed each apartment to offer residents reduced running costs as well as safeguards against costly upgrades, which some experts say might become standard future requirements.
its unique Work Life Balance Program, Probuild has indeed earned its reputation for excellence in the industry. Probuild’s formation of a strategic alliance with Wilson Bayly HolmesOvcon Limited (WBHO), a leading South African building and civil engineering construction company, has enabled a long-term strategy of national expansion which commenced with the opening of the Sydney office in 2002. With head office operations based in South Melbourne, the company has cemented its place as a major national contractor with construction operations in Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia, and civil engineering operations in Queensland and Western Australia. Other current projects for Probuild include the Myer Melbourne Redevelopment (VIC), 717 Bourke Street (VIC), Aspect Apartments (WA), Gladstone Parade (NSW), Clara South Yarra (VIC) and Harvey Norman/Ikea Bulky Goods (VIC)
With spectacular north-facing city views, living spaces are filled with an abundance of natural light. Double glazing and performance glass is designed to reduce reliance on heating and air conditioning, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and lower energy bills. Positioned in the basement of the building, rainwater tanks harvest water for use in common amenities, while water efficient taps, toilets and showerheads are fitted throughout the complex. About Probuild With a turnover in excess of $630 million and a solid track record for the delivery of complex, high quality projects on time and within budget, Probuild has been named as Victoria's Master Builder of the Year three times and an award recipient in every year since 1997. An MBA Award winner in New South Wales, a winner of the MBAV Occupational Health and Safety Award and numerous recent awards for
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Probuild Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd 230 Albert Road South Melbourne Victoria 3205 t. 61 3 9693 8222 f. 61 3 9693 8233 e. info@probuild.com.au www.probuild.com.au
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SHAPING THE BANK hen it came to appointing an architectural firm that could offer both the capability and creativity to give shape to the cutting edge project of The Bank Apartments, the choice was clear. Industry leaders in multi unit, medium and high rise residential projects since 1999, Urban Design Architects (UDA) was selected for its robust track record and its collaborative design process between design team, client and other relevant authorities to ensure a design outcome that is both personalised and relevant to its surroundings. According to UDA’s Principal Martyn Tribe, focus for the project entailed the provision of 6 star energy efficiency together with the preservation of an historic building. Recycled rainwater, solar boosted hot water and new products such as low VOC finishes and efficient concrete structure were hallmark features of the project. “The Bank Apartments achieve a 6 star first rate energy rating fully exploiting the north facing triangular corner site. This distinctive innovative design affords a northerly aspect and city views for the majority of apartments,” says Martyn whose reputation as an architect of quality, style and efficiency is underpinned by a portfolio spanning more than 35 years of intense involvement with issues peculiar to the CBD environment in Australia, as well as the UK and Asia. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
A specialist in balancing complex design constraints and requirements to achieve elegant and commercially viable built form solutions, Martyn worked alongside Shawn Yi, Mauro Miglino and Barry Gargan, heading a team of 7 on The Bank Apartments project to achieve remarkably successful outcomes. Onsite, however, not all was smooth sailing. “Some of the challenges we faced on the project included poor soil,” Martyn says. “Piling was also required, there were no basements and the site was located in a flood prone area. Fortunately, we were able to overcome these obstacles. “UDA are committed to applying ESD principles to the design of buildings in order to create a social, economical and environmental balance and efficiency,” he says. “Each design is an intelligently considered product of the site constraints and/or possibilities and endeavours to maximise the site potential.” URBAN DESIGN ARCHITECTS PTY LTD 1 Cubitt Street Cremorne VIC 3121 t. 03 9429 5055 f. 03 9429 2255 e. architects@urbandesign.com.au VIC PROJECT FEATURE BANK APARTMENTS 101
‘TREAT THE CLIENT’S MONEY AS IF IT WERE YOUR OWN’ Rocco Carinci Project Director Rincovitch Consultants
roject Director Rocco Carinci and Project Engineer Hung Truong from structural engineering firm Rincovitch Consultants follow their company’s philosophy of taking a pragmatic yet passionate approach, one that has paid off on The Bank Apartments project. In the face of unusual challenges - including a complex level 8 transfer slab supporting 34 storeys above involving up to 1900mm deep, heavily reinforced band beams – their team has achieved highly successful outcomes on site. Renowned in the industry for its innovative and creative initiatives in delivering cost-effective building design since 1986, Rincovitch Consultants specialises in building design incorporating load bearing precast walls and post-tensioned floor systems. The company prides itself on its personalised service, successfully targeted deadlines and effective response times together with the delivery of high quality documentation, all of which is continually refined through practical experience and feedback.
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With an extensive and varied portfolio of projects and a propensity towards multi-storey apartment buildings, Rincovitch Consultants has been a prime mover in the successful structural design and construction of over 40 buildings between 20 and 50 storeys across the city. And the future is already taking shape. “From low rise to medium and high rise apartments, we have a multitude of projects at different stages between preliminary and final design,” says Rocco. “Over the next couple of years, we have 10 or 12 buildings between 30 and 50 storeys in the pipeline.” RINCOVITCH CONSULTANTS PTY LTD 28 / 20 Commercial Road Melbourne VIC 3004 t. 03 9820 2858 f. 03 9820 2857 e. rocco@rincovitch.com.au
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Solutions for Education & Training Facilities Utilisation of valuable floor space is becoming more important, especially when it comes to education and training facilities where class sizes need to be cleverly managed. Acousti-Seal® is a durable budget-conscious space management solution from DORMA. It offers a high level of acoustic privacy with a standard selection of finishes and options such as whiteboards and pinboards. Features such as ‘Automatic Floor Seals’ mean the traditional crank-type seal is a thing of the past. Acousti-Seal® has been designed for long-life with a rigid laminated panel construction and reinforced steel hinges. Request Acousti-Seal® for your next construction project. DORMA Movable Walls Pty. Ltd. • www.dorma.com.au • infomovablewalls@dorma.com AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW 102 BANK VIC03 PROJECT FEATURE Tel : (VIC) 8795 0233 • (NSW) 02APARTMENTS 9645 8300 • (QLD) 07 3394 6800 • (WA) 08 9228 8099 • (ACT) 02 6260 1822
CHUTING STAR for bank apartments What’s big, green and a real smooth operator in the garbage, linen and recycling chute market? The revolutionary new Smoothtubes Chute System from Wastech Engineering - the innovative chuting system of choice at The Bank Apartments. Technically superior, self-cleaning, super quiet and environmentally conscious, Smoothtubes has been developed by Wastech Engineering for garbage, linen and as a recycling chute for high-rise apartment projects. First to bring the plastic chute to Australia and today the leaders in this technology, Wastech provides specific site and specialised waste management solutions to a range of projects across the country. Recently, the company designed, manufactured and installed the new Smoothubes chute system in the Bank Apartments in Melbourne’s CBD, bringing new technologies and additional benefits for the builder and residents alike, especially in achieving their 6 star green star objective. Now it is The Bank Apartments’ turn to benefit from the many advantages offered by the state-of-the art system. So what makes Smoothtubes so special? Firstly, the system delivers a new standard in chutes that is cleaner and greener. The closed cell, non-porous material repels grime, bacteria, odour and liquid, avoiding blockages. Smoothtubes is an ingenious chute WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
system that offers a good fit that is in keeping with the environmentally friendly ethos prevailing at The Bank Apartments project. Secondly, the system is much quieter - Smoothtubes features an internal finish that has 80% less friction than steel, making it quieter and cleaner than traditional steel and cement chutes. Additional acoustic features are incorporated into the chute to reduce noise and ensure a quiet building. Thirdly, thanks to the moulded connection between the loading throat and vertical chute, impact areas are minimised. No sharp angles facilitate a faster, less restricted flow from the stainless steel intake doors down to the basement or collection point. Wastech boasts a strong history of supply to waste and recycling contractors, commercial builders and other key organisations, along with a reputation for quality equalled only by its capacity to deliver waste management solutions across a wide range of major and complex developments. Wastech Engineering Pty Ltd Contact: Valerie Collins 33 Wedgewood Road Hallam VIC 3803 t. 03 8787 1600 f. 03 8787 1650 e. valerie@wastech.com.au www.wastech.com.au VIC PROJECT FEATURE BANK APARTMENTS 103
223 WILLIAM STREET MAIN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY : Hansen Yuncken COMMERCIAL/RETAIL SIZE : 14 000m2 PROJECT END VALUE : $43 Million COMPLETION : September 2010 ARCHITECTS : Via Architectura STRUCTURAL ENGINEER : Robert Bird Group SURVEYOR : PLP
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Leading the World in Green Technology rom the radical new multi-jurisdictional courtroom to the stunning glass façade, the Old County Court embraces modernity and progress in every aspect of its design. This $43 million refurbishment was led by premier construction company Hansen Yuncken who were recently named 2010 Master Builder of the Year at the MBAV Excellence in Construction Awards. The project encompassed the complete renovation of the existing 16 level building, a scope of works that delivers a new entry with reception, security scanning point and control room, as well as meeting and mediation rooms for dispute resolution. Other floors will house the Judicial College of Victoria, the Sentencing Advisory Council, the Department of Justice and other agencies. The refurbishment includes completely new plant rooms, equipment and infrastructure services as well as the full restoration of the previously existing fixed furniture. Situated on the corner of Lonsdale and William Streets, the Old Country Court lies in the heart of Melbourne’s legal district, a factor that influenced heavily on its design. “The court’s new facade, when viewed from the new canticle across the road, will feature a multi-story silhouette of the Lady of Justice holding the balance and the sword,” said Project Manager Paul Saly. “This effect is achieved through a unique DigiGlass façade pattern that allows dramatic designs to be incorporated onto laminated safety glass.”
special paint which is free from volatile organic compounds (VOC). This reduces VOC emissions by around 80 times when compared to a traditional paint. We also have a unique rainwater retention system situated on Level 12 that can hold up to 40,000 litres, which is then recycled for use in toilets.” As expected from such an intricate and laborious renovation, the project has seen its fair share of challenges. From a full redesign of ceilings and services to the courts and office floors, Hansen Yuncken took over the design management to drive these design changes through the shop drawing process. In addition, Hansen Yuncken demonstrated their ingenuity by simultaneously preserving and renovating key sections of the existing architecture and also providing egress for the intact technology. Hansen Yuncken is Australia's largest privately owned construction companies, operating nationally with offices across Australia. Since their inception in 1918, Hansen Yuncken has completed over 4,500 projects including the Myer Emporium in Melbourne, the new terminal at Adelaide Airport and the Bicentennial Conservatory in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. With over $2.5 billion in current projects and an annual turnover of approximately $1.2 billion, Hansen Yuncken prides itself on delivering sound construction solutions across a variety of market sectors.
Chosen by the Department of Justice for their pedigree of performance, Hansen Yuncken is known for their commitment to sustainable architecture. In 2006 they constructed Council House 2, the first purpose-built office building in Australia to achieve a maximum Six Green Star rating. In emulation of their past success, Hansen Yuncken is once again striving to lead the world in green technology. “The refurbishment of the Old County Court has been specifically designed to earn a Five Green Star rating,” explained Paul. “This is coming about though a variety of environmentally friendly measures including the thermal characteristics of the new façade as well as smart mechanical infrastructure to name just a few. We are installing 30No solar panels onto the roof in addition to using WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
HANSEN YUNCKEN 25 Huntingdale Road Burwood VIC 3125 t. 03 9831 6500 f. 03 9831 6599 www.hansenyuncken.com.au VIC PROJECT FEATURE 223 WILLIAM STREET 105
he refurbishment and renovation of Melbourne’s Old County Court Building was an ambitious project to say the least. One of the main architectural challenges of this $32 million project was the creation of a new multijurisdictional court, an innovation that would link the Supreme, County and Magistrates’ Courts and realise the client’s vision of a unified judicial system. Such a venture required the professionalism and quality of service unique to Armstrong World Industries, the world's largest manufacturer of acoustical ceiling systems. Their decades of experience and ability to deliver environmentally sustainable solutions made them the right choice for Head Contractor Hansen Yuncken. The redevelopment of the Old County Court includes a flexible multi-use trial space and a large meeting and mediation space located on Level 3. The new design hopes to combine the two spaces to form an area capable of accommodating various large hearings, multiple counsel, equipment and members of the media. It is no secret that such a comprehensive space requires quality acoustics and indoor environmental quality. Fortunately, Armstrong had the solution by introducing their new discontinuous ceilings product, SoundScapes Shapes – 1,100 acoustical panels across 11 floors that are designed to ensure enhanced acoustics, which generate worker productivity, comfort and satisfaction. “We consulted with the designers, V-Arc, to determine their need for a ceiling system and acoustical solution,” said Armstrong’s Victorian State Manager Tim Barnes. “SoundScapes Shapes help achieve an acoustical balance and improve sound quality by lowering the reverberant sound and ambient noise. It is perfect for situations that do not use a traditional ceiling system, such as the Old County Court, yet still require an acoustic solution.” SoundScapes Shapes take the form of flat 22mm thick panels that hang downward from the soffit, absorbing sound from both face and back surfaces, making them approximately twice as efficient as a traditional wall to wall standard acoustic ceiling. Each panel is finished with an abrasion resistant paint on a glasswool scrim, providing a bright white and durable surface. In addition to the acoustical benefit, the Shapes panels have a light reflectance of 90% which enables natural light to be reflected further into the building interior and aid in the reduction of artificial lighting and energy consumption.
A Revolution in Building Acoustics
Armstrong is committed to creating Green solutions and using resources intelligently. Soundscapes Shapes are a testament to this commitment as they are produced from 75% recycled materials. Having worked on such a diverse range of projects as the ANZ HQ in Melbourne’s Docklands and the Royal Children’s Hospital, Armstrong are no strangers to challenges. “This is the largest discontinuous acoustic ceilings project that Armstrong has ever undertaken,” said Tim Barnes. “Initially the decision was to line the concrete slab with a cellulose material, but the client thought it was too bland. They have since introduced our SoundScapes Shapes, installing each row of panels at opposing angles to create an innovative and striking sawtooth affect. Between each row of unique trapezoidal shaped panels are light troffers and chilled beams, which change the way the building is heated and cooled. It’s a very interesting and unique acoustical solution, very distinct from the traditional ceilings you would find in most buildings.” 106 VIC PROJECT FEATURE 223 WILLIAM STREET
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SoundScapes are extremely versatile and can be positioned individually or in a group and are available in 10 different “Shapes� and 3 different sizes. Panels can be integrated into a new design or simply retrofitted to nearly any existing commercial space, which is the case for the Old County Court. Armstrong is a global manufacturer and supplier of acoustical ceilings and resilient vinyl flooring, with a full network of distributors throughout Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, covering sales, technical support and logistics.
ARMSTRONG WORLD INDUSTRIES PTY LTD 99 Derby Street Silverwater NSW 2128 p. 02 9748 1588 f. 02 9748 7244 www.armstrongceilings.com.au WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
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Living the High Life hey say a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. That being the case, a multi-storey construct such as the Old Country Court building is only as good as the material it is made from. Fortunately, Head Contractor Hansen Yuncken sought the assistance of Associated Rigging, one of Victoria’s leading specialists in crane hire, steel erection and steel fabrication to aid in the multi-million dollar refurbishment. Situated on the corner of Lonsdale and William Streets, the site did not pose any logistical challenge for Associated Rigging who were happy to collaborate with their fellow contractors. “Hansen Yuncken really did their homework on this project,” said Managing Director Kieran Hoare. “We supplied an estimated 20 tonnes of structural steel as well as small access equipment to the site. Despite the size of the project, we only required a small team of roughly eight to ten individuals, mainly riggers and boilermakers to work on site.” Associated Rigging commands a wide and comprehensive fleet of cranes and access equipment capable of lifting a maximum of 120 tonnes. Having worked on intricate construction projects such as the Skilled Stadium Grandstand, Newcomb Shopping Centre and Avalon Airport, Associated Rigging remains modest in spite of its many successes. Associated Rigging has been providing the construction industry with the finest in pre-cast concrete panels and structural steel for over three decades. With a corporate focus on reliability, precision and safety in the workplace, Associated Rigging continues to grow throughout Geelong, Melbourne and Regional Victoria.
ASSOCIATED RIGGING PO Box 143 North Shore VIC 3214 t. 03 52779353 f. 03 52779302 www.associatedrigging.com.au WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
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223 William Street, VIC
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Many Hands Make Light Work CC Building Services has been supplying the civil, building and construction industries with a talented range of personnel for over fifteen years. Having worked on such major construction projects as the Royal Hotel Essendon and the Brighton Lexus and Toyota showrooms, OCC Building Services has asserted themselves as one of Australia’s leading specialists in labour hire. Known for their versatile use of space as well as finding practical yet innovative solutions has been the secret to their success. In 1988, OCC was contracted by the world-renowned mining firm FreeportMcMoRan to construct major accommodation barracks in Indonesia. Now working alongside Head Contractor Hansen Yuncken to help renovate Melbourne’s Old Country Courtroom, OCC Building Services continue to deliver on form, style and functionality. “We worked closely with Hansen Yuncken, providing carpenters, site foremen, first aid specialists, electrical spotters, OH&S officers and even traffic controllers,” said OCC Manager Laurie Anderson. “As a subcontractor, our primary focus is to deliver an internal fitout as well as install a complete door package. This included architecture, carpentry, overhead panels, door furniture as well as the repair and renovation of the existing doors.” WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
As a Registered Building Practitioner, Laurie remains committed to suppling quality labour to the commercial and domestic building industry on both a flexible and affordable rate. With a specialised team of 40 employees, OCC has a strong commitment to ensuring that sound Industrial Relations are maintained and all appropriate awards and conditions are met. OCC services has a current enterprise bargaining agreement with the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) which allows OCC to assist companies with labour hire where such agreements are in force.
OCC BUILDING SERVICES 56 Stevens Road Forest Hill VIC 3131 t. 03 9894 0099 f. 03 9894 0100 www.occbuildingservices.com.au VIC PROJECT FEATURE 223 WILLIAM STREET 111
City Tempo Apartments Main Construction Company : Brookfield Mutliplex Client : Central Equity Project end Value : $40 million Height : 28 Levels Completion : 4th Quarter 2010 Architects : Span Architects Engineer Structural : Rincovitch & Partners P/L Building Surveyor : Philip Chun & Associates
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rookfield Multiplex is a fully integrated property business with activities in construction, commercial, retail, infrastructure and residential property. Following the acquisition of Multiplex by Brookfield Asset Management in 2008, Brookfield Multiplex has become one of the market leaders in property and facilities management, delivering intelligent and cost-effective solutions to their clients. Committed to fostering long-term relationships and repeat business with their clients, Brookfield Multiplex offers a collaborative and integrated approach, as well as innovative and cutting-edge management solutions, to a range of sectors across Australia. Boasting an extensive and prolific project profile, including Melbourne University’s Science Precinct (Neuroscience) and 131 Bourke Street, Brookfield Multiplex was chosen as the main contractor for the City Tempo Apartments in Melbourne. Commencing work in June 2009, City Tempo on Queen Street will be a modern, compact living community, integrated into the sophisticated and diverse heart of Melbourne. In addition to the cleverly designed living spaces, City Tempo will mix a suite of shared spaces including a concierge, café, business centre and gymnasium. Project Manager for Brookfield Multiplex, Evan Byrne said that although the project has been running on schedule, in terms of time management and budget, the small size of the site block had presented a number of challenges to all of the sub-contractors involved. “As this apartment block has 28 levels, with 12 apartments per floor, on only a 20m by 20m block right in the heart of the CBD, we faced a great deal of difficulty in area management. In fact, we didn’t even have the luxury, let alone the space, for any storage facilities for any of the sub-contractor’s,” Mr Byrne said. “In addition, because of this lack of available space, it was necessary to pre-assemble as much as possible, such as elements of the lifts, off-site and co-ordinate the delivery of supplies and materials required for each of the individual levels,” he said. 112 VIC PROJECT FEATURE city tempo apartments
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Drawing on their industry expertise and professional staff knowledge, Brookfield Multiplex managed to overcome these obstacles through effective project management approaches and productive negotiations with fellow sub-contractors. “Basically, it’s meant that we have only been able to accept supplies and materials for the specific floor we are working on at the time. “However, regardless of this, the project has continued to experience a fast completion turn-over, with each level of the City Tempo apartments being completed within a three to four day cycle,” Mr Byrne said. “This wouldn’t have been possible without the sub-contractors patience and co-operation on the City Tempo site, as well as Brookfield Multiplex’s commitment to getting the job completed on time and to our client’s utmost satisfaction,” he said. Although City Tempo is a smaller scale project for Brookfield Multiplex, compared to the enormity of the size of previous projects and construction sites they have been involved with, Mr Byrne said this particular development was testament to the fact that they are capable of completing any job, regardless of its’ size. “Although City Tempo has been a smaller-scale job than some of the projects we have worked on previously, it proves that Brookfield Multiplex are capable of building anything, large or small, with space and time constraints posing no obstacles. “We are looking forward to being able to work with Central Equity again in the future, as well as having the opportunity to be able to offer our services and partnership to other companies across Australia,” he said. With such a high level of flexibility and professionalism, it is no surprise that Brookfield Multiplex will continue to remain at the forefront of the building and construction industry, providing quality management solutions for a diverse range of projects and clients.
Brookfield Multiplex 32 Lincoln Square North Carlton VIC 3053 t. 03 8341 4500 f. 03 9347 0031 www.brookfieldmultiplex.com WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
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DESign wisdom spanning many years
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ith over twenty years industry experience, Span Architect’s team of motivated design professionals are committed to providing creative solutions to a wide range of architectural and interior design requirements. Specialising in high-rise developments, Span Architects boast an extensive client and project portfolio and as a result, continuously evolve with the competitive industry environment. Recently, Span Architects have been responsible for the architectural onsite construction services and fit-out documentation on the City Tempo Apartments on Melbourne’s Queen Street. Due to project site constraints, Span Architects were met with a number of challenges. One of these was a tight completion deadline that was difficult to achieve for the construction of the 28-storey building on an extremely small site. However, by applying their effective project control strategies, Span Architects were able to draw on their collective wisdom and experience. As a result, they were able to meet these specific demands and ensure client satisfaction. With a commitment to providing stimulating and unique environments, it is without a doubt Span Architects will continue to remain at the forefront of the industry. Span Architects PO Box 13309 Law Courts VIC 8010 t. 03 9609 6000 f. 03 9640 0125 e. architects@spanarchitects.com.au www.spanarchitects.com.au 114 VIC PROJECT FEATURE city tempo apartments
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A new standard in chute systems
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ith state-of-the-art technology and industry expertise, Wastech Engineering is able to provide specific site and specialised waste management solutions to a range of projects across Australia. In fact, the market has been long waiting the technology and advantages that Wastech Engineering can now deliver with the new chute system, Smoothtubes. Smoothtubes is a major innovation in the garbage, linen and recycling chute market and is now available for the handling of garbage in multi-level, high density projects. The system delivers a new standard in chute systems that are cleaner and greener than traditional steel and cement chutes. Recently, Wastech Engineering designed, manufactured and installed the new Smoothtubes chute system for the City Tempo Apartments in Melbourne’s Queen Street, bringing new technologies and additional benefits for both the builder and the residents, especially in achieving their Six Star Green Star objective. In addition, as the system self-cleans with minimal chance of blockage, Smoothtubes is often the first choice to be used on prolific projects across the nation. Wastech, who were the first to bring the plastic
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chute to Australia, are now the leaders in this technology, which is both designed and manufactured in Australia. Celebrating the launch of the first, recycling chute in Australia, designed specifically for co-mingled recycling material, Wastech provide a range of services and solutions for every aspect of waste disposal and recycling management. With a strong history of supply waste and recycling contractors, commercial builders and other key organisations, Wastech enjoys a reputation for quality, which is matched by a willingness to provide waste management solutions across a wide range of major and complex developments.
Wastech Engineering Pty Ltd 33 Wedgewood Road Hallam VIC 3803 contact: Valerie Collins t. 03 8787 1600 f. 03 8787 1650 e. valerie@wastech.com.au www.wastech.com.au VIC PROJECT FEATURE city tempo apartments 115
EXperience forms Excellence
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sing innovative construction methods and work practices, Form 700 are able to complete building structures faster, safer and at competitive prices, ensuring the satisfaction of all their clients. Established in 2002, Form 700 has over 600 professionally trained staff that consistently apply their expertise and skills to the wide range of projects they are involved on. With a prolific portfolio, including the Southbank Apartments on City Road, which were completed well-ahead of the deadline, and the IKEA Harvey Norman Bulk Store in Springvale, it was little surprise Form 700 were selected for the City Tempo project on Melbourne’s Queen Street. Throughout the project, Form 700 has been responsible for erecting formwork, supplying and fixing reinforcement and supplying, pumping and placing concrete. In addition, they applied and operated the core jump-form system and erected pre-cast concrete panels. Included in the formwork erection, Form 700 also supplied and operated a self-climbing perimeter safety screen system that covered the top four levels of the City Tempo project. Paul Brazis, Director of Form 700, said given the small area space of the site, a number of challenges throughout the building process needed to be overcome. 116 VIC PROJECT FEATURE city tempo apartments
“As a result of the very small floor plate, all deliveries had to be well-coordinated as there was no onsite storage available. “In fact, A'Beckett Street had to be blocked off completely whilst pouring the raft slab due to the large number of concrete trucks delivering concrete,” Mr Brazis said. “However, given our experienced team and management skills, we were able to overcome these obstacles and completed the concrete structure well ahead of schedule and ensured all of the clients demands were met,” he said. With such a strong commitment to client satisfaction and completing the job on time, within budget constraints, it is without a doubt that Form 700 are the leaders in the building and formwork industry. Form 700 PTY LTD Head Office 270 Blackshaws Road Altona North VIC 3025 t. 03 8331 7100 f. 03 8331 7150 e. info@form700.com.au www. form700.com.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
We lead SPARE PGwith innovative foresight
spare page
The extreme energy efficient ULTRA 630-1000 Low Rise Commercial Lift is exceeding customer expectations across Australia. Exclusively supplied by JPS Lifts, the ULTRA is just one example of the extensive range of residential and commercial lift products available, all uniquely tailored to the client."Leading with quality, confidence and innovative foresight is what we strive for every day" says Shaun Leicester director of JPS Lifts. So what makes the ULTRA 630-1000 so unique? Newly developed low power AC gearless machine and VVVF drive systems provides for a smooth, quiet operation that is unsurpassed in the market. With 240 volt single phase power there is no requirement to run three phase cable all the way to the lift controller. The standard MRL does not have a machine room, only needs a maximum pit depth of 900mm, offers an optional self supporting structure which ensures reduced building costs and an optional automatic rescue function when power fails. "Our Australia wide team of fully qualified technicians and sales professionals are dedicated to producing what the clients need and the way we achieve this is through clear, honest and efficient communication with everyone involved in the project" says Shaun The ULTRA is available in a range of high quality finishes including laminate, stainless steel, glass or steel skin-plate. Multi entrance configurations are available for all new and existing buildings. Italian designed, engineered and manufactured to Australian Standards, the ULTRA Low Rise Commercial Lift is simply outstanding.
Go to www.jpslifts.com for information on the products and services offered or visit JPS Lifts office showroom with fully operational lifts at 10 Henry Street Stepney, South Australia. Phone (08) 8363 2220.
ULTRA
630 - 1000
Agents around Australia include: South Australia - JPS Lifts phone 08 8363 2220 New South Wales & Queensland - Stallion Elevators phone 1300 555 363 Victoria - All Lifts phone 03 9794 9400 Western Australia - Sito Elevators phone 08 9457 1617
94 WWW.ANCR.COM.AU N NS SW PROJECT FEATURE A 175 PITT STREET NSW
VIC PROJECT FEATURE apartments 117 AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL A city tempo CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
SWINBURNE UNIVERSITY Main Construction Company : Kane Constructions Project end Value : $75 Million Completion : January 2011 Architects : H20 Architects Engineer (Structural / Civil) : Waterman A.H.W Surveyor : Wilsmore Nelson
KANE CONSTRUCTIONS 28-34 Rooney Street Richmond VIC 3121 t. 03 9428 8888 f. 03 9428 9685 e. kane@kaneconstructions.com.au www.kaneconstructions.com.au
ith a number of technical and logistical challenges to overcome on the unique Swinburne University Advanced Technology Centre (ATC), client and superintendant knew they needed a construction company that had the experience and industry excellence to do the job. Kane Constructions has more than 35 years’ experience in the building and construction industry and is a privately owned commercial construction company active in all sectors. With more than 270 employees it also had the depth of knowledge required to complete the intricacies of this particular job. The $75 million project was a test of ingenuity and is one of the first buildings at an Australian University designed to achieve a 5-star Greenstar rating under the GBCA Education Tool. It includes many sustainable features such as on site power generation , energy efficient air conditioning and the use of rain harvest water. The ATC will be home to some of Swinburne's key research facilities including a world class PC3 laboratory. “This has been a very technical project but it was the hidden challenges that made the job one of the most interesting Kane Constructions has undertaken in recent years” said Kane Project Manager Paul Christian. “There were three interesting structural challenges during construction, overcoming them has been collaborative effort, with contributions from the architect, consultants, sub contractors and the whole Kane team” Mr Christian said. The first of the major challenge was the re-design, planning and construction of the Level 3 transfer beams located in the North West tower. Providing structural support for the eight floors above , four beams, 2.4m wide and 3.2m deep, spanning an impressive 30m were conventionally formed, contained 1070 cubic meters of in-situ concrete and were then post tensioned. “The size of the beams and the intricacies required during placement of the concrete were difficult. We poured 1070 cubic meters of concrete, approximately 135 truckloads, during a 16 hour continuous pour, this required the development of a detailed pour plan which included heat monitoring, close supervision and a dedicated team of workers on rotating shifts to ensure we could accommodate engineering requirements and local authorities,” Mr. Christian said. The second challenge was the design and implementation of the formwork to support the cantilever of the Level 5 structure in the North East tower. 118 VIC PROJECT FEATURE SWINBURNE UNIVERSITY
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“From lower ground to level four, the North East tower was incorporated around an existing university building, then at Level 5 the structure extended north and was suspended over the existing building which was unable to take additional load. To make it work we had to install temporary steel needles which were specifically engineered to support structural loads and to ensure we could remove them after our curing period. This process involved the use of twin 610UB temporary steel beams which cantilevered 3.6m and supported approximately 750Kn of dead load during concrete placement.” The Strong Cell Laboratory is the centre piece of the new ATC and also the third major challenge. Kane Constructions had to initiate and implement a number of strategies to ensure the requirements of the client are met. The Strong Cell Laboratory tolerances of +/- 1mm, meant that construction of steel and concrete in the strong floor had to be built to world standards and that anything outside was unacceptable. This area of the project creates a three way fixing and testing facility for deforming and destructive testing of products from the construction, aerospace, automobile and manufacturing industries. “We have worked very closely with the client, consultants and outside industry experts to ensure that all requirements are met and although there were intricacies that proved to be problematic, the contributions of all involved has helped to overcome them, ultimately we learned that our tradesmen are the key to its success” Mr. Christian said. “There is a total of 18,000 square meters of floor space in all four buildings and with Swinburne University at the centre of technology based learning , it was always going to be a very complex yet rewarding project.”
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Advanced Precast Advanced Precast (Aust) Company Profile
The Project
Advanced Precast (Aust) was established in Melbourne Australia in 1982 and since those early years the company has grown to become one of Australia’s market leaders in the field of precast concrete within the building sector. In 1999 the company expanded its base of operations into NSW and in 2005 into the QLD markets to service Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Gold Coast and the surrounding areas. The company currently employs 160 people across all three states comprising administrative staff, Engineers, Draftspersons and Construction workers. With over 25 years experience, our manufacturing, in house engineering and construction expertise has enabled the company to promote and lead by example in delivering innovative and cost effective precast design solutions for building structures. In more recent times the Victorian division of the group has seen a change of emphasis toward Architectural Precast.
The Swinburne University Advanced Technologies Centre (“SATC”) is set to be a state of the art research centre comprising two 11 storey towers connected via pedestrian precast bridge elements set behind two three storey structures. The building designed by Architects H20 proved to be one of the most challenging projects ever undertaken by Advanced Precast (“AP”). The theme of the external façade to the building is that of frothing bubbles emanating from the base of the building with decreasing circle diameters travelling up its height eventually becoming uniform. The theme of circles comprised 60mm concrete projections of 950 diameter and similar size circular concrete recesses of 30mm. Windows and viewing ports were incorporated in the Architectural façade and coincided with circular projections and recesses.
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The main challenge for AP was to deliver a precast product both consistent in quality and colour. The Architectural specification called for an off form off white coloured concrete enhanced with the addition of white coloured oxide. The moulds utilised for the project were designed by AP in house engineers and assembled using several different fabricators in collaboration with AP tradesmen. The primary material used for the moulds was steel but due to the non-uniformity of the lower levels of the building other materials were required such as foam, timber and rubber selected for their ease of workability and adaptability in areas not easily formed in steel. It is not easy to deliver a uniform finish when dealing with such a diverse set of materials and that is where AP’s experience was required to bridge the gap. By working closely with their concrete supplier the supply of concrete was closely scrutinised in order to produce the most uniform colour possible, not an easy task given the manufacture of precast was delivered over a 12 month period across four seasonal changes.
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A well co-ordinated effort between Kane Constructions (The Builder) and Advanced Precast (The Precaster & Erector) ensured that Swinburne University (The Client) received a world class building in terms of the standard of finish. “This project was particularly challenging in that the precast walls were of an off form finish which meant that the precast erection had to be carefully planned and co-ordinated to avoid undue marring of the precast product which would detract from the quality of the completed building,” said Victorian State Manager George Cosmos.
For more information, please telephone Advanced Precast, Melbourne office on (03) 9706 5111 or log onto www.advprecast.com.au
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HIGH QUALITY SERVICES he PC3 laboratory inside the Advanced Technology Centre at Swinburne University required the highly specialized construction and finishing techniques for which Wilkore Pty Ltd is renowned. Wilkore Pty Ltd is a design and construction company with expertise in building distribution centres, offices and laboratories for the logistics, pharmaceuticals and hi-tech manufacturing industries. Wikore utilised a sandwich panel material for the walls and ceiling of this PC3 facility. A PC3 facility is used where materials that are toxic, highly infectious or a quarantine risk need to be exposed. “The sandwich panel is a standard one of two sheets of colorbond steel with a special fire resistant foam core. Sandwich panel is ideal for this type of facility as it is self supporting, flexible and able to withstand the high pressures experienced during certification and regular operation. It is also smooth and easily cleanable,” said Andrew Watson, business development manager for Wilkore Pty Ltd. “The room was quite large for a PC3 lab, over 70m², – with about 200m² of surface area. The certification criteria for a PC3 lab is for no more than two litres of air per second leakage with the room pressurized at 200 pascals. This means that the total gaps, cracks and pinholes must total less than one square centimeter.” Using a specialised device, Wilkore tests the integrity of the room in a minimum of three discrete stages; at the completion of the building envelope, completion of services installation and final certification. This allows Wilkore to monitor progress of the building and identify problem areas early, rather than at the end of the process. 122 VIC PROJECT FEATURE SWINBURNE UNIVERSITY
“Our training and quality assurance system ensures that every finish within the facility is of the highest quality. The challenge is to ensure that all trades are aware of the importance that every finish is perfectly sealed. Every sealing point must be signed off by the tradesman who installs it. This gives us traceability and accountability when we find a leak using testing.” These are some of the most thorough internal systems to service the most demanding institutional or government project and to complement the already exacting standards of the company. Wilkore Pty Ltd is also is certified to AS4801 and ISO18001, is FSC Accredited, Code Complaint to National Code of Practice for the Construction Industry and is prequalified to work in most states in Australia.
WILKORE PTY LTD 1 Dalmore Drive Caribbean Park Scoresby VIC 3179 p. 03 97642033 e. info@wilkore.com.au www.wilkore.com.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
money managers he Advanced Technology Centre at Swinburne University is the largest capital works project undertaken by the University and a key plank of the 2005 Facilities Master Plan prepared by construction cost consultants and education specialists Wilde and Woollard. The Wilde and Woollard Group provide an integrated fixed asset planning and management service covering all parts of the fixed asset lifecycle from creation through to disposal. The ATC is essentially four distinctly different buildings with a lively laneway and village feel created between them at ground floor with upper levels linked by bridges at various points. The scale and complexity of this project meant the University needed a highly skilled and experienced cost management team to oversee their $100M investment through briefing, design, documentation and construction phases. Wilde and Woollard Director Paul Dowling noted that “although far from the largest project undertaken by the Practice, ATC at Hawthorn presented us with unique challenges from a cost management perspective. The ground floor of one of the buildings houses an open space 500 seat Auditorium requiring transfer beam elements in excess of 30m long to support 9 levels of structure above.” “Another feature of the building is the largest mass concrete stress reaction wall built in the southern hemisphere. We travelled to UCLA in San Diego to see examples of these types of structures in operation and to get our heads around how they are constructed and how we would price them” WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
Mr Dowling added “just the look of that façade is enough to give any QS a headache but we enjoyed the challenge of achieving a cost effective outcome for this unique element and its circular windows which took a lot of research and consultation with specialist sub-contractors, long before the project was ever put to tender – this was of course a critical part of the thermal performance of the building too, assisting it to achieve its 5 star green star environmental rating.” Wilde and Woollard are particularly pleased to see the success of this project as it is a good example of sensible campus master planning being implemented. It will be delivered on time and on budget and is a credit to the consultant team and the Contractor, Kane Constructions. Mr Dowling concluded by saying “by any measure this project has delivered excellent value for money for SUT – in an industry dominated by debate around procurement methodologies – the somewhat traditional full documentation, fixed lump sum tender was certainly the right choice. Good quality documentation and tight budget control has ensured that any exposure to budget risk during construction has been well contained”
WILDE AND WOOLLARD (Victoria) Level 4, 37 - 41 Prospect Street Box Hill VIC 3128 p. 03 9899 0411 f. 03 9890 3123 e. mail@wwmelbourne.com www.wildeandwoollard.com VIC PROJECT FEATURE SWINBURNE UNIVERSITY 123
ensuring high quality finishes ith a quarter of a century of experience in the industry, ASK Aluminum Fabrications was the perfect choice to help complete the iconic Swinburne University Advanced Technology Centre. The company has grown from a small concern in those 25 years to become one of Victoria’s most well-respected mid-tier companies with an impressive portfolio of completed projects including The Westpac Centre, Hisense Arena, Federation Square and One East Melbourne. Those projects have involved a vast array of styles and finishes, with differing degrees of size, scope and complexity. The firm has extensive capabilities in the commercial window industry offering personalised service and a commitment to ensuring its clients get the highest quality finish.
Conventional materials were used to achieve the desired effect required by the architect’s intricate design and installation was done on time and on budget. ASK won the tender for the project based on its outstanding previous performance and its ability to successfully liaise with Kane Construction and the architects of the project. Recently completed projects include the Watsonia Barracks Living In Accommodation, in Watsonia for Grocon and 109 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne, a 33 level apartment tower, for Built. Currently the company is working on several other major construction projects including the prestigious Laureate apartments for Mirvac in Albert Park and the Old Country Courthouse for Hansen Yuncken in William Street, Melbourne.
ASK Aluminum Fabrications was responsible at the Swinburne University project, for the fabrication and installation of the many differing window and façade combinations, all of which were manufactured to the design specifications on site at the company’s Epping base. The Advanced Technology Centre building required ASK Aluminum Fabrications to manufacture and install not just standard window frames for the glass fronted streetscape but also a number of circular feature windows. 124 VIC PROJECT FEATURE SWINBURNE UNIVERSITY
ASK ALUMINIUM FABRICATIONS 22 Buch Avenue Epping Victoria 3076 t. 03 9401 3300 f. 03 9401 5528 AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
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Swinburne University, VIC
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Common ground TURNING LIVES AROUND
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alking about commitment to the community is easy – actually turning concern for our most vulnerable citizens into sustainable homes is a magnificent achievement. Grocon put its skills to work under its Corporate Social Responsibility charter to deliver Elizabeth Street Common Ground Supportive Housing. Officially opened in August 2010, the eleven storey, Five Green Star Design residential complex provides 131 secure and well-appointed studio apartments for long term homeless persons. There are also 30 affordable tenancies in the form of two bedroom apartments for low income earners.
Main Construction Company : Grocon Client : Home Ground & Yarra Housing Community Project end Value :$42.5 Million Completion : October 2010 Architects : Webber Structural Engineer : Bonnaci Quantity Surveyor : Rider Levett Bucknall Land Surveyor : Survey 21
It is not just a stylish block of apartments though. Inspired by the New York model, the complex integrates numerous common spaces and essential services which can turn tenant lives around, including a green roof designed by Hassell, medical facilities, mental health facilities, an art therapy room, a common computer room, a recreation room, employment referral services and a library. Entries on both Berkeley Street for the low income apartments and on Elizabeth Street for the studio apartments give a sense of privacy and security, with swipe card entry and CCTV. This is a project which transforms lives. Working in conjunction with State and Federal Governments, Yarra Community Housing and Home Ground Services, Grocon worked for no profit and at no margin to build and fit out Common Ground right down to cutlery and bedding, essential given almost half of the new tenants owned no more than a bag of clothes after many years of life on the streets. Not only did Grocon work for no margin, their undertaking was to return any cost savings on the original contract budget of $44.1 million. Up to 70 subcontractors and suppliers showed their commitment to the goals of the project by also working for reduced or no profit, and combined with construction innovation, this resulted in an actual delivery price of $34 million. Grocon therefore returned just over $9 million – almost 20 percent of the original contract price - back to Yarra Community Housing. “Community is a core value of Grocon, and Elizabeth Street Common Ground is a good expression of this,” said Grocon’s Corporate and Government Affairs Manager, Jane Wilson. “We gave an opportunity for businesses to contribute and do something about homelessness. The biggest challenge was understanding the clients, understanding the vulnerability of the clients and building for that. “There is a disabled unit on every floor; the building entries are disability friendly; and every unit has a balcony. There are podiatry facilities and foot baths in the medical suite because many long term homeless people have trouble with their feet. On the roof there is a garden with vegetable and herb plantings. There are good services at the location. We don’t want this to feel like an institution, it needed to be a quality environment. 126 VIC PROJECT FEATURE COMMON GROUND
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“This project is something that as a company we have taken a lot of pride in and are keen to do again. As a company with our experience working with organisations like Yarra Community Housing, you bring a lot to the table. The planning process for example was cut from 12 months to twelve weeks, because this work is what we do. A lot of corporates don’t realise what they can do and how they can contribute.” Up to 60 Grocon staff worked on site at the height of construction, including the company’s own form workers, carpenters and a large number of apprentices. Two members of the workforce were referred from the Brotherhood of Saint Laurence under Grocon’s Community Employment Program. One of these, a former refugee from Sierra Leone who was also homeless, has now gained a career with the company and since moved on to work at another Grocon project. Common Ground has been built to the same high Five Green Star standards of Green Star Design as many of Grocon’s other recent landmark projects. Features of the project include rainwater harvesting; grey water re-use for flushing of toilets; natural ventilation through the central void and operable windows and sliding doors throughout which makes air conditioning unnecessary; 30 solar panels boosting gas fired hot water; a C-Bus lighting and electrical control system for the common areas integrated with motion detectors for automated lighting; energy smart meters for each apartment; a central boiler delivering hot water to radiators in each apartment for safe and effective heating; double glazing throughout for effective thermal insulation; and recycling waste storage on each floor. These initiatives not only make the building as a whole more environmentally sustainable, but also ensure ongoing life is more financially sustainable for the tenants, by reducing water and power consumption and therefore cutting tenant utility bills by around $10 a week – a significant saving for those on Centrelink incomes. Being the first Home Ground project in Australia meant Grocon’s site staff had a constant stream of visitors interested in the project and its progress throughout construction. Extra PPE was kept on hand, and over 2,000 visitor site inductions carried out. “Our construction people became quite adept at discussing homelessness,” said Jane Wilson. “This project was very worthwhile for us. Our people learned a lot from this experience, and we will put these lessons to work in Sydney and Brisbane on the next two Common Ground projects to deliver as good an outcome.” Grocon 3 Albert Coates Lane Melbourne 3000 VIC t. 03 9631 8833 f. 03 9639 9556 e. enquiries@grocon.com.au www.grocon.com.au WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
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FIRST RATE STEEL FIXERS W
ith 35 years steel fixing experience to their credit, no project is too high, too complex or too demanding for Denfam. The family-run company laid and tied all the steel reinforcing for Grocon’s Common Ground project, working on site for a year as the project rose to its full height. The reinforcing task included both the ground slab and also the floor slabs and structural concrete. Denfam’s crew worked under an OHSE Management plan which ensured there were no incidents either on the ground, or working at heights. “We are very experienced in all building and civil construction projects,” said Director, Michael De Nittis. “We deliver precise, neat work, and generate a friendly working atmosphere. All our employees have been trained on the job, and no job is too complicated for us. If necessary, we can also organise the supply of reo for a project.” Denfam have provided the steel fixing for some of Victoria’s best known recent major projects, including Melbourne’s Rectangular Stadium, Media House, Eastlink, the Westgate M1 Upgrade, and the RACV Building. They also provided steel fixing services for the Sugarloaf Pipeline, Watsonia Barracks Accommodation, the AlburyWodonga Train Line Upgrade and the Werribee Zoo Hippo Enclosure. The Hippo Enclosure offered a special challenge: as the ground slab needed to look natural and wavy, all the reinforcing steel had to be bent and tied according to the flow of the natural ground. Denfam employ over 30 experienced steel fixers, so are capable of providing their expertise to multiple major projects concurrently for commercial, industrial, civil, recreational, Government and major residential projects anywhere in Victoria. Every project has its challenges - Denfam’s many years of experience, solution-focused attitude and professional approach ensures steel fixing which meets the needs of a project’s design specifications and achieves the timeframes of fast-paced works programs. 128 VIC PROJECT FEATURE COMMON GROUND
Denfam Pty Ltd PO Box 1153 Epping VIC 3076 t. 03 9437 7255 f. 03 9437 7455 m. 0438 584 205 e. denfam.dnf@bigpond.com AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
AWARD-WINNING WATER WORKS O ne of the industry’s more down to earth trades has a major Green Star role on Melbourne’s Common Ground project, because the water efficiency points all come down to hydraulics. Richstone Group installed the in-ground and above ground plumbing packages and the roofing systems for the Five Star Green Star (Design) residential apartments, that incorporated sustainability initiatives including rain water harvesting, a grey water re-use system and gas boosted solar hot water plant which included roof-mounted panels. Other Green aspects included the use of low VOC adhesives, a company policy wherever possible; WELLS rated cisterns, tapware and dual flush pans. One of the project’s challenges was the amount of pipe work needed to be installed in a small ceiling space, due to the dual water systems. In support of the project’s community goals, Richstone undertook the project at a reduced margin, as did their suppliers. Richstone’s trade qualified plumbers worked for twelve months on the job, with a peak labour force of ten. “In addition to the community aspects of the project it has a lot more meaning and depth to it,” said Richstone Director, Hayden Richardson. “Now sustainability has became such a critical aspect of construction, plumbers are finding themselves very much at the forefront and impacting more on both the design and programme requirements. Our expertise has developed to include rain water harvesting, re-use water and solar systems, we also offer both roofing and hydraulic services. As a subcontractor we have the capabilities internally to manage design and construct contracts. We also offer fulltime estimating for both roofing and hydraulics. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
“We only use Quality Certified products, and we are dedicated to continual upskilling of our staff. Currently our staff are being trained in the DuPont system. As a young, keen company, we enjoy taking on the challenging marquee jobs.” Other recent projects completed by Richstone Group include the Equiset Goods Shed North redevelopment, which won numerous awards for its sustainability initiatives, including this year’s Victorian Premiers Award. They also worked on the Melbourne Aquarium’s quarantine area for the new penguins, another multi-award winning project, built by Probuild. Successfully delivered the plumbing retrofit for the 253 room Rialto Hotel refurbishment, winner of the 2010 Property Council of Australia Award for Innovation and Excellence. Recently completed the hydraulics for Grocon’s Pixel Building, Melbourne’s first zero-carbon, zero-footprint development, and have just finished the roof for Melbourne’s new rectangular stadium AAMI Park. With 60 tradesmen on staff, and the combined 35 years hands-on trade experience of the two Directors, Shannon Egglestone and Hayden Richardson, they are capable of tackling multiple major projects across the commercial, industrial and recreational sectors, and bring leading-edge Green expertise to the essential task they do. Richstone Group PO Box 365 Somerton VIC 3062 17B Nathan Drive Campbellfield VIC 3061 t. 03 8339 0100 f. 03 8339 0300 e. info@richstonegroup.com.au VIC PROJECT FEATURE COMMON GROUND 129
Common Ground, VIC
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IMPROVED RECYCLING FOR BETTER LIVES T he market has been waiting a long time for the technology and advantages that Wastech Engineering has now delivered with the new chute system, Smoothtubes. Wastech Engineering designed, manufactured and installed the new Smoothubes chute system in the Common Ground Supportive Housing Project in Elizabeth Street Melbourne, bringing new technologies and additional benefits for both builder Grocon and the residents, the majority of whom have been homeless long term, and will now have secure housing constructed to the highest ESD principles, including a seven star energy rating.
Smoothtubes is a major innovation in the garbage, linen and recycling chute market and is now available for the handling of garbage in multilevel, high density projects. The system delivers a new standard in chute systems that are cleaner, greener and much quieter than traditional steel and cement chutes. Self cleaning and unlikely to block, the system was chosen for the many benefits that it brings to the residents of Common Ground Melbourne. The system is designed and manufactured in Australia by an Australian owned company, Wastech, who were the first to bring the plastic chute to Australia and are now the leaders in this technology. Wastech’s involvement in this particular project demonstrates the clear commitment to positive social and environmental goals which is the hallmark of truly progressive Australian businesses. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
Celebrating the launch of the first, recycling chute in Australia, designed specifically for co-mingled recycling material, Wastech provide a range of services and solutions for every aspect of waste disposal and recycling management. Services which include consultancy and recommendations for waste management logistics; specific site and specialised waste management solutions; formal, waste management reports; on-site service teams and preventative maintenance contracts. All backed up with a 24/7 maintenance program and breakdown response service. With a strong history of supply to waste and recycling contractors, commercial builders and other key organisations, Wastech enjoys a reputation for quality which is matched by a willingness to provide waste management solutions across a wide range of major and complex developments. Wastech Engineering Pty Ltd 33 Wedgewood Road Hallam VIC 3803 contact: Valerie Collins t. 03 8787 1600 f. 03 8787 1650 e. valerie@wastech.com.au www.wastech.com.au VIC PROJECT FEATURE COMMON GROUND 131
townsville wastewater upgrade saving one of the seven wonders T he managing contractor on the upgrade to the Townsville Wastewater network, Baulderstone has been a trusted name in Australian building and infrastructure for over 80 years. Created from the union of two trusted names in Australian construction, MR Hornibrook, and AW Baulderstone. Baulderstone is a subsidiary of Valemus and integral part of Bilfinger Berger AG, a global giant in both construction and infrastructure development. Today, Baulderstone is one of the largest building and engineering companies in Australia, employing over 1200 people across the country, with turnover in excess of $1.5 billion. When Townsville City Council recently adopted a centralised wastewater management strategy to address the increasing needs of the region, they needed to upgrade the Mt St John Wastewater Treatment Plant (WTP). The completed plant will treat wastewater, improve the quality of effluent discharge, increase potential for water re-use and protect the Bohle River receiving environment and ultimately the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The project is budgeted at $190 million with a completion date of September 2011. On completion the upgraded WTP will be the
second largest sewage treatment plant in the North Queensland region. Baulderstone will also construct 27 km of pressure rising mains from Bushland Beach in the north to Kirwan in the south, as well as four new sewage pump stations, modify four existing pump stations to service the rising mains network and upgrade an existing WTP in the suburb of Condon. The Townsville wastewater upgrade carried out by Baulderstone will deliver significant community benefits through reduction of sewerage treatment infrastructure within residential areas and will provide for future growth of the Townsville region. Environmental benefits linked with the project include an improvement in the quality of effluent and cessation of discharge of effluent to Black River and Bohle River. Baulderstone in its various forms has been integral in the construction of iconic buildings of local and worldwide significance including the UNESCO heritage-listed Sydney Opera House, Sydney's Anzac Bridge, Brisbane's Story Bridge, Melbourne's Etihad Stadium and Adelaide's Convention Centre. In addition to these well known buildings, Baulderstone have been integral in the construction
principal contractor : Baulderstone client : Townsville City Council completion : September 2011 SURVEYOR : Minstaff Surveys project end value : $190 Million
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of many types of infrastructure works, and whether it is a road, bridge, power station, hospital or hotel, an airport or office park, their mission is to provide sustainable solutions that deliver world class excellence. Baulderstone’s commitment to sustainability is evident in some of the following construction and workplace practices, including renewable energy use, water conservation, use of sustainable materials, protection of sensitive habitat areas, reducing paper usage, lower electricity consumption, video conferencing and educating the company’s staff on 'greener' living practices in their own homes. They have been members of the Green Building Council of Australia since 2005 and were pioneers in building the first "Green" building in the country, the Henry Deane Building in Sydney’s CBD, which was the first building to achieve 4.5 star SEDA for base building and 5 star SEDA for fit-out. The company regards the environment and sustainability issues as integral elements of their business, and are committed to best practice environmental management in all aspects of their operations. This matches the company’s 'here-to-stay' business
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objectives and a long-term vision for the protection, management and sustainable utilisation of the environment. Baulderstone is widely recognised for the quality and service excellence of their construction projects, founded on a proud history of hard work, commitment and innovation. Their adaptable and responsive approach to project planning and delivery encourages innovative problem solving. This is reflected in a strong commitment to partnerships and alliances and in the ability to identify innovative ways to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes, such as ECI Relationship Contracting (Early Contractor Involvement). Baulderstone Level 3, 44 Musk Avenue Kelvin Grove QLD 4059 t. 07 3835 0555 f. 07 3832 0269 www.baulderstone.com.au
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concrete construction
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AW Formwork Pty Ltd (SAW) is a commercial contractor specialising in formwork, steel fixing, placement and finish of concrete as well as on/off site panel production for builders and developers. SAW is headed by founder and Managing Director, Stephen Wollschlager, who has a long history working with concrete formwork. Manufacturing services that the company excels in includes precast concrete, onsite laser screed to produce super flat floors, and tilt up panels, as well as specialised formwork applications such as suspended decks, columns and stairs. For the Townsville Wastewater upgrade the company provided onsite formwork and concrete works and precast panel manufacture at the SAW Precast Facility. One of the obstacles on this project were the periods of prolonged wet weather. Fortunately the SAW precast facility provided 2000m2 of undercover area, a gantry crane and transport infrastructure which enabled fabrication of forms and delivery to site. One of the new processes used was the Somero Copperhead Laser Screed, which has helped revolutionize the entire process of concrete placement. The benefit of using this advanced technique is that the resulting floors are flatter and more level than those produced with
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the more conventional methods, which are labour intensive and strenuous. SAW’s progressive approach to concreting technology improve outcomes in terms of both quality and productivity. SAW is an acronym for Safety At Work and SAW has developed a safety system to meet AS/NZS 4801:2001 standards. As well as being a Quality Assured Company with ISO 9001:2008 certification, the company has introduced laser screed technology to North QLD and promotes a culture of professionalism, skills development, teamwork, environmental sustainability and innovation. SAW is also Registered Supplier of Precast Concrete Elements for Main Roads. Other SAW projects currently underway include: Bunnings Fairfield Waters, Holborn Apartments, Lavarack Barracks, and the BP Port Terminal at Townsville. SAW leads the way in advanced construction techniques in concreting, formwork and tilt panel production. The company can perform on-site or off-site panel production for builders and developers, execute detailed earthworks and create 'super flat' concrete floors. As an Award winning Townsville business they are rapidly developing a reputation
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as the preferred option within the construction sector, particularly in Queensland. Some of these awards have included, the 2008 QLD Master Builders Award for Industrial Buildings up to $3 million, as well as Most Innovative Use of Concrete, and the 2007 Master Builders Award for Outstanding Achievement in Concreting and Tilt Panel Construction. SAW demonstrates a state of the art, pro-active design approach that has already been recognised by ANCON Beton Pty Ltd, a leading Australian and Asian consultancy. In recognition of SAW's high quality workmanship, the company has been placed on a select list of Australian preferred concreters. Stephen's holistic approach to business is reflected in the way the dedicated team at SAW approaches any project and can be measured by the enthusiasm of the apprentices learning the trade. SAW has a quest for the most technically advanced concrete solutions and this is achieved through the SAW team’s approach and discipline, with an emphasis on best practice, training, research, safe work practices and the highest standards of quality. SAW is an exciting company and there's no doubt that it's a company clearly focused on the concrete construction needs of today and more importantly, tomorrow. SAW Formwork Pty Ltd 108-110 Enterprise Street Bohle Townsville QLD 4818 t. 07 4774 4555 f. 07 4774 4700 e. info@sawformwork.com.au www.sawformwork.com.au
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QLD PROJECT FEATURE TOWNSVILLE WASTEWATER UPGRADE 135
Townsville Wastewater Upgrade, QLD
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QLD PROJECT FEATURE TOWNSVILLE WASTEWATER UPGRADE 137
Townsville Wastewater Upgrade, QLD
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Precision Steel Fixing P recision Steel Fixing provides services in reinforcement fixing to the commercial, civil and residential markets. The company operates in both NSW and Queensland, providing professional trade services, site coordinators and steel fixing foremen. The main areas they work include: conventional slabs, lifts, stairs and jump forms, prestressing slabs, tilt panels, suspended slabs, mesh slabs, footings, ground slabs, piers and piles.
reputation is built on a highly personalised approach that starts with the client’s objectives and requirements in mind and results in their goals being met in the most commercially viable and efficient manner.
For the Townsville Wastewater Upgrade the company installed all the structural reinforcements for the decks, walkways and walls on the project. Some of the other projects that the company is currently working on in the Townsville area include the bridges for the Douglas Arterial upgrade, Townsville Hospital, and the Northshore Shopping Centre. Precision Steel Fixing prides itself on reliability, quality and stability, the guidelines its work culture is based upon. With a highly skilled, dedicated and loyal team of trade professionals, the company is well positioned to provide quality steel fixing services to a variety of projects. Their focus on occupational health and safety is based on the belief that the wellbeing of people employed at work or people affected by the company’s work is a major priority and must be considered during all work performed by the company. Precision Steel Fixing’s goal is to provide their business partners with the highest quality steel fixing services in the Australian market and continuing to forge relationships with existing, as well as prospective clients. This philosophy encourages clients to become part of business process and evolves into an integrated business partnership with the end result in mind, working as team to achieve excellence. Their
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Precision Steel Fixing Po Box 5779 Townsville QLD 4810 contact: Luis Freitas t. 07 4788 0852 f. 07 4788 0856 m. 0424 820 622 www.precisionsteelfixing.com.au
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templugtm drain insert for side entry pits The Templug Drain Insert has been invented to remove waste that is being washed into our Storm Water system. The trees that we have been planting over the last 10 years or so have created a “vegetative waste” that the Storm Water infrastructure was not designed or built to cope with. The Templug Drain Insert is placed into the side entry pit as a “cartridge” and is to be removed to be cleaned depending on what level of waste is entering these drains.
The goal is to radically reduce the amount of “vegetative waste” entering our waterways and lakes of which the environmental impact is now well documented. The insert only needs to be reverse flushed and the product is back to its original state. The product is not for every side entry pit, but, should be targeted in suburbs that are known to councils as high waste areas. They can also be used in new developments where sand is an issue. The Templug Drain Insert if used in the drains feeding into the rivers would prevent this “vegetative waste” from breaking down and thereby depriving the water of its oxygen and the subsequent effect on river life. For Drain Insert enquiries contact: Craig Rothleitner - Director Phone: +61 8 9261 7704 Mobile: +61 408 306 008 Fax: +61 8 9463 6266 Email: sales@templug.com Web: www.templug.com
templugtm building plug
common pipe damage
templugtm - the solution
Exposed or protruding drain, waste and vent pipes on construction sites are often damaged as a result of several common scenarios. These pipes are damaged when tripped over by workers, or as materials are moved around the site. They are often kicked, hammered or at best sawn off to reduce their tripping hazard. Workers often use a hammer or a piece of steel to puncture the pipe in an attempt to drain water that pools on the slab. This damages the pipe internally.
• Elimination of tripping hazards caused by protruding DWV pipes • Improved OH&S, consequently reducing workers compensation claims & company insurance premiums • Minimises cracked and broken DWV pipes • Environmental benefit of reducing building waste entering the waterways • Porous material allows water to quickly drain away • High visibility - the blue material easily identifies a Drain, Waste or Vent pipe location
VINIDEX Pty Ltd is the distributor for TemplugTM Building plug available through all major plumbing outlets For Vinidex Pty Ltd Phone: 131169
Email: info@vinidex.com.au
Templug contact details Craig Rothleitner - Director Templug Pty Ltd (ACN 120187742) Level 3, 267 St Georges Terrace Perth, Western Australia 6000
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Web: www.vinidex.com.au
PO Box 7798 Cloisters Square Western Australia 6850 Phone: Fax: Mobile:
+61 8 9261 7704 +61 8 9463 6266 +61 408 306 008
Email: Web:
sales@templug.com www.templug.com
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vinidex supplies new piping to townsville
Main: Baulderstone's with 600DN Sewer Ductile Iron Pipe. Top: Vinidex & Baulderstone staff with PE pipe and Vinidex Supermain® PVC-O. Top 2nd: Construction of pipe system. Bottom: Vinidex polyethylene pipe.
Apart from the intrinsic qualities of ductile iron, this durability is also attributable to the quality of the exterior coatings, which provide protection against soil aggression and contain self-healing properties. The interior cement lining is also resistant to water or outflow reactivity. These superior qualities will significantly assist the longevity of the upgraded wastewater treatment plant and reduce the life-cycle costs to the Townsville City Council, the owner of the wastewater treatment plant.
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eptember 2009 saw the start of construction on one of the biggest regional water and wastewater projects in Australia. The $189M Townsville Wastewater Upgrade Program, with the major works being delivered by Baulderstone Queensland, includes a new pipe product design previously unavailable in Australia. This vital capital works project required 20 km of pipeline that was supplied by Vinidex. The AS2280 ductile iron pipe ranged from DN300 right through to DN750 and made up more than two thirds of the total pipeline for the project. The new sewerage diversion pipelines will be connected to the upgraded wastewater treatment plant at Mount St John in Townsville, North Queensland.
Mayor of Townsville, Les Tyrell, was recently quoted in a local newspaper, “Mt St John is an extremely important project for the city’s future and we are replacing the oldest sewerage treatment plant in the city with a state-of-the-art facility on the same site.” Les Tyrell also commented that the new plant will meet much higher environmental standards. Nationally and as a member of the local business community, Vinidex is excited to be part of the team responsible for such an important Townsville capital project bringing better services to the community. Vinidex is also proud to support local service providers and with such a large local content, help ensure continued employment opportunities in the Townsville area.
Vinidex, the sole Australian distributor of the ductile pipe, was the chosen supplier due to its competitive product package which included a significant amount of the materials being manufactured in Townsville. The ductile pipe introduces new standards in pipe coating technology and corrosion protection. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
For more information on Vinidex’s extensive range of pipe system products please call 13 11 69 or visit the website on www.vinidex.com.au. QLD PROJECT FEATURE TOWNSVILLE WASTEWATER UPGRADE 141
energex building FKP- Helping to Create a Sustainable and Innovative Place to Work
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KP is a leading Australian property and investment group whose extensive portfolio includes mixed-use, land, retail, residential, retirement, industrial and commercial assets that define they way in which people live, work, retire and invest. With over thirty years experience, FKP is able to offer clients diverse and integrated strategies. FKP has expertise in development, retirement village ownership and management, construction, land subdivision, property investment and asset management. The prolific reputation and comprehensive property portfolio of FKP made it the perfect business to develop, construct and fit-out the significant office building that is 33 Breakfast Creek Road, Newstead. The building is part of a greater urban renewal project being undertaken by FKP at the former gas works site in the Newstead Riverpark. The renewal project will incorporate world-class retail, commercial and residential components, which will be situated around the heritage listed and iconic Newstead Gasometer structure. The design of the 33 Breakfast Creek Rd development is expected to reduce electricity consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 64% and potable water use by 55%. Executive General Manager Construction Mike Tucker said they were committed to delivering state -of -the- art assets and as a result, were leading the way in regards to the green initiatives incorporated
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into the renewal precinct development. “This building has been recognised by the Green Building Council of Australia as Queensland’s first Six Star Greenstar Office Design v2 building,” Mr Tucker said. “Such recognition is testament to the fact FKP is committed to keeping pace with ever-changing life and work styles and creating environments that encourage sociability, as well as redefining what it means to go to work,” he said. In fact, the unique building’s footprint offers a range of indoor environmental benefits, including improved daylight levels and access to views for over 80% of staff. The building will also offer excellent connectivity to the external environment through the incorporation of three atriums and a number of outdoor balconies and terraces. In addition to these environmentally friendly initiatives, the building will also use a high performance façade with low-e, double glazing and a combination of horizontal and vertical external shading. This will not only reject excess solar heat gains, but will also minimise cooling loads and ensure adequate levels of glare-free natural light. Furthermore, an active chilled beam air conditioning system will provide 100% fresh air at rates 150% above the Australian Standard, allowing for both high air change effectiveness and no re-circulation. AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
fkp property group L4, 17-19 Bridge Street Sydney NSW 2000 t. 02 9270 6100 f. 02 9270 6799 e. brettz@fkp.com.au
Main Construction Company : FKP Property Group developer/client : FKP Property Group architect : Cox Rayner Architects & Planners completion : August 2010 Engineer : Aurecon project end value : Sold for $173 Million in July 2009
This air conditioning has the capacity to offer the option of individual comfort control, which in turn has the ability to provide comfortable conditions for the building’s staff and occupants. Additional environmental initiatives incorporated throughout the building include 60% of steel being sourced from recycled products, the use of low VOC paints, carpets, glues and adhesives and recycling of the building’s waste, with a target of at least 80% by weight refuse. Another unique design aspect of 33 Breakfast Creek Rd, which sets it apart from other buildings in the area, is the ETFE roofing system. “This particular system, which is being utilised for the atriums, is actually the same as the one that was used on the ‘Watercube’ at the Beijing Olympics,” Mr Tucker said. “As part of our management on this project, we chose to pursue low risk, high performance solutions that emphasise good design practices, rather than complex high-tech solutions that may hinder smooth commissioning and operation. “Not only are we at FKP dedicated to preservation of the environment and sustainable construction, we are also constantly striving to provide our clients with cutting-edge technology and innovative design to ensure our developments create lasting impressions,” he said. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
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G. James Glass & Aluminium – Your Façade Specialists
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ith nearly 30 years experience in the construction and installation of large commercial and building façade products, G.James Glass and Aluminium are without a doubt, leaders in this industry. Employing over 2,500 professional and experienced staff, G.James has been able to continually demonstrate its’ expertise and overcome challenges that often arise from client and architect design aspirations. The Australian-based manufacturing company is also integrated with its’ own extrusion production, surface finishing, glass supply and processing capabilities, enabling G.James to retain a high level of control over the major supply chains. This combination results in comprehensive and highly skilled in-house design and engineering services. Given their prolific profile, G.James have recently been involved in Brisbane’s Energex project – an FKP riverside development site and home to Brisbane’s iconic gasometer. Throughout their involvement, G.James have been responsible for installing a high performance façade that incorporates low-e double-glazing and a combination of horizontal and vertical external shading. The advantages of these facades are that they reject excess solar heat gains and minimise cooling loads, yet ensure there are adequate levels of glare-free natural light.
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Using a combination of acoustic, aesthetic and thermal considerations, G.James also supplied ‘charcoal’ powder coated aluminium windows with insulated glass units of twin pane glazing. The result of this stand-out combination was a building that reflected both variety and statement. The facade featured multi coloured ceramic coated spandrels and a surround of aluminium cladding. This technique is referred to as ‘bookend’ cladding, with horizontal ‘nosing’ and ‘eyebrow’ cladding and vertical/horizontal sunblades completing the effect. “Throughout this project, we at G.James, have been proud of the professionalism to detail that we have achieved in order to meet the demands and expectations of the client. In addition, G James has enjoyed working with all of the consultants to help deliver this outstanding project.
G. James Glass & Aluminium PO Box 1376 Eagle Farm QLD 4009 t. 07 3877 2333 f. 07 3877 2296
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ThyssenKrupp elevator On the Way Up
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ince 1995, ThyssenKrupp Elevator Australia, part of Germany’s ThyssenKrupp AG company, has become the fastest growing elevator company in Australia, providing outstanding products and services across the nation.
“Not only does this system cater for passengers with disabilities by extending the door opening times, however, it also groups people going to the same floors together, which improves the efficiency of the lift system and the building,” Mr Younger said.
Specialising in the supply, installation and maintenance of elevators, escalators and passenger conveyers and backed by their expertise and global resources, ThyssenKrupp Elevator Australia provides innovative and cost-effective solutions to their clients.
“In addition, this avoids the lifts becoming overloaded and passengers don’t have to stop at every floor on the way to reaching their destination.
Given their reputation, ThyssenKrupp Elevator Australia has recently been involved in the supply and installation of eight, Evolution Flexible MRL elevators, with Destination Selection Control (DSC) Systems, as well as an additional two escalators for the Energex Building in Brisbane. Using recycled Spotted Gum timber in the lift cars and goods lifts, ThyssenKrupp Elevator Australia also supplied energy efficient elevators, which were essential in order for the building to achieve a Six Green Star rating. These elevators also incorporated a number of power saving features and regenerative drives. Alan Younger, Manager of ThyssenKrupp Elevator Australia Queensland operation, said the Energex Building had actually been installed with the first ThyssenKrupp Elevator Australia DSC system used in Queensland. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
“Another unique environmental feature is that ThyssenKrupp Elevator Australia installed the lifts with regeneration drives, allowing excess energy to be converted back into the power supply, rather than being released in the form of heat,” he said. Working on other projects, such as Raine Square in Perth, where they installed the first, six Twin Elevator Systems in Australia, ThyssenKrupp Elevator Australia will continue to provide quality products to a range of companies and remain at the forefront of the elevator industry.
ThyssenKrupp Elevator aUSTRALIA 46-48 Manilla Street East Brisbane QLD 4169 t. 07 3252 4422 f. 07 3252 9036 www.tkea.com.au QLD PROJECT FEATURE ENERGEX BUILDING 145
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perating since 1987, Gray Robinson & Cottrell has been providing Quantity Surveying services to the construction industry across Queensland. Utilising the latest technology in building software programmes, including ‘Building Information Modelling’ (BIMS), Gray Robinson & Cottrell formulate the best procurement processes within the given constraints, adding project value and consistency.
ACHIEVING 'THE BOTTOM LINE'!
As a result of their reputation, it was no surprise they were recently responsible for the full Estimating, Cost Planning and Control on the first stage of the FKP Newstead Riverpark Urban renewal precinct. Not only did they provide all the Estimating and Cost Planning services, they were also involved with the latest six star Green Star technology and suggested various environmental initiatives and products. Gray Robinson & Cottrell is also currently providing services for ‘The Regent’, a large commercial development in the centre of the city, the ‘Queensland Police Academy’, a substantial training and education precinct, as well as a number of large residential projects such as Hamilton Harbour, Mosaic, Alderley Square, Eldorado Square and Code. Gray Robinson & Cottrell’s Director, Stuart Gray said their excellent and accurate project delivery record was continuously evidenced by strong working relationships with clients. “These relationships are testament to the quality of services we provide. We consistently aim to satisfy our client requirements and expectations, while at the same time achieving ‘the bottom line’, he said. gray robinson & cottrell Quantity Surveyors 9 Bayswater Street Paddington QLD 4064 t. 07 3878 6222 f. 07 3878 6111 www.grcqs.com
Quality Commercial Building Services “Premium Projects at Realistic Prices” Project Management Construction Management Design & Construct Fixed Price Lump Sum Contract Maintenance Guaranteed Maximum Price Allmore Constructions Pty Ltd E-mail: office@allmore.com.au Website: www.allmore.com.au
68 Barrie Road,Tullamarine,VIC 3043 Phone: (03) 9330 3722 Fax: (03) 9335 1135
- COMPREHENSIVE COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION SERVICE -
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Tight programme? Need a fast construction solution? AFS LOGICWALL has you covered!
PROJECT FACTS AND FIGURES � 88 Apartments � 6 Buildings – three to four levels � 10,000 m² of AFS LOGICWALL � Install team – 9 men � Structure time – 16 weeks
Structural Walling System Contact our sales team today on 1300 727 237 or email sales@afswall.com.au
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QLD PROJECT FEATURE ENERGEX BUILDING 147
Bundaberg base hospital
Bundaberg's health reform N orthbuild Constructions has been hard at work on a four stage redevelopment and refurbishment of Bundaberg Base Hospital. The project, at an estimated cost of $45 million, boosts health services for local Queenslanders and surrounding communities and provided work for around 120 workers each day at the constructions peak activity. Northbuild sourced local sub-contractors, on-site apprentices and trainees and local suppliers. The weather in Bundaberg is always the sun shining and typical Queensland weather.
Construction and design of the redevelopment and refurbishment of Bundaberg Base Hospital saw Northbuild, a leading Queensland building contractor move the earth and do a job that will be greatly appreciated by all. The Company's excellence in its game saw All four buildings were handed over to the Department of Health’s satisfaction. A state of the art Administration block replaced the existing medical supplies and maintenance building, with the latter, now housed in a new building that replaced hospital ground just for it. With a new two level emergency and maternity department; refurbishment to the existing women's ward; a major upgrade to imaging and pharmacy areas; the extensive works also included an extension to the existing mental health department. A full internal refurbishment to the mental health ward with upgrade to existing fire services, mechanical services, air conditioning units and new generators for emergency power - where necessary and completed in Stage One. The hospital's redevelopment and refurbishment brings outstanding features for the eye to see from the waiting room being a big front glass window with angle mullions made of steel poles that run at different angles in front of the window replicating a Queensland, 'sugarcane' look. The ambulance bay received a roof that is not conventional but a 'Ritek Roofing System'. Ground level of this building is spacious with a nurses bay in the centre - 360 degree viewing of all beds; maternity boasts 148 QLD PROJECT FEATURE bundaberg base hospital
10 spacious rooms with own ensuite/two beds per room with middle curtain. The exterior of the hospital being brick and rendered, Northbuild Constructions has used certain FC sheeting squares with expressed joints - 10mm gaps - all painted shades of green to be a feature. Managing Director, Paul Boddington and founder of Northbuild Construction, is actively involved in running the company since the Company first began in the late 1980's. His personal interest in every client and project, is that of excellence and thus, 2010 brings the Bundaberg Base Hospital project to fruition. Senior Managers of Northbuild are Wayne Berquist as Project Manager; Mike McEwan - Manager of Administration and Cost Control; Michael Hobbes – Cost Planner; Brad McNaughton - Site Manager; Mark Christie – Site Supervisor; Anthony Laird - Contract Administrator; Danilo Chan 2nd Contract Administrator. Wayne Berquist attributes the smoothness of the job to a great working relationship with nurses and staff with their outstanding co-operation. A privately owned commercial construction company with offices in Brisbane, Cairns and the Sunshine Coast, Mr Paul Boddington has built his construction company to grow with the times. A turnover of $140 million, Northbuild Construction has 130 skillful people employed that work effectively to achieve Northbuild's capabilities of delivering any project and achieve client expectations with return business and more resorts, retail centres, residential and public housing, schools, offices, health-care and aged-care, hospital projects etc. on it's horizons. Northbuild Construction Pty Ltd Brisbane (H.O.) Sunshine Coast 53b Fairlawn St 8/6 Kerryl St Nathan QLD 4111 Kunda Park QLD 4556 t. 07 3373 6100 t. 07 5453 9200 f. 07 3373 6157 f. 07 5453 9257 www.northbuild.com.au
Northern Region 2/159 Aumuller St Cairns QLD 4870 t. 07 4037 5300 f. 07 4037 5357
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NEED A LIFT, KWIK`S THE TRICK K
wik Lift Pty Ltd, a registered DM1 Demolition and Asbestos Removal Company and supplier of machinery including 7 tonne forklifts and a 4 tonne Manitou telescopic forklift with fully remote man cage, P & H 63 tonne crawler crane, self erecting tower crane, 3 tonne crane on body truck and 2x20 tonne rough terrain cranes, tip-trucks, 35 tonne excavator and pulverizing shears. All types of scaffolding and rigging on a large scale were used on extensive excavation work and demolition on the Bundaberg Base Hospital Redevelopment and Refurbishment project with experienced operators. Tedious ground work? Not for Kwik Lift Pty Ltd who has a fully equipped workshop and 24/7 breakdown service available. Mr Peter Dickinson, the owner of Kwik Lift Pty Ltd and based in Bundaberg, enjoyed the 'Tower Crane' great experience that Northbuild Constructions supplied to him for this project. The Bundaberg Base Hospital project started in late 2008 and Kwik Lift Pty Ltd, will be working there until its end. As a successful demolition and asbestos removal business, Kwik Lift Pty Ltd also worked together with another asbestos contractor in asbestos removal on this project. Kwik Lift Pty Ltd PO Box 676 East Bundaberg QLD 4670 33 Steptoe Street East Bundaberg QLD 4670
contact: Peter Dickinson t. 0419 645 562 m. 0419 645 565 f. 07 4154 4670 e. kwikliftptyltd@bigpond.com
Delivering on demolition A .M.P.E Sarl South Pacific Pty Ltd (QLD) has been in the industry for over 20 years and their experience is in asbestos removal and demolition with the highest standards applied. Always striving for a high standard of quality and workplace health and safety management, they were keen to start on their next project. Bundaberg Base Hospital's new refurbishment and re-development had A.M.P.E Sarl South Pacific Pty Ltd on their toes to do the best job required to get the job done. Being an asbestos removal and demolition company, Managing Director, Mr Richard Swainson, delivered on the Bundaberg Base Hospital Project. Additional projects that they have finished in Australia being a crosssection of industries and commerce include: universities, government
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departments, schools, high rise, sugarmills, shopping centres, petrochemical plants, factories, power stations, and asbestos removal and demolition in New Caledonia to the highest of standards and careful workmanship.
A.M.P.E Sarl South Pacific P/L PO Box 1065 Eagle Farm QLD 4009 Unit 2/ 300 Cullen Avenue Eagle Farm QLD 4009 t. 07 38682703 f. 07 38682705 e. d.swainson@ampe.net.au
QLD PROJECT FEATURE bundaberg base hospital 149
hale street link
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Go Between Bridge (formerly known as Hale Street Link) is a key component in Lord Mayor Campbell Newman’s multi-billion dollar TransApex plan aimed at ensuring Brisbane is a well designed, accessible and connected city for now and into the future.
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QLD PROJECT FEATURE HALE STREET LINK 151
THE ROAD TO SUCCESS I
t takes a unique combination of engineering nous, skilled labour and specialised machinery to undertake conduit installation at a site like the Hale Street Link project. The sensitive riparian environment, working adjacent to the Brisbane River; busy main roads, and constant stream of pedestrians all added to the already challenging work environment. But this is exactly the kind of challenge Setlow Constructions have the ability to resolve successfully, with industry leading civil engineering expertise backed by on-ground resources. Setlow’s successful bid included upgrading and extending approximately 300m of existing 600mm diameter ductile water service running the length of Montague Street on the Southern Bank of the Brisbane river to feed into the service cavity traversing the new Hale Street Link bridge, and approximately 200m of 600mm diameter High Density Polyethylene Pipe to Coronation Drive on the Northern bank of the Brisbane river bank which included live connections and access pits. “Both activities required a solid combination of our core expertise coupled with unique stakeholder and environment consideration,” said Setlow CEO, Darren Fletcher. “Overall the Hale Street Link project was a fantastic challenge especially with sensitive night works being 152 QLD PROJECT FEATURE HALE STREET LINK
undertaken, high density population, heavy pedestrian traffic periods, multiple subcontractors in tight conditions and the closely adjacent Brisbane River”. “The unusually testing conditions presented us with the opportunity to develop innovative solutions, which Setlow is renowned for”. Part of Setlow’s approach to environmentally responsible civil works is to create an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for every project. The EMP for Hale Street Link covered issues such as truck entry (deliveries), water runoff and siltation, access to the site via boat, limited space issues and managing the shared pedestrian area. It also outlined measures for ground stabilisation due to the filled ground conditions, contingencies around cutting into the live conduits, plans for dust and sound monitoring, night works and management of the Brisbane River environmental issues as they related to the works. A team of twelve Setlow operatives, comprising a project manager, a site supervisor, two pipe layers, three machine operators, two labourers, two welders and a safety officer, worked for three months on the Northern bank project and five weeks on the Southern Bank. Their plant onsite was comprised of two 20 tonne excavators, a 12 tonne excavator, loader, bobcat and two truck and dog combinations. One of Setlow’s strengths is they are equipped with all the plant and skilled operators required to complete a project they have designed and engineered. AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
In over 12 years of operation, Setlow have earned their reputation as experts in civil construction. Their team of over 100 skilled people, together with the extensive fleet of well-maintained, quality equipment, are especially skilled at undertaking projects in challenging environments. Their core business is conduit installation, particularly large diameter pipes for sewer, water, electricity and gas. They have a track record of complying with requirements while working on and around live services such as gas and optical fibre. Their team completes projects where spaces are confined, trenches are deep and the ground is wet, often the scenario when undertaking maintenance of sewer systems and associated structures. Setlow have a strong commitment to the community and to cultural heritage, and work in unison with local stakeholders when engaged on important community projects, like the Hale Street Link. They are committed to quality in everything they do, and have certified Quality, Occupational Health & Safety and Environmental Management systems. This company also has an exemplary safety record, another result of good management of men, machines and materials, on even the most difficult site. Busy, challenging sites are familiar territory, with the company CV featuring projects for many of the nation’s leading construction firms and a wide diversity of civil infrastructure projects. Examples of Setlow’s track record include: Installation of the Neumann Petroleum fuel pipeline in Brisbane East; Earth works & upgrade to existing services for the Banora Point Bypass Project; Augmentation of conduits for the Airport Link Alliance Brisbane; Recycled Water Grid Augmentation for the Eastern Pipe WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
Alliance in South East Queensland; installation of sections of the Brooklyn to Lara gas main installation in Victoria; Trunk Main Sewer installation for Gold Coast City Council; Tenix Alliance Recycled Water project in Mernda, Victoria; BMP Alliance sewer trunk main upgrade; Earthworks, lagoon construction, pipe works and electrical conduits for the Kingscliff Sewage Treatment Plant Construction by Fulton Hogan; and civil works for the General Rail Accelerated Improvement Program with John Holland.
Setlow Constructions T. 07 3382 7068 F. 07 3382 7081 M. 0438 666 004 E. info@setlow.com.au W. www.setlow.com.au QLD PROJECT FEATURE HALE STREET LINK 153
Marine Expertise Helps Build BRIDGE L
ong before infrastructure started coming out of the ground, the Hale Street Link Alliance had been in contact with QPort Marine Services regarding the availability of floating plant and marine methodologies that would be used to help construct the Go Between Bridge.
Over an eighteen month period from go to woe QPort Marine Services was the predominant marine floating & marine logistics provider to the Hale Street Link Alliance, providing continuous marine personnel to site works, supplying barges and tug vessels as required, setting up specialised operations and helping with the design and installation of the 100m floating access pontoons to the northern side of the project. With it's Brisbane Barge Berth base at Hemmant, QPort Marine Services facilitated the lay-down area for the precasting of concrete modules that went into the construction of the bridge, enabling precast units, other materials and gantries to be loaded directly to barge(s) at the Brisbane Barge Berth and delivered direct to site. The Brisbane Barge Berth was also used for loading cranes to barge(s) and setting up various barges with spud and spudkeeper systems to hold the barges in position once on site. With the rail bridge just downstream of the new bridge being built, there wasn’t a lot of water room to manoeuvre big barges with cranes and spuds rising above the deck levels and a lot of preplanning went into these marine logistics. 154 QLD PROJECT FEATURE HALE STREET LINK
QPort Marine Services has been operating from its base on the Brisbane River for the last twenty years providing marine floating plant, logistics and marine solutions to Government, Corporate, Construction, and Shipping companies along the East Coast of Australia and sometimes beyond. At the same time as the Hale Street project was in full swing, QPort Marine Services was also the principal supplier of floating plant and support services to the Gold Coast Desalination project and the Sydney Water Delivery Alliance Twin Pipe Laying project in Botany Bay. The French and Australian partners in the Hale Street Link Alliance were good to work with, professional in their approach, and took the time to listen to advice given and understand the marine aspects which were ever present during the construction of the Go Between Bridge. QPort Marine Services was pleased to have contributed it’s expertise to this project over the entire project duration. QPort Marine Services Pty Ltd 1517 Lytton Road Hemmant QLD 4174 t. 07 3893 0066 f. 07 3893 0188 e. qport@qportmarine.com.au www. qportmarine.com.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
MOVING EARTH ROUND THE CLOCK N
ight or day for two years, D&M Plant Hire provided men and machines for the earthworks along Montague Road and Coronation Drive for the Hale Street Link project. Their task included challenges such as working machinery while floating on a barge in the Brisbane River, working in very confined spaces, using 22 tonne excavators in a busy urban setting and performing under tight time limits for several different supervisors. D&M were responsible for a large majority of the earthworks on Montague Road and Coronation Drive, and according to the Hale Street Link Alliance Construction Manager, Sydney Phillips, “have proved to continually provide benefit to the project through being reliable, providing competitive rates and excellent level of service both from operators and office personnel.”
Machinery provided for the Hale Street job included small bobcats, excavators and combos ranging from 1.5 tonne through to 40 tonne excavators, tandem tip trucks and trailers, water carts, and backhoes. D&M floated their own machinery onsite, as well as floating other machinery for the project and organising haulage for outside materials to be delivered to site. All operators received ongoing training in machinery operation, site safety and protocols, in addition to general site induction and pre-engagement drug testing. Projects of this magnitude can’t risk delays through equipment failure. One of the strengths of WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
D&M is their 24-hour in-house engineering and mechanical service backup, and their ability to have any essential unique part such as specific bucket or attachment manufactured immediately to order by sister company Titan Manufacturing. On all their assignments, D&M take great care to protect the environment. All machinery is generally turned over every two to three years, which not only guarantees each project the best possible machines, it minimises pollution risks from oil leaks. As a company, D&M also take a responsible approach to minimising the carbon emissions from their business. D&M Plant Hire have been in business for the past 37 years. This expansive industry experience combined with operator knowledge, mechanical staff support and the administrative staff ’s ability to build rapport with clients so as to understand their needs and manage logistics to provide specific machines in tight time frames, makes D&M a preferred supplier for major projects like Hale Street Link.
D&M Plant Hire Level 1, 55 Enterprise St Cleveland QLD 4163 t. 07 3286 5088 f. 07 3286 7033 e. debbie@comstar.net.au QLD PROJECT FEATURE HALE STREET LINK 155
SUBMERGED W SITE specialists
orking underwater in the dimness of the Brisbane River, Dermody Diving and Marine Services (DDMS) undertook essential diving support work for the Hale Street Link project including inspections, welding, cutting and lifting operations, Pile protection and wrapping system. “Some of the challenges faced on this particular project besides the standard Brisbane River currents and limited visibility were: dealing with floods and associated debris washed downstream into the work area; the small tide time windows to complete some tasks; undertaking work inside pile caps with no natural light; transit to and from inside the pile cap worksite for materials; and general logistical problems from passing vessels and site positioning,” said DDMS Director, Brian Dermody. “A protective cage had to be made to protect divers from river debris after floods. Cutting under pile caps had to incorporate different cutting methods due to tidal influence and complete submergence on high tides.” DDMS were established in 2007, and provide general and construction diving support services to Government and Private corporations and projects in both Australian and international waters. DDMS use a fully supported workshop, vehicles and vessels along with a large range of diving and marine equipment, and are an ISO 9001-2008 Quality Endorsed Company, with certified ISO 14001-2004 Environmental Management and certified AS/NZS 4801-2001 Occupational health & Safety. The senior staff possess extensive experience in onshore and offshore commercial diving, and several staff also possessing engineering, mechanical and other trade qualifications. All staff are accredited under Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme (ADAS) for commercial diving work. “We provide a full range of Inspection, Construction, Maintenance, pile protection, Salvage Diving services and also provide Scientific Diving services including Environmental Impact Assessments, Consultancy and Project Management. Our company also provides Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) services for underwater inspections up to 300 metres. ” said Brian Dermody. “We are committed to providing a safe work environment for not only our staff but all persons associated with us on projects. We provide our clients with a full Occupational Health Safety and Environmental Management Plan along with dedicated Job Safety Environmental Assessments.” DDMS are a Member of the Australian Diving Contractors Association, Water Industry Operators Association Australia and the Australian Marine Industry Export Group. Other company services include non destruct testing, high pressure hydroblasting and underwater engineering. Their skills are supported by plant and equipment including specialist underwater welding spreads, survey equipment, barges, punts, hydraulic tools, dredging and airlifting apparatus, access equipment, construction equipment and transport, with a containerised rapid deployment system for fast response from either the Sydney or Brisbane base to underwater tasks of any magnitude, anywhere.
Dermody Diving and Marine Services Pty Ltd 2/12 Distribution Ave Molendinar QLD 4214 contact: Brian Dermody t. 07 5564 5497 f. 07 5564 7618 m. 0414 848 755 e. brian@dermodydiving.com.au www.dermodydiving.com.au 156 QLD PROJECT FEATURE HALE STREET LINK
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USING ONE BRIDGE TO BUILD ANOTHER
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uilding the new Go Between Bridge with minimal disturbance to the Brisbane River’s environs was accomplished with the use of an innovative temporary bridge designed and constructed by Smithbridge Australia, a West End based marine contractor with a direct line of sight to the project. The 10m wide, precast temporary bridge system supports up to a 200T crane, and can be installed at the rate of 50m a week. Smithbridge’s barge Leonora, with a deck mounted 200T crane for constructing the second pier, and their piling barge Maeve Anne with a purpose built piling leader were also mobilised for the works. “The bridge system gave a temporary work platform which allowed access to one of the river piers. The Hale Street Link Alliance had a requirement to get heavy equipment out into the river, and the bridge gave them the ability to do that without the time and expense of building from new,” said Smithbridge Managing Director, Paul Brady. The bridge had previously been used on an outfall pipeline project in Perth and was mobilised by rail to the Hale Street site. “We have almost 400 lineal metres of bridge, which equates to 130 semi-trailer loads, so transport around the country is a significant cost and environmental impact. Rail is usually competitive and certainly the most eco-friendly option.” Once its task at Hale Street was completed, it went to Newcastle to facilitate the demolition of an old steel truss bridge over a river. “This is a portable and modular system which can move about the country. The beauty of it is there is no disturbance of the marine bed, only two steel tubes enter the bed every 12 metres; and we had WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
floating silt curtains on shore for extra environmental protection.” In order to avoid damage to the mangroves on the river bank at Hale Street, Smithbridge successfully designed and installed temporary guide piles to divert and suspend barge mooring wires above the riverbank. To remove the temporary bridge, Smithbridge mobilised their own powerful pile extractor, which extracted all but one of the piles. Smithbridge were quick to take up the availability of biodegradable hydraulic oils for use in their equipment, a wise precaution while working over water. The company’s combination of technical strength, skilled personnel and specialist plant, coupled with extremely high safety and environmental values, gives them the ability to self-construct projects for both bridge and marine infrastructure. They have been awarded two Earth Awards in the past three years with a string of successfully completed projects including wharves, jetties, offshore pipelines, bridges over water and other marine-based complex structures. Smithbridge Australia Pty Ltd PO Box 5338 West End Brisbane QLD 4101 Level 2, 12 Browning Street West End Brisbane QLD 4101 t. 07 3844 7645 f. 07 3846 6563 www.smithbridge.net QLD PROJECT FEATURE HALE STREET LINK 157
TOLLING GOES SUPER-SAVVY
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he Go Between Bridge is yet another successful example of the technological edge of Visionstream, installers of the tolling gantries and tolling equipment on the South Brisbane side. This is the second major Brisbane installation of the Swedish-designed KAPSCH equipment carried out by the company, who are at the forefront of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), and toll-enabled the CLEM 7 tunnel.
As a leading Network Service Provider, Visionstream deliver national based telecommunications construction, maintenance and engineering services across the board in both Australia and New Zealand territories. Their core commitment is delivering excellence in communications systems.
“The challenge was the delivery pressures. We signed the contract in December 2009 for February/March 2010 installation. The components had to come from overseas - the electronics from Sweden, and the two interlocking gantries designed in Sweden and manufactured in Korea,” said Visionstream Project Manager and Project Engineer, Gerd Lindner. “We come later in the program and become a key part of the delivery team, and there is always time pressure at the end of the program.” Visionstream’s onsite team included around 20 staff and subcontractors, including cranes, rigging, electricians and electrical installers. A two week testing period was undertaken for calibration of the system, including the tolling data-collection points for e-tags, and testing of the tolling sensors with moving vehicles. The installation was carried out without any OH&S issues. The excellent safety record on all their projects has been recognised with a National Safety Award. This project represents only one facet of Visionstream’s ITS capabilities, which also include electronic signage, vehicle detection, traffic counting and traffic control. In fact, Visionstream operate at the leading edge of every aspect of communications technology, whether cable-related or wireless. Their talents are used by Telstra and other Carriers, Channel Partners, Government Departments, and major contractors for both civil and commercial projects. 158 QLD PROJECT FEATURE HALE STREET LINK
Visionstream Pty Ltd Head Office Locked Bag 3 Bentleigh East VIC 3165 t. 03 9258 5700 e. info@visionstream.com.au Brisbane Office 9 Welch Street Underwood QLD 4119 t. 07 3340 7100 www2.visionstream.com.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
T H E V i TA l L I N K of A S E C U R E S I T E N othing is left to chance when Infront Security are on patrol. They maintain the highest level of quality assurance in the security and asset protection business, utilising comprehensive training and monitoring systems. For Hale Street Link, Infront provided both static guards and K9/handler combinations to protect multiple sites.
a variety of critical tasks including scent detection and physical protection. These skills are extremely valuable to Government projects, major construction sites, major public events and infrastructure facilities. Infront Security are Quality Assured to ISO:2008 for all security functions and have a policy of Zero Harm.
“The main need of the Hale Street Link Alliance was for risk minimisation. Our security team did multiple roles, including handling truck and car parking and signing visitors in and out, as well as keeping unauthorised persons out of the works areas, preventing graffiti and incidents which may have posed a public liability risk,” said Infront Security Managing Director, Matthew Bhimbhai.
Guards are overseen and linked into security central by the Uniguard patrol management system, which includes a welfare check calls to the control room every one or two hours. Supervisors are equipped with a digital Wand, which can extract all the information about patrols from onsite laptops. Seven nights a week a senior staffer undertakes audits around all the current Infront Security assignments.
“With a lot of critical infrastructure projects like Hale Street Link, safety is a vital aspect. There were many site inductions and continued ongoing training. All our staff have as a minimum qualification a Security License, and we offer further training in aspects such as conflict resolution, dog handling, crowd control, Maritime Security and monitoring, through our partnership affiliation with the RTO of National Security Training Academy. It is very important that staff have constant, verifiable training.
“Our strength is a very good team of almost 400 people - many have been with the company since its inception ten years ago,” said Matthew Bhimbhai.
“Sometimes the Hale Street Link sites were very busy; the security had to be aware of everyone coming and going. There were a number of security procedures to follow; all sites had carbon copy logs, with a weekly report sent to stakeholders outlining any possible issues or breaches and things that might need adjusting.” K9 units working the sites were bred and trained on Infront Security’s own 40 acre K9 facility from established working lines, trained to WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
“We’ve never lost a client, and we’ve never lost an operative. The key in our industry is to be always learning. When you acquire information from many different people that moulds you into a really good operative.”
Infront Security 166 Braun Street Deagon QLD 4017 t. 07 3269 1300 f. 07 3269 1311 e. infront@infront-security.com www.infront-security.com QLD PROJECT FEATURE HALE STREET LINK 159
Helping bridge the gap
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ith capabilities including Bridge Construction, Building Solutions, Ground Engineering, Special Structures, Repair & Strengthening, and Systems & Technologies VSL Australia contributed as a Specialist Sub Alliance Partner providing quality and innovative solutions from concept and construction through the lifecycle of Hale Street Link Project.
As a construction partner, VSL Australia provides a full range of services from design to execution, backed by our own state of the art equipment. Committed to providing the best solutions using innovative construction techniques, our goal is to increase site safety, site efficiency, improve durability and reduce costs.
Our input is a clear demonstration of how the company’s core business of post-tensioning has evolved to encompass a broad spectrum of the tasks and talents required for a project such as this. We also brought to the Hale Street site the strength, reliability, experience, and resources of a world-wide network.
Our completed projects include some of this nation’s most noteworthy and challenging concrete structures.
VSL Australia Pty Ltd t. 02 9484 5944 e. info@vsl-australia.com.au www.vsl.com
The Go Between Bridge (formerly known as Hale Street Link), QLD
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PERFECT EDGE FOR A ROAD G
etting the job of forming kerb and channel right, first time, on time, is how Precision Kerbs tackle a project. For the Hale Street Link, their crew of five working with two Arrow 770 machines produced over 2,000 lineal metres of kerb and channel. Challenges included extensive nightworks, working alongside traffic on some of Brisbane’s busiest roads and meeting a target of lineal metres. These were not unfamiliar conditions for the Precision Kerbs team, with previous projects including the Boggo Road Busway for Thiess and the Northern Busway for AbiGroup. Michael Welsh of Precision Kerbs, hands on Director and Co-Founder, started operation in 2007. He had been previously working on site preparation for kerbs and supervising kerb works for Shamrock Civil, who gave Michael the impetus to begin Precision Kerbs, and have since become an ongoing client he describes as “an excellent company to work for.” “The Hale Street Link project was well organised and managed by the Project Managers, considering the amount of subcontractors on site,” Michael said. “We brought to Hale Street Link the experience we gained on the Boggo Road and Northern Busway projects. Hale Street was a very safety conscious site, and we are committed to producing superior work while also looking after the welfare of our workers, and all the other workers and members of the public on and around the site.” The Arrow 770 machines extrude ready-formed kerbing using a dry kerb mix. Having two machines in operation allows the crew to complete sections faster, an especially valuable attribute in the time-limited road closure scenarios of a major urban infrastructure project like Hale Street Link. Business has grown steadily for Precision Kerbs, with their crew working on projects for new and existing roads in both South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales. Precision Kerbs are members of Master Builders Queensland and are a Code Compliant company.
Precision Kerbs m. 0403 566 086 f. 07 3888 4519 e. precisionkerbs@bigpond.com
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Public Private Partnerships
SPECIAL FEATURE
dr chaaya talks ppp's Written by/ MICHEL CHAAYA
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esearchers at Sydney University are developing a ground-breaking Intelligent Expert System (IES) to model risk allocation in Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) that could deliver considerable savings to PPP stakeholders. PPPs have accounted for over $35 billion of infrastructure spending Australia-wide. However, losses on several projects totaling billions of dollars have raised serious concerns. Proper risk allocation within PPPs is vital in achieving value for money for the community and commercial success for the private sector. The PPP IES integrates artificial intelligence algorithms and statistical modelling to deliver a cutting-edge means for determining risk allocation combinations for PPPs. It is expected the IES will become a crucial tool for PPP practitioners and could deliver considerable savings for stakeholders. PPPs are an agreement between the private and public sectors to deliver infrastructure which has traditionally been delivered by government. PPP projects have included toll roads, railways,
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hospitals, IT, educational facilities, courts, police stations, water treatment and salinity plants across all Australian states.
Melbourne Convention Centre, Victoria
At the core of PPPs is the risk transfer mechanism between partners that is crucial for project success. Recent high profile PPP failures have included: Sydney’s Cross City Tunnel and Lane Cove Tunnel, Reliance Rail Consortium, Alice-Springs to Darwin Railway and Brisbane’s Rivercity Motorway. Most failures have resulted when an unacceptably high amount of risks have been allocated to the private partner who focused on “winning” the project contract, by governments keen to offload risk to suit the political agendas. This has resulted in billions of dollars in write-downs, irreparable damage to reputations and has brought into question to viability of the PPP model itself. The problematic nature of the risk allocation process and the high rates of failure experienced in Australia, suggest that risk allocation is not well understood by PPP practitioners who are ill-equipped to objectively allocate risks to achieve the best outcomes for project stakeholders. AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
IES is a unique artificial-intelligence based system to model optimal risk allocations for PPP projects. Initially the research involved the compilation of a comprehensive knowledge bank of PPP risk allocation experiences, preferences, risk-ranking and other heuristic rules during the first six month of 2010. This involved an extensive survey of PPP experts Australia-wide from professional backgrounds including project management, construction management, legal, financial, senior executives and operations management. Data captured from the industry-wide survey was incorporated into a data warehouse which forms the backbone of the IES. There were several key trends evident across the survey responses: •
Risk Categories most often allocated differently to optimal allocations were: market demand risks, design risks and operating, construction and commissioning risks
•
Victorian State Government PPP risk allocations most closely matched optimal allocations whereas NSW State Government PPP risk allocations were the most different from optimal allocation
•
Finance sector experts were more in favour of allocating risks the private sector in general across all risk categories, whereas legal and engineering professionals preferred a more equal sharing of risks than is currently the case
Clem 7, Queensland •
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Experts surveyed from the public sector were universally much more keen to transfer risks to the private sector whereas within the private sector there were differing opinions as to degree of risk to assume
•
Larger projects contained more occurrences of sub-optimal risk allocations than smaller projects
•
Risks that were considered most important to achieving required returns for private investors were also the most crucial in achieving a PPP that fosters good relationships between stakeholders
The PPP IES uses state-of-the-art artificial intelligence algorithms, statistical modelling and system framework to provide risk allocation combinations that will achieve the most efficient outcomes for projects. The user is able to input an array of parameters specific to their individual PPP project such as size, project type, end user, contract type, location and more, meaning the IES can be accurately applied to hundreds of scenarios covering many important fields such as roads, railways, utilities, educational institutions and hospitals. The prototype has been tested against a number of real world case studies of PPPs in Australia and has been extremely accurate at identifying problems and offering solutions. The IES has the potential to become a vital instrument for PPP practitioners to help protect the interests of the organisations they represent and ensure that PPPs achieve favourable outcomes for all stakeholders averting billions of dollars in potential losses. Adjunct Associate Professor Michel Chaaya from The School of Civil Engineering at The University of Sydney headed the research with the assistance of engineering honours’ students Linshan Bu and Jamie Kennedy. Dr Chaaya is the Director of Business Development at EG Funds Management.
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GIVING ADELAIDE WATER FOR FUTURE roposals quickly become work in progress when a major city like Adelaide finds itself in prolonged drought conditions and needing a new, secure water supply. The Adelaide Desalination quickly progressed from the design office to bulk earthworks, tunnels and large foundations under the capable management of AdelaideAqua, the multinational consortium working with client SA Water to ensure a reliable, climate-independent water source for the South Australian capital. AdelaideAqua D&C will design and build the plant and marine works. Following the project’s completion, the operation and maintenance will be undertaken by AdelaideAqua Pty Ltd. AdelaideAqua D&C includes engineering and construction firms McConnell Dowell and Abigroup Contractors, who have extensive experience of working together on large projects in Australia, along with entered into a joint venture for this, as for previous projects where their similar company cultures have proven an asset to smooth
operations. Their research into desalination technology providers world-wide led them to Spain’s ACCIONA Agua, who have an extensive knowledge from a large number of operating desalination plants and ongoing investment in research and development of modern (high efficiency) reverse osmosis systems. When the Adelaide Desalination Plant is completed and running at full capacity, it can produce 100 billion litres of desalinated drinking water each year, enough to meet up to half of Adelaide’s water needs. The fourth member of AdelaideAqua is United Utilities Australia, who in conjunction with ACCIONA Agua as AdelaideAqua Pty Ltd, have won the contract for operation and maintenance of the Desalination Plant for 20 years. Having the O&M operator working alongside in the consortia is essential to bring in the vital operations knowledge, operator needs and long-term durability and operability into the design and build stage. This also ensures
ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT 164 SA PROJECT FEATURE ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT
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ownership by the O&M operator of the facility as it’s progressively built and brought on-line. “There was a very short time between the call for Expressions of Interest by the State Government and the award of the Design and Construct contract,” said AdelaideAqua Project Director Duncan Whitfield. “Meeting a large number of environmental, safety and amenity challenges in a short program remains a challenge to all of us. We had to gear up and get resources up at a rapid rate and this was helped immensely by the Early Contractor Involvement process undertaken by SA Water. We began on site in April 2009 and over the last 14 months we have built around 60 to 70% of the large infrastructure facilities despite having the wettest winter in Adelaide for 20 years.”
“The large complex project and a very large geographical spread has required a high level of communications, with connections all through the consortium down to the workers on the ground. It was important to bring the designer and contractors in on the project at an early stage with the client (SA Water) and develop a good relationship. Because the operations and maintenance people were embedded in the management team, we could hold whole-of-life discussions from an early stage.” Within AdelaideAqua D&C the work fronts were divided into disciplinary teams each focused on particular work areas such as tunnelling, marine, civil and mechanical and electrical. The AdelaideAqua staff, workforce and specialist subcontractors are working closely together to deliver the project and achieving milestone targets along the way. Substantial community, environmental management and monitoring plans are in place. There are 26 separate plans covering every aspect
MAIN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY : Consortium AdelaideAqua DEVELOPER / CLIENT : SA Water CONTRACT TYPE : Design, Build, Operate and Maintain PROJECT END VALUE : 1.37 billion COMPLETION : 4th quarter 2011 ENGINEER : SMEC Hatch Joint Venture
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SA PROJECT FEATURE ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT 165
including dust, ground water, noise, cultural heritage, explosives, and onsite storage of all vessels containing fuel, including generators. With dredging, drilling and blasting taking place round the clock, noise and vibration monitoring was undertaken to ensure community was not adversely impacted. Works onsite proceeded from the word go, with 600,000m3 of earth moved within the first two months. At peak construction, a combined AdelaideAqua and subcontractor workforce of 1300 will be onsite, working through the program stages of earthworks; shaft and tunnel construction; building the plant and associated buildings; installation of the reverse osmosis and process technology and associated infrastructure; and marine works offshore connecting risers to the sub-surface tunnels which carry inflow and outfall. The tunnels were constructed using two human-operated Tunnel Boring Machine’s; TBM1-Nessie and TBM2-Cora the Bora, were named by students from Hallett Cove R-12 school at Hallett Cove. The two 150 tonne cutter heads and the 65 tonne of components for each
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TBM was lowered into the 50m vertical shafts for assembly in-situ, before commencing the arduous task of tunnelling 45 metres below sea level for 800m for the intake and 1.2 km for the outfall. A diffuser system has been developed for the concentrated seawater outfall, and coupled with extensive modelling and monitoring and a carefully chosen outfall location, impact on the marine environment is negligible. “The design for the outfall features six risers from 20m under the seabed to the seafloor, each with a diffuser head which has six arms fitted with duck bill head valves designed to open only under a certain pressure, so the system can achieve background within one metre of the outfall. There saline brine is dispersed back to background within the mixing zone approved by the EPA (approximately one hundred metres),” said Duncan. Ongoing offshore sampling and monitoring of the system’s effectiveness will be undertaken by a local university and the
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Environment Protection Authority will also be conducting routine scheduled monitoring for the life of the plant. Landscaping will feature a mixture of native vegetation protection and replanting around the plant, as well as construction of a wetland for rainwater runoff storage and reuse. Long-term, the State Government’s agreement with AGL for Green Energy supply to the plant minimises the operational carbon footprint.
ADELAIDEAQUA D&C CONSORTIUM Chrysler Road Lonsdale SA 5160 t. 08 8329 0700 f. 08 8329 0777 www.adelaideaqua.com
Another important part of the Adelaide Desalination Project was the construction of a pipeline to transfer desalinated water to the existing supply network, via Happy Valley. This was built by a joint venture between McConnell Dowell and Built Environs. The construction of a new substation for electrical supply to the plant has been completed by ETSA, South Australia’s electricity network provider. The $1.83 billion Adelaide Desalination Project is part of the State's Water for Good plan to secure water for the future.
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LEADING THE WAY WITH CIVIL PROJECTS
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hen Adelaide needs infrastructure built, Leed Engineering and Construction bring award-winning skills to the task. For the Adelaide Desalination Plant, Leed were engaged to establish the site prior to the commencement of plant construction. The company’s proven talents in road works, structures, services and other aspects of civil engineering and infrastructure, along with a crew of highly skilled staff, subcontractors and Leed’s own fleet of plant, ensured everything was in place for AdelaideAqua and their subcontractors. Leed constructed sealed access roads and car parking areas for construction workers and staff; security perimeter fencing (including security cameras and lighting); site administration buildings; hard stand lay down areas; a bulk fuel refuelling facility; and service networks for stormwater, sewer, water, power and communications. Several water-sustainability projects are currently in progress in Adelaide, and Leed are a key player in delivering the outcomes SA Water, and the people of Adelaide, need. In addition to their role at Port Stanvac, Leed has been engaged on the Glenelg to Adelaide Parklands Recycled water Project and the Southern Urban Re-Use project. The delivery of water related infrastructures is one of the key sectors where Leed’s commitment to the community and the environment delivers projects in a safe manner and to specified quality standards. Their previous projects have included water management; recycled and reclaimed water projects, including pipelines and pumping stations; and sewer pipelines. Leed is third party accredited for management systems in Safety to AS 4801, Quality Assurance to AS 9001 and in Environmental Management to AS 14001. The company is also Federally accredited under the Australian Government Building and Construction OHS accreditation scheme. Other sectors where Leed has delivered major projects include road and bridge infrastructure, such as their recent joint venture with Thiess designing and constructing the Gallipoli Underpass. Other major works also include dam strengthening; microtunneling; bulk and detailed earthworks; services installation; precast, pre-stressed concrete manufacture and structural concrete including dams, water storage and bridges; process plant construction; and support to industry and mining. Leed is a diverse and innovative company, with project delivery experiences including Alliance, Early Contractor Involvement (ECI), Construct Only and Design and Construct (D&C) forms of contract. Founded in 2001, and with a workforce of around 180 staff, Leed has played a major role in much of the recent upgrading of South Australian civil infrastructure, and have recently won three Engineers Australia Excellence Awards in recognition of their talents. Leed also has an established presence in Victoria, with a South Melbourne office and a regional office at Bendigo. Leed constructed some of regional Victoria’s recent major water infrastructure projects, such as the Epsom to Spring Gully Recycled Water Pipeline and the Goldfields Superpipe Northern Section and there are over 50 personnel including project managers, administrators, safety officers, supervisors, plant operators and construction workers working across the Victorian sites.
LEED ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION PTY LTD 95 King William Street Kent Town SA 5067 t. 08 8132 1044 www.leed.com.au WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
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THE FINEST CONSTRUCTION CREW AFLOAT orks on land are only part of the picture of the Adelaide Desalination Plant project; offshore, construction vessels, dredges and transport barges played a crucial role in constructing the plants intake and outfall structures, and provided an efficient materials transport solution from Port Adelaide to Lonsdale, South Australia. Maritime Constructions supplied AdelaideAqua with both fleet and crews, enabling the offshore works program to be carried out effectively and with zero harm to the sensitive marine environment. Maritime Constructions is a leading provider of dredging and marine construction services based in South Australia, with a team of over 100 employees and the most comprehensive fleet of marine vessels and floating plant in the State. More than thirty of their staff worked on the Adelaide Desalination Plant project, providing a broad range of expert marine support services. “We were heavily involved in the development and construction of the Adelaide Desalination Pilot Plant for SA Water in 2008. This plant later provided AdelaideAqua with vital information to adequately design the full scale desalination plant,” said Maritime Constructions General Manager – Corporate, Simon Giessauf. “The project involved the design and installation of an 800m long outfall pipeline / diffuser and 1.6km long intake pipeline structure. Maritime Constructions developed a unique methodology for assembling the pipeline on-shore using steel sinkers that were 170 SA PROJECT FEATURE ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT
clamped on to the pipe instead of the traditional method of installing concrete dumps over the pipeline after installing the pipeline on the seabed. This innovation allowed the pipeline to be towed in one piece, installed on site in just one day minimising the requirement for divers. The overall installation was completed in just one day.” One of their initial tasks once work commenced on the full scale plant in 2009 was to provide demarcation of the offshore operating area for marine works, off the cliffs at Lonsdale. Maritime Constructions’ 40m self propelled construction vessel, the MV Andrew Wilson with a 12T deck mounted Elmdex crane was used to install nine Marine Exclusion Zone Buoys. Haulage of many construction supplies for the project was undertaken by sea, with Maritime Constructions also supplying and operating their 40m x 16m 1000T supply barge Aquane between Port of Adelaide and Lonsdale for cargoes including the 1500mm dia x 45m pile casings, grout and other equipment and materials. Maritime Constructions also supplied an 82m dumb barge, Mandiri 1 with crew, to provide support to AdelaideAqua’s jack up barge Santa Fe and to receive and treat dredge and drilling spoil, thus ensuring project environmental objectives of ‘zero harm’ were achieved. Mandiri 1 was also utilised for pre-cast concrete construction, and the pre-cast units for the intake and outfall AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
structures were cast on the deck prior to Mandiri 1 transporting them to the appropriate point for lifting into place. Caring for the environment is a core company value, and so the dredging of material from around the intake and outfall riser positions which Maritime Constructions undertook was performed with extreme care. Aquane did double duty, providing service as a construction barge, coupled with Maritime Constructions’ 150T crawler crane operating their specially modified high volume submersible agitation pump. Using a unique design by AdelaideAqua, material was dredged from the seabed and pumped through a floating pipeline into the holding tanks and filtration system installed on the Mandiri 1. The onboard treatment system also processed all the drilling spoils; spoil was received, processed and solids then transported by Mandiri 1 to Port Adelaide for disposal on land. Support services such as towing of barges was undertaken, through the supply and operation of a 21T bollard pull tug, KC Campbell. The tug was required to tow various barges to and from Port Adelaide and Lonsdale, and also performed anchor handling, barge manoeuvring operations, and the bunkering of fresh water and fuel to facilitate site operations. The company’s skills extend to design and construction of marine structures. In the early stages of the Lonsdale project, they provided fabrication and supply of a number of the main piling and drilling frames used on the Santa Fe barge. Their fabrication services were also used to complete the provision of both the 1500mm diameter WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
piles, used as the outfall casings, and the 3000mm diameter x 45m long steel intake casing, which were supplied in two sections and spliced together on site.. Maritime Constructions are experienced in all aspects of marine projects, from design through to construction, maintenance, repair and salvage. Their skills and vessels have been utilised on wharves, jetties, pontoons, marinas, mooring systems and marine piling, including navigational aids. Other major projects their fleet and workforce are contributing to include refurbishment works on the Semaphore Jetty for the SA Department for Transport Energy and Infrastructure; Port Adelaide maintenance dredging for Flinders Ports; and replacement of the Aids to Navigation at the Port Wakefield Proof Ranges for the Department of Defence. Maritime Constructions also provided emergency dredging services at Narrung for the SA Department of Water, Land, Biodiversity and Conservation, as part of the Lake Albert Spoil Treatment and Channel Preparation project.
MARITIME CONSTRUCTIONS PTY LTD PO Box 1097 North Haven SA 5018 t. 08 8248 8700 f. 08 8248 8799 e. info@maritimecon.com.au www.maritimeconstructions.com.au SA PROJECT FEATURE ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT 171
AN EAGLE EYE ENSURING ALL GOES WELL “Our involvement on the Adelaide Desalination project is on several levels - we were engaged by the AdelaideAqua Consortium, and by a number of the subcontracting companies,” said Incospec’s Alex Shepherd.
INDEPENDENT COATING & CORROSION ENGINEERS t only takes one tiny but crucial flaw to potentially create asset headaches. Incospec and Associates Australia’s mission is to prevent this from happening.. At the Adelaide Desalination Plant project, their eagle eye was utilised in multiple ways, from the creation of coating specifications during the project’s design stage, through to performing independent coating inspections of the concrete surfaces and steel work associated with the plant, tunnels, pipelines, pump stations and other structures. Incospec has been offering independent authoritative advice in the field of corrosion engineering since 1981. Since then it has grown to become the largest independent consulting firm of its type in Australasia, offering advice and support from project conception to completion. They provide independent corrosion engineering consultancy services including: protective/architectural coating specifications; coating inspection; failure analysis; expert witness; metallurgy and materials consulting; cathodic protection (design, hardware supply and commissioning services); welding inspection and supervision; and the widely adopted GuardianTM Asset Maintenance Management System, training and coating inspection equipment.
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“Incospec were involved with producing the protective coating specifications for both steel and concrete substrates, determining which would perform best in the highly aggressive environments that will be encountered. There is also an end client requirement for extended warranties on the protective coating systems, so we have also been engaged to inspect the substrate surfaces before coating application, during the coating process and at the completion of the applied system, to ensure the specifications are followed. In the highly aggressive environment, it is imperative that the protective coatings are applied correctly and inspected by an independent expert. It is a lot cheaper in the long term to do it right the first time.” The cathodic protection system they designed for the project incorporates an impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) system, utilising an anode groundbed and power supply at the Happy Valley surge tank site, which delivers protective current to the 12km length of transfer pipeline running from Port Stanvac to Happy Valley. There are also independent ICCP systems within the Port Stanvac site’s pump station, involving closely distributed wire anodes along the various lengths of buried pipelines. Completing the cathodic protection network for the project are sacrificial anodes located on the twin pipelines between the Happy Valley surge tanks and the Reservoir. Several independent ICCP systems were also designed for the AdelaideAqua site’s suction, bypass and treated water pipelines.
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Other tasks Incospec undertook included QA/QC audits and coating inspections for various subcontracting steel fabricators, and working for AdelaideAqua on site performing random QA/QC inspections for the concrete protective coating systems. Incospec’s Ron Jonker is testing the concrete for quality of surface preparation, pH and moisture, and undertaking concrete strength tests. “There are all sorts of concrete structures: tankage, underground pipes, the process plant, chemical sheds, there is underground inspection required in the tunnels. Special safety training was required for that. The concrete was tested at various stages, as there are extensive warranties on the concrete coatings which provide acid protection,” said Ron. “The site steel work is fairly straightforward to inspect, but concrete is a very subjective substrate to deal with, it is very difficult. There are many levels of inspection, including the South Australian Government inspectors. Our role is to ‘keep them honest’ (the contracted applicators) and within specifications to ensure the plant is acceptable to be handed over to the Government.” Incospec’s recent domestic assignments have included Submarines at ASC, The new Western Grandstand at Adelaide Oval, BHP’s Olympic Dam tank refurbishments, GWM Water, and extensive survey work in the Bass Strait, the North-West Shelf of WA. Incospec’s current activities abroad include projects in The North Sea, Vietnam, Solomon Islands, and China, where Incospec are now involved with independent inspections on vessels bound for the Wonthaggi Desalination Plant in Victoria, now under construction. Incospec are NATA accredited, and subject to regular NATA audits. They have developed multiple testing methodologies for dozens of WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
standards under AS/NZ, ISO, NACE and ASTM, and have published large numbers of technical papers both in Australia and overseas. The company has seventy staff working from offices in Perth, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, and a head office in Adelaide, servicing projects throughout Australia, New Zealand, UAE, Angola, Nigeria, Brunei, Vietnam China, The North Sea and South Korea.
INCOSPEC AND ASSOCIATES AUSTRALIA, PTY LTD. Head office: ADELAIDE 86-88 Melbourne Street, North Adelaide SA 5006 Post: PO Box 7069 Hutt Street Adelaide SA 5000 State offices: QUEENSLAND 7A King Street Southport QLD 4215 NEW SOUTH WALES 40 Gnarbo Ave Carrs Park NSW 2221 WESTERN AUSTRALIA 8/75 Miguel Rd Bibra Lake WA 6163 NATIONALCONTACT t. 1300 721 029 e. alex.shepherd@incospec.com.au Contact: Alex Shepherd, National Sales and Marketing Manager
www.incospec.com.au
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DOING THE JOB RIGHT NOW - FOR THE FUTURE’S SAKE nswering a call out any hour of the day or night to perform urgent dewatering at the Port Stanvac Adelaide Desalination Plant located at the Port Stanvac site is an example of the dedication Envirogen Industrial Services give to clients. They bring over 60 years combined experience in industrial services and a complete focus on environmental protection to the tasks they undertake, which at Port Stanvac included green cutting of concrete, water recovery in the hydrostatic testing, scabbling of concrete, cleaning areas prior to concrete pours and dewatering of trenches. “We were required at minimal notice in order to prepare concrete, and carry out green cutting and scabbling, so they can pour the next slabs; we are also needed to provide a quick response for removal of the water after hydro static testing so they can continue to put the pipes together,” explained Envirogen Director, Robert Feleppa. “There were small windows of opportunities to get in and complete our workloads in order to minimise project down time and allow all the other trades to keep to their schedules.” Envirogen also performed cleaning in the underground tunnels, and underground concrete scabbling. The crew on the job undertook special training in underground emergency evacuation procedures, part of a wider company commitment to ongoing training where required by a project or task. 174 SA PROJECT FEATURE ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT
Enormous volumes of water were removed by Envirogen’s vacuum trucks,. One dewatering exercise carried out when torrential rain inundated the site saw around a million litres of water removed from just one trench. None of this water was wasted. All water removed from one area is reused or recycled on site, and only contaminated water, such as that removed from fuel and oil pits, is removed. Once offsite, the water is taken to an EPA approved treatment plant which then supplies the recycled water to market gardens. On some jobs, where removal of water with suspended soils is carried out, the water is delivered to specific companies for use in their compost soils. Innovation and adaptability are hallmarks of this growing company’s completed projects. On the Naval Destroyers project, Envirogen came on site to tackle a task that so far had defeated all methods – the cleaning up of 13.5 km of rail track. Their 4 off 5000psi pressure cleaners and a crew of eight used water and 15 ton of sand in conjunction to work wonders, gaining the company ongoing work at the site. Envirogen has a vast range of high pressure water cleaners ranging from 1000psi up to 40000 psi, so with their knowledge and capabilities, there are few jobs they can’t do. “The Naval Destroyers project had a problem they couldn’t solve, we suggested solutions that would work based on years of experience,” said Robert Feleppa. AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
“When we are undertaking concrete cutting, we suggest different ways of boring the holes, for some jobs, I have introduced diamond cutting wire saws. Envirogen are always changing to new technologies and techniques in order to achieve the short time frames required on projects such as Port Stanvac, and we have introduced different ways in order to prepare concrete in hard to get at places.
“We strive to conduct all our activities in a manner that is responsible in ensuring minimal or No impact on our environment, will comply with all government legislations and site requirements, and strive to continuously update our policies and procedures to ensure all our personnel have more than adequate information available to assist them in performing their duties correctly.
“Envirogen has the latest equipment available. We constantly upgrade our equipment to keep with the latest technology. We picked the best of the best in the industrial services field for our staff, and our work ethics are of the highest standards. We have earned our reputation in the industry of providing quality workmanship in the smallest time frames at a low price. Envirogen is only 2 years old and already setting bench marks for our competitors to try to keep up with.”
“The bottom line for us is ultimately to take the right actions now, which ensure the future of the planet for our children.”
Another major South Australian project where Envirogen have demonstrated their expertise is the Coast 2 Coast Tramways project, where they have carried out hydroexcavation. This has involved the removal of millions of litres of water and soil from the site over many months, with every load transported to specific companies for adaptive re-use in producing compost soils. “Envirogen is committed to the protection and conservation of our environment, this commitment is paramount for our future and future generations to come,” said Robert Feleppa. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
Currently operating throughout South Australia, Envirogen plans to expand their operation into all Australian states and territories.
ENVIROGEN INDUSTRIAL SERVICES PO Box 134 Athelstone SA 5076 contact: Robert Feleppa m. 0437173039 e. rfeleppa@envirogen.biz SA PROJECT FEATURE ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT 175
Expertise You Can Depend On At Quarry Mining we have been designing and manufacturing high performance drilling equipment, precision made to the most rigorous standards, for over 25 years. We use only the highest quality steels, tungsten carbide and PCD bits in the manufacture of our equipment. The result is a long wearing product that gives optimal performance across a range of ground conditions. We are committed to working in partnership with customers to deliver the best drilling solution on each project. Our drilling experts and engineers are available to go on site with you and customise drilling solutions to meet the precise requirements of the job, to ensure you get the best result every time. Quarry Mining’s on site CNC Machining Centre is one of the most advanced in Australia and gives us unmatched flexibility in providing the right part quickly and cost effectively. We can adapt our workflow to cater to your specific requests or changes in demand, so you can always be sure your project runs smoothly. Our delivery promise guarantees your equipment is there when you need it. We provide an around the clock service, so no matter what the time, we are ready to meet any challenges you face.
Hard wearing tools made to stand up 176 SA PROJECT FEATURE ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT under even the toughest conditions
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CONSTRUCTION TUNNELLING UNDERGROUND MINING
HEAD OFFICE
Hunter Valley 9/14 Yangan Drive BERESFIELD 2322 02 4966 5028 Brisbane 1/37 Northlink Place NORTHGATE 4034 0408 688 687
Mackay 9/16 Transport Ave PAGET 4740 07 4998 5295
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EXPERTS ON THE UNDERGROUND
arnesy got put to work at the Adelaide Desalination Plant – not Barnesy as in the front man for Cold Chisel, Barnesy as in the Elphinestone R1300G front end loader supplied as hire plant by ET Underground Solutions. ET also supplied Jeff, a Sandvik Tamrock Monomatic HS105C, single boom drill; Jimmy and James, two Minimatic HS1205-40 boom drills; Brandon, the Caterpillar R1300G and Bandit the R1700II front end loaders and Stevie, the Meyco Potenza shotcrete spray machine used for the tunnel construction for inflow and outflow tunnels and capable of spraying up to 30m3/hr. Recently, ET have become a Brokk agent, and also supplied two Brokk 90’s to the project. All this specialized equipment suitable to tunnelling requirements was supplied as wet or dry hires for periods between five weeks and six months, depending on the need at hand. In addition, three experienced Underground Jumbo operators were supplied through ET’s separate labour hire division, Tunnel Force. These operators fulfilled a scope of works including undertaking the drill and blast sections of the inflow and outfall tunnels, plus installing the dynamic wall support in the Launch Cavern extraction. ET has fulltime maintenance and service divisions, which not only ensures projects proceed with minimal downtime, but also modifies equipment as required. For the Adelaide Desalination project, Swellex units were installed on the drills for ground support installation. The Swellex unit is a bolt that through high pressure water injection changes it existing configuration up the hole once installed, creating initial roof support. “ET maintain a close working relationship with both operations and maintenance personnel based onsite; we maintain fortnightly visits to site, 178 SA PROJECT FEATURE ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT
depending on what stage each client is currently at and what stage in the hire cycle our equipment is in. If there are any issues onsite with our machinery we are very proactive as to rectifying any immediate production downtimes firstly and then discussions about prevention for any future situations following,” explained ET’s, Pat Ngaropo. “We can provide onsite training to operators and maintenance personnel if required, and we provide operators manuals/service and parts manuals also from the OEM also.” ET’s Hire Division has one of Australia’s largest underground mobile equipment hire fleets, with new machines being added to their resource regularly. Their fleet includes underground loaders, underground trucks, development Jumbos, production drills, rock bolting machines, charge up units, service machines and the requisite tyres, spare parts and other consumables for mobile plant. All of ET’s drills can be reconfigured to suit the client’s tunnel design requirements and they come with either diesel hydraulic or 1000volt powered options. ET’s fixed plant stock includes primary and secondary ventilation fans, electrical boxes, transformers, sub stations, compressors, pumps, scrapers, spare parts and attachments. Major projects around the country have relied on ET’s equipment and experience to undertake critical works, either through purchase of equipment or hire of equipment and labour. Brisbane Airport Link purchased a Mitsui S300 and two Atlas Copco Boltec units, capable of installing a number of different types of ground support types on a single pass operation. AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
Melbourne Northern Sewerage Project was supplied with machines for the Drill and Blast section of the NSP2 section (Newlands Road) over a period of 16months. Equipment supplied included one brand new Caterpillar/ Elphinstone R1300G front end loader; one Tamrock H205/40 with split feeds to enable both boring and bolting in limited working areas; a Sandvik/ Tamrock HS105C, single boom drill; two Minimatic HS1205-40 boom drills; and a Caterpillar IT62G integrated tool handler. ET supplied Baulderstone/Fox Mining with both equipment and specialized operators for the M5 Filtration project: an Atlas Copco Boltec unit, Caterpillar/Elphinestone R1700II, IT 28G, Jacon Maxijet, Tamrock Diesel Hydraulic and three specialized operators were provided over a period of six months. All of these projects were also supplied with a range of fixed plant including Fans, Jumbo Boxes, Trailing cables, Flyght Pumps, Scrapers and Electrical Boxes. ET’s team has over a century of experience in underground mining and tunnelling, giving them a hands-on understanding of all the fixed and mobile plant an underground job requires. The company’s procurement division’s strong buying power ensures ET can move rapidly when the opportunity arises, assisting clients with ‘end of mine’ liquidations, specialty procurement and valuation of machinery and plant. With a database of mining companies both in Australia and overseas, ET can act as an agent for both buyers and sellers. Furthermore, the company’s advanced logistics and strong relationships with contract transport ensures smooth and timely deliveries. ET is based in Perth and in Victoria. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
ET MINING SOLUTIONS 501 Great Western Highway Redcliffe WA 6104 t. 08 9475 3800 f. 08 9479 1311 e. info@et.net.au; admin@et.net.au www.et.net.au SA PROJECT FEATURE ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT 179
SUPPLY CHAINS FUNCTION EFFICIENTLY WITH AGILITY hether the challenge is a shut down of airspace due to volcanic ash or getting an out of gauge load from one end of the country to another, Agility Project Logistics have the global network and organisational skill to ensure a project like the Adelaide Desalination Plant gets the deliveries it requires on site, on time. Agility handled over 80,000 Revenue Tons of overseas, interstate and intrastate cartage for AdelaideAqua, ranging from small volumes of consumables to large out of gauge equipment including machinery and construction materials. Their delivery vehicles carted on average between 15-20 loads a week, while the 650sqm warehouse the company managed on site was operating from 6am to 6pm, seven days a week. Occupational Health and Safety has been a major consideration, not only for onsite operations but throughout the transport chain, including following standard Dangerous Goods procedures for certain loads with specified risk ratings. Agility worldwide has a fleet of over 8,000 vehicles. At Port Stanvac, their onsite equipment included both owned and hired plant and vehicles including truck/trailer, mobile crane, 180 SA PROJECT FEATURE ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT
forklifts and delivery vehicles for transport from their warehouse site to the specified laydown areas. Agility have their own warehousing inventory system used at their own premises, WMS, and also utilised AdelaideAqua’s provided inventory system, MMS. AdelaideAqua also have access to Agility’s web based Online Status Report (Agility OSR). This system is a track and trace tool that has total visibility to all of the location of each order that is transported by Agility at any given time. Overseas orders handled by Agility for the project have included FCL, LCL, Break Bulk shipments by seafreight and various volumes of airfreight, with countries of origin including Austria, Belgium, China, Germany, Korea, Singapore, United Kingdom and USA. A limited number of orders from Europe were affected by the ash cloud from the Icelandic volcano which closed down parts of Europe’s airspace. “The delays incurred were minor and did not affect the project,” explained Agility Project Manager, Greg Lalor. AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
“Agility has a worldwide network that could come up with a contingency should something like this occur again and goods are of extreme urgency. This would include such options of moving goods by land to airports that are not affected and uplift from there. “All projects have challenges and this one is no different. There are the usual deadlines to meet due to urgency of goods along with outside measures such as weather and travel restrictions. “Agility has handled many loads by sea, air and land that have been outside the standard general freight parameters. These include, but are not limited to, over-dimensional loads by domestic trucks that required permits and escorts and loads that are discharged ‘underhook’ from the vessel and transported across states with permits / escorts. “As with all projects there is no such thing as an average day. All Agility staff are trained to be proactive where possible however there are circumstances whereby they need to be reactive to get the job done. This means taking all necessary care, in particular making sure OH & S is of the highest priority. “The project is exciting and challenging and Agility look forward to being part of the final construction when handed over for full commissioning.” Agility in Australia is part of a global network with over 500 offices in 120 countries across Asia Pacific, Europe, the Americas, Africa and the Middle East. The corporate mission centres on facilitating trade through WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
innovative supply chain solutions, working in some of the globe’s most challenging environments. Agility’s organisational skills, networks and efficiency enable the delivery of customised integrated logistics solutions in both developed and emerging economies. A demonstrated commitment to Green supply chain strategies was recognised in July this year, with Agility being awarded the Best Green Service Provider – Logistics Operator Award at the Asian Freight and Supply Chain Awards (AFSCA) in Shanghai. The AFSCAs are organized by CargoNews Asia and are very highly prized in the industry as only shippers can vote for logistics service providers. Their nomination was based on the fulfilment of criteria including compliance with green freight transport regulations set by national and global bodies and consistent application of these environmental standards; investment in green initiatives, technology and action plans; ongoing training of staff in green initiatives and in measures to lower company carbon footprints.
AGILITY PROJECT LOGISTICS Adelaide, AUSTRALIA t. 61 8 8154 0000 f. 61 8 8154 0099 www.agilitylogistics.com SA PROJECT FEATURE ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT 181
INNOVATIVE MANAGEMENT OF GROUNDWATER AND DREDGING WATERS TO PROVIDE CLEAN AND CLEAR OUTCOMES anaging groundwater to enable the construction of a large desalination plant with tunnels extending some 60 metres below ground surface level and under the sea becomes a whole lot more challenging when you are located immediately adjacent a sensitive marine environment and with a neighbour being a former petroleum refinery. AdelaideAqua (AA) called in the groundwater assessment and remediation experts, Soil and Groundwater Consulting (S&G) to design, install and operate, not one, but four innovative water management systems at the Adelaide Desalination Plant (ADP) project. These treatment plants were used to: 1. treat groundwater extracted from the site to a level which enabled either aquifer reinjection or marine discharge in accordance with regulatory requirements, and 2. treat dredging waters to remove effectively almost all suspended solids suitable for direct injection to the marine environment without any sediment plume with the local EPA regulations and Dredging licence. At the outset of the project, AA identified that the two challenges the dewatering system had to address were firstly, a volume of up to 40 - 60 litres per second of water requiring treatment, and secondly, the potential for groundwater contamination plumes that are located under the former Port Stanvac petroleum refinery site which could be drawn towards the ADP construction site were there to be extensive removal of groundwater and disturbance of the local watertable. S&G was engaged to develop a site specific strategy for groundwater treatment and injection to effectively limit any influence of the extraction of groundwater in the direction of the former refinery site. The re-injection system solves both challenges, with 25 x 200 mm large diameter bores which go down 60 - 80 metres below ground surface 182 SA PROJECT FEATURE ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT
level. By achieving these challenges, AA was able to maintain dry excavations without influencing the groundwater or any contaminant plumes beneath the refinery site. “There are extensive monitoring wells and data management systems to check that the water levels are behaving as we need them to. We manage the entire water injection system for AdelaideAqua� said Andrew Nunn, Director of Soil & Groundwater Consulting. To manage the water extracted from the shaft excavation works, two S&G treatment plants were located adjacent to the main shafts at the northern part of the site to treat all the water pumped out during the excavation works. With intake and outlet tunnels 60 metres down and extending 1km out into the seabed, there was a vast quantity of water to treat. The treatment plants remove all sediment adjusts the pH, then re-injects the water into the ground to minimise the impact of works on the site watertable. At the southern end of the site, a third S&G plant treated up to 15L/s of site waste water, largely from the shaft works. As further water injection would not be possible without potentially compromising the management of the water levels at the boundary, this additional water was treated then discharged to the ocean with regulatory approvals. The treatment system utilised a remediation media which is the product of collaboration between S&G and the research body Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC Care). This material provides a cost effective tool for removing organics from water and the material regenerates itself to increase its adsorptive capacity. To manage the offshore dredging and drilling activities, an offshore water treatment system was located on the barge undertaking the dredging AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
works. These activities created a sediment laden waste stream which was separated at the surface to remove the bulk of the solids. Then the residual muddy water was completely clarified before ocean discharge. This was a great improvement over typical dredging activities which result in sediment plumes due to turbid waters being returned to the environment. “Whilst we understand that construction activities are sometimes required in sensitive environment, it is important to us at S&G that we work with construction companies to mitigate the impact of these works to those environments. To this end, we understand that the regulatory authorities undertook an inspection of the dredging treatment works and noted that the lack of turbidity in the discharge water was an excellent result for the marine environment and a testament to the treatment system design” said S&G Director, Andrew Nunn.
industrial sites. S&G has also undertaken significant civil projects including a major project for the South Australian Government intercepting and remediating water before it enters sensitive receiving environments. S&G is a member of the Australian Contamination Land Consultants Association (ACLCA), the Institute of Engineers and the International Association of Hydrogeologists, and has offices in Melbourne and Adelaide. Director Andrew Nunn is an Environmental Auditor in South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia, and there are another two Environmental Auditors on staff. In 2008, S&G won a BHP Billiton award for innovative groundwater remediation works undertaken by the company in the coal mines in North Queensland, and in 2010 was presented with a Star Award through the Cooperative Research Council (CRC) for works associated with the development of a world first method for removing the Persistent Organic Pollutant, PFOS, from water.
“This system utilised a customised and proprietary polymer delivery and media filtration system which enabled the removal of the fine sediment and the treatment of the water from the dredging process. The plant has been treating about 100 L/s with the total treated volume in the realm of gigalitres, with all processed water returned to the ocean crystal clear. “Once the system is set up, it is operated remotely via computer. We can log in from anywhere. We have been doing these remote operational systems for six or seven years, and we have now built in excess of twenty fully automated treatment systems capable of removing a wide range of chemical and physical contaminants in groundwater and surface waters.” S&G are groundwater and contaminated soils management and mitigation experts with a client base including BHP Billiton, General Motors Holden and Incitec Pivot Limited, major mine operators and WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
SOIL AND GROUNDWATER CONSULTING 207 The Parade Norwood SA 5067 t. 08 8431 7113 f. 08 8431 7115 SOIL AND GROUNDWATER CONSULTING 43 Stubbs Street Kensington VIC 3031 t. 03 9372 6800 f. 03 9372 6900 SA PROJECT FEATURE ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT 183
CERTIFIED MASTERS OF ALL THINGS METAL abricating components and equipment to handle ultra-demanding tasks and environments is a specialty of Williams Metal Fabrications (WMF). The full range of these skills in the metalworkers trades was utilised on the Port Stanvac Desalination Plant, where they undertook fabrication of specific parts and equipment at their 2,000m2 workshop, and onsite works, including welding, fabrication, installation, labour hire and drilling - working on the ground, under it, and also over water. Their current clients are the finest testament to the company’s abilities in the design and fabrication field, and include many of South Australia’s biggest civil, mining, and infrastructure projects, sites where superior workmanship is critical. WMF have a Quality Management System certified to ISO9001:2008, and have a demonstrated track record of meeting the specific needs of demanding projects, whether the challenge is intricate design or tight timeframes and remote locations. Both Adelaide Aqua and other subcontractors utilised their talents. For one of the working barges, The Santa Fe, they fabricated the 12T outrigger. The original lead time was 5-6 weeks, but WMF implemented full rotating day, afternoon and night shift to deliver in a fortnight. They also fabricated and supplied the Santa Fe’s Diffuser, Cargo Hatch, Support Frame, Lifting Clevis and Eyes, Pandrol Plates, Rail Stops, Cleats and Stainless Steel Sump Cover. Their expert tradesmen undertook the on-site assembly of the shaft cover, including craneage, welding, NDT, fitting mesh and fitting a secure blast mat. They also supplied and installed the shaft cover angle bracing, and supplied the support legs, lugs for the actual shaft, and lugs for the cover (both top and bottom). WMF also designed, fabricated and supplied a Dangerous Goods crane basket rated for explosive materials, and fabricated and supplied Bird Cages, pipe supports, brackets, bolts, U-Bolts and support frames. A range of site infrastructure was fabricated and installed: a free standing storage Shed 7m x 9m, Large Platform for the Slurry Plant, Fence Panels for the Working and Intake Shafts, a Helipad Shelter, Handrails, Handrail Panels and Handrail Support Brackets; and underground, fabrication and installation of a 2.5 tonne X 20 m Monorail, Working Shaft Pit Floor, so the 2x 30 tonne Locomotives could travel in and out of TBM1 & TBM2, Slurry Plant Tank Penetrations, and 2”, 6” & 8” Pipe for the Feed of and Return into the TBM’s ( Tunnel Boring Machines ), plus various works and welding on the Tail Skin for TBM1. The WMF workshop also produced the Stage 1 and 2 TBM cradles, a TBM concrete segment trolley and fabricated spider plates. All of this work involved the combined talents of the 22 company’s staff: six working directors, one administrator, two apprentices, two trade assistants and eleven qualified tradesmen, working with the aid of the latest 3D modelling software and top of the line fabrication equipment. 184 SA PROJECT FEATURE ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT
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“Generally concept sketches are provided by the engineer for quoting purposes, if we get the job we will model it up using Inventor 3D software and provide a set of fabrication drawings for approval. During this process it helps identify any design issues, possible improvements can be suggested and implemented once they have been approved by the engineer. Using the modelling software also ensures it is fabricated extremely accurately,” said Stuart Rogers, WMF Business Development Manager. “The quality of our work is assured through a traceable system starting with Material certificates, then NDT, weld inspections, surface treatment data reports, and any other relevant information.” “A pre-requisite of gaining the Adelaide Aqua contract was having our Quality Management System independently certified to ISO9001:2008, which happened in April 2009. We also had to gain Government compliancy (Construction Industry),” explained Kylie Williams, WMF Quality Manager. “The certifications we now have will continue to open more doors for our company now and in the future, as most major projects and contractors now require their vendors to have these systems in place. In addition, we are looking to implement and gain certification in both OH&S and Environmental Management systems in the near future, as both of these are increasingly becoming requirements of major contracts as well.” WMF was founded in 1998 by Ross Williams, and specialises in specialist and general steel fabrications, installation work and project management. They cater for the mining, civil and construction industries, with design and fabrication capabilities including structures such as walkways, control rooms, weighbridges, rails, pipes, bridge columns, barriers and brackets; equipment such as gantry grab buckets, basket presses, Reverse Osmosis desalination water treatment containers, mobile concrete plants and winch drums; and components such as Hold Down Bolts for Wind Farms and bridges, cast-in items for mine infrastructure, washers and anchor plates. They also refurbish and update equipment. Current and recent projects include Prominent Hill Mine, Olympic Dam at Roxby Downs, WA’s Nifty Birla project, Beverley Uranium Mine, Berth 7 at Port Adelaide, Belair Rail & Noarlunga Rail Upgrades, Common User Facility at Techport Australia, Pinkenba Malting Plant QLD and SA’s Northern Expressway.
WILLIAMS METAL FABRICATIONS PTY LTD 181 Phillips Highway Elizabeth South SA 5112 contact: Ross Williams t. 08 8287 6489 f. 08 8287 3660 e. rwilliams@williamsmetalfab.com www.williamsmetalfab.com WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
SA PROJECT FEATURE ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT 185
MACHINERY SUPPLY NAILs AUSTRALIA'S BIGGEST PILING JOBS n the waters off Port Stanvac at the Adelaide Desalination Plant construction site, Machinery Supply’s operators used one of the world’s largest hydraulic hammers – the IHC Hydrohammer - to pound in the largest pile ever driven in by hydraulic hammer in Australia. They are actually one of only two companies in the world who could have done it. “The size of the pile at Port Stanvac is unusual at 3m diameter, this size is usually only seen in projects like European windfarms, usually Australian offshore piles are 1.2-1.6m diameter. The hammer is very large, only two companies provide hammers of that size. We ship the IHC Hydrohammers around the world; it was imported from Holland to Port Stanvac in January 2010, and stayed on site for four months before being shipped back,” explained Machinery Supply Managing Director, Glenn Kearney. “The pile driving is a round-the-clock shifts operation, carried out from a ship at sea. On a typical job, the crew might spend a month over water hammering six or seven piles. It is totally dependent on weather, on both the surface conditions and the currents under the sea, the crew have to be very careful. “We are very strong offshore, there is only one other company in the world which does this work. Our long-term staff operators have special training initially in Holland with IHC, then they do hands-on experience with a 186 SA PROJECT FEATURE ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT
Dutch supervisor. Our Australian staff have gone overseas for jobs in the UK, China, NZ, South East Asia, they go all over the world.” Other recent Australian offshore works include the Pluto job for Woodside, Blacktip in Darwin for TS Marine, work on multiple coal terminals and coal conveyors in Queensland, and pilings for a wharf for Clough at Karratha. This year they are also working in Bass Strait, and are looking at the Curtis Island project, which will provide ongoing work for the next few years. Machinery Supply is an independent, privately owned company who have provided niche services since 1977. They are Australasian representatives for the IHC Merwede Group of Companies, supplying IHC Hydrohammers, IHC Handling equipment, IHC Fundex and IHC Merwede Dredgers. With offices and workshops in Perth and Sydney, Machinery Supply provide equipment rental, parts, technical services and factory trained servicemen and operators to sites throughout Australia and Asia. They also supply heavy cranes, Sea Steel subsea piling frames and provide onshore piling services. IHC hold around 60 percent of the world market for dredgers, and as their agent here, Machinery Supply are responsible for the dredgers AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
such as the capital works dredgers used in Port Phillip Bay and mining dredgers at CRL at Brisbane and Bemax near Broken Hill. They specialise in meeting the needs of mining operations, as well as the supply of dredgers for capital projects, including works in rivers and harbours.
“Being environmentally friendly is taken very seriously in the piling industry, as is safety. Our company is working under water and over water and our track record is 100 per cent, there have been no disasters.”
All of their machinery and techniques are aimed at zero harm to the environment. “Our product is designed to prevent environmental catastrophes,” said Glenn. “We use biodegradable oil in the hammers and use sound suppression mechanisms to reduce sound degradation. We are looking at a job on the Barrier Reef, where we will use innovative technology to suppress vibration in the water. The solution involved includes an air curtain, alternatively double wall casion around the area which prevents the sound waves travelling. “One of the universities in Holland has put considerable time and effort into developing techniques which prevent interference with sea life. Currently under test in Holland is a new development for undersea, where they replace the hydraulic oil with sea water, it is a world first which we hope to see in use in Australia by the end of the year. It uses the sea water which can be discharged directly into the sea so there is no possibility of contamination. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
MACHINERY SUPPLY PTY LTD 23 Kew Street Welshpool WA 6106 t. 08 9362 3133 f. 08 9361 9572 e. sales@machinerysupply.com.au www.machinerysupply.com.au SA PROJECT FEATURE ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT 187
BLACKWOODS SLASHES SUPPLY LEAD TIMES cracking pace for civil works makes fast delivery of critical parts and equipment essential. AdelaideAqua, a consortium of companies, ensured the Adelaide Desalination Plant project was well-supplied by bringing in Blackwoods, the experts at providing a one-stop “on-site” shop for industrial and safety supplies. “We provided AdelaideAqua’s project with Blackwood’s On Site Services (BOSS) for the term of the project,” said Grant Augostin, Blackwoods Field Sales Manager for SA/Tas. “We basically set up as a remote branch with 700 critical stock items, and two full time Blackwoods staff 12 hours a day, six days a week. All stock taken from the on-site store is scanned and sent electronically straight to our Regency Park warehouse for immediate replenishment. All other enquiries or sourcing of non-standard product also come direct to Regency Park and are sourced for the customer as required. 188 SA PROJECT FEATURE ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT
This improves delivery times, reduces downtime on site and ultimately reduces costs for our client. “Delivery on time is always a challenge when servicing the Construction Industry. Because you cannot always forecast what is going to be required, the pressure mounts when items are required next day and need to come from interstate. Utilizing our National Blackwood’s supply network we can expedite within the required time frames. “This project is one of the largest of its type in the Construction Industry for which Blackwood’s have utilized the BOSS system. In the first five months, we supplied over 4,000 line items and over 140,000 parts,” said Augostin. Products supplied to the site were a broad cross-section of Blackwoods’ product categories, which include protective clothing, machine parts, AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
Blackwoods have over 20 years of experience of effective inventory control at hundreds of on-site facilities. BOSS Vendor Managed Inventory can be provided for either short term construction or maintenance periods, or as a long term ongoing solution for inventory control. BOSS also meets the needs of planned or sudden maintenance shutdowns, offering staff, systems and supplies tailored to meet the client’s needs. The company also offers business services including eBusiness Solutions, Safety Training, Site Safety Audits and Export Services, and a range of product services such as Testing and Certification, Hose Assembly Audits, Product Customisation, Embroidery and Outfitting and Toolkit Assembly. Blackwoods began as a supplier to the shipping industry. Over 130-plus years of business has seen them supply projects in the mining, maritime, agricultural, industrial, commercial and construction sectors, including supplying some of Australia’s most recognisable projects, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Parliament House, The Olympic Site and The Snowy Mountain Scheme. Since 2001, Blackwoods have been part of the Wesfarmers Group, Australia’s largest private sector employer. Wesfarmers have made sustainability a core priority across the Group, which makes sense given their origin servicing the climatedependent agricultural sector. Blackwoods ensure the products they supply are sourced from reliable supply partners and are made with care for both workers and our global habitat. In an industry where innovation is constant, equipment and supplies need to also come from the leading edge. To ensure the quality of their products, Blackwoods draw on many years of experience, fostering international and local supplier relationships.
sealants, tools, office supplies, welding consumables, personal protective equipment, site safety equipment, gasket materials, fasteners and fixings, pumps, bearings, hardware, abrasives, lubricants, hose and fittings, hygiene supplies, pipe and tube fittings and automotive parts. The full catalogue runs to many thousands of products meeting a wide range of materials needs for construction projects of every kind. Blackwoods vast experience in similar projects gave Adelaide Aqua a sound foundation on which to base their own BOSS on-site range. The BOSS system can either work within a project’s existing store, or Blackwoods provide their own onsite mobile warehouse, comprising customised 20’ and 40’ containers stocked with the parts the project needs. Another aspect of the service which is of great benefit to project mangers is BOSS’s customised reporting, which provides vital information including usage and cost reporting, savings, compliance and exceptions, and KPI summary reporting. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
“We also keep in touch with industry trends by attending trade shows in Australia and overseas, ensuring our customers have access to the very latest technology. We have a vast supplier base who are constantly providing us with new products. We also employ a team of people overseas who source products on our behalf. As one of the largest industrial suppliers in the country, we have people approaching us on a daily basis offering their products.” said Rebecca Gray, Blackwoods Regional Marketing Coordinator. For customers large and not so large, Blackwoods offers a great variety of products, reliability and a whole range of services to help get the job done.
BLACKWOODS t. 13 73 23 blackwoods.com.au SA PROJECT FEATURE ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT 189
TRU-BLU MEANS QUALITY EQUIPMENT AND DEDICATED SERVICE or vital hire plant and equipment backed by onsite servicing and maintenance, the Adelaide Desalination Plant project relied on the skilled services and comprehensive equipment catalogue of Tru-Blu Hire. Their onsite office and yard in close proximity to the main construction site has been operational for the life of the project, supplying equipment including lighting towers, boom lifts, scissor lifts, and generators ranging from 5kva to 600kva, also a major selection of electrical tools, saws and jack hammers, and a large selection of specialized tooling such as torque equipment, pressure pumps, chain blocks and high head submersible pumps. “Because we are set up on site, our days may range from small tooling going out for one or two hours, helping contractors set up pumps or lighting towers. We carry out all our onsite delivers with our 12t Tilt tray which was purchased especially for this project,” explained Tru-Blu Branch Manager, Sean Knox. “We have six full time staff on site, consisting of branch manager, hire controller, site clerk, two mechanics and a driver/serviceman. We have a 40ft onsite office, three 40ft containers equipped with shelfing and racking for equipment and a 20ft workshop container fitted out with workbench, power tools and other equipment. We currently work 6 til 6 Monday to Friday and ½ day Saturdays, and are on call 24/7 for breakdowns and additional equipment required. We carry out all servicing and repairs on site. Working close to the ocean is a challenge especially for corrosion. When we first set up on site we coated our machines in lanotec to help prevent problems with corrosion. To date we have had no reported problems.” Tru-Blu’s field mechanic has been carrying out constant on site servicing, as a project of this scale needs a proactive approach to equipment and the company takes pride in delivering quality equipment backed by personalised service. A service plan has been implemented which includes weekly servicing of all the different divisions on site. Tru-Blu has a support branch located in Sheriffs Rd, Lonsdale only a few minutes away from the Adelaide Desalination Plant Project. This proved ideal for supplying extra support and for rapid collection of extra equipment when required. The Hire operations are part of the wider Tru-Blu Group, which began operations in Kalgoorlie in 1994 servicing the building, industrial and mining sectors. Steady growth led to the formation of three divisions: Tru-Blu Torque, Tru-Blu Hire and NT Hire, with 19 branches around Australia. “The growth of Tru-Blu Hire has been largely attributed to the quality of equipment and the service provided to our customers; all of our equipment must pass a thorough checking procedure after each hire regardless of the hire period and for longer term hires complete servicing to OEM
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specifications is mandatory as our minimum standard,” said Tru-Blu Administration Manager Peter Atkinson. “All of our operations are available 24/7 so our customers can be assured if there is a problem or they just need some equipment they have someone to contact that will be able to help them.” Tru-Blu Torque specialises in hydraulic torque, rail and jacking equipment with all calibrations and repairs conducted in-house at the company’s NATA accredited and ISO 9001:2008 Quality Assured laboratory in Henderson. All Torque wrenches used by the Hire Division’s maintenance and service teams are also calibrated at Henderson. Tru-Blu Hire and NT Hire offers general, specialised and industrial hire equipment ranging from access equipment, earthmoving, compressors, hydraulic equipment, generators, rollers and compaction, fencing, trailers and lighting. The company employs approximately 110 staff with 30 trade qualified maintenance staff across 19 operations. Other major projects include the Pluto LNG Project, where the company is supplying large quantities of quality hire equipment and service to Woodside's $12 billion Pluto LNG project in Western Australia's Pilbara region from our Karratha branch. Tru-Blu Hire have also been supplying hire equipment to the Boddington Gold Mine project south of Perth since construction commenced, and are providing ongoing service to the mine from a branch in Boddington. “Tru-Blu Hire has developed some good relationships with people involved in the construction of the Adelaide Desalination Plant, so we are looking at opening more branches in South Australia to service our new clients in other areas,” said Peter Atkinson. TRU-BLU HIRE Onsite Facility: Chrysler Rd Lonsdale t. 0408 905 696 Manager: Sean Knox Lonsdale Hire Branch: 3 39 Sherriffs Rd Lonsdale t. 8381 1477 Manager: Nick Martin WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
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SWIFT DELIVERY OF SPECIALISED STEEL PIPE ANYWHERE hen Trans Vent Spiral Tubing says they can fill an order fast, they deliver on the promise. For the Adelaide Desalination Plant at Port Stanvac, they produced duct tubes and bends for the construction stage which were delivered to site within five days of the order being placed – no mean feat given the custom-fabricated bends were made in Queensland and the ducting in New South Wales. “Adelaide Aqua rang on Thursday afternoon, and we had the order delivered Monday morning,” said Trans Vent’s Sydney Manager, Michael Denham. The order was for twelve off 1200mm diameter, 6m long spiral duct tubes and four 90-degree bends, with another eight of the tubes added to the order later. “Our staff started fabrication of the duct tubes on Friday. Finished the order Saturday, on the same day the bends which were fabricated in our Queensland workshop were delivered to our New South Wales factory. I came in on Sunday, picked up the truck with the order and drove to Adelaide for Monday morning delivery.” Trans Vent have been a family owned company for 35 years, and are experts at fabricating spiral tubing for an array of purposes: ducting for exhausts, air intake or extraction, dust extraction, flues; 192 SA PROJECT FEATURE ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT
column formers and pier liners; void forming tubing; culvert tubing and underground drainage; spiral welding and high pressure tubing; along with a range of accessories and fittings. The original spiral ducting fabrication machinery was created by company founder, Keith Denham in 1975, and innovation is ongoing. Trans Vent designed and custom built the ‘TRS Pier’ for the M7 freeway project, from 1mm thick steel with a large corrugation, which would withstand the crushing forces of the backfilling of the site’s unstable soil. “If someone comes to us and says they have a problem, we usually can provide a solution; we are willing to modify machines to make different things. A lot of people ring up and say, ‘I need a pipe’; we ask, what do you require the pipe to do?” said Michael. “The key element to our business is working with the customer. We get a contact on site and liaise on the timeframes, we get the product to them when we say we will and when it is needed. “For the Hume Highway upgrade (near Tarcutta) we fabricated bridge voids. There were 100 lengths to deliver of 1650mm diameter tubing, and twenty days to deliver from the time of order. We could manage to get four Tubes a day to the site on our own transport, and met the timeframes. AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
“We have got products that don’t get used often, but are kept in stock for certain customers, where their timeframe does not always allow for a long lead time. “We ask ‘when do you want it?’ And as long as they tell us exactly what’s needed, the next phone call the customer gets is from the truck driver saying they are at the site, and ‘where do you want it?’”. Trans Vent’s skill base includes high-level metal fabrication and roll forming expertise, with a team of tradesmen on staff qualified in sheet metal work and boilermaking. Michael’s brother, Warren, an electronics technician, does the wiring for the machinery, which is maintained and modified where required by DG Engineering, a long term family associate. Only certified quality materials which meet the Australian Standards for steel are used. The workshops’ machinery is capable of making up to 2mm thick tubing in lock seam, and 5mm thick for welded seam. All welds are inspected and any product which does not meet their strict quality standards is crushed and recycled. Decades of experience with their products means Trans Vent can give accurate advice on what product will meet particular pressures and scenarios. “If we don’t think it will work, we won’t supply it, it will only upset the client,” said Michael. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
Trans Vent products are used around the nation: they supplied Hamilton Island with column formers, have sent air conditioning duct and pier liners to Darwin; supplied pipe to the Argyle Diamond Mine in Western Australia; and have major infrastructure contractors such as ABI Group and John Holland as regular customers.
TRANS VENT SPIRAL TUBING PTY LTD 38 Peachtree Road Penrith NSW 2750 t. 02 4731 6100 f. 02 4732 1604 27 Medway Street Rocklea QLD 4106 t. 07 3848 6100 f. 07 3848 8201 www.transvent.com SA PROJECT FEATURE ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT 193
RIGHT GASKETS RIGHT ON TIME uperior manufacturing equipment and processes make South Eastern Gaskets (SEG) leaders in the sealant field, with the ability to meet the needs of complex projects on tight timeframes. For the Adelaide Desalination Plant, they supplied a range of purposedesigned gaskets. These were produced on SEG’s state of the art CNC knife cutting machine. "This machine gives us the flexibility to meet all our customer requirements in a very short lead time. It also offers our customers the convenience to simply Email a DXF or DWG File of their gasket requirements which in turn reduces costs and lead times, as the need for tooling has been eliminated,” explained SEG Managing Director, Robert Green. “We are pleased to be associated with such a great infrastructure undertaking as the Adelaide Desalination Plant in South Australia” Mr Green said. “Because of our manufacturing capabilities and technical expertise, we have been able to supply the gaskets to the plant’s high quality requirements, in the specified time to maintain the construction momentum of such a project” Said Mr Green. Other elements of SEG’s manufacturing capacity include the capability to mould gaskets with a new 100 tonne CNC compression moulding 194 SA PROJECT FEATURE ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT
machine, along with hydraulic and mechanical presses ranging from a 5 tonne high speed press for large volume production up to 80 tonne hydraulic presses for the largest processing requirements. The Braeside workshop also has its own in house tool room facility where SEG can produce moulds and washer dies while keeping the costs down to a minimum. All these capabilities are coupled with the experience gained from 35 years of operation. “I hope the team at South Eastern Gaskets can be of assistance with all your sealing requirements, and to have the opportunity to establish solid long standing associations with such projects as the desalination plant in the future,” said Robert Green.
SOUTH EASTERN GASKETS PTY LTD 7/2 Sibthorpe Street Braeside VIC 3195 t. 03 9587 4122 f. 03 9587 4316 5/37 Aldenhoven Road Lonsdale SA 5160 t. 08 8326 1588 f. 08 8326 4316 AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
TAKING CARE OF THE PROJECT’S BUSINESS anurgem was selected by SA Water to provide specialist Project Management, Construction Management and support services for the Adelaide Desalination Plant project: Panurgem has been involved from the early planning and approvals stage through to providing a support role in coordinating the preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement, overseeing the project reporting and controls function and providing key resources to the Project delivery team. Panurgem’s committed staff aim to ensure that projects have a smoothest possible path, by bringing to the table their approach and their project management skills and knowledge. The goal is not only to deliver on the agreed brief but to provide certainty with regards to all of the aspects of project management. Tasks undertaken by the Panurgem team at Port Stanvac included providing services for project reporting, both for the plant and the transfer pipeline; field monitoring; reviewing work packages; compliance; verifying completion of stages and quality of work; communication with stakeholders; management of site ancillary works, including environmental works; and ensuring the site itself was a suitable fit for the local community. “We supported planning for communicating site activities to the local community, and ensured all the targets and objectives of the communications had been met in the best manner possible. The key to our work is making sure we build-in good governance and risk management into our thinking considering the risks to the environment, people and the project,” said Panurgem’s General Manager - Brenton Scroop. Being such a significant infrastructure project for South Australia, large systems and processes had to be developed, people trained and due diligence aspects built-into the process so that we can demonstrate, meet and exceed WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
the targets, “Panurgem is proud to be associated with this iconic project and to work so closely with SA Water” said –Brenton. “We used a lot of new approaches to dealing with the vast volume of records and documentation, making sure the information was readily available across multiple sites, whilst ensuring that commercially confidential information was secured and kept safe. A large number of Panurgem staff have been committed for the duration of the project from inception to completion, building on an existing and enduring relationship with the water industry. Panurgem have undertaken numerous water related projects for SA Water, PIRSA and the Office for Water Security, and were involved with the Murray Futures projects, constructing potable and irrigation pipelines, projects completed in 2009. Since the company’s founding in 1994, Panurgem have offered a comprehensive, client-focused and flexible approach to project management. They can provide clients services for external relations processes such as Government submissions and documentation; community consultation; management of project OH&S, environment and risk plans; site monitoring; in addition to assistance with internal processes such as assessment of business practices and funding and business case submissions. PANURGEM PTY LTD Ground Floor, Panurgem House 64 Hindmarsh Square Adelaide SA 5000 t. 08 8232 7899 f. 08 8232 7599 e. contact@panurgem.com.au www.panurgem.com.au SA PROJECT FEATURE ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT 195
MAKING ALL SYSTEMS GO
This included five fan starter control panels, one transformer cabinet, a pump starter control panel, 1600amp distribution board, 250amp distribution board, two 2000amp temporary main switch boards, 1200amp temporary distribution board, 800amp temporary distribution board and 42 100amp temporary power outlet boards. Lai Industries Pty Ltd is also designing and manufacturing all the plant’s permanent main distribution boards, light and power distribution boards.
The company also offers powdercoating, sheetmetal fabrication, laser engraving and onsite modification. All Lai Industries Pty Ltd products are backed by Quality Assurance certification, which was achieved in 1994. The Quality Management system is in accordance with AS/NZ ISO 9001:2008 and the company strives for continual improvement in business activities and products. With 65 employees including estimators, designers, trade-qualified fabricators, painters and powder coaters, electricians, engravers and CNC machinery programmers, and workshop and office space currently being expanded by 2000m3, the company is equipped to handle multiple major assignments concurrently. Being part of NESMA, the National Electrical Switchboard Manufacturers Association, allows them to share issues and innovations with other switchboard manufacturers and aid progress in the industry.
This project utilised the full scope of in-house talent for design, metal fabrication, painting, electrical fit out, testing and checking of all works and shipping and delivery to site. The 3000m2 workshop’s state-of-the-art CNC machinery also contributed to successful, timely completion of the wide-ranging fabrication tasks.
Other major projects across Australia with nerve centres built by Lai Industries Pty Ltd include Beverley four mile project, Wagga Wagga water treatment plant, United Water Aldinga, Lower Lakes pipeline SA Water, Transfer pipeline system SA Water, Santos mine, Werribee western water, BHP Olympic dam and Iluke Mine.
project as important as the Adelaide Desalination Plant needs reliable power from the word ‘go’. South Australia’s Lai Industries Pty Ltd brought forty years experience in building electrical systems to the site, designing and manufacturing all the temporary power distribution systems.
Founded in 1969, Lai Industries Pty Ltd design and manufacture custom built, low voltage switchgear and control gear assemblies. They are specialists in designing and constructing custom main switchboards, distribution and meter boards, temporary power boards, motor control centres, switchroom packages and enclosures, using mild steel, aluminium or stainless steel. Projects choose Lai Industries for their quality product and professional service. 196 SA PROJECT FEATURE ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT
LAI INDUSTRIES PTY LTD 17 Circuit Drive Hendon SA 5014 t. 08 82449022 f. 08 82449122 e. info@laiswitchboards.com.au www.laiswitchboards.com.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
HONING THE SKILLS THAT HOLD EVERYTHING TOGETHER ater isn’t the only priceless resource the Adelaide Desalination Plant project gives South Australia, it also enhanced some crucial skills in the construction workforce, with AWS Global contracted by AdelaideAqua to provide specialist welder training and welding quality inspection training. “AdelaideAqua and SA Water want to create a legacy for South Australia in terms of welding skills. It is not a trade that has been attracting enough new workers, but it can offer a complete career path, with specialisations like welding engineering,” explained AWS Managing Director Neville Cornish. “Welding engineering is the best way of ensuring weld integrity.” “People often don’t realise a project’s reliance on competent welds and inspection. The AWS Centre of Excellence is a training facility, which is not just a training area, it is a wholistic facility covering a career path within the welding field,” said AWS Consultant Christine Edwards. “Welding of Plant is listed under OH&S, and all projects have a duty of care with welded plant; this is one of the reasons we need to upskill the industry. A lot of work slips past which is not up to the level of quality required, and a lot of sub contractors and engineers are not entirely aware of the applicable welding standards. The documentary evidence for Welded Plant needs a trail from welding design through to final inspection.” AWS has accreditation AS/NZS ISO / IEC 17020 as a class A Inspection body, is the only NATA accredited welding consultancy, and brings a WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
combined 150 years of hands-on metal fabrication, engineering and inspection experience across industry sectors to improve the level of diligence applied on sites. As infrastructure project consultants, AWS ensures all Welding and Welded Structures, Welded Plant, Welded Components, and Pressure Plant meet the mandatory requirements, and have serviced major projects including desalination plants, submarines, wind towers, tunnels and bridges in both the private and government sectors. AWS Centre of Excellence offers accredited training in specialist welding, engineering, metal fabrication and inspection, with diploma courses in addition to career path modules for experienced engineers, welders and fabricators. The training has been specifically designed in response to the growing skills shortage in the industry, and ensures workmanship of the standard required to protect human life and the capital value of plant and projects.
AWS GLOBAL PTY LTD T/A AUSTRALIAN WELDING SOLUTIONS AWS IN SERVICE INSPECTION AWS CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE PO Box 184 Melrose Park BC SA 5039 t. 08 8374 3415 e. admin@australianweldingsolutions.com.au www.australianweldingsolutions.com.au SA PROJECT FEATURE ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT 197
LINKING IT ALL TOGETHER OVER THE AIRWAVES outh Australian company Tetracom gave the Adelaide Desalination Plant at Port Stanvac construction team a radio communication system which does just about everything - short of broadcast a top 40. It even has its own slice of the national bandwidth. The site has two separate but linked radio systems, one for above ground operations and one for underground in the tunnels and chambers. Originally there were 120 hand held radios provided for use by supervisors, leading hands and other key personnel including safety officers however this has now grown to well over 200 units. Tetracom also supplied 30 plus vehicle and base station radios, and provided training for trainers on site during installation and handover of the system. “The original tender request that was originally specified was considered under-resourced, so a consultative process was undertaken with Adelaide Aqua to ascertain their real needs and at the end of the day we came up with a turn-key solution to meet those stated operational requirements which also included all licence applications and associated permits,” said Tetracom spokesman, Mark Gale. “The system we designed includes a site-wide emergency channel which, with one button press, alerts the above ground security/emergency response team who can then form one single radio network of all the below ground radio channels to security if required. All underground channels are also linked to above ground repeaters to provide full site wide communications. “The challenge was in the number of people on site, and the number of channels required to meet the operational needs. We produced a custom fit solution to meet the project’s needs, which provides flexibility and reliability within the budget.” 198 SA PROJECT FEATURE ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT
Other major projects have undertaken include communications for the OZ Minerals mine at Prominent Hill near Coober Pedy; replacing all radio infrastructure equipment for Santos Cooper Basin gas project; partnering with Telstra constructing communications for the Alice Springs to Darwin rail link; upgrade of the SA Country Fire Service fire ground radio units including supplying 3,000 plus fire ground radios and working with British Aerospace on radio communications for Kakadu & Uluru National Parks. Tetracom are an accredited Government Radio Network (GRN) installation and service provider and performs qualified installation and supply services to GRN radio users including CFS, Police, SA Ambulance and are In-Skill accredited. With one of the largest service divisions in the industry in SA their maintenance department looks after a range of installations throughout South Australia, Western NSW & Victoria as well as the Northern Territory, including Uluru. As the company’s skills and product knowledge are second to none, Tetracom can provide systems which link to Building Management Systems to automatically report alarms, are capable of tracking people in buildings such as hospitals or shopping centres, or offer point to point data transfer via microwave. They can provide satellite telephony, GPS tracking and vehicle management systems, pocket paging, voice based two-way radio and in conjunction with system integrators, radio and RF links for remote switching. Equipment is available for lease or can be procured for purchase, whether one radio or hundreds. TETRACOM PTY LTD 508 Goodwood Road Daw Park SA 5041 t. 08 8273 9555 f. 08 8357 1400 e. mail@tetracom.com.au www.tetracom.com.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
TAKING THE ‘PHEW’ OUT OF LOOS ustralian English has an incredible range of monikers for the humble dunny, and an equally impressive range of adjectives for unpleasant ones. Fortunately, for workers at the Adelaide Desalination Plant, one adjective describes amenities serviced by Transliquid Services – clean. Transliquid has been doing the pumping out of toilet blocks and septics on the site for over a year now, shifting up to 12 tanks of waste, three times a week. As the primary waste liquid contractor to most of the major hire companies in Adelaide, Transliquid were involved with the project through Ausco, who provided the site’s hire buildings, including the loos. Toilet pumping might not be a starring role on a project, but it’s one of the absolute essentials, because without clean facilities, a whole site’s Occupational Health is compromised. “Our company is set apart from other liquid waste companies, because we specialise in the servicing of toilet, singles and blocks to the building trade. While most liquid waste companies can pump out toilets, generally that is all they do. Our staff clean inside, refill toilet paper, chemicals, handwash and towels, as required,” explained Transliquid’s Roxane Siciliano. “Our vehicles often draw comments, as apart from being so distinctive, they show no outside signs of the job we do. We always try to be discreet and respectful, by planning our arrival times onto sites. We also can transport portable toilets; many building companies have their own facilities, so we deal directly with them. Every day we service the entire greater Adelaide area, plus often travel to places as far away as Tailem Bend, Cape Jervis, Balaklava and Clare. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
“Our staff all have white cards and often undertake OH&S training. We have guest speakers at our tool box meetings to cover different issues that may arise. Naturally all our vehicles have flashing lights, audible beepers, UHF, First Aid kits and Fire Extinguishers.” The vast quantity of work at Adelaide Desalination Plant created another position within the company, who now have six full time staff and a fleet of seven vehicles ranging from a 400L tank fitted to a 4 wheel drive, up to 7,500L tankers. Their manoeuvrable vehicles mean Transliquid can access restricted access sites, including carparks, basements and small laneways. In addition to the core business of amenities management, Transliquid also have the capability to undertake broader commercial cleanup and liquid disposal, including waste water removal, wash bay pits servicing and dewatering foundation piers.
TRANSLIQUID SERVICES PTY LTD Phone Jack on 0403 156360 or Fax 08 85 242 292 e. admin@transliquid.com.au www.transliquid.com.au SA PROJECT FEATURE ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT 199
MACCAFERRI INNOVATION PUTS EXTRA STRENGTH UNDERGROUND o maximise the strength and performance of the concrete in the tunnels beneath the Adelaide Desalination Plant site, AdelaideAqua used a product new to the Australian market - Maccaferri Wirand® Fibres. The Wirand FF3 fibres were supplied for use in the pre-cast tunnel segments, and Wirand FS3N Fibres for the permanent shotcrete lining. Internationally, Maccaferri has been one of the leading manufacturers of concrete fibres in Europe for many years. The Wirand concrete fibres are a newly developed product with a combination of unique characteristics. The key characteristics are the “openness” of the hooked ends as well as their length, which is shorter than all other fibres in the Australian market. These two properties combine to produce better performance and easier finishing of the concrete elements or surface. The shorter length of the fibres also has the advantage of providing more fibres per kilo in the concrete mix, thereby assisting with the overall performance of the concrete. Three months of intensive and rigorous testing before the product was selected gave ample proof that the unique qualities of Maccaferri Wirand® Fibres would deliver outstanding results. The performance of the fibres ensured the pre-cast segments were undamaged during transport from the Bendigo manufacture site to Adelaide, and that the segments could withstand the extreme forces of the Tunnel Boring Machines during installation. Maccaferri also delivered excellent cost savings. The common concern when offering singular fibres is the possibility of concrete balling. This issue can be virtually eliminated with the unique fibre blowing machine Maccaferri has just introduced to the Australian market. In conjunction with the fibre blowing machine, Maccaferri offers systems that 200 SA PROJECT FEATURE ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT
will allow you to measure the fibres by weight accurately with little impact to the concrete batching process. Maccaferri Australia calls on its worldwide experience in this market and local concrete technology knowledge to deliver cost effective solutions applicable to all tunnelling, flooring and shotcrete designs. As a leading supplier of materials to civil engineering, building and landscaping projects throughout Australia, Maccaferri products have been specified and incorporated into many high profile projects by major consultants and contractors for nearly 30 years. The extensive product portfolio also includes double twist mesh gabions; Reno® mattresses and rockfall netting; non-woven and woven geotextiles for all applications, from lightweight non-woven grades for filtration to high strength woven PET geotextile for soil reinforcement; geogrids; sludge dewatering tubes; drainage products; erosion control products; and sub-surface irrigation. A quick look at the company website www.maccaferri. com.au shows the breadth of applications and project types Maccaferri Australia can provide for. Make your concrete unique
MACCAFERRI AUSTRALIA PTY LTD contact: Brad Boardman e. bradboardman@maccaferri.com.au www.maccaferri.com.au
Engineering a Better Solution
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
Macweld Delivers on AdelaideAqua Helipad acweld Industries is a diverse engineering company with accreditation to AS/NZS ISO 9001:2000 and AS/NZS ISO 4801, enabling the company to provide excellence of service and product; absolute conformance to the customer specification and requirements; and an effective continuous improvement program. As structural fabricator for the AdelaideAqua Santa Fe Barge Upgrade, this excellence was again exhibited as Macweld met the extremely tight delivery time frames and strict tolerances required on this key infrastructure project. Macweld undertook the detail design, fabrication, transport, cranage and erection of the Helipad steelwork required for the Santa Fe Barge Upgrade. The Helipad steelwork was designed to be cantilevered off the Santa Fe Barge. The Helipad enabled AdelaideAqua to rotate and transport their employees safely and without delay by helicopter to and from the ocean location of the Santa Fe Barge. The Helipad also allowed AdelaideAqua to increase operational efficiency during the Barge’s working periods, and eliminated the high risk of transporting employees by boat, with inclement weather and high seas creating serious safety issues. All fabrication work was completed in-house by the highly experienced Macweld team, who have continually and successfully completed projects in a diverse range of industries since the company’s inception in 1962. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
A privately-owned company, Macweld offers a range of services including Project Management, Structural and Mechanical Design (ProSteel and AutoCAD), Mild Steel Fabrication, Stainless Steel Fabrication, On-site Maintenance, Labour Hire, Shutdown Management and Coordination, Site Installation and Steelwork Erection and 24 hr Crane Hire with lifting capacities up to 100T. Macweld Industries other recent and current projects include the design, fabrication, surface treatment, and installation of both Structural Steelwork and Mechanical Packages for Amcor Stage 3 Upgrade; Fabrication of Bulkheads and Framework for the Air Warfare Destroyer Defence Contract; Design, fabrication, surface treatment and installation for a wide range of Primary Schools and High Schools under the Government Incentive Scheme; Design, fabrication, surface treatment and installation of steelwork for Adelaide Oval Redevelopment; Design reports, removal / re-installation including crane hire and fabrication / repairs of Crane Boom (5.2m wide x 6m high x 43m long – 55 Tonne) damaged during operation.
MACWELD INDUSTRIES PTY LTD 1 Creswell Road Largs Bay SA 5016 Contact Scott Hahn t. 08 8242 8100 e. hahns@macweld.com.au www.macweld.com.au SA PROJECT FEATURE ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT 201
A FITTING TASK FOR PIRTEK nnovation and initiative has propelled Pirtek forward many times over the last 30 years. Pirtek have developed (and are still developing) a broad market for distribution of world class products delivered via more than 320 mobile service units and 89 Service and Supply Centre’s nationally. During the last 30 years we believe that we have created a company that is sensitive and tuned into its market, one that insists on providing quality products and services and nurturing a philosophy of readiness for adaptation. It is for these reasons that when AdelaideAqua required a supplier of Hoses & Fittings to meet the demands of the new Adelaide desalination plant project, Pirtek was the obvious choice to support them and their subcontractors. “We were onsite from the first cut in March 2009, and will be there until first water and beyond”, said Pirtek South Adelaide’s Centre Manager, Stephen Linscott. In order to meet the scope of work of a project of this scale Pirtek South Adelaide combined a site container workshop fully stocked with hoses & fittings inclusive of hose making facilities, with 24hr 7 day mobile service support. Support included bulk supply of hoses & fittings, portable bunding for environmental spills and replacement hoses & fittings for machinery and infrastructure.
manufactured hoses on demand as need arose during contract drilling. Being part of the National Network of Service & Supply Centre’s enabled Pirtek South Adelaide to draw on experience from other Centre’s who had been successful in supplying to interstate desalination plant construction at Kurnell in NSW, Gold Coast in QLD and most recently in LaTrobe Valley in Victoria. Over the last 16 years Pirtek South Adelaide have grown into a supplier of choice for major local projects including the Adelaide Freeway Tunnel, the Southern Expressway, the Tramways Upgrade and the Belair Railway Line. With Pirtek celebrating our 30th year of operation in 2010, the Adelaide Aqua/Pirtek partnership is a demonstration of our capacity to provide class leading support across our entire product and services portfolio. The same products and services provided by Pirtek South Adelaide are also available nationally from all Pirtek Service and Supply Centre’s. Call 134 222, 24 hours 7 days for your nearest centre or visit www.pirtek.com.au.
Pirtek’s mobile service responded to machinery breakdowns and supplied the TBM store for the tunnel boring process, while the on-site workshop 202 SA PROJECT FEATURE ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT
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Golder helps desalination growth in SA ater scarcity is a growing global problem and one that South Australia has experienced firsthand. Increased desalination is one way to help combat this problem and the services of ground engineering and environmental consultancy, Golder Associates, are increasingly being called on for projects associated with the desalination process. “Desalination is an important growth area for Golder across Australia and particularly here in South Australia. Desalinated water will be an increasingly important part of our water supply and we are excited to bring our expertise to desalination projects,” said Senior Geotechnical Engineer for Golder in South Australia, Tom Hills.
Geotechnical investigations comprised of geological mapping, borehole drilling and test pit investigations and were undertaken at the sites for the pump station, break pressure tanks and along the route for the pipeline. Golder’s NATA accredited Adelaide Laboratory were utilised for testing throughout the project. Subsurface conditions across the project site were variable, comprising areas of extensive fill and highly expansive clays and shallow rock, all of which presented unique sets of ground engineering challenges to the project team.
Most recently, a geotechnical team from Golder in South Australia provided specialist advice for the design and construction of the Adelaide Desalination Transfer Pipeline and Pumping Station, a project by the McConnell Dowell Built Environs Joint Venture (MDBEJV).
Throughout the construction phase of the project, Golder’s contribution helped MDBEJV achieve its tight deadline. The team provided temporary works solutions, excavation stability advice, design verification, materials testing services and earthworks quality assurance to achieve successful and timely project outcomes.
The team utilised local and interstate Golder knowledge to provide the best design-stage input and technical solutions for this challenging MDBEJV project, which included 10 km of transfer pipeline to connect the Desalination Plant with Happy Valley Reservoir in the city’s southern suburbs.
Contact: Tom Hills, Senior Geotechnical Engineer, +61 8 8213 2103, THills@golder.com.au
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CERTIFIED BEST-PRACTICE SCAFFOLDING ith their impeccable safety record, comprehensive material and manpower resources and third party Certification by TQCSI to AS/NZ 4801 and ISO 9001, Caledonia Contractors can rightly claim to be Australia’s leading privately owned scaffolding company. AdelaideAqua has been relying on their services since September 2009, to provide scaffolding equipment and scaffolders/riggers across the Lonsdale site. To date, Caledonia have supplied 1079 tonnes of scaffolding on the Adelaide Desalination Plant project, from modular scaffolding for general construction works through to specialized hung scaffolding for the Santa Fe Barge and hand built tube scaffolds weighing over 5 tons that can be lifted by crane for tanks on site. A large number of Caledonia’s highly trained scaffolders and supervisory staff have been on the site full time throughout, and are likely to stay on site well into 2011. Safety is a major priority for Caledonia. All their workers have weekly toolbox meetings, and are given ongoing training in safety at heights, confined spaces and general mining and construction industry best practice OH&S. A member of the company’s team at BHP Billiton’s Olympic Dam mine site was awarded the Olympic Dam Best Award by Dean Dalla Valle, BHP’s Global President, Uranium, for the team’s superior commitment to safety which was repeatedly demonstrated over a two year scaffolding project. “Our biggest challenge with the Adelaide Desalination Plant has been coordinating the jobs between departments, who can call on our services across the project at any given time, sometimes at very short notice. We implemented a scaffold request system and set up site-specific procurement, delivery and supervisory systems to ensure smooth logistics,” said Caledonia’s General Manager, David Stephen. 204 SA PROJECT FEATURE ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT
The project’s massive requirement for scaffolding components was easily resourced from Caledonia’s fully stocked yard by the company’s own fleet of transport vehicles. A decade of experience in the mining, construction, oil and gas sectors has honed the company’s expertise. Caledonia maintain full time work crews on site at Prominent Hill for Oz Minerals, Roxby Downs, Honeymoon and Snapper Mines; and also provide regular services to Hansen Yuncken, Transfield Services, Lucas Earth Movers, Mossop, Sarah Constructions, United Water, Leighton Contractors, Worley Parsons, Nyrstar and Newmont Gold. Having up to 75 scaffolders on staff and their own scaffolding equipment allows Caledonia to service multiple major projects concurrently throughout South Australia, The Northern Territory, regional New South Wales and Queensland. They offer a complete service, supplying HSEC, administration, procurement and logistics with the scaffolding team, and provide clients with daily time sheets, weekly reports and monthly invoices, so clients such as AdelaideAqua can easily track costs. Essentially, if a project needs scaffolding, Caledonia is the company to call for a safe, cost-effective, logistically smooth and comprehensive service.
CALEDONIA CONTRACTORS PTY LTD 44 Aldershot Road Lonsdale SA 5160 t. 08 8326 3365 f. 08 8326 1152 e. admin@caledoniascaffolding.com.au www.caledoniascaffolding.com.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
AS INSTANT AS A GASKET CAN GET delaideAqua and their subcontractors have relied on the skills and superior service of Industrial Gaskets to meet an extraordinary range of orders, and in most cases have received their order the same day, whether it was for a 1800mm gasket with an outer dimension of over two metres, or multiple 15mm gaskets. All up, Industrial Gaskets have supplied over 2,500 gaskets to the project to date, in addition to 1,500 metres of Mylar Insulating Sleeve and 3,500 Insulating Washers. All have been delivered via a direct courier service straight from the manufacturing site in Melrose Park South Australia to the Port Stanvac site. The addition of an Aristomat Digital Knife Cutting Machine to the company’s manufacturing capital gives Industrial Gaskets the ability to rapidly draft and manufacture non-standard size gaskets of all kinds, without comprising quality. All the products they manufacture are Certified to ISO9001:2008, and meet the relevant pipe Standards, their manufacturing approach is precise and cost-effective for clients, and protective of both the environment and employee’s health and safety. “Industrial Gaskets’ little to no lead times and streamlined manufacturing processes has enabled it to service the Desalination project and site engineers at an “on call” basis for the majority of the project,” explained Business Manager, Michelle Wolanin. Founded in 1985, Industrial Gaskets was involved predominantly with die cut components and rubber products for the car, whitegoods and electrical industries. The addition of more staff and evolution of manufacturing processes has enabled Industrial Gaskets to manufacture and supply products for blue-chip projects including Prominent Hill Copper Gold Project in South Australia, Northern Connector Pipeline Project in QLD, Ravensthorpe Nickel Mine Project in WA, BHBP Olympic Dam Tails Leach Circuit Upgrade in Regional South Australia and Honeymoon Uranium Project in Regional South Australia. They manufacture and supply across sectors including Defence, Mining, Water Treatment, Oil and Gas, Petrochemical, Pharmaceutical and General Engineering Australia-wide, and export to Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand, New Zealand, Dubai and Singapore. The product range includes: cut gaskets of any size/style; spiral wound gaskets; all Elastomers; gasket sheet; fibreglass products; ceramic products; gland and valve pump packing flange insulation kits; insulating sleeves, washers and bolt insulators; rubber and metallic expansion joints; flexible bellows and exhaust bellow; PTFE cord, tape, sheet and cut components; graphite products; Fluorogreen Modified PTFE gasket sheets or pre-cut gaskets; Ring Type Joint Gaskets; Cathodic Protection; and CNC Cutting. INDUSTRIAL GASKETS Unit 2/4 Iris Street Melrose Park SA 5039 t. 08 8276 4140 After hours phone: 0422 263 994 f. 08 8357 4667 e. sales@industrialgaskets.com.au www.industrialgaskets.com.au WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
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Adelaide Desalination Plant , Port Stanvac, SA
cross the Adelaide Desalination Plant site, BK Innovative Concrete Services have been cutting and coring concrete for pipework and services, opening up doorways and putting expansion joints in freshly poured concrete. The AdelaideAqua Building Alliance comprising McConnell Dowell, Abigroup and Built Environs, and have all been calling on their expert services since late 2009.
CUTS & CORES AROUND THE CLOCK
“No job is too hard, no job is too small for us. We take pride in doing accurate, clean work and leaving a nice clean site behind us,” said General Manager Kon Hatedakis. “Whether it’s a hard job or an intricate little task, we listen to the customer and client needs, and look for the most cost-effective way to achieve the end result.” BK Innovative’s other major projects include Port Adelaide’s new Submarine Base and Shipbuilding Yard; stage one of the Tramways Extension; Port Adelaide to Newport Quays; Centro Colonnade Shopping Centre; City Central Tower; and ASC at Osborne for CUF. Currently they are working on Glenside Campus, the Adelaide Film Centre and Adelaide Oval, where BK Innovative won an award from Built for having the best safe work practices. BK Innovative’s OH&S policy is implemented through projectspecific safety plans. Ongoing training of their nine employees and the use of top quality Husqvarna equipment, Bianco diamond tools and Stihll saws, puts this company’s 24 hour service a cut above the rest. BK INNOVATIVE CONCRETE SERVICES PTY LTD t. (24 hours) 0448 686 003 e. konh@bkics.com.au 206 SA PROJECT FEATURE ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT
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FACTFINDING AND FORESIGHT HUSKINGS ENSURE SUCCESS xtremely detailed engineering knowledge, a firm grasp on the finer details and solid connections with both client and suppliers enabled Husking Rail and Water (HRW) to prepare estimates for AdelaideAqua’s bid for the Adelaide Desalination Plant project at Port Stanvac. This is HRW’s speciality – preparing estimates and tender documents for desalination plants and rail infrastructure; another recent assignment was the Sydney CBD Metro rail Project. HRW undertakes work around the country, providing services to leading contractors such as Abigroup Contractors. Director, Bob Husking, has 40 years experience in rail and water projects. Through a thorough understanding of the client requirements, the design, the ability of the market to supply the project’s needs and materials lead times, HRW prepared three fixed cost estimates for the project’s desalination component, working to tight timeframes. “The estimate must be based on a solid program and so a lot of work goes into ensuring the program is robust. Risks are a major consideration such as availability of Resources – Staff, Skilled workforce, plant and equipment. Where there are concerns the likely costs of addressing these concerns has to be included in the estimate,” Bob Husking said. “For ESD we have to consider Energy Waste and Water – most considerations come from the designers but the estimator considers the commercial viability of options. The challenge is what presents value for money for the Client when the tender is being prepared in a competitive situation.”
HUSKING RAIL AND WATER PTY LTD 31 Marilyn Parade Greenpoint 2251 NSW t. 0417 419 850 e. huskingrandw@bigpond.com
VOLTEX KEEPS THE WATER IN – AND OUT
For speed of installation and to ensure that there were minimal overlapping joints, AdelaideAqua chose VOLTEX® in 200 square metre rolls, however VOLTEX® is available in smaller 66 & 6 square metre rolls for ease of installation.
square metre. The high swelling, low permeable sodium bentonite is encapsulated between a non-woven and a woven geotextile. A patented needle-punched process interlocks the geotextiles together forming an extremely strong composite that maintains the equal coverage of bentonite, as well as, protects it from inclement weather and construction related damage. Once backfilled, VOLTEX® hydrates and forms a monolithic waterproofing membrane. VOLTEX® contains zero VOC, can be installed in almost any weather condition to green concrete, and most importantly, has proven effective on both new and remedial waterproofing projects worldwide.
VOLTEX® is a highly effective waterproofing composite comprised of two high strength geotextiles and 4.88kg of Volclay® sodium bentonite per
For further information on Volclay Waterproofing Systems please contact www.cetco.com
ETCO’s VOLTEX® Volclay Waterproofing System was chosen by AdelaideAqua to waterproof critical areas in and around the treated water tanks and surrounding areas. VOLTEX® was chosen for its ease of installation in any weather condition, its high waterproofing performance and its superior adhesion to concrete.
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SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION ENSURES DRY CREEK RAIL DEPOT IS TRACKING WELL I
t is only a matter of months before railcar maintenance and engineering moves from an existing depot along Adelaide’s North Terrace to a new location at Dry Creek in the city’s northern suburbs. The State Government ordered the old facility be demolished to make way for the New Royal Adelaide Hospital. The Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure (DTEI) is overseeing the development of a new railcar depot at Dry Creek and, working closely with Managing Contractor Baulderstone, this $157 million facility is due to be completed in December. “Dry Creek was selected as the site for the new depot because of its optimum location,” says DTEI Project Director Glyn Edwards. “It connects efficiently with existing rail operations, it can house a large heavy engineering depot and the facility will have minimal impact on the surrounding environment.”
The depot is located near the Dry Creek railway station and is southeast of the Adelaide to Gawler rail line. Churchill Road North and Railway Terrace also lie to the south east while Stock Road forms the northern
boundary. The entire 10 hectare precinct is bounded by 3.5kms of perimeter fencing. The new depot complements the State Government’s $2.6 billion rail program upgrade which will transform the public transport network into a vibrant, state-of-the-art, sustainable system providing faster, cleaner, more frequent and more efficient services to the public. DTEI signed the Managing Contractor agreement with Baulderstone in December 2008 to relocate the precinct from North Terrace to Dry Creek. Baulderstone established the site in April 2009 and has overseen the construction of eight major buildings, a network of eight kilometres of track within the depot and further connections to the Adelaide to Gawler line along with extensive civil works required of a depot of this size. Baulderstone General Manager Michael Harper says the project has required close collaboration between DTEI personnel and his team. “This project has many complex elements and it was important for everyone to work side by side, from Glyn and Chris Plumb (Baulderstone’s Manager, Engineering) through to trade contractors
managing contractor : Baulderstone (SA) developer/client : Department for Transport, Energy & Infrastructure project manager : Neill Dunlop completion : December 2010 project end value : $157 Million
BAULDERSTONE Level 14, 431 King William Street Adelaide SA 5000 t. 08 8202 8888 f. 08 8202 8999
dry creek railcar depot 208 SA PROJECT FEATURE DRY CREEK RAILCAR DEPOT
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and designers including SKM and Grieve Gillett.” A new signalling system to facilitate exit and entry to the depot and safe passage of through-trains running between Adelaide and Gawler is also required.
environmentally sustainable as possible. For example, the City of Salisbury’s recycled water and aquifer storage will provide much of the site’s water, including for the washing of trains and watering of landscaped areas.
Seven kilometres of the depot trackwork is ballasted and one and half kilometres is slabtrack or assemblies on elevated steel columns inside workshop buildings. Railway systems around Australia have contrasted from state to state since before Federation utilising either broad or standard gauge track. The turnouts installed in the depot will cater for any future changes in gauge and can be converted from broad to standard gauge.
One of the high-tech features of the Dry Creek facility is the installation of a safe working system. In all, five buildings will be interconnected through dedicated systems designed to protect people working there. This will keep them safe from moving trains, maintenance equipment and high voltage.
When commissioned, the Dry Creek Railcar Depot will have the capacity to stable up to 70 railcars. There is an automated railcar washing facility, an interior cleaning platform and a roof and bogie wash building. The maintenance facility is set on an 8000 square metre section of the site and houses railcar workshops, pits and training lifting machinery. Refuelling and eco-friendly waste disposal facilities have also been installed on the site. The team recognised that an important aspect of the overall design of the depot was that ecological consideration and opportunities be as
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The system will prevent the movement of trains and other hazards where a predetermined risk may be present. Administration offices are attached and there is a new purpose-built base for operations personnel. In addition to the buildings and trackwork, the whole site has been drained landscaped and lit for night-time security. Baulderstone has a long history in major civil engineering and building projects. This experience has contributed to the successful construction of a key piece of infrastructure in the upgrade of South Australia’s public transport system.
SA PROJECT FEATURE DRY CREEK RAILCAR DEPOT 209
Transfield on track at Dry Creek
T
ransfield Services Ltd is an Australian-based service provider that undertakes a wide range of state-of-the-art services for a diverse range of clients across the world. The Company was originally part of the Transfield Group, which began in 1956 as Transfield Holdings. Founding Chairman Dr. Franco Belgiorno-Nettis (1915 – 2006) fostered a culture based on the highest standards of health and safety, commitment to integrity and motivating employees to strive for excellence. The strength of the business is founded on industry know-how, geographic diversity and the strength and quality of client relationships. This strong foundation combined with the value delivered by its people and a continually improving safety record, puts Transfield Services in an enviable position for future growth. Transfield Services’ Rail Division is a key contractor in TransAdelaide’s Rail Car Depot relocation from North Terrace
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to Dry Creek on the main Adelaide to Gawler rail corridor. They were awarded the contract in October 2009 following which a Project Manager a Project Coordinator, Graduate Engineers, skilled operators and experienced trackworkers were assigned. The planning phase is well behind them now and Transfield teams are currently completing the installation of trackwork and initiating the commissioning of the facility. The construction phase is (at the time of writing), on schedule to meet the commencement of the first stage of commissioning on the 14th August 2010. Final commissioning and handback to DTEI is planned for mid September 2010. Transfield Services are installing the track and sidings for the entire project. Within the scope of work in the contract, they have manufactured 21 of the total 37 turnouts, (these are unique as they are gauge convertible from broad to standard gauge). Seven kilometres of the trackwork is ballasted and 300 metres is slabtrack. 600 metres of rail is elevated on steel columns inside the workshop buildings.
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The complexity of the work and the site’s location has presented challenges. In particular, where tasks needed to be undertaken in confined areas, collaboration between multi-disciplined contractors and TSL was essential. So the TSL team were mindful of the importance of sharing limited work space while ensuring that critical milestones were achieved for the duration of the project. These access limitations also heightened awareness that exemplary OHS standards were essential. During construction, while keeping to strict tight schedules, there have been no LTi,s to date. As is standard practice in TSL, a pro-active approach was taken to the longer term issues that would ensure a permanent safe-working environment. From experience gained on earlier DTEI projects, such as the Adelaide Yard re-timbering, the Port Adelaide Viaduct Upgrade and Panel contract works, best practices and good working relationships have ensured smooth progress. Regular and accurate reporting to stakeholders avoided any potential element of surprise. Transfield Rail’s project management office worked with the whole Dry
Creek delivery team to implement a new process for reporting and controlling project finances and tracking progress of the project as a whole. The system supports the link between estimates and scheduling, providing predictive information for greater efficiency. In the wider picture, Transfield Services Rail Division continues to extend existing maintenance contracts and win new construction works with long term clients. Currently, Australia-wide, the rail division provides services for more than 4,700 kilometres of track and other civil infrastructure assets. The company has experience working in Alliances, Joint Ventures and Partnerships and over the years has variously undertaken work as principle contractor or sub-contractor. Set by their founder in1956, the safety of Transfield Services people is a core value. They strive to achieve the objective of ‘no injuries to anyone, anytime’, and plan to continue to develop their ethics and compliance culture to meet the challenges of the increasing world-wide diversity of the business.
TRANSFIELD SERVICES PO Box 99964 Auckland NZ t. 0011 64 9 523 9908 f. 0011 64 9 523 9999 www.transfieldservices.co.nz
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Dry Creek Railcar Depot, SA
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Leed Engineering and Construction - in front with micro-tunneling technology
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eed Engineering and Construction have been involved in recent South Australian projects like the Adelaide Desalination Plant, the Glenelg to Adelaide Recycled Water Pipeline and construction of a pipeline to replace the existing Torrens Aqueduct in Hope Valley. A project almost at commissioning stage is the Dry Creek Railcar Depot relocation. Leed’s Project Manager was co-opted in the Dry Creek design phase by Baulderstone, the main contractor, to assist with further development of the original plan. This was useful due to relevant experience Leed had recently had on a previous job, working with some of the same stakeholders. Over the past seven months, Leed has been delivering works involving the construction of four micro-tunnel bores of 1.0m diameter, for the installation of 4 runs of outfall storm water pipe. These will carry flows from the new railcar depot directly into the Salisbury Wetlands. Leed had previously undertaken drills under Greenhill Road and the rail lines at Keswick next to the Anzac Highway, as part of the Glenelg to 214 SA PROJECT FEATURE DRY CREEK RAILCAR DEPOT
Adelaide Pipeline project. This shot was 164m with no interruption or speed restrictions applied to rail operations or to Greenhill Road. Much of what was learned on this project was subsequently applied at Dry Creek. The Dry Creek project involved four micro tunnel bores run parallel with a separation of 1.5m. They lie under approximately 1.5m of cover. All bores were constructed to design gradients with final works completed to a tolerance of 10mm. The micro tunnel works were carried out underneath 6 active rail lines. One of these lines carries the mighty Ghan into and out of Adelaide. Due to the proximity of operations to the rail line and associated safety issues, a 960mm steel pipe was launched immediately behind the drill head to negate any possibility of tunnel collapse which might otherwise cause damage or delay to the rail network. Each tunnel extended 134metres and was installed as one continuous bore with the steel pipe being installed no more than 0.5m behind the drill head. This was the first project completed in South Australia to employ a micro tunnel extraction with direct jacking of steel casing pipe completed simultaneously. AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
Due to the need to drill on a positive grade, it was necessary to base the drilling operations within the Salisbury Wetlands. Issues of ground water discharge meant that all water had to be passed through a purpose-built weir box to catch the sediment. High ground water levels and possible collapsible soils meant that the drill plant needed to be positioned within a large excavated area 13m x 13m, the whole of which needed to be sheet piled with well-point dewatering around the perimeter.
The micro-tunnel plant and crew were deployed out of the Victorian branch of Leed, and the pipe-laying and civil construction crew were drawn from the South Australian branch. As a result of experience gained at Keswick and at Dry Creek, the Leed team now has expertise that can offer micro-tunneling as an option to upgrade large diameter underground infrastructure without disruption to surface traffic.
Once the continuous bore had been completed, a 750mm glassreinforced sleeve was pushed through the steel pipe to carry future storm water flows. As part of the of the storm-water drainage design, Leed constructed 700 metres of 2400 x 900 box culvert including in-situ concrete junction pits linking the new box culvert to the 4 runs of the microtunnel. One junction pit 9m x 3m had to be pre-cast and craned into position due to the close proximity of active rail lines. This work was completed over a two day period and had to be undertaken between scheduled rail movements. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
Leed Engineering and Construction Pty Ltd 95 King William Street Kent Town SA 5067 t. 08 8132 1044 f. 02 8132 1615 www.leed.net.au SA PROJECT FEATURE DRY CREEK RAILCAR DEPOT 215
Safety-wise Rail Depot Automation
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AGE Automation is well on schedule installing a safe working system at the Dry Creek Railcar Depot in Adelaide.
Their role has been to design and install a state of the art safety system for the rail-traffic areas of the site. In all, five buildings will be interconnected through several dedicated systems. The systems are designed to protect people working there, keeping them safe from moving trains, maintenance equipment and high voltage. The systems will also protect assets like cranes, doors, gedi jacks, derailers and train lifters by disallowing trains from moving where a pre-determined risk may be present. SAGE has a long list of unique safety systems design and build projects behind them, such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge maintenance gantry which travels under the main deck of the structure. Tunnel safety systems by SAGE have been installed in Adelaide’s Heysen Tunnel, and the Tugan Tunnel in Queensland. Their contracted part of the work at Dry Creek, has to be delivered in a tight window, so SAGE has allocated 5 Engineers and 14 other experienced project staff to get the job done. 216 SA PROJECT FEATURE DRY CREEK RAILCAR DEPOT
SAGE is the only Australian Company accredited by the Control Systems Integration Association. (CSIA) This body sets the worldwide benchmark for excellence in the field. So integration is a key concept that SAGE applies to its projects. They constantly watch worldwide for new hardware and software elements, that can be integrated into whole systems. These have to meet the high standards required for their uniquely designed, automated control systems. For example, Allen Bradley Programmable Guardlogix Controllers made by Rockwell Automation are central to the Dry Creek safety system. SAGE was founded in 1994 by current Managing Director Andrew Downs. The company has grown quickly having been recognised for excellence in their niche area of expertise. They have achieved a fifty million dollar annual turnover in just 16 years, having 250 employees and a national presence with seven offices around Australia. Sage Automation 34 Bennet Avenue Melrose Park SA 5039 t. 08 8276 0814 f. 08 8276 0799 www.gotosage.com AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
Turnouts, Switches, points And crossings
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AE Railway Systems Pty Ltd (Australia) were commissioned to provide turnouts and associated high technology rail-line devices for the 11 kms of trackwork specified for Adelaide's new Dry Creek Railcar Depot. With origins in 1955 as a family foundry business, in 1990 the company became part of the world-wide VAE Group. With their Head Office in Austria, the Group now has more than 40 manufacturing locations and subsidiaries in 18 countries worldwide. They specialise in the intricacy of railway trackwork but on a broad scale of applications from international high speed main lines, high axle-load mining corridors and suburban systems, to sugar-train and other light-rail networks. Every third turnout worldwide is supplied by the VAE Group. ‘Turnouts’ are often called ‘points’, ‘switches’ or ‘crossings’... devices which facilitate a train’s transfer from one track to another. VAE’s expertise in the application and manufacture of these elements in railcar/track transfers is leading edge. They have supplied the key elements to equip the new depot with safe and easy to manage track crossing systems, that are ‘key’ to the operation of any modern railcar handling facility. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
VAERS assigned 20 skilled engineers and other personnel to the Dry Creek Railcar Depot project. They have made a particular contribution in the provision of a new type of turnout which has not previously been used in South Australia. Each turnout will have hi-tech ‘Spherolocks' attached. These special locking systems automatically lock the turnout in the safe position for the next train scheduled to change tracks at that place. The design of the 'Spherolock' guarantees that no lock-releasing forces can occur due to uncontrolled movements of the switch or the point of the crossing. Spherical lock and hydraulic setting systems reduce maintenance costs as they are completely encapsulated and have no outside movable parts which would otherwise require regular lubrication.
vae railway systems 33 Mclennan Street Mackay QLD 4740 t. 07 4944 5218 www.vae.com.au SA PROJECT FEATURE DRY CREEK RAILCAR DEPOT 217
Signalling a new era in Adelaide rail movements
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ork has begun on the biggest upgrade in the Adelaide rail network's history. A section of the main Adelaide/Gawler line, will be closed for 13 weeks to facilitate the major upgrade. Baulderstone (the main contractor), has commissioned O’Donnell Griffin’s South Australian branch to undertake installation, testing and commissioning of the new signalling system for the Dry Creek Railcar Depot Relocation Project. During the main line closure, O’Donnell Griffin will install new signalling to facilitate three safe exit and entry points to the depot. An Invensys Westrace Computer Based Interlocking System will control main line signalling prior to the turnouts. It will interface with two additional Westrace interlockings controlling the rail network within the depot as well as at existing Central Train Control located next to the Adelaide railway station. To indicate the scope of the depot layout, O’Donnell Griffin will install thirty-five motorised point units, fourteen Derailer/Crowders, ten hand operated point mechanisms, forty new elevated shunt signals and around eighty DC Track circuits. On the Main Line, the introduction of two new crossovers, an additional passing loop and three depot entrance/exit points calls for the addition of ten new point machines, 218 SA PROJECT FEATURE DRY CREEK RAILCAR DEPOT
twenty new and/or altered signals and amendments to the existing TI track circuits. All of the many daily railcar movements that will take place when the depot is fully operational, will have been made safe and efficient with systems commissioned by O’Donnell Griffin. O’Donnell Griffin has been at the forefront of many major signalling upgrades carried out around Australia over the past 25 years and has built a reputation as one of the leading technology independent specialist contractors within the rail industry. The company has developed an excellent reputation for delivering high quality project outcomes. With innovative construction, thorough test and commissioning teams, focused engineering and disciplined project management, culminating in project delivery, O’Donnell Griffin continually exceeds project requirements and expectations.
O'Donnell Griffin Level 5, 50 Berry Street North Sydney NSW 2060 t. 1300 100 634 e. info@odg.com.au www.odg.com.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
Dry Creek Railcar Depot, SA
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beachside l eighton Main Construction Company : Mirvac Architects : Mirvac Design Kerry Hill Architects spaceagency Engineer Structural : Wood & Grieve Project end Value : $500 million Completion : Late 2010 Surveyor : Guidice Surveyors Location : Leighton Beach
Look at the BEACHSIDE of life
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irvac’s $500 million Beachside Leighton is poised to set a new eco-benchmark in construction and development, and has already been recognised for its sustainable features, awarded the 2008 HIA LandCorp GreenSmart Award and achieved an average seven-star rating under NatHERS (Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme), exceeding the Building Code Requirement of only four stars.
hotel developments, and currently has approximately 31,000 lots under its control that will be progressively developed over the next 8 to 10 years.
Its groundbreaking environmental inclusions range from energy and water efficiency initiatives to materials, construction waste management and community building strategies to encourage public transport use, walking and cycling. The company has incorporated measures such as intelligent shading, ceiling fans, rainwater harvesting and floor plans that facilitate natural cross ventilation to ensure that not only are residents comfortable in luxurious surroundings, but the environment is also taken care of.
The groundbreaking architecture of Beachside Leighton is the result of a special collaboration between Mirvac's own multi-awarded Mirvac Design team and two widely renowned architectural visionaries acclaimed architects Kerry Hill of Kerry Hill Architects and Michael Patroni of spaceagency. Mirvac WA chief executive officer Evan Campbell said Beachside Leighton would be like nothing developed in the area to date.
Mirvac is one of the leading brands in the Australian residential market and has a proven track record of delivering innovative and quality products that exceed customer's expectations.
Established in 1972, Mirvac has more than 38 years experience in the real estate industry and has an unmatched reputation for delivering quality products across all of its businesses.
“Beachside Leighton has been inspired both by its beachside location and its position near Fremantle’s iconic North Wharf, and strikes a balance between cutting-edge contemporary design and timeless appeal,” he said.
Mirvac's Development Division manages projects across Australia including large scale residential, commercial, retail, industrial and
“Each apartment will be developed to best take advantage of the stunning Indian Ocean views and, with the project largely attracting
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the owner-occupier market, luxury and liveability are also key factors of the design. “Our vision for Beachside Leighton, along with setting a new benchmark for quality apartment developments, is to create a vibrant meeting place for the whole community, through our ground-floor retail and dining precinct.” The site has been a hive of activity from the outset with approximately 100 workers employed each day to carry out construction work. The workforce peaked in the second half of 2009 with around 180 workers on site each day as the first phase of the project got underway. Stage one which will be completed by the end of 2010 will feature 48 premium residential apartments, 12 luxury penthouses and seven terrace residences. These terraces are over four storeys and feature a private lift, internal court yard which opens to the sky and luxury detailing. The apartments and penthouses in stage one were released to the market in December 2007 achieving sales between $1.4 million and $8.95 million. The terraces will be sold on completion later this year. Mirvac has also been working with the State Government and Fremantle Surf Life Saving Club, situated adjacent to Beachside WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
Leighton, on redevelopment plans for its club house. Designs have been completed and the 12 month construction program is expected to start on the new facility in late 2010 subject to relevant approvals. “It is exciting to see the project continuing to evolve, allowing purchasers to see their new apartment taking shape,” Mr Campbell said. “We have a considerable number of construction workers employed on-site and when work starts on the adjacent Fremantle Surf Life Saving Club and foreshore, the whole precinct will be bustling with activity.” When Beachside Leighton is complete it will feature a mix of apartments, penthouses, terrace residences, a boutique hotel and vibrant retail and dining precinct.
MIRVAC Level 3, 502 Hay Street Subiaco WA 6008 t. 08 94249900 f. 08 9424 9933 www.mirvac.com WA PROJECT FEATURE beachside leighton 221
POURING WITH solutions
H
anson Construction Materials and Mirvac Western Australia have had a long association and Beachside Leighton is the latest in a string of successful partnerships the companies have enjoyed. 'Hanson Construction Materials has been supplying concrete and aggregates in Australia for more than 50 years. With a range of premium concrete solutions for commercial, industrial and residential applications, Hanson is also a leader in decorative concrete finishes with its Imagecrete decorative concrete range. Hanson is one of Australia's largest suppliers of pre-mixed concrete, precast concrete products, quarry materials and sand. Moreover, as part of the Heidelberg Cement Group, it is one of the world's manufacturers of cement. Hanson's experience on other Mirvac (WA) projects, including the Burswood Peninsula development, the Point at Mandurah and the Quay West Bunker Bay Resort, ensured that all Hanson staff, from delivery drivers to sales and operational staff understood the exacting standards required by Mirvac on the Beachside Leighton development. With its groundbreaking environmental aspects, the Beachside Leighton project also required Hanson to explore and provide some of the
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most cutting edge concrete products to ensure the sustainability of the project was maintained. The company already offers customers a range of specially-formulated concrete mixes that contain a reduced, specified percentage of cement, which is then substituted with waste materials including slag; a by-product of steel manufacture and fly-ash; a by-product of coal combustion. These products satisfy all Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) Green Star rating system requirements and can add between one and three Green Points to any project. By staying at the forefront of recycling and waste management technology, Hanson has already supplied construction materials for some of Australia’s largest Green Star projects with experience across several industry sectors.
HANSON CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS Pty Ltd 123 Burswood Road Victoria Park WA 6100 t. 08 9311 8811 f. 08 9472 3126 www.hanson.com.au
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KEEPING THE BEACHSIDE GREEN W ith nearly 40 years experience in engineering consultancy, Wood & Grieve was the perfect choice to help make the Beachside Leighton project the environmental showpiece it has become. The company was engaged to provide ESD advice to Mirvac’s design team on the implementation of sustainable features in keeping with the high benchmark set for the development. The project's sustainability initiatives including rainwater harvesting and high water efficiency, was recognized at the WA HIA-Landcorp Green Smart Awards in 2008. One of the challenges that faced Wood & Grieve was coming up with an equivalent BASIX standard for WA conditions as at the time of construction, only NSW had an approved government sustainability rating standard. Part of the Wood & Grieve’s work was to adapt the NSW tool for WA weather and population demographics.
The energy efficiency of the development was assessed in accordance with the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme which is concerned with the efficiency of the façade and access to cross ventilation. The Beachside Leighton dwellings have achieved an average rating of 6.5 stars against this scheme which represents a 33 per cent improvement over the minimum building code. Wood & Grieve Engineers lead the collaborative integration of sustainability into all facets of the design and construction which was a major step forward in comparison to a standard development. With offices in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Albany, Busselton, Shenzhen, and more than 300 employees Wood & Grieve has grown to one of Australia’s most trusted and respected multi-disciplinary engineering firms providing services in civil, electrical, ESD, fire, hydraulic, lifts, mechanical, acoustics, structural and underground power. WOOD & GRIEVE L3 Hyatt Centre, 3 Plain Street East Perth WA 6004 P: 08 6222 7000 F: 08 6222 7100 www.wge.com.au
moving brick's for fifty years E
xperience and commitment are the hallmarks of Butko Transport which over the past 50 years has become one of Western Australia’s premier brick delivery companies. On the Beachside Leighton project, the company delivered more than 200,000 bricks using a fleet of eight trucks – all on time and without delay.
In 1967 the first truck to have a hiab fit was added and more recently a telehandler, for sites with limited access was also added to Butko Transport’s expanding fleet. Over the years Butko Transport has upgraded its vehicles to carry a larger capacity rather than adding more to the fleet, with latest addition being a bobcat telehander.
Butko Transport dates back to the 1960s when the founder, Denis Butko, commenced operations in Perth, Western Australia as D & G Butko. Back then deliveries were carried out with a single axle tipper and bricks were loose and had to be manually loaded and unloaded. Now loads are strapped packs and the single-axle tippers have been replaced with tractors and trailers.
Butko Transport is a Western Australian Heavy Vehicle accredited transport operator with Fatigue Management and Maintenance Management Policies in place. All employees have completed F1 training in Occupational Health and Safety.
Butko Transport 6 Canham Way Greenwood WA 6024 t. 08 9342 4111 f. 08 9342 5199 www.butkotransport.com.au
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Complete concrete structural services to the building industry
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rown Construction is one of the leading concrete services companies in Western Australia, specialising in complete building and infrastructure services. With a highly experienced and committed management and supervision team, the company has built an impressive record of successful contracts and established an enviable reputation for completing projects on time, with maximum efficiency, and within budget. Crown can provide all concrete structural services, from simple tilt-up type projects to complex civil bridge structures, encapsulated waterproof basement projects and high-rise construction. The team has over 30 years experience and utilises the latest cutting edge formwork and core systems from around the world.
CROWN CONSTRUCTION SERVICES Pty Ltd Suite 2, 17 Drake Street Osborne Park WA 6017 t. 08 9443 9711 f. 08 9443 9411 WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
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CONSTRUCTION
JOKES JOKES JOKES JOKES JOKES JOKES JOKES
Once apon a time, there were three little pigs, and they all built houses. The first little pig built his house of straw, the second of sticks and the third of bricks. Along came a notoriously unpleasant public official. “Hey! You can’t build that here, it’s an affront to the building code,” he said to the first little pig. “I’ll blow your house down before you can say DA declined.” “Stop right there,” said the pig, “It’s not a house, per se, it’s a temporary edible shade
The officious body darkened the doorway of the second little pig. “Hey you, this house does not meet the code, I’ll blow it down before you can say unfit for occupancy.” “Stop right there,” said the pig. “This isn’t a house, it’s free political expression.” And he added a ‘save our forests banner’ and chained himself to a roof beam.
The big bad bureaucrat stomped over to the third pig’s house. The owner-builder greeted him pleasantly. “OK, where’s your permits and paper work?” asked the official. “I don’t have any,” said the pig, “now bugger off. You’ll just look silly issuing me a fine, this isn’t a house, it’s an ultralight pilot training facility.” “Where are the planes then?” asked the official. “Planes? What would we want them for? You should know that pigs can’t fly.”
OLD CONCRETERS NEVER DIE, THEY JUST GET SET IN THEIR WAYS Three plasterers from different companies all happened to be drinking at the same pub one day. One was from Sydney, one was from Wollongong, and one was from Texas, QLD. The barman asked them what they did, and when he heard, said, “Hey, we need a wall of the amenities re-done, do youse want to come out the back and do a quote?” So, off they went to have a look.
CONSTRUCTION
First to bring out the notebook and pencil was the Sydney bloke, "Well, I figure the job will run to about $2000. $900 for materials, $900 for labour, and $200 profit for me." Next was the Wollongong bloke, he did some maths and said, “I reckon I can do this job for $1800. $800 for materials, $800 for labour, and $200 profit for me."
The Texas bloke didn’t even look at the wall, he just said “$3,800”. The barman raised an eyebrow and said, "You didn't even look at the wall, how’d you come up with such a high figure?" "Easy," he said. "$1,000 for me, $1,000 for you and we hire the guy from Wollongong."
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shelter, and there’s no regulations about them” and to prove his point he munched on the wall.
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