CONSTRUCTION AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL
MAJOR PROJECT REVIEW
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ALSO INSIDE: PORT BOTANY EXPANSION Baulderstone SMART INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITY Cockram Construction BLOWERING DAM Macmahon Contractors NORTH WEST GROWTH CENTRE Sydney Water AVOCA DRIVE UPGRADE Seymour Whyte MYER REDEVELOPMENT Probuild BARWON HEADS BRIDGE McConnell Dowell MELBOURNE AIRPORT STAGE 2 Melbourne Airport PARTNERSHIPS VIC Abigroup LAVERTON RAIL UPGRADE John Holland AUTOMOTIVE CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE Probuild HILTON SURFERS PARADISE Brookfield Multiplex LAVARACK BARRACKS Thiess, Coffey Projects & Dept. of Defence BOATHOUSE APARTMENTS Hutchinson Builders & Meridien PINDARA PRIVATE HOSPITAL ADCO Constructions GOLD COAST HIGHWAY Seymour Whyte PIER AT WATERFRONT NEWSTEAD Mirvac EDUCATION WORKS NEW SCHOOLS PPP Hansen Yuncken IFOULD APARTMENTS Tagara Group & Housing SA MANDURAH ENTRANCE ROAD Southern Gateway Alliance PORT HEDLAND UTAH POINT Port Hedland Port Authority HEDLAND HEALTH CENTRE Doric ROSEBERY SCHOOLS Dept. of Construction & Infrastructure AMBASSADOR APARTMENTS Space Developments GUNGAHLIN COLLEGE ACT Department of Education & Training MUSEUM OF OLD & NEW ART Hansen Yuncken
“OUR GUYS ARE PROTECTED AT EVERY STEP.”
Dry Creek Railcar Depot, Maintenance Facility, S.A. Installed by Correct Safety.
The launch of Raptor™ cements Sayfa’s respected position in the Height Safety market. Raptor™ delivers uncompromised safety and freedom of movement for multiple users by providing continuous overhead fall protection above work areas or building façades. > Modular design saves up to 50% install time and costs > Uninterrupted, smooth functionality and movement for all operators > Reduced maintenance, downtime and easily retrofitted to existing structure
CALL / 1300 301 755
WEB / www.sayfa.com.au/raptor
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL
CONSTRUCTION MAJOR PROJECT REVIEW
PUBLISHER K.M. Hanson SALES MANAGER Phil Reynolds GRAPHIC ARTISTS Peta Brunell, Nick Barth, Charlotte McLaren SALES Rob Carroll, Kendall Hill-Smith, Holly Mills, Kate Mondy, Chris Randles, Jessica Jones, Pat Sutherland, Lauren Wharton BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Sarah Giles ADMINISTRATION Jenny Bow, Lauren Thone-Kain, Rebecca Achelles
CONTENTS COVER IMAGE Brookfield Multiplex's, Hilton Surfers Paradise, Page 148 Image by Lewis Krebs
DISTRIBUTION Gordon & Gotch PUBLISHED BY Trade Media Group Pty Ltd ACN 118312404 t. 02 4322 1200 f. 02 4322 1400 www.ancr.com.au www.trademediagroup.com.au WRITERS Willow Aliento, Kylie Bishop, Keeli Cambourne, Prue Clark, Lyndall Lee Arnold, John Davies, Christine Paul, Luke Kepreotis, Adrian Payne, Harriet Stone, Marie-Laure Bouchet, Rowena Robertson PHOTOGRAPHERS Mike Chorley, Lewis Krebs, Michael Embelton, Alan Roberts, Rod Vella, Amy Brabin, Paul Hotchkin, Achim Drescher, Adrianne Miller, Jeff Fogarty, Robin Gauld, John Tucker, Leigh Dawson, Dean Bateup, Arthur Mostead, Alastair Bett, Toby Kroner, Bryan Morgan, Di Drew, Jose Figlioli COPYRIGHT All material in this publication is copyrighted to the publisher and/or its advertisers and contributors. No material or portion of this publication may be reproduced in whole or part without the express written permission of the publisher. DISCLAIMER The Australian National Construction Major Project Review and the publisher reserve the right to alter or omit any advertisement editorial or advertorial. Advertisers and/or their representatives indemnify the Australian National Construction Major Project Review and the publisher in relation to defamation slander breach of copyright infringements of trademarks of name of publication titles unfair competitor or trade practices royalties or violation of rights and privacy and warrant that their material complies with all the relevant laws and regulations and that its publication will not give rise to any rights against or liabilities against the Australian National Construction Major Project Review its publisher its servants or agents. The Australian National Construction Major Project Review and the publisher are not liable for inaccuracy in any advertisement or editorial and do not accept responsibility for any claims made by advertisers. Any material supplied to the Australian National Construction Major Project Review or the publisher are at the contributors risk. No responsibility will be taken by the Australian National Construction Major Project Review its publisher its servants or agents. Opinions published in The Australian National Construction Major Project Review are not necessarily those of the publisher or staff of The Australian National Construction Major Project Review. The Australian National Construction Major Project Review is not related to any other publication.
Port Botany Expansion NSW - Page 50 Image courtesy of Sydney Ports Corporation
NEWS ARCHITECTURE NEWS ENGINEERING NEWS
.08 .14 .16
FE ATURES
C.E.O INTERVIEW - George Allingame - Pindan Constructions .20 ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE .22 SPECIAL FOCUS .24 SPECIAL FEATURE - Celebrating 150 years .98 SPECIAL FEATURE - Civil construction outlook positive - but challenges remain .182
PROJECTS • NSW
PORT BOTANY EXPANSION - Baulderstone SMART INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITY - Cockram Construction BLOWERING DAM - Macmahon Contractors NORTH WEST GROWTH CENTRE - Sydney Water AVOCA DRIVE UPGRADE - Seymour Whyte
• VIC
MYER REDEVELOPMENT - Probuild BARWON HEADS BRIDGE - McConnell Dowell MELBOURNE AIRPORT STAGE 2 - Melbourne Airpor t PARTNERSHIPS VIC - Abigroup LAVERTON RAIL UPGRADE - John Holland AUTOMOTIVE CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE - Probuild
.50 .72 .76 .84 .92 .100 .114 .120 .128 .138 .144
• Q L D
HILTON SURFERS PARADISE - Brookfield Multiplex .148 LAVARACK BARRACKS - Thiess, Coffey Projects & Department of Defence . 156 BOATHOUSE APARTMENTS - Hutchinson Builders & Meridien .160 PINDARA PRIVATE HOSPITAL - ADCO Constructions .164 GOLD COAST HIGHWAY - Seymour Whyte .170 PIER AT WATERFRONT NEWSTEAD - Mirvac .176
• SA
SA AQUATIC & LEISURE CENTRE & GP PLUS HEALTH CENTRE Candetti Constructions & SA Dept. of Transport, Energy & Infrastructure .184 EDUCATION WORKS NEW SCHOOLS PPP - Hansen Yuncken .192 IFOULD APARTMENTS - Tagara Group & Housing SA .200
MANDURAH ENTRANCE ROAD - Southern Gateway Alliance PORT HEDLAND UTAH POINT - Por t Hedland Por t Authority HEDLAND HEALTH CENTRE - DORIC
.204 .210 .214
• NT
ROSEBERY SCHOOLS - Depar tment of Construction & Infrastructure
.218
• ACT
AMBASSADOR APARTMENTS - Space Developments GUNGAHLIN COLLEGE - ACT Depar tment of Education & Training
.226 .230
• TAS
MUSEUM OF OLD & NEW ART - Hansen Yuncken
.232
• WA
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CONSTRUCTION
10th Australian Sustainablity Awards The Australian Sustainability Awards, now in their tenth year, recognise best practice in corporate sustainability across Australian companies. To celebrate a decade of progress in responsible business and investment, Ethical Investor presented a special award, Sustainable Company of the Decade, to Lend Lease. Greens leader Senator Bob Brown, who gave the keynote speech on Tasmania’s forests, presented the Ethical Investor’s Champion of the Decade Award - celebrating 10 years dedicated to Australia’s responsible investment scene – to Erik Mather, managing director, Regnan.
business, and its governance combines a balance between stakeholder interest and financial strength.
CORPORATE AWARDS Sustainable Company of the Year (sponsored by GPT Group) – CSL Ltd The judges noted that CSL, which researches, develops, manufactures and markets products to treat and prevent serious human medical conditions, is leading it’s sector on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, is strategically supports sustainability and made solid progress in its sustainability reporting.
DECADE AWARDS To mark these our 10th awards, two very special decade awards were presented – one for an organisation or company and another for a champion, who have made a special, concerted and memorable impact on our local corporate responsibility or responsible investment scene.
Community support in 2010 was valued at $26 million and is intelligently aligned with it’s business activities. Sustainable Small Company of the Year (sponsored by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia) - mecu This year’s winner, credit union mecu, is a well-established leader in responsible investment with an ethical policy covering all its assets. It thoughtfully supports disadvantaged groups, its environmental programs relate back to the core
Other corporate awards are: Environment (sponsored by Energetics) - Investa Property Group Social-Community (sponsored by Kingsgate Consolidated) - Transfield Services Corporate Governance (sponsored by ING Investment Management) - ASX Group Sustainable Infrastructure (sponsored by Evans & Peck) - CBD Energy
Sustainable Company of the Decade (sponsored by GPT Group) – Lend Lease Lend Lease kicked off in 2000 as an earlystarter in community support and employee volunteering, a woman as chair and played a key role in making the Sydney Olympics the green games. In 2004 it completed The Bond, Australia’s first CBD green building. The company also won the award SocialCommunity in 2008 for its design (with GPT) of the New Rouse Hill community development. And it was recognised in Davos as one of the Global 100 most sustainable companies.
LEND LEASE ANNOUNCED AS DEVELOPER PARTNER FOR GOSFORD LANDING PROJECT With the announcement of Lend Lease as the “preferred proponent” work could start in less than a year on the multimillion-dollar revitalisation of the Gosford waterfront, a key state project for the Land & Property Management Authority (LPMA). Gosford is the regional centre of the NSW Central Coast, situated 50KM north of the Sydney CBD. The Central Coast Regional Development Corporation, which was formed in 2010 and which will manage the LPMA, made 8
ANCR CONSTRUCTION NEWS
the decision that Lend Lease would partner Gosford Council and the State Government in the revamp. Lend Lease was one of five developers which lodged submissions in response to the NSW Government’s request for proposals. Whilst the project is yet to be fully defined in terms of outcomes and deliverables, prospective partners can judge the scale of the opportunity by the site size of 97.5 ha of land and seabed, the anticipated value in excess
Erik Mather, Ethical Investor Champion of the Decade (right) with Paddy Manning, founder and former editor of Ethical Investor. The Ethical Investor Champion of the Decade is Erik Mather, managing director, Regnan. FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY AWARDS Local Government Superannuation Scheme was awarded Sustainable Super Fund of the Year (sponsored by Bloomberg). The Ethical Investor Fund of the Year, as judged by Lonsec (sponsored by the Australian Small Scale Offerings Board), is the Perpetual Wholesale Ethical SRI Fund. The Award for Sustainability Research (sponsored by UniSuper) goes to Anna Skarbek and team, ClimateWorks Australia.
of $1billion and the anticipated build-out timeframe in the region of 20 years. The waterfront redevelopment is part of five designated precincts of the Gosford City Centre Masterplan. The plan allows for continuous public access to the waterfront which will house retail, entertainment, offices and new waterfront apartments all designed to create a vibrant and safe environment for all of Gosford. Buildings will be organised to minimise view loss from the city and a new public square that can host events will be located on the water. Direct access to the water will be allowed at controlled locations with an emphasis on any development maintaining or enhancing the natural environment.
comment DELIVERING UNPRECEDENTED FREEDOM & SAFETY AT Sa’S NEW RAILCAR DEPOT South Australia’s recently completed Dry Creek Railcar Depot has a capacity to stable up to 70 railcars. The maintenance facility houses railcar workshops, pits and lifting machinery where more than 50 operators undertake servicing and maintenance activities. Sayfa Systems was selected to provide its uniquely designed proprietary Raptor™ Overhead Rail fall arrest system which offers continuous fall protection for multiple users. Raptor provides freedom of movement, due to its uninterrupted smooth functionality, whilst accessing railcar roofs for maintenance. Compared to restrictive static line systems, Raptor’s rigid rail system provides a Maintenance personnel enjoy complete safety and freedom offered by the 810 metres of Raptor overhead rail system at the Dry Creek Maintenance Facility.
high level of safety due to minimum rail deflection in a fall situation, resulting in the operator having less chance of injury in the case of a fall on to protruding objects or railcar surfaces.
By Dr Keith Hampson CEO Sustainable Built Environment National Research Centre
Dry Creek’s main facility shed has six rails, each 88 metres in length used by 36 maintenance operators; the undercarriage and roof wash shed has two lines, running 79 metres each; the diesel maintenance facility carries two lines, 48 metres in length each.
A safer construction industry
Raptor was identified as the optimal solution for the Railcar Depot. The modular componentry results in a simple, swift and trouble free installation process. Its unique design allowed installation lead times to be reduced from six to two weeks, resulting in immediate system availability of the 810 metres of the overhead rail system.
The Sustainable Built Environment National Research Centre (SBEnrc), together with lead industry partner John Holland, is conducting research into safety with a two-year study into the safety impacts of alcohol and other drugs in the construction industry. The ultimate aim of this project is to make construction sites safer by reducing the risk of impaired performance caused by drug and alcohol use.
Minimal maintenance of the rail system was a further attraction. Due to Raptor’s minimal moving parts and simple trolley system, maintenance is only required every 12 months. Raptor can be retrofitted to existing structures and can also be easily extended if required. For more information on Raptor: www.sayfa.com.au/raptor T: 1300 301 755
An artist's impression of the highly anticipated revitalisation of Gosford's waterfront.
Safety performance is a challenge for everyone in Australia’s construction industry. We have an obligation to ensure the safety of workers, the public, suppliers and other participants in the construction process.
In Australia, drugs and alcohol are estimated to be a factor in 25% of workplace accidents and 10% of workplace deaths across all industries. Anecdotally we know that construction workers are one of the highest at-risk industry groups, but the impact of drug and alcohol use has never been evaluated in the safety context for Australian infrastructure and building construction. The Safety Impacts of Alcohol and Other Drugs in Construction project will examine the extent of the problem on construction sites by undertaking a national audit of drug and alcohol consumption and behaviour, and developing an education and rehabilitation approach to dealing with the issue, in consultation with employers and employees across the country. The Steering Committee for the project is Chaired by Nick Stump, former CEO of MIM and a member of the John Holland Board with Project Leaders Associate Professor Bert Biggs from QUT (Research Project Leader) and Lea Slade, Regional Safety Manager, Northern Region, John Holland (Industry Project Leader). The Steering Committee also has representatives from the Australian Constructors Association, Austroads, the Office of the Federal Safety Commissioner, Engineers Australia, Australian continues page 12 ANCR CONSTRUCTION NEWS
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comment By Chou Lien Lighting Designer and President Brandston Partnership Inc.
Low carbon trend is lighting the way Better lighting choices for our commercial, residential and public spaces increasingly equate to leadership in energy and environmental design. More than just switching off the lights when they’re not needed, the ‘low carbon’ trend gathering pace will soon be dominating decision making on all new buildings, private and public spaces alike. It relates to making lighting decisions based on the entire carbon footprint of the lighting system throughout its lifespan. It also considers the lighting system in the context of the lighting environment and how to manipulate other aspects of the space to rely less on artificial lighting. One manifestation of this trend is the introduction of regulations such as the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certification system, already very important overseas, which Australians can also expect to see here in the coming years. It encourages building designers to use strategies to improve energy savings, reduce CO2 emissions, improve indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.
ACOUSTIC PANELS AID NOISE MITIGATION Peace Engineering, a Sydney based company which originally began in 1970 manufacturing mufflers in a small workshop is now a leader in large noise control projects. These projects include acoustic enclosures, custom built sound booths and auditorium doors, vibration & shock insulation and acoustic louvres - to name just a few. Recently Peace have combined with AGL Energy to develop acoustic panels known as Sound Barriers for AGL’s coal seam gas drilling operations. Drilling near residential areas often takes place all night and the panels are designed to greatly reduce noise pollution as well as being portable so they can be easily moved when necessary.
For anyone or works, studies or designs in lighting, you won’t want to miss this event. This will be Australia’s biggest display of lighting innovations, networking opportunities and lighting experiences, all under the one roof. Local and internationally recognised lighting experts will come together to showcase the latest in lighting technology and provide a glimpse into the future and trends in the lighting industry. There are also opportunities for industry players to network, engage and further their knowledge through a series of educational seminars with a range of keynote speakers focusing on topical lighting issues. SPARC coincides with Vivid Sydney, a festival of light, music and ideas. Bryan Douglas, CEO Lighting Council Australia, plays a major role in the organisation of the SPARC event and is extremely confident participants will be overwhelmed with the calibre of exhibitors that will be presenting at the lighting event alongside the stellar list of keynote speakers.
Client education is also a necessary step. Lighting
“We have watched similar events become very successful in Germany and the UK and we are confident stakeholders in the Australian lighting
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ANCR CONSTRUCTION NEWS
Attaching to standard concrete road barriers that sit on top of the ground the panels are easy to set up and can be dismantled and relocated just as easily utilizing a small crane, flat packed and moved. Whilst currently used in drilling operations the panels obviously have a wider application when it comes to reducing construction and industrial noise.
SPARC International Lighting Event
With stricter regulations comes the necessity for industrial engineers and lighting designers to be more sophisticated. Earlier consideration of the orientation and configuration of the building in the early stages with the thought of maximizing daylight use in the interiors needs to become more common. Affecting lighting choices should be things such as the colour of the walls, the building orientation and the source of the electricity. Many designers and space planners forget that walls absorb a great deal of light. Lighting designers often promote lighter-coloured walls, but also lower walls, or open plans whenever possible. This way of thinking needs to find its way into space planners’ considerations as well.
continues page 12
Peace Engineering’s Robert Mason said acoustic insulation was often seen as “a grudge purchase that companies invest in very reluctantly”. “We’ve found these panels have been eagerly accepted because they are easy to set up and actually boost productivity, allowing work to continue around the clock if need be,” he said. “Acoustic panels that can reduce the noise of a drilling rig need to be thick and solidly engineered structures.”
“Never before has the Australian lighting industry seen an event on this grand scale. It is a fantastic opportunity for anyone involved in the lighting industry on any level to attend and experience the latest developments and innovations in the industry or increase their knowledge and even further their career within the industry.”
industry will relish the chance to learn, experience and enjoy what is on offer”, Mr Douglas said. WHEN: 6th – 9th June 2011 WHERE: Metcalfe Park, Darling Island Warf and Doltone House’s two locations at Jones Bay Warf and Darling Island Warf CONTACT: www.sparcevent.org The Armani store in New York; a lighting project by SPARC Event keynote speaker, Mark Major.
CSR publishes advice on assessing flood damage for plasterboard, fibre cement, insulation & glass products The recent flooding across Queensland, Northern NSW and Western Victoria has caused loss of life and immense damage to properties. As people now start to assess the damage to their homes, CSR appreciates the situation they may be in. Understanding where to start in the rebuilding or reconstruction process can be difficult. Whether you are insured or not, there are some crucial safety factors you need to be aware of with flood damaged products. In order to assist the process, CSR has created a bulletin (attached) which aims to provide corrective measures and relevant information relating to building products which may have been affected - namely plasterboard, fibre cement, insulation and glass products. Highlights from Advice Bulletin Fibre Cement: For Fibre Cement (fibro), before any action, it needs to be assessed if the product contains asbestos. Any buildings constructed prior to 1987 may contain asbestos, although it is important to obtain a verification from an approved assessor. Removal of asbestos products can only be done by an authorised person using approved processes.
Contact your State building authorities for information on the removal of asbestos. Walls: Where flood water has risen up walls, it is important to drain any water from the cavities. Skirting boards need to be removed and holes drilled above the bottom plate, or if you have metal stud walls then they are removed by drilling through the channel at floor level. If water is present in the cavities then cut a hole which is large enough to drain the water. To ensure all water is completely drained, this process must be repeated at each cavity. If the wall cavity has insulation material in it and this is wet, then the lining on at least one side of the wall will need to be removed to take the wet insulation out. Ceilings: There is a significantly greater risk to the integrity of plasterboard when it is on ceilings, particularly when it is in contact with saturated insulation. Saturated ceilings can be unsafe so it is important to also drain the water carefully. Be alert to warning signs that it may collapse. Starting from the perimeter, away from the worst sagging area, you need to work towards the centre of the sag progressively by poking holes allowing water to exit slowly. Wet insulation should be removed as soon as possible. In most cases it will not be suitable for reuse. Glass: In general, glass is one of the building materials which is more resilient to water – but given the unintended exposure to water that arises during flooding, there are some issues to consider with the glazing in flood affected homes. Damage to glass from flooding ranges from diminishing the visual appeal of the glass (which is an important consideration in most cases – generally glass is employed for its optical clarity, consistency and lustre) through to physical degradation of the glazing or the structures that hold it in place. Note that immersion and periods of continuous exposure to water can void the product warranties of some glass products, even though damage may not be immediately obvious. For more information on: Gyprock Plasterboard, please visit www.gyprock.com.au Cemintel Fibre Cement, please visit www.cemintel.com.au Bradford Insulation, please visit www.bradfordinsulation.com.au Viridian Glass, please visit www.viridianglass.com
comment By Colin Blair CEO Standards Australia
Imagine a world without Standards As Australia looks at ways to expand our economy, we need to consider how to support the drivers of growth and innovation. One means is the adoption of Standards which enhance efficiency, promote international trade and develop solutions to universal problems. Standards are critically important in underpinning the technical infrastructure in Australia. This is particularly the case with respect to Standards within the built environment. Whether it is roads, bridges or houses, there are basic principles the construction sector can adopt through Australian Standards. Standards have been developed by our committees since 1922 and our model of development mirrors many around the world, with the focus on achieving a balanced and impartial process to develop Standards. We bring together a broad range of stakeholders to ensure that Standards are developed through consensus and cooperation. In an increasingly globalised world, it is critical for Standards development to keep pace with technological and societal change. We need to continue to draw on the skills of those who contribute to our development process and who are at the coalface of innovation. An imperative for Standards Australia is for our members and committee members to meet the challenges of the day, while maintaining the integrity of the process. This balancing act ensures that our Standards are rigorous and respected. We have been reminded over the past couple of months of the critical importance of Standards through the unfortunate series of natural disasters in Australia and around the world. Standards Australia is working hard to maintain its relevance in building and construction sector. We are reviewing with our committees matters arising from the recent natural disasters. In continues page 12 ANCR CONSTRUCTION NEWS
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comment
iSWEAR, it's good for everyone iSWEAR is Australia's first Sustainability and Accessibility register. As we are all aware marketing/selling the disability sector to the wider community is extremely difficult.
By Megan Motto CEO Consult Australia
Seizing sustainability In our industry, the word ‘sustainability’ is used extensively but the level of attention sustainable development is receiving in the media isn’t necessarily being reflected in tangible action by governments. Whilst there is a lot of work being done, there doesn't seem to be a comprehensive, holistic approach. There is an urgent need for governance reform that sees the integration of existing sustainability policies and programs currently fragmented across different areas of government, portfolios and agencies. Practical action is required at a federal level to rise to the challenge of sustainability, including mitigating the risks of climate change whilst helping to ensure Australia’s ongoing economic competitiveness. As the leading industry body representing consulting firms operating in the built and natural environment, Consult Australia supports the introduction of a carbon price and recommends that a pricing mechanism is established within the next 12 months. This endorsement for a carbon pricing mechanism includes a proviso that would see support provided for smaller businesses and emissions-intensive trade exposed industries transitioning to a low-carbon economy. Consult Australia also promotes the introduction of a nationally consistent adaptation plan to protect Australia against the threat of climate change and help manage other forecast demographic and environmental shifts. It is vital that organisations operating in the built and natural environment unite in one, collective voice to tackle the leading issue currently facing our industry. Work undertaken by the Australian Sustainable continues this page 12
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The iSWEAR Program has linked Sustainability with Accessibility and their aim is to encourage business owners/managers to see the benefits of being both Sustainable and Accessible. Registration is done by completing a simple iSWEAR Checklist and participation in the program is free. It is their intention to support all organisations that complete the iSWEAR Sustainability and Accessibility Checklist with iSWEAR decal signage (for display purposes on front doors/windows
of the participants building/s). They will further support the program with television and radio community service advertising as the participation numbers grow. The general public will then have 24/7 access to the information provided within the iSWEAR website. Simply, the iSWEAR program is an awareness marketing tool and their hope is that the iSWEAR Program will help open doors to the wider business community - particularly about access Let your customers know how serious your commitment to sustainable building management practices and how to access a multitude of premises, including buildings and open spaces by registering for free at www.iswear.net.au.
continued Dr Keith Hampson continued from page 9 Procurement and Construction Council, Master Builders, Civil Contractors Federation, the Australian Workers Union and the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union. This project builds on the reputation and networks developed through the CRC for Construction Innovation’s (predecessor to the SBEnrc) landmark achievements in safety including the Construction Safety Competency Framework (2006), Guide to Best Practice for Safer Construction (2007) and the Safety Effectiveness Indicators (2009).
comment
These changes will help make it easier to find that necessary balance between quality lighting solutions and energy efficiency. Colin Blair continued from page 11 light of this we intend to make sure that our catalogue of Standards reflect the needs of industry, government and consumers.
More information on the SBEnrc’s research is at www.sbenrc.com.au
As a Standards development body it is our role to see over the horizon. We must look to emerging technologies and be on the cusp of innovation. The building and construction sector is rapidly changing and we look forward to meeting this challenge by developing Standards which reflect the contemporary needs of this sector.
Chou Lien continued from page 10
Megan Motto continued from this page
designers have for years preached the value of vertical luminance (i.e. lighted walls), rather than concentrating exclusively on horizontal illuminance. However, even in this day-and-age of computer use in almost every business and home, the over-lighting of desktops is all too common. Demonstrations, mockups and general education of clients are required to make them comfortable in using the low end of lighting recommendations rather than the high end.
Built Environment Council (ASBEC) and its member organisations provide authoritative, evidence-based policy supporting clear mandates for action. We believe that a holistic approach is required to achieve sustainability and as such, Consult Australia’s latest report, Seizing the Sustainability Advantage compliments ASBEC’s work by elaborating on the above
recommendations and providing a blueprint for ambitious government reform. To read a full copy of the report, please visit www.consultaustralia.com.au. Romilly Madew continued from this page the Australian Government to appoint a federal minister and department for cities and urban development – a call for ‘joined-up thinking’. This call to action is not unique. Recently, US President Barack Obama spoke of the importance of “interconnections among administration priorities and federal programs, such as sustainable buildings, transportation and environmental protection”, as well as the need to emphasise “inter-agency partnerships to break down silos, use resources more efficiently, and improve outcomes.”
right from the beginning. This cooperation requires the matching team structure with supporting contractual framework and properly formulated financial incentives funded by the enhanced efficiency and effectiveness originating from the process. It is still a common perception to mix up BIM with Revit, in other words a technology based business process with a design tool. Revit is a BIM tool that has gained rapid acceptance primarily for its powerful visual demonstration ability as well as the interface capability with various design packages. Whilst 3D visualization is an excellent medium to demonstrate a project and potentially aid the design, its best and most effective utilization is to be part of the whole design, delivery and operation process.
This is exactly what we need in Australia, and the GBCA, together with its ASBEC partners, will be working hard in 2011 to achieve the government support necessary and ensure our sustainable thinking becomes business as usual.
The BIM process significantly adds value to the whole project cycle and its members via a win-win outcome, however the proper understanding of its capabilities as well as limitations is essential. Building Information Modeling carries great potentials to the wider industry participants and is another example where the development of new technology induces changes in old behaviour.
Melinda Dodson continued from page 14
Ashak Nathwani continued from this page 16
Meanwhile as various cities around the country pursue dramatic carbon reductions by mid century7, how do we reconcile this with regulation created in response to lessons of the past? Indeed as we address the challenge of designing our buildings and cities to be resilient to long term future climate change, the frequently additive approach to regulation control of the last 40 years is unlikely to fit the needs of the next 40 years. The next challenge is to link planning ‘rules’ to planning foresight.
• A nationally consistent Adaptation Plan that would protect Australia against the threat of damage from climate change, and help us manage other demographic and economic changes already forecast. • Develop and continue to implement policies that support the efficient use of water, waste and energy resources, including a National White Certificate Scheme and long-term support for Green Depreciation and /or Tax Benefits for investments improving the efficiency of existing building stock.
1
2
Source: Blueprint for Action by international organisations of Architects Source: ASBEC CCTG (2008) The Second Plank – Building a Low Carbon Economy with Energy Efficient Buildings
3
Source: ABS and ACTpla
4
Source: http://www.measuringourprogress.act.gov. au/a_sustainable_act/ecological_footprint
5
Source: ABS: end 2007
6
Source: CABE
7
Such as Canberra 2060 targets, Sydney 2030 & 2050 targets
Janos Baranyai continued from page 17 There are obviously obstacles and pitfalls fuelled by some initial resistance and sometimes misconceptions regarding BIM. The BIM process works for the whole project and therefore full acceptance and co-operation of each participating team members are essential
Together with the above it is necessary for the construction industry to take a lead in addressing some of the practices, listed hereunder, that are contributing to wastage in various forms, especially in the built environment. ▪ Narrow the knowledge gap between the designers and facility managers, whereby implementation of new technologies and systems could be carried out much more efficiently. ▪ Insist on mechanisms to maintain better records of “As Installed” documentation. ▪ Provide feedback on failed systems and products to avoid repetition of the same mistakes. The message is clear. There needs to be more responsibility and accountability upon all of us, when dealing with sustainability. More action less talk.
comment By Romilly Madew Chief Executive Green Building Council of Australia
Sustainable solutions from Green Cities From the moment we started the conversation at Green Cities 2011 in Melbourne recently, we launched straight into solutions. Innovation expert, Jeb Brugmann, called on us to optimise space to create value. Head of Sustainability for the 2012 Olympics, Dan Epstein, showed us how to focus on the longterm legacy of a project, while Europe's most famous ‘environmental sceptic’, Bjørn Lomborg, urged us to use our money for the greatest good. It is certainly clear, from listening to the conversation at Green Cities unfold, that the next evolution in our industry is before us. While the business case for green building has been firmly established, there is still much work to do to ensure our industry integrates green thinking into its dayto-day operations in the most cost-effective way. At present, we still have many pockets of the property and construction sector stuck in a project-by-project mindset. Instead, sustainability must be deeply embedded in our approach to business if we are to have a real and lasting impact on our nation’s future. Green Star is, if nothing else, about learning to think holistically. We must transfer this approach to the way we tackle development on a wider scale. Some of our easiest ‘wins’ have already been achieved, and we must now commit to an expanding sustainability agenda which moves beyond building individual green icons and focuses on greening whole cities and communities. However, leading voluntary action must be supported with good regulation. During Green Cities, the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC), of which the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) is a member, released a ‘Call to Action’ which urges continues this page ANCR CONSTRUCTION NEWS
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comment By Melinda Dodson, Principal Melinda Dodson Architects,
Immediate Past National President, Australian Institute of Architects Photo: Vikky Wilkes
Sustainable Cities: The next challenge is to link our planning ‘rules’ with planning foresight and to ‘show’ the community what we mean by urban density “The world faces a pressing challenge: maintaining, and indeed improving, standards of living and economic growth whilst eliminating our dependence on fossil fuels and reversing environmental degradation. The built environment professions have a crucial role to play. Buildings and the urban environment shape our lives, but their construction and operation accounts for almost half of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.” 1 And with nearly a quarter of our emissions coming from the operation of our existing buildings in Australia2, we know we have great strides to make in building energy efficiency , but we also know the issue to be one of city design. In Canberra, our houses are getting bigger and we travel an awful lot in cars! In fact, at this moment in time we have the largest houses in the country (on average)3, the largest per capita ecological footprint at 8.5gha/person4, while in 2007 we travelled 35 million bus kilometres compared with 3000 million car kilometres,5 and Canberra is just one example of a typical scenario across our cities. The design and planning professions have been focussed on addressing the issue of housing alternatives close to amenities for a while now, but our leaders in government “must help shape the market rules” within which sustainable commercial decisions are made6. Providing incentives for energy efficiency and “green” refurbishment of existing buildings has been a good start, but more is needed. Meanwhile hesitancy remains amongst some in the community to embrace urban density, highlighting the need for many more exemplar demonstration projects, such as ‘next generation’ terrace style houses, to offer one example. In what remains a polarised and at times emotional debate, demonstration projects offer a chance for people to see and experience such alternative for themselves. continues page 13 14
ANCR ARCHITECTURE NEWS
ARCHITECTURE
ARCHITECTS ENGAGE WITH DISASTER AFTERMATH South East Queensland’s combined flood and cyclone Yasi crisis is the biggest disaster recovery project Emergency Architects Australia (EAA) has undertaken since the Boxing Day Tsunami. The not-for-profit accredited international aid organisation draws together volunteer talents from Australian architecture and engineering firms of all sizes, providing an essential assessment and advice service for people who have lost everything. Usually, EAA’s skills are put to work overseas in places like the Solomon Islands, Indonesia and East Timor. The organisation’s only previous Australian project was the Victorian Bushfires, where their assistance is ongoing for the rebuilding effort. “As in Victoria, this is a massive disaster, the region has a great need,” said David Kaunitz, EAA Director of Operations. “We get involved where there are gaps. The Government has been doing a lot, and many of the construction companies, but there are obviously a large amount of uninsured people who have no-one to turn to. “We offer free home assessments for those people. We give them someone to discuss their options with, who can explain how buildings have been damaged. Just as in the developing world, when there is a disaster often people don’t know who to turn to. “It is a technical assessment, looking at the issues about drying timber out, not pulling out wall sheeting that is holding up the house. We talk through the priorities with rebuilding, and the things that need to be done t make the house habitable and safe. We also give advice on dealing with council, tradespeople, and what needs planning approval. Because in this situation the people don’t have internet, they can’t look things up. “There have been a huge number of architects and engineers volunteering.” In conjunction with Archicentre, EAA put together fact sheets incorporating information from relevant sources such as the Timber Association. These form a library which the EAA assessor takes with them to help with the discussion and open up the various options. EAA have applied a similar program to the one they have used in Narbethong, which
has included pro bono services to rebuild the community centre, which commenced construction early this year. As a not-for-profit with tax deductability status, EAA relies on both volunteer efforts and corporate sponsorship to undertake their work. Sponsors have the opportunity to take on a particular project, and also ensure the organisation has the consistent funding base to flexibly respond to crisis situations as they arise. A separate tax deductible trust has been established for flood response. The ability to quickly take action when needed is now also being extended to New Zealand’s earthquake disaster. EAA has a long history of working with the New Zealand Government, organisations and individuals, and is currently talking with their partners there to establish the most effective way to render assistance. To find out more about assisting the work of EAA go to www.emergencyarchitects.org.au The SANTOS building in Adelaide
TOWARDS MORE TOWARDS MORE SITE-RESPONSIVE ARCHITECTURE Architects are likely to face new design parameters in Christchurch and Queensland following the recent disasters. Not only in the form of revisions to building codes or planning rules, but possibly also pressures from the insurance industry to ensure assets are designed in such a way they are less likely to be destroyed. “You can design and build against virtually any risk, it’s whether you are willing to bear the cost,” said HASSELL Principal, Chris Watkins. “Most natural events can be accommodated and designed for, but it often comes at an expense. If it costs an extra 20% to the bottom line to mitigate against a 1 in 100 risk, will someone pay for it? The lower end of the market often can’t afford to design against these risks. “Part of our process as architects is to research the limitations of a site and its context., If we discover the site is prone to flooding and/or earthquake for example, and there is no government or local council legislation addressing these , we would be remiss not to consider the risks and advise our client of those risks. “You need to do a flood check, and if you know you are in a flood prone area and still decide to build, you are taking a risk. The longer it is between those flood events, the more likely people are to take that risk. The 1974 Brisbane floods are a good example; there was a lot of development in recent years in flood prone areas, some people took a risk and the resulting tragedy ensued. Perhaps there was a false sense of security after the construction of Wivenhoe Dam? “The insurance industry has taken a massive hit; I see there is a real possibility they will demand certification of buildings to certain standards, before providing insurance. These might be higher standards than those of the planning authorities, but if they are not met, and the building can’t be insured, that’s an enormous risk.” In South Australia, the Government has recently changed planning rules for some coastal suburbs, passing legislation to mitigate against rising ocean levels. Floor levels now have to be above a certain datum which considers water level of a spring tide plus a south westerly storm and sea level rises due to climate change.
South Australia also experiences regular earthquakes, and has had a strict seismic code in place since 1979, which was revised in 2007. One of HASSELL’s recent projects, the SANTOS building in Adelaide has to be designed to absorb up to 400mm of lateral movement due to earthquake without glass popping out or catastrophic failure.
comment By James Ward Strategist NBRS+PARTNERS
Generally, the earthquake code’s main intent is to protect the lives of occupants and those nearby by ensuring buildings don’t collapse and glazing does not shatter or detach from the facade. Constructing buildings which will remain fully operational after a major seismic event is a more expensive proposition. Essential services such as hospitals, police and emergency control centres can be designed to this standard, which requires a super strong structure and back-up power generation, along with a hefty budget.
University Students Challenge The Learning Continuum
Designing for adverse events is as much a part of designing for sustainability as energy efficiency, and in the aftermath of floods, cyclones and earthquakes, in the rebuilding there is an opportunity for architecture to take new directions.
The effectiveness of active learning and collaboration whereby a multitude of situations can give rise to an educational atmosphere and environment forms the basis of an implicit curriculum. The extent to which these multimodal environments can optimise learning environments for the future pertains to their degree of flexibility and adaptability. However, these notions are often misunderstood, and their potential to enhance learning environments is often under appreciated.
“Sustainability and efficiency are the key issues for the thinking architect, they will affect how buildings look and work,” said Chris. “What we’ll see is an architecture that responds much more cleverly to the conditions of a site and its location, and for some sites that includes cyclones, floods and earthquakes. It will be a building aesthetic dictated more by what is needed to respond to in their context, rather than frivolous fashion statements. “The shift in materials specified comes with demand. The biggest shift is in how energy efficient they can be; there have been leaps in the energy efficiency of glazing with the double and triple glazing, innovations such as UV cells which are incorporated into a glazed building facade. As these things become more in demand they will become cheaper, and this may have more of an impact on the way buildings look than extreme weather events. “Architecture is an equation with many variables. Each one affects the next, and you have to have an understanding of all the variables so you can understand how one variable can affect the next and ultimately the end solution.”
This summer, three students of Architecture have come together to tackle the challenges facing educationalists today; how to plan for and design classrooms of the future. The Classroom of 2025 Learning Continuum project is a comprehensive exploration of the evolving trends in pedagogy and technology in education and defines the elements of flexible and adaptable classroom design.
Flexibility is the ability to house a school’s multimodal facility including resources, communication methods and people. Beneficial to a point, flexibility is can be associated with the notion of the hardware of a space. Adaptability is an evolving response to particular human needs that can be catered for by the architecture; the scope for these multimodal spaces to be efficient and personalised, it is indeed the software of a space. Catering for students to be free in their learning experience, adaptability finds its greatest relevance in fulfilling human concern. These are the new paradigms for the architecture of educational environments. The ENVISION Student Partnership Program is one of many creative partnerships that NBRS+PARTNERS has realised. In upholding the architecture firm’s vision to create lifechanging environments, the student partnership reinforces the importance of multiple perspectives and collaboration in the design process. © 2011 ENVISION Student Partnership Program AN R ARCHITECTURE NEWS ANCR
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comment
ENGINEERING
CHALLENGING CLIMATE TIMES NEED ENGINEERING KNOW HOW
By Ashak Nathwani Director Norman Disney & Young Chair Sustainability Roundtable Consult Australia
SUSTAINABILITY - MORE ACTION LESS TALK ‘Seizing the Sustainability Advantage’, a recently released strategic paper by the Sustainability Roundtable of Consult Australia, identifies the barriers created through current approaches and advocates radical reform through collaboration. Drawing on the unique expertise available to policy makers through Australia’s leading firms consulting in the built and natural environment, the Roundtable outlines an aggressive agenda for change and advocates a more practical and unified approach between business, government and the community. The thought process that has led to this step includes questions such as: ▪ Who do governments turn to for authoritative, independent advice on sustainability? ▪ Does the current advice to governments on issues associated with sustainability come with the assurance that policies are avoiding duplication, are nationally consistent, and will achieve the cost effective outcomes as efficiently as possible? ▪ Are present mechanisms of measuring sustainability heading towards a “tick box” mentality rather than looking at sustainability holistically? ▪ How come there is general support for minimization of plastic bags in supermarkets and yet there is unquestioned use of plastic in the Dry Cleaning business? ‘Seizing the Sustainability Advantage’ recommends that COAG establish a Commission for a Sustainable Australia (CSA), reporting to the Federal Minister for Sustainability. CSA would provide a vehicle for collaboration and alignment between government, industry and the community; champion reforms to achieve genuine ecologically sustainable outcomes, like: • A low carbon economy that would incentivise business R&D, innovation and investment in new technologies. • A National Sustainability Framework that would create a cohesive agenda for sustainability operating across governments. continues page 13 16
ANCR ENGINEERING NEWS
With dramatic weather events turning vast areas of the nation into debris-laden lakes, the skills of engineers have become critical both in mitigating the impacts and in preventing future loss of life and property. Coffey Geotechnics have been involved with some of the major flood mitigation measures of recent years, and say there needs to be a fresh look at balancing environmental concerns with the tangible benefits of building dams. Raj Jairaj is Principal Dams Engineer with Coffey Geotechnics, and has extensive international experience in the investigation, design, surveillance and upgrade works on existing dams and levee systems. “Climate change modelling has shown that the distribution of rainfall is changing. In particular, modelling shows that the frequency of high intensity of rainfall will increase in some areas. Design of flood control measures in the past has been guided by historical records and these may not continue to be appropriate. It is essential that stormwater and flood control infrastructure are checked and updated as needed. This will apply to bridges, culverts, dams and urban drainage as well as flood protection levees,” said Raj Jairaj. “The construction of dams on rivers has virtually ceased due to the current emphasis on environmental factors. While it is important to protect the environment, flood mitigation dams are an important measure for protection human life and property.” One of the disaster zones in New South Wales, the town of Queanbeyan, on the ACT border, was spared far greater destruction by an upgrade of the nearby Googong Dam. Coffey Projects managed the detailed project planning, ensuring the upgrade was completed literally in the nick of time, just days before the Queanbeyan region was drenched with 103mm of rain in 22 hours. The upgrade allowed the spillway to handle 10,500m3 of water per second – about four times the normal flow over Niagara Falls. The plunge pool at the bottom had also been deepened to slow down the flow of water into the Queanbeyan River.
Assessing yesterday and planning for tomorrow
Looking forwards, there are underlying planning issues to be addressed, such as the manner in which development has gravitated closer to natural watercourses and flood plains during the prolonged drought. In the light of recent storm events, parameters need to be changed - bridges and roads which were lost need to be rebuilt to pass storm events of greater magnitude; homesteads may need to be relocated to higher ground or lifted above their original design flood levels; and flood levees and flood detention, including dams, need to be considered in a balanced manner. “Coffey has already been involved in the early stages of recovery works. Our Geotechnics staff have been assisting with ground stability assessments around roads and rail lines while our Environments teams have been assisting with testing to determine the safety of buildings and other structures for reoccupation,” said Dan O’Toole, Group General Manager of Operations at Coffey International. “In the foreseeable future our Projects staff are expected to be involved in managing the rollout of redevelopment programs, new buildings and community service delivery projects. Our Mining team are talking to many of the mining companies in Queensland to assist in getting them back into production as soon as possible. Coffey Commercial Advisory is in discussion with both the State and Local Governments affected to assist in the planning and procurement of major infrastructure redevelopment programs, particularly roads, water and sewerage treatment plants and public buildings. “The immediate need is always to ensure that the affected communities are safe with essential amenities (e.g. water and energy) and shelter. The main priorities for reconstruction then focus on enabling infrastructure such as roads, railway lines, power plants and water plants. These key pieces of infrastructure allow the affected communities to normalise as quickly as possible in terms of daily life and also allow the area to become economically productive again, reducing the flow on effects of lost employment and business failure. With these fundamentals in place, it is much easier for the private sector to assist in the development of new or replacement structures to rebuild affected communities.”
comment By Janos Baranyai National Director Building Services Meinhardt Group
Technology Challenges Behaviour
An example of liquefaction, a result of the February earthquake in Christchurch
AFTERMATH OF NZ’S DARKEST DAY Before the dust in Christchurch had begun to settle, Opus International Consultants staff were in the field offering expert assistance after February’s devastating earthquake. “We have particular skills in transport infrastructure (roads bridges and tunnels), buildings, water infrastructure, and telecommunications. Within a very short time after the big quake occurring our first teams had mobilized and were on their way to start inspections,” said Melvyn Maylin, Managing Director of Opus in Australia. “Because of the size and scale of Opus’ operation as a multi-disciplinary global consultancy and our strong presence through our local Christchurch office, we were able to get large numbers of people in the field quickly,” said Mr Maylin. “Although many Christchurch staff have been directly affected and some have lost their homes they have shown enormous commitment to assisting with the response Some structural damage from the NZ earthquake in February
and have frequently gone the extra mile in very difficult circumstances. We continue to have large teams of people on the ground, including Australian staff. We have been asked to respond to an extensive range of issues from a wide range of private and government clients.” The supply of drinking water and handling of waste and wastewater continue to be ongoing challenges due to soil liquefaction damaging a considerable portion of the below ground infrastructure across the city during the quake. And while many of the damaged older buildings have been marked for demolition, Opus is examining restoration options for a large number of historic buildings, including several old churches. “Assessments of the damage and analysis of the earthquake is still ongoing and will be for some time to come. New Zealand does have some of the highest seismic design standards in the world but it is quite possible that significant changes to both the building codes and seismic hazard zoning will occur in due course as a result of this earthquake. It is interesting to note that most modern buildings performed very well and there are examples of large multi-storey steel and glass office buildings only suffering several cracked panes of glass,” commented Mr Maylin. “On a more personal note, we are a close knit company and many of our Australian staff have close friendships with staff in our Christchurch office,” said Melvyn Maylin. “It is still difficult to comprehend the challenges people in Christchurch are having to deal with on a day to day basis.”
The old segregation of Investors; Owners; Constructors; and End Users which often still exist in our industry, is increasingly challenged by not only the logical advantages of cooperation but by the significant advancements in technology that drive business processes and procedures. Reversing the earlier perception that tighter budget control implies lower sophistication and reduced quality, the facts and figures point in the opposite direction. Building Information Modeling or BIM represents a business process which is more and more used by combined project teams to achieve desired results. Whilst the name implies “Building” it is equally suitable for infrastructure as well as technology type projects. The BIM process successfully links project concept and evaluation stages with detailed design, ongoing cost monitoring, integrated program control as well as operational, management and maintenance requirements. This process, by default, engages and brings together all parties within the project and creates a real team with a common goal. Whilst the idea of ongoing cooperation, co-ordination, cost effective solutions, buildability in design, and increased price certainty from early stages are not novel, the underlying technology supporting BIM demands, and more significantly, enforces these requirements. The BIM process facilitates the early recognition of cost effective design solutions, helps to find the right balance between capital and operational costs, the ongoing operation and management of the asset, and the underlying coordination of all activities throughout the project cycle well beyond construction completion. It turns the often uneasy relationships between the project owners, architects, engineers, constructors and end users into a team, driven by well defined requirements with logical interactions and interdependencies. continues page 13 ANCR ENGINEERING NEWS
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solutions Do you supply products or st ’t miss… on D ? ry du In g in ld ui B en re to the G 4th
GreenBui d
Asia Pacific 2011 1 7 th - 1 9 th M a y
CALL FOR SPONSORS/EXHIBITORS The organisers of the 4th GreenBuild Asia Pacfic Conference and Trade Show are calling for exhibitors and sponsors to support the event.
Mira Hotel
Hong Kong
For information please contact Jon Treherne on Tel: (02) 8908 8516 or Email: jon@acevents.com.au
ABOUT GREEN BUILD ASIA PACIFIC 2011 Green Build Asia Pacific will break new ground with an exciting and truly interactive format that will shape the future of four major current construction and design stage projects from the region. Sponsor and facilitate a hands on work shop that focuses on your area of expertise and drive project changes, influence direction, prove expertise to project owners and help specify project tenders. This format gives you the ultimate opportunity to develop a solution in partnership with the Project Owners.
Live Projects, Hands On Project One Plenary: Kai Tak Development
– a green hub at the Hong Kong harbourfront Hands On Workshop 1 Green labelling of developments
Live Projects, Hands On Project Two Plenary:
New campus at University of Saint Joseph, Macau
Live Projects, Hands On Project Three Plenary:
20/20 VISION - Six Senses Resorts and Spas’ Decarbonising Initiative
Hands On Workshop 1
Hands On Workshop 1
Exploring options for onsite power generation & storage
Overcoming the challenge of convincing investors to accept a higher initial capital expenditure
Hands On Workshop 2
Hands On Workshop 2
Hands On Workshop 2
Identifying green building technologies for Kai Tak sites
Exploring options for air-conditioning and air quality management
Hands On Workshop 3
Hands On Workshop 3
Hands On Workshop 3
Developing green infrastructure
Minimising embodied energy in finishes and fittings
Hands On Workshop 4
Hands On Workshop 4
Adapting each location depending on climate and topography
Addressing ongoing maintenance & operations issues
Rainwater/grey water reuse and recycling Led by: Government of the Hong Kong S.A.R.
Led by: University of Saint Joseph, Macau
Organisers
Exploring options for on-site clean energy production and improving energy efficiency
Live Projects, Hands On Project Four Plenary:
Silo City, Beijing
Hands On Workshop 1 Examining smart location linkage and & neighborhood pattern & design
Hands On Workshop 2 Options for green construction and technology
Hands On Workshop 3 Reviewing the LEED individual building application process within LEED community
Hands On Workshop 4 What to do with the last 15-20% of the emissions?
Led by: Six Senses Resorts & Spas
Led by: Beijing & Northern China, EMSI
Endorsers
ᛩঅ৬ᗰറᄐᤜᄎ
Tel: (02) 8908 8555
Web: www.acevents.com.au/greenbuild2011
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GEORGE ALLINGAME Managing Director,
pindan constructions
W
estern Australian’s Pindan was formed more than 30 years ago, evolving from being solely a construction company to what it is today – a truly integrated property group working across many sectors and employing about 200 full-time staff across the state. Pindan is WA’s largest and the nation’s fifth largest multi-unit builder, with multiple awards to their credit. Pindan’s primary purpose is to work in partnership with its clients to create a positive outcome for all parties through involvement in construction, property and related industries. Willow Aliento interviewed Founding Director George Allingame, a past president of the Master Builders Association of WA, and current chairman of Western Australia’s Worksafe Commission. WA How has Pindan adapted to the changing economic landscape? GA I am a strong advocate for reinvention and, when we realised that WA and Australia’s economy was going to slow down, we deliberately looked to reinvent ourselves so that we could guarantee our staff their jobs during the downturn, as well as shore up the business end of things. That decision by our executive team actually saw our group grow by about 10% during the hard financial times because we set out to embrace new opportunities that existed in the new homes and transportable housing market. That growth came from the establishment of new spin-off companies in our new home builder arm, Switch Homes for Living, and our transportable accommodation business Formas. Significantly, we also moved our focus somewhat away from the private sector toward the government sector so we could make the most of the Government Stimulus Package. We spent a lot of time and effort on tenders for the Building the Education Revolution contracts and new public housing projects which has paid off for us in the short-term and, we believe, helped underpin our future. We also restructured internally to cater for the growth of work in the grouped dwellings and small to medium commercial works sectors and we expanded our Contracting division to be able to pick up work in remote and regional parts of WA. WA Looking forward, where do you see the company's main growth opportunities? GA Like many other WA companies, we are well poised to reap the rewards of WA’s booming resources sector. The relatively recent decision to increase our presence in regional and remote areas of WA has served us well not only in that we have already won a large number of contracts in those parts, but also in that it stands us in good stead to ride the next mining and resources boom. Our experience and successful delivery of projects in remote areas will no doubt continue to assist us to secure more work in the years ahead as the State Government seeks to dramatically boost infrastructure and housing in areas like Karratha and Port Hedland. 20
ANCR CEO INTERVIEW
WA What do you see as some of the main advances in construction generally? GA There are numerous and wide advances in the construction industry due to the sector’s diversity, the companies and the types of work involved, and opportunities that open up from the skills and experiences obtained. One of the advances is the long-term career options now on offer in the construction industry, which employs around 11% of the national workforce and contributes significantly to the national economy. You can be involved in just about any profession or trade and be part of a construction company, whether it’s an on-site tradesman, an office administrator or a professional consultant. It provides an excellent career path which can continually evolve, and the levels of opportunity are open to each individual’s capabilities and drive. WA How has safety been improved in the last twenty years? And is there room for further improvement? GA There is always room for improvement and we believe safety needs to be at the forefront of everyone in the industry’s mind every hour of every day. We place the utmost importance on our responsibility to safety, the training AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
of our staff in safe work practices, and maintaining safe work practices in all of our business operations. No staff member, tradesman or visitor to any Pindan workplace should be put in danger, and this is not only continuously monitored by our trained internal safety officers and managers, but we also have independent safety audits undertaken on our sites every fortnight. WA What are the major challenges for the construction sector in terms of attracting, retaining and training a quality workforce? GA A key issue for the construction industry, particularly in WA, but also nationally, is being able to retain workers who are being wooed by the mining industry with large salaries. In recent times, it is not uncommon to skill up a worker and not long after lose them to the mining sector. This is particularly hard on the construction industry as we in WA pay a training levy that’s designed to help boost the quality of training and increase the number of skilled workers. Innovation and creativity will be needed to address this issue, and working in partnership with the mining industry may be required as a lack of construction workers will impact their projects. WA How does the career path of the average worker in construction compare to that of a worker in the mining sector? GA I still firmly believe more needs to be done to encourage students to consider a career in construction. The construction industry provides a career path that, for many workers, will no doubt be more attractive than the mining industry in the long-term. Part of the reason for this is that fewer construction workers are required to work on a fly-in, fly-out basis. While FIFO roles may suit some long-term, often as a worker starts a family and improves their financial stability, they prefer to be based closer to home – this is an aspect of a career in construction that the industry needs to emphasise more strongly, along with the fact that companies like ours are very keen to work with staff to progress their careers and move them into different roles so they can grow their skills over time, benefiting them personally and the industry as a whole. WA Has the construction industry become more professional overall in its approach? GA The construction industry is becoming a lot more professional in its overall approach and this is due to both the level of competency of our staff, which is something we are very proud of, but also in regard to the level of complexity of contractual issues driven into each contract. This is a good thing, and I am sure the level of professionalism will continue to grow as there is always room for improvement. WA What challenges and opportunities do you see in the increased emphasis on Environmental Sustainable Development and Green Star credentials? GA This will always be a challenging issue, and will need to be heavily driven by legislation, as many of the additional items required to ensure a development reaches a truly environmentally sustainable or green star development level are costly. The current market is also particularly competitive, meaning design solutions that cannot be easily and cost effectively implemented are being seriously reviewed by developers. In time, as these initiatives become the norm and are required to be included, it will resolve itself. We believe government rebates to be a good strategy for improving the take up of environmentally sustainable solutions as they reduce the initial cost and ensure the life cycle return is achieved sooner. As more people use the products, they will become more cost effective and the rebate can be phased out. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
WA How can we best house increased urban populations without ever-expanding urban footprints? GA In WA, the Government has rightly seen the cost saving and environmental benefits of increased density / infill housing in already-established suburbs of Perth and recognised that it’s a solid strategy for catering to a growing population. The strategy does, however, throw up issues regarding affordability which will need to be addressed as constructing higher density developments is more costly, which ultimately increases cost of the sales of the unit. This isn’t proportionate to the extra number of units obtained, and the increased level of carparking required can also increase the basement depths, adding yet further cost. This is a major restricting factor on high rise residential construction. The new Development Assessment Panel (DAP) scheme is something that is well overdue and will improve the planning approvals process, allowing further developments to occur to greater densities within existing suburban and metropolitan areas. This will be of greater benefit to the wider community and will help address the issue of the concerned vocal minority being able to impact or seriously compromise the best outcomes of a development. WA Does Government have a role to play in striking the balance between construction and land costs and end price for occupants? GA One of the key strategies that will need to be considered is a reduction in stamp duty costs to not only make higher density housing more affordable for buyers, but also to encourage buyers into such developments. While for many apartment-style living is their housing of choice, others are still attracted by the idea of owning their own bit of land – and for those people, there will have to be a benefit to deciding to let that dream go. In addition to reducing or totally removing stamp duty costs, an improvement in local and state government approvals processes is required. A major cost component of any development is the financing costs, and with the ever-increasing delays and longer approvals periods, this only increases the holding and financing costs of a development, which again increases the end sales price of units. WA Finally, what do you believe should be the priority areas for Public spending on infrastructure and built assets? GA The federal and state government’s stimulus packages driven into the construction industry were excellent initiatives that helped save the construction industry. If this did not occur there would have been massive redundancies and even, ultimately, company failures which the construction industry and nation as a whole would take a very long time to recover and build up from. Health and education, we believe, are two of the most important areas of infrastructure spending. Education is critically important to the long term capabilities and growth of Australia as a nation and it will always be in a position where, unfortunately, more can be done to improve it. The education of our country is the future of our country. With the health system in Australia, yes, it may have its challenges but, typically, it is very professional and I believe we get a good a level of service – if you really need attention, you will get it. With an ever-aging population though, the demands on our health system are going to grow rapidly so we cannot stop addressing these issues. Another strategy I believe should be undertaken is to improve the subsidies to independent aged care and nursing home providers so the aged can be housed and nursed in dedicated facilities, rather than in hospitals at a significantly higher cost. ANCR CEO INTERVIEW
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superior steel work for tight fit sites
T
urning architectural ideas into solid steel is Tru-Line Engineering’s forte. Some of their most recent work is getting international exposure – as many thousands of world travellers view the external spiral staircase they fabricated for the newly built T2E facility at Melbourne Airport. Tru-Line Engineering is a privately owned Australian company specializing in structural steel fabrication, architectural metalworks including stainless and mild steel balustrades, handrails, staircases and associated building works. In their 20 years of operation, Tru-Line has developed a solid reputation for meeting project needs in the industrial, civil and high end residential sectors. “We work on any scale of project, from small budget items to $600,000 niche roles on major projects,” said Managing Director, Ian MacKellar. “All the steel we use is of certified quality, and all our work meets the AS/NZ 1650 standard for welding. We get independent certification of work if required, and if the specifications require special testing of welds, we bring in an independent expert to undertake ultrasound testing and particle testing.” Tru-Line’s shop drawings for fabrication are created using STRUCAD 3D software, ensuring the end product is a perfect fit for the original design specifications. In the workshop, Tru-Line has a long-term team of highly skilled boilermakers and boilermaker/welders with decades of steel experience, as well as plasma cutting, cold sawing, radial drilling
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ANCR SPECIAL FOCUS
and welding equipment. Overhead craneage with a 7 tonne lifting capacity ensures large items can be safely and efficiently produced. For installation and erection at project sites, Tru-Line has a team of riggers/dogmen, boilermakers and crane crew, all ticketed for working at heights and in confined spaces. Regular OH&S training for all their workers has ensured Tru-Line an impeccable LTI-free safety record. With a sister company, Eazy-Lift Cranes, founded in 1996, Tru-Line gained the capability to erect and install their steel products in even the most limited access sites. Eazy-Lift operates Kato and Kobelco cranes specifically designed for limited access work, 4WD and 4 wheel steering capabilities capable of safe manouvering in extremely confined locations. Other recent projects include Vivida Apartments, Hawthorn; Oakhill Apartments, Doncaster; DHS Multi Level Housing Project ,Northcote; Melbourne University, Metallurgy Building; Melbourne Girls Grammar School, Sth Yarra; Christ Church Grammar, Sth Yarra; Steiner School, Yarra Junction; and Madame Brussels, Bourke St, City. Tru-Line Engineering (Aust) PTY LTD 5 Percy Street Heidelberg Heights VIC 3081 t. 03 9455 1577 f. 03 9455 1599 e. admin@truline.net.au www.truline.net.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
A CALL TO ACTION
"A Minister for Cities is needed to build Australia’s future" says Australia needs a federal Minister and Department for Cities & Urban Development to ensure the nation meets its urban challenges. The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) will release a call to action on Tuesday at the Green Cities 2011 conference in Melbourne.
“While the Australian Government’s commitment to national urban policy is welcome, we are particularly concerned by the lack of co-ordination between the three levels of government in Australia, resulting in inconsistentlymanaged programs and policies across eight state and territory governments, and more than 500 local governments,” Ms Madew says.
“We have developed this call to action to highlight the urgent need for bold leadership and a streamlined, coordinated approach to urban management policy,” says ASBEC President, Tom Roper.
“Business and the community are looking to the Federal Government to join-up their forthcoming policies on population, cities, regional Australia and sustainability,” says Chief Executive of the Property Council of Australia, Peter Verwer.
“We are facing a future of transport gridlock, rising greenhouse gas emissions and eroded quality of life unless we take decisive action. An integrated and collaborative approach is mandatory if we are to foster a culture of innovation and excellence, and ensure our cities are liveable, affordable and sustainable,” Mr Roper says.
“Cities - of all shapes and sizes - are the centre of action! A linked up, coordinated approach is needed to meet the challenges of managing growth, improving quality and liveability and transitioning to a low-carbon economy while maintaining wealth creation,” says David Parken, Chief Executive Officer of Australian Institute of Architects.
ASBEC’s list of urgent actions includes: • A Federal Minister for Cities & Urban Development to drive the reforms needed to better connect urban built environment policies and programs across all levels of government. • A Cities & Urban Development Cabinet Committee of federal ministers whose portfolios involve decisions or activities pertaining to urban centres. • A COAG Cities & Urban Development Ministerial Council involving representation by state and territory treasurers and planning ministers, and local government. • A Cities & Urban Development NGO Roundtable to ensure business and community groups have a direct voice to government on issues involving our cities. • A Department of Cities & Urban Development tasked with developing and co-ordinating policy which involves urban outcomes. According to Romilly Madew, Chief Executive of the Green Building Council Australia and chair of the Cities task group, the ASBEC call to action includes a matrix which plots 45 Australian Government programs, strategies and initiatives which impact the built environment.
“With industry working together like never before across the design, development, operation and management of Australia’s built environments, it is essential that our governments match this initiative and fully support our call to action,” says Chairman of the Facility Management Association of Australia, Steve Taylor. “It is clear that a coordinated approach to urban policy development is required to meet Australians’ desire for sustainable and liveable cities, to make our cities more resilient to climate change and environmental disasters and to maximise the opportunities of our cities as drivers of Australia’s productivity and innovation,” Tom Roper concludes. FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://www.asbec.asn.au/
About ASBEC
The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) is a collective of leading industry organisations committed to a sustainable built environment in Australia. ASBEC’s membership consists of a range of key industry government and academic organisations who are involved in the planning, design, delivery and operation of our built environment and who are concerned with the economic, social and environmental performance of the sector. ASBEC’s activities, including research and policy development on built environment issues, are an example of a collaborative, co-ordinated approach undertaken across all segments of the built environment. ASBEC works actively to develop and promote leading practice in the design, planning and operation of our cities, at a buildings, precincts and citywide scale.
VITAL INFORMATION TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES In today’s highly professional and rapidly changing construction industry, keeping a competitive edge requires far more than excellence in a trade, it also takes marketing expertise based on the best information available.
cordell
information
Cordell Construction Projects supplies their clients with the information they need to succeed, enabling those contractors, suppliers and tradespeople to devote more time to their core business – undertaking projects. Cordell Construction Projects is one of three divisions of Cordell Information, who have been providing timely and relevant business information since 1969. With over forty years experience in researching and working with the construction and development industries, Cordell have experienced the peaks and troughs and can give the right advice to help companies ride through the rough times and maximise the benefits of the boom times. Cordell Construction Projects is focused on researching and tracking construction projects from early planning right through to the commencement of site works. This ensure clients are kept informed of when the windows of opportunity which best suit their business will occur. Cordell’s Team ensures that clients are empowered to market themselves in the most effective way, enhancing their chances of winning new business. Information can be delivered to a client in a range of formats including printed reports, PDF, email or using the web-based Cordell Connect. The format and frequency of how the information is delivered is determined by
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cordell information contact: Chris Evans Marketing Manager t. 02 9934 5527 m. 0400 018 232 e. chris.evans@cordell.com.au
the needs of the client. Cordell products can be uniquely tailored to each particular business. There is no point telling roofing contractors about an upcoming contract for bulk excavation works – Cordell information is designed to save time and eliminates the red herrings and false leads.
Connecting your business to more business Cordell have teams of researchers in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. This gives the research they do the added edge combining local knowledge with efficient IT systems to provide real time access to the information you need. Projects are researched nationwide, and then entered into the Cordell Connect database from the very early planning stage. Projects can then be tracked by specific search criteria such as project name, category, stage, location, value, floor size and various date options. This makes Cordell Connect a powerful tool for pinpointing the precise opportunities a business is looking for. Cordell Connect is also a highly effective business development tool that allows users to: • monitor the activities of key players in the construction industry; • create, save and run simple or complex searches for project, company and contact information; • enter notes and set task reminders against projects, companies and contacts; • share information between other Cordell Connect users within the company; WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
• • • • • •
input the client’s own projects and contact names; monitor the status of projects which have been marked as important; receive email alerts when project updates occur or tasks are due; export project information to various formats - including PDF, MS Excel and MS Outlook; send appointment details and tasks to your email or appointment calendar; analyse market trends through graphs and charts; monitor employees activities within Cordell Connect through the Management Console function.
It’s like having a super-efficient PA, marketing department, research department and business development manager rolled into one – and Cordell Connect never gets the flu or needs a holiday. New and updated information is uploaded into Cordell Connect four times every weekday, ensuring their clients are always supplied with the very latest project information as their researchers get it. With the Management Console function, managers can check in on sales staff activities without leaving their desk or picking up the phone. They can also allocate leads for them to follow-up, even if the inspiration strikes well away from the office and out of hours. Cordell Connect has been designed to be user-friendly. Navigating through the web-based system is as easy as surfing anywhere on the internet, and no special software or ongoing digital maintenance is required. ANCR SPECIAL FOCUS
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To ensure clients can make the most of this resource, Cordell is committed to working with each user to maximise the value of their subscription. Product Training is included with each subscription and can be tailored for each client.
The team behind your team Cordell commits to clients for the long haul, dedicating resources and support to build strong and successful relationships. Essentially, growing their clients’ business is Cordell’s core business. At each Cordell office, a qualified and highly motivated team works to ensure the building of pipelines of opportunity. In the NSW Construction Projects team, a combination of sales, research, training and account management expertise ensures a comprehensive and personal service that is tailored to every client’s specific needs. David Hunt heads up the NSW Construction Projects Sales Team. “At Cordell Information we assist our customers to find business opportunities in the short, medium and long terms so they can find more work, increase sales and increase revenue” said David. Liz Shaw and Tony Patarcic are part of the team of business consultants, working with a wide array of companies to help them enhance and build their business. John Cantor is a Key Account Manager, dealing with some of Cordell Information’s largest accounts in NSW. He is extremely passionate about helping clients to use Cordell Information to achieve their business goals in both the short and longer terms. 26
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Michael Parker is also a Key Account Manager, part of a team that is dedicated to working with Cordell clients to help them extract maximum value from their Cordell Information subscription. Matthew Young is the Cordell Connect Head Trainer. He ensures that all customers receive tailored training to get their subscription off to a flying start. As well as managing the Cordell Connect training team and dealing with day-to-day enquiries, he is also one of the facilitators of the Cordell Connect Masterclasses – half-day computer workshops designed to help customers harness the power of Connect. “One of the things I often say to customers is that they should use the support desk as much as possible. It’s beneficial as it helps them to get the most out of their Connect subscription, allowing them to grow their business and get the best return from their investment.” said Matthew. As part of Matthew’s team, Danny Rowe and Glen Evarts both provide training to clients, and also assist with day to day enquiries. One of the benefits of the Cordell service is the constant support available for any issues that may arise. Ensuring everything runs cohesively at the NSW Construction Projects office is Helen Taylor’s role. As the key support person in the team, Helen provides timely and critical administration assistance to Dave’s team of Business Consultants and Key Account Managers. Cordell have an office-based team that supports their Key Account Managers nationally to ensure that all administration is taken care of in a timely and efficient manner. Stuart Rodwell and Richard Blower are instrumental in ensuring clients receive seamless and integrated information. AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
Account Managers provide a direct point of contact, working closely with clients to enable them to maximise the value obtained from Cordell Information. This team includes Lisa Pethybridge, David Siutyk and Wayne Murray. The integrated talents of the NSW team are reflected in the other Construction Projects teams in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, enabling Cordell to provide a high level of training and business development services nationwide.
Supply and fix costings form the backbone of this division and enable users to estimate efficiently and accurately. Available delivery options include printed books and fully functional online estimating solutions with take-off tools. Cordell Costing Solutions web-based estimating software saves users time and money and helps to manage estimating requirements more effectively, which at the end of the day, also saves users from cost blowouts and budget overruns.
The bottom line is – information improves your profits
Cordell Costing Solutions also produce a range of insurance-related products that interrogate and interpret the building cost data. This allows users who are unfamiliar with the specialised area of building estimating to produce an insurance valuation or claims estimates quickly and accurately.
Cordell Information is a division of Reed Business Information, the global information and publishing company owned by Reed Elsevier, which has major operations in North America, Europe, Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region. Other Reed Elsevier companies include LexisNexis, Harcourt and Reed Exhibitions. This means that clients in Australia not only benefit from real-time localised knowledge of the construction industry, but are also connected to global markets and world best practices through this international network of associated companies. With access to the world’s leading sources of business information across all sectors, Cordell Construction Projects information gives a contractor in Burrumbuttock a connection to relevant data from everywhere. There are two other Cordell divisions that provide specialised services for the construction industry. Cordell Costing Solutions provides the latest building cost information on a vast range of building materials, labour and equipment hire. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
The third division, Cordell Tenders Online is an interactive marketplace that provides a platform for buyers and suppliers to do business. All you need to do is log on to TendersOnline, identify the projects that interest you, and send in your bid. The online tender management system is easy to use, letting you identify new opportunities in a secure environment. The solid foundation of all three Cordell Information divisions is quality research and a commitment to making that knowledge work effectively for clients, enabling them to construct more opportunities for their business. To find out how Cordell Information can assist your company, phone 1800 80 60 60, email marketing@cordell.com.au, or visit www.cordell.com.au. ANCR SPECIAL FOCUS
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best quality doors made out of the best quality materials
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arnec Doors and Systems prides itself on being able to manufacture quality doors that are made out of the best materials available.
campus and on the showpiece – the Advanced Technology Centre – the company was called to manufacture specialized acoustic and soundproofing doors for the lecture theatre.
The Australian company is a family owned business and its expertise in manufacturing quality specialty doors has made it one of Australia’s premier company’s in the industry. It has more than 30 years’ experience so knows what its clients want and need.
As with all its products, the acoustic doors were manufactured onsite at the company’s headquarters where it has two specialized manufacturing units, with a third almost completed.
Specialising in timber and metal doors means Larnec’s quality is second to none and its reputation in commercial, industrial, container, garage and transportable building sectors speaks for itself.
The acoustic doors supplied are part of the Sentry 500 range, and as with all Larnec’s products were manufactured to the client’s specification and acoustic rating.
All Larnec Doors’ products are backed by a 24-month factory guarantee and are manufactured to government safety and building standards in accordance with the Building Code of Australia and Australian Standards.
The range of acoustic doors can be made to any size required, be it in single or doubles. Acoustic doors are available in either timber or pressed metal. Clients also have the choice of having them pre hung in either timber or metal frames as well as the option of having fire rated acoustic doors and frame sets.
Using the latest construction technology, all steel products are fully welded for strength and safety, using the best Australian made materials. The maintenance free doors are designed and customized to specific needs by Larnec’s research and development team and each door is comprehensively tested and evaluated before it leaves the factory premises.
As well as acoustic doors the company manufacturers a range of other specialized doors including vandal-proof doors, bulletproof doors, sliding panel doors, fire doors, metal clad doors, timber doors as well as shutters and partitions.
And it’s not just world class manufacturing on which Larnec Doors prides itself. The company also understands how important on-time delivery is to the building industry and has instigated an exacting delivery system which is also guaranteed. Whether doors are needed in Australia, New Zealand, Asia or the United Kingdom, Larnec Doors makes sure their top-quality products get to where they need to be on time and in perfect working order. One of the company’s most recent projects was the high-tech Swinburne University – the latest in a long line of similar higher education specialty buildings on which Larnec Doors and Systems has worked. The refurbishment program at Swinburne University required Larnec Doors and Systems to supply hundreds of doors throughout the WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
larnec doors and systems 1-3 Shepherd Road Swan Hill VIC 3585 t. 1800 657 536 f. 03 5033 2030 e. sales@larnecdoors.com www.larnecdoors.com ANCR SPECIAL FOCUS
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a kind of magic...
glass scratches disappear
Right Inset Image: Magnifying a glass scratch 30 times illustrates that it is not a neat score mark as it might appear to the naked eye. It is, at a microscopic level, a ragged gouge of shattered glass that must be repaired exactingly in order to restore the optical integrity of the panel.
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cratches in glass are not what they appear. Viewed through a microscope they are like canyons gouged out of the earth, the edges ragged and shattered. Fortunately a technique exists to repair the damage. It is fine and exacting work restoring the optical integrity of a scratched glass panel to “as new and distortion free”, but it can be done. Glass can be scuffed and scratched on a busy building site even before it is put in place. Glass graffiti vandalism can ruin the amenity of a shopping precinct overnight. In the past replacement was the only option and could run into the tens of thousands of dollars. Restoration is the economically attractive option that can save up to 95% of the replacement cost depending on the damage. Global Scratched Glass Professionals are bringing the art to a new level offering these services and others to the building and insurance industries. Principal of GSGP Mark Elliott recalls abseiling to the eighth floor of an apartment building and hanging there in a sling for twelve hours to repair a 20cm scratch. ”Our approach is that we will go anywhere, to any lengths, and to any height, to restore damaged glass.” This is not a job for everyone but with nineteen years of experience in repairing scratched, cracked and chipped glass there is no better in the business. Glass panels stained by water marks, acid rain and calcium deposits can also be restored to “as new”. Once restored the glass is treated with
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a protective non-stick “nano-coat” which repels water and calcium build-up, saving on future cleaning costs. Similarly, a protective film can be applied to glass once graffiti scratches have been removed. If another incident occurs the sacrificial film is peeled off and replaced, saving the glass and disruption to the business owner. Repair is the Green option. Saving 1 tonne of glass saves at least 2 tonnes of carbon emissions.
global scratched glass professionals - The Solution Is Clear PO Box 13 Buderim Sunshine Coast QLD 4556 m. 0402 755 887 e. mark@scratchedglassrepair.com.au www.scratchedglassrepair.com.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
no precast task too hard W
hen it comes to precast concrete, major projects, government departments, civil contractors, builders and distributors rely on BCP Precast, the construction industry’s leading specialists in precast design and manufacturing. Their track record over the last 30 years is proof that Australian ingenuity, flexibility and determination can meet any challenge.
BCP Precast is the only wholly Australian owned major manufacturer of reinforced concrete box culverts on the east coast of Australia. Their other products for major infrastructure projects include jersey barriers, bridge parapets, patterned panels, precast pits, sewer access chambers, stair treads, noise walls and for commercial construction and industrial projects, precast flooring products, trade waste arrestors, onsite detention tanks, gross pollutant traps and car stops. All BCP’s standard products have been designed by external consulting engineers who provide independent certification of BCP products. BCP has a quality system in place which conforms to AS/NZS ISO 9001:2000 and is certified by Benchmark Certification Pty Ltd. BCP is also the leading manufacturer of “custom” precast products made to meet specific client designs and specifications. With four state of the art, high capacity manufacturing facilities at Charmhaven, Moorebank and Coffs Harbour in New South Wales, and Yatala in Queensland, BCP service projects along the east coast from the Port
Douglass down to Melbourne, providing a complete service throughout Queensland, NSW and Victoria. Recently, BCP successfully completed three varieties of precast parapet panels for the Victoria Road Busway Project in a seven month manufacturing programme. The shell, pedestrian and cyclist parapet panels were used for attachment to the outer edges of the bridge to provide a safety barrier between road, footpath, cycleway and the river below. The panels were fragile structures measuring 5.5 metre long by 2 metres high, and thin in section. There was a high risk of cracking, so unique handling methods were developed to transport them to the site without damaging the integrity of the panels or the class 2 finish specified for the project. On the Sydney A380 Upgrade project, Leighton Contractors turned to BCP to manufacture the precast concrete slabs used to strengthen the tunnel. The project’s challenges included the need for BCP to comply with the requirements of Sydney Airport Corporation (SACL) which specified all deliveries and onsite work be carried out in the dead of night during the Sydney Airport’s takeoff and landing curfew. Supplying such complex projects is possible because BCP offers a personalised service, with sales staff and engineering staff working with clients to come up with cost effective precast solutions which can meet the most challenging design and supply needs.
bcp precast pty ltd Sales Manager : Gary Massie t. 1800 804 134 e. sales@bcp.com.au www.bcp.com.au
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CUBIC SCORES PERFECT MARKS FOR EDUCATION PROJECTS C
ubic achieves top class results for education facilities, most recently delivering the internal fit-out for 80 schools in the Sydney and Blue Mountains region. This massive rollout of materials and manpower for the BER projects involved incredible organisational, scheduling and management skills. Cubic’s brief included procuring, supplying and installing all interior fit-out elements for buildings ranging from classrooms to multi purpose facilities and amenities blocks. Every single school was unique, requiring a specific risk assessment, OH&S plan, and works program. In order to co-ordinate the works across 45 concurrent sites, and manage a workforce of 300 tradesmen, a master program was implemented to facilitate effective staging. “We successfully undertook the co-ordination and execution of a methodically sequenced program across multiple sites to ensure efficiency of construction,” said Cubic’s Project Director, Rick Maung.
“As schools are sensitive environments all our labour had to undergo stringent OHS procedures tailored individually for each school. Each school presented its own unique challenges with varying issues ranging from design elements through to logistical procedures. “A key component of successfully completing 80 schools in 12 months was to ensure that all materials and products were procured and deliveries taken into storage well ahead of construction schedule.”
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The scale of this procurement and storage included 250,000 metres of timber flooring, 20,000m2 of plywood, 1,200 timber door panels, 8,000m2 of pinboard fabric and 6,000m2 of tiles to name a few. “By having these materials in our storage facility we were able to schedule our works across the sites in the most efficient way and control the outcome for our clients,” said Rick. Cubic’s track record for successful projects extends across all levels of education. Recent major projects for the tertiary sector include the Law Building and Lowy Cancer Research Centre, both at the University of New South Wales. These projects demonstrate Cubic’s diversity in construction for the education sector including 350 seat Auditoriums, Lecture Theatres, Intricate 5 and 6 level showpiece Atriums, Libraries and Laboratories as well as Offices, Meeting rooms and Amenities facilities. With their strengths in complex project management, coupled with superior design and fabrication skills and certified OH&S Management System to AS/NZS 4801:2001, Cubic are able to undertake large scale roll out projects nation-wide. Cubic has offices in Sydney, Canberra and Perth and are also building a presence in Melbourne and Brisbane.
cubic group Unit 4, 4 Avenue of Americas Newington NSW 2127 t. 13000 CUBIC (28242)
f. 1300 056 369 e. info@cubicgroup.biz www.cubicgroup.biz
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
eureka's teamwork conquers flood and mud
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ureka Steel Fixing and supplies QLD Pty Ltd showed the truth of the company motto “we look after our people so they could look after you” during the Queensland flood crisis. Established since December 2005, Eureka have worked hard to create a business that works on quality, safety, integrity, respect and honour, founded on investment in their staff.
“By this stage we knew the sites would be closed down for some time, so on Friday afternoon we decided we would continue to pay them to go and help with the clean up, effective from Monday. We decided to shut the office - that all of our team would go - so on Friday afternoon we organised all the equipment we would need, and ordered food to take up for us and for other volunteers.
“Our business was significantly impacted by the QLD floods,” said Managing Director Helen Paximadis. “Most of our sites are located in the most affected flood areas, including the ABC Accommodation at South Bank, 111 Eagle Street on Eagle Street, Rocklea Markets at Rocklea and Hershal street. On the morning of the floods we decided that we would get our men out of these areas early, thinking that there will be at some stage a mass evacuation from Brisbane CBD and it will take our guys ages to get out - their safety was our main concern.
“Monday morning we drove to Goodna. Our guys did an amazing job for the next week, cleaning, gutting and pulling houses apart. We had a number of employees working at the Soul project on the Gold Coast that really wanted to go and help, and I need to thank these individuals for working back and working on days that they didn’t have to, making it possible for everyone to go and assist. We made sure they had the opportunity to go and assist with the clean up as it was important for them to do something to help.
“In the days following the flood peak, the guys could not work as the sites were shut down. Many companies stood their guys down, we had this option but we chose to continue to pay them. We made this decision for a number of reasons, first we thought it would affect our employees a great deal financially if we did not pay them and stood them down, and we did not want to make them victims of the floods. Most of our guys stayed home and got paid for the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
“We stuck together as a team. As a company we feel good about how we handled the whole situation and proud that we thought outside the square and did not do the obvious and stand our guys down.” 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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btw has your site's bases covered
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or teams working on major projects, BTW Communications provides the means to keep everyone connected, providing the latest communications equipment, designed especially for noisy, risky, dusty environments. With 20 years experience in meeting the needs of construction, manufacturing, shopping centres, refineries and the oil sector, BTW understand what equipment needs to achieve. Their communications packages both for hire and sale are tailored for each client, and include base station, hand held, vehicle mounted, tower crane installations and site-point equipment, all working in one cohesive network. Ten years ago, BTW launched their On Site Safety System, a voice and data system with refinements such as power failure alarms; flashing lights and evacuation sirens; battery backup to ensure communications in event of a power failure; and solar panel powered portable points for sites with no power. Seven day a week service calls and scheduled maintenance including battery tests are also guaranteed, with same day swap of equipment if required. Additionally, full training and user documentation is provided to all clients. Some of BTWs long-term clients include Lend Lease, Brookfield Multiplex, Baulderstone Hornibrook, Mirvac, St Hilliers and Hutchinson Builders; in recent years almost all Sydney CBD commercial construction projects have used their site radio and tower crane communications and on site safety system. “We are good at working with the people who use the product. We believe in personal service and doing what we say we will,” said BTW General Manager, Linda McRae. “Our belief in the Motorola brand is the key to our success. This is a world-wide brand that is researched and 34
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developed to the highest quality and supported. Motorola are the leaders in our industry with 75 years experience.” The latest technology from Motorola available through BTW for use on Australian projects is the MOTOTRBO™ Professional Digital Conventional Two-Way Radio System. This system can provide conventional communication in analogue and digital modes, or provide digital capacity plus trunked communication, which allows for the sending of text messages and a GPS location function via the site 2-way system. MOTOTRBO complies with the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) tier two standard, and U.S. Military Standards C, D, E, F and IP57 for submersibility in water. MOTOTRBO's portable radios are intrinsically safe and can be used in locations where flammable gas, vapors, or combustible dust may be present. When it is vital to keep everyone on site in the loop, BTW provides a cost-effective and comprehensive service, with offices in Penrith, Auburn, Wollongong, Dubbo and Canberra.
BTW Communications Pty Ltd 52a Hampstead Road Auburn PO Box 6340 Silverwater NSW 2128 General Manager: Linda McRae t. 02 9737 8944 f. 02 9737 8694 e. sales@btw.com.au www.btw.com.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
City Square - 125 St George Terrace, Perth WA Westfield CBD - Crn Pitt St Mall & Market St, Sydney NSW
Star Hotel - 80 Pyrmont St, Pyromont NSW
china southern glass australia pty ltd S
pecialising in architectural glass projects, China Southern Glass (Aust) boasts a team of professional staff who pride themselves in delivering superb customer service. The diverse product range offered by China Southern Glass (Aust) includes Float Glass, Insulating Glass, Low E Glass, Solar Reflective Glass, Tempered and Heat Strengthened Glass, Curved Tempered Glass, Laminated Glass and Enamelled Glass. All products conform to necessary Standard requirements.
Having established a major presence in the façade industry, Southern China Glass (Aust) is known for their commitment to working closely with project managers and achieving high expectations on the projects. Their quality glass product helps architects to attain 4, 5 and even 6 Green Star Building Awards.
Western Australia sees China Southern Glass (Aust) working on City Square, 140 William Street and 167 Westralia Plaza. In Queensland the Brisbane Supreme Court and Hilton Hotel are taking their focus at present. A new product now available from China Southern Glass (Aust) is the Triple Low E Coating which has superseded the Double Low E Coating and performs well against solar heat. This new coating improves the glass performance with better Shading Coefficient (SC) and yet, maintains high Visible Light Transmittance (VLT). This innovative product offers more options when achieving specifications on projects. Recognised for their exceptional service, and with the quality range of glass products on offer, China Southern Glass (Aust) are a good solution for your next project.
During their 16 year history in Australia, China Southern Glass (Aust) has worked on over 250 projects. Currently in Victoria, they are working on the Vogue Apartments, Royal Children’s Hospital, Crown Claredon Hotel & Apartments, Myer CBD and the BMW Showroom in Doncaster, just to name a few. In New South Wales, they are contracting to Westfield (CBD), Darling Walk, Royal North Shore Hospital, Energy Australia, Star Hotel, Red Cross plus other projects throughout the State. In the ACT they are focusing on the Canberra International Airport and in South Australia, the Techport. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
China Southern Glass (Aust) Pty Ltd Level 2, Suite 2, 186-190 Church Street Parramatta NSW 2150 t. 02 9635 4368 f. 02 9635 4376 e. csga@csgaustralia.com.au www.csgaustralia.com.au ANCR SPECIAL FOCUS
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ONE OF A KIND HOMES ON THE BAY W ith generous spaces both inside and out, and an innate harmony with Port Phillip’s Bayside area, JDA Architects’ design for Edgecliff is a magnificent aesthetic and commercial achievement. The project consisting of 70 house sized apartments over four levels and six townhouses, won the UDIA Victoria 2010 award for best medium density housing. There were three major considerations for the design; the need to complement the bayside setting, the need for commercial viability, and how to address the competing demands of a bay focused lifestyle with the impact of the hostile bayside environment and the potential for overland floods. Edgecliff follows on from the nearby and highly successful Portofino Apartments project. JDA Director, John Douglas who designed both projects, brings to the drawing board a local’s knowledge of the Bayside area and a commitment to giving clients results that are both commercially astute and intelligent in their problem-solving. “The keyword for these house-like apartments is generosity. We have been generous in space allocation within the apartments and their balconies extending out into the surrounding courtyards. Site coverage is limited to 50% with spaces between wings being large and open ended” said John Douglas. “The coastal guesthouses of the 1920s and 1930s were our reference point. Ribbons of green glass flow around the buildings, a reference to the balconies of the old guesthouses. The glass is treated with interlayered dots at appropriate locations to afford privacy to the lower level courtyards or between apartment wings.
JDA Design Group Pty Ltd 239 Bay Street Brighton VIC 3186 t. 03 9596 8411 f. 03 9596 8350 e. mark@jdaarchitects.com.au 36
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“The Bayside planning controls limited development to no more than two storeys, excluding an attic or basement. We had a large open site, so we decided to extend the 3m deep excavation for the car park across the entire site and on the sunny side created another level of apartments focused on large private courtyards all below footpath level. Some of those apartments are two storey town house style and others single level all with living rooms at the sunken garden level. The design also took advantage of the large volumes of the pitched roof form to create a full level of Penthouse Apartments within the ‘Attic’” said John. This design solution lead to Council modifying its planning controls to prohibit a replication of this approach. The project site is subject to overland flooding, necessitating specific authority approval. JDA incorporated flood water planning and mechanisms for protecting homes and carparks into the overall design. A levy bank has been constructed as part of the building design, and specialist engineering components and planning used to ensure drains are incapable of backflow. The design was fully tested when Melbourne received a 150mm downpour causing major flooding of the surrounding streets but not the apartments of Edgecliff. JDA have been servicing Bayside projects for 25 years, and have designed projects for healthcare, aged care, commercial offices, retail and residential. They are currently working on a major private hospital redevelopment masterplan, a supermarket with over 90 apartments in Brighton and a 120 house residential infill village in nearby Mentone. JDA can offer their services in Architecture design and documentation, interior design and documentation all with a high level of ESD for projects Australia-wide. JDA ARCHITECTS • JDA INTERIORS • JDA GREENSCORE
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DEDICATED TO THE WELLNESS OF PEOPLE AND PLANET
E Smith SEQ Construction made an enormous contribution of mindpower, manpower and materials to the Gold Coast University Hospital. Their team undertook one of the biggest tasks of the $1.76 billion dollar 750 bed Bovis project, supplying and installing the central energy plant and chilled water ring main works. Engineering and drafting began in February 2010 and site installation works commenced in June 2010, with work undertaken in three stages. First, the Engineering Tunnel, then the ring main through the basement of the main Clinical Services Building, and finally, the significant works within the Central Energy Plant which included the major equipment items, chillers, pumps and pipework headers. AE Smith supplied and installed five energy-efficient 6 MWr dual compressor Trane chillers weighing 38 tonne each (currently the largest in Australia). AE Smith also installed 1.5 km of 650mm diameter steel pipe, 1 km of 400 & 350mm diameter steel pipe, 16 large split case pumps, 8 large cooling towers of 5200kw Heat Rejection each and the 1100mm diameter return water header. The pipe was assembled using roll grooved system, the largest roll grooved system ever undertaken by AE Smith’s off site manufacturing facilities. “The materials handling aspect of the project required significant thought, the moving and lifting of the 650mm pipe weighing 1.5 tonne per length required the design of trolleys and lifting frames that were designed and manufactured specifically for this project,” said AE Smith SEQ Construction Project Manager, Peter Cahill. A team of 26 AE Smith plumbers were on site during the peak of installation works, as well as additional specialist subcontractors undertaking the electrical installation, pipework insulation and sheathing and the Cooling Tower and access platform erection. An offsite team of project manager, engineering design manager, project engineers, draftsmen, OH&S Manager and a Commissioning Manager also dedicated their talents to the task.
commitment and the overall size and complexity of this project, extensive involvement in the management of OH & S has been required on site and the AE Smith site management team has been structured accordingly, which has directly resulted in exceptional safety standards and results from the AE Smith installation team,” said AE Smith SEQ General Manager, Steve Jackson. AE Smith SEQ provides their expertise and experience to clients across Queensland, from the Gold Coast to the Far North and into the interior, with staff based at operational centres in Brisbane, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns. SEQ Construction employees some 140 direct staff and has operational responsibility for the company’s duct manufacturing operation at Eagle Farm. Recently, the company also completed 400 George St, a 34 storey commercial office building with a predicted 5 Star NABERS rating plus a further 20 percent emissions reduction. 400 George St has achieved both 5 Star Green Star Office Design V2 rating and a 5 Star Green Star Office As Built V2 rating. AE Smith’s design and supply of Mechanical Services for the project shows full dedication to practical sustainability, with the air conditioning system designed to respond to the environmental performance of the buildings façade in order to maximise thermal comfort, reduce energy costs and provide a high indoor air quality. “400 George St showcases that by utilising commercially available equipment and with careful planning, well documented commissioning and a dedicated team from design through to installation; commissioning and fine tuning that high energy efficiency can be achieved,” said Steve Jackson. AE Smith and Son (SEQ) Pty Ltd 107 Fison Avenue West Eagle Farm QLD 4009 t. 1300 313 313 www.aesmith.com.au
“A very high regard to safety and ensuring the well being of our employees and specialist sub-contractors is a commitment that AE Smith and Bovis Lend Lease share. As a result of this shared WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
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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.� 38
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Call BD Harvest on 0408 128 402 or 9333 2442 or email bdharvest@bigpond.com AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
LOCKER GROUP’S MAGIC BRIGHTENS BRISBANE BRIDGES T
here’s something like alchemy at work in Locker Group’s metal products, a combination of aesthetics and functionality which brings a distinctive element to every project they contribute to. Brisbane’s new Go Between Bridge is an excellent example.
The Go Between Bridge is the first inner-city cross river link for vehicles constructed in Brisbane for 40 years. The four lane bridge incorporates dedicated cycle and pedestrian pathways creating a convenient connection from Hale St and the Inner City Bypass to Merivale and Cordelia streets in West End. The pedestrian pathway is located on the eastern (city) side of the bridge, and the cycleway on the western side, which links with existing cycleways to Toowong and the city.
to the pedestrian walkway. None of Locker Group’s woven wire panels sustained damage. “At Locker Group we are committed to providing sustainable and quality outcomes for all of our architectural projects,” said Locker Group’s Queensland Account Manager for Architectural, Tim McGovern. “As with this project, many of our products are required towards the end of the construction programme. We work closely with the design and construction teams to ensure the finishes are available at the right time, minimising costly down time for installation.”
The design included some aesthetic elements that provide both colour and texture to the service areas within the bridge. Locker Group designed and manufactured the brightly coloured panels on the eastern face of the bridge, combining functionality with style.
Locker Group has developed a wide range of outstanding award-winning metal mesh products, including sun shading panels and screens, specifically for the architectural and design markets. The architectural range has been developed in close consultation with customers and can be modified to meet unique design briefs: truly materials for a designer’s imagination.
The material chosen was aluminium perforated sheets. To prolong longevity and minimise the possibility of corrosion, the panels were anodised in the distinctive blue and green hues. Installed in a random manner, the perforated panels provide a striking contrast to the concrete structure.
With products across perforated metal, woven wire and expanded metals, and offices in all Australia’s mainland capital cities, Locker Group can provide any project with world class solutions, delivering to both designer and owner quality, performance and a distinct impression.
This pedestrian way is the latest for Locker Group; others include supplying woven wire panels for the Kurilpa Bridge and woven wire and perforated panels for the Toowong Western Freeway Bridge. The durability of their work received its harshest possible test when the Brisbane River floodwaters and their burden of debris passed around and under Kurilpa Bridge, rising almost
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LOCKER Group Pty Ltd Queensland State Office 601 Boundary Road Darra QLD 4076 t. 07 3710 3000 f. 07 3375 5177 e. sales.qld@locker.com.au
Head Office 2 Cojo Place Dandenong South VIC 3175 All States phone: 1800 635 947 www.locker.com.au
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Brady’s Custom Construction Mesh Sign I mprove your site presentation and reflect on professionalism, by using this seven-in-one, Mandatory Site Safety Signage.
Managers and supervisors are directly responsible for OH&S within areas under their control. Employers “must ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of all the employees” OH&S Act 2000, as well as the Health & Safety of other people who may be present on site. Health & Safety Signs are an effective way of providing visual cues to employees, visitors and passerby. Move from traditional sign plastering and onto Brady’s Custom Construction Mesh Sign – it is the professional way of presenting to your employee’s and to the public, the company’s significance when it comes to Health & Safety, Building & Construction. Constructed from lightweight and strong PVC, Brady’s Custom Construction Mesh Sign is made up of seven Mandatory Site Safety signs. Due to its versatility, you can choose from Brady’s large selection of sign legends to suit your application. The mesh substrate makes the sign ideal for seeing though to construction site and allowing wind to pass through, softening wind loads on a windy day.
Display a sign of professionalism by also having your company’s logo and site contact details printed and reinforce your company’s market place status. Brady’s Custom Construction Mesh Sign comes complete with eyelets, simple and ready to be hung, roll and reuse.
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 WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
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 ANCR SPECIAL FOCUS
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aiwc protects lifelines P
ipelines are lifelines for many industries and essential infrastructure – and Australasian Industrial Wrappings and Coatings (AIWC) are the experts in protecting this vital infrastructure with a product range which includes 100 per cent Australian made petrolatum products.
Soon after entering the Australian pipeline industry in 1998 the team at AIWC noticed that the market needed a dependable supplier of essential materials for the construction and maintenance of pipelines. Over the years, AIWC has expanded the range of products it offers customers, and have now established themselves as the “one stop shop”, stocking everything required by pipeline owners and pipeline contractors. They can cost-effectively supply a range including specialist Marine wrapping systems; cathodic protection systems; and a variety of anti corrosion prevention coating systems. The pipeline coating systems include user-friendly and Australian-made RAM petrolatum tape systems, which utilize micro-crystalline waxes, offering high conformability and superior adhesion/ amalgamation to itself and substrate. AIWC’s Flexi Seal Systems is a range of tape coatings which can be applied by hand application or by machine, offering the best solution for coating pipelines when only Butyl tapes will do. AIWC also stock Zanelli Heat Shrink Sleeves, a thick robust and more tolerant sleeve which can achieve a uniform coating over the substrate without the need for additional heat. Zanelli sleeves are used world-wide due to their exceptional performance. For protecting marine works, AIWC have numerous systems designed for preventing corrosion on steel piles. These include the traditional Petrolatum Tapes with outer claddings comprising 42
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of Bituminous Tapes, UVR HDPE Jacket with straps and also an innovative bolt on jacket system. AIWC also supply a comprehensive range of off the shelf pipeline equipment, such as Cathodic Protection Equipment - CP Upstands, Magnesium Anodes, Insulating Joints, Trace Wire, Reference Electrodes and Paddock Markers; they also supply construction needs such as Rockmesh, Hot tap Tees, Case Insulators, Carbonaceous and Gypsum Bentonite Back Fill, Warning Tape, Pipe Fittings, Expandafoam, Pipe Insulators and Pigs. The demonstrated ability of AIWC’s technical staff to specify, supply, supervise and undertake works has achieved cost-effective benefits for their major clients including Jemena Asset Management, AGL, Tas Gas, QGC, Agility Gas Networks, Caltex Refineries, Sydney Gas, Shell Refinery, Sydney Water, as well as high profile projects such as the SEA Gas pipeline, Sydney Primary Loop, Delta and Telfer pipeline and Wagga Wagga gas pipeline. AIWC is constantly increasing its range of products and services, and combines technical excellence with a commitment to meeting deadlines, consistently delivering the means of constructing and protecting essential pipeline and project assets.
Australasian Industrial Wrappings and Coatings Pty Ltd PO Box 40 f. 02 8783 7055 Miller NSW 2168 e. enquires@aiwc.com.au t. 02 9608 8111 www.aiwc.com.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
TOP PERFORMER FOR SAFER SITES
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ike hard hats, Uni-span’s Uni-mesh is essential safety equipment on major project work sites such as the Brisbane Airport and the Gold Coast University Hospital. Uni-span has provided approximately 16,000m2 of Uni-mesh to each site, ensuring a safe workplace for all the trades involved in these multi-million dollar projects. Easy and quick to install, Uni-mesh provides Secure Containment of the scaffold structure and the building edges throughout all stages of the construction process - formwork, steel reinforcing, concreting, blockwork, rendering, glazing and other facade works and painting. Falling objects are eliminated by the unique wire impregnated multi-use plastic mesh, which also provides a UV screen and gives the site a clean, cohesive and professional appearance. Uni-span can supply Uni-mesh with appropriate colours and corporate logos. For the Laing O’Rourke projects at Brisbane Airport, Uni-span provided black Uni-mesh with Laing O’Rourke and Brisbane Airport Corporation logos which were screen printed on each 10m roll. Uni-mesh is a high tensile product, and supersedes the use of chain-wire and shade cloth both in speed of installation and in performance. It takes half the time of chain wire and shade cloth to install, and Independent testing has shown it performs better for both tensile strength and burst pressure than the standard required by the Workplace Health and Safety Authority. Uni-mesh also gives long-lasting, weather durable performance. On both the Gold Coast University Hospital site and the Brisbane Airport, the scaffolding containment screening has had to withstand cyclonic conditions and extremely hard wear and tear. After all the punishment – the Uni-mesh is still intact and looking good, and will be re-usable on other projects once it comes down from these ones. Uni-mesh is fast to remove, easy to roll up and store and can be jet water cleaned. Uni-span have an agile approach to meeting client needs, and were able to supply the vast amount of Uni-mesh to both sites within tight
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timeframes, while also servicing other ongoing major projects, including the Mackay Base Hospital, Stockland Shopping Centre Townsville and the Lotus Glen Correctional Centre in Mareeba – far north Queensland. “Workplace Health and Safety Officials Nationally have accepted Uni-mesh as a pre-eminent and preferred product for containment screening,” said Marcelo Correa, Business & Risk Manager for Uni-span Australia. “Uni-mesh is one of Uni-span’s most prized innovations and when you look up at the construction of new buildings or the renovations of older buildings, commercial, industrial, residential or mining fronts; or anywhere where containment screening is required; you are likely to see Uni-mesh being used. “Uni-mesh has been identified by many top tier construction companies as the preferred method of containment; so much so that our competitors are being asked to use it on their projects.” Products: Uni-mesh: labour-saving, durable, cost-effective, secure wire core plastic screening mesh for scaffolding containment and other uses. Out performs chain and shade-cloth for safety, versatility, strength, ease of use and manual handling benefits. Kwik-Az: The KwikAz Clips and Applicator makes for a safe and rapid installation and removal of Uni-mesh – no ties or wires needed. UNI-SPAN GROUP PTY LTD 28 Computer Road Yatala QLD 4207 t. 1300 882 825 f. 07 3807 0546 e. info@uni-span.com.au www.uni-span.com.au ANCR SPECIAL FOCUS
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nothing less than success
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t took four months for Simon Foster Fabrications to install the 440m of balustrade in and around the Central TAFE redevelopment in Aberdeen Street, Perth. The stainless steel and glass balustrade enhances the striking design of the redevelopment which will link the college’s other buildings in the area. Simon Foster Fabrication, which has been in operation for nine years, manufactured most of the balustrade on site and the installation involved six employers. 44
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Since completing the Central TAFE project Simon Foster Fabrication has been working on a number of structural steel installations in the city centre as well as shop fitouts throughout Perth.
SIMON FOSTER METAL FABRICATION 5/19 Oxliegh Drive Malaga WA 6090 t. 08 9209 3445 m. 0415 161 516 e. sfmf@westnet.com.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
HEART-STARTERS FOR STALLED PROJECTS
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aking a project from flat-lined to flourishing anew requires specialist skills, tact and negotiation experience, the kind Gibbon Hamor have developed over many years of involvement in the construction industry. As management consultants specializing in building and facilities advice, they are the go-to company when projects suffer major setbacks that literally stop them in their tracks. “Our approach starts as broad based, gathering an overview of the physical conditions of the building and site, state of the approvals and the status of funding. Then it narrows to the very thorough analysis of each of these aspects with a view to their ‘re-activisation’,” explained Gibbon Hamor Director, Harry Hamor. “We have developed a unique methodology, framework and skill set for this task. All problems with projects come about for simple reasons, such as a lack of contingency planning in the budget, or approvals not properly done. “The basic steps for re-activating the project start with the dis-assembly of what we find, following on with its re-assembly, once we have a comprehensive handle on the circumstances and the relevant physical material pertaining to the state of the project when it reached crisis point. Typically, we’ve found that obtaining all the information, including drawings, specifications, copies of approvals, compliance reports, certification and the like, in relation to the stalled project is often complex.” One of the main challenges is that when projects go pear-shaped, it often happens quickly, and much of the paperwork for individual entities leaves the site when they do. Gibbon Hamor undertake the messy task of tracking down all that data, as part of gaining a comprehensive understanding of the project, and laying the groundwork for its revival. Their building forensics and rehabilitation process focuses on minimising financial fallout for stakeholders, and building a team which can in a cost-effective manner get the project back on track and headed for completion. Regular reporting ensures all interested parties are kept informed of progress, outstanding approval matters are dealt with professionally and budgets are fine-tuned to avoid surprises. With the company’s thorough understanding of built assets, from design and approvals through the actual nuts and bolts of construction, and the entire paper trail between those two points, Gibbon Hamor are able to pick up the pieces and glue everything together, no matter what stage the project was at when it hit the rocks.
Gibbon Hamor Advisory Buildings & Projects Director: Harry Hamor t. 02 9566 4000 f. 02 9566 4111 e. gibbonhamor@tpg.com.au WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
“We have successfully turned around a number of projects of varying sizes, from commercial and industrial to residential. We see our role more as the surgeon with the skill to get it up and completed, with the minimum of collateral damage. This approach keeps the process clean, and also delivers the new owner, such as an investor, receiver or mortgagee, a clean building that is now a viable asset, ready to sell, lease or move into,” said Harry Hamor. ANCR SPECIAL FOCUS
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dedication delivers quality results F
ounded on an ethic of delivering quality craftsmanship, PA Jackson Cabinetmaker are one of the Top End’s leading joinery subcontractors. Recently, the company completed a major Norbuilt project for the aged care sector, Darwin’s Southern Cross Care facility. From July 2010 PA Jackson produced joinery for five staff units; joinery for the main building of the nursing home and the retirement resort including reception counters, nurses stations, kitchens and linen/ storage cupboard; and kitchenettes, wardrobes and vanities for 65 rooms as well as joinery for the onsite hair and beautician salon.
A combination of Laminex, Formica and solid Jarrah timber was used. Designing and shop drawings was undertaken on computer, using a program called Cabinet Vision by Planit to ensure the designs were most effectively translated to the boards used. This program links to the company’s new CNC nesting machine where the boards are drilled and routered, ready for construction. “The Southern Cross program has been smooth running. We have never left a stone unturned to ensure all of the works we have produced are of the highest standard, and are built exactly to the requirements of the architect and Southern Cross Care,” said PA Jackson founder, Peter Jackson “This is a standard that I insist on in all our projects, to ensure we meet our deadlines by getting things correct the first time. If I
wouldn’t be happy with the work in my own place it doesn’t leave our factory door.” As this was a local project, PA Jackson used its own flatbed truck for delivery to site for installation by their subcontract installation team. PA Jackson have developed a strong relationship with Norbuilt, and have undertaken contracts with them in Western Australia at Halls Creek, Kununurra, Broome and other remote areas, providing the joinery for a police station, schools, youth hostels and Halls Creek aquatic centre. “These have all been great opportunities to be involved in, as well as being a part of award-winning projects,” said Peter. “We do a lot of Norbuilt joinery works in Darwin. Recently for group of residential units we produced kitchens, vanity units and wardrobes to the architects design. Since beginning business in 2003 with three tradesmen, PA Jackson has grown into a company employing eight people including four tradesmen and two apprentices. With skilled labour shortages in Darwin and beyond, PA Jackson maintains a firm commitment to providing training opportunities, ensuring the tradition of excellent craftsmanship continues.
PA Jackson Cabinetmaker 2/11 Albatross Street Winnellie NT t. 08 8947 2260 f. 08 8947 6985 e. peter.jackson10@bigpond.com
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international style showcased locally
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he Brisbane domestic airport common user area has recently been extended and refurbished to create a modern space with functional style. Metro Tiles worked closely with Hassell Architects and Italian tile manufacturer Casalgrande Padana, to specify and supply a custom made floor tile that would suit the requirements of their client, Brisbane Airport Corporation. The brief was to deliver a flooring solution at the Brisbane domestic airport that worked to match and compliment the aesthetic and maintenance regime of the recently completed Brisbane international terminal. Hassell Architects developed a colour scheme, and tile laying design to accentuate the radial grid of the terminal and the satellite. The scheme used linear custom made Casalgrande Padana Meteor Bianco tiles with an inset of smaller Grafite coloured tiles from the same range. The completed floor provides a stylish backdrop for the new lounge, retail and office facilities. Metro Tiles long standing relationship with Casalgrande Padana ensured that the specified tiles were supplied direct from the Italian manufacturer on time, on budget; perfectly meeting the specified criteria.
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Metro Tiles Director, Lorenzo Colussa, said, “The key reason for this, and many of our commercial projects success, is the ability of our Sales teams to collaborate with Architects and Builders to meet customers requirements.� Metro Tiles’ purpose-built bulk warehouse facility enables the importing and stocking of hundreds of square metres of tile, stone and glass, which means faster delivery and more varied product availability. Metro Tiles is able to provide commercial projects with modern and exclusive designs and product choices, at competitive prices.
Metro Tiles Head Office P/L 192 Granite Street Geebung QLD 4034 contact: Lorenzo Colussa t. 07 3216 5800 m. 0409 511 600 e. lorenzo@metrotiles.com.au www.metrotiles.com.au ANCR SPECIAL FOCUS
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cost solutions W
ill construction costs rise or fall in 2011? 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 QLD group in 2010 and 25 years in the NSW group in 2011, 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.
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
D&M SHIFTS THE SILT FROM BRISBANE
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ith disastrous weather causing flooding, landslides and masses of debris around Brisbane, D&M Plant Hire rose to the occasion, putting in an extraordinary effort to supply manpower and machinery for the cleanup effort. While dealing with extremely dangerous sites, answering all-hours call outs to clear highways blocked by landslides, the company’s management abilities ensured ongoing jobs were maintained even while running extra round the clock shifts for flood related work. D&M provided over 20 trucks and up to 20 excavators and combinations on a wet hire basis, along with up to 90 workers for flood cleanup throughout SE Qld, including Marburg, Grantham, Goodna and Brisbane Metro. D&M has also been working to help cleanup the damage at Moggill Ferry, and for road resurfacing and clearing landslides with Downer EDI on the Warrego Highway and for Road Tech and RPQ on the D’Aquilar Highway. Keeping D&M’s highly experienced Operators safe and healthy was a top priority. All plant was equipped with sanitising lotion and full PPE for Operators to use, along with gas masks for fumes as flood debris was a melange of materials, including decomposing organics, sewerage and toxic industrial pollutants. “One of the D&M’s biggest challenges was dealing with members of the public who were near the machines. The public is often not aware of the dangers of being close to big machinery, so we stressed to our staff to be extremely careful, and to inform the public of the risks,” said D&M Site Supervisor, Tony Ganzer. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
Another major issue was the degree of tyre damage sustained by plant working on debris clearing. Because Operators could not see under the mud, it was not uncommon to have a Bobcat staking all four tyres at once or for rubber tracks to be split. D&M’s dedicated maintenance department ensured their equipment was back on the job rapidly. D&M expect ongoing flood clean up and recovery works to continue for a year or more. Other current projects include Earthworks for Pensar on the Redcliffe Upgrade, major road resurfacing in partnership with Road Profilers Queensland, and providing wet hire equipment to the Woogaroo Sewer Trunk Main for Thiess, part of the ICIP project. With almost 40 years experience across civil construction, commercial construction, bulk earthworks, dams, sub divisions, demolition and precision work, and a fleet of late model and new trucks, tippers, floats, bobcats, positracks, excavators and rubber-tracked earth moving equipment, D&M have the capability to meet the needs of any major project in the Greater Brisbane area.
D&M Plant Hire Pty Ltd PO Box 1896 Cleveland QLD 4163 t. 07 3286 5088 f. 07 3286 7033 www.dandmplanthire.com.au ANCR SPECIAL FOCUS
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PORT BOTANY EXPANSION MAIN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY : Baulderstone DEVELOPER / CLIENT : Sydney Ports Corporation PROJECT END VALUE : $535 Million COMPLETION : Early 2011 ARCHITECTS : Hyder Consulting ENGINEER : Bilfinger Berger Civil SITE SURVEYOR : Pacific Survey BAULDERSTONE Level 4, 39 Delhi Road North Ryde NSW 2113 t. 02 9935 7100 f. 02 9935 7080 www.baulderstone.com.au
baulderstone Building Sydney Ports' new terminal at port botany
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orn of the union between the trusted names of AW Baulderstone and MR Hornibrook, Baulderstone has become one of Australia’s largest building and engineering companies. In March 2011, Baulderstone entered a new phase of its company evolution by becoming part of the Lend Lease Group. With a significant project portfolio, including the Opera House and Anzac Bridge in Sydney, and Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium, Baulderstone continues to be recognised for its innovation, quality and service excellence across an extensive range of developments. Due to Baulderstone’s adaptable and responsive approach to project planning and delivery, as well as commitment to sustainability and environmental issues, Baulderstone was also appointed as the main construction company on the significant Port Botany Container Terminal Expansion development. In a joint venture with Jan de Nul to design and construct the $535 million new terminal and associated works, Baulderstone has brought its experience in infrastructure development and design to the project.
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NSW PROJECT FEATURE PORT BOTANY EXPANSION
The joint venture also carried out related environmental and community works, following Sydney Ports Corporation’s detailed design. Encompassing the construction of an additional 1,850 metres of berth, the dredging of 11Mm3 of shipping channels and foundation trenches, the reclamation of 63 hectares of land, the construction of dedicated road and rail access, as well as a public boat launching ramp and parking, the expansion is expected to almost double the current capacity of the port. Port Botany Container Terminal Expansion Project Director Vince Newton said that during their involvement on the immense project, Baulderstone’s team of professional engineers and supervisors had been responsible for the critically important function of delivering all of the foundation improvement and berth construction. “The accepted design of the project required 216 precast concrete counterfort wall sections to be manufactured and constructed onsite. These individual wall segments weighed 640 tonnes and were installed by a purpose-built, shear leg crane barge,” Mr Newton said. AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
“Each segment was 21 metres high and nine metres wide and were equipped with double buttress walls.” To ensure settlement and lateral tolerances were designed to withstand the threat of any natural disasters – in particular, earthquakes – Baulderstone engaged Hyder and Golder Associates to provide leading geotechnical engineering expertise to the project. In fact, extensive modelling and analyses were conducted during the initial design phase, including the use of two and three-dimensional analyses and the delivery of information through new GIS and data-sharing systems. Another example of the astute engineering capabilities utilised on the Port Botany Container Terminal Expansion was Baulderstone’s use of a bridging beam. “One particular challenge we faced on this project was connecting the existing Brotherson Dock cope beam to the new cope beam,” Mr Newton said. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
Photos courtesy of Sydney Ports Corporation “In order to overcome this obstacle, we designed a 15-metre long, by 2.3-metre deep, by 5-metre wide bridging beam. “This was a completely unique structure for the project, especially given the fact that such a beam never before been utilised in a port environment – anywhere in the world,” he said. Despite the fact there were more than 100 mandatory planning conditions and requirements, Baulderstone’s innovative techniques and pioneering approach ensured the project exceeded all environmental expectations and sustainability outcomes. With such a dedicated commitment to the investment of solid working relationships with other project stakeholders, as well as a combination of cutting-edge and sustainable project solutions, Baulderstone has once again exceeded all safety, community and environmental benchmarks and delivered outstanding project results.
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Assuring durability, performance and functionality eralded as one of the most extensive and innovative port infrastructure projects in Australia in the last 30 years, the $1 billion Port Botany Expansion project has provided Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) with an opportunity to showcase its outstanding marine, environmental and verification capabilities. The challenge for any infrastructure owner, when delivering projects of this size and complexity, is to ensure long-term performance and functionality outcomes for the port owner, future operators and the wider community. Sydney Ports Corporation (SPC) selected PB to provide comprehensive verification services for the port expansion, and help SPC achieve these outcomes. In 2007, PB signed a tripartite agreement with SPC and the design and construction joint venture, Baulderstone and Jan de Nul, and has since identified numerous opportunities to add value to the project outcomes. PB’s Project Director, Tony Stein, said the Port Botany Expansion Project features many interesting and bold aspects that make this project one of the major engineering undertakings of its kind in the world, and require the independent project verifier to be dynamic, ingenious and very thorough. “Not only did we have the responsibility to certify all contract requirements, we also had to meet the verification challenges presented by each of the joint venture’s design submissions and construction procedures,” Mr Stein said. PB assembled and managed a capable team of specialists in dredging and reclamation, marine structures, materials durability, seismic, geotech and environment disciplines. They effectively addressed many issues that arose in the design and construction of 1,850
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metres of quay face for five post-panamax shipping berths, 63 hectares of reclaimed and compacted land, dedicated road and rail access, and improvements to the estuarine environment and public foreshore facilities. As well as reviewing over 300 design submissions and 1500 drawings, which formed the detailed design of the port, PB’s verification team reviewed later design changes captured in over 1000 ‘issued for-construction amendments’ and ‘requests for information’. The smart use of geotechnical and marine engineering knowledge to identify and address any gaps, shortcomings or risks in the complex designs and construction methodologies was crucial to verifying this expansion. A prime example of PB adding value occurred during its design review of a unique, continually reinforced cope beam. This crucial component of the quay structure is located in the harshest of marine conditions and required to distribute massive container crane and vessel loads across nearby counterfort units. PB’s review led to dramatic design developments and helped arrive at solutions based on sophisticated computer models that assessed effects from corner stiffness, thermal, shrinkage and seismic actions and crack widths that govern durability. An underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) was used to solve the surveillance challenges in the marine environment. The ROV was equipped with lights, camera and depth gauges so it could record clear visual observations of underwater structures and dredged areas. To be confident in how the contractor’s quality systems were applied on the project, PB undertook a broad risk assessment of the proposed
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
construction processes. This included assessing any potential risk to the durability, functionality and performance of various parts of the project, which allowed PB to set up appropriate verification strategies to manage and mitigate these risks. PB worked closely with project partners to improve quality control processes, audited, reviewed countless compliance records and hold points, and provided surveillance on- and off-site to include products supplied by external subcontractors. PB’s site-based verification team of up to 16 full-time staff applied comprehensive monitoring and surveillance systems. PB’s independent verification services made the owner confident the stringent durability and performance criteria were being met. One of the success factors on this project stems from PB staff members communicating openly, diligently and respectfully with project partners,
particularly when dealing with the inevitable contractual and technical issues that arise on projects of this scale and complexity. By successfully delivering the Port Botany Expansion Project verification services, and giving the infrastructure owner confidence in the long-term performance and functionality of this magnificent asset, PB has once again reaffirmed its leadership worldwide as an independent project verifier, particularly in civil, highway and marine construction. PB is one of the world’s leading planning, environment and infrastructure firms. With a range of comprehensive services, including strategic consulting, design, construction and project management, PB’s work spans a wide variety of projects. PB’s focus on delivering sustainable solutions, as well as its experienced and innovative approach, has led to its involvement in planning, designing and constructing a number of significant intermodal and port projects in Australia. These include the Moorebank Intermodal Terminal, Port of Melbourne–Dynon Port Rail Link and Mayfield Wharf at Newcastle.
PARSONS BRINCKERHOFF Level 27 Ernst and Young Centre 680 George Street Sydney NSW 2001 www.pbworld.com or www.pb.com.au Neil Proud Section Executive, Ports t. 03 9861 2359 Tony Stein Executive, Infrastructure Project Services t. 02 4929 8356
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ince their establishment in 1948, the Neumann Group of Companies has maintained a proud and successful history and project portfolio within the building and construction industry. Initially commencing operations as a sand mining business, the group has since developed and diversified and now also trades within the steel, specialised metals, civil construction, petroleum, pre-mixed concrete, mineral sands and land development industries. Neumann Contractors has more than 50 years’ experience in contract dredging, with a modern and well maintained dredging fleet Attributing their success and outstanding industry reputation to their philosophy of innovation, flexibility and performance, Neumann Contractors is committed to offering professional services, whilst at the same time maintaining strict quality, safety and environmental standards. With more than 800 employees in the Neumann Group, their experienced management and engineering team work closely with clients from the preliminary stages of a project, through to its completion. Neumann’s has an impressive portfolio showcasing their involvement in a number of significant dredging projects, such as the completion of more than 200 kilometres of inland waterways, as well as the successful dredging of many large scale land reclamation, infrastructure and channel maintenance projects. Recently Neumann Contractors were involved in the $500 million Port Botany Container Terminal Expansion Project in Sydney, NSW. Considered to be one of the largest infrastructure projects of its kind in Australia, the Port Botany development incorporates the expansion of the existing container port terminal to increase port capacity.
Brian Madden, Project Manager for Neumann Contractors, said that during their initial involvement they were contracted to undertake the dredging and reclamation of the concrete casting yard area, access platforms and underwater bunds used for turbidity and environmental control. Neumann’s used their 450mm cutter suction dredge the ‘Nu Bounty’, capable of dredging to a depth of 22 metres. The majority of the dredged material came from the new shipping channel, turning basin and berth pocket. During the dredging, Neumann 54
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Contractors removed in excess of 1,100,000 cubic metres of sand, which was used for land reclamation within the Port Expansion area. During the Project, Neumann’s were faced with a number of onsite challenges. In addition to the tight project delivery timeframes, Neumann Contractors also faced unstable and difficult weather conditions and the interfacing of the dredging with other marine works. Despite the limited time frame, Neumann’s were able to maintain the required project schedule completing their project responsibilities on time. AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
Innovation, Flexibility, Performance
Given Neumann’s versatile dredging fleet and expertise, as well as their dedication to innovation, flexibility and performance, Neumann Contractors will continue to deliver the desired project results to the client’s satisfaction.
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NEUMANN CONTRACTORS PTY LTD 13 Nuban Street (PO Box 8) Currumbin 4223 Queensland Australia t. +61 7 5589 2746 f. +61 7 5589 2775 e. neumann.contractors@neumann.com.au www.neumanncontractors@neumann.com.au NSW PROJECT FEATURE PORT BOTANY EXPANSION
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The Answer for all Your Engineering Problems pecialising in the use of hydraulics to solve complex engineering problems, Industrial Hydraulic Services (IHS) has been servicing a vast local and overseas market since 1973. With a team of specialist technical engineering consultants, focused on delivering solutions to complex engineering problems through the innovative use of hydraulics, IHS has grown from servicing the local engineering market to becoming a major competitor on the international scene.
providing 1850 metres of extra berth length through reclamation of 60 hectares of land. During their involvement, IHS were responsible for the complete design, manufacture and supply of the 20T Mooring Winch System, 30T Double Drum Derricking Winch System, 420T Luffing Cylinders and the 700HP Hydraulic Power Unit run off Remote Control Pendent.
Given their extensive experience and cutting-edge approach to engineering, IHS has also being involved on the $500 million Port Botany Expansion Project in Sydney.
Justin McMillan, Project Manager at IHS, said that in addition to delivering the required engineering services and products, they also took an innovative approach throughout the design and installation of the winch frames and drums.
Described as being one of the most extensive and innovative port infrastructure projects undertaken in Australia, the Port Botany expansion will include infrastructure for a new container terminal,
“In addition to this innovative approach, we used C-Ramic Densification on the rods for the luffing cylinders, which is better suited to a sea water environment,� Mr McMillan said.
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“The main obstacle we faced on the project was designing the entire system in order to meet the AS1418.1 Crane Mechanism Code. “As we could not out-source any of the safety requirements necessary, given the fact the code was not one readily used in the industry, we took the initiative to collectively design our own safety redundancy with the system that met all the code requirements of the code,” he said. As a result, IHS was once again able to effectively fulfill their responsibilities within the tight timeframe, ensuring optimum client satisfaction and project results. INDUSTRIAL HYDRAULIC SERVICES 371-391 Plummer Street Port Melbourne VIC 3207 t. 03 9645 1522 e. info@ihs-aust.com.au
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URS/Scott Wilson contribution to the Port Botany Expansion
Image supplied Courtesy of Sydney Ports Corporation
Image supplied Courtesy of URS / Scott Wilson
uring the preliminary planning phase of this project URS successfully managed and delivered the Environmental Impact Statement for Sydney Ports Corporation. Since 2008, Scott Wilson (now URS/Scott Wilson) has provided significant engineering design and construction phase support services for the design and construct consortium undertaking the major civil and structural marine works including: the maritime structures, reclamation perimeter seawalls, scour protection and a boat ramp. “As a result of our significant ports and maritime engineering expertise we were able to provide the consortium with optimum project solutions involving Scott Wilson design teams located in Sydney, Hong Kong and the UK.” Alan Betts, NSW Regional Manager of URS/Scott Wilson said. “Working with other local design consultants as part of the engineering design team, our primary responsibility was the engineering design of major elements of the maritime structures comprising the land and water interface.” There were a number of interesting challenges to be overcome in the design including; minimum settlement criteria, a 100-year design life, a cope beam on top of the counterfort and caisson units which consisted of a combination of precast concrete elements on the front face of the main continuous cast-in-situ beam. In addition, special caisson units were required at the quay wall corners and at the connection with the existing quay wall. “The challenges presented by the scale of this project such as the 1.8-kilometre length of quay wall and the 20-metre height of reclamation, combined with many other project constraints were considered and 58
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Image supplied Courtesy of URS / Scott Wilson
overcome during the design phase of this project which contributed to the successful delivery of this project.” Mr Betts said. URS/ Scott Wilson has also recently undertaken the engineering design verification of a new Bulk Liquids Berth in Port Botany for Sydney Ports Corporation. Since merging with URS in September 2010, URS/Scott Wilson’s capability provides resources to assist in the delivery of large and complex infrastructure projects including; maritime works, bridges, roads, rail, transport planning, and airport projects URS/Scott Wilson is a fully integrated engineering, construction and technical services organisation with approximately 46,500 employees in a network of offices in more than 40 countries. The Asia Pacific Region has a staff of 1,300 professionals in 18 office locations. The organisations’ combined capabilities support every stage of the largest and most complex projects including: environmental investigations, programme management, planning, design and engineering; systems engineering and technical assistance; construction and construction management; operations and maintenance; and decommissioning and closure services.
URS AUSTRALIA Pty Ltd Level 4, 407 Pacific Highway Artarmon NSW 2064 t. 02 8925 5500 contact: Alan Betts www.urs-scottwilson.com AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
Conneq powers port expansion R ecently, engineering construction and asset management contractor, Conneq, has provided critical services to the Port Botany Container Terminal Expansion Project in Sydney, including connecting the construction site to an electricity supply and maintaining the onsite concrete batch plant and formwork facility. “Our team was contracted to provide the permanent electrical services for the expansion project including establishing a 11kV-415 volt 800 KVA substation and the installation of street lighting and bridge lighting, an amenities block and electrical services for a fish and boat cleaning area,” said Tony Moller, Operations Manager Electrical Contracting and Major Projects at Conneq. Connecting the street lighting and the boat ramp area to the new substation required the installation of a kilometre of high voltage cable. This task presented a number of challenges for the team. “The route of the high voltage cable had to be re-designed on a number of occasions to avoid old services that had not been mapped accurately,” Mr Moller said. “The altered route also added to the number of cable joints our technicians were required to install – cable jointing is a highly-specialised and time-intensive task and every joint has to be inspected to ensure it meets applicable industry standards. “Given our extensive engineering and project management experience, we were able to complete this project on time, avoiding workplace injury and disruptions to the construction schedule,” he said. Another major part of their responsibility involved the installation of a substation and 415 volt electricity supply for the site management facilities and the concrete batch plant to ensure a continuous supply of concrete for the precast walls of the port structure. The concrete batch plant and formwork facility operated 24-hours a day and produced around 200 precast concrete sections over the life of the project. “Not only was Conneq on-call 24 hours a day to resolve any associated electrical issues or power interruptions due to failing equipment or construction site lighting, we also maintained equipment spares to allow for a quick swap-out of failed equipment,” said Mr Moller. Conneq, the new name for Bilfinger Berger Services, draws on over 60 years’ experience to provide the delivery of vital infrastructure, from design engineering and project construction, to long-term operations and maintenance. The company’s current projects include work for Snowy Hydro, Origin Energy, Incitec Pivot and the Esperance Port Authority. Conneq employs more than 3,500 people and has operations in every State and also New Zealand. Conneq is part of Lend Lease’s infrastructure business, which also includes Abigroup and Baulderstone.
CONNEQ INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES (AUSTRALIA) PTY LIMITED Level 3, Building 0, Binary Centre 3 Richardson Place North Ryde NSW 2113 t. 02 8667 6000 f. 02 8667 6025 www.conneq.com.au
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Keeping the Marine Industry Afloat
stablished in 2005, AusBarge Marine Services are able to provide complete marine packages, including the supply of marine plant, consultation and support, to a range of projects within Australia. Able to assist in all aspects of marine projects, with their capabilities incorporating the provision of plant, equipment and experienced personnel, AusBarge Marine Services also offer leading expertise and industry knowledge. Having worked on a number of significant Australian projects and developments including, the Sydney Harbour Bridge Infrastructure Upgrade, Port Adelaide’s Road and Rail Bridge Construction and Caltex Refineries Crude Oil Berth Bow Anchor Installation, AusBarge Marine Services were also involved on the Port Botany Expansion Development. This $500 million redevelopment incorporates the expansion of the current container facilities to provide an additional 1,850 metres of quay line, five new shipping berths, dedicated road and rail access and a secure estuarine environment. Whilst working on Port Botany, Mark Roche, Director of AusBarge Marine Services, said their on-going involvement had commenced at the early stages of the expansion. “We have been the primary marine plant, personnel and equipment provider for Baulderstone on this particular project and worked alongside 60
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the client throughout the planning stages in order to achieve outstanding project results,” Mr Roche said. The project site produced several localised problems such as, exposure to high winds, working in shallow water, congested areas with several barges, dredges and pipelines etc with crew required to work excessive hours to maintain program. These proposed risks to worker safety, damage to plant and equipment and project running behind schedule. Management of these problems was achieved by, constant monitoring of weather forecasts, rostering of crew hours to manage fatigue satisfactorily and a safety management system specifically developed and implemented to manage the risk whilst achieving the required construction program. Given their major philosophy is to maintain close working relationships with their clients, AusBarge Marine Services consistently liaised with Baulderstone to ensure outstanding cost and time effective results were achieved on the Port Botany Expansion redevelopment. With years of experience, a range of capabilities and an impressive project portfolio, it could be said that AusBarge Marine Services are at the forefront of the marine construction industry. AUSBARGE MARINE SERVICES Office: 3 Ward St Kurnell NSW 2231 t. 02 9668 8630 f. 02 9668 8760
Warf Facility Berth 2 White Bay, Roberts St Rozelle e. info@ausbarge.com www.ausbarge.com
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
“BBV Systems contributes to expedited critical path for major precast works and significant budget savings for Port Botany Port Expansion Project” BV Systems Asia, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bilfinger Berger Group specializing in post tensioning, geotechnic’s, and concrete reinforcing systems was awarded the supply contract for prefabricated reinforcing for “Port Botany Expansion Project” by main contractor “Baulderstone - Jan De Nul Consortium”. The supply contract of USD16.5 million included over 10,000 tonne of overseas prefabricated reinforcing for the construction of 1,850 metres of new wharf frontage. The wharf consisting of over 200 precast counterfort units measuring 15m wide, 20m high, 9m long and utilizing approximately 47 tonne of reinforcing each were constructed at an onsite precast yard. Services under BBV’s Supply Contract included a design element with detailed workshop drawings, bar bending schedules and delivery to site of the cut and bent bars semi prefabricated into reinforcing cages including mechanical splice couplers. The cages, prefabricated in Thailand in an ISO9001:2008 and ACRS certified factory were broken down into manageable sections to facilitate shipment in 40’ open top ocean going containers. On site technical support to assist with cage assembly was also included in the package. Two key factors contributing to BBV’s success include expedition of the construction program critical path by significant reduction of rebar cage installation time (9 months in total) and significant budget savings by extending a fixed price for rebar cages for the duration of entire works. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
The original production schedule for pre casting counterfort units was estimated at a maximum of five per week over 23 months. This was expedited to 6 and sometimes 7 counterforts per week at the height of production. It has been acknowledged by the client that BBV’s innovative prefabrication concept and quality of rebar processing works significantly contributed to reducing the production schedule to only 14 months overall. Additionally BBV was able to fix the current price of reinforcing steel from commencement of the project for the entire contract period even while the cage elements were still under design. Currency hedging initiated by the Bilfinger Berger Treasury Department also contributed in securing a favorable exchange rate between Australian and US dollar. Other notable projects that BBV Systems have been involved in include the Sydney Cross City Tunnel, Brisbane NSBT Bypass Tunnel, Golden Ears Bridge in Vancouver and OK Tedi Mine in Papua New Guinea.
BBV SYSTEMS CO LTD 6th Fl., MD Tower No. 1. Soi Bangna-Trad 25, Bangna, Bangkok 10260 t. +66 (0) 2769 5699 f. +66 (0) 2769 5690 michael@bbv-systems.co.th NSW PROJECT FEATURE PORT BOTANY EXPANSION
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Photos courtesy of Sydney Ports Corporation
In Top ‘Form’
stablished in 1999, China Grand Engineering specialises in the supply of fabricated structural steelwork and formwork for the building and construction industry. China Grand is represented in Australia by China Steel Solutions.
“Steel formwork for concrete is temporary and more often than not, scrapped at the end of a project. The stainless steel work, by contrast, will actually become part of the permanent works and the finished product. “As such, these permanent works, which are now completed, were produced to Australian standards of finish and quality.” he said.
With 300 professional and highly skilled employees, China Grand has been involved on a range of prolific projects, such as the Gateway Upgrade Project and Airport Link in Brisbane, as well as the Port Botany Expansion project in Sydney.
Although the team from China Grand/China Steel Solutions was faced with tight delivery deadlines across some elements of the works, given their industry and project experience, they were able to deliver cost-effective and quality results within the required timeframe.
Valued in excess of $500 million, the Port Botany Expansion works will involve the expansion of the existing Port through reclamation of 60 hectares of land for the construction of 1,850 metres of new wharf frontage.
“The Port Botany Expansion has been a fantastic Project to work on and we have been honoured to be such an important part of it and provide our services, ensuring optimum client satisfaction,” James said.
China Grand commenced their involvement in the project in 2008 through James Spence, Director of China Steel Solutions. James said they were responsible for approximately 500 tonnes of formwork for various concrete elements of the Project, including the main counter fort units. “Furthermore, we supplied several kilometres of cast in stainless steel angles, as well as channels for the crane rails and cabling that runs the length of the extended jetty,” Mr Spence said. 62
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China Grand owns and operates two factories in China with a combined output of 25,000 tonnes per year. With a wealth of prolific project experience, it is without a doubt that China Grand will continue to be one of the leading steel and formwork companies in the business. CHINA STEEL SOLUTIONS Contact: James Spence 0420 978 560 james@chinasteelsolutions.com.au CHINA GRAND Contact: Jim Chen +861 38 0221 8733 www.cgrand.com AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
WILTRADING, LEADERS IN PORT AND OFFSHORE SAFETY L eaders in the Marine Industry since 1986, Wiltrading offers integrated activities in marine safety, fire fighting and protection, equipment and servicing. Wiltrading are experienced providers to the, Offshore, Oil and Gas, Shipping, Military and Cruise industries offering quality products, innovative solutions and impeccable service. Specialising in the provision of an extensive range of safety products, lifejackets, life rafts, oil rig and ship escape systems, Wiltrading has an outstanding safety and product provision reputation within the marine industry. Given their professionalism and expertise, as well as being able to provide a leading range of safety and marine products, Wiltrading were also involved on the significant Port Botany Expansion Project in NSW. Considered to be one of the largest infrastructure projects of its’ kind, the Port Botany development, valued at $500 million, incorporates the expansion of the existing container port terminal, capital dredging and land reclamation. Peter Iredale, Product Manager at Wiltrading, said throughout their involvement on the project, they had supplied their quality range of lifejackets, lifebuoys and other associated safety gear to the various trades working onsite. Wiltrading’s endeavours are supported throughout the organisation by the corporate vision and mission. VISION: To be leaders in offshore safety. MISSION: To deliver specialist maritime & offshore life saving & asset protection solutions through enduring partnerships. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
Procedure and systems back up this extensive service offering. • Planning and management of maintenance including planned preventative, predictive and corrective maintenance on plant and equipment • Emergency maintenance including a 24 hour call-out service and flying squads • Facilities and machinery appraisal • Solution design and documentation • Minor works, renovations and refurbishments • Project Management A strong industry presence coupled with a skilled and experienced team has resulted in continued growth. Wiltrading are now present in major Australian ports including: Dampier, Fremantle, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Townsville and Darwin, where reliability and guaranteed delivery are essential for successful operation. In addition to these strategically located and fully equipped workshops, Wiltrading have flying squads of service engineers available for deployment throughout Australia, New Zealand and into the Pacific. So, when running a port or a new development and you want to provide the best in safety equipment for your employees and contractors - CALL
WILTRADING
WILTRADING SYDNEY 36 Doody Street Alexandria NSW 2015 AUSTRALIA t. 02 9667 4599 f. 02 9669 1181 e. sydney@wiltrading.com.au www. wiltrading.com.au NSW PROJECT FEATURE PORT BOTANY EXPANSION
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NETWORK GEOTECHNICS stablished in 1995, Network Geotechnics is a multi-disciplined group that provides geotechnical engineering, laboratory, drilling and in-situ testing services to the NSW construction and civil engineering industries. Given their project experience and innovative approach, Network Geotechnics were selected for the $500 million Port Botany Expansion Project. Commencing in October 2008, Network Geotechnics were responsible for carrying out approximately 450 marine based cone penetration tests (CPTs) and approximately 900 land based CPTs on loose and compacted dredged sand. They also provided testing services for all marine grade rock protection products from quarry to site, as well as testing of the onsite civil works. CPT testing involves pushing a cylindrical probe with a cone-shaped tip statically into the ground. Sensors within the probe provide a real time continuous measurement of soil strength and other characteristics, which are then used for geotechnical modelling. Matt King, Business Development Manager for Network Geotechnics said the marine based CPTs were used by Baulderstone to evaluate the marine trench foundation conditions that provided support for the 2km length of precast sea wall, whilst the land based CPTs were used to evaluate the effectiveness of dynamic and vibro compaction. To undertake the project Network Geotechnics sourced and commissioned a Geoprobe 6625CPT crawler rig from the USA. “We chose the Geoprobe 6625CPT as it was lightweight, self anchoring and crawler-mounted, therefore it was well suited to both marine and loose sand conditions,” Mr King said. 64
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As a result they were able to carry out most of the two year testing program using the Geoprobe, only requiring the use of an external rig prior to its commissioning. “The rig is also very compact and was able to be stored on-site in a container, which enabled us to keep costs for Baulderstone down,” he said. Throughout their involvement in the project, Todd Redman, Drilling Manager at Network Geotechnics said the team were met with a number of challenges. “One of which was reaching nominated test depths within the marine trench. After some initial setbacks, the feedback we provided to Baulderstone enabled them to develop a single length of specialised casing in order to get the CPT probe to the trench floor ready for testing.” “Once installed, the equipment operated within a cone tip resistance range of 1 to 60 MPa and was able to achieve full penetration to nominated design depths of up to 18m below the seabed,” he said. This collaborative approach to problem solving saw Network Geotechnics and Baulderstone achieve daily productivity on land and over water that exceeded their initial expectations. Given their ability to successfully assist in the delivery of such a significant project, it is without a doubt Network Geotechnics will remain at the forefront of their industry. NETWORK GEOTECHNICS Head Office - 6/6 Morton Close Tuggerah NSW 2259 t. 02 4351 6200 f. 02 4351 6300 e. admin@netgeo.com.au www.netgeo.com.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
“Achieving Excellence in Undersea Engineering since 1945”
or sixty five years, Gray Diving Services has been providing underwater engineering and construction solutions to major construction companies and government departments in the demanding marine and submarine industry. Utilising the latest state-of-the-art equipment and teams of highly trained industry professionals, Gray Diving is able to provide services including inspection, consultancy, specialist fabrication, underwater welding and non -destructive testing in marine, sub-marine, offshore and inland locations throughout Australia, South East Asia and the Pacific Rim. Having worked on a number of prolific projects for a range of clients and industries throughout Australia, Gray Diving was also recently involved in the Port Botany Expansion project which commenced in 2008. Responsible for all underwater construction and installation works undertaken on the project, Greg Vitnell, Managing Director of Gray Diving, said since their involvement on-site, his professional team of up to 26 divers and supervisors had used both new equipment and years of expertise to ensure the smooth running of the underwater phase of the Expansion Project. “Given that we have dedicated a great deal of equipment and almost our entire workforce to this particular project, we have been able to provide effective solutions for the client in a time efficient manner,” Mr Vitnell said. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
“Although the divers faced sometimes difficult underwater conditions, such as low visibility and contaminated sediments when carrying out the placement of the 650 tonne precast concrete units, our qualified tradesmen have been able to install all 247 units overcoming many obstacles and getting the job done to the clients satisfaction,” he said. Mr. Vitnell also said that whilst working on the Port Botany Expansion Project, the company had utilised a new Nitrox diving system to allow far greater diving times to be achieved. “Nitrox is enriched air which has a greater than normal percentage of oxygen, this system coupled with the companies 3 recompression chambers set up onsite has provided a disciplined and effective approach to diving works,” Mr Vitnell said. “As a result, our divers working on the Port Botany Expansion have been able to perform the required project tasks in a safe and professional manner,” he said. With a team of highly qualified divers, who have a wealth of knowledge in underwater construction and engineering projects, Gray Diving will no doubt remain the leader of its’ industry, as they not only provide project solutions, but also use cutting-edge equipment to ensure optimum results and client satisfaction. GRAY DIVING t. 02 9526 2800 f. 02 9524 3861 e. email@graydiving.com.au www.graydiving.com.au NSW PROJECT FEATURE PORT BOTANY EXPANSION
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The Number One Australian Vessel Provider ince their establishment in 2004, Australia Marine Services (AMS) Tugs and Barges, has become one of the leading vessel suppliers in Australia and is recognised within the marine offshore industry for its’ outstanding services and quality supply of marine vessels. Specialising in the charter and sale of a range of various tugs, supply vessels and barges, AMS have been involved in a number of coastal and offshore projects around the Northern Coastal areas of Australia, Oceania and the SE Asian region. Given their expertise and specialised range of barges, workboats and utility supply vessels; AMS have also recently been involved on the Port Botany Expansion Project in NSW. Valued in excess of $500 million, the Port Botany Expansion works will involve the expansion of the existing Port through reclamation of 60 hectares of land for the construction of 1,850 metres of new wharf frontage. Alan Yeo, Managing Director of AMS, said that throughout their engagement on the Expansion Project, AMS had designed a Construction Barge that was particularly suited to the development. “We developed a hi-spec’d, 35 metre construction barge which was also equipped with a 150 tonne crawler crane on deck,” Mr Yeo said. “In addition, we designed and constructed B.P.L.1, a 59 metre, self-ballastable, SWL 640 tonne sheer leg crane barge. “We took great lengths to not only ensure these barges met the specific requirements of our client, Baulderstone, but that they also ensured optimum results for the marine construction operations on the Expansion Project,” he said. Whilst working on the Port Botany Expansion, Mr Yeo said the AMS team faced challenges throughout the design and construction phases of the barges. “Although we had very limited time to construct the sheer leg crane barge based on our client’s high requirements, as well as maintain a high standard of quality and barge function, our professional team were able to fulfil these demands and deliver the barges on schedule,” he said. With such an impressive reputation to provide client solutions and cutting-edge barges, it is without a doubt AMS will continue to be one of the leading vessel suppliers for the Australian building and construction industry. AUSTRALIA MARINE SERVICES Unit 4/220 Star Street Welshpool WA 6106 t. 08 9470 4739 f. 08 9470 4731 e. ams@a-m-s.net.au www.A-M-S.net.au 66 6
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‘Steeling’ The Show ith more than ten years of experience within the industry, Concrete Reinforcement Services are a steel fixing company able to deliver cost and time efficient solutions to a range of projects throughout Australia. Having worked on a number of prolific projects, such as Sydney’s M7, the Parramatta-Chatswood Railway and the Lane Cove Tunnel, Concrete Reinforcement Services were also recently involved on the $500 million Port Botany Expansion Development. Encompassing an additional 1,850 metres of extra berth length, through reclamation of 63 hectares of land, five new shipping berths, dedicated road and rail access, as well as a public boat launching ramp and parking, the significant Botany expansion is expected to almost double the current capacity of the Port. Noel O’Neill, Director of Concrete Reinforcement Services, said that throughout their involvement, their professional team were responsible for carrying out all of the steel fixing on the Port’s counterforts, walls and buttresses, which required 10,000 tonnes of steel and 6,000 tonnes of steel in the crane rail and cope beam. “A unique aspect of the product we used whilst working on the Port Botany Expansion development, was that we directly imported the steel, already pre-welded and spliced, from Thailand,” Mr O’Neill said. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
“These pre-fabricated steel structures were extremely time effective for the project in the fact they greatly enhanced and facilitated the installation process,” he said. Given the significant size of the development, Concrete Reinforcement Services did face a number of challenges whilst working on the project. “Our biggest challenge was that we were required to install over 350 tonnes of steel every week, which was an immense scale and as a result, created a lot of pressure for us,” Mr O’Neill said. “However, using our industry expertise and professionalism, our committed and driven team were able to deliver successful results and a quality product for the client,” he said. Based on the recent success of the Port Botany Expansion Project completion, as well as their pioneering steel installation techniques and product range, Concrete Reinforcement Services will continue to remain at the forefront of the steel fixing industry. Concrete Reinforcement services have also just won a tender to work on Thiess' Hunter Express Alliance which will require 6,500 tonnes of steel to be installed. CONCRETE REINFORCEMENT SERVICES Contact: Noel O’Neill t. 0410 699 066 e. crsreo@bigpond.net.au NSW PROJECT FEATURE PORT BOTANY EXPANSION
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Providing a Greener Future
cologically Sustainable Development, (ESD) is a landscape contracting firm, with in-depth technical knowledge on construction, horticulture and ecological rehabilitation.
Furthermore, they were able to access difficult areas by blowing product across the salt marsh, which not only avoided the use of noisy machinery, but also avoided scaring the birds.
Since 1998, ESD have been delivering sustainable projects around Sydney’s riparian corridors and community parks. In addition, they have been growing and installing green roof and wall projects and are committed to developing a ‘greener’ city.
However, Mr Griffith said throughout their involvement on the Port Botany Expansion, ESD were faced with a number of obstacles.
With experience in working on large infrastructure projects, such as the Cronulla Business Park and the Hume and Pacific Highways, ESD has also been involved on Sydney’s Port Botany Expansion Project. Responsible for six hectares of terrestrial and salt marsh habitat, which was in poor ecological condition, ESD designed a special soil treatment for the area and established a thriving plant community. Robert Griffith, Managing Director of ESD, said as a result, the land had become a thriving plant community, with over 500,000 endemic and provenance plants propagated. “The salt marsh represents one of the most successful establishments of species growing in the tidal zone, hence our aim was to provide optimum conditions for the benthic organisms that form a food source for migratory birds,” Mr Griffith said. Utilising the Adder 2.0 © software application, ESD developed specialised cost-effective soil mixes to establish the native vegetation. 68
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“One of the biggest challenges was the constant wind and sand movement that changed land levels and covered new plants. “However, given our industry expertise and dedication to conserving the area, we were able to overcome this by constant monitoring and adjustment of the site,” he said. Given the fact ESD have also been applying their expert landscape systems in the United Arab Emirates, it is without a doubt they will be the leading force in creating a more sustainable local environment.
ESD LANDSCAPE CONTRACTORS 204 Forest Way Belrose NSW 2085 t. 02 9986 1741 f. 02 9986 1745 m. 0421 389 800 contact: Robert Griffith e. robert@esdland.com.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
DJ Adair Crane Services J Adair Crane Service, located in Blacktown, Sydney, has over 25 years of experience within the mobile crane hire industry. With a team of professional, experienced staff, DJ Adair Crane Services is able to provide efficient, personalised service, with a particular emphasis on attention to detail and safety. In addition to providing crane hire services, DJ Adair also offer a range of materials handling equipment, including brick cages, rubbish bins, personal boxes, landing platforms and spreader bars. Given the fact the scope of their works ranges from highway maintenance and construction, commercial development and civil works, DJ Adair Crane Services were also involved on the Port Botany Expansion project in Sydney. This $500 million re-development, which is expected to almost double the current capacity of the Port, encompasses an additional 1,850 metres of extra berth length, five new shipping berths, dedicated road and rail access, as well as a public boat launching ramp and parking. Danny Adair, Director of DJ Adair Crane Services, said that as part of their involvement on the Port Botany redevelopment, they provided a range of cranes throughout various stages of the Project. “Given the fact we have an extensive range of cranes available for hire, some of which are capable of dealing with extremely heavy loads, we were able to provide the right crane for the particular job,” Mr Adair said. “As a result, we delivered quality services and product and minimised any potential construction delays. “The fact that we were able to meet the significant demands of such a large project, in regards to providing suitable cranes and getting the job completed, also ensured optimum client satisfaction,” he said. DJ Adair Crane Services is definitely a name to remember within the mobile crane hire industry. DJ ADAIR CRANE SERVICES Contact: Danny Adair PO Box 823 Windsor NSW 2756 t. 02 9627 9034 f. 02 9627 9509 e. admin@djadaircranes.com.au
A Name You Can Rely On oastwide Civil is a family-owned company with a diverse range of civil construction, marine, transport and highway construction capabilities.
The use of sand containment bunds and high volume pumps also ensured sand profiles remained unaffected, regardless of weather exposure.
With more than 30 years of industry experience and approximately 100 skilled staff, Coastwide Civil was contracted by Baulderstone to construct five kilometres of breakwaters, groynes and rock revetments on the Port Botany Expansion project in Sydney.
Having completed a variety of Australian marine projects ahead of time, within budget and of superior quality, it is without a doubt they will continue to be one of Australia’s leading marine contractors.
During their involvement, Coastwide Civil was responsible for handling 7.5 million cubic metres of dredged material that was being pumped into the reclamation area, at a rate of 120,000 cubic metres per 24 hours, seven days a week. Using heavy machinery, equipped with ake the latest fore ront w th technology care GPS of technologies, Coastwide Civil was required to load, haul and place the stockpiled dredged cu tomers requ reme ts material over the 60- hectare site.
COASTWIDE CIVIL 19 Croome Lane Albion Park NSW 2527 02 4256 1499 02 4256 5243 info@coastwidecivil.com.au www.coastwidecivil.com.au
The Surveying Solution ince 2000, Pacific Survey has demonstrated their astute ability to safely and efficiently supply complete surveying solutions for a range of projects. Given their prolific project portfolio, Pacific Survey were also involved on the significant $500 million Port Botany Expansion Project. Using the latest in Robotic Total Stations, GPS instruments and 12d Model Civil Engineering & Surveying Software, Pacific Survey provided a range of survey control and set-out responsibilities, pre-pour checks and work for the onsite concrete structures. These included the 215 pre-cast counter fort wall units, the front and rear crane beams, the pedestrian bridge and the new Terminal Access Bridge. Pacific Survey’s experienced team was also responsible for the setout and conformance of the bulk earthworks. This consisted of a number of 70
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underwater rock revetments and sixty hectares of reclaimed land. As well as providing positional guidance for 1,850 metres of additional wharf face that created five new ship berths, Pacific Survey were also instrumental in the construction of a public boat ramp and parking facility. Despite their extensive responsibilities on the Port Botany site, Pacific Survey incorporated their precise monitoring program and planning skills to deliver successful solutions and optimum results.
PO Box 2606, Port Macquarie NSW 2444 t. 02 6583 2366 f. 02 6583 2199 e. info@pacificsurvey.com.au www.pacificsurvey.com.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
S.M.A.R.T. Infrastructure Facility
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new world class Simulation, Modelling and Analysis for Research & Teaching (SMART) Infrastructure Facility is paving the way in addressing the future needs of Australia’s infrastructure industry. This impressive facility is the first of its kind to be built in Australia.
Work on the $35.2 million SMART Infrastructure Facility commenced in April 2009 with an ambitious target of practical completion in January 2011. With the construction and integrated fit out now complete, the University will open its doors to the SMART project in April 2011.
The University of Wollongong, acclaimed for its research and education excellence, is the privileged recipient of this state-of-the-art facility. The local community has benefited from the creation of approximately 340 local jobs during construction, plus a further 150 positions when the facility is up and running.
The four storey multidisciplinary facility designed by Graham Bell and Bowman Architects is equipped with a Simulation Centre, research and training labs including Power Quality, Water, Transport, Rail, Maritime and Ports Laboratories. The project also features environmentally friendly initiatives using low-VOC products and the inclusion of structurally compliant products that are environmentally sustainable.
Cockram Construction (formerly Hooker Cockram Projects), is the construction contractor for this complex and sophisticated project. The Australian owned business has offices in Asia and the Americas and has specialised in construction projects of scientific, medical and high end laboratory research for decades. This portfolio of project experience was a significant factor in the business winning the project, and a reflection of Cockram’s industry reputation. “We are seen as specialists in this type of technical construction and are currently constructing our twelfth research facility in NSW alone” says State Manager Michael Read. 72
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Cockram Construction offers a range of specialist skills including Construction Management, Design and Construct and Building Contracting. “The SMART project was delivered under the Construction Management delivery mode, which essentially makes us responsible for managing the sub-contractors on behalf of the university with regards to all facets of construction including time, cost, quality and most importantly safety. All sub-contractors needed to be approved by the University prior to engagement and were required to be National Code compliant.” AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
Main Construction Company : Cockram Construction Architects : Graham Bell Bowman Architects Structural & Civil Engineer : Hughes Trueman Client : University of Wollongong Project end Value : $35.2 Million Completion : January 2011
Located on the main campus of the University of Wollongong, the SMART Facility sits connected to the existing Engineering, Science and Information Technology faculties. Space on the site was at a premium and the close proximity to the neighbouring buildings posed logistical challenges for the team. The interaction with services from the surrounding buildings resulted in having to work out of hours in order to meet program requirements. Due to the location on the busy ring road within the university precicnt a detailed traffic management plan was required. “Running a construction project within the confines of an operational facility requires experience. You need to be sensitive to needs of staff, students, visitors and others. It means working in with the University community, and trying to keep disruptions to a minimum. Our handling of this student and public interface as well as our pedestrian and traffic management plan greatly contributed to the University’s high level of satisfaction with Cockram Construction.” Cockram Construction is celebrating its 150th year of continuous operation in 2011 and has worked with over 18 different Universities around the country including current projects in Queensland and Victoria. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
A SMART Solution “This is the fifth project we’ve done for the University of Wollongong due to not only our successful management of their projects, but the building functionality and the outcome being of such a high quality.” These projects include the $22 million Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute completed mid 2010. This project was being constructed concurrently in the same precinct as the SMART Facility. Given there were two project sites under construction within fifty metres of each other a high level of importance was placed on ensuring the safety of students and the public at all times. A $6.7 million Common Teaching Facility was also completed in January and Buildings 8 and 39, refurbishment and fitout valued at $3.7 million was previously completed in 2007.
Cockram Construction Level 2, 500 Pacific Highway St Leonards NSW 2065 t. 02 9818 6099 f. 02 9818 6155 www.cockram.com nsw PROJECT FEATURE smart infrastructure facility
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award winning roofers
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ulti-award winning company, Red 8 Roofing, take pride in their work and strive to provide 100% customer satisfaction. The dynamic team provide metal roofing solutions for a wide range of commercial, industrial and residential projects throughout Sydney. With a new office recently opened in Orange, New South Wales, Red 8 Roofing now successfully service the Central West region. Looking to expand further, an office is soon to be established in Queensland. Red 8 Roofing supply and fit a wide range of metal roofing in the latest trends, styles and colours. Their services cover many applications including Colorbond Metal Roofing, guttering, wall cladding, thermal and acoustic insulation and other specialised materials. A team of eight worked tirelessly to deliver the SMART Infrastructure Facility. “The relationship between Hooker Cockram and Red 8 Roofing was second to none and everyone worked to program throughout the entire project” says Project Manager Steven Clarke. Red 8 Roofing supplied and fitted the 60mm RW Kingspan roofs, the 30mm FB Kingspan roofs, multiple penetrations, 350mm stainless steel half round gutters and 200mm 1.6 316 stainless steel feature downpipes to the SMART Infrastructure Facility. “The main 200mm feature 1.6 stainless steel downpipes were a huge challenge on this job. The installation and manufacturing of the downpipes had to be completed on site. The weight of the stainless steel downpipes also created a huge obstacle which we had to overcome.” Putting the safety of their team first, temporary netting was used when working on the main plant room roof. The Clad Boy system, a versatile vacuum lifter, was used by the team to safely install and lift the large roof and wall panels into place. Red 8 Roofing’s major projects include the recently constructed Orange Hospital, Mascot ING Business Park, Emirates Resort in Wolgan Valley, the Kurnell Desalination Plant, Equinix Data Centre and Warragamba Dam. Other projects include multiple BER Schools, railway stations, universities and major shopping centres. Red 8 Roofing 5/12-16 Mangrove Lane Taren Point NSW 2229 t. 02 9531 1880 f. 02 9531 2885 www.red8roofing.com.au
world-class architects paving the way
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raham Bell & Bowman Architects (GBB), have risen to the challenge of designing and delivering a complex project that will undoubtedly transform the way infrastructure related disciplines are taught and researched. GBB provided architectural services, design documentation and contract administration for the SMART Infrastructure Facility. “The construction management contract between the client and the contractor allowed the commencement of building works to be expedited while tender and construction documentation was being finalised,� explains Architect Graham Betts. A simple circulation pattern comprising of a central atrium and open stairway links three floors encouraging staff, student and interfaculty collaboration. Located alongside three existing faculties GBB designed a series of pedestrian bridges to facilitate connectivity with the surrounding buildings. The entry to the building on Level 1 addresses the main flow of pedestrian arrivals from the western end of the campus. The tight and compact site required thorough planning to marry together disparate program requirements such as the need for traditional offices and teaching spaces coupled with heavy engineering laboratories. A 1.5m deep concrete Strong Floor is located on the Ground floor in the Highbay Laboratory. This was required to be reinforced with steel floor rails to withstand engineering test loads. The incorporation of ESD strategies such as rainwater harvesting for toilet flushing and a mixed mode ventilation system ensured that the facility achieved a minimum 4 Star Green Star rating as assessed under the Green Star Education rating tool. Energy efficient lighting, BMS monitoring of energy and water usage, Solar hot water, Photovoltaic panel power generation to supplement the conventional power supply and Low VOC carpets, paints and sealants were also used. GBB operates predominately in NSW providing full architectural services for private and public, institutional and commercial clients such as universities, schools, government authorities and councils. Their previous projects for the University of Wollongong include the $30 million IHMRI Medical Research Facility, iC Central located at the Innovation Campus, staged works to the University Library and an Ecological Research Centre.
Graham Bell & Bowman Architects Pty Ltd PO Box 316 Wollongong NSW 2520 t. 02 4272 6700 f. 02 4272 6577 e. gbb@gbbarchitects.net
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A RECORD OF success
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lowering Dam was one of a number of dams in regional NSW scheduled for major safety upgrades to improve water management in times of extreme weather conditions. Macmahon successfully tendered for the $33 million NSW State Government contract and the work was recently completed, some months ahead of schedule, in December 2010. Macmahon has built an enviable reputation in the engineering construction industry since the company's inception in 1963. Their experience in many water infrastructure projects and specialist knowledge in the construction of dams, remediation works, the storage, treatment and supply of water and pipeline installation were significant elements in their successful bid. Owned and operated by the State Water Corporation, Blowering Dam is the sixth largest embankment dam and ninth highest in Australia and the last dam downstream in the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme. It was originally constructed in 1968 and came to fame 10
years later when Ken Warby set the world water speed record of 511 km per hour on the dam: a record that still holds today. The upgrade works comprised the construction of a two metre high parapet wall on the crest of the dam and the raising of the spillway chute wall. These upgrades enable the safe containment of high flood discharges through the spillway domain. The dam location in the picturesque Murrumbidgee Valley on the Tumut River gave the project a dramatic backdrop, but conversely translated into a challenging environment to work in. The steep slopes and rugged terrain certainly added to the complexity of the project. Tumut town, located 13 km downstream from the dam, was a direct beneficiary of Macmahon’s successful bid, as the company is always keen to utilise local resources, equipment and labour. Up to 60 townspeople were employed with more than 20 subcontractors and 130 suppliers also engaged on the project.
blowering dam Main Construction Company : Macmahon Contractors PROJECT MANAGER : David Deany completion : December 2010 project end value : $33 Million
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Furthermore, for 18 months, the dozen members of the Macmahon project team plus other contractors lived in Tumut, while the work was carried out. “Working and living locally meant we could focus on the task in hand and develop strong communications between all parties. “The great team spirit created between Macmahon and the community most certainly contributed to the success of this project.” said Dave Deany, Project Manager with Macmahon. “Additionally, it was a pleasure to see the local community get right behind the project.” Indeed, the community kept a keen interest in the developments, as they knew that the 18 year gap since the spillway had last been operated was a statistic waiting to be challenged…as it was in December, when very heavy rain meant the dam exceeded its capacity and the work on
the crest wall and the upgraded spillway came into their own, operating safely and efficiently. Delivering ahead of time and under budget were key achievements for Macmahon on this job. Their best practice project management skills were a strong component to this success. In particular, daily contact and regular reporting to State Water via their third party representative, Professional Engineering Services (PES) ensured that everyone was kept up to date, facilitating rapid decision making and smooth running. This same project team is also carrying their experience and expertise over into new major water infrastructure works – they are currently working on the Burrendong Dam in Central West NSW and have been awarded the contract to upgrade the Jindabyne Dam spillway, located in the New South Wales Snowy Mountains. An overflow of success stories for Macmahon!
Macmahon Head Office 27-31 Troode Street West Perth WA 6005 t. 08 9232 1000 e. info@macmahon.com.au www.macmahon.com.au
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a family tradition carries on
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orrone Contracting and Plant Hire Pty are a Western Australian earthmoving machinery hire company.
In operation since 2006, and more usually involved in carrying out government work in civil engineering projects in metro and country areas in WA, Morrone relished the opportunity to spread their wings and be involved in the Blowering Dam Upgrade over in New South Wales. Providing earthmoving services for this project ironically meant moving across the earth for Shane Nairn, an excavator operator for Morrone. He and his family relocated for a year and a half to Tumut, the nearest town to the dam, which covered all but the last 2 months of the project. “Our move was made much easier as the people of Tumut and the team working on the dam upgrade made us feel very welcome, plus the work itself was interesting, so we settled in well”, said Shane. 78
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Shane’s considerable skills in operating excavating machinery and experience in working previously with Macmahon and other large contractors, meant that he had no trouble fitting in with the project team. His work involved using Morrone’s 45 tonne Komatsu excavator to break down sections of the dam wall, moving the rocks away and then breaking them down into smaller pieces. The next stage required him to transport this smaller material back, and re-use it for building the new parapet wall on the dam. Re-laying the rocks is a highly specialised job, needing a keen eye for detail, as a misalignment of the angle of the layers of rock by just a centimetre or two low down at the start of the wall, can translate into a considerable shift by the time the wall is completed. Naturally, that would mean the wall is rendered useless and would need deconstructing and rebuilding all over again. Shane’s skill and experience in this area, meant that Macmahon felt confident in leaving him unsupervised to organise himself, carry out the work and to direct other contractors to complete the job successfully.
Morrone have recently been at a crossroads after the untimely passing of the director Mr. Mario Morrone in December 2009. Although his in-depth knowledge of the industry is sadly missed, his daughter Marie, who had been working alongside her father for many years, learning and drawing on his expertise, decided to carry on the family-run company. Bolstered by her brother Adrian coming on board, they have resolved to strengthen and grow Morrone Contracting and Plant Hire Pty into a business which would make their father burst with pride. All six staff members are committed to expanding in the civil earthmoving industry and aim to increase their capacity in terms of equipment and providing hire services nationwide. They were therefore pleased to have made a very positive step in this direction, by being called upon by Macmahon contractors to be involved in their first inter-state project.
Morrone have certainly stepped up to the mark in this Blowering Dam Upgrade contract, by showing that they can successfully deliver on these larger-scale national projects. Busy with a number of other contracts in the civil engineering sector in Western Australia, the future for Morrone looks bright: no doubt making a certain father very happy!
Morrone Contracting and Plant Hire Pty contact: Marie Morrone 22 Felspar Street Welshpool Perth WA 6106 t. 08 9451 2788 f. 08 9356 2104 e. morronecontracting@hotmail.com NSW PROJECT FEATURE BLOWERING DAM
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local expertise meets the lifting challenge
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umut Crane Hire operates in the Snowy Mountains area of New South Wales, based a mere 15 kilometres from the Blowering Dam. It forms part of Weaver Engineering and Crane Hire, run by husband and wife team, Roger and Kathy Weaver, who have been in the light engineering field since 1990, operating as preventative, predictive and corrective maintenance contractors in the timber, paper, agriculture, electricity generation and domestic industries. They specialise in erecting small constructions and fabrications such as walkways, landings, safety and security fencing, domestic fencing, materials storage structures, materials transporting conveyers and blow lines. Tumut Crane Hire has a substantial fleet of cranes, including 20 and 50 tonne slew cranes, 12, 15 and 20 tonne Franna cranes, two mini crawler cranes, semi-trailer, tray truck, hiab/tip truck, a boomlift and three scissor lifts.
All are provided with skilled operators and if required, riggers or dogman. Their range of equipment, and expertise in operating in confined spaces, means that they can meet a number of differing needs, making them the ideal choice to assist in the Blowering Dam Upgrade. For this project, they initially provided support cranes, which moved equipment and materials, working in tandem with the site’s tower crane. Tumut Crane Hire’s flexibility came to the fore when additional lifting work was required towards the end of the project and they were able to supply a suitable utility crane at short notice. Similarly, they were able to deliver 50 and 20 tonne hydraulic mobile cranes when it was realised that heavier duty equipment was needed to deal with the demanding conditions. Their capabilities in the light engineering field were also called upon, as they installed formwork shutters and provided trucks to transport equipment around the large site. As well as crane hire, Weaver Engineering have a team of fitters and welders for performing industrial maintenance/modifications. “We are very pleased to have played our part as a local business in this important infrastructure upgrade project”, said company director, Roger Weaver. Tumut Crane Hire PO Box 9 Adelong NSW 2729 m. 0427 462 007 e. roger@weaverengineering.com.au www.weaverengineering.com.au
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When the pressure’s on, Hi Tech always delivers
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s pioneers of the technique of using high-pressure water jets, Hi Tech Industrial Services is now, 21 years later, well-established as a reliable and highly experienced company in the concrete cutting and removal field. Starting out with just one machine, the company now provides a nationwide service, boasting one of the fastest concrete removal rates in the country: a feat indicative of Hi Tech’s ‘can do’ attitude, in-depth expertise and strong commitment to service delivery. Hi Tech was engaged to prepare the walls of Blowering Dam to enable the construction of a parapet wall on the dam crest. This involved using high-pressure jets to wash off contaminants and to rough up (etch) the existing concrete to provide an ‘A-class’ bonding surface for the new concrete layer. It all sounds straightforward, but this job provided several difficult challenges – not least, working in severe temperatures (where the issue of freezing water needed to be closely monitored) and operating on inclines of up to 53%, meant a less experienced team could well have fallen behind schedule. Their technique, knowledge and skill in adverse conditions is what enables Hi Tech to quickly remove or prepare the highest-density WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
concrete, and is the reason why they have often been called in at critical times of a project to turn it around and get the timescales back on track. “As one of the first companies in this field we have the experience that allows us to take on the tough jobs” says Mark Turner, Founder and Managing Director, “The construction industry is now seeing the environmental, commercial and technical advantages of using high-pressure water, because it maintains the integrity of the original structure, unlike jackhammers or other more aggressive methods. Structural engineers and consultants agree that it is the safest and most effective vibration-free way to remove and/or cut concrete.” Involved in most of the major tunnel and bridge projects in Australia, including the Brisbane City Link and the Gateway Bridge in Brisbane, Hi Tech Industrial Services shows that you can count on them when the pressure is on. Hi Tech Industrial Services Pty Ltd 4/19 Pembury Road Minto NSW 2566 t. 02 9820 4633 f. 02 9820 4644 e. damien@htis.com.au www.hitechindustrialservices.com.au NSW PROJECT FEATURE BLOWERING DAM
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harware supplies made easy L
ocated in heart of Tumut at the edge of the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales, McDougall & Cruise timber and hardware store have been operating for over 25 years.
Owner operators Ian McDougall and John Cruise have been proudly catering to the needs of large and small construction businesses, tradespeople, and the DIY enthusiast. Their reputation for quality stock and service means that once your order is in their hands, your supply worries are over. McDougall & Cruise provided supplies for the contractors during the Blowering Dam upgrade project, organising the purchase and on-site delivery of materials such as timber, tools and welding gas supplies.
Their commitment to service means that there is a rapid turnaround between receiving a quote and the arrival of the materials in your requested location. Lengthy experience in the trade means in-depth knowledge of quality suppliers and materials: guaranteed to fit your location and purpose.
McDougall & Cruise Pty 26 Russell Street Tumut NSW 2720 t. 02 6947 1624 / 02 6947 1184 f. 02 6947 3751 e. info@mcdchome.com www.mcdchome.com
Blowering Dam, NSW
Blowering Dam, NSW
Excavation of the Windsor Road Water Main
The North Kellyville Carrier
north west growth centre Sydney Water managing the flow of growth
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ydney Water is in the final stages of Package 1 of essential water related infrastructure to service the rapidly developing North West Growth Centre First Release Precincts in Sydney. With Sydney’s population expanding, the NSW Government has identified the North West Growth Centre as a key area to be developed. It is expected that the centre will contain approximately 70,000 new homes when complete. Throughout the planning process and in coordination with other infrastructure providers, Sydney Water and its partners ensure that water related services are delivered to the precincts to allow development to proceed. In November 2008 the Minister for Planning approved the delivery of water related infrastructure for the servicing of the North West Growth Centre First Release Precincts. Package 1 is the first stage of works to service these precincts. 84
NSW PROJECT FEATURE North west growth centre
The project has delivered a new drinking water reservoir and approximately 23 kilometres of drinking water, recycled water and wastewater pipelines. The contract was awarded in 2008 with construction completed in late 2010 and testing and restoration to be completed in 2011. Australian Water 1 project managed the works on Sydney Water’s behalf and engaged the Reed Group to design, construct and commission the works. Work has been carried out in the Baulkham Hills and Blacktown local government areas in the precincts of Riverstone, Alex Avenue and North Kellyville. The works affected the suburbs of Kellyville, Kellyville Ridge, Schofields, Rouse Hill, Stanhope Gardens, and Area 20. The works constructed included; • a wastewater carrier along Smalls Creek, and drinking and recycled water mains in Hezlett Road, Kellyville • a 40 ML drinking water reservoir and associated connection work on Sydney Water land at Cudgegong Road, Rouse Hill AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
Construction of the Rouse Hill Reservoir
Asset OWNER : Sydney Water Corporation DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION HEAD CONTRACTOR: Reed Constructions Australia Principal Designer : AECOM Consulting Engineers : Demlakian Engineering Secta Engineering Project end Value :$68 Million Completion : March 2011
• a wastewater carrier to service the Alex Avenue precinct and • drinking water mains to service the new reservoir and adjacent precincts. Community relations were an essential consideration throughout the project. The construction teams faced the challenge of constructing major infrastructure within established communities which included homes, business, schools and public facilities.
The restoration plan was started with ‘Plant a Tree Day’ on 20 July 2010. Reed Group worked with Greening Australia to collect native plant seeds to restore native plants affected by construction. With the First Release Precincts Package 1 works now completed, Sydney Water will continue its planning, design and construction work for the other precincts in both the North West and the growing South West Areas.
The community were provided updates through letters, newsletters and advertisements throughout the construction period. Special attention was also given to managing key environmental issues. This included the management of threatened and protected species of flora and fauna as well as the management of Indigenous and European heritage. The impact of construction on the environment was minimised through a comprehensive Environmental Management Plan. Some trees and vegetation needed to be cleared for the new infrastructure, however, this was kept to a minimum and areas are being progressively restored. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
Sydney Water PO Box 399 Parramatta NSW 2124 t. 13 20 92 e. media@sydneywater.com.au www.sydneywater.com.au NSW PROJECT FEATURE North west growth centre
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Communicating with the community C
ommunication with the local community was critical to the successful delivery of Package 1 of the North West Growth Centre and Reed Group engaged specialist firm Elton Consulting to plan and role out the community relations program for the project. The delivery of water infrastructure to the precinct was the first indication that many local people saw of what is to come for the area, with the construction of some 70,000 dwellings planned over the next 30 years. The first stage of the program for Elton Consulting was a close analysis of the impacts likely to be felt by the local community, followed by discussion with the team as to the best way of minimising these including meetings with landowners who were going to be directly affected by the works. “Most people are tolerant of disruptions to their lives if they are treated with respect and given timely, accurate information” observes James Evans, Elton Consulting’s Director of infrastructure services, “it’s when they are kept in the dark that the trouble can start, often causing delays with their financial consequences”. A multi-disciplinary consultancy, Elton had the added advantage of being familiar with both the area and people through previous work, 86
NSW PROJECT FEATURE North west growth centre
Elton Consulting PO Box 1488 Level 6, 332-342 Oxford Street Bondi Junction NSW 1355 contact: James Evans t. 02 9387 2600 f. 02 9387 2557 e. james@elton.com.au www.elton.com.au planning the social infrastructure for many of the precincts in the growth centre. “Over the past fifteen years we have worked with local service providers and Government agencies to determine what the projected population needs in terms of community facilities, human services and open space,” says Associate Director and community planning expert Chris Manning. The company then identifies when the services will be needed, their cost and who will deliver them. Whether it’s hard infrastructure or soft, the company always takes a strategic approach to its work. “Our clients will often have a long term relationship with the communities their work is affecting”, remarks Evans “the reputational risks are therefore high and in part our job is to make sure the values the client articulates in the board room are delivered on the ground through the behaviour of their staff and subcontractors.” Evans credits much of Elton’s national success to its people and its ability to provide end-to-end services to clients. “As a professional services company we have the capacity to add value from the feasibility stage through to planning and on to delivery, and often over very long periods of time”. Evans concluded. AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
engineering the growth of a community
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stablished in 1984, Demlakian Consulting Engineers are experts in the structural, civil and hydraulic fields, bringing together over 100 years experience to provide the insight, diligence and resourcefulness to successfully diagnose and resolve all engineering and rectification issues. The design engineering teams apply ethical, cost-effective and intelligent advice throughout all stages of the construction process, and have consequently been engaged on a number of high-profile projects for a client base that includes companies, organisations and government departments. Numerous Demlakian projects have been recognised at both national and state level for all forms of excellence.
estate properties, such as residential houses, apartments, and retail and commercial premises, not to mention an extensive investigation of Council assets in relation to the excavation work for the laying of Sydney Water pipes, along route of the services installed by Reed Constructions. Demlakian Engineers also engaged in hydraulic consulting services, which provided validation of design for reservoir mixing and the North Kellyville potable and recycled water distribution main.
An extension of the Demlakian brand, Demlakian Strata & Remedial is an organisation that specialises in Strata defects and dilapidation investigations. Today, both Demlakian Consulting Engineers and Demlakian Strata & Remedial continue to boast a professional history without a single insurance claim. This, the team believes, is one of their greatest professional achievements to date.
“The professionalism on display has been admirable, and the smooth running of all building operations has led to the successful creation of a rejuvenated urban community.”
With this extensive experience in the building and construction industry, Demlakian are proud to be associated with the North West Growth Centre project for which they were appointed as the professional consulting engineers. Their involvement in the project related to the undertaking of extensive dilapidation investigations of numerous real WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
Marek Blaszczakiewicz, a Director of Demlakian Consulting Engineers, said working on the project has been a “sensational” experience:
Demlakian Consulting Engineers Level 2, 5 Ridge Street North Sydney NSW 2060 t. 02 9955 4485 f. 02 9955 6122 www.demlakian.com.au ENGINEERING
STRATA & REMEDIAL
NSW PROJECT FEATURE North west growth centre
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Environmentally Aware excavation
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s the excavation and drain laying contractor on the Sydney Water North West Growth Centre Package 1, Killard Excavation played a key role in managing many of the environmental issues on the project. Specialising in the renewal and installation of water and sewer mains and pipelaying, Killard Excavation has developed over the past decade into a highly respected multi-functional company and environmentally aware project manager. Contracted by The Reed Group, Killard provided services to the project which included at Watermain Work 12, the installation of 4.5kms of DN450, 750, 900 and 1050 DICL and Sintakote SCL pipe including thrust bores, concrete encasement and major thrust block design. This included dual and triple main installation within shared trench within roadway, welding works, inspection points, valves, hydrants and connections. Similar works were also carried out at Watermain Work 11 which involved the installation of 6.3kms of piping. The area is home to a number of threatened and protected species and the Killard team were particularly vigilant in adhering to the Environmental Management Plan to protect and manage both flora and fauna. It is this quality of work which has seen Killard grow from a three machine operation in 1999 to a thriving company, employing over 250 people and continuing to expand into new areas. Their leading position in their field is reflected in other current projects which include contracts for BCV Networks Alliance: the Bankstown Ashfield Trunkmain comprising 1260m of DN 300 DICL; the Hyde Park Road Trunkmain comprising 1750m of DN450 DICL including OD560 PE installed via HDD Bore under the golf course; and reticulation on 11 and 12, southern Pipecracking Portion 1 and the installation of 2.1kms of OD 125 and OD 180 PE pipe. Killard are also working on night works at Fraser Broadway for Christie Civil. These works involve installation of 200m of 1500mm diameter RCP stormwater pipe, breaking into Ovoid pipe, construction of a 4m x 2m wide pit, 3.8m deep at the intersection of Abercrombie Street and Broadway, the construction of 2m x 2m stormwater pits up to 3.8m deep and the shoring and steel plate design in to order to open Abercrombie Street up for traffic during the day. Killard Excavation Pty Ltd 703 Bringelly Road Rossmore NSW 2557 contact: James Sidwell t. 02 9638 7000 f. 02 9638 7011 e. james.sidwell@killard.com.au www.killard.com.au 88
NSW PROJECT FEATURE North west growth centre
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
advocating for the environment
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ith an impressive track record in the supply of environmental management teams to major infrastructure projects, Onsite Environmental Management (OSEM) were engaged by Reed Group to fulfill the role of Project Environment Representative on the North West Growth Centre Project in Sydney. OSEM was responsible for overseeing all environmental management for the project which included obtaining Project Approvals, compiling Environmental Management Plans and Systems, Control Maps and Work Method Statements. The work also involved onsite supervision of environmentally sensitive works and included the creation of a number of management plans to protect threatened species including the Cumberland Plains Large Land Snail and several species of bats, on the project. OSEM created tailored construction methodology to avoid impacting threatened flora species as well as preparing Consistency Assessments to realign the pipeline route to preserve riparian vegetation, avoid aboriginal heritage areas and reduce impacts on Endangered Ecological Communities. A number of Environmental Assessments were also required to determine the impacts of Underbore vs Open Trench technology at each creek crossing location. The company showed great attention to detail throughout the project, in particular during Aboriginal heritage investigations where test excavation and sieving was required within close proximity to the WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
creekline. A complex water recycling system was setup to significantly reduce the amount of water required for the work, and to prevent sediment-laden water from polluting the creek. OSEM has extensive experience across their field, providing environmental auditing, licensing, biodiversity assessment, ecological survey, EMS and CEMP preparation, environmental reporting and monitoring of air, water, noise and vibration services. The company is currently working on a number of other major infrastructure projects including the Bulahdelah Bypass, Hunter Expressway, Oxley Highway upgrade, Camden Valley Way Upgrades, Maitland to Minimbah rail project, Southern Sydney Freightline, and the M2 Upgrade as well as numerous other projects for major clients including the NSW RTA and the ARTC.
Onsite Environmental Management PO Box 3233 Valentine NSW 2280 contact: David Bone t. 02 4946 1066 f. 02 4946 1077 m. 0407 461 092 e. david.bone@osem.com.au NSW PROJECT FEATURE North west growth centre
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counting the cost and clock A s a leading engineering and technical consultant with world-wide resources and extensive experience across government and private sector projects, Aurecon has been contracted as the independent technical and management system verifier for the North West Growth Centre.
Aurecon’s Water group is currently undertaking a major growth initiative which will see our global water business expand to meet the needs of an ever increasing and diverse water industry across the region.
“The real benefit we aim to deliver to the Reed Group, Sydney Water and Australian Water is cost and time savings through early identification of any inconsistencies or anomalies across a huge suite of detailed drawings during design stage,” said Peter West – Project Manager, Aurecon. “We are responsible for reviewing and certifying compliance of all stages of the design work in key engineering disciplines and we certify compliance across multiple disciplines and undertake site audits,” added Peter.
PO Box 321 South Melbourne VIC 3205 contact: Susan Batson Strategic Marketing Manager Water - Asia Pacific t. +61 3 8683 1333 f. +61 3 8683 1444 e. batsons@ap.aurecongroup.com www.aurecongroup.com
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WIDER, FASTER, SAFER W
idening a section of road seems like a simple proposition, but when that section extends more than a kilometre and carries 28,000 vehicles a day past more than eighty occupied residences and two shopping centres, the project becomes interesting.
This was the assignment given to Seymour Whyte Constructions for the upgrade of Avoca Drive between Sun Valley Road and Bayside Drive, on the NSW Central Coast. Avoca Drive itself is one of the main traffic arteries of the region, linking the south-eastern beaches and suburbs to the more commercial areas of Erina and Gosford. It is also one way of getting to and from the F3 Freeway. Population growth has seen use of the road increase by a steady 4% in each of the past ten years. Fortunately Seymour Whyte has 23 years of experience in complex infrastructure development in high traffic urban environments, recently demonstrated in its successful upgrade of the nearby Wamberal section of the Central Coast Highway, winner of the National CCF Earth award. An essential aim of the project was to improve traffic flow and access for all users, including motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, road
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freight operators and buses, reducing congestion, travel time, and the number of accidents. Additional work would be required to add six new indented bus bays, create a shared use pedestrian cycleway on the eastern side of the road and a pedestrian path along the western side, bulk earthworks, full pavement reconstruction and overlay works, signage, road furniture, landscaping, delineation for pedestrians and vehicles throughout the site, retaining structures, and property adjustments. These were the aims. Achieving them called for all the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s accumulated expertise. There are a lot of pipes and wires along 1.3km of road, which had to be relocated outside of the widened road corridor while maintaining supply to the adjacent residents and shopping centres. Every step of the way, literally, they had to install temporary electricity, water, telecommunications, and gas mains prior to building the new road embankments, retaining wall structures, and new utilities. An existing 450mm trunk water main had to be temporarily diverted, then reconstructed along the route. The main supplied five reservoirs serving 25,000 residents. The three major connections had to be completed within a tight time limit of 18 hours before the reservoir storage supply ran out.
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
Deep retaining wall footings were constructed adjacent to the new two consecutive nights of activity and no more than six nights in traffic lanes and along property boundaries. A redesign during any month. The management of construction and resident access construction, due to poor ground along an 80m section, required as well as traffic through the site during daytime peaks was critical driven timber piles to be installed to maximising workable space during the day. within 15m of residences. Vibration monitoring At the peak of construction in late 2010 up to 62 items of and management was plant, including 22 excavators were deployed on site in any paramount in these one day. For a site only 1.3km long this required detailed areas. Dirty water co-ordination and constant communication between management was construction teams. Maintaining access to occupied another challenge proper ties was a constant challenge. Adjustments given the narrow included new fencing, retaining walls, and driveways road corridor that allowed residents to turn within their own premises provided little without reversing into the road. In some cases there was space for retention a difference of 3m between the existing and new levels. and treatment basins and the close Construction took eighteen months. On the subject of safety proximity of the site for crews â&#x20AC;&#x201C; always a concern with close proximity of traffic, to Brisbane Water, a tidal utilities and plant â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Seymour Whyte workers came through it lake and a popular fishing all with no Lost Time Injuries in over 200,000 man hours with and recreation area. Restrictions an average of up to 100 workers constantly on site. No wonder that on night works allowed no more than Seymour Whyte features in the BRW list 50 Great Places to Work.
SEYMOUR WHYTE CONSTRUCTIONS Level 2, 8 Windmill Street Sydney NSW 2000 t. 02 9251 1340 f. 02 9851 1315 www.seymourwhyte.com.au
avoca drive upgrade Main Construction Company : Seymour Whyte Constructions CLIENT : Roads and Traffic Authority NSW completion : February 2011 designer Engineer : Kellogg Brown & Root project end value : $40 Million
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NSW PROJECT FEATURE AVOCA DRIVE UPGRADE
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ELEGANCE AND STRENGTH
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very project has a problem spot. On Avoca Drive, as landscaping progressed with the roadworks, there was one easement where it would have been difficult if not impossible to build structural foots. All Districts Modular Wall Systems provided an elegant solution with a 16m sandstone cladded wall. The modular wall system they use is a model of simplicity. Composite fibre cement sandwich panels are so light that they can be put into place easily without cranes or heavy digging equipment. The average weight of a panel is 15.49kg, thickness 75mm. Though light in weight, the posts and panels when joined have the strength of a brick or rendered wall with high impact resistance. The completed wall can tolerate expansion and ground movement and is acoustically rated for noise reduction. Each panel is internally recessed to accept wiring for lighting, sound, security and intercom systems. Panels are 900mm or 3m in height and are available in three styles: Contemporary, Traditional, and Estate. Timber or steel infills can be added to any style of wall. They can be painted with acrylic or sand based paint, or rendered. A stone wall look can be created with any stick-on stone products, or they can be tiled in mosaic. The modular system can be used for any purpose that suits your needs, lifestyle, and the ambience you want to create. You can use it to highlight a water feature or BBQ area, enclose a swimming pool, or for front and boundary walls. Gates of all types can be fitted. Walls for any domestic purpose can be raised to 1800mm for extra privacy and noise reduction by stacking two standard panels and joining them internally. The 3m panels are more suitable for commercial premises. Commercial walls can be built to exceed 4.2m. All Districts Modular Wall Systems is a family owned business which has been operating on the Central Coast for 25 years.
All Districts Modular Wall Systems Unit 2/21 Amsterdam Circuit North Wyong NSW 2259 t. 02 4353 5555 f. 02 4353 5059 linda@admodularwallsystems.com.au www.modularwalls.com.au 94
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E F A
S T I E K D IT NG A M EL LDI - W B WE J. P.
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.P.B. Welding was selected to install the essential pedestrian safety fencing along 1km of the widened Avoca Drive. Variations in pavement level as a result of the construction and new landscaping along the road made it even more necessary than usual to provide a barrier for pedestrians in places where they might slip and fall. The style of fence chosen for this project was the increasingly popular RTA Safety Fence Type 5, which is almost indestructible when assembled. Each 2m panel weighs 60kg, with 12 solid 20mm vertical round bars 800mm high, topped by mild steel flat bars 75mmx10mm, creating a 1.5m barrier welded to an upright post every 2m. All metal is hot dip galvanised and powder-coated. Previous experience with this type of fencing gave the company a strong advantage in the selection process and will no doubt serve it well in the future. They can install it quickly, according to the pace of the project and concreting etc., and â&#x20AC;&#x153;cheaper than anyone elseâ&#x20AC;? to quote a confident Peter Beaver. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
The landscaping along Avoca Drive created additional problems for some residents who found their driveways unexpectedly much steeper than before. (This is a common difficulty for many on the hilly Central Coast.) J.P.B. was able to make access to their properties less jarring by installing galvanised reinforced steel plates. J.P.B. has been trading in the region for 6 years. They have worked extensively with fencing, staircases and balustrades, aluminium powder-coated awnings, structural steel and stainless steel. They are currently also working in schools installing handrails, screens, and gates for the B.E.R. programme.
J.P.B. Welding 3/11 Bon-Mace Close Berkeley Vale NSW 2261 t. 02 4389 8722 f. 02 4389 8728 e. jpbwelding@hotmail.com NSW PROJECT FEATURE AVOCA DRIVE UPGRADE
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Avoca Drive Upgrade, NSW
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NSW PROJECT FEATURE AVOCA DRIVE UPGRADE
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
STACKING BLOCK. THE COST EFFECTIVE, TIME SAVING ALTERNATIVE.
Features.
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tacking Block is a unique environmentally friendly way to retain sea walls, house blocks, roadways, embankments to waterways or any other large slopes. Stacking Block is a cost effective approach to retaining structures and is fast becoming an accepted alternative to reinforced concrete, block wall and treated timber. Stacking Block has proven successful on many municipal and civil projects, as well as small and large domestic or commercial projects. Large areas can be constructed in short periods of time, using excavators. This substantially reduces labour and construction costs, allowing further stages of your project to commence on a shorter time schedule. Unlike some traditional methods, Stacking Block can be installed in most weather conditions allowing improved confidence in the timing of this component of your project. The variety of colours in the sandstone results in each project have a uniquely different aesthetically pleasing appearance. There is no additional finishing process or maintenance required, once the blocks are positioned during their life in situ.
GOSFORD QUARRIES 70 Quarry Road Somersby NSW 2250 t. 02 4340 1158
f. 02 4340 1398 www.gosfordquarries.com.au
• • • • • •
Gosford Quarries Sandstone is only sourced from Australian quarries. Natural product. A variety of colours are evident in the blocks. Sizes available are - 2000mm x 500mm x 500mm. - 2000mm x 1000mm x 900mm & 2000mm x 1000mm x 500mm Each application is beautiful & unique. Distribution channels are in place to deliver your blocks anywhere in Australia.
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Functional natural product. Environmentally friendly natural product. Cost effective-Reducing labour & construction costs. Large areas can be constructed in short periods of time. Reduction in time of construction schedule. Can be installed in most weather conditions. Improved confidence in the timing of this component of construction. Aesthetically pleasing addition to the environment. No additional finishing or processing required. No maintenance required. Available to satisfy your need across Australia.
Cockram Construction
SPECIAL FEATURE
1861 - 2011
celebrating 150 years in construction Monash Science Technology Research and Innovation Precinct
2
011 is a momentous year for Cockram Construction, as the company proudly celebrates 150 years of operations in the Australian building industry. Their founder Thomas Cockram was an important figure in Victorian Construction history. Born in England, he came to Australia in 1853 and for some years worked at his bricklaying trade in Melbourne. He was instrumental in supporting the eight-hour movement and his name is one of the fifty-two enshrined in the Melbourne Trades Hall as a pioneer of this important advancement in 1856. Thomas Cockram was involved in the formation of the Master Builders Association of Victoria in 1875 and after many years of service went on to be elected President in 1896.
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His company Thomas Cockram & Co was established in 1861. Amongst some early buildings still standing are the Brighton and Fitzroy Primary schools, both built in 1875. Cockram’s business expanded exponentially in the boom 1880s. In 1883 Cockram secured the contract to build the 320-room Grand Hotel (later the Windsor) in Spring Street, designed by Charles Webb (himself a founding member of the Victorian Institute of Architects and later President.) The Windsor is Australia’s only surviving grand 19th century city hotel and only official "grand" Victorian era hotel. Equally notable in terms of architecture and cultural significance, Cockram built the Princess Theatre in Spring Street, Melbourne
in 1886 and the Eastern Hill Fire Station in 1891. Fittingly, all of these surviving buildings now hold National Trust classifications. His son Thomas junior later worked with his father on the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Bendigo, an exceptionally large church for a country cathedral in Australia. Building commenced in 1901 in the Gothic Revival style from sandstone quarried from the Geelong area. Meanwhile, another important link to Cockram Construction’s past originated with the founding of KG Hooker Builders in 1950. They were known for the construction of landmark buildings in Melbourne from the 1950s, and include City West Telephone Exchange (1951), AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
Roche Head Office & Conference Centre
Cockram was purchased by KG Hooker Builders, and from 1985 until today the Group has been management owned and operated. Examples of the work produced include iconic landmarks such as Walter & Eliza Hall Institute (1982), the Block Arcade Restoration Project (1987), The Royal Children’s Hospital Redevelopment (1990) and the Sidney Myer Music Bowl Refurbishment (1999) as well as numerous public hospitals.
St Vincent’s Hospital Nurses’ Home (1958), CSIRO Clayton (1962), RMIT School of Foundry Technology (1966) and the University of Melbourne Schools of Physical Sciences (1973) and Earth Sciences (1975). Both organisations were heavily involved in the establishment of Melbourne’s second and third Universities, namely Monash University in the early 1960s and Latrobe University later that decade. As recognised hospital builders, both companies were also busy on projects around the state during the post-war boom in hospitals through the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s. The two organisations came together under the banner of Hooker Cockram in 1985. Cockram family ownership ceased in 1980 when T.R. & L WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
1992 marked a major new direction for the company when it ventured into China. Cockram’s first project was in Suzhou, a Sterile Manufacturing facility for Pfizer (formerly Upjohn). Cockram ‘s China office has continued to bolster its pharmaceutical experience over the years and are currently completing the USD $300 million Novo Nordisk Filling Plant Project in Tianjin, with offices in Suzhou, Shanghai and Tianjin. Expansion in Australia first occurred with the opening of an office in Sydney in 1998. Cockram’s NSW office has steadily grown since this time and is currently working on the $110 million IKEA Showroom and Warehouse Store in Tempe and the $60 million Hunter Medical Research Institute. In Puerto Rico, Cockram Construction provided construction management services for a new Nicorette Gum manufacturing facility at Pharmacia’s Arecibo plant, completed in 2002. This provided the company with another new
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office location, which is still going strong today. The Pfizer Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) Pilot Plant in Mumbai, India , provided further expansion of the business in 2008. Cockram’s most recent expansion has been the opening of an office in Brisbane in 2009 and this office has already completed a number of projects in the company's specialist markets throughout Queensland. The featured image shows Monash University Science Technology Research Innovation Precinct in Clayton, Victoria, which exemplifies Cockram’s focus on highly serviced buildings. The project earned the company two Master Builders Association of Victoria awards: Excellence in Construction Commercial Buildings $30 - $80M 2009 and Excellence in Health and Safety 2008. The last decade in particular has seen enormous growth of Cockram’s capability and reputation, as the company’s expertise in highly serviced cleanroom and containment projects has been recognised by local and international customers. In 2011 as the company celebrates 150 years of operations, they have returned fully to their founding heritage with a name change to Cockram Construction. The company aims to continue their reputation for safety, excellence, integrity and trust, through a strong focus on client relationships and an unwavering commitment to their people. ANCR SPECIAL FEATURE
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MYER MELBOURNE REDEVELOPMENT “We at Probuild know what makes retail developments tick, understanding that retailers need to remain open for trading while we work around them. We have been proud to be involved in the redevelopment of this significant landmark building.” CRAIG GATHERCOLE, PROBUILD
100 1 0 VIC PROJECT FEATURE MYER MELBOURNE REDEVELOPMENT
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VIC PROJECT FEATURE MYER MELBOURNE REDEVELOPMENT 101
Probuild: A Team of Pros Comb n ng her tage features w th contemporary urban arch tecture
With an established track record for the delivery of complex, high quality projects, Probuild 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.
the time and space of the building delivery facilities, however, with Probuild’s hard work and dedication to ensure this project’s success, we closely coordinated with the clients, tenants and subcontractors and adjusted our working methods accordingly to meet this challenge,” Mr Gathercole said.
With a prolific profile including projects such as Monash University New Horizons, VIC Halycon Apartments, NSW, Raine Square, WA and Highpoint Shopping Centre, VIC, Probuild continues to be one of Australia’s leading building companies.
In addition, the Redevelopment took place in the heart of Melbourne’s bustling CBD, and so the needs of the adjoining owners and their respective businesses also had to be considered.
Given that extensive level of expertise, Probuild was appointed the Design and Construct contractor for the Myer Redevelopment in Melbourne’s Bourke Street Mall. This $300 million precinct upgrade, taking place in the heart of the city, involved combining the Myer building’s significant heritage features with contemporary urban architecture and a full fit out. Since February 2008, Probuild has been responsible for managing the demolition, refurbishment and new construction for the Myer Redevelopment. In addition, Probuild worked alongside the design team to finalise the overall concept, design and style of the building. With a team of 47 full-time and five part-time professional staff onsite, Probuild demonstrated their commitment to ensure the smooth operation of the project and the timeframe and budget requirements of the client were met. However, as with any significantly sized redevelopment, Probuild did face a number of challenges that they needed to overcome in order for the project to be a success.
“To address this issue and minimise disruption, we did everything we could to maintain good communication with all parties involved to ensure all demands were met and that everyone was satisfied,” Mr Gathercole said. “As a result, works and retail trade has been able to take place simultaneously.” “We at Probuild know what makes retail developments tick, understanding that retailers need to remain open for trading while we work around them. We have been proud to be involved in the redevelopment of this significant landmark building,” he said. To their credit, the tenant, Myer, and our long-standing client, Colonial First State Global Asset Management, also understood the significance of our task, and were flexible enough to work with us to ensure we could work productively. With more than 24 years experience working on a range of prestige retail developments, Probuild is consistently able to work safely and collaboratively within operational retail environments, making them the leading builder and construction management choice for large scale redevelopments.
Craig Gathercole, Construction Manager of Probuild, said that one of the key difficulties they had faced was the limited onsite delivery access, with deliveries only accessible via Little Bourke Street. “Probuild was committed to ensuring public access to the building was maintained during the redevelopment, and this placed limits on
For more information contact Probuild 230 Albert Road, South Melbourne, Victoria 3205, phone 03 9693 8222, fax 03 9693 8233, website: www.probuild.com.au.
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Donald Cant Watts Corke (DCWC) is Australia's largest privately owned cost Quantity Surveying and project management services provider. Specialising in the provision of a full range of quantity surveying services, from project initiation to project completion, DCWC continue to be the cornerstone of major building and infrastructure projects nationwide. Able to provide feasibility reports, cost planning, documentation services, tax depreciation schedules, contract administration, and documentation solutions across a broad range of industries, DCWC's high calibre team offers outstanding performance, timely delivery and handover results. Given their advanced cost management tools, monitoring procedures and wide-ranging expertise, DCWC have recently been responsible for the quantity surveying on the Bourke Street Myer re-development in Melbourne. Commencing their involvement in 2007, DCWC's experienced and professional team have been specialising in the provision of cost management, onsite analysis and evaluation, cost and design feasabilities of the Myer re-development. Whilst working on the Project, DCWC introduced a new estimating software package that used new technology to enable direct 'on screen take off' of quantities received electronically. Director of DCWC, Glenn Corke, said the results from using the new software for the first time on the Myer re-development had been extremely successful. “The ‘on screen take off ’ process has not only increased the efficiency of preparing cost plans and bills of quantities, but has also allowed live monitoring of documentation changes throughout the life of the Project,”Mr Corke said. “Given the fact it was the first time we utilised this software, we've been able to satisfy the needs of the clients in a time-effective and cost-efficient manner,” he said. Consisting of a combination of five old buildings, all built at different stages and all having different floor levels, construction
techniques and materials, the team from DCWC were faced with a number of challenges whilst working on the Myer Bourke Street re-development. “As a result of the various buildings and authority standards that have occurred over the last 100 years, there was a great deal of difficulty, in terms of latent conditions, discovered within the building fabric,” Mr Corke said. “This presented a major challenge in terms of being able to manage these changes and providing structurally sound solutions that could be achieved within the Project budget. “However, through a combination of DCWC's industry expertise and our new software technology, we were able to overcome these obstacles and deliver cost-effective outcomes,” he said. Although the Myer Bourke Street re-development has, at times, been a difficult Project, DCWC believe that the entire team, including the client, consultants and contractors, have all worked hard to achieve what will be a landmark building in Melbourne's CBD. “This has been a rewarding project from our office's perspective in terms of prestige, developing client relationships and the lessons we've learnt in regards to this type of development,” Mr Corke said. Given their reputation built on trust, innovation and confidence, DCWC will continue to provide indisputable results and remain the driving force behind the delivery of exceptional Australia-wide projects.
For more information contact Donald Cant Watts Corke Upper Level 3, GPO Building, 350 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, phone 03 8662 1111, fax 03 8662 1122, website: www.dcwc.com.au.
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Below Donald Cant Watts Corke specialise in the provision of a full range of quantity surveying services, from project initiation to project completion.
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Below Meinhardt Facade Technology fullfiled numerous roles on the project from start to finish.
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Meinhardt Facade Technology continues to lead the way in delivering dynamic, cost-effective and creative facade engineering solutions to a range of industries across Australia. Utilising modern, cutting-edge technology, Meinhardt Facade Technology consistently seek and employ the best available talents and solutions, as well as investing and adopting effective management techniques to ensure successful project outcomes. Unlike their competitors, the Meinhardt Group is one of the very few multi-disciplinary firms operating within international market sectors, providing integrated engineering, infrastructure and project management services worldwide. As a result of their team of dedicated and professional staff, Meinhardt Facade Technology are able to provide solutions to the building and construction industry, regardless of the project's size. Dedicated to the design and engineering of facades, BMU systems and lighting solutions to a range of the world's most prominent buildings, it is no surprise they have been involved in the redevelopment of the iconic Myer building on Melbourne's Bourke Street. This redevelopment and major Myer precinct upgrade, in the heart of Melbourne, combines the unique heritage features of the building, with contemporary urban architecture. When complete, the $500 million redevelopment in the Lonsdale and Little Bourke Street block will incorporate 42,000 square metres of retail floor space and 31,000 square metres of commercial floor space. Throughout their ongoing involvement, which commenced in 2007, Meinhardt Facade Technology fulfilled numerous roles for the main contractor, Probuild and subcontractor, Material Fabrications. Working alongside Probuild, Meinhardt Facade Technology were responsible for providing the initial facade engineering, as well as general facade consultancy to NH Architects and Probuild's design team. This incorporated the areas of the external facade, as well as the complex design and geometry of the internal voids balustrade glazing and support structure. In addition to these responsibilities, Meinhardt Facade Technology provided design solutions, WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
documentation and engineering for the external elements of the building to the subcontractor, Material Fabrications. Whilst providing the unique design for the proposed facade cladding system to be incorporated onto the Little Bourke Street building, Mathieu Meur, Managing Director of Meinhardt Facade Technology said they encountered a number of access and timeframe limitations. “Although there were limited delivery access options available onsite, given the small building area and CBD location, as well as a tight time schedule, our professional staff were able to produce effective solutions to these issues,” Mr Meur said. “In addition, we used a custom-designed unitised facade system, with steel framed panels measuring three metres in width and 15 metres long. “As we clad these frames in aluminum composite cladding, this allowed large areas of the facade to be closed and sealed quickly, ensuring the Myer redevelopment was completed within the required time frame,” he said. The fact that Meinhardt Facade Technology has an office located within walking distance from the development also meant staff were regularly onsite or nearby to address any project issues that arose. Meinhardt Facade Technology have also recently introduced an organisational ethos that gives them a decisive edge over the competition. “Not only do we utilise the latest technology, we've also created an internal environment that encourages initiative and supports innovation,” Mr Meur said. “This, along with out strong delivery team and years of experience in corporate culture, ensures project demands are consistently met,” he said. With their commitment to delivering dynamic, cost-effective solutions and professional service, Meinhardt Facade Technology will continue to be a leader within the facade design industry. For more information contact, Meinhardt Facade Technology Level 12, 501 Swanston Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000 phone 03 86761200 fax 03 8676 1201 Email: contact@meinhardtgroup.com, website: www.meinhardtgroup.com.
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Below Lovell Chen adopted a number of techniques to preserve the heritage Myer building.
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At the heart of Melbourne’s long established retail core stands the iconic Myer Emporium; a building and site of great cultural significance to the city. Recognised as a state heritage level a key consideration in the $300 million refurbishment has been the restoration of heritage elements. Under the expert guidance of Lovell Chen, Architects and Heritage Consultants, the retained heritage fabric has been meticulously restored. The external works focussed on the famous Bourke Street façade, which is a composite structure, reflective of the stores progressive expansion through the twentieth century. Steel framed and clad in a combination of concrete and brick the façade had been unified in 1935, when it was provided with its distinctive Art Deco treatment. Leader of the heritage team, Dan Blake commented that ‘while in sound condition structurally, the existing rendered finish and precast mould details were extensively cracked and crazed. Additionally both steel and timber window frames had deteriorated and all had been painted out, creating a dead wall to the street’. The works commenced with an investigation of the original paint finishes and a survey of render and windows. A key requirement of the brief was that the windows be returned to their original ‘clear’ glass treatment and that they also all be sealed to assist in meeting BCA Part J compliance requirements. While cleaning paint off the inner glass surface was investigated the final approach was one of reglazing with new screw fixed steel glazing beads to match the original. The investigation of the paint finishes revealed that the 1935 treatment used ‘Snowcrete’, a patent coating system for masonry. This was later covered with numerous later paint systems, including some containing lead. Rather than wholesale removal it was determined to retain the existing paint and encapsulate with a new acrylic system. The bright white colour which was selected was based on the colour used when the first cantilevered verandah was installed along with the large ground floor display windows in the 1950s. Internally restoration focussed on the Mural Hall, a space which was once the focus of the Melbourne fashion scene. Designed as an elegant dining, fashion parade and WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
event space the highlight of the space is the collection of ten Napier Waller artistic murals themed on a tribute to women. Prior to works commencing these needed to be carefully encapsulated by conservators from Melbourne University. The restoration was directed at re-presenting the space as closely as possible to its appearance in 1935. Later paint finishes were removed, a modern parquet floor lifted and replaced with timber strip flooring laid out as a boarded carpet, the collapsing and asbestos contaminated fibrous plaster ceiling replaced and the original decorative scheme reinstated. The original cast aluminium chandeliers where reconditioned and cleaned using a micro abrasive with the application of a protective wax coating. The chandeliers were re wired and fitted with compact fluorescent lights with three settings. Carpet runners and curtains were installed, based on the record of the design contained in early photographs. To meet current BCA requirements balustrades were augmented and the south façade was packed out with foam insulation to improve the thermal performance to the building. In meeting Heritage Victoria permit approvals conditions Blake said, ‘we had to devise a scheme of interpretation for the building which would be visible to the public and tell the Myer story. As part of the design we proposed to relocate the old terminal point of the Lansom pneumatic cash tube system from the basement to a special designed display area adjacent to the Mural Hall’. The restored and gleaming cash tubes now form a key point for visitation for those interested in the store’s history. The Myer project required the use of many of Lovell Chen’s specialist skills, which have been applied to numerous award-winning and significant heritage projects, including 140 William Street Perth, The State Library of Victoria, The Supreme Court, The Royal Exhibition Building and the recently completed Goods Shed North at Docklands. For more information contact Lovell Chen Architects and Heritage Consultants, 35 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, phone 03 9667 0800. Email: enquiry@lovellchen.com.au, website: www. lovellchen.com.au.
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Below Campberfield Bin Hire were responsible for all the rubbish removal bins on-site.
Since 2003, Campbellfield Bin Hire has been providing Melbourne building and construction sites with quality rubbish removal services. Able to cater for a range of projects, regardless of their size, Campbellfield Bin Hire are one of Melbourne's leading bin hire companies. With a small, yet professional team, Campbellfield Bin Hire have recently been involved on the Myer redevelopment project on Melbourne's Bourke Street. This $500 million redevelopment to Melbourne's retail precinct will, when complete, incorporate 42,000 m2 of retail floor space and will endeavour to marry the significant heritage features of the site, with contemporary urban architecture. Responsible for the provision of all of the rubbish removal bins on-site, Director of Campbellfield Bin Hire, Rocky Mennillo, said his company had consistently been able to meet the demands of such a large-scale project. “We have been providing at least three, ten metre steel bins on a daily basis. In fact, since our initial involvement on the Myer project, we've delivered over 400 bins to the site,” Mr Mennillo said. 110 VIC PROJECT FEATURE MYER MELBOURNE REDEVELOPMENT
“Another unique feature of our services is that we recycle all of the on-site waste we collect at our own recycling plants. “As a result, we are able to effectively remove all on-site rubbish in a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable fashion,” he said. Given their extensive industry experience, Mr Mennillo said Campbellfield Bin Hire's involvement on the Myer redevelopment project had been met with minimal obstacles. “Throughout the redevelopment, we've maintained effective project co-ordination with the other contractors to ensure the supply and removal of the steel bins adheres to everyone's specific demands and needs,” Mr Mennillo said. Having worked with the main contractors - Probuild, for over 15 years, as well as having provided their bin services to a range of clients within the industry, Campbellfield Bin Hire will no doubt continue to keep building sites across Melbourne clean.
For more information contact Campbellfield Bin Hire, 58 Merola Way, Campbellfield VIC 3061, phone 03 9357 0550, fax 03 9357 9912. AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
Below Structural Systems provide post-tensioning, construction, civil, remedial and mining services.
Since 1961, Structural Systems has grown from a small privately-owned specialist post-tensioning company, to a diverse international contractor. Comprised of five operating divisions including post-tensioning, construction, civil, remedial and mining services, Structural Systems also has a Major Projects division, that provides support to large-scale or complex projects. Given the fact they are market leaders in post-tensioning and remedial engineering technology, it was little surprise that Structural Systems were recently involved in the re-development of the Myer building on Melbourne’s Bourke Street. Throughout this redevelopment, Structural Systems were responsible for erecting the concrete frame of the building, using concrete post-tensioning and reinforcement, the refurbishment of the façade of the heritage building, as well as the design and construction of the floor strengthening system.
screeds, as well as carbon fibre technology, to achieve the required level and strength,” Mr O’Connor said. However, the professional team from Structural Systems did face a number of challenges whilst working on the Myer project. “One particular obstacle we needed to overcome was that parts of the existing structure of the building were not built in accordance with its original drawings that were retrieved from archive.” “As a result, it was necessary for us to modify not only the design, but also the strengthening methodology. However, using our expertise and quality products, we were able to overcome these design challenges to ensure the project was a success,” he said. With a commitment to improving the standard of design and construction in post-tensioning and remedial engineering, it is without a doubt that Structural Systems will continue to remain at the forefront of the industry.
Remedial Division Manager, Rick O’Connor said that when strengthening the floors, a state-of-the-art product, carbon fibre, was used to upgrade the capacity of the floors to the required standards. “In order to raise the levels of the floors to suit the redevelopment design of the building, we needed to use fully bonded structural WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
For more information on Structural Systems, you can contact them on 03 9296 8100 or visit their website www.structuralsystems.com.au. VIC PROJECT FEATURE MYER MELBOURNE REDEVELOPMENT 111
Below Hinds Blunden offered a range of project management, programming, dispute resolution, contractual and expert advisory services.
Since 1985, Hinds Blunden's dynamic, highly skilled and professional team has provided timely and cost-effective solutions for the construction industry. Hinds Blunden provides services spanning the life of a project, from preparation and review of contract documentation, time and cost management during the works, to advice, preparation and negotiation of claims, independent expert reports and assistance with dispute resolution. Our services include: • Expert Evidence & Forensic Analysis • Commercial & Contractual Support • Planning & Scheduling • Project Management • Government Support With the expertise to define and analyse the objectives of each client's assignment, Hinds Blunden are committed to delivering their services in order to ensure the satisfaction of their clients, regardless of the size of the projects they are responsible for. Given their industry expertise, Hinds Blunden were appointed planners for the builder on the $225 million Myer Bourke Street Redevelopment. Incorporating 42,000m2 of retail floor space over 9 levels, the project involved demolition, new construction and refurbishment of the 112 VIC PROJECT FEATURE MYER MELBOURNE REDEVELOPMENT
existing store which comprised five separate buildings, some over 100 years old. Hinds Blunden worked closely with the project team for the complete organisation and programming of the project. The Myer Bourke Street Redevelopment was a highly demanding and complex project. The challenges included demolition and construction carried out concurrently, protection of heritage elements, the removal of extensive hazardous materials, access constraints due to its prime CBD location, all to be staged so that full public access and trading could continue during construction. With such an outstanding track record and prolific reputation, Hinds Blunden will remain one of Australia's leading project management companies and will continue to provide their expertise and services to the building and construction industry.
For more information contact Hinds Blunden, Level 3 114 Albert Road, South Melbourne, VIC 3205, phone 03 9696 2740, Email: Contact: David Watson, Melbourne Manager Email: dwatson@hindsblunden.com.au www.hindsblunden.com.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
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barwon heads bridge Main Construction Company : McConnell Dowell Developer : VicRoads Road Bridge design : AECOM Pedestrian Bridge Engineer : Arup Pedestrian Bridge Architect : Peter Elliott Architects Project end Value : $48 Million Completion : June 2011
bridging the old and the new
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McConnell Dowell Level 3, 109 Burwood Road Hawthorn VIC 3122 t. 03 9816 2400 f. 03 9818 7924 www.mcconnelldowell.com
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ome would say the reconstruction of the Barwon Heads Bridge has been long overdue. Originally built in 1927, the former Barwon Heads Bridge was a local icon that held a special place in the community’s heart. But it was more than an icon, it was and still remains a key road link to the Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove communities and is also a protected asset on the Victorian Heritage Register. Because of its age, and a myriad of issues such as deteriorating concrete, rotting timber, cracked piles, and rusted steel beams the load limit was officially reduced to 16 tonnes. The bridge was rapidly reaching the end of its lifespan as a working bridge. Because the former bridge was a much loved landmark reconstructing the existing timber bridge needed to preserve the heritage appeal of its original design. VicRoads undertook three years achieving planning and Heritage approvals to determine the requirements of the new bridge, subsequently awarding a construction contract to McConnell Dowell Constructors P/L. VicRoads and McConnell Dowell Constructors P/L then worked together incorporating the design and materials from the old bridge, and ensuring construction would be minimally invasive to the local communities, and high in quality. They succeeded, creating a new road bridge consisting of 34 spans supported by 165 treated timber piles, galvanised steel I-beams and a reinforced concrete deck. The bridge is 308 metres long, 9 metres wide and carries two 3.3 metre wide traffic lanes. The new 4.5 metre wide pedestrian bridge is located 10 metres downstream from the new road bridge. It is a modern concrete bridge with 18 metre long spans supported by one pile per pier. “The project was not without its challenges,” said Project Manager Arnold McGill. “Thanks to fast flowing tides and shallow water, we needed to create a temporary bridge rather than working from floating barges or work platforms. We effectively constructed four bridges in the space of 18 months. That includes the construction of the temporary working bridge to support a 120 tonne crane, construction of the permanent pedestrian bridge and placing one lane of traffic on this bridge.”
McConnell Dowell then utilised a method of continuous demolition and re-construction in order to remove and replace the old bridge segments with the new throughout the build process. The result is a twin pedestrian and road bridge, effectively separating pedestrians from vehicular traffic. There are dedicated cyclist lanes as an additional safety aspect. An elevated fishing platform has been incorporated on the pedestrian bridge especially to cater to anglers. In order to satisfy local residents, the new road bridge was designed as an architecturally secure replica, rather than a callous replacement. To this end, McConnell Dowell recycled and repurposed 300x150mm timber Crossheads and 350mm diameter Corbels from the existing bridge into the new. The effect is one of serene splendor, truly characteristic of the coastal township that featured prominently in the ABC television series SeaChange. “McConnell Dowell exhibited an open communication approach with VicRoads ensuring that any concerns or issues were resolved amicably,” said John Clinch, Acting Manager of Program Delivery. “This approach was also used to engage the community and stakeholders, resulting in open two way feedback throughout the project” McConnell Dowell is known for their operational focus, their commitment to finding the personality ingrained within every project they undertake. With regards to Barwon Heads Bridge, Arnold McGill and team were able to successfully blend the old with the new, creating a local landmark that not only pleases residents and tourists, but also to the specific design requirements of Heritage Victoria. Since its inception in 1960, McConnell Dowell has successfully serviced the construction, civil engineering, mechanical and electrical industries, earning them such accolades as the 2010 Australian Engineering Excellence Award from Engineers Australia. Their environmental procedures are also second to none, with recent projects taking out the Civil Contractors Federation Earth Awards for innovative and environmentally-friendly project design and delivery.
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built on experience & expertise since 1972
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RC Piling & Foundations Pty Ltd was built on the experience gained by Mr Stuart Boam, Managing Director, who commenced his career in the piling industry in 1972, working for major pile construction firms in the U.K. The company was formed in December 1988 in Melbourne and has since undertaken and completed various projects throughout Australia and the Far East. Major roadwork contracts have been the Eastlink Project, Citylink Project, Albury Bypass, Geelong Bypass, Craigieburn Bypass, Tullamarine Calder interchange, (Victoria) Bridges on the Alice springs to Darwin Railway Line, Halls Creek and Argyle Diamond Mine (WA), Australian Embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam, West Rail Project in Hong Kong, Barwon River Bridge, Lorne Pier Reconstruction, South Morang Rail Extension Project and Sunbury Rail Electrification Project to name a few. Major building works include MCG, Great Southern Stand, Crown Casino, Melbourne Underwater World, Commonwealth Law Courts, QP2, Aldi Superstores, Commonwealth Archive Building. Initially starting with one drilling rig, BRC Piling & Foundations Pty Ltd now has 23 drilling rigs, for bored piles, caisson, contiguous, secant and CFA piles. Hole diameters range from 300mm â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4500mm diameters to depths in excess of 90 meters. We also have driving and vibratory type rigs to install driven concrete and steel piles, driven UBs UCs and sheet piles. The company is self contained in that all personnel required to design, manufacture or maintain the equipment and tools are employed directly by the company. BRC Piling & Foundations Pty Ltd currently employs 34 personnel who include office staff, design engineers, supervisors, operators and site personnel. All are fully ticketed and meet all current requirements. 116 VIC PROJECT FEATURE barwon heads bridge
The objective of our company is to be the preferred piling contractor by providing our customers with the confidence that their specifications will be met. We do this by ensuring our name for quality work remains intact and by providing evidence that the standards have been achieved. We recognise that our personnel are the key to our reputation and future in the industry, and as such we aim to maintain the highest level of knowledge, health, safety and satisfaction of our people. A Member of the Piling & Foundation Specialists Federation. BRC Piling & Foundationsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; expertise in drilling extremely hard rock, using up to 7 drilling rigs at one time, including the impressive SOILMEC SR100, the largest drilling rig in the Southern Hemisphere, ensured the McConnell Dowell construction program was completed on time. BRC are proud to have been part of the team involved with the Barwon Heads Bridge and wish McConnell Dowel every success with all their future projects. BRC PILING & Foundations Pty Ltd PO Box 457 Mount Evelyn VIC 3796 12/97-107 Canterbury Road Kilsyth VIC 3137 t. 03 8761 0000 f. 03 8761 0099 e. office@brcpiling.com.au www.brcpiling.com.au vic PROJECT FEATURE barwon heads bridge 117
Innovative Sewer Cleaning Bartlett’s Environmental, formally Bartlett’s Waste Management is a family-owned and operated company that has been supplying liquid waste, asset management and environmental services to Government Authorities and businesses throughout Victoria for over two decades. Bartlett’s were engaged to decommission the old 450mm rising sewer main that passed underneath the historic Barwon Heads Bridge. Such a task required a coordinated effort with the onsite operators. “The three pump stations leading to this particular line were shut off and Bartlett’s acted as a bypass for this waste,” said General Manager John McCoy. “We had trucks controlling the flow of sewerage between Ocean Grove and the Bellarine Peninsular. We had to maintain the sewer flow in order to avoid a sewerage spill, which could have a detrimental impact on the environment.” “Valves were connected to the start and end of the old sewer line to stop flow during decommission. The installation of the hot taps was the first time such work had been undertaken on a sewer main this size in the region and specialised contractors and equipment were required from the United States.” “Once the line was decommissioned, the pipe was cleaned using our Recycling Drain Cleaning Unit,” said John. “This unit enabled us to jet and clean the sewer pipe while simultaneously processing the waste. We used the recycled water for jetting and cleaning the line which completely eliminated the need to use potable water. Our automatic five stage recycling system can process 785 litres per minute, ensuring continuous supply for the jetting operation.” To ensure the line was free from debris, Bartlett’s monitored operations using CCTV technology. Over the years, Bartlett’s has expanded their services to meet the changing requirements and expectations of the environment and their customers. Along with Asset Management, Bartlett’s core activities include Hydro Excavation (Non-Destructive Digging), Liquid Waste Management, Drain Cleaning, Mobile Dewatering, Confined Space Entries, High Pressure Cleaning and CCTV Inspections. Bartlett’s Environmental PO Box 3105 Geelong VIC 3220 t. 03 5248 7955 f. 03 5248 7677 e. info@bartlettsenvironmental.com.au www.bartlettsenvironmental.com.au
Environmental
The Water Recycling Process
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We lead with innovative foresight 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.
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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
MELBOURNE AIRPORT STAGE 2 MAIN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY : John Holland DEVELOPER / CLIENT : Melbourne Airport PROJECT MANAGER : Root Projects Australia PROJECT END VALUE : $330 million COMPLETION : 2011 ARCHITECTS : Architectus QUANTITY SURVEYOR : WT Partnership
FLYING INTO THE FUTURE here’s no time like the present for future-proofing a major aviation gateway like Melbourne Airport. The recent expansion of Terminal Two and associated works represent part of an overall vision involving the largest capital investment in infrastructure since the Airport was first built 40 years ago. For CEO of Melbourne Airport, Chris Woodruff, the multifaceted plans embody a passionate commitment to travellers, airlines, Melbourne itself, and the Victorian and National economies.
expect in five years we will be seeing more Chinese passport holders than New Zealand passport holders.”
“Over the last 15 years, Melbourne Airport’s passenger numbers have more than doubled from 13 million a year to 28 million a year. If we look forward 10 years, it is going to be more like 40 million a year. We have to make the investment in infrastructure ahead of demand. We are looking at 10, 20 years ahead and have very detailed and mature planning in place to accommodate future growth,” said Chris.
Melbourne Airport has introduced a number of initiatives to welcome Chinese travellers, with signage and public address announcements in Mandarin and training for front end staff in basic Chinese cultural protocols.
“Melbourne’s growth rate for international passenger numbers is ahead of the world average. It is ahead of Sydney. The expansion of the international terminal gives us capacity for the coming years.” “We are geographically fortunate with our neighbours as they are the great Asian countries Including Malaysia, China, Singapore, Indonesia and Taiwan. These countries will drive future economic growth. Going forward, it will be more about the Asian growth story. We 120 VIC PROJECT FEATURE MELBOURNE AIRPORT STAGE 2
“The industry needs to get its head around the Asian growth story – do we speak the language? Is the signage in place? It’s about making people feel welcome when they arrive, and then also having them leave saying positive things about their experience.”
“The airport is the first thing foreign travellers see of Australia, and we are seeing more and more first-time travellers. When we think of the border controls – immigration, customs and quarantine - these processes are likely to be quite alien to some people. How we explain these things to people is very important. And we know aspects like whether their transport – such as a coach – can connect to the airport easily are important. We want all those travellers to go back to their country and extol Melbourne, Victoria and Australia. That’s why we are doing this,” explained Chris. New facilities constructed during the T2E project include five new aircraft parking bays, three with dual aerobridges to host the Airbus A380, the AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the A350. There is 5000m2 of new retail space, with a design which offers a brilliant taste of Melbourne’s unique, quirky style, and includes offerings from some of Melbourne’s iconic eateries. There is a much larger security zone, abundant natural light and better queuing systems which combine to make it a more comfortable space for travellers. As with all of the Airport’s new facilities, a degree of future proofing ensures that as new, improved security technologies come into use, they can be incorporated.
With 12,500 employees working at the airport, the ongoing expansion has been good news for the entire community of north western Melbourne. At the initial groundbreaking, five City Mayors and the Melbourne Lord Mayor all joined with Federal Transport Minister, Anthony Albanese, to show their support for the project. “We are really passionate about corporate social responsibility. We join in with our local communities, such as Broadmeadows, to boost local employment because we know we can make a difference. Our growth creates growth prospects for the whole community,” said Chris.
The new baggage systems reflect management’s passionate approach to delivering essential services to passengers in the most efficient way. The new system has been designed with the capacity to meet the needs of years of growth in passenger numbers.
“I feel the Federal Government is doing a great job of negotiating air rights ahead of time. The new aircraft that airlines are adding to their fleets are uniquely suited to coming to Australia.
The next stages of work at the airport will include new check-in desks, additional aircraft parking bays, a new arrivals area and a sixth inbound baggage carousel.
“We think the next big growth story will be India. Air India is commencing services to Melbourne Airport soon, which will be the first direct AustraliaIndia route.”
Beyond the needs of future travellers and the airlines, Melbourne Airport is also considering the needs of the future of the environment, with a number of initiatives designed to make Melbourne one of the most energy efficient international terminals in Australia. These include a highly efficient in-floor hydraulic heating and cooling system, automatic blinds, extensive re-use of concrete in construction, and rainwater harvesting systems.
Airside is not the only major investment focus for Melbourne Airport, with $100 million of their own funds earmarked for a significant on airport roads upgrade over the next few years.
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Overall, Chris Woodruff estimates Melbourne Airport will have spent ‘the thick end of $1 billion’ over the next five years, giving one of the world’s most liveable cities one of the world’s best aviation gateways. VIC PROJECT FEATURE MELBOURNE AIRPORT STAGE 2 121
SETTING THE NETWORK FOUNDATIONS ehind the scenes of the John Holland construction program for Melbourne Airport, the Terminal 2 expansion, the airport's IT department played a critical role. Melbourne Airport engaged The Frame Group to design, develop and implement a secure, stable and reliable network.
multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) carrier-grade network as the backbone to support the terminal expansion which included new inbound baggage facilities, passport control and security screening areas.
The network is the foundation of not just the airport's communications systems, but also the backbone for the security, surveillance and car park systems. It is deployed across the campus to provide access for all tenants, business partners and airlines and is essential for the display of passenger and flight information.
During the second stage, completed in 2009, conceptual and detailed designs were carried out and then implemented in conjunction with the terminal's construction, to provide the infrastructure for the new gates. The focus was to create reliable communications and a scalable, robust network.
Design and implementation of the network has been no small task.
Significantly, the MPLS network enabled the airport to consolidate the ICT services it provides to internal and external users, such as tenants, in order to reduce operating costs. To do this, Frame implemented its enterprise service provider (ESP) framework: putting the focus on managing services (like wireless and email) rather than their infrastructure components in isolation (servers, routers).
Frame worked with the architects to ensure the appropriate technical framework was literally built into the construction. Unlike most IT experts, many of Frameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s specialists are familiar with the rigours of construction. Project management knowledge, and an insiderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grasp of the construction process and milestones, informs Frames work, making its team effectively an extension of the core construction team. In the background, Frame worked with Melbourne Airport to align its ICT (information and communications technology) strategy with its business strategy, drawing up a twenty-year ICT plan. The first stage of ICT development began in late 2007 when Frame designed and deployed a new 122 VIC PROJECT FEATURE MELBOURNE AIRPORT STAGE 2
The ESP framework has enabled the IT department to start generating revenue for the services it provides, helping to fund the cost of the network. With MPLS, the phone, computer, TV and flight information are consolidated into a single network. This means in most cases there AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
is only one cable instead of three, which is a direct environmental saving. Consequently there are obvious benefits for operation of the network. In a world-first, Frame has leveraged Cisco IP phones to control the airport's digital signage. These touch screen phones are used by airline staff, anywhere within the airport, at any time to update boarding information, arrivals and departures screens. Because the airline staff can do this independently instead of calling Airport Operations, it reduces the costs to operate the airport. This information can also feed into the Airport’s billing systems to charge airlines for using Melbourne Airport’s infrastructure. This flexibility also extends to allowing staff to run a television feed into the Flight Information Display Screens (FIDS) – so for example when flights are delayed by bad weather, passengers can watch something more entertaining than a departures board. Aircraft engineers can also watch TV through flight screens in their quarters during downtime. Specific information for selected groups of passengers can also easily be delivered on screen, which is especially beneficial in case of an emergency. The FIDS are able to be controlled via any device, including mobile tablet PCs and smartphones, allowing operations staff to make changes while on the move around the terminal, without having to contact central operations staff. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
An upgrade of network services at boarding gates was also undertaken and a new system called ‘Gate link’ was installed. This enables aircraft to start downloading critical flight information—such as the cargo and passenger manifests, passenger details, and flight data—through a wireless link while still taxiing. This technology supports the next generation of aircraft, including the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787, and is designed to increase turnaround times for this new breed of passenger jets. Frame will provide ongoing support for the network infrastructure. “It’s tremendous to see the culmination of over the last three years and see Melbourne Airport’s new terminal expansion come to life” says Brad Ferguson, Managing Director of Frame. “Frame has worked with the Airport to refine its vision and then provided the architecture, processes, systems and tools to allow all stakeholders to benefit, not only now, but also for many years to come.” Frame specialises in technology solutions with a focus on using advanced technologies to improve business efficiencies. THE FRAME GROUP PTY LIMITED Level 11, 189 Kent Street Sydney NSW 2000 t. 02 9323 2810 f. 02 9323 2828 VIC PROJECT FEATURE MELBOURNE AIRPORT STAGE 2 123
BRILLIANT RESULTS LAID BY DEDICATED EXCELLENCE etspot Waterproofing and Tiling worked round the clock completing around an acre and a half of self-levelling and tiling on the Melbourne Airport T2E. It is that kind of effort – and the brilliant results achieved – which have seen the company grow into one of Australia’s most highly credentialed tiling and waterproofing contractors. Wetspot spent five months on site at T2E, supplying and installing all the ceramic bathroom and floor tiles, installing tiles to the concourse and airport including both ceramic tiles and Quarella 600mm X 600 mm reconstituted stone floor tiles. Wetspot also processed four large staircase treads and risers in slabs of Quarella stone. With approximately 7000m2 of ceramic tiles alone to install, along with completing waterproofing for all bathrooms, main stone tiling and the task of self-levelling all concrete on the site using sand and concrete and self-levelling ardit, 35 Wetspot staff including ceramic tilers, self levelers and waterproofers worked for five months completing the assignment. “Our contract doubled half way through the project, we were asked to level out all the floors prior to the install of the tiles, so we had to increase
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man power and work 2 x shifts working around the clock in order to not blow out the completion date. We were able to carry out approximately 5000m2 of self levelling in 3 weeks so as to not delay the project,” said Wetspot Director, Justin Davis. “Wetspot and John Holland needed to work close together with their surveying team to ensure all expansion joints were strategically placed exactly as architectural drawings showed especially throughout the cross concourse on the project which is the main bridge thoroughfare to the new Gates. “I would like to thank John Holland for the opportunity to work with such a great team. Their willingness to help our company onsite is what made the project for us so special and so productive. I would like to make a special mention to Daryl Garlick, Chris Shwartz, Glenn Davis and Shane Baker from John Holland for trusting us to complete these works and make it a success.” The project’s security conscious environment meant the deliveries to site and coordination of outside deliveries was a challenge, with all staff and vehicles entering the project area requiring inspection and clearance.
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Wetspot was founded a decade ago by Director Justin Davis. “I first started the company at the age of 17 and have progressively grown throughout the years and have established a hard working reliable work force,” he said.
Wetspot also undertook the waterproofing to Oakleigh Aquatic Centre, Monash Aquatic Centre, Virgin Active Health Pools in Melbourne, Canberra International Aquatic Centre and waterproofing to the Hydro-therapy pools at Melbourne Royal Children's Hospital.
“I first started in domestic waterproofing at a young age working 15 hour days in order to grow the business. I then at the age of 18 employed my brother Adrian Davis as my first employee and together we grew the business and incorporated ceramic and stone tiling. As the years have passed, together with Mr Frank Fiore my head National Project Manager, Wetspot has now established itself in South Australia, Queensland and our head office is in Melbourne.”
In addition to holding the highest qualification for waterproofing contractors in Australia and being accredited ceramic tilers, Wetspot are dedicated to environmentally sustainable waterproofing and tiling solutions. The company’s immediate focus for the next period of their growth is on working closely with their suppliers to establish products that contain low VOCs and carry a Green Star rating.
In the last ten years, an impressive array of high profile projects have been successfully undertaken, including waterproofing and tiling to all the houses for athlete accommodation at the Commonwealth Games Village for Australand; an office tower and residential tower at 5-9 Yarra St South Yarra for Baulderstone; refurbishment of 210 apartment kitchens at Freshwater Place Southbank, numerous Residential and commercial towers for Becon Construction and Buildcorp Commercial; 109 Apartments on Sydney Road, Brunswick for Hickory Developments; Sealing of all Travertine stone and supplied and installed stone work to two Ambassador Suites at Grand Hyatt Melbourne.
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Wetspot have been trialling a range of products by leading Australian manufacturers, and intend to continue testing various alternatives in order to better develop these options for clients. All the products used by Wetspot for their projects are certified to the relevant Australian standards and have been selected for their quality performance, value for investment, longevity of service and the excellent aesthetic and effective results they deliver for clients. WETSPOT – WATERPROOFING AND TILING SPECIALISTS t. 03 9357 5167 f. 03 9357 5169 e. info@wetspotwt.com.au www.wetspotwt.com.au
VIC PROJECT FEATURE MELBOURNE AIRPORT STAGE 2 125
DETERMINATION AND SKILL SUPPLIES STEEL FOR T2E
W
ith 2,300 tonnes of structural steel to supply, fabricate and install for the T2E project, Aus Iron Industries expanded their own capabilities, implementing new micro-management processes and investing in new capital technology. Aus Iron provided both the structural steel for the two new gates at Melbourne Airport, and for the new baggage handling facility. The 15 month long scope of works included detailed shop drawings for the Gates and design and shop drawings for the structural steel for baggage handling; fabrication of elements including massive five tonne transfer trusses; specification paint of all elements; and delivery and site installation, including the supply and installation of an acre of grating. Shop drawings were produced using 3D software, which was an asset for detailing the complex connections of some of the structural steelwork. All the steel fabricated met the quality standard requirements of ISO9003. Due to the highly secure nature of the project site, all loads required ASIC security tickets, and the company’s riggers and welders working on site all required security clearances. “Doing the job in the timeframe required was thanks to the terrific client, John Holland. Communication and planning was done at a micro-level,” said Aus Iron Operations Manager, Robert Hade. “When we took the job on, we implemented a couple of strategies to get it done more quickly. We introduced a computer-based fabrication
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management system which could track where each piece of steel was at any point in time. We also invested in an Avenger CNC drilling machine and a Bakyal 9m bed Plasma Plate cutting machine, resulting in greater project control and delivery efficiencies.” Aus Iron is currently at work on another John Holland Group D&C project, as the preferred supplier and installer for 1,600 tonnes of structural steel for the Craigieburn Train Maintenance Facility. Along with other members of the Australian Steel Institute, Aus Iron have introduced environmental management practices including reporting on fuel and power usage; recycling; and new training for the 45-strong workforce, focused on achieving sustainable outcomes. Their 8,000m2 workshop facilities and overhead cranes from 5T to 20T allow them to meet the needs of a diverse range of projects from multi storey buildings to heavy strain transmission towers and processing plant structures. They are specialists in the manufacture of Permanent Stair Metal Formwork, and capable of producing over dimensional assemblies.
AUS IRON INDUSTRIES PTY LTD 15-19 Galli Court Dandenong South VIC 3175 t. 03 9799 9922 f. 03 9799 99 13 e. ausiron@ausironindustries.com.au www.ausironindustries.com.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
GETTING PEOPLE TO DESTINATIONS
Working with architects, contractors and project stakeholders from initial project stages, ILS ensure they design the most effective solution, and deliver products manufactured to meet the Australian Standards for Lift Codes, backed by ISO 9001 Quality Certification.
assengers can rely on smoothly reaching the Gates of the expanded Terminal 2 at Melbourne Airport, with moving walkways, lifts and escalators designed, installed and maintained by Independent Lifting Services (ILS) to get them there.
ILS have been maintaining Melbourne Airport’s equipment since March 1997. They have also supplied their lift solutions to major projects across health, commercial, major residential, transport, cultural, retail and industrial sectors.
ILS have been in the business of moving goods and people with the safest and most reliable technologies since 1986, and work at the leading edge of passenger and cargo lifting. Their commitment extends beyond the installation to ongoing 24 hour on call maintenance and repair, and also any necessary future upgrades.
INDEPENDENT LIFTING SERVICES 8 Vella Drive Sunshine VIC 3020 t. 03 93127000 f. 03 93127055 www.liftservice.com
I N T E R N AT I O N A L Phone: 1300 717 769 Facsimile: 1300 400 434 Email: info@floorsafe.com.au Web: www.floorsafe.com.au
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bigroup has delivered Victorian students eleven new schools which combine the best in environmental sustainability measures with leading-edge educational thinking. This substantial achievement represents the completion of the Partnerships Victoria in Schools project for the Victorian Government. The project was funded and managed as a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with the Victorian State Government, where the State entered into a contract with Axiom Education Victoria for the design, construction, financing and maintenance of eleven new government schools scattered across Melbourne’s greater metropolitan area. Abigroup, as part of the Axiom Education Victoria consortium, undertook the design and construction of all the schools. According to the State Government, the Partnerships Victoria in Schools PPP had the goal of delivering critical new infrastructure to outer Melbourne communities which brings together the best in contemporary educational design. The schools are leading examples of ecological sustainability, incorporating a range of best-practice initiatives including wetlands to retain and reuse water and a wide range of other energy and water efficiency measures.
Abigroup commenced this $255 million PPP project at the end of 2008 and completed works in two phases. Phase 1, completed for the start of the 2010 school year, consisted of Alkira Secondary College in Cranbourne North, Cranbourne Carlisle, Derrimut and Taylors Hill primary schools and Point Cook P-9 College. Phase 2 consisted of the other seven schools which were handed over at the start 2011. These schools are Aitken Creek Primary School, Cranbourne East P-12 School, Kororoit Creek Primary School, Lyndhurst Primary School, Mernda Primary School and Truganina South Primary School. Abigroup’s Project Director Holger Messner said, “Abigroup is delighted to have designed and built these eleven schools for Partnerships Victoria in Schools. We are proud of these new schools which have been built to the highest standards and offer world-class, flexible teaching and learning environments.” Each of the schools comprises a mix of facilities aimed at providing future students with a broad spectrum of education. These
PARTNERSHIPS VICTORIA IN SCHOOLS MAIN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY : Abigroup CLIENT : Victorian State Government PROJECT END VALUE : $255 Million COMPLETION : 2010/2011 school years ARCHITECTS : Hayball & Gray Puksand ENGINEER STRUCTURAL : Sinclair Knight Merz
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facilities include classroom buildings incorporating learning centres, administration buildings, amenities, gymnasiums and food preparation facilities. External works undertaken include site services, carparking, circulation paths, hard and soft sporting fields, outdoor learning areas and landscaping. The project involved a number of innovative and exciting aspects, including a partnership with the YMCA to build facilities at six of the schools, and partnering with the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Gardens Foundation to create a kitchen garden at Point Cook North P-9. Axiom also partnered with Metro Canteens to deliver enlarged canteen facilities at two of the secondary schools. To maximise overall community amenity, the wider urban planning context placed the majority of schools in close proximity to Public Open Space and Community Activity Centres. This creates opportunities for the school body and surrounding community to engage easily, and ensures the schools contribute to a broader enhancement of social infrastructure. Abigroup’s partners in the Axiom Education Victoria consortium consist of co-sponsor Royal Bank of Scotland, and facilities manager United Group Services. Axiom will be continuing their involvement in
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these schools, with the PPP contract including ongoing maintenance for the next quarter of a century. Abigroup is a diverse national contractor with expert teams delivering works in areas including buildings, roads, water, rail, mining services, tunnels, bridges and telecommunications. With some of the nation’s largest and most important infrastructure projects to its credit, Abigroup works at the forefront of constructing solid foundations for Australia’s future growth. Abigroup, Baulderstone and Conneq are part of Lend Lease, joining the Group in March 2011. Together they comprise Lend Lease’s infrastructure business which delivers market leading engineering solutions through Abigroup and Baulderstone in the construction industry, and in the services industry through Conneq. For more information please visit www.lendleaseinfrastructure.com.au FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Holger Messner Project Director, Abigroup t. 03 9802 1955 e. holger.messner@abigroup.com.au
VIC PROJECT FEATURE PARTNERSHIPS VICTORIA IN SCHOOLS 129
Sean’s Showcases Skills at Schools he Partnerships Victoria in Schools PPP is delivering critical new infrastructure to outer Melbourne communities and has given small to medium contractors such as Sean’s Carpentry Services, the opportunity to showcase their capabilities on large scale projects. Sean’s Carpentry Services was contracted through main builder Abigroup to complete services on the Casey Central Secondary School, just one of the 11 schools involved in the PPP. Casey is a relatively large project comprising 5 buildings to cater for Years 7-12 students with additional facilities to be completed in two stages. With a value of $1.2m, Casey School was the first structural project of this large size to be completed by Sean’s. The company had up to 26 tradespeople working on the site over the 8 month construction period. Sean’s Carpentry Services completed the timber framing, the roof framing trusses and part of the fit out and faced interested challenges 130 VIC PROJECT FEATURE PARTNERSHIPS VICTORIA IN SCHOOLS
working with the structural combination of both steel and timber components and the differing angles this entailed. In addition to the timber roof trusses, the roofing work involved the installation of the relatively new Posi Strut Roofing system as specified by the engineers. This system is lightweight and is designed to allow ease of installation of services through the roof cavity. The fitout work involved installation of doors and door hardware, timber columns in the buildings and installation of sanitary hardware. Sean’s Carpentry Services is a family business, which is owned and operated by Sean O’Connor, a highly experienced tradesmen and project manager. Prior to starting his own business nearly 5 years ago, Sean worked for major building companies both here in Australia and in the UK, and brings extensive experience and expertise to every job. AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
“We’ve completed a wide range of projects but this is the first large scale structural job we’ve done and we’re very pleased with the outcome, meeting the tight schedule”, Sean O’Connor said. The successful completion of the Casey Central Secondary School project provides Sean’s with an impressive showcase of their skills and capabilities, in particular in delivering large-scale structural projects. In addition to providing general carpentry and shop fitting services, Sean’s Carpentry Services operates their own factory for the manufacture of shop fittings as a separate arm of the business. This combination of inhouse trades and manufacturing facilities has made Sean’s a highly sought after contractor to complete an interesting and varied range of projects throughout Victoria. Their portfolio includes the Judy Lazarus Transition Centre, the Emirates First Class Lounge, the Qantas Child Care Centre, St Michaels Grammar School and Citigate Hotel in South Melbourne. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
“We place a lot of attention on the detail work on every job and ensure our professionalism and workmanship is first class,” Sean said. The quality of their workmanship and proven ability to deliver on large projects has delivered a continuing supply of contracts. In addition to completing the Casey Central Secondary School, Sean’s Carpentry Services are also working on the Harmony Village in Dandenong, Wallan Police Station, Kyneton Police Station and NMIT. SEAN’S CARPENTRY SERVICES 1/6-8 Lucknow Crescent Thomastown VIC 3074 contact: Sean O’ Connor t. 03 9460 3117 f. 03 9460 9985 e. admin@seanscarpentry.com.au www.kingdomprojects.com.au VIC PROJECT FEATURE PARTNERSHIPS VICTORIA IN SCHOOLS 131
n enviable reputation for professionalism and an impressive versatility in both commercial and domestic installations were key factors which led to Pro FX being selected as a contractor to the Partnerships Victoria in Schools Project. With Abigroup as the main builder, the aim of the PPP is to deliver 11 new schools across Melbourne, which are world class teaching and learning environments, equipped with first class audio visual equipment. A project ideally suited to the highly driven team at Pro FX. Pro FX is a home theatre and electrical company established in 2007 by long-term industry professionals, Shane Gregory and Nathan Blundell. While a relatively small company, Pro FX is big when it comes to capabilities. Their major advantage â&#x20AC;&#x201C; versatility. Pro FX technicians are highly experienced, including fully qualified electricians, who specialise in the installation and servicing of audio visual equipment and systems. This is a rare combination in an industry where it is more common that a client has to source one company to supply the equipment and another to actually install it. Based in Melbourne with over 10 years experience in the industry, Pro FX have the capabilities to provide a comprehensive range of electrical services including lighting, power, communications and audio visual. And most importantly, ensure that all the systems are compatible. Pro FX was contracted to install a range of audio visual and home theatre equipment for the landmark Victorian Schools Project. The scope of the work involved installing interactive white boards and data projectors in the classrooms amongst other equipment. Pro FX faced the challenge of dealing with the extensive natural light in the classroom and high lumen projectors were selected to overcome this issue. To allow the schools greater flexibility in the use of their av equipment and to meet the budget requirements, ultra-short throw projectors were mounted above the interactive white boards on mobile trolleys so they can be moved from room to room. School installations have elements in common with both commercial and domestic projects and it is their experience in both these areas which gives Pro FX the edge on this type of project. Their experience in the domestic arena includes installing all lighting, power, networking, multi-zoned music systems and dedicated theatre rooms and their experience on commercial installations is equally versatile. Pro FX can handle all lighting, power and communications needs but their focus is primarily on audio visual installations. On a large scale Pro FX has also completed audio visual installations in auditoriums and gymnasiums with state of the art projectors that are self maintaining and feature automated control systems that make them extremely easy to use. A critical factor in any environment. Their experience in the commercial environment extends to offices, board rooms, learning centres and function rooms for which they offer a range of products to suit a range of purposes and most importantly, budgets. Pro FX has developed steadily and impressively over the past few years so whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next for Pro FX? Pro FX see solar playing a significant role in power supply in coming years so they have recently qualified to complete solar installations to extend their range of services to homes and schools. Pro FX has also recently completed the Mantra Hotel refurbishment and Marcellin College boardrooms and classrooms. 132 VIC PROJECT FEATURE PARTNERSHIPS VICTORIA IN SCHOOLS
Pro FX Project Versatility PRO FX 200b Patterson Road Bentleigh VIC 3204 contact: Shane Gregory and Nathan Blundell t. 0410 626 094 / 0413955324 e. jobs@profx.com.au www.profx.com.au
HIGH QUALITY SHADE s a result of an impressive track record, shade sail specialist, Shady Places, have developed an enviable reputation, not only for their quality workmanship and innovative designs but for their excellent customer service and friendly and cooperative attitude on site. With more than 15 years experience in designing, manufacturing and installing shade sails for schools, kindergartens, childcare centres, playgrounds and almost any other commercial business, Shady Places' owner and director, Steve Goodwin, and his team have exhibited their professionalism in working around others and adapting their schedules to suit changes. They have received positive feedback as one of the easiest contractors to deal with in these types of projects. Their attitude was particularly evident during their work on the landmark 'Partnerships Victoria Schools' project where they have recently installed shade protection to five of the newly constructed schools. During this project Shady Places supplied and installed the very popular Tension sails which offer almost endless design possibilities, and the canopy style shade structure Hip/Ridge which are ideal for obtaining clearance over playground equipment in schools, kindergartens and childcare centres. The staff at Shady Places appreciate that reliability and quality is everything. They know that installation is a key aspect of the business and Steve Goodwin strives to maintain high standards in his products by being a registered building practitioner who fully understands building codes and regulations. All Shady Places staff are fully trained in the manufacture and installation procedures of shade construction and, even in the most difficult locations, utilise high quality connection fittings to ensure their work meets safety and engineering standards. Shady Places provides a fully integrated design, construction, and fitting process which results in a shade structure that is truly customised to the specific requirements of each project. Their sails are designed to suit a wide range of areas and needs, including large scale commercial installation, schools and playgrounds. Shady places prides itself on designing, delivering and installing sails to the highest standards, while keeping its products reasonably priced. This is achieved by maintaining total control over each component of the design, manufacture and installing aspects of each job, ensuring they are not reliant on anyone to complete projects on time and on budget. With such an impressive attitude and work culture, and an equally impressive reputation, it's not surprising that Shady Places has acquired such an impressive client list with ongoing work for schools and for local councils throughout Victoria. SHADY PLACES Factory 3/363 Old Geelong Road Hoppers Crossing VIC 3029 t. 03 8360 9172 f. 03 8360 9173 e. sails@shadyplaces.com www.shadyplaces.com VIC PROJECT FEATURE PARTNERSHIPS VICTORIA IN SCHOOLS 135
Wiltech Secures Victorian Schools s a security systems contractor to the Partnerships Victoria School PPP, Wiltech Electrical and Security has designed a system for Stage 1 of this landmark project, which is customised to suit the specific needs of the school environment. Wiltech has completed the design, engineering and construction of the intrusion and access control systems for Derrimut Primary School, Taylors Hill Primary School, Point Cook North Preparatory School and Casey Central Secondary School and is now working on the Stage 2 schools. With the construction ongoing over several years, Wiltech especially engineered these initial sites, so the systems are ready to be integrated with a central server once all the sites are completed and connected. Specialists in both electrical works and security systems, Wiltech offers a range of services including electrical, intercom systems, surveillance and monitoring systems, access control and security systems to both the domestic and commercial markets. Wiltech Security Systems offer a range of advanced features which include ease of operation, remote controls, wireless availability for difficult installations, incorporation of electric garage doors, gates, lighting or electronic locks, automatic diversion of home/office phone to mobile and monitoring by Wiltechâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grade 1 monitoring station. 136 VIC PROJECT FEATURE PARTNERSHIPS VICTORIA IN SCHOOLS
Wiltech are committed to ensuring their customers are offered the latest in security technology and on the Stage 1 Victoria Schools project, the company installed the latest panel from Inner Range to ensure the schools were fitted with state of the art systems. The sites presented interesting challenges and the Wiltech technicians use wireless LAN to link up the facility sheds when all other possible avenues have been exhausted. This commitment to problem solving, highlights the superior level of personalized customer service which has seen Wiltech grow from strength to strength over the past 6 years to become a highly respected contractor with an impressive customer base.
WILTECH ELECTRICAL & SECURITY 82 Albert Street Preston VIC 3072 contact: Brett Wilson t. 1300 WILTECH f. 03 9470 2099 e. enquiries@wiltech.net.au www.wiltech.net.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
Alkira Secondary College in Cranbourne North, VIC
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laverton railWAY upgrade on track & on time T
he completion of the Laverton Rail upgrade has provided much needed infrastructure to improve the reliability of Werribee Line Services in Victoria. The project was jointly delivered by John Holland and Metro Trains Melbourne. John Holland was responsible for construction on the project, which focused primarily on the new platform and footbridge. The new footbridge, which includes lifts, now provides better access to the station, especially considering the number of users which is increasing each year. The Laverton Rail Upgrade was spread over two years and cost in excess of $90 million. Additional benefits of the upgrade include extra CCTV cameras and lighting to improve passenger safety along
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with a further 400 car spaces on the northern side of the station. Laverton Rail users will also benefit from the new rail bridge that was constructed over Merton Street, and an extra kilometre of railway track between Laverton Station and the Altona Loop Junction. Removing an existing major bottleneck in the rail network. Along with additional services being introduced on the Werribee line, the Laverton Rail upgrade will allow Werribee and Geelong trains to run more effectively.
Holland strives to keep up with market trends and adapts to all areas allowing them to increase their portfolio while offering their clients a diverse range of services. John Holland has grown from strength to strength and now employs more than 5,000 people across Australia. Their expertise now stretches beyond the traditional civil engineering and construction markets. They have industry leading skills and award winning teams in the telecommunications, power, roads, services, aviation engineering, water, mining, services, rail, tunnelling and Energy & Resources fields.
John Holland has a long history of working in the rail industry covering many areas such as design, track construction, light rail, railway bridges and more.
Good environmental practice is a core component at John Holland where green building and renewable energy is considered on all projects.
Working on a live railway network requires experienced and committed contractors. John Holland proved to have the necessary expertise in the industry ensuring the safety of their staff at all times and completing the Laverton Rail project ahead of schedule.
John Hollands dedicated rail team is involved in numerous projects across Australia seeing the continuous improvement of Australian Rail networks. Their range of capabilities allows them to effectively and efficiently deliver industry-leading projects to their clients and stakeholders.
Committed to providing Australia with the most diverse contracting services, John Holland recognises the importance of achieving long term relationships with industry partners.
From site supervisors and graduate engineers through to IT support personnel and employee relations managers, John Holland has a full spectrum of skills amongst its team members. They see people as their greatest resource and pride themselves on being a market leader in workplace safety, targeted training, career development, staff benefits and remuneration.
John Holland has noticed a significant growth in the rail industry and in response has adapted sound and reliable technology focused on the rail industry. With safety a major factor, especially when working in the rail industry, John Holland has developed a culture within their workplace that ensures safety is a top priority among all staff and contractors. Communication and diversity are also key factors in John Hollandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success. Devoted to continuous growth within their industry, John
John Holland 70 Trenerry Crescent Abbotsford VIC 3067 t. 03 9934 5209 f. 03 9934 5275 www.johnholland.com.au
MAIN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY : John Holland CLIENT : VIC Government PROJECT MANAGER : Department of Transport PROJECT END VALUE : $92.6 Million COMPLETION : October 2010 ENGINEER (STRUCTURAL / CIVIL) : KBR SURVEYOR : RE & LM Gertzel
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VIC PROJECT FEATURE laverton railWAY upgrade 139
SAFEWORKING SOLUTIONS 3 Ryland Avenue Croydon VIC 3136 t. 1300 720 934 f. 1300 720 935 e. admin@railsws.com.au www.railsws.com.au
Above: Middleborough Road overhead bridge construction. Right: Bridge installation.
Company History
Don’t take the risk, use Safeworking Solutions
Over the past twenty years, there have been significant ongoing changes in the rail industry. Safeworking Solutions found a niche offering a premium service, nearly lost in the privatization process, built on the experience and contacts of dedicated staff.
What we do is safely run revenue trains through and around our worksites. A task loaded with obvious risk from a safety and financial perspective. Regulating authorities and prime contractors, see in our work the greatest amount of skill and diligence. Don’t be a source of constant irritation to regulating authorities with incidents and safety investigations that have the potential to blow the budget on your project. We are responsible and insured; delays to train services, or worse, death or serious injury is a type of failure that is never an option for us.
We have demonstrated the capacity to operate as effective team members, often under the most difficult and challenging circumstances proving to be of great value on most of the construction and maintenance activities, on the Suburban and Regional Victorian rail network since 1998.
Mission Statement To provide clients a safe and efficient work environment, on rail reserves, with minimum impact on train running by: • Implementing historically proven, good work practices updated with systemic management principles. • Being valued partners demonstrating competency and understanding of the safety principles required to complete any task we never compromise integrity or standards. • Maintaining a premium standard through a period of constant change in the industry. • A simple, industrially sound, structured workforce able to expand, contract and respond to the needs of the industry as they arise.
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If you are going to work in the rail environment, to have the necessary control of your workplace and to ensure a favourable outcome, you will need to understand and manage the Safeworking aspects of your job. With us, Safeworking Solutions, as a part of your team we allow you the client to understand the constraints and opportunities of working within the potentially dangerous rail environment and thereby manage your job effectively and safely. Safeworking Solution Training are a Metro Approved provider of Level 1 Train Track Awareness Training. They provide a One-StopShop with required medicals done at the time of training so you can access the Rail Corridor without delays. We can even do our training on-site with prior arrangement. Contact us now to discuss your Safeworking and Training needs on 1300 720 934.
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Safety First The Laverton Rail project is now complete and offers a safe, efficient and user-friendly design. The upgrade has enabled additional rail passenger services to be introduced on the Werribee line. Commuters will significantly benefit from the improvements at Laverton Station, which include approximately 400 new parking spaces, a new platform and pedestrian footbridge. Upgrades being carried out on and around a live rail network presented substantial safety issues. This is where Safeworking Solutions came into play. With a long history of providing specialist advice and rail safety to contractors, Safeworking Solutions coordinated and applied a large variety of techniques across the various work sites. The focus was to rebuild Laverton Station while applying minimal impact to live trains and the public during works. Some of the techniques Safeworking Solutions implemented and controlled included: • Lookout Protection, which involved lookouts strategically placed to adequately reduce risks associated with limited train viewing. • Strenuous planning and communication with train controllers and the entire project team in order to optimise working time on the live rail corridor and generate as much on track time as possible for civil works to occur. • Track occupations, which involved shutting the line down for major works to be undertaken while following a tightly planned program schedule along with isolating the electrical services and issuing of permits (P.T.W’s) to Safeworking staff. • Permit to foul, which involves taking out a permit to foul the line when track occupations were in place and monitoring multiple work groups safely while on the rail corridor. • Full track protection which allowed for works to be carried out in the danger zone of live train running services while ensuring the work groups were given the safest work environment possible. • Applying on the spot, Accredited Track Awareness Training, insuring that L1 tickets/medicals were issued on short notice due to high demand of personal working on the project. Since privatisation of the Victorian Rail Network in 1998 the door has been open for contractors to provide maintenance and construction activities across the rail network. Safeworking Solutions has been at the forefront of providing the services necessary for companies to work safely in this type of environment. What may appear to be a complex work environment is simply an opportunity for Safeworking Solutions to share their rail operating expertise.
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VIC PROJECT FEATURE laverton rail upgrade 141
Rock Solid ResultS Working alongside the John Holland Group, Langdon Contractors recently finished their work on the Laverton Rail upgrade in Victoria. Providing all masonry and retaining walls for this project saw Langdon Contractors focusing on constructing the most appropriate wall types within a strict budget. Langdon Contractors worked hard cutting through existing rock wall foundations and the finished product was an effective, eye catching result. Working on a live rail site was at times challenging, but the years of expertise held by Langdon Contractors saw them complete the project with precision and ease. Trains passed through the site at speeds of 100kph and sound OH&S procedures were a high priority for Langdon Contractors and their staff. Effective earmuffs were an essential requirement for this project. Langdon Contractors is an Australian company who have supplied structural masonry and associated works to many of Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading civil and construction companies. 142 VIC PROJECT FEATURE laverton railWAY upgrade
Langdon Contractors Pty Ltd 55 Collyers Road Warncoort VIC 3243 t. 03 5233 4597 f. 03 5233 4652 www.langdoncontractors.com AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
winning windows G
ood communication was a key element for Tech-Mart on the Laverton Rail Upgrade. Working closely with John Holland, Tech-Mart designed, manufactured and installed all aluminium windows across the new walkway bridge at Laverton Station. Their skills were put to the test when it came to designing a system that would meet the client requirements as well as being able to survive everyday use along with possible vandalism, which may occur in the future. On site, Tech-Mart installed the aluminium framing at ground level in preparation for each section to be craned into position. The specially sourced, non-reflective glass was then installed by Tech-Mart after all sections of the walkway and roofing were complete. The glass for this upgrade was imported as no glass in Australia met with the specific requirements for this $92.6 million project. In business for more than 13 years, Tech-Mart has built a strong team of 13 highly skilled men and women who focus on providing all types of aluminium and glass products. Tech-Mart work on projects of all sizes and offer general house windows through to architecturally designed and fabricated windows and doors. The range of products on offer also includes the manufacture and supply of the Vantage, AWS and Thermal Heart range of high performance windows. Tech-Mart has worked on all kinds of projects from single window installation through to million dollar contracts. With a focus on building and maintaining strong relationships with glass suppliers, Tech-Mart ensures that they are able to source all types of glass necessary for individual projects such as standard clear glass, low E glass and double glazed. With all orders custom made, Tech-Mart encourages their clients to discuss their needs and ideas to determine the best solution for their next project. Tech-Mart Architectural Glazing Systems 74 Commercial Drive Thomastown VIC 3074 conact: David Poyser t. 03 9464 2519 f. 03 9464 3268 e. davidpoyser@tech-mart.com.au www.tech-mart.com.au
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VIC PROJECT FEATURE laverton rail upgrade 143
automotive centre of excellence
built from excellence for excellence
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fter more than half a century of dedicated service, the Kangan Batman Institute of TAFE remains Victoria’s major training provider for the automotive, aerospace, polymer and transport industries. Stemming back as early as 1925, the institute was named after John Batman, an early Australian pioneer and businessman who became one of the founding fathers of the city of Melbourne. Stage Two of the Automotive Centre of Excellence (ACE) at Docklands is the latest at Kangan’s newest campus. This $50 million development delivered by Probuild, a construction firm known for its acumen, integrity and years of industry experience. The ACE serves to consolidate all of Kangan Institute's automotive training onto one site which, together with new state-of-the-art technology and equipment, will cement its place as a landmark centre of automotive learning, research and development. “The ACE is poised to become one of the largest and most advanced automotive training facilities in the Southern Hemisphere,” said Project Manager Quentin Howell. “The Ground Floor features the latest in specialist technology including a series of dynamometers used to 144 VIC PROJECT FEATURE automotive centre of excellence
measure the force, torque and power of a vehicle. The ACE is the first facility in Australia to possess such a broad range of “dynos” for testing trucks, coaches, all-wheel drives and motorcycles as well as an outboard motor testing pit, all under the one roof.” The first floor features more academic amenities such as training rooms and libraries, while the second floor houses various mechanical workshops dedicated principally to auto electrical, air conditioning, engines, transmissions and fuels, and all of these areas have access to adjacent learning spaces. Victoria is the hub of the Australian automotive industry. It is home to three of the four vehicle manufacturers, more than half of the industry's jobs, 58% of its production, and more than 54% of its exports. Due to the presence of local industry, it was imperative that, together with the project team (led by Coffey Projects and Gray Puksand), Probuild incorporate these elements into the architecture. The ACE creates a connection between workshops and training rooms, integrating both education and training all on the one precinct. AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
builder : Probuild CLIENT : Kangan Batman Institute of TAFE PROJECT MANAGER : Coffey Projects STRUCTURAL & CIVIL ENGINEER : Robert Bird & Associates QUANTITY SURVEYOR : Donald Cant Watts Corke BUILDING SURVEYOR : Gardner Group ARCHITECT : Gray Puksand PROJECT END VALUE : $50 Million COMPLETION : September 2011
Gray Puksand, Robert Bird Group, Proactive Consulting Engineers and CR Knight have designed this latest addition to the Docklands campus not only to be a world-class educational facility, but as a significant example of environmentally sustainable design. The ACE features an advanced rainwater retention and harvesting system, mechanical louvres that regulate ventilation and approximately 800m2 of workshop and open space areas for use by industry partners. Special provision has also been made for emission testing of all vehicle types within the workshops. Thanks to Probuild and the design team, the ACE will receive a 5 star Green Star rating from the Green Building Council of Australia, one of only a handful in the country for this type of building. However, things have not all been smooth sailing. Probuild encountered their fair share of challenges, some of which occurred before construction had even begun. “Unfortunately, we started off with a partially contaminated site,” said Mr. Howell. “After driving piles roughly thirty metres deep, we discovered the site contamination was worse than anyone had anticipated. We came up with a methodology to decontaminate this section of the site while working around existing WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
piles and pile caps, working closely with our contractors and consultants to ensure the health and safety of all site workers and end users, and in a way which also minimised delay and additional cost to the client.” Since its inception in 1987, Probuild has successfully delivered dozens of large-scale projects including the iconic Print Centre for The Age at Tullamarine, the recently-completed Myer Melbourne Redevelopment and the prestigious Grandstand at Flemington Racecourse. Probuild’s work on the Chadstone Shopping Centre recently won a slew of awards, including the 2010 Master Builders’ Association of Victoria Award for Excellence in Construction.
Probuild constructions (aust) pty ltd 230 Albert Road South Melbourne VIC 3205 t. 03 9693 8222 f. 03 9693 8233 www.probuild.com.au vic PROJECT FEATURE automotive centre of excellence 145
A Triumph of E Form & Function
very year the Kangan Institute builds the skills of more than 40,000 students seeking practical, accredited training, making it one of Victoria’s leading providers of TAFE education. Located on the southern edge of the Melbourne CBD, the Automotive Centre of Excellence at Docklands is the Kangan Institute's newest campus. Spanning four floors and housing the latest equipment and training facilities, the Automotive Centre could not have been completed without the tireless efforts of I & D Constructions, specialists in formwork and suspended concrete slabs. According to Foreman Robert Grbavac, I & D Constructions is unique in the Victorian building industry as they utilise table-forms in order to mould concrete, a reliable method that has remained largely unchanged for twenty years. Table-forms consist of slab formwork "tables" that are reused on multiple stories of a building without being dismantled. The main advantage of this system is its efficiency and flexibility as it greatly reduces the time and manual labour needed to set and strike the formwork. I & D Constructions helped to erect the Automotive Centre while working through a number of design challenges, both structural and mechanical. Allowances had to be made for the centre to better withstand earthquakes, as well as the addition of ecological features such as hydronic pipes installed within the concrete floors and ceiling slabs. Water runs through these pipes in the exposed floor slabs, which is either cooled or heated to provide comfortable radiant temperature exchange. The building’s structural design also provides the perimeter areas with natural ventilation, allowing openings in the façade to be used to cool and ventilate the building when external conditions permit. I & D Constructions were proud to lend their services to such a venture, where a carefully planned aperture design can act as an effective temperature control system. I&D Constructions PTY LTD 4/3 Faigh Street Mulgrave VIC 3170 t. 03 9560 1812 f. 03 9560 1912 e. admin@idconstructions.com
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The Art of Drainage
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he Kangan Institute’s Automotive Centre for Excellence (ACE) was always envisioned with the latest in sustainable design. And for the best in roof drainage systems, there was only one choice. Fast Flow Australia create and supply the most sophisticated roof drainage systems in the world today. Fast Flow specialise in Siphonic systems, advanced drainage technology that is engineered on the concept of full bore flow (a fill rate of 100%) of uncompressible fluid. This system transfers high-velocity rainwater through pipe networks by harnessing the energy derived from the natural difference in elevations of roof outlets and the discharge points in a building. It is no secret the ACE is a product of cutting-edge architecture, from the unique roof that bolsters internal ventilation, to the transparent glazed façade. Fast Flow had to find their place amongst this lattice-work of “green” solutions. They did this by planning pipe routing for both a Primary and Overflow Siphonic system so as to compliment the architectural interior. With a firm focus on sustainability, they installed a 140,000 litre rainwater collection and reticulation system which features prominently in the water recycling and building cooling systems. Fast Flow consider themselves industry leaders in water drainage technology. Thanks to their highly accurate FastFlowCALC software and hydraulic testing lab, the team at Fast Flow are able to ensure that every part of a pipe network goes through extensive engineering analysis. Thanks to a combination of innovation and ambition, the ACE has received a 5 Green Star rating for energy and sustainable design from the Green Building Council of Australia. The clever design of the ACE will ensure that it consumes only half of the average energy consumption of a typical Melbourne office building, which should reduce greenhouse pollution by 103 tonnes per year – the equivalent to planting 155 trees annually. Fast Flow Australia 18 Eton Street Nundah QLD 4012 t. 1300 731 994 f. 1300 727 994 www.fastflow.com.au
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vic PROJECT FEATURE automotive centre of excellence 147
hilton surfers paradise Main Construction Company : Brookfield Multiplex completion : September 2011 SURVEYOR : Bennett & Bennett Structural Engineer : Hyder ARCHITECTS : Buchan Group total development cost : $700 Million
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rookfield Multiplex is responsible for the design, construction and development management for the Hilton Surfers Paradise. Brookfield Multiplex has also taken on the management of apartment sales and retail letting for the client. The high level of interest and uptake of these residences exceeded expectations early in the project. Tim Willing, Brookfield Multiplex Director of Sales and Marketing, says a major driver is the strength of the Hilton brand and its reputation as one of the world’s leading hotel chains. “Buyers like the hotel services concept, which is being adopted in cities such as London, Berlin, Las Vegas and New York. Combining residential apartments with an upscale hotel is the progressive trend in world markets and people want to be part of it,” he said. Residents in the Hilton Surfers Paradise will have the option to utilise, on a user pay basis, exclusive hotel services such as concierge, valet parking, in room dining and maid services. Facilities available at the hotel include a luxury day spa, signature restaurant, executive 148 QLD PROJECT FEATURE HILTON SURFERS PARADISE
lounge, gymnasium and swimming pool along with the exciting retail precinct being created at street level. One of Brookfield Multiplex’s primary workplace objectives is to further improve workplace health and safety. For this project Brookfield Multiplex engaged Doctor Keith M. Jonson (PhD) as a principal consultant to implement a Safety Excellence Program. This program is designed to utilise the concerns, thoughts and issues of site employees to create a higher awareness of day-to-day safety issues site workers come across. The Safety Excellence Program on the project will allow Brookfield Multiplex to make a much bigger step towards a project with zero tolerance for unsafe attitudes and behaviour. The Hilton project involved a top down construction methodology that is rarely used at a scale this size. Hyder Consulting provided civil and structural engineering design services, using ‘top-down’ construction to safeguard the project’s critical pathway around constructing the towers. AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
The top down construction has allowed for construction of the basement and towers at the same time instead of the conventional method to excavate and construct basement levels before commencing on podiums and towers. During the top down construction, the foundation contractor spent several months installing 800mm and 600mm diaphragm walls, sections of six metres in length by 40 metres deep to construct the perimeter diaphragm wall for the basement. One key innovation of the project was the installation of the concrete filled steel piles, structural steel plunge columns and Barrette foundations for the two towers main foundation supports. High control procedures were implemented to ensure the safety of workers within the basements which included monitoring air control and use of tag in/tag out boards. One of the main aesthetic attractions is the curved facade on both towers. To achieve this curved finish, Brookfield Multiplex and the WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
subcontractor used self-climbing formwork systems. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a formwork system that allows the working platform and formwork to elevate up the side of the structure prior to the above floor slab being poured. The system continually climbs with the use of hydraulics without removal of the formwork. The wall structure is formed and poured in straight increments. With each floor, the formwork is navigated to a slightly different angle from the last creating a consistent faceted wall, which over 34 storeys and 57 storeys gives off the effect of a curved facade. The project is currently ahead of schedule with Stage 1 completed and Stage 2 by September 2011.
BROOKFIELD MULTIPLEX Level 17, 240 Queens Street Brisbane QLD 4000 t. 07 3002 0000 f. 07 3220 1177 www.brookfieldmultiplex.com
Constructed by
QLD PROJECT FEATURE HILTON SURFERS PARADISE 149
The Buchan Group, brisbane Greg Sheehan, Managing Director t. 07 3859 9222 e. tbg@brisbane.buchan.com.au www.buchan.com.au
An Individual Approach P
laying an important role in the regeneration of the city centre, the Hilton Surfers Paradise project includes the complete redevelopment of the key Dolphin Arcade site along with the strategic planning and design of two residential and hotel towers.
The prominent development incorporates approximately 420 apartments, a 170 room resort hotel, restaurant, bar, executive lounge and function/meeting areas, two levels of retail, recreation deck and seven levels of basement parking.
geometric form, its dramatic bowing face to the south west. This design produces larger plates at the base of the tower, creating interesting variations in the product planning. The completed west tower’s dramatically curved façade is articulated from the mass by deep reveals at both vertical edges, expressing its role as an independent layer.
The overall scheme results in a gestural form of relative simplicity, with each component having a logical purpose and inextricable relationship to the buildings’ uses and location.
The Buchan Group embarks on each of their projects with a distinct vision and design approach, as demonstrated in the Hilton Surfers Paradise. Focusing on a unique core design, the Group provided architectural services from original concept design to final documentation, and interior design throughout all stages except for the restaurant, bar and coffee lounge.
There is a strong vertical dialogue between the two towers, with a significant difference in height and form ensuring the individuality of each building. The taller east tower reconciles a series of programmatic and environmental conditions within an elegant
Today, with offices in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Auckland, Christchurch, London and Dubai, The Buchan Group boasts a team of more than 400 people, many recognised as leaders in their field.
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MEETING THE DEMAND
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eenix Queensland proudly embraced the task of supplying Aluminum Glazed Balustrades to all the external balconies on the Hilton Surfers Paradise Hotel and Residences development. As specialists in their industry, Feenix Queensland produced and installed balustrades and screens to both the West and East Tower resulting in a massive 4 kilometres of material approximately. The large volume of material used on the Hilton Surfers Paradise project and the high class finish has once again shown the superior service that Feenix Queensland offers on large scale developments. Feenix Australia was first established in Sydney in 1992 and due to the high demands of the South East Queensland building industry, they founded Feenix Queensland and now have a permanent team and factory based out of Burleigh Heads, Queensland. The Feenix Group services projects in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. Specialising in commercial projects, Feenix provides a comprehensive service which includes consultation, manufacture, supply and installation of balustrades, fixed glazed privacy screens and fully operative aluminium louvres. Another component of their works includes balustrade replacement to older buildings. With sound industry knowledge, Feenix Queensland is able to easily respond to projects such as the Hilton Surfers Paradise Hotel and Residences that involve a large amount of product to be supplied and installed in a timely manner. This project is one of many which has required a vast amount of high quality material suitable for large scale developments. Feenix Queenslandsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; aluminium balustrades are in high demand as they are fully fabricated to size in their factory and packaged in protective wrap to provide protection during transportation. With a commitment to providing a service beyond supply and installation, Feenix Queensland has built a solid reputation for delivering upfront design and costing assistance to their clients. Assisting clients through the entire design process, Feenix Queensland pays attention to the individual needs of their clients. Their commitment to building lasting, professional relationships has resulted in a large portion of their business being generated from repeat clients and recommendations.
Feenix Queensland Pty Ltd 9/5 Rothcote Court Burleigh Heads QLD 4220 t. 07 5522 0300 e. info@feenix.com.au www.feenix.com.au
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A GOLD COAST JEWEL T he Hilton Surfers Paradise Hotel and Residences project, headed by Brookfield Multiplex, is located in the heart of Surfers Paradise, just one block from the popular tourist beach and shopping precinct.
Coastline Building Services QLD Pty Ltd dedicated more than half their staff to the Hilton Surfers Paradise project in Queensland during the past two years. Established for more than 15 years, Coastline Building Services have worked on many projects throughout Brisbane and the Gold Coast area. The company is made up of a team of 80 to 100 staff and contractors specialising in plasterboard and carpentry for major construction projects. Working on both towers, and from the ground floor up, Coastline Building Services handled all aspects of the carpentry and plasterboard works for the Hilton Surfers Paradise Hotel and Residences. These works included all plasterboard, ceilings, partitions and carpentry for the project. 152 QLD PROJECT FEATURE HILTON SURFERS PARADISE
The team at Coastline Building Services provided superior results across the two towers. They were part of a much larger group of construction staff, which at times reached close to 1000 workers on and off site at the Hilton Surfers Paradise project over the two and a half year program. The Boulevard Tower comprises 186 residences, while Orchid Tower features 224 luxury residences and a 169-room Hilton Hotel. Coastline Building Services are currently working on another Surfers Paradise development with Grocon. The Soul project features a residential tower and retail precinct, which is due for completion in 2011.
coastline building services pty ltd PO Box 6493 G.C.M.C Bundall QLD 9726 t. 07 5509 9444 f. 07 5509 9400 e. cbsqoffice@cbsq.com.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
HIGGINS COATINGS 60 YEARS STRONG
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iggins Coatings have recently celebrated 60 years in business. The Hilton Hotel Surfers Paradise is just one of many projects they are currently working on. For this project alone, they are expecting to provide 24 months of employment to more than 40 local employees.
Higgins Coatings are thrilled to be working on the $700 million Hilton (QLD) project and are excited to show off their internal and external work when Stage 1 is completed in late 2010. They will continue with their works right through until the projects estimated completion in 2011.
Established in 1949, Higgins Coatings has substantially grown its commercial painting contracting operation throughout Australia and New Zealand. Originally commencing operations in Melbourne, they have grown to be a leading National painting contractor with offices in all major states & 3 offices in South East QLD, They also have 3 offices in New Zealand. At present, Higgins Coatings employ in excess of 800 people across Australia & New Zealand.
For the Hilton (QLD) project, Higgins Coatings is using an innovative external product, the Dulux HAR Primer. It is specifically designed to be applied to OF concrete & pre-cast concrete surfaces. The primer has been formulated to be applied directly to the substrate without the traditional wait times that are usually required with most primers. Therefore resulting in a faster, more cost effective turnaround during the curing period.
By building lasting relationships with clients and close ties with industry affiliates, Higgins Coatings have led the way in commercial painting and won some impressive projects over the years. They have a long association with Brookfield Multiplex completing many large projects with them in recent years. From the moment Higgins Coatings went into business, they stood by the saying, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The quality of the service is as important as the quality of the finishâ&#x20AC;?. To date, they value this statement and focus on always maintaining a high level of customer service and client satisfaction. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
Higgins Coatings Pty Ltd Unit 2, 62 Bishop Street Kelvin Grove QLD 4059 t. 07 3552 8300 Unit 3/6 Elysium Road Carrara QLD 4211 t. 07 5569 0324 Unit 2/34 Technology Drive Warana QLD 4575 t. 07 5437 9039 QLD PROJECT FEATURE HILTON SURFERS PARADISE 153
Hilton Hotel, QLD
SERENE DESIGN
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orking closely with many of the large construction companies throughout Australia, it was no surprise that Surfside Pools was chosen to work on the Hilton Surfers Paradise Hotel and Residences project in Queensland. Engaged to construct several swimming pools, spas and water features throughout the development, the Surfside Pools team’s experience and expertise was a major factor in the successful completion of this technically challenging project. Working on the ground floor, Level 1 and Level 2, Surfside Pools were responsible for the construction of all water features, an indoor pool, recreational pool, spa, outdoor children’s pool, lap pool and also the penthouse pools. The finished result was superior and all works were completed to schedule. The pools and water features were designed to complement the unique look and finish of the Hilton Surfers Paradise Hotel and Residences. Surfside Pools was first established over 30 years ago and is still managed by the original owners, Margaret and Ian Hodge.
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The company employs over 15 staff and many additional sub contractors’ as well. Just some of the construction and development companies Surfside Pools have had the pleasure of working with are Brookfield Multiplex, Hutchison Builders, Mirvac, FKP, Abigroup, Pradella, Grocon and Watpac. Widely recognised as the industry leader with a staggering 38 industry awards for excellence in design and construction, Surfside Pools have been awarded the prestigious SPASA National Commercial Pool of the Year Award an incredible 7 times - an achievement that reflects the company's commitment to the highest quality standards. Surfside Pools Commercial PO Box 3108 Burleigh Town QLD 4220 t. 07 5522 1337 e. tracey@surfsidepools.com.au www.surfsidepools.com.au QLD PROJECT FEATURE HILTON SURFERS PARADISE 155
lavarack barracks Stage FOUR barracking for Theiss, Coffey Projects & Department of Defence Thiess 189 Grey Street South Bank QLD 4101 t. 07 3121 8500 f. 07 3121 8710 www.thiess.com.au
Coffey Projects PO Box 476 Spring Hill QLD 4004 t. 07 3503 6200 f. 07 3832 2994 www.coffey.com.au
156 QLD PROJECT FEATURE lavarack barracks Stage 4
department of defence t. 1300 333 362 www.defence.gov.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
MAIN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY : Theiss ARCHITECTS : Bligh Voller Nield and Conrad Gargett Architecture STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: MPN Consulting CIVIL ENGINEER : AECOM CLIENT : Department of Defence PROJECT MANAGER : Coffey Projects PROJECT END VALUE : $207.2 Million COMPLETION : February 2011
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he main purpose of the Lavarack Barracks project was to provide modern facilities and infrastructure to facilitate operational and strategic training and deployment for the army. Located near Townsville in Queensland, the facilities at Lavarack Barracks have been upgraded over three stages but there were still necessary works that needed to be dealt with in Stage 4. The Lavarack Barracks showed layout inefficiencies along with cramped and temporary working accommodation that no longer provided the necessary requirements to support a modern army. It was important to provide first class facilities for defence personal to live, work and train. The Stage 4 works included the refurbishment of existing buildings which incorporated repairs, maintenance and occupational health and safety considerations. The project also saw the provision of new facilities where needed. The scope of works included office accommodation, training areas, Quartermaster storage, communications facilities, workshops, vehicle shelters, transport compounds and service infrastructure.
Energy efficiency and cost effective design were a priority for the Lavarack Barracks. During the refurbishment and development, it was necessary to look at environmental issues such as design elements that would be sustainable during cyclonic conditions. Another key element was the use of readily available and durable materials that would provide longevity and minimise ongoing maintenance. It was essential that the new facilities worked in line with the existing structures and security requirements were met and functional at all times. Founded in 1934, Thiess provides 76 years of experience and knowledge, in the delivery of large, complex buildings. As one of Australia’s largest construction and services contractors, Thiess employs over 20,000 employees and has delivered more than 50 quality assured Defence facilities. Thiess has more than 20 years of continuous experience designing and constructing state-of-the-art infrastructure for the Department of Defence.
It was a requirement of this project to make use of the existing infrastructure, where appropriate, to minimise capital outlay.
Coffey Projects role in the Lavarack Barracks upgrade was project management and contract management which included advice on all aspects of the development and government approvals. Coffey Projects is a world leader in project management, boasting one of the largest and most knowledgeable team of project management specialists.
Stage 4 of the Lavarack Barracks project required the managing contractor to consider and develop the existing 35 year old buildings as part of the ‘adaptive reuse’ development strategy that was required by the Department of Defence. Through extensive consultation with the client, stakeholders and user groups, Thiess and its consultant design team have successfully delivered a cost effective and efficient adaptive reuse strategy as part of the ‘build new’ precinct requirements.
Lavarack Barracks is a major Australian Army base and is currently home to the Army’s 3rd brigade and 11th brigade, which forms part of the Army’s Ready Deployment Force. The barracks supports close to 4,000 military and over 600 civilian personnel. Lavarack Barracks was named after Lieutenant General Sir John Lavarack who was an army officeer during both World Wars and was Governer of QLD (the first Australian to be so appointed) from 1 Oct 1946 until 25 Jan 1957.
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high grade military precision carpentry
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he redevelopment of the Lavarack Barracks in Townsville, Queensland was spread over four stages. The primary objective of Stage 4 was to reform the Lavarack Barracks into a more modern facility to maintain the needs of a growing army and provide a functional infrastructure to support the Defence Department and their personnel.
CD Projects is a well established and respected member of the Queensland construction industry. Founded over 31 years ago, they have gained a reputation for always producing quality workmanship in even the most difficult circumstances. CD Projects work to all types of budgets and specialise in commercial construction. They have an impressive history of completing works on time and within budget.
CD Projects was engaged to carry out carpentry work along with internal partitions, ceilings and linings on the Infantry Troop facilities. The quality workmanship provided by CD Projects has proven to support the modern finish and functional design that was a key element on the Lavarack Barracks project. Lavarack Barracks is an important base for the Armyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 3rd Brigade and several other Defence Force units. This mulit-million dollar project incorporates a mix of new buildings along with the refurbishment of existing facilities and infrastructure. Stage 4 has also seen an upgrade to the base gymnasium and sporting fields. CD Projects 130 Perkins Street West South Townsville QLD 4810 t. 07 4721 2629 j.dunn@cdprojects.net.au
158 QLD PROJECT FEATURE lavarack barracks
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tilers that cook up a storm C
areful planning and reliable logistics providers were a key element on the Lavarack Barracks project. Responsible for commercial tiling, Cook Ceramics carried out work on the Lavarack Barracks, which included up to 60 showers in several buildings spread across two regimental precincts.
Working in a Defence Environment was at times challenging for those involved. “Security clearance was in place and made it slightly challenging when immediate access to the base was required for delivery of special goods and equipment,” said Jarrod Cook of Cook Ceramics, “The sheer size and spread of the base required new staff and contractors to be correctly inducted, and be courteous and sensitive to the needs and integrity of the Defence Organisation.” Considering the sheer number of users per day, especially for the infantry regiments, was enough to try any system to its limits. Cook Ceramics worked closely with Mapei Australia to come up with a workable solution that would conform to the Defence environment. To mitigate the OHS&E risk to employees, and to protect the diverse flora and fauna environment at the Barracks, Cook Ceramics decided to have all cement screeds batched off site and delivered. This required some lengthy consultation with their concrete supplier to formulate WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
a product that would allow for the required working/curing times whilst still ensuring specific high performance qualities needed on this project. To alleviate discolouration and to enable the tile grout to be easily cleaned throughout its intended life, Mapei’s Ultracolor Plus one component, antibacterial, water repellant and fast setting grout was used in this installation. While not requiring specialist applicator knowledge, this product greatly reduced installation time and furthermore some two years on from the first application the results are still outstanding. Specialising in large project supply and installation, Cook Ceramics provides a totally integrated tiling service.
Cook Ceramics Pty Ltd Unit 2/10 Hamill Street Garbutt 4810 m. 0419 706 667 m. 0412 713 326 www.cookceramics.com.au QLD PROJECT FEATURE lavarack barracks Stage 4 159
F
ar North Queensland isn’t as far off the beaten track as it used to be, and Meridien are creating both aquatic and terrestrial developments which are transforming the gateway to the Barrier Reef, Airlie Beach. The Port of Airlie development is the jewel in Meridien’s portfolio and is the result of twenty years of planning. Port of Airlie on completion will incorporate a luxury resort, the Boathouse residential apartments, oceanfront homes, public boardwalk, park and man-made beach, retail and commercial centre, ferry and cruise terminal and a 289 berth marina. Founded in 1997, Meridien is a privately owned property development company that delivers projects to the market that are unique, innovative, and in many cases, like Port of Airlie, quite extraordinary. Meridien’s areas of expertise include Property Development, Retirement Living, Marinas and Student Accommodation. With a multitude of awards under its belt, Meridien is committed to leading the industry and driving innovation, vision and passion in every project and business it owns. The company’s Port of Airlie project is the first tourism enterprise to be approved under Australia’s Environmental Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC) 1999, and has undergone unprecedented environmental scrutiny. All coastal engineering for the project has accounted for climate change, with building levels designed for global warming predictions over the next 100 years. Sea walls have been made significantly higher and stronger, with Boathaven Beach having been
designed as a wider public amenity but also providing active protection to the development by diffusing wave force impacts. The unparalleled engineering design of Port of Airlie is that it is totally man made. The whole development was formed on reclaimed land from below the high water mark. Meridien had to import 1.9km of marine grade sheet piles from Belgium to help isolate the site from the ocean and allow excavation of mud and solid material. This process resulted in the turnover of 1 million cubic metres of material and therefore allowed Meridien to excavate 21 metres below sea level, storing surplus mud below the flooded marina harbour. This incredible engineering feat enabled Meridien to build on good quality residual material above the high water mark. The Boathouse Apartments comprise of 56 residential apartments and over 1,600m2 of retail area and have been constructed for Meridien by award-winning Queensland contractors, Hutchinson Builders. Gary Hunt of Hunt Design, the architect for all elements ensured Port of Airlie echoed traditional Queensland architecture. The Boathouse Apartments were built with North Queensland tropical amenities in mind, from wide openings, louvers, shutters and screens to light and unique hardwood timber floors made of light coloured maple flooring with dark walnut timber strips in between the boards to look like the laid deck of a luxury yacht. Stainless steel detailing completes the finish of the apartments. “The Boathouse Apartments have an energy efficient design. There is airflow through from front to back so the breeze gives natural ventilation, minimizing the need for air conditioning. There are also
boathouse apartments 160
Construction Company : Hutchinson Builders client : Meridien completion : November 2010 Engineer : Morgan Consulting Engineers ARCHITECTS : Gary Hunt & Partners project end value : $90 Million
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
extensive overhangs, blinds and shutters. Where we can use recycled materials, we have. Lighting and air conditioning are both energy efficient, and there is an 180,000L rainwater tank built in adjacent to the tennis court, with the water used for pool top up and irrigation”, says Development Director John Warlow. “This project will be one of the most significant on any tropical coast anywhere in Australia. The classic colonial design will make this complex work with the natural local environment making the destination somewhere special – not just in Airlie Beach, not just in Queensland, not just in Australia, but anywhere in the world,” said John Warlow. “Port of Airlie has passed approval processes in all three tiers of government and has the overwhelming support of the Airlie Beach community. We’ve had an independent environmental auditing process in place during construction, which was part of the approval conditions, and we were given a compliance scorecard of 95 per cent plus. That’s exceptional considering we’re working within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and adjacent to a National Park.” “This has been a very exciting and challenging project. This entire Port of Airlie development will be something we can be justifiably proud of.”
tropical pavilion style architecture and traditional Queenslander designs, and is comprised of reinforced concrete clad with weatherboards. The lower levels of retail area also feature sandstone cladding. All the concrete for the construction was poured in situ, with the staggered design of the apartments for private balconies and the segmented design of the building used to “hug” the curve of the boardwalk and marina creating a complex scaffolding and formwork task. To complicate this further, access to the units is through a large scale walkway structure on the western side with six stair wells, which steps off the building by three metres. This intervening space is filled with a planting which maximizes privacy now, but during construction the suspended walkway and the non-linear geometry of the apartments’ design posed a tricky access issue. “I’ve been involved in some complex buildings, but the architecture of this one made it extremely complex,” said Hutchinson’s Project Manager Chris Stevenson. “The articulation and fenestration of the building is very non-standard, none of it worked with modular scaffolding. Also, the building has a cantilevered concrete boardwalk system which overlooks the marina, so there we used a cantilevered formwork system supervised by a coxswain and survey boat and large dumb barge for the construction which was conducted with the ebb and flow of the tides!”
Hutchinson Builders had the challenging task of turning the architect’s vision into reality. Their team commenced on site in May 2009 and have now completed The Boathouse Apartments. The structure combines
AT HOME IN PARADISE WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
QLD PROJECT FEATURE BOATHOUSE APARTMENTS 161
“Part of the challenge was educating the (subcontractor) resources locally to achieve the design vision. There are a lot of turrets, central roofs, twin pyramid roofs with extensive detailed timber battening, it is one of the few jobs we’ve done with such extensive carpentry. The shelters we designed ourselves; with extensive exposed stained timber carpentry works and concealed connections - something we were very proud of! We had to be very discerning with the materials is such a corrosive environment 10 metres from the sea. Marine Grade stainless steel is the only option for all the bolts, joins and other components. “In Airlie Beach, the logistics of deliveries are a real challenge. There are no regular freight deliveries, so pre-planning is very important, as is flexible planning. We had a local transport company driving back and forth from Brisbane, but it is still a two day journey. With design development, as tolerance issues and design rectification issues emerged, there had to be scheduling flexibility. “Everything is cyclone rated, all the battering, fixings and shutters are braced to the maximum.” Chris has 14 archive boxes of drawings in his site office, a tribute to the effort his team made to achieve the architect’s vision and make it a buildable right down to achieving the homely soft interior finishes. Incredible attention to detail was required in this project, with weatherboards needing to line up precisely, a task which required setting up multiple datum levels and enormous amounts of scaffolding. The elements themselves played a part in making works complex, with constant waterproofing required due to an unseasonal year of rain. Further, tie-downs of all loose materials and equipment were ongoing,
the value of this was proven with an actual cyclone visiting the site in Autumn 2010. In the final stages, Hutchinson’s workforce on site peaked at thirty, including up to six foremen. There were 45 separate subcontractors, many of them local to the Far North Queensland region and half of the overall workforce of 160 at the peak of works were locals. Despite all the challenges and complexities, the project was completed LTI free. Development Director, John Warlow believes when complete, Port of Airlie will boost the local tourism and employment economy. “This will be a sizeable and dynamic destination. Meridien has invested in this community for the long-term and we will continue to have input into Port of Airlie. This will ensure the original vision and goals we set are maintained into the future.” “This has been a very exciting and challenging project, starting from below sea level. The entire Port of Airlie development will be something we can be justifiably proud of.” Be a part of Port of Airlie’s exciting future as it continues to evolve into becoming a world-class, fully integrated residential resort marina destination. Apartments are now selling. Display Apartment now open, for more information regarding Port of Airlie or to visit the display apartment please call +61 7 4948 0643 or email info@portofairlie.com.au. Other projects Hutchinson Builders are working on in the region include Bowen PCYC, Proserpine School, Hayman Island, a five Green Star commercial building in Mackay and portable accommodation refurbishments of 1,500 units for mines at Moranbah and Dysart. The company recently opened an office in Mackay and another in Townsville to anchor their activities in the region.
hutchinson builders PO Box 903 Airlie Beach QLD 4802 t. 07 4946 4100 f. 07 4946 4111 e. airlie@hutchinsonbuilders.com.au www.hutchinsonbuilders.com.au
162 QLD PROJECT FEATURE BOATHOUSE APARTMENTS
meridien Level 16, Waterfront Place 1 eagle St Brisbane QLD 4000 t. 07 3229 1238 f. 07 3229 1822 e. info@meridien.com.au www.meridien.com.au
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
airlie action scaffolding in demand A
irlie Action brought local knowledge and trades know how to the Boathouse Apartments site as the subcontractors responsible for scaffolding and rigging on the luxury waterfront residential development. The local knowledge is a real safety plus for scaffolding on a site where cyclones can be expected, and did arrive in early winter this year. With development on the rise in the Whitsundays area and surrounding islands, Airlie Action’s services will be in high demand for many years to come, as further construction gets underway at the Port of Airlie site, including two hotels and fifteen luxury homes. The company’s capabilities cover all aspects of scaffolding, scaffold hire, mining and related services: labour including qualified scaffolding and rigging, transport, mobiles, handrails, grandstands, rubbish chutes and viewing platforms. Airlie Action also operate and hire lifters and shifters, including telehandler with 13m reach, man cage and bucket; 10 tonne crane truck with 8.5m tilt tray; and 7.2 tonne 6.780 tare crane truck with 6.8m tray. When it comes to construction in the Whitsundays region, Airlie Action can get a project moving both onwards and upwards.
Airlie Action 11 Loop Road Jubilee Pocket QLD 4802 t. 07 4946 7788 m. 0418 894 384 e. airlieaction@bigpond.com
precision steel fixing's TROPICAL VENTURE PAYS OFF P recision Steel Fixing (PSF) have followed the sun, with their highly skilled workforce now engaged on some of Far North Queensland’s most prestigious major projects, including The Boathouse Apartments at Meridien’s Port Of Airlie project.
Upgrade for Baulderstone; Holborn Apartments for RCQ and Townsville’s Northshore Shopping Centre, also for Baulderstone. PSF continues to operate in Sydney, with a crew at work on a twelve storey residential development in Marrickville for Waterside Constructions.
PSF had a crew of up to 14 fixing all the steel for The Boathouse project’s foundations, slabs, stairs and walls over a nine month works program for the in-situ concreting. Following their efficient, LTI-free effort on this stage of Port of Airlie, PSF will be working on subsequent stages.
“We have a large workforce capable of undertaking steel fixing for multiple major projects in both Queensland and New South Wales,” said PSF Director, Luis Freitas.
The relocation of headquarters to Townsville last year has seen great demand for their talents. Other major projects include Douglas Arterial Duplication for AbiGroup and Seymour White; Townsville Wastewater
“Our workers have regular training in OH&S and safe working at heights, we prepare work method statements for every job and all workers are supplied with the appropriate PPE, including harnesses, and trained in its use.”
Precision Steel Fixing PO Box 5779 Townsville QLD 4810 t. 07 4788 0852 WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
f. 07 4788 0856 e. precision.steelfix@bigpond.com www.precisionsteelfixing.com.au QLD PROJECT FEATURE BOATHOUSE APARTMENTS 163
the Solution to hospital medicaL GAS SYSTEMS F
or over 20 years, AHC Solutions have supplied high end life support medical equipment, manufactured gas control equipment and a total package of Medical Engineering products for the supply and transmission of medical gases to both public and private hospital facilities and now include Pindara Private Hospital in their impressive client base. The company name is a true description of the company. AHC have proven that they have the knowledge to supply the required SOLUTION to meet the hospitalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s objectives. This is highlighted by the fact that AHC also supply the life support equipment that uses their medical gas systems. AHC Solutions are qualified and experienced in all aspects of medical engineering and medical gas installation, pipe installation, consultation and gas controls. Prior to commencing a project, they discuss the hospitalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s specific requirements in relation to plant and equipment and recommend equipment to suit the maintenance and reliability goals. Pindara Hospital in particular had a vacuum and air system with built in expandability which was utilised when an additional two theatres were required towards the end of the project. AHC Solutions revamped all medical gas alarms to allow for a Building Management System and all master alarms were redirected to the one area at Accident and Emergency. Oxygen bulk vessels were also relocated and re-piped to upgrade the system to the hospital. Many of the older gas supply systems were replaced with new equipment and programmed for minimum down time. AHC also programmed the medical gas shut downs and included isolation valves to ensure costs and down time of these shut downs was minimised. AHC Solutions represents a full range of market leaders including Hamilton Medical, SLE, Bunl and Biomed Devices. This full range enables AHC Solutions to cover all patient ventilation needs, from neonatal intensive care to adult intensive care and transport ventilation. 166 qld PROJECT FEATURE PINdara private hospital
AHC Solutions Pty Ltd 4/10 Lymoore Avenue Thomleigh NSW 2120 PO Box 2213 Normanhurst 2076 t. 02 9980 9669 f. 02 9980 8823 e. info@ahcsolutions.com.au www.ahcsolutions.com.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re happy to help the people who help the most Davis Langdon, an AECOM company, are proud to congratulate Ramsay Health Care on the redevelopment of the Pindara Private Hospital. This new development will provide first class care to residents of the Gold Coast and ensure that they have access to some of the best healthcare facilities in Australia. We are delighted to have played a small part by offering our Project Management services and we look forward to future projects. Global Property and Construction Consultants Project Management | Cost Management | Building Surveying | Urban Planning | Specification Consulting | Verification Services Technical Due Diligence | Make Good Assesments | Certification Services | Sustainability Services | Access Consulting
www.davislangdon.com www.aecom.com
Radiation protection for patients & staff W
ith the corporate mission statement ‘today together we can build a better and safer tomorrow’, Gammasonics, has successfully completed work on the redevelopment of Pindara Private Hospital on the Gold Coast.
Gammasonics Institute for Medical Research Pty Ltd 90 Queens Road Five Dock NSW 2046 contact: David Leslie BHSc, Dip Rad Tech, Grad Cert Management, MIR, MARPS t. 02 9713 0013 f. 02 9713 1238 e. david@gammasonics.com www.gammasonics.com
Since 1977, Gammasonics Institute of Medical Research has been a pioneer in the design and manufacture of radiation detection equipment for Diagnostic Radiology, Radiotherapy, Nuclear Medicine, Industrial Radiation & National and Home Land Security. Gammasonics is recognized worldwide for their innovative research. A key to success is that Gammasonics' product design, development and manufacturing occurs wholly in Australia for world wide distribution. On the Pindara project, Gammasonics worked with the architects in designing the radiation shielding requirements for the operating theatres and providing specifications for X-ray shielding materials which meet Queensland Health Standards to protect theatre staff, public and patients in adjoining areas. Gammasonics recommended a range of building materials to achieve the calculated shielding requirements. In some cases, the company tested samples of the architect’s preferred materials to ensure integrity of the final structure. Testing was performed prior to commencing the fit out to avoid costly reworking, which may have been required. On completion of the structure and during construction, Gammasonics provided site and accreditation consultation to ensure the works were completed to the required standard and finally certification to Queensland Health radiation standard PR004:2004. Gammasonics personnel are highly skilled in radiation shielding design for diagnostic medical X-ray facilities, dental X-ray facilities, CT scanners, nuclear medicine hot labs and scan rooms, operating theatres where X-ray equipment is used, industrial radiography and non-destructive testing facilities. They have also pioneered the development of new technology in the area of decay and dilution tank systems for radioactive waste both medical and industrial. With increasing awareness of radioactivity in the environment, Gammasonics’ consultants can provide environmental surveys where a development site may have suspect radioactive contamination from previous medical or industrial use. The company also provides services to assess existing structures for their radiation shielding capability where buildings are being renovated or room usage is being re-allocated to include radiation giving apparatus. Gammasonics provides lead glass for radiation proof viewing windows for control rooms etc and their new product range includes prefabricated viewing windows already framed in standard sizes for easy installation. The company also has a range of new technologies for equipping laboratories for the safe handling of radioactive materials and radiopharmaceuticals products including storage hot lab, contaminated waste disposal units, user safe injection facilities, radioactive isotope stores. Experienced consultants provide advice on any radiation issues and design requirements including assessment and accreditation of worksites and radiation sources and work safe training.
168 qld PROJECT FEATURE PINdara private hospital
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
Pindara Hospital
Rendered In Excellence !
PROFESSIONAL PAINTING & SOLID PLASTERING
Usher & Son love a challenge and builders know it! So when the Pindara Private Hospital Redevelopment required the professional application of ground breaking coatings systems, Usher & Son were the natural choice for the job. Usher & Son are leaders in the Painting & Solid Plastering industry with a team that boast the experience to handle Australia's first application of new products on landmark projects. The Pindara project presented Usher & Son with the challenge of applying the new CSR Cemintel polymer render system to the external cladding of the building. The system requires special associated application methods and techniques and Usher and Son are the first to use this CSR Cemintel Render System in Australia on a project of this size. They also applied a ‘Rockcote’ render and paint system to the render block walls and are currently applying a similar Rockcote Render paint systems on “The Breeze” Project at Mt Coolum in Queensland.
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gold coast highway Main Construction Company : Seymour Whyte CLIENT : Department of Transport and Main Roads DESIGNER : GHD completion : February 2011 project end value : $18 Million
Seymour Whyte - a vision to succeed
S
eymour Whyte was founded in 1987 by John Seymour and Garry Whyte, whose vision was to provide expertise in civil infrastructure in Queensland. The company started at small premises in Brisbane with just two employees and now has over 180 staff and offices in Brisbane, Townsville, the Gold Coast and Sydney. The company specialises in civil construction, roads and bridges, and on the Gold Coast Highway project it has been responsible for service relocations, bridgeworks, road lighting, traffic signals, pavements and major drainage works.
three years ago. The project has been an important and at times challenging one for Seymour Whyte, particularly with regard to time constraints and the issues thrown up by the necessary service relocations.
The $50 million Gold Coast Highway program has involved three main projects and is set for completion in April 2011; works began approximately
“It has high volume of traffic, and with the bulk of the work underground with new services … so that includes Energex, Telstra,
170 QLD PROJECT FEATURE GOLD COAST HIGHWAY
“We’ve had to cater for two-way traffic and pedestrians in a narrow corridor and we’re very close to residential properties and businesses,” explains Alistair Pagan, senior project mananger / Gold Coast area manager for the company.
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
long as the gradings and other relevant specification requirements are acceptable, the material can be used as the lower base material on the new road rather than taking it away and putting it on a dump site.” In recent times Seymour Whyte has received a number of awards. In 2009 it won Category Three at both the NSW and National CCF Earth Awards for the Central Coast Highway Upgrade, and in the same year also received human resources excellence awards at the Career One Queensland Excellence Awards and the HR Leadership Awards. Seymour Whyte Building 14, 2404 Logan Road Eight Mile Plains QLD 4113 t. 07 3340 4800 f. 07 3340 4811 e. civil@seymourwhyte.com.au www.seymourwhyte.com.au
GCCC water/sewer and fibre optic services, coupled with major drainage upgrades and then we have to build a road on top of that.” Seymour Whyte is mindful of reusing materials where it can, and this requires some foresight and making sure that jobs are programmed effectively. “For example older base material of the existing road can be reused as sub-base material on the new works; you just have to program the works so when you’re excavating the old road you can potentially use it in other areas of the job,” says Alistair. “As WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
“We’re state finalists again this year at the Earth Awards for two projects – the Nerang South Interchange on the Gold Coast and the St Lawrence bridgeworks in North Queensland, and with St Lawrence we are going to be in the Australian finals in Canberra,” adds Alistair. Currently, Seymour Whyte is working with other major contractors and is midway through the Ipswich motorway upgrade, a $2 billion job just outside Brisbane. The new motorway will run between Dinmore and Goodna. The company has also begun early works for the new Gold Coast Rapid Transit System. “By the year 2014 the Gold Coast will have a rapid rail system, from Parklands to Broadbeach,” explains Alistair. “Seymour Whyte has been successful in an early works package before the main consortium starts valued at over $45 million. We’re going into very sensitive areas in front of both hospitals and schools in Southport, and because of this and the political sensitivity of the job, a lot of eyes are going to be upon us.” QLD PROJECT FEATURE GOLD COAST HIGHWAY 171
20 years strong
C
oastal Tipper Hire, based in Nerang East, Queensland, is a family-owned company that has been in business for nearly twenty years. Coastal was responsible for the truck and excavation hire on the Gold Coast Highway project. As well as specialising in truck, Bobcat and excavator hire the company deals with the carting of building materials suitable for all trades associated with the earthmoving industry – gravels, soil, sand, mulches and the company’s own recycled concrete products. From humble beginnings in 1992 when it had only two trucks, Coastal Tipper Hire now has a large fleet that includes Hinos, Isuzu and Mitsubishi tippers, water trucks and twenty-six pieces of machinery. A key achievement in the company’s history has been acquiring the mining rights to a sand pit in Jacob’s Well, where they mined sand, stockpiled soil and mulches and produced a first-grade washed sand that was much sought after by local concrete companies including Readymix (now Holcim), Hymix and Pioneer. The aforementioned recycled products are the domain of Coastal Tipper Hire’s subsidiary, All Coast Recyclers Pty Ltd, which Coastal took over from another operator in 2003 and which is based in Southport. All Coast Recyclers produce 20/30mm aggregate, 15mm minus scalps and a 30/70 rubble, products that have proven popular with customers. The scalps are particularly strong sellers as they have proven to be a great option for builders and concreters for under-slab work. As well as being able to buy recycled products and tip waste concrete, All Coast Recyclers’ customers can bring their builders’ and green waste to the facility and tip it at very reasonable rates. Having survived the economic downturn, Coastal Tipper Hire is currently going from strength to strength, with large customers such as Fulton Hogan, Roadtek, Boral, Seymour Whyte and Origin D2G, with whom they proudly do business. 172 QLD PROJECT FEATURE GOLD COAST HIGHWAY
Coastal Tipper Hire Pty Ltd PO Box 2584 Nerang East QLD 4211 t. 07 5527 2599 f. 07 5527 3843 e. info@coastaltipperhire.com.au contact: Ross Cook AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
cemented in excellence
H
anson, which started life as Pioneer Concrete in the 1950s, is one of Australia’s leading suppliers of heavy building materials to the construction industry. It produces aggregates including crushed rock, sand, gravel, crusher dust and road base, as well as a high-quality premixed concrete range. This includes over 10,000 standard mixes, along with premium and decorative concrete solutions that offer additional benefits like increased strength, higher durability, or in the case of the Imagecrete range, greater aesthetic appeal. Hanson’s third business division is precast concrete. This part of the business focuses on providing customers with architectural and engineering solutions through modern precast design and a product range that includes load-bearing facades, cladding and hollowcore wall panels as well as flooring and structural precast concrete.
A strong commitment to sustainability is part of the Hanson ethos: the company is dedicated to quarry rehabilitation, water management and encouraging biodiversity. Its Clarence quarry won the CCAA’s Quarry Environmental Performance Award after increasing the number of endangered Blue Mountains water skink living in its swampland by carefully monitoring ground water quality with piezometers. Some key recent projects Hanson have supplied include the CLEM7 Tunnel in Brisbane, one of the largest infrastructure projects ever undertaken in Queensland, and the $12.4 million Falcon Street Overpass in Sydney.
Hanson is part of the HeidelbergCement group, which employs 57,000 people across five continents. In Australia Hanson has over 55 quarries, more than 225 concrete plants and 3 precast concrete facilities. Hanson has supplied over 50,000 tonnes of aggregate and over 1500 cubic metres of concrete to the Gold Coast Highway works, and is proud to be collaborating with Seymour Whyte on this landmark infrastructure project. To date the main challenges for Hanson have related to limited site access. “A lot of the deliveries, particularly the aggregate deliveries, have had to be in smaller trucks,” explains Hanson sales and marketing manager Murray Graham. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
Hanson Construction Materials Pty Ltd Level 6, 35 Clarence St Sydney NSW 2000 t. 02 9323 4000 f. 02 9323 4500 www.hanson.com.au QLD PROJECT FEATURE GOLD COAST HIGHWAY 173
Office Products Depot T he Gold Coast branch of Office Products Depot, which employs six staff, has supplied toner, paper and stationery to the Gold Coast Highway project.
The branch specializes in the provision of stationery, office supplies, office furniture and plan printing and delivers to construction sites and offices in South East Queensland. “Plan printing can be emailed then delivered on site,” explains Alex Brock from the company. “You can also hire desks and chairs from us for use on construction sites.” The company has been in business for over twenty-five years on the Gold Coast and has over 170 outlets in both regional and metropolitan areas around Australia that are locally owned and operated. Office Products Depot is part of Office Brands, Australia’s largest independent office products group. Office Products Depot can tailor a system for ordering and supply to suit individual businesses’ needs. Ordering can be done online, via 174 QLD PROJECT FEATURE GOLD COAST HIGHWAY
telephone or fax, or in person with one of the company’s trained and accredited sales representatives. Efficient distribution allows same-day delivery for orders placed before 11am to the Brisbane and Gold Coast regions. The company also offers express orders, which are delivered within two hours. Office Products Depot is essentially a single-source solution for all forms of office supply needs, and over the years has built up a solid reputation supplying both conventional offices and attending to the needs of those operating from construction sites. Office Products Depot 1/6 Millennium Circuit Helensvale QLD 4212 t. 07 5502 8953 f. 07 5573 7219 e. sales@opdgc.com.au contact: Alex Brock AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
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1300 780 250 www.reid.com.au
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ITW Construction Systems Australia Pty. Ltd. ABN 48 004 297 009 Trading as Reid.Trademarks of ITW Construction Systems Australia Pty. Ltd. ©Copyright 2011 REI MDG 17905
PIER AT WATERFRONT, NEWSTEAD DEVELOPER : Mirvac PROJECT END VALUE : $380 Million COMPLETION : April 2011 LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS : Gamble Mckinnon Green CIVIL ENGINEER : Born Horst & Ward
MIRVAC BUILDS A BEAUTIFUL LIFESTYLE ON THE BRISBANE RIVER risbane’s billion-dollar plus Waterfront, Newstead development is urban renewal at the five star luxury level. National Publicly Listed property group, Mirvac, has undertaken the ten year project, which is one of the largest development projects underway in south-east Queensland. Waterfront, Newstead will virtually become a new ‘mini-suburb’ within 1.8 kilometres of the Brisbane CBD, providing a perfect riverside residential living environment and a level of public facilities well above any other development undertaken in Brisbane. The project’s $350 million first stage, Pier North and Pier South, comprising 99 state-of-the-art apartments and penthouses is nearing completion, with the first residents due to take up residence in May. The Pier development also includes extensive lifestyle amenities including recreation and lap pools, two private gymnasiums, residents function rooms, cycling and walk ways, the 5.5 hectare Waterfront Park and the massive 8000 square perched lake, which features a significant piece of public art. There are three penthouses in Pier North and six in Pier South including a Riverhome that is located over two levels. Mirvac Design, the company’s architecture and design subsidiary, created the penthouses with the aim of bringing a whole new level of luxury and style to the Brisbane penthouse market sector. 176 QLD PROJECT FEATURE PIER AT WATERFRONT NEWSTEAD
“Our aim with the Pier penthouses was to bring a design of international standard to Brisbane which relates to our climate and lifestyle and would rival anything one might find in the great cities of the world,” says Mirvac QLD CEO, Matthew Wallace. The penthouses encapsulate sheer indulgence, livability and exclusivity and are designed with the utmost attention paid to craftsmanship and quality. They offer absolute river frontage in a prestigious location with exceptional design. “The designs are classic and timeless with strong, simple lines, rich, natural materials and a bespoke touch throughout. They are exceptional in every way. “All have a combination of floor finishes including natural stone tiles, timber and plush carpet. Stunning feature stones have been selected which appear in the ensuites, most powder rooms and lobbies.” The fit out includes two pac joinery and wall panels, timber veneer, stainless steel scullery, customised Corian vanity tops and basins, feature stone vanities to the main ensuite and stone benchtops in kitchens. It is not only the constructed parts of the project which make Pier special. Mirvac have added the final touch with the addition of a highly AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
qualified and accredited onsite concierge team that will offer residents an unparalleled level of service. “The dedicated team will provide a luxury service to the residents of Pier, enabling them to have more time to enjoy the lifestyle and facilities they have chosen by moving to Waterfront, Newstead.” Designed to enhance the high-end lifestyle experience for residents of Pier, the onsite service will be managed by Blair Lifestyle Management. “There will be a total of three dedicated specialists who are thoroughly trained in the operations and service delivery for the residents of Waterfront, Newstead,” says director of Blair Lifestyle Management, Adele Blair. “The residents will have access to a range of services which are complimentary such as ‘personal services’ that include floral deliveries, daily newspaper deliveries, dry-cleaning drop-off and collection services, as well as ‘travel and transport services’ that includes things such as private transport arrangements, ‘sport and leisure services’ which can be anything from day spa bookings to sporting facility reservations, concert bookings to restaurant bookings, and ‘services and trades’ that includes activities such as sourcing trades persons and internet research. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
“We have been working closely with Mirvac for over two years and have a thorough knowledge of the development and an appreciation for its superior stature. We will add a level of service otherwise reserved for luxury hotel guests and it is outstanding to see Mirvac being prepared to add that value to its residents,” said Adele. Mirvac is a leading integrated real estate group, with more than 38 years of experience in the real estate industry and an in house team of architects, planners, designers and builders who are committed to delivering quality, sustainable project outcomes. Mirvac’s Development Division in Queensland is responsible for some of Australia's best residential projects including Cutters Landing at New Farm, Waterline at Bulimba, Mossvale on Manly and Ephraim Island on the Gold Coast. Mirvac currently has approximately 21,500 lots under its control across Australia that will be progressively developed. Construction of stage two of the Waterfront, Newstead project is now underway. The ‘Park’ project is also high-end residential, and will comprise one, two and three bedroom apartments and luxury pavilions. QLD PROJECT FEATURE PIER AT WATERFRONT NEWSTEAD 177
BEAUTIFULLY INNOVATIVE BALUSTRADES n their most prestigious project to date, Aluminium Balustrades designed, fabricated and installed eleven different individual styles of aluminium/stainless and glazed profiles in the balcony profiles and pool fence of Mirvac’s magnificent Pier at Waterfront Newstead project.
Aluminium Balustrades has had a solid working relationship with Mirvac Design and Construction for over 20 years, contributing their specialist talents to projects including The Mooring, Beaches, Liberty, SouthBank, Mariners Reach, Waterline, Cutters Landing, Tennyson, Mariners Peninsula, Townsville and Ephraim Island. For Pier, the company’s team worked closely with Mirvac Design – Architects to develop the specifically designed exclusive balustrades to suit this particular project. One of Mirvac Design’s requirements entailed the design of a balustrade stanchion which would enable the glass to cantilever in the corners to maintain a full glass effect, while still meeting BCA requirements. Aluminium Balustrades achieved this by developing special extrusions to obtain a split corner post, which allows the glass to cantilever securely and safely, while maintaining the design aesthetic. “We would like to thank Mirvac for their long-standing support and loyalty to our company, and congratulate them on the success of the Waterfront Pier project,” said Aluminium Balustrades Director, Brian Clifford. 178 1 8 QLD PROJECT FEATURE PIER AT WATERFRONT NEWSTEAD
Aluminium Balustrades have been creating innovative aluminium/ stainless steel and glazed balustrades for 37 years, and with a skilled workforce of 22, can meet the needs of concurrent major projects for high quality workmanship and timely delivery and installation. Recently, they also completed the 36 storey Macrossan Building for Parkview Construction in Brisbane CBD, installing stainless steel glazed balustrades to private balconies. Aluminium balustrades have also developed their own range of louvers and privacy screens, and are currently supplying and installing privacy screens and glazed/aluminium balustrades on Quartz Apartments for Jadecorp Constructions. The company’s products also include fencing, pergolas, gates, awnings and staircase rails, all engineer-certified and constructed to meet relevant Australian standards for safety and materials. Aluminium Balustrades is certified with QBSA in both Structural Metal Fabrication & Erection and Glazing & Aluminium, assuring clients of quality workmanship.
ALUMINIUM BALUSTRADES Pty Ltd 38 Bailey Crescent Southport QLD 4215 t. 07 5532 2544 f. 07 5591 5213 e. sales@alubal.com.au www.alubal.com.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
PLANNING AND GUIDING URBAN RENEWAL any years of planning have gone into the Waterfront Newstead project, and John Gaskell Planning Consultants (JGPC) have undertaken a key role in ensuring the development delivers maximum benefits to stakeholders and enhances local communities. This project, originally covering 16 hectares, is the largest urban renewal site in Brisbane. As the planning consultants for the project, JGPC assisted Mirvac in negotiating the site’s complex mix of heritage issues, traffic management, remediation works and stormwater management. JGPC provided strategic and development application advice on the project for preliminary approvals and development permit applications, and has remained involved through subsequent stages, providing ongoing advice to Mirvac and working with Brisbane City Council on the outcomes for the Waterfront’s numerous precincts. “The key was getting the right built form outcomes and maximizing open space opportunities for the development and the wider Newstead and Teneriffe communities,” said JGPC Director, John Gaskell. “The site provides a unique mix of open space, public plazas, retail and commercial and residential precincts, to be a unique urban village so close to
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the Brisbane CBD. The scale and complexity of the project has been unique, and each site has a role to perform in the wider Waterfront precinct. This is a flagship project for Mirvac which we are very proud to be a part of.” JGPC offers clients a high quality service delivered by experienced consultants who manage projects on time, on budget and at competitive rates. Company services include preparing and lodging development applications for a range of development applications from smaller ‘RiskSmart’ projects through to large residential, commercial, school, aged care, industry and extractive industry projects. JGPC have extensive project management experience in managing the more complex development application projects which require a range of technical inputs. JGPC also provides strategic planning advice, policy formulation and planning scheme drafting, including undertaken strategic planning policy and research project services for State and Local Government clients. JGPC has a strong reputation in policy review projects and planning scheme drafting for regional, rural and major SEQ Local Governments.
JOHN GASKELL PLANNING CONSULTANTS PO Box 8103 Woolloongabba QLD 4102 t. 07 3392 1911 f. 07 3392 1399 e. info@jgplan.com.au www.jgplan.com.au
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DECADES OF FINISHING EXCELLENCE rom the careful restoration of Heritage buildings to immaculate finishes for high-end projects, Battaglia Industries are awardwinning experts in all aspects of the solid plastering trade. Recently, their skilled tradesmen completed the cement render finish of Mirvac’s Pier at Waterfront Newstead project, spending over a year on the job. “Mirvac command one of the highest standards in cement render presentation. Having worked on a variety of their projects over the last 8 years we feel we have achieved a good working relationship meeting expectations project after project,” said Battaglia Industries spokesperson Adam Battaglia. “Our primary company goal is to deliver quality projects which are aesthetically superior, within programme and budget, with skilled tradesman in a safe and efficient environment. Being the largest and most reputable solid plastering company in Queensland our personal goals for the delivery of projects is what establishes our large, consistent repeat clientele.” Battaglia Industries have been in business since the 1970s, and have been a member of the Master Builders Association for over 25 years. With BSA licenses in solid plastering and painting and decorating, the company’s capabilities include cement render; whiteset; aggregate and granular marble finishes; Granolithic floor toppings; Monolithic Fire rated Spray (Vermiculite) repair; Specialty render finishes including oxide, limewash and stucco; Re-pointing of brickworks; application of architectural feature mouldings; heritage works and repairs; recasting of mouldings & architectural features; Restoration of all coatings; Painting including acrylic; texture and applied coatings, finishes and stipple. The company undertakes projects throughout New South Wales and Queensland, and has a large skilled workforce capable of servicing projects of any size across residential, commercial and government sectors.Protection of workers and the environment is a high priority. 180 QLD PROJECT FEATURE PIER AT WATERFRONT NEWSTEAD
There is ongoing education of the workplace and a commitment to ensuring the highest safety standards are met. Specific systems have been developed to manage cement and paint waste. Previous Mirvac projects have included Tennyson Stages 1 and 2 & Tennis Centre, Townsville Mariners Peninsula and Ephraim Island - for which Battaglia won the Q MBA Trade Contractor Award for Solid Plastering in 2007 for their cement render and crushed shell applied finishes on the four stages of this project. Other recent projects include Grocon’s Soul project cement rendering and formwork patching to class 2 and re-alignment work; Vantage and FKG Government Apartment housing works render and panting at Beenleigh and Carseldine; and Hutchinson’s Little Beach – Salacia Waters project render and external painting. Currently Battaglia Industries are carrying out cement render and new granular marble works to match existing 30 year old finishes for Hutchinsons Royal Pines project on the Gold Coast. Restoration and revival of old finishes is another service of the company. Heritage projects such as The Queensland Museum restoration and the Mater Hospital Staircases for ABI Contractors in Brisbane are other such jobs where specialty skilled tradesmanship has been proudly accomplished. Battaglia envisage another busy year delivering quality projects with the skill and expertise they are reknown for. BATTAGLIA INDUSTRIES PTY LTD 7 Nesbit street Southport QLD 4215 t. 07 5591 7411 Adam Battaglia (mobile) 0414 659 216 f. 07 5591 7527 e. roberta.battaglia@hotmail.com AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
Mirvac's Pier at Waterfront, QLD
BIS Shrapnel
SPECIAL FEATURE
civil construction outlook positive - but challenges remain adrian hart
Senior Manager, Infrastructure and Mining
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ollowing the collapse of Lehmann Brothers in September 2008 - marking a dramatic escalation in the evolving global financial crisis - the outlook for the Australian construction industry was extremely poor. With a sudden squeeze on capital and fears of large falls in employment and demand, work on several large residential and non-residential building projects abruptly stopped. Developing projects were delayed or simply killed off. In civil construction, where activity had been supercharged by the resources boom, a sharp shakeout was expected as industrial demand slumped, mining production fell for most commodities, and ambitious mining greenfield and expansion projects were shelved. 182 ANCR SPECIAL FEATURE F
As it happened, the 2009/10 financial year turned out to be a lot better than many expected, not just for the construction industry but also the broader economy. While BIS Shrapnel stood out for saying that Australia would avoid a recession, we still believed in early 2009 that economic growth would slow to around 1 per cent for the 2009 calendar year. Recent ABS statistics show that the Australian economy, in fact, grew 1.4% in 2009, accelerating to 2.2% growth for the 2009/10 financial year. In delivering this good outcome, the construction industry played a pivotal role. At BIS Shrapnel, we pay particular attention to this sector given its strong
‘multiplier’ effects on the broader economy. Construction draws heavily on local labour, locally produced upstream inputs and includes significant downstream expenditure on fit-out items and on new machinery and equipment. This means that construction sector cycles have a large impact on domestic employment and activity. Through 2009 and 2010, the outlook for construction improved as several positive events occurred. Primarily, the Federal Government’s fiscal stimulus packages provided direct funding for education building, helping to offset the sharp correction in commercial and industrial building. There was also additional AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
Actually, the outlook is more complicated than this and growth in civil work done in Australia will certainly not be as strong as many think. BIS Shrapnel’s just-released report on the civil sector, “Engineering Construction in Australia 2010/11 to 2024/25” forecasts that growth in civil construction will only rise around 6-7% in 2010/11. March quarter 2011 activity will be negatively affected by the Queensland floods and cyclone events, but the June quarter should be much better. All up, 2010/11 will continue to be an “up/down” year, with modest growth resulting.
funding for infrastructure as well as public housing. Deep cuts in official interest rates from the Reserve Bank were also vital, stimulating a recovery in residential building whilst restoring some financially viability (where capital was available) to other projects. On the civil construction side, work done grew a further 2.8% in 2009/10, on top of 19% growth in 2008/09. So why did activity continue to grow well after the impact of the GFC? Firstly, Australia already had a substantial volume of work in the pipeline when the GFC hit, particularly in the mining and energy sectors, which we lived off through the weaker times. Secondly, both Federal and State Governments more or less maintained their long term infrastructure plans, even during the worst of the crisis. For 2009/10 as whole, public sector funded work done in the civil sector rose 8%, compared to a decline of 0.2% in privately funded work. Finally, and importantly for Australia, stimulus efforts around the world (and particularly China) boosted industrial demand, driving demand for bulk commodities and energy. So instead of sharp falls in resources-related civil construction in 2009/10, we simply saw a slowing in growth. So where will the civil construction industry go from here? The first half of 2010/11 has been uneven, with flat growth in the September quarter giving way to strong growth in the December quarter, based on very recent preliminary building data from the ABS. And there is a lot of good news and optimism in the industry right now, dominated by the approval and move to commencement of several very large LNG projects in Queensland, and iron ore projects in Western Australia. Recent ABS private capital expenditure data show another strong phase of mining investment is on its way. So are the ‘good times’ back again already? WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
While a negative in the short term, the Queensland floods will provide a sizeable boost to civil activity in 2011/12 and 2012/13, effectively bringing forward some of the stronger growth we had forecast for after 2013. Government funding estimates put the reconstruction bill at close to $6 billion, but it could end up higher or lower than this. The need to rebuild will see publicly funded civil work stay high in 2011/12. But this will be a transient phase, with governments likely to quickly shift back into cutback mode later on to rebalance the public debts and deficits that ballooned following the GFC. Overall, a trend decline in publicly funded work will act as a drag on growth. This marks a considerable divergence from the pre-GFC boom in civil work which, though mainly driven by resources investment, was also supported by a real doubling in public infrastructure funding over a five year period. As before, sustained growth in overall civil work from here relies on the private sector. But the GFC has made private funding for basic economic infrastructure like roads much more expensive. Instead, privately funded work is now dominated by mining and energy projects. Here, the outlook is much more promising, with simultaneous work on several LNG projects leading the charge and to be joined later by the next round of major coal, iron ore and, finally, base metals investments. Privately funded engineering construction is expected to rise at rate of 10-15% per annum through the next few years, driven by resources investment, but will slow around the middle of the decade as the next round of projects move to completion. There are substantial risks. Apart from demand side risk (particularly, the sustainability of growth in global demand in the face of further shocks), we are still highly concerned about bottlenecks on the supply side constraining growth. This is most evident in the LNG sector. With approvals now given to two new massive
LNG projects in Queensland (Curtis LNG and Gladstone LNG) — and a third project approval looming at time of writing — we are embarking on the construction of no less than eight LNG production trains through the next 5 or 6 years, including three trains for the first stage of the Gorgon LNG alone and the completion of the Pluto LNG train. To say we are in new territory here is an understatement. Yes, a lot of this work will be off-shored, and we will draw specialist skills from overseas. But, historically, Australia has never worked on more than two LNG trains simultaneously. The fact is that despite the GFC, we are still operating at record levels of activity. Those capacity constraints which bit hard in the late 2000s have never really left us. Overall, we expect supply side issues to quickly re-emerge from here. This will have two broad impacts. Firstly, the fight to secure labour, materials and equipment will drive a re-acceleration in construction costs. Secondly, the constraints will cause many feasible projects to be delayed or drop out entirely. Recently, the Federal Government has flagged cuts and delays to existing projects to pay for flood reconstruction works. While this may have been shaped by a political agenda (to bring the Federal Budget back to surplus by 2013) it perhaps also reflects the difficulty in resourcing the reconstruction work at this time. For the private sector, we expect many mining and resources projects will experience both delays and cost blowouts. Overall, the combination of differing public and private sector funding cycles will still drive reasonably robust growth in civil work in 2011/12 and 2012/13, but the emergence of capacity constraints will mean this growth won’t be sustained. The upshot is that this is not going to be an easy time at all for the construction industry. Medium to longer term growth in civil construction work will not be as strong as industry surveys suggest. Growth will still be reasonably robust, it just won’t be as spectacular or sustained as the 2000s when we had so much excess capacity to be absorbed. And it will differ substantially by region and sector. For firms operating in this industry, the message is still to keep securing skilled labour and resources to handle to growing volume of work, to be aware of the sectors and regions which will offer the best prospects through the next cycle, and to keep a firm eye on costs from here. ANCR SPECIAL FEATURE 183
SA Aquatic & leisure Centre & GP plus health centre
184 SA PROJECT FEATURE State aquatic centre & gp plus health centre
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built for FINA, fitness and fun
conform to the standards of the international swimming body FINA, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s anticipated that use of the centre will be much sought after by coaches and swimmers to train and compete at international levels.
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he commencement of construction work was announced on 16 October 2009 at the Candetti Constructions Project Launch at which the first sod was turned in front of 250 invited guests, including Federal Sports Minister Kate Elllis, State Minister for Infrastructure Pat Conlon, State Minister for Recreation and Sport Michael Wright, and City of Marion Mayor Felicity-Ann Lewis.
Also on the site and built as part of the project is the largest GP Plus Health Care Centre in South Australia, including the Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first Community Mental Health Care unit. To accommodate community access, 560 car spaces are available in a new multi-level carpark. The entire project and surrounding transport links are facilitated by a central pedestrian plaza on the site.
The facility was completed for the Australian Aged Championships from 18 April 2011. The project is one of the most advanced facilities in the Southern Hemisphere and the first master planned mixed use Major Health and Aquatic Precinct in Australia. The State Government worked in collaboration with the main contractor, Candetti Constructions Pty Ltd, to bring this spectacular development to the community.
With South Australian Government partners, Candetti had an environmental and communications management plan in place throughout construction to minimise the impact of activity during the construction period on local residents, in particular, factors like noise and dust. The development also supported ecologically sustainable design elements to reduce water and energy use across the site. These initiatives included a Building Management System to control digital systems that regulate air conditioning and ventilation. Solar panels were also provided for hot water.
The site includes the SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre, with multiple pools catering for elite level competitive aquatic sports as well as leisure and recreation ranging from a dedicated learn-to-swim pool to spectacular water slides and spa pools. The competitive facilities all
The pool filtration system is highly efficient, being able to regulate itself automatically according to high and low periods of pool use and saves over one million litres per year over traditional filtration technologies. Stormwater is captured for use in toilets across the projects and the
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MAIN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY : Candetti Constructions CLIENT : Department of Transport, Energy & Infrastructure PROJECT END VALUE : In excess of $100 Million COMPLETION : April 2011 ARCHITECTS : Woodhead STRUCTURAL & CIVIL ENGINEER : GHD FIRE ENGINEER : WSP Lincolne Scott buildings have been oriented on the site to achieve the most efficient energy levels possible. The GP Plus Centre is also designed to achieve a 5-Star Green Star Office Design rating for energy efficiency and material recycling. In the planning, quality was a major focus for Candetti and for this reason some unusual materials and processes were used. Downturnlipped ZAM purlins were used for their superior corrosion protection. Polysiloxane coatings were applied to steel that is exposed to the chlorine environment. This is a high durability surface coating which will protect against corrosion. The dive tower is ten metres high and was designed so that it could be cast in situ with one continuous concrete pour, thereby eliminating the need for construction joining in the tower itself. The dive platforms were pre-cast and stitch-cast to the main tower later. In the construction of the pools, Myrtha technology was used - this is state-of-the-art in pool construction world-wide. This modular pool system from Italy employs pre-engineered steel panels for pool walls that are laminated with a hard PVC coating. The system results in little or no maintenance as there is no tile or grout replacement in the first twenty to thirty years. Engineers have shown that, compared with the usual concrete â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;tankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; construction, the Myrtha system has a significantly smaller carbon-footprint. This major development is in excess of $100 million and is the culmination of 12 years work by state, federal and local government partners and in particular the South Australian Department for Transport, Energy, and Infrastructure with Candetti Constructions to get this exciting piece of infrastructure built and operational. 186 SA PROJECT FEATURE State aquatic centre & gp plus health centre
Candetti Constructions 1st Floor, 29 Anzac Highway Keswick SA 5035 t. 08 8351 2001 f. 08 8351 1858 www.candetti.com.au S.A. department for transport, energy & infrastructure t. (08) 8343 2222 e. dtei.enquiriesadministrator@sa.gov.au www.dtei.sa.gov.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
structural and civil engineering solutions
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ne of the world's leading engineering, architecture and environmental consulting companies, GHD was engaged by Candetti Constructions to provide the structural and civil design and documentation for all three building elements on the site. This included the Aquatic Centre, Medical Centre, and multi-level car park. Both Candetti and GHD have delivered numerous aquatic centres across Australia and hence understand that they have unique requirements. GHD leveraged knowledge and skill from experience in the design of numerous long-span structures including a number of other sports stadia, to deliver this project. An integrated team of local engineers and drafters in GHD’s Adelaide office were dedicated full time to the design and documentation of this challenging project within a very short time frame. Colleagues from the Brisbane team completed design and documentation reviews on a regular basis throughout the design period. Wind loads on the uniquely shaped building were identified as the critical load case for the exposed roof structure. Candetti invested in specialist wind load analysis, undertaken to determine the wind loading and to provide a fine, trussed roof framing system. Candetti worked with GHD’s Material Technology team to investigate a range of protective coating options for the structure before Candetti selected the most appropriate coating to meet the design-life requirements in such a potentially corrosive environment. The dive tower also presented a unique challenge. It is a highly visual element with complex design requirements that needed to be economical and quick to construct whilst also complying with international FINA guidelines, including the requirement for a natural frequency greater than 10 hertz. A variety of options were prepared by GHD, and evaluated by Candetti, before selecting a specific cast in-situ tower with precast diving platforms. Candetti required the tower to be poured in a single pour over a period of approximately 13 hours. To achieve this GHD prepared a specific concrete mix design to minimise thermal and shrinkage cracking. The precast dive platforms were stitch-cast to the completed tower. GHD’s involvement with this project has reinforced its reputation for providing quality technical solutions and meeting challenging time frames, through integrating with a wider project team. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
GHD Pty Ltd GPO Box 2052 Adelaide SA 5001 contact: Paul Clarke t. +61 8 8111 6600 www.ghd.com
SA PROJECT FEATURE State aquatic centre & gp plus health centre 187
top level form work
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orm 700 was contracted to construct the concrete structure on this project. This was an interesting project in that it provided Form 700 with some unusual challenges. Form 700 Pty Ltd was incorporated in November 2002, and has 650 direct employees across Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia, lending their talents to industrial, commercial and high rise residential developments. The skills embedded in the company include project managers, site administrators, engineers, draftspersons, forepersons, leading hands, carpenters, steelfixers, concretors, scaffolders, crane drivers, dogmen and building labourers. Building the concrete structure included supplying and erecting formwork; supplying and fixing reinforcement; supply, pump, place and finish concrete. Being able to handle all the aspects of the job rather than bring in subcontractors for key tasks
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contributes to Form 700â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efficiency and allows for more comprehensive quality control. Form 700 had a workforce of 50 persons on this project. To achieve the programme Form 700 used large quantities of formwork material which included proprietary formwork support systems, tableforms and purpose built forms. One of the greatest challenges was the construction of the main dive tower. The whole structure comprising support blade column and cantilevered dive platforms was required to be poured as one complete element without any construction joints and to millimetre accuracy. Purpose made steel framed plywood faced forms were designed and fabricated by Form 700 in their factory in Melbourne. The forms were transported as oversized loads and then erected into place with mobile crane. The forms were braced and concrete poured. The stripped element is quite an impressive structure. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
Reinforcement made from recycled steel was used on this project. Very little timber is used by Form 700 as we use steel formwork and aluminium panel formwork systems. Form 700â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s special access tower was nominated for the Work Safe design award in 2008. The Form 700 team were very glad to be involved with the construction of this iconic South Australian development.
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
SA PROJECT FEATURE State aquatic centre & gp plus health centre 189
the talent pool for your next project
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he Aquatic Centre at Marion in South Australia has been Designed and Constructed by Candetti Constructions, the largest privately family owned construction company in SA and one of the largest in Australia. Candetti engaged Woodhead International, Peddle Thorp Architects, GHD, AECOM and WSP Lincolne Scott to design the centre. Candetti engaged AVP as the specialist pool contractor. Both Candetti and AVP have extensive aquatic projects experience and worked collaboratively to Design and Construct the Pools and Filtration elements of the project resulting in delivery of the most advanced facility in the Southern Hemisphere. Established in 1996, AVP Commercial Pools was formed to cater to the particular needs of the commercial industry, specialising outside the domestic pool market the company has specific expertise in every aspect of commercial swimming pools, including the expertise in Myrtha Pool technology for which AVP are licensed agents.
It’s recommend that measuring and reducing CO2 emissions are the first steps we should be taking to lower our impact on climate change. Myrtha Pools commissioned ACOR Consultants, an Australian engineering company, to compare the energy used in building a Myrtha pool versus a traditional concrete tank. Results showed clearly that Myrtha technology has a carbon footprint significantly lower than a traditional pool made with concrete and tiles. The installation phases are much quicker and do not require the use of heavy machinery. The necessity to maintain waterproofing by replacing the grout or the tiles is practically zero for the first 20-30 years. Myrtha technology has been used here in the construction of pools at the Marion Centre. It is a high tech modular pool system using pre-engineered steel panels permanently laminated with a hard PVC coating. At each panel joint, a buttress gives rigidity to the structure and makes it self- supporting. The overflow gutter is also made of Myrtha material and is an integral part of the wall and buttress system which provides the upper rim of the pool. The floor is lined with a reinforced PVC membrane called Myrtha R-EVOLUTION. There are two competition pools at the centre, one is 52 x 25 x 3 metres and the second is a little longer and deeper at 55 metres x 25 x 3 to 5 metres deep with a 10 metre dive tower. Both these pools have been built to comply with International swimming body FINA’s specifications. These two pools will soon be the focal point for high level swimming events and training including team sports such as water polo. The recreational pools will provide plenty to attract younger people to the centre, with a dedicated learn-to-swim pool, as well as a 25 metre program pool with a large spa. Just for fun, an aquatower will be attractive to younger children. Two key features of the recreational area are 15 metre high water slides which take the rider beyond the walls of the main building before returning them after a ‘spiraling’ experience back into the water. To make best use of available space all plant rooms have been located in the basement area. Ultra Fine Filtration type filter systems were selected, being state-of-the-art and offering a small footprint as an added benefit in an area where space is at a premium.
Defender system. This means that significant water-savings can be realised while chlorine gas and soda ash are used to maintain clean, healthy water with a well balanced ph. AVP have employed Seimens chemical controllers to constantly monitor and regulate the water flow and chemical mix. The Depolox controller can regulate UV output and can reduce recirculation and dose rates during periods of low activity. AVP teams have worked with many architects, engineers & building companies and have developed an enviable reputation based on experience in site control. They have made many a contribution to award winning projects and are multi-award winners in both pool design and construction in their own right. With offices in WA, VIC and QLD, AVP undertakes projects Australia-wide and specialises in pools in outback Australia.
AVP’s objective was to maintain excellent water clarity. Traditional backwashing techniques for filter maintenance are minimised in the 190 SA PROJECT FEATURE State aquatic centre & gp plus health centre
AVP Commercial Pools PO Box 981 Balcatta WA 6914 t. 08 9240 8622 f. 08 9240 8633 www.avpc.com.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
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EDUCATION WORKS NEW SCHOOLS ppp Six Super Schools have been built by leading construction company, Hansen Yuncken across the metropolitan area as part of a new $216 million education program.
192 SA PROJECT FEATURE EDUCATION WORKS NEW SCHOOLS PPP
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SA PROJECT FEATURE EDUCATION WORKS NEW SCHOOLS PPP 193
BUILDING THE NATIONS FUTURE The Project ncudes sx new schoos on separate campuses, provdng educaton from brth through to year tweve The campuses w adopt the schoos wthn schoos concept and w ncude ch dren s centres, prmary, mdde, secondary and speca educaton provson
Education works new schools ppp/ hansen yuncken
194 SA PROJECT FEATURE EDUCATION WORKS NEW SCHOOLS PPP
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Left Blair Athol North and Woodville Gardens Schools.
Hansen Yuncken Pty Ltd Level 1, 191 Fullarton Road Dulwich SA 5065 t. 08 82297300 f. 08 82297301 e. adelaide@hansenyuncken.com.au www.hansenyuncken.com.au
Effective teamwork and optimal communication were key factors on the SA Public Private Partnership (PPP) Schools project. The consortium on the SA PPP project is headed up by Pinnacle Education with Hansen Yuncken responsible for the design and construct section of the project and Spotless responsible for the maintenance and a reduced operating scope for the project. The stringent requirements of a PPP delivery effectively make the consortium responsible for the design, construction, finance, maintenance and operation of the project over the designated period, in this case, 32 years. Hansen Yuncken’s involvement in the process has been paramount as they controlled the flow of information from design to approval and subsequent delivery with the final resolution on capital cost effectively remaining with Hansen Yuncken. The contractor therefore needs to provide self-discipline in all decisions undertaken during the design and delivery process, as often the most cost effective solution is not the optimum when considering the life cycle costing. Hansen Yuncken delivered a fast track approach to design and delivery in a collaborative way whilst maintaining a cost effective solution that addressed the brief. This was achieved in a safe environment with a high quality end product that incorporated state of the art Environmentally Sustainable Design initiatives. Under the PPP Project, there were a number of fundamental objectives that had to be delivered. They included: ● ● ● ● ●
Value for Money Early Project Delivery Innovation Finance Management Compliance with a project specific brief
In order to facilitate the objective of early project delivery, the design, approval and construction WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
SA PROJECT FEATURE EDUCATION WORKS NEW SCHOOLS PPP 195
processes overlapped. In addition to this relatively unique situation, the design documentation frequently changed during State authority reviews.
Achieving outstanding results, Hansen Yuncken delivered four of the six schools in an 18 month window with the remaining two within a 22 month window from commencement.
Hansen Yuncken obtained tender submissions from a number of appropriate contractors for each trade package. Each tender submission then needed to be assessed thoroughly to ensure compliance.
Hansen Yuncken’s ‘can do’ attitude, enthusiasm, expertise and commitment to the project has been gratefully appreciated by the local schools and community. The everyday construction ethos has been far outweighed by the passion for the project and its end users, which has been evident through feedback from site visits and ongoing discussions with students and teachers alike.
It was equally important to make certain that contractors were capable of servicing the project requirements and demonstrated the ability to meet key milestone dates on a relatively short construction programme. An additional factor in the management of the project was that approximately 9.5 million dollars worth of equipment from approximately 94 different suppliers was required, with deliveries being coordinated progressively across the six sites. As a result, distribution of information to all Hansen Yuncken staff on the six sites was critical for the effective coordination of trades. Teamwork remained a strong factor throughout and on many occasions project team members, across all sites, assisted above their general requirements to ensure a ‘best for project’ solution was reached. 196 SA PROJECT FEATURE EDUCATION WORKS NEW SCHOOLS PPP
Community interaction of this nature has not only established an outstanding relationship with various community groups but has also positively portrayed Hansen Yuncken as a builder with social consciousness and commitment. ‘We feel we have built value not only in terms of our construction activities but in demonstrating that Hansen Yuncken is not just a ‘builder’ but also a valuable member of the local community,’ explains Sian Dodd of Hansen Yuncken. Established in 1918, Hansen Yuncken is one of Australia’s largest private commercial construction contractors, employing over 800 people throughout Australia. Just recently, Hansen Yuncken was awarded 2010 National MBA Commercial Builder of the Year. AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
glg
GLG GreenLife Group was engaged by national building company, Hansen Yuncken, to provide landscape construction services for five new Super Schools in Adelaide’s northern suburbs. The project consisted of construction and maintenance of drought tolerant sports turf and garden beds throughout the school sites, including site surveillance and soil testing. All garden beds required mulching to cater for drought conditions and GLG were responsible for the supply and installation of over 150,000 plants of various species and size. With over 35,000 tonne of material brought into the five sites, significant forward planning was crucial. The Super Schools irrigation system included both sub-surface watering and sprinkler irrigation systems to garden beds and turf areas, all supplied from rainwater tanks. GLG also provided sports turf construction, including site preparation, turf sodding and hydro-seeding of sports fields. Once again, forward planning ensured the sports fields would be established prior to the intense traffic on the surfaces following the opening of the super schools. GLG equipped each Super School site with a team of skilled personnel which included qualified landscapers, team leaders and landscape construction supervisors, backed up by contract managers to ensure the WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
Below GLG GreenLife Group were responsible for the supply and installation of over 150,000 plants of various species and sizes.
project progressed on schedule and on budget. Inclement weather caused delays for some trades, but with a systematic approach GLG worked with the various construction and design teams on site to meet timelines. All Super School projects had very firm schedules and, although challenging at times, GLG were able to continually meet these throughout the project with a forward thinking and dedicated team approach. Originally known as Grounds & Gardens, GLG GreenLife Group has grown into one of Australia’s leading open space specialists, providing a diverse range of landscape construction, open space maintenance and project management services. With its strong environmental focus, GLG applies its philosophy of “build, maintain and sustain” to all of its open space projects throughout Australia. The company’s success in meeting and exceeding the needs of its diverse client base is built on a constant commitment to professionalism in all areas of its operations. For more information contact GLG GreenLife Group, Australia Wide. 819-825 South Road, Clarence Gardens SA 5039. Phone: 08 8351 4400, fax: 08 8351 4399, email: sa@glgcorp.com. Or visit www.glgcorp.com for State Contact details. SA PROJECT FEATURE EDUCATION WORKS NEW SCHOOLS PPP 197
PSG Boffa Russo provided a team of 50 skilled staff to work on the PPP Super Schools Project in South Australia. Ranging in skill, the team included senior site mangers, grade 5 electricians and apprentices. Working closely with a group of specialised sub-contractors, PSG Boffa Russo ensured the project progressed smoothly across all six school sites simultaneously. The experienced team of sub-contractors included TAF & Associates for communications on the project, Trojan Fire to deliver fire services and Commercial Security Services for the installation of security. With a focus on meeting deadline and handing over the project, defect free, prior to the new school term, PSG Boffa Russo provided electrical infrastructure throughout the six sites. PSG Boffa Russo offers a diverse electrical service to all levels of clientele including government and large corporations. They are leaders in providing ecologically sustainable developments along with introducing innovation within their industry. For more information contact PSG Boffa Russo, 45 O.G. Road Klemzig SA 5087, phone: 08 8369 3333, fax: 08 8369 3100 Email: admin@psgboffarusso.com.au, website: www.psgboffarusso.com.au. 198 SA PROJECT FEATURE EDUCATION WORKS NEW SCHOOLS PPP
Above PSG Boffa Russo provided electrical infrastructure across all six school sites ensuring the project progressed smoothly and efficiently. AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
WORKING THROUGH THE STAGES
Smith Brothers Plumbing has been involved with the PPP Super Schools project all the way from design to final construction. Stuart Hallandal, Smith Brothersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; hydraulic specialist worked strongly with Daniel Edlinger, AECOMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chief hydraulic consultant to produce the construction documents and assist in the scope and design of hot water plant, flow and return systems, trade waste and design approval. Smith Brothers then continued through to the final stage of installing sanitaryware and turning on the water.
were supplied and installed. Green water and energy efficient products and methods focused strongly with solar hot water systems, rainwater harvesting and six star tapware, the highest standard of water efficiency.
PPP Super Schools Project is six schools all with different scopes of works to cater for pre-school through to Year 12 students; eighteen months to complete with total completion due in Mar 2011. Regency Park School for special needs students required disabled toilets and wheelchair access in all areas; Playford North, Inner North and Inner West were all new schools built on the ovals of existing schools; Munno Para West and Sports Park were totally new schools designed to accommodate 1600 students each.
PPP Super Schools was a challenging project for Smith Brothers Plumbing, their largest to date, the design stage was massive and not a traditional role for either builder or sub-contractor; the time constraints tested their program timing and scheduling and in the end another successful project with valued client Hansen Yuncken.
At the height of the project Smith Brothers Plumbing had as many as five project managers and close to fifty plumbers, plant operators and apprentices spread across the six school sites and overseen by Construction Manager, Nick Wilmshurst.
Smith Brothers Plumbing installed hot and cold water supply to 1,800 fixtures including drinking fountains, specialist art troughs, laboratory sinks, connected gas to cookers and dish washers in home economics areas, installed toilet pans, cisterns, basins and sinks. Rainwater tanks, pumps and controllers to irrigate the school gardens and veggie patches
SMITH BROTHERS PLUMBING PO Box 438 Marleston SA 5033 t. 08 8234 5000 e. smithbros.sa@smithbrothers.com.au w. smithbrothers.com.au
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HOUSING SA PROVIDES A UNIQUE MIX OF AFFORDABLE LIVING H ousing SA is providing affordable housing in the CBD through the Apartments at 22 Ifould Street, Adelaide.
The Apartments at 22 Ifould are adjacent to Wakefield and Hutt Street’s, and located in close proximity to public transport, essential social services, and popular city attractions including the Adelaide Central Market and Adelaide’s cosmopolitan east end. The project provides 42 single and two bedroom apartments over seven levels.
affordable housing opportunities in a location often considered out of reach to low and moderate-income earners. The apartments feature a number of environmentally sustainable principles. The project has utilised fundamental, environmentally sustainable design principles and selected materials that will be durable and low maintenance. Core design and engineering considerations include:
Over 85 per cent of the project’s release will be affordable. This includes six apartments that will be retained by Housing SA for social housing, where tenants pay a maximum of 25 per cent of their income. A further 18 apartments are being sold to eligible buyers via the Affordable Homes Program. This vertically integrated residential mix will create an inclusive urban community, combining full market and affordable owner-occupier sales with affordable rental opportunities via private investors and Housing SA. The development, the tallest built by Housing SA to date, is truly innovative and sets new precedents in providing a unique mix of
• gas boosted solar hot water systems • minimisation of energy demand through material use, passive solar design principles such as north/south orientation, natural central ventilating atrium and projecting balconies shading windows below. • separate metering for each apartment to monitor. energy, water and gas consumption. • encouraging alternative
IFOULD APARTMENTS project sponsor : Housing SA PROJECT MANAGER : Julian Aggiss (Housing SA) Main Construction Company : Tagara Group CONSTRUCTION MANAGER : Bill Couros (Tagara Group) completion : February 2011 project value : $12 Million
200 SA PROJECT FEATURE IFOULD APARTMENTS
transportation through providing bike racks and only minimal car parking spaces. • the provision of energy efficient LED lighting and appliances. • providing clothes drying racks on each balcony (visually hidden from the building’s exterior) reducing the need for electric dryers. • a 40,000 litre rainwater tank
for reticulation to toilet cisterns. • provision of plantation bamboo flooring in apartments. The Affordable Homes Program is assisting low and moderate-income households into home ownership by increasing the supply of lower cost homes across the state. This Housing SA initiative targets ‘eligible buyers’ who earn less than $69,550 per annum. Affordable Home opportunities within the Apartments at 22 Ifould will be sold to ‘eligible buyers’ from $240,000 up to $331,000. During the project’s development, a dedicated ‘Construction Waste Management Plan’ was utilised on site to ensure environmentally responsive construction activity, with 85% of construction waste and packaging being recycled. The apartments were built with an environmentally sustainable focus to improve the energy, water and waste management efficiency. The project blends a number of housing styles, comprising full market and affordable sales releases, social housing and affordable rental opportunities. This creates an all inclusive urban community, with a greater cross-section of residential profiles than normally associated with a CBD apartment building.
HOUSING SA Riverside Centre Adelaide SA 5000 t. 08 8207 0582 www.dfc.sa.gov.au
tagara group 51-53 Glunburn Rd Glynde SA 5070 t. 08 8360 9700 f. 08 8365 0129 www.tagara.com.au
Sales Agent : Brock Urban Projects 29 Young St, Adelaide t. 08 8203 1288 www.brockurbanprojects.com.au
SA PROJECT FEATURE IFOULD APARTMENTS 201
BROWN FALCONER W
ith more than 55 years experience in the building industry, Brown Falconer have been at the forefront of new design and innovation. Specialising in educational, health, aged care, commercial and multi-residential the architectural and design firm were an obvious choice for the Ifould Apartments in Adelaide.
brown falconer 255 Magill Road Maylands SA 5069 t. 08 8332 5655 www.brownfalconer.com.au
The Ifould Apartment project comprises 42 one and two bedroom affordable apartments over seven levels on a small city site. A concept plan had been prepared for Housing SA, who called for tenders for the design and documentation of the project. At the time of tender, Brown Falconer took the opportunity provided by a revised structural design to cantilever the balconies 1000mm to provide a 2000mm wide usable area and greater faรงade articulation. Along with the balcony amendments minor faรงade detail changes provide greater elevation articulation and a more human scale. Projecting balconies are framed in timber cladding to provide additional interest, texture and warmth to the faรงades. The colours of the primary faรงade materials of metal cladding to precast concrete achieve the colour and texture references to the adjoining School of Music heritage building. The panels from Floors 1 to 5 on the northern and southern elevations will have a medium sand-blasted finish to give increased texture to the surface, with blue/charcoal aggregate and colour additive to reference the bluestone. The panels on Floors 6 and 7 have a smooth off-white finish to reduce the massing of the elevations, giving the effect of reduced overall height. To further reduce scale and to provide additional interest, these panels will have embossed features in an organic wave pattern which evokes the ephemeral qualities of clouds. The roof profile is strongly expressed to provide a more defined finish to the top of the building. The motif of the artwork integrated into the ground level faรงade is repeated using patterned glazing film into the ground level foyer and up through the full-height central light court, and even into the directional signage. The aesthetic within the compact apartments is sharp and contemporary with bamboo floors, off-white walls and off-form concrete ceilings. High levels of natural lighting and ventilation are afforded by the large windows. Coinciding with the successful completion of the Ifould Apartments, Brown Falconer announced a merger with David Dawson Architects. Whilst Brown Falconer traditionally has had a more commercial client base with a high reputation for good design in education, health and aged care buildings, David Dawson has specialised in hospitality and multiresidential projects. These complementary fields round out the practice to be able to offer whole-of-place making expertise for projects such as the Ifould Apartments.
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SHINING ABOVE cortek electrical 260 Prospect Road Prospect SA 5082 t. 08 8342 4900 www.cortek.com.au
W
ith more than 32 years in the electrical Industry, Cortek Electrical has a wide range of expertise & as a privately owned family business, Cortek prides itself on its quality workmanship.
Working with an electrical consultant & architect on the project, Cortek Electrical together with LED ECO Lighting created a system that helped the apartments achieve a more ecological footprint than originally planned.
Ivan Correani, founder & director of Cortek Electrical, started his career as an apprentice electrician & when he completed his apprenticeship he had a passion to start his own business. His mission was to give clients the best quality without compromise & the company has done that with its work on Ifould Apartments.
With a building footprint of 25m x 25m, the team were confronted with a number of issues but were able to overcome all obstacles to install the most up-to-date LED downlights throughout the building, using 9W LED downlights that give around the same light output & last around 50,000 hours life opposed to using 50W halogen bulbs. LED ECO LIGHTING, the supplier of these LED downlights worked with Cortek Electrical on Ifould Apartments to supply the right lighting products for this application.
With the move towards energy efficient lighting within the industry, Cortek Electrical used its expertise in this area to install throughout the Ifould apartments innovative LED lighting. With LED downlights & LED strip lighting which further increases its efficiency.
Ifould apartments have benefited from Cortek Electrical’s reputation & reach within the industry.
Templug Drain Basket and Side Entry Pit Insert
The system to remove unwanted waste from stormwater at the “source” Templug Drain Basket and Insert (Grate Drains) Storm water washes into the grate drain, carrying with it “vegetative and other waste”. The water flows through the material insert whilst the waste material is retained. In the case of rain events, “vents” in the top of the basket walls or a “spillway” can be incorporated into the design to ensure there is no fixed restriction to the drain. Servicing of the inserts is required. Reverse flushing of material brings back to original condition. A smaller basket can be bolted on underneath which holds a product called Mycelx, this will remove the Hydrocarbons from the water as it passes through. See AIS P/L. The baskets can be made from Galvanised or Stainless Steel and can be made to any size or shape.
Templug contact details Craig Rothleitner - Director
Templug Pty Ltd (ACN 120187742) Level 3, 267 St Georges Terrace Perth, Western Australia 6000
CLEAN, CLEAR PIPE SOLUTIONS Templug Drain Insert (Side Entry Pit) The Templug Drain Insert is used as a “cartridge” incorporated into the Side Entry Pit (storm water) with the internal frame holding the insert in place against the lid and floor of the pit opening. As it rains the water carries the associated waste into the cartridge with the water flowing through the material whilst retaining the above-mentioned waste. In the case of a Major Rain event “vents” have been placed in the top of the insert to ensure the drain is not restricted. Servicing as per Templug Drain Basket.
PO Box 7798 Cloisters Square Western Australia 6850 Phone: +61 8 9261 7704 Fax: +61 8 9463 6266
Mobile: +61 408 306 008 Email: sales@templug.com Web: www.templug.com
A PROJECT TO BE PROUD OF outhern Gateway Alliance (SGA) has many reasons to feel great pride in the delivery of the Mandurah Entrance Road project in Western Australia. Not only was the project completed almost three months ahead of schedule, LTI-free and under budget, it also incorporates some innovative design and construction solutions. SGA comprised Leighton contractors, WA Limestone and GHD, working in partnership with Main Roads, the State road agency. SGA was awarded the contract following their successful delivery of the $705 million New Perth Bunbury Highway project. The $155 million Mandurah Entrance Road (MER) project provides a 6.5 kilometre direct link from the Kwinana Freeway to Mandurah, and was funded by both the Commonwealth and the State Government of Western Australia. Construction works included 6.5km of four lane dual carriageway; a three leg roundabout at Mandurah Road; a new 220 metre railway underpass tunnel and a 170 metre tunnel extension; upgrades of local road intersections; and links to Stock Road north and Education Drive. The MER straddles the passenger railway line for approximately four kilometres, with carriageway separated from the rails by extensive retaining walls. The Mechanically Stabilised Earth (MSE) walls, comprise 3575 concrete panels measuring 2 metres x 2 metres in height and approximately 160mm in thickness. Each panel was placed using an excavator and on average, between 50 and 80 panels were placed each day. The combined 3.5 km of MSE wall features a painted design by
a local artist, which is one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest painted artworks in a transport context. For added motorist safety, over 4km of TL5 Concrete slipform barriers were also installed adjacent to the railway line. These barriers were cast using a unique concrete design mix which allows the barrier to maintain structural integrity and form without formwork being used. A kerbing machine imported from the USA was used for the task, and a custom made mould designed for this specific type of barrier. In the earlier stages of the project, SGA worked with the Public Transport Authority to construct two rail tunnels. This proved to be the most intensive part of the entire construction program. In Parklands a 220 metre long tunnel featuring 220 precast concrete arches and 15 headwall panels was constructed, enable the northbound carriageway of the MER to cross to the eastern side of the railway line. At Mandurah Road, the existing tunnel was extended by 170 metres to enable the construction of a roundabout; this tunnel comprised 144 precast concrete arches and four headwall panels. The precast elements for both tunnels were constructed in Perth and transported to site for erection. Work on both tunnels was staged concurrently, in the tight timeframe of three weekend rail shutdowns. The roundabout at Mandurah Road is a unique two lane roundabout design, with a centre island approximately 56 metres in diameter. The roundabout
MANDURAH ENTRANCE ROAD MAIN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY : Southern Gateway Alliance DEVELOPER : W.A State Government PROJECT END VALUE : $155 Million LENGTH : 6.5km of dual lanes COMPLETION : October 2010 ARCHITECTS : Birchgroup 204 2 4 WA PROJECT FEATURE MANDURAH ENTRANCE ROAD
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comprises three legs including the MER and Mandurah Road both north and south bound, as well as a stub end for Exchequer Road, which is to be completed by council. At the northern end, the MER ties in with the Kwinana Freeway extension via a diamond type interchange that was created as part of the New Perth Bunbury Highway project. Minor connections were created at Education Drive to service the Peel TAFE Campus, as well as at Stock Road north for the adjacent quarry. To mitigate noise generated by MER traffic, almost two kilometres of limestone walls averaging 3.1 metres high were erected at various locations. This construction task challenged SGA’s crews, with the majority of noise wall sited on a large hill. This meant the wall had to be stepped 135 times, or around every six metres. Additionally, the limestone blocks that comprise the walls are 1metre X 0.35 metres X 0.35 metres and weigh approximately 184 kilos each. Approximately 600,000 cubic metres of material was utilised from the road reserve for the project’s earthworks, while an additional 100,000 cubic metres of sand was extracted from the site and placed at the future Road B reserve in the MER’s immediate vicinity.
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More than 700,000 square metres of paving material was imported to construct the road, which comprises varying layers of subbase, basecourse and deep lift asphalt. The sealed shoulder of the MER provides a cyclist amenity and a large underpass was erected to enable safe passage for pedestrians and fauna between Marlee Reserve and Black Swan Lake in Parklands. Additonally, smaller underpasses and seven kilometres of wire fencing were provided to encourage fauna to cross under the road. The entire project site comprising 30 hectares of land was rehabilitated using 100,000 native seedlings and 130 kilograms of native seed. In the adjacent Marlee Reserve, a legacy for the community was created, with the construction of a network of walking trails, a boardwalk and fauna fencing. Nine artificial nesting boxes known as “Cockatubes” were also installed to contribute to the ongoing protection of local bird species. The MER was officially opened on 7 October 2010, and is a brilliant example of best practice civil construction, meeting a critical transport infrastructure need while also caring for the community, the workforce and the environment.
WA PROJECT FEATURE MANDURAH ENTRANCE ROAD 205
DELIVERING THEIR BEST TO THE WEST
Labour Hire of Mobile Plant Operators for all positions if required. These personnel are very professional and experienced operators capable of meeting all the requirements of every assignment. We can also source or will buy any machinery for a project. henever a project anywhere in Western Australia needs quality, well-maintained equipment and professional and experienced people, Kais Contractors provide a fast response – 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. For the Mandurah Entrance Road project, Kais supplied Southern Gateway Alliance with a 730 Cat Water Truck with an experienced Operator Carla Van Dyk, and ongoing labour hire. The company also supported SGA with the Forrest Hwy, supplying 140h Cat graders and 730 Cat water trucks. Kais Contractors has over 33 years experience in the mining, earthmoving and construction industry. Dave and Sharon Kais deliver 24/7 service to their clients supplying the company’s Caterpillar fleet, parts, service, maintenance and repairs. Topcon GPS systems and lasers are also available for hire. The company’s extensive regional contacts also ensure that no matter how remote the site, any hour day or night, mechanical help is always close at hand. “Our success is due to our commitment to quality, well maintained equipment and excellent customer service,” said Director Sharon Kais. “We supply both wet and dry hire options to all clients to meet the needs and budget of every project. We offer support to our clients with 206 WA PROJECT FEATURE MANDURAH ENTRANCE ROAD
“All our plant is well maintained to the manufacturer’s specifications and the fleet is kept to low hours for high performance. Our high standards ensure all machines are delivered to every job with a high presentation. Meeting 100% productivity for our clients is the most important accolade in this business.” Other projects Kais have assisted include BHP - RGP4,5,6 for rail expansion throughout the Pilbara region with NRW and MLJV; the Ord River Expansion with Moonamang JV; Mt Gibson with Brierty Ltd; Rio Tinto’s Channar Rehab, with Labour Hire of Indigenous Mobile Plant Operators; Hopedowns Access Roads and Infrastructure for Hopedowns Mine; FMG – Earthworks for the Rail, Port and Christmas Creek access roads and expansions; Rio Tinto - Brockman expansions; Thunderbox; Cape Lambert with Macmahons and Abigroup; Dampier Salt operations; Onslow Salt operations; Roe Hwy Alliance; Newman Hub; Alkimos Water Treatment Plant; and Perth subdivisions. KAIS CONTRACTORS Pty Ltd Unit 1, 42 Victoria Street Midland WA 6056 t. 08 9274 1060 f. 08 9274 3201 e. Sharon@kaiscontractors.com.au www.kaiscontractors.com.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
PINJARRA LIFTS THE WEST ith a tight construction schedule and a need for scrupulous safety, Southern Gateway Alliance relied on Pinjarra Crane and Access Hire to provide them with the lifting power and skilled operators needed to complete the Mandurah Entrance Road project. Pinjarra have been a major supplier of cranes, transport, access equipment and labour for Southern Gateway Alliance since the beginning of the New Perth Bunbury Highway, and continued on as a preferred supplier into this next stage of the upgrade of major transport routes in the South West of Western Australia. Pinjarra’s contribution has included supplying casual cranes on an as required basis, supplying permanent labour and long term cranes for the various bridges constructed during both projects. Equipment ranged from 15t Franna cranes and multiple EWP’s through to 100t All Terrain cranes. Pinjarra’s impeccably maintained fleet includes the Australian designedand built All Terrain Franna AT15,AT20 and MAC 25. Tadano 25 tonne RT, Tadano 55 tonne Truck cranes and Liebherr All Terrain cranes up to 130 tonne capacity. Genie knuckle and straight boom EWP’s up to 135’, Genie electric and diesel rough terrain scissor lifts and Genie Tele handlers from 2.5 tonne – 4.5 tonne capacity, as well as an extensive range of transport options. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
In an industry where safety records speak volumes about a company’s abilities, the proof of Pinjarra’s management expertise and OSH&E performance is evident in the company’s enviable nil Lost Time Injuries record. Not only do Pinjarra provide their clients with the latest equipment and technology, Managing Director Chris Fairman has substantial hands on crane industry experience throughout Perth and the Goldfields region, ensuring an informed, reliable and professional service. Chris is considered to be a Industry Expert in Tilt-Up Construction by Worksafe, holds qualifications in Transport and Distribution (Mobile Cranes) and offers a training package for young workers entering the industry. Chris and his team are constantly sourcing new and improved methods for cranes and access equipment to provide the best possible lifting and access solutions for infrastructure projects, construction, resources industries and all site-specific materials handling needs. PINJARRA CRANE AND ACCESS HIRE PO Box 694 Mandurah WA 6210 t. 08 9531 3855 f. 08 9531 2457 Managing Director: Chris Fairman m. 0407 475 202 e. chris@pinjarracranehire.com.au www.pinjarracranehire.com.au WA PROJECT FEATURE MANDURAH ENTRANCE ROAD 207
LEADING THE WAY WITH TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS
raffic management on a major project like the Mandurah Entrance Road is a demanding and complex business, with lives riding on the solution. Carringtons Traffic Services provided the solutions which ensured vehicles kept moving and safety of workers and drivers was scrupulously protected.
We are working towards a reputation of preferred supplier to the market based on professionalism, cost effectiveness and exceptional traffic management solutions,” said Rainer Offermann, Managing Director of Carringtons Traffic Services.
Utilising data supplied by MRWA (Main Roads WA), road design and construction plans provided by the Southern Gateway Alliance (SGA), and the wealth of experience gained on previous projects, Carringtons Traffic Management Design Team designed Traffic Management Plans which incorporated information on work methods, staging and scope of works from SGA’s site engineers and managers. The TMPs detailed signage location for temporary works, aftercare and how traffic was to be managed past the work site. Safety was managed by using speed restrictions past the work area, installation of delineation devices and where necessary barrier systems. All TMPs were designed in accordance with AS 1742.3 to ensure a safe work place for all SGA staff and sub-contractors.
“We would like to thank the SGA staff, project managers and engineers for the opportunity for us to work on a high profile project, allowing us to show what Carringtons Traffic Services can provide in terms of Site Safety and assisting in managing roadwork sites on long-term projects.”
The major challenge was maintaining vehicle flows on Mandurah Road during the construction of the roundabout at the project’s southern end. With high traffic volumes, keeping delays to a minimum and avoiding congestion where possible was a priority. Carringtons maintained an onsite crew of up to 12 Traffic Controllers for over a year, from initial construction through to the final remediation and defects phase. “We are developing an in house training programme designed to up skill new and existing traffic controllers to standard above client expectations. 208 2 8 WA PROJECT FEATURE MANDURAH ENTRANCE ROAD
Carringtons has an outstanding track record, also recently providing their services to Package E, F & D for the Perth-Mandurah Rail Line, which included the construction of South St / Bullcreek and Canning Hwy Train stations; Geraldton Southern Transport Corridor and the Eyre Highway. In addition to providing total Traffic Management Plans and Traffic Control, they provide signage, crash barrier systems and guard rails. The dedication and experience of Carringtons’ management team ensures that every project they undertake, big or small, long term or short term, is provided with cost-effective measures tailored to the needs of the site.
CARRINGTONS TRAFFIC SERVICES t. 08 9356 7750 f. 08 9356 7751 e. info@carringtonswa.com www.carringtonswa.com AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
Mandurah Entrance Road, WA
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Port Hedland Utah point Everyone wins at utah point
P
ort Hedland’s Utah Point project has delivered a four-fold win – a win for the booming trade in bulk minerals exports, a win for the Port Hedland Port Authority (PHPA), a win for the Port Hedland community and a win for the environment. Prior to this much-needed expansion of Port Hedland’s bulk commodity export infrastructure, the facilities available for the smaller bulk commodity exporters were limited, and all shipping was tidally constrained. Residents of the town itself also had to live with the constant dust and noise of multiple truck movements through the centre of town. A two year approval process preceded construction, with particular attention paid to protecting the marine environment around the site, located on Finucane Island. Due to the level of environmental impact associated with this development, the project was referred to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) under Part IV of the Environmental Protection Act 1986. The EPA set a Public Environmental Review (PER) level of assessment for the project, and Sinclair Knight Merz was commissioned to assist in the preparation and development of the PER. Following a period of community consultation and review of submissions, environmental approvals were issued in March 2009. Design measures for environmental protection include the capture of all water sprayed onto the conveyors for dust suppression in retention 210 WA PROJECT FEATURE port hedland utah point
ponds, and re-using this water for spraying. To prevent dust from iron ore, chromite or manganese entering the Port’s waters, all site storm water systems have been designed to capture water from one in twenty year cyclonic storm events, and a seawall constructed to protect adjoining mangroves and also to protect the facility from storm surges and spring tides. An impervious geotechnical barrier has been installed under the stockyard to prevent groundwater contamination. Five companies carried out the different aspects to the project, commencing in March 2009. Brierty constructed the 11km long access road which skirts the town of Port Hedland to reach Point Utah. Ertech completed the civil works, including the bulk earthworks and the concrete foundations for the facility. Marine and Civil constructed the wharf itself, including the pilings, deck, abutments and approaches. The main works of the steelwork, mechanical elements, electrical fitout and ship loader were undertaken in a joint venture by Goodline and EC&M. Because of the unique design requirements of the shiploader, it was designed in Australia by Delta Engineering, erected in Henderson WA at the AMC facility and then transported by sea as an entire unit to Port Hedland for installation. PINC Group supplied the overall project management, supervising and coordinating engineering and construction tasks. The first AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
CLIENT : Port Hedland Port Authority Project Manager : Pinc Group Design : VDM Consulting Project Value : $305 Million First Export : September 2010 Construction Contractors : Brierty, Ertech, Goodline EC&M JV, Marine & Civil
export shipment was loaded at Point Utah in September 2010, with all final works complete by late October. Before the construction of Utah Point, Port Hedland could handle 5 million tonnes per year of bulk commodities, with the new Point Utah berth operational, this has increased capacity to 17.1 million tonnes of bulk minerals a year – representing a huge boost to exports. When the facility is operating at full capacity, it will have a quad truck (semi and four trailers) of iron ore, manganese or chromite unloading every six minutes into the thirteen individual stockpiles of the stock yard. “One of the major benefits for the community was getting the mineral away from the town. This reduces the dust generated in town and removes the truck traffic from the town,” explained PHPA Port Development Manager, Warren Farrow. “The other major benefit for the tidally constrained port is use of smaller 120,000 DWT is complementary to the larger bulk iron ore carriers. These vessels do not need the higher tides to depart more tonnes can be exported through the Port’s channel.” The Port Hedland Port Authority is a statutory authority owned by the Western Australian Government, with a charter to operate along commercial lines. The PHPA’s primary purpose is to facilitate trade through the port. The $300 million Utah Point project, which expands their service capacity, was proponent funded by a multitude of Port users. Port Hedland is Australia’s largest tonneage individual port, and was the first port in the country to exceed 100 million tonnes throughput, with a record breaking 110.6 million tonnes of Pilbara region minerals throughput in 2005-2006 financial year. From the Port’s earliest beginnings as a single jetty built in 1896 to service the pastoral industry, the growth of Port Hedland’s maritime facilities has been an essential part of the region’s economic development. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
PORT HEDLAND PORT AUTHORITY PO Box 2 Port Hedland WA 6721 t. 08 9173 0000 f. 08 9173 0060 e. phpa@phpa.com.au www. phpa.com.au WA PROJECT FEATURE port hedland utah point 211
australia's busiest port needs the best in consultation
I
n terms of total bulk tonnage, Port Hedland is the busiest port in Australia. Almost all of its trade is in crushed ore and minerals such as copper, magnetite, manganese and chromite.
Unlike most recently commissioned ship load-out facilities which are imported, the Utah version was contracted to a collective of local companies so it could be commissioned, fabricated and erected in Western Australia.
A larger and faster bulk ship loading facility was required including a wharf, a stockyard and operational facilities including general infrastructure and access roads.
The overall facility is capable of processing a range of minerals from iron ore and heavy metals to particle sludge to gravel.
VDM Consulting won the contract and proposed a single-berth wharf designed to accept Panamax and Small Cape Vessels up to 120,000 tonnes. State-of-the-art mooring systems were incorporated to ensure ships can be docked and released within minutes. The berth’s design was the first of its kind in Australia and significant innovation was required to overcome technical constraints.
VDM was also responsible for designing office accommodation, mobile and fixed plant workshop, a fuel depot, emergency services centre and other general facilities such as a canteen, kitchen and ablution facilities.
The 210,000m2 stockyard has been built over an area which was largely mangrove forest. VDM’s solution was to ‘float’ high-tensile plastic mesh over marine mud that was up to 2.5 metres deep. The stockyard was designed for multiple users so there are 13 individual stockpile areas. To eliminate the risk of contaminated water run-off, VDM developed a system which retains all rainwater within the stockyard so it can be recycled or filtered and released.
The load-out facility
The load-out facility has a capacity of 7,500 tonnes per hour and can operate day and night with an in-feed rate of 18 million tonnes per annum. 212 WA PROJECT FEATURE port hedland utah point
Operational facilities and infrastructure design
The new bulk loading facility also required a seven kilometre access road, an additional two kilometre perimeter road around the stockyard and an access road from the stockyard to the wharf. The Utah Point Bulk Loading Facility was completed ahead of schedule and declared open in October 2010. The first trial shipment was made on 17 September, 2010 as part of the commissioning process. VDM Consulting PO Box 1852 Osborne Park DC WA 6916 310 Selby Street North Osborne Park WA 6017 t. 08 9241 1800 f. 08 9241 1999 www.vdmgroup.com.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
QUALITY SPECIALIST STEEL FOR DEMANDING CONDITIONS
W
hen deadlines are tight and quality counts, R&R Engineering can meet the needs of a major project like the Port Headland Utah Point development for fabricated steel handrails, walkways, stanchions and stair treads. R&R supplied Marine and Civil, Delta, Yarnell Contracting and RCR Bunbury with steel products over many months, programming their efforts to mesh with complex works schedules and ensuring all orders were ready in Perth when required for transport to the remote site. For Marine and Civil, R&R supplied 400 lineal metres of handrail for the berth, which involved the process of fabrication, galvanising and painting. For Delta, R&R fabricated grating for machinery and equipment in accordance with Delta’s project schedule. Yarnell Contracting was supplied with 220 galvanised stanchions. These loose handrail components are a speciality of R&R, and the company has undertaken a complete Finite Element analysis on all stanchions to verify their strength characteristics and compliance with the relevant standards. RCR Bunbury ordered a total of 1280 lineal metres of handrail, 725m2 of grating and 220 stair treads over a four month period, with R&R’s supply coordinating with the works schedule of the client. At any given time during this multi-client project, a dedicated team of R&R’s experienced staff worked on fabrication and quality assurance, ensuring all handrail and grating met AS 1554.1 and AS 1657-1992. Producing such large volumes of steel products quickly is made possible by R&R’s investment in robotic welding. The robotic welding gives R&R an edge in producing work of consistent quality and accuracy, with reduced OH&S risks. R&R’s team is highly experienced, and have over the decade of company operation developed processes and systems which allow them to deliver both standard and custom designed products efficiently. The company’s drafting team have many years of experience in producing extremely accurate detailed shop drawings for fabrication and site installation. This allows R&R to deliver exactly what clients specify, no matter how challenging. For example, the handrail supplied to Marine and Civil for Utah Point had to be fabricated to a tight tolerance as installation had to match pre-installed fixing points in the pre-cast panels for the berth. R&R’s superior fabrication skills have gained them a client list including Monadelphous, AGC Industries, Pacific Industrial Company and many others who service mining companies such as Argyle Diamond Mine, BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, ThiessKrupp and Pluto LNG. They have the capacity and flexibility to provide an efficient, competitive and qualityfocused service for projects of any size, from major infrastructure projects to small factory fit-outs. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
R&R Engineering (WA) Pty Ltd 1021 Abernethy Road Forrestfield WA 6058 t. 08 9454 6522 f. 08 9454 6922 www.randrengineering.com.au WA PROJECT FEATURE port hedland utah point 213
AT WORK HEDLAND DORIC IN YAMATJI MARLPA COUNTRY HEALTH CAMPUS (HHC) MAIN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY : DORIC Contractors DEVELOPER / CLIENT : W.A Health PROJECT VALUE TO DATE : $118 Million COMPLETION : October 2010 ARCHITECTS : BG Architects and Woodhead International
uilt to withstand cyclones and express the spirit of a place where estuary meets the desert, the new Hedland Health Campus constructed by DORIC and designed by BG Architects and Woodhead International combines simplicity of design and materials with sophisticated approaches to combining human needs and medical technology. Replacing Port Hedland’s thirty year old temporary facility, the $118 million (construction cost) HHC will be the central point for health services for the Pilbara Gascoigne region. DORIC were contracted to construct a range of inpatient and outpatient facilities including an operating suite containing two operating theatres; dedicated ward areas for medical/surgical, obstetrics and paediatrics as well as a high dependency unit; ambulatory care wing including renal dialysis and consultation facilities for primary health and mental health services; an emergency department medical imaging and pathology; and support services buildings. Cyclones are frequent, so the buildings structural frame was infilled using welded frames, externally sheeted with corrugated sheets in lower areas (up to 4.2 metres) and cfc sheeting above. Behind the cfc sheeting a 0.55 mm sheet metal provides impact protection. All glazing on the hospital is cyclone rated glass and frames, and all buildings are firmly anchored to concrete footings. 214 WA PROJECT FEATURE HEDLAND HEALTH CAMPUS
Temperatures soar in this area; to reduce heat impact an interstitial ceiling is built into the hospital at a level of 4.2 metres. This consists of foil faced R 1.5 insulation to create a heat buffer in the higher roof. Indigenous apprentices were employed on the project through SMYL Community Services and Fairbridge. Architect Norm Bateman of BG Architects reflected the Traditional Owners, customary movement through the landscape, the country itself and the forms of the estuary in the design. “The complex health and service planning is enclosed in a collection of simple single storey steel frame sheds placed on a low podium. These pavilions are linked by a central public space, which extends from the glazed entry right through the complex where it reconnects occupants with the open landscape beyond. Between the buildings are a series of generous publicly accessible courtyards, which are to be intensely landscaped to provide cool green relief,” explained Norm. “The functional elements are captured by a large rusted steel pergola, which wraps around the buildings and completely covering the courtyards between. This large structure serves to shade the windows from direct sun, and facilitate the creation of a refreshing microclimate in the courtyards. AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
The pergola also provides a large canvas for the public art component of the project. The proposal is to use the arrangement of the louvre blades to depict the selected art work which it is hoped will be the result of collaboration with the Traditional Owners of the area.” For DORIC Project Manager Jens Wurster, one of the most satisfying aspects to the project has been the construction of a significant and lasting community asset, in a timely manner, within budget and with over 485,000 man hours worked without any LTI. “This project required coordinating the complex array of services in the hospital, ordering medical equipment in a timely manner and planning the transition of existing hospital equipment from the old facility,” he said. “Decent sized projects in remote areas like the Pilbara are always challenging as the work force cannot be adjusted easily without huge mobilization costs.” DORIC CONTRACTORS Pty Ltd L1, 420 Hay Street Subiaco WA 6904 t. 08 9388 2655 www.doricgroup.com.au WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
WA PROJECT FEATURE HEDLAND HEALTH CAMPUS 215
WALL AND CEILING CONTRACTOR IN REGIONAL WESTERN AUSTRALIA orking on some of Australia’s most remote construction sites, Statewide Ceilings (SWC) is capable of delivering the manpower and materials which make a project successful. For the Hedland Resource Centre, they undertook the completion of a wide variety of tasks including the Gyprock installation, internal Rondo stud frame walls, all ceilings, outside canopies, external eaves linings and external walls cladding. SWC operate under a subcontract model; for the HRC project, supervised and coordinated by SWC Project Manager Ron Burgess and Project Co-ordinator Johnno Van Der Velden. SWC had to manage challenges including getting enormous amounts of materials to the site and achieving cohesion among its subcontractors & other trades. “The job has come out at a top standard; the finish has been complimented by both the Architect and the Hospital. A lot of effort has gone in,” said Ron Burgess. “There have been no LTIs; we are very strong on safety. All our workers have to abide by the same safety regulations used by Doric Construction.” 216 WA PROJECT FEATURE HEDLAND HEALTH CAMPUS
“Our reward for doing this project, like all others, is that the builder is happy in what we do and they are prepared to give us the next job. The rewards are in having an exceptional workforce that is prepared to work anywhere we go and produce a quality product. Statewide is very proud of our Subcontractors,” said Statewide Ceilings Manager, Hermann Haltiner. The HRC is the biggest project SWC have undertaken to date. Other major projects include 22 BER schools in the Pilbara region; New Derby Regional Prison; Pluto LNG Gas Plant in Karratha; Kununurra Hospital; the Hospital at Fitzroy Crossing; School in Fitzroy Crossing; Karratha’s Police Complex and numerous other far flung regional and remote constructions. STATEWIDE CEILINGS P/L ABN 68 116 582 177 P.O. BOX 2713 Broome WA 6725 t. 08 9193 6645 f. 08 9193 5725 m. 0427 277 554 e. haltiner@iinet.net.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
Hedland Health Campus mid way through construction, Port Hedland WA
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WA PROJECT FEATURE HEDLAND HEALTH CAMPUS 217
rosebery schools building for achievement
B
ack to school 2011 students and teachers in the Palmerston suburb of Rosebery, Northern Territory recently witnessed the opening of the new, state-of-the-art Rosebery Schools. The project involved the construction of a pre-school, primary school, middle school, and associated works. The co-location of the primary and middle school enables shared sports and performing arts facilities, including an oval and a gymnasium (which will also be a community cyclone shelter). There is also provision on the site for a future childcare centre with up to 50 places. Funding for the project included a $3M contribution from the Australian Government. In August 2008, the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport announced the award of a $3.2M contract to BMD Constructions to complete headworks (installation of sewerage, water, power and roadworks) for the site. This included the construction of a service road, which ran from Belyuen Road through to Forrest Parade. The work involved heavy vehicles moving in and out of the site on a regular basis. The tender for construction of the schools was announced in early March 2009 and construction of the schools commenced in April/May 2009. Darwin-based company, the Halikos Group won the $59 million tender from the Northern Territory Department of Construction and Infrastructure to build the 16 building Rosebery Schools Campus to accommodate up to 1600 students. “This was a great local project that provided 150 jobs at the height of construction, created an extra 1450 educational places for our children and supported growth in Palmerston,” said Chief Minister and Education Minister Paul Henderson. “Halikos is an award-winning company with a reputation for building interesting and innovative designs and delivering major projects on time.” Contract methodology for the project was Design and Construct, which requires the Contractor to undertake the final development of the design, document, and construction of these facilities. Two principals have been appointed for primary and middle schools - Adam Voigt - formerly of Darwin's Ludmilla Primary - and Lorraine Evans - formerly of Darwin's Nightcliff Middle School. The new principals said they could not wait to get their “state-ofthe-art” schools up and running for Term 1 this year. “It's the first purpose-built middle school in Palmerston,” Ms Evans said. Mr Voigt said the flexible spaces in both primary and middle would aid those students who did not learn well in traditional “square classroom” settings. 218 NT PROJECT FEATURE Rosebery Schools
DEveloper : NT Department of Construction & Infrastructure Project end Value : $59 Million Completion : December 2010 Architects : - Jackman Gooden Architects - Build Up Design Civil Engineer : - Byrne Design & Drafting - Irwin Consult Structural Engineer : - Wallbridge & Gilbert Consulting Engineers - Irwin Consult
Ms Evans said her school would be fitted out with the latest technology - including smart boards, laptops and wi-fi Internet access. “I want kids learning and using the technology, whether they're sitting in the classroom, or outside measuring the growth of their produce,” she said. In the middle school, sports flooring to the gymnasium was completed, planting of the lawn to the sports oval has been carried out, guard/ hand rails were fitted to ramps/retaining wall, bike racks have been fitted to bike shed enclosures, and new asphalt has been laid to the spine road and line marking completed. Construction features of the primary school include: carpet and vinyl laying to rooms, extra control measures to minimise erosion to drains due to heavy rains, ceiling tiles completed with wall coverings being fitted to rooms, irrigation installation to sports fields and completion of a caretaker’s slab. NT Minister for Education and Training Chris Burns said the schools will meet the demand of the rapidly growing Palmerston East population. “Education is a priority of the Henderson Government in our 2030 Strategy, and our Smart Territory Strategy is delivering quality teachers, programs and infrastructure to deliver better learning outcomes for our students,” he said. “There will half a billion of NT and Commonwealth dollars invested in schools infrastructure across the Territory. We have more teachers working in the Territory than ever before and our Smart Territory strategy is delivering targeted quality learning programs to help our students achieve in school.” Department of Construction & Infrastructure PO Box 61 Palmerston NT 0831 t. 08 8999 5511 www.nt.gov.au/infrastructure WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
NT PROJECT FEATURE Rosebery Schools 219
learned surveying E
ngineering Surveyors Fyfe JMA rose to the challenge of setting out buildings on the Rosebery Schools site without the advantage of using traditional methods such as grids or profiles. As part of the Fyfe group, Fyfe JMA provides a wide range of survey services to the Northern Territory. In 2008, JMA was acquired by Fyfe Pty Ltd, a land and resource development consultancy specialising in providing surveying, engineering and town planning services to South Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory. Operating offices in Darwin and Alice Springs, Fyfe JMA has more than 40 years experience and complements Fyfe’s own experience in the survey industry. For the Rosebery Schools project Fyfe JMA provided the setout of 16 buildings on site plus a range of associated services. The project proved unusual in that the Fyfe JMA team set out the buildings without the use of grids or profiles. “When we were contracted by Halikos in 2009 the design and construct was already underway,” says Fyfe JMA’s Darwin Field Manager, Adrian Gallagher who worked on the project together with Peter Davies, Cain Kalsbeek and Barry Matthews. “We had rough areas where the buildings would go so we’d work out what was needed then pass it back to design and services. We had one survey party on site for around 18 months.” Adrian says there were new types of products and equipment used on site including Trimble S6 robotic theodolites and R8GPS. There were some challenges too. “Like most design and construct projects the timeline between plans and setout was very tight,” he says. 220 NT PROJECT FEATURE Rosebery Schools
“The scale of the project was also fairly large, requiring us to place 240 ramsets on every block wall corner. “Fortunately, we were able to achieve successful outcomes and even finished three months ahead of time because we weren’t waiting on plans,” Adrian explains. Currently, Fyfe JMA has 22 staff with work ranging from the $80 million Tiger Brennan Drive project at Palmerston to new housing, retail and industrial developments from Alice Springs to Darwin. The calibre of Fyfe JMA’s work on the Rosebery Schools project has raised the company’s profile – already setting industry benchmarks even higher. “We have also led the way in re-instating the practice of extending surveys back on site,” Adrian says. FYFE JMA Pty Ltd Licensed Engineering Surveyors 2/141 Mitchell Street Larrakeyah NT 0820 t. 08 89447888 f. 08 8944 7820 e. fyfent@fyfe.com.au www.fyfe.com.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
LAYING THE GROUND
S
pecialists in roadworks, subdivision, drainage, car parks, concrete and plant hire, Allan King & Sons Constructions Pty Ltd played a pivotal role in preparing infrastructure at the Rosebery Schools project. As contractors to Halikos Pty Ltd, Allan King & Sons Constructions Pty Ltd were engaged on the Rosebery Schools project to carry out all civil works associated with the construction of building pads, internal roads and car parks. This project also involved a significant amount of vegetation clearing, stockpiling and screening of topsoil material. The total value of works for the project was $2.9M. A privately owned local civil construction company in operation in the Northern Territory for over 15 years, Allan King & Sons was originally founded in Katherine by Directors Allan and Sandra King. The company has since expanded its operations to include Jabiru and Darwin. During this time, the company has worked in conjunction with major companies and organisations such as the Department of Transport and Works (now known as DPI), the Department of Defence, Xstrata Mining, Rio Tinto and Energy Resources of Australia.
Recent projects have included the Victoria Highway Floodplain Immunity Project, Edith River Bridge Duplication, Darwin Middle School, Kalumburu Airfields and Internal Roads and Palmerston Super Clinic. For the Rosebery Schools Project, the company started in April 2009, finalising works in October 2010. “Fortunately, it was relatively smooth sailing with no particular challenges,” says Project Manager Michael Ioannou who led an expert team, which varied in number depending on the task in hand. “The only time we encountered a few problems was with groundwater. We resolved this by undertaking major excavations and filling with suitable material.” ALLAN KING & SONS CONSTRUCTIONS PTY LTD PO Box 459 PO Box 568 Berrimah NT 0828 Katheraine NT 0851 t. 08 8947 2087 t. 08 8971 0070 f. 08 8947 2097 f. 08 8971 2299 e. allanconstructions@bigpond.com e. allankingsons@bigpond.com
The company prides itself on the specialist skills its employees offer, which include: project management services; civil engineering services; final trim grader operators; skilled plant operators; diesel mechanics, fitters and boiler makers; certified plumbers; concreters and; various trade apprentices. Due to the robust nature of works it undertakes, the company ensures all plant and equipment is maintained and serviced regularly by its own fully qualified diesel mechanics and apprentices.
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NT PROJECT FEATURE Rosebery Schools 221
WELDING SINCE '77
F
abricated metal manufacturers M&J Welding drew on their years of experience to install all structural steel components at the Rosebery Schools project. Dipcla Pty Limited – trading as M&J Welding Pty Ltd - is a private company categorised under steel-structural manufacturers and located in Berrimah, NT, Australia. The company offers a range of prefabricated structures, including those of American origin. Together with his wife Janice, Mick Dunne has been a Director of M&J Welding for the past 30 years, heading up a team that varies in number from 11 to 20. “I started the company in 1977,” Mick says. “Originally, I did an apprenticeship as a boilermaker and welder and came up here from NSW to live and work when I was 20 years old. For the Rosebery Schools project, Mick’s wealth of experience and know-how has paid off. “Fortunately, we’ve got a good team together here but generally, there is a lack of good tradespeople in the industry - you just can’t get enough of them right now,” he says. “We were contracted by Halikos to put in all the structural steel for the Rosebery Schools project. Basically, the process involves buying in raw steel, cutting it and assembling it into what looks like a giant Meccano set before taking it to the site ready to be installed.” “Apart from having to schedule work around the Wet season, fortunately there were no major challenge for us and things ran pretty smoothly,” he says. “The work was done concurrently with other projects we were working on over a period of roughly nine months.” Other projects M&J Welding Pty Ltd has worked on include the Darwin Convention Centre. “For that project we used around 1,000 tonnes of steel,” Mick says. “We were also contracted by John Holland to put in the steel fabrication for Charles Darwin University Medical Centre.” More recently, M&J Welding are finalising work on 15 NT schools as part of the Building the Education Revolution (BER) program - the single largest element of the Australian Government's $42 billion Nation Building program. Dipcla Pty Ltd t/a M&J Welding & Engineering Lot 1708 McKinnon Road Berrimah NT 0828 t. 08 8932 2641 f. 08 8932 3829 e. mjwelding@bigpond.com 222 NT PROJECT FEATURE Rosebery Schools
NT PROJECT FEATURE Rosebery Schools 222
State of the art B.M.S.
“The Rosebery Schools project has the most advanced, integrated building services and energy saving features found in any school throughout Australia.”
Chilled Water Cooling
Variable Air Volume Control Local Room Controls
Door Access Control with Contactless Card Reader & Magnetic Door Locks
Common School Calendar Remote Monitoring & Maintenance
T
he Roseberry Schools Complex in Darwin now has the most advanced, integrated building services and energy saving features to be found in Australia. ISAS undertook the successful design and installation of the Integrated Building Management System. ISAS Technical Manager, Tony Pearce says “It’s advanced, building upon decades of experience ISAS has in the BMS field. We have been given the opportunity to get it all working together, it just works as one. We have brought BMS control of schools to a new level.” The system integrates four pillars of Building management (Access, Lighting, Security and HVAC) into one cohesive whole. The integration of the multiple systems has made the system “better, stronger, faster”. We can control in ways that would normally be impossible or very expensive. Using a common platform with a common communication protocol makes it possible.
System features: 1) Common calendar for whole of school. 2) Intruder detection integrates with lighting control. 3) Building arming integrates with HVAC and lighting control. 4) HVAC occupancy control integrates with lighting and access control. 5) Access control integration with school timetable.
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System statistics include: 1) 230 VAV controllers 2) 87 Distributed BMS Controllers 3) 4 Chillers 4) 38 Air Handlers & VSD's 5) 45 Access Controlled Doors 6) 574 Lighting circuits 7) 176 Monitored Doors 8) 192 Motion sensors 9) 1 Integrated system
If a classroom is unoccupied the HVAC system will automatically control the room using minimal energy. Once occupied, the room is conditioned to achieve a comfortable learning temperature. During classroom breaks, doors are automatically secured, nonessential lighting turned off and HVAC turned down to a minimum. Local control allows the automatic to be over-ridden at the touch of a button. Turning on the alarm system for one of the schools buildings turns off the lighting and HVAC for that building. Should an intruder be detected in the building, lights are automatically turned on, leaving no place to hide. Every room, every access door and every light can be configured. ISAS Field service technicians receive automatic email/SMS indications warning of failures. The Service Technician can connect to the system from wherever they are, using Wireless or fast ADSL, to rapidly resolve the issue.
Integrated Switchgear and Systems P.O.Box 36878 Winnellie NT 0821 t. 08 89472313 f. 08 89470149 e. isas@isas.com.au www.isas.com.au
NT PROJECT FEATURE Rosebery Schools 223
Cheops Solutions for
Construction & Engineering
forecasting//job costing// contract administration// financial accounting// payroll//Security payments// sub-contractor management// variation management// earned value//progress claims
www. info@
.biz // 1800 817 578 // .biz
COOL RUNNING
D
espite the fact that the Rosebery Schools project was Mobile Electrics (NT) Pty Ltd’s largest single mechanical services project ever undertaken, the company delivered successful outcomes on time and on budget. Mobile Electrics is well recognised in the Northern Territory as a company that offers robust capabilities in providing mechanical and electrical services to many large building companies, developers and Government departments throughout the Northern Territory and Kimberley regions in Western Australia. Thanks to its wealth of experience, the company was able to rise to the challenges of one of its biggest projects to date - designing and constructing a total mechanical services package at the Rosebery Schools’ site. “Rosebery Schools is the largest single, mechanical services project ever undertaken by Mobile Electrics,” says Project Manager Doug Pickering. “The project involved work on 39 chilled water air handling units located in 19 plant rooms; over 10,000m2 of ductwork; nearly 3500 l/m of chilled water pipework and over 3000kw of total cooling capacity delivery by oil-free, direct drive centrifugal air cooled chillers; 230 VAV boxes; hundreds of supply and exhaust grilles and; over 50 split systems. All was delivered on time and on budget.” The project also called for the use of Polyethylene (P.E.) pipework, which was used almost exclusively for the chilled water system. Both electro fusion and butt-welding techniques were used while the chilled water headers are manufactured locally using Polyethylene. New technology included Powerpax” chillers utilising magnetic bearing WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
technology in the form of Danfoss Turbocor oil-free direct drive centrifugal chillers One of the biggest challenges on this project was that because of the large area of the site, it was difficult getting chilled water to the 19 plant rooms with only two centrally located chiller plant enclosures. An early attempt at solving this was to have the chilled water pipework reticulated within covered walkways and building envelopes, however, this posed potential risks during the construction program, as most of the covered walkways were some of the last items to be constructed on site. A final resolution to the problem came with the underground installation of all the inter-plant room reticulated pipework using P.E. for the service pipe as well as for the protective outer jacket. Currently, Mobile Electrics is involved in a major upgrade of mechanical services for Big W and Kmart at Casuarina Shopping Square, a GPT owned property. “We are also working on the BER 15 school project as part of the Federal Government’s stimulus package,” Doug explains. “Both of these projects’ total value is around 9 million dollars.” MOBILE ELECTRICS (NT) PTY LTD PO Box 1913 Darwin NT 0801 27 Berrimah Road Berrimah NT 0828 t. 08 8923 4888 f. 08 8923 4800 NT PROJECT FEATURE Rosebery Schools 225
AMBASSADOR APARTMENTS MAIN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY : Space Developments ACT DEVELOPER : CIC Australia PROJECT END VALUE : $55 Million HEIGHT : 4 buildings 5-7 storeys COMPLETION : February 2011 ARCHITECTS : Colin Stewart Architects CONSULTING ENGINEER : AWT Consulting Engineers SURVEYOR : Kleven Spain
SPACE DEVELOPMENTS ACT PO BOX 837 Queanbeyan NSW 2620 t. 02 6262 7451 f. 02 6262 7456 e. office@spacedevelopments.net.au www.spacedevelopments.net.au
LUXURY LIFESTYLE JUST A SHORT JOG FROM THE LODGE ituated in the heart of Canberra’s diplomatic zone, the new Ambassador Apartments project embodies an appreciation of the finer things in life. This is the first prestige medium density residential development in the Deakin and Yarralumla area, and developers CIC Australia and builder Space Developments ACT have gone to great lengths to ensure this project is a special place. Designed by Colin Stewart and Associates, Ambassador consists of 114 apartments ranging from one bedroom to three bedroom, including 12 penthouses, across four separate buildings ranging in height from 5 to 7 levels. There is also a single level building which comprises the resident and guest entry, mail area and conference facilities plus communal lounge, kitchen and dining facilities. All five buildings are situated over a common podium level with a single level 178 bay basement carpark beneath, and are surrounded by extensive landscaping which includes commissioned artworks. One of the rationales for constructing the buildings as separate structures was to maximise the amount of north easterly exposure and therefore winter sunlight for each apartment. The space between the buildings also gives greater privacy for owner/occupiers, and allows for each apartment to have generous outdoor living balconies overlooking the site’s new landscaping. The site was formerly occupied by the Embassy Hotel, and works commenced with the demolition of this aging structure. Demolition was complicated by the amount of friable and bonded asbestos contained in numerous parts of the hotel building. A regime of testing and 226 ACT PROJECT FEATURE AMBASSADOR APARTMENTS
monitoring was implemented, with specialist contractors used for the safe removal of the contaminants. Bulk excavation works also revealed contamination issues. During the removal of approximately 45,000m3 of soil, it became evident soil in the south eastern corner had become contaminated with fuel from an external source. A specialist consultant carried out inspections and a management plan was put in place, which involved modifications to the perimeter basement wall of the immediate area, and the installation of a puraceptor pit to manage contaminated groundwater in the long term. A key element of the building’s structure was the use of flat plate post-tensioned floor slabs. From level 1 upwards the slab was designed as a flat plate as a way of mitigating additional formwork costs and allowed an efficient method of construction from a programming perspective. The podium slab (ground floor) structure is column bearing, with generally one way banded post tensioned slab to transfer building loads above to pad footings at basement level. Two wall forms support the structure. An AFS wall system was used for all core walls including fire stairs, lift shafts, waste rooms and bounding apartment walls. A large part of the building façade was constructed with pre-finished precast concrete panels. These wall and balustrade panels play an integral part in not only providing the building fabric but also supporting the building structure. The 680 custom-made precast panels, ranging in finish from off form off white, acid etched charcoal and polished panels were fabricated in AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
South Australia by Bianco Precast, requiring a highly detailed program to coordinate the arrival of the panels at the appropriate point in the works program. With each level involving approximately 30 panels, and five buildings being constructed simultaneously, close liaison with the manufacturer was needed to manage timely deliveries of the exact panels required at any given point in the tightly scheduled program. The weight and dimensions of the panels, along with the need to maintain the desired finish without damage, meant one semi trailer per five panels travelling from South Australia, and around six semis making their deliveries for every level â&#x20AC;&#x201C; itself an unusual coordination challenge. The average panel weight was 7 tonne with the heaviest being 10 tonne with a tower crane used to lift them into position. The fitout of the Ambassador reflected the high-end nature of the project, with details such as shadow lines for doorways, full height tiling in bathrooms and extensive use of glazing in living spaces to maximize natural light. CIC Australia commissioned a number of local artists to produce works for the building, including sculptures by nationally renowned artists, G.W Bot and Jan Brown. Large canvases by Jenny Topfer adorn the dining and lounge walls. Common areas have a spacious and welcoming design, with abundant natural light and ventilation, and wide corridors to every lift foyer. The lifts themselves are of generous proportion, interior finishes including timber panelling and polished stainless steel. In terms of energy efficiency The Ambassador excels. In addition to the use of performance glazing, thermally efficient design and effective use of WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
natural ventilation, The Ambassador includes a gas fired central hot water system on continuous loop to all apartments. Each apartment also has efficient fully ducted reverse cycle inverter air conditioning. The extensive central landscaped courtyard is irrigated from the onsite stormwater detention system, future proofing the landscape during times of drought. Once fully mature, the landscape design will reflect the leafy surrounds of the established gardens and streetscapes of the neighbourhood. The landscape form around the buildings was based on the construction of approximately 1.1km of low and high level garden bed walls that provide separation between common areas and courtyards to ground floor apartments. Soft landscaping complements the remainder of the landscape areas with access to all buildings via a network of Indian Bluestone paths. Civil works accompanied the project, with verge works consisting of the re-alignment of Hopetoun Circuit including 6 new on street car bays, a dedicated bus lane and re-configuration of an existing bus shelter on the corner of Hopetoun Circuit and the Adelaide Avenue on ramp. Grose street was also re-aligned to include 7 on street carparks, a waste vehicle entrance driveway and the main entry exit point to the development. Overall, Space Developments ACT and CIC Australia have provided homes which offer a very special lifestyle, with gorgeous vistas of Black Mountain nature reserve to the north and the blue undulations of the Brindabellas in the west, while also being central to all of Canberraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s key commercial, public service and political activities. ACT PROJECT FEATURE AMBASSADOR APARTMENTS 227
OVERSEEING EVERY CRUCIAL DETAIL fter more than 60 years of providing crucial detailed cost and procurement data to the Australian construction industry, WT Partnership is leading the field in cost management consulting. Their expertise was invaluable for the Ambassador Apartments, providing the information flow and strategies which ensured completion to specifications and budget in a timely manner. WTP engages with clients in a co-operative manner throughout all the phases of a development, from initial feasibility and planning, through to handover reporting. Excellence in quantity surveying, combined with a thorough understanding of subcontractor and supplier networks enables WTP to formulate procurement strategies which achieve the most cost-effective outcomes. With offices throughout Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Europe, WTP draws on a wealth of international expertise when focusing on specific projects. Their services include: full bills of quantities, specifications and
drawings work package production; tender documentation; cost advice on mechanical, electrical and specialist services; analysis of sustainability costs; expenditure forecasting and risk analysis; tender evaluations and negotiations; contract administration, progress and claims evaluations; and value management. Previous Canberra projects include major commercial developments, the new Australian Federal Police Headquarters, medical research facilities, refurbishments of the Australian War Memorial Administrative wing and the refurbishment of the Australian Institute of Sport. WT PARTNERSHIP Unit 4 17 Napier Close Deakin Canberra ACT 2600 t. 02 6282 3733 f. 02 6282 3470 e. canberra@wtpartnership.com.au www.wtpartnership.com
FINE FENCING SOLUTIONS or the best men and materials for fencing, projects in the ACT, Goulburn, Snowy Mountains and Gundagai region can rely on the trade skills of Capital Territory Fencing (CTF). Formerly the franchise holders for TFH temporary fencing, CTF are proud they could assist the Ambassador Apartments project. Under the TFH banner, CTF provided temporary fencing for the project throughout construction, with a team of six fencers, bobcat operator and truck driver attending the site whenever the safety barrier required shifting. Years of providing fencing for events such as concerts as well as built assets have developed a company culture of fast response to client needs. 228 ACT PROJECT FEATURE AMBASSADOR APARTMENTS
CTF are experts in all styles of fencing and gates, and have a decade of experience behind them. Their approach is to consult with clients and deliver the solution in a timely and cost-effective way. With access to top notch materials and suppliers, and a skilled workforce committed to quality and safety, CTF can meet the needs of projects across the construction sector.
CAPITAL TERRITORY FENCING PTY LTD t. Tony Evans (mobile) 0409 900 794 e. capfence@bigpond.com AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
I.C FORMWORK
.C Formwork 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 number of prolific projects, in both Canberra and NSW. As part of the Ambassador re-development I.C Formwork has been responsible for the construction of formwork for the multistoreyed buildings. Throughout these construction phases I.C Formwork has provided the highest quality formwork materials, such as falsework and formwork. I.C Formwork's Director, Steve Peter, said that with any building site the Ambassador project had it's fair share of ups and downs. “In the building industry every day can be a challenge. On this particular site we've definitely had to work around difficult time and design restraints,” Mr. Peter said. “However as a result of I.C Formwork's experienced team we've been able to over come these particular obstacles and complete our responsibilities on time.” In addition, Mr. Peter said working on this re-development has been both a honorable and pleasurable experience. “I.C Formwork has really enjoyed working with the building team on this project as a result have fostered a fantastic and beneficial working relationship with all those involved,” he said. Given their ability to provide high quality products, as well as reliable and affordable services, it is without a doubt that I.C Formwork should be the pick of the bunch when choosing your next formwork specialist. I.C FORMWORK SERVICES Pty Ltd 5 Daly Street Queanbeyan NSW 2620 t. 02 6297 7137 e. steve@icformwork.com.au www.icformwork.com.au ACT PROJECT FEATURE AMBASSADOR APARTMENTS 229
Gungahlin College T
he ACT Department of Education and Training is a leader when it comes to building cutting-edge and environmentally sustainable schools and Gungahlin College is no exception.
The design of the new college reflects the latest research on how students learn and incorporates the advice of internationally renowned education consultant, Dr Kenn Fisher.
When the $72.7 million college in Canberra’s north opened its doors in February 2011 it set the benchmark for college education in the ACT and senior secondary education in Australia. It will accommodate up to 900 year 11 and 12 students.
As project manager for the college PBS Property Group had to contend with an unusually high number of wet weather days. Work for PBS Property Group started in September 2009 and it still achieved completion in February 2011.
The college, jointly designed by Munns Sly Moore Architects (Canberra) and Williams Boag Architects (Melbourne) and built by PBS Building (ACT) Pty Ltd, features flexible learning hubs, a media centre with television and photography studios, a performing arts theatre comprising dance and drama studios, leading music and arts facilities, a mechatronics suite, computer networking laboratory, a full commercial kitchen, and wireless technology. It will also include a learning centre operated by vocational education and training provider, the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT), and a joint college-community use library and a gymnasium.
“Construction activities had been progressively ramped up to a point where the site operated seven days a week,” said Ross Phillips, Project Manager for PBS Property Group.
The college will provide a comprehensive range of courses, including programs for students who wish to combine vocational education and training with their secondary college activities.
Gungahlin College facilities will encourage best practice approaches to teaching and learning and have the flexibility to ensure the school can adapt to new approaches and technologies in the future. Gungahlin
230 ACT PROJECT FEATURE GUNGAHLIN College
“Resource levels typically range between 280-310 each day often peaking at 320 plus. “A major focus of the project team over the final months was to assist in finalising submissions to the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) in order to obtain a 5-star Green Star Design Rating.”
ACT Department of Education & Training GPO Box 158 Canberra ACT 2601 t. 02 6207 5111 f. 02 6205 9333 www.det.act.gov.au
Client : ACT Government Project end Value : $72.7 Million Completion : February 2011
Working Armour 61 Iris Street Paddington NSW 2021 t/f. 02 9331 2282 m. 0412275228 www.workingarmour.com.au College incorporates a range of environmentally sustainable design features such as an underground thermal labyrinth for natural heating and cooling, thermal chimneys for night air purging in summer and a water retention pond for grounds irrigation. A 30kW photovoltaic solar power system was installed to supplement the school’s power supply and a 200,000 litre underground rainwater retention tank was located on site, with water to be used for toilet flushing. A number of buildings have individual ‘Smart Meters’ linked to the Building Management System. Software allows students and staff to view and log power and water usage. Throughout the college buildings, materials with low volatile organic compounds (VOC), green rated concrete and green rated furniture were used. Energy efficiency features such as motion sensors for lighting, transport features such as provision for the future installation of electric car charging points and bike parking sheds are also included. Gungahlin College establishes a standard for providing modern, quality education in Australia, and ACT school students will have the chance to learn at one of the country’s leading school campuses.
The Gunghalin College project was an exciting challenge for the Working Armour group which wanted to make sure that throughout not just the construction phase of the development, but on its completion the college’s hands-on principles of learning could still be achieved while ensuring the safety of students, staff and public. Working Armour is a multi-disciplinary business with a focus on high quality critical assessment and evaluation of risks in the workplace. It can identify weaknesses, reduce incidents, lower costs and maximise efficiency and builds partnerships with its clients so that the relationship allows loyalty, respect and trust with a good understanding of specific needs. It has been operating in Australia since 1993. “It is always exciting to get involved at the design stage of a project and ensure that when exciting projects like Gunghalin College are started it can allow multi use by the college, the public and the community,” says Julie Armour, principle of the company. “This project was interesting because it involved a large body of water but also from a maintenance point of view as for centuries maintenance personnel have not been considered in the designs of our buildings and facilities and consequently have suffered one of the highest injury rates of all professions.”
ACT PROJECT FEATURE GUNGAHLIN College 231
rchitectural complexity took Hansen Yuncken on a roller coaster constructing Australia’s largest privately owned museum, Tasmania’s Museum of Old and New Art (MONA). Designed by Nonda Katsalidis to house the private art collection of owner David Walsh, it could easily be described as ‘out there’, except it’s more ‘in there’, as in, tunneled into and underneath a sandstone bluff overlooking the River Derwent. As an added complication, the site is home to Moorilla winery, Moo Brew micro-brewery and two Heritage listed buildings designed by Sir Roy Grounds, who designed the National Gallery of Victoria. MONA’s exterior of raw steel and concrete panels, some weighing up to 15.7 tonnes, gives little hint of the richness of design, texture and inspiration inside. MONA contains 6,000m2 of flexible gallery space spread over three levels, including 1,300m2 of AAA-rated space, designed to overwhelm all the senses, and resonating to the theme of exploration and self-discovery. The construction challenges of this $75 million project stretched to almost four years, and involved a notable team of expert consultants to resolve the myriad of design, engineering, services and fitout challenges. In addition to international standard exhibition space and the permanent gallery, the MONA complex includes a theatre, administration areas and an art conservation area, plus a library in the refurbished Heritage-listed Round House, which is now connected to the museum by a 40m long tunnel constructed of 2700mm diameter concrete stormwater pipes. The complex is entered through the Heritage listed Courtyard House via an
internal circular glass lift shaft and tunnel created by an extensive underpinning and excavation process. Obviously, this project’s challenges were as unique as the artworks. Underpinning of the two Heritage-listed buildings formed part of the overall geotechnical engineering for the project, undertaken by Coffey Mining. Coffey also advised on the huge task of saw cutting a 140m long and up to 13m high exposed sandstone wall, which required excavating 35,000m3 of sandstone from the cliff face. Seventy support piers were bored into the sandstone face, requiring close to 500m drilling. MONA’s concrete structure geometry was so complex, and cast-in services so extensive, there was little repetition from pour-to-pour, creating challenges for the structural engineer Felicetti and Hansen Yuncken alike. “High reinforcement contents and concrete strengths of up to 65mPa ensure large live and point load capacities throughout the museum, all to create maximum flexibility for the client in terms of art placement,” said Hansen Yuncken Operations Manager, Matt Cadle. “There was a 21m long 7.5t fabricated steel footbridge installed under the exiting house with the assistance of the site tower crane and the use of a track mounted support truss, aka the Trojan Trestle. MONA has an Escher-like central feature stair and there was the late introduction to the design of a water filled gallery on the top floor. In one part of MONA, plasterboard walls are curved in two planes for the ‘sex and death’ corridor, and there is a custom made toilet.”
MUSEUM OF OLD & NEW ART MAIN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY : Hansen Yuncken CLIENT : David Walsh AREA : Hobart, Tas PROJECT END VALUE $75 Million COMPLETION : Museum opened January 2011 ARCHITECTS : Fender Katsalidis (Nonda Katsalidis) BUILDING SERVICES : WSP Lincolne Scott STRUCTURAL ENGINEER : Felicetti CIVIL ENGINEER : JMG LANDSCAPE DESIGN : Oculus SUPERINTENDENT : Gallagher Jeffs Consulting QUANTITY SURVEYING : Rider Levett Bucknall
HANSEN YUNCKEN GO UNDERGROUND FOR Art Image Courtesy of Matthew Newton
232 TAS PROJECT FEATURE MUSEUM OF OLD & NEW ART
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
And winding through everything, hidden like nerves in a body, is 10km of submain cabling, 30kms of data cabling and 70kms of optic fibre cabling. Innovative services design by JMG Engineers and Planners and WSP Lincolne Scott includes a displacement air delivery system which supplies air to the gallery spaces via plenums within ‘floating’ art display walls. The walls were extensively engineered and prototype tested to accommodate large hanging loads. The winery has been rehoused in another newly constructed building, completed to program despite the Chile earthquake holding up delivery of the 40+ new wine storage tanks which were manufactured there. Construction of the new library building will continue through until April 2011. Working a live site including both a winery and a micro-brewery (and the happy customers), with staged handovers and ongoing subterranean works, made program management very complex. Safety had to be absolutely scrupulous. Extensive noise and vibration monitoring was implemented throughout the process to ensure workforce safety and the amenity of Moorilla visitors. The overall concept for MONA was entirely shaped by the art. Following the official opening in January 2011, it is expected around 250,000 domestic and international visitors annually will pass through the entrance to be uplifted, provoked, titillated, amused, confronted and consoled by the collection of antiquities and contemporary works by artists including Damien Hirst, Arthur Boyd and Sidney Nolan. CORPORATE HEAD OFFICE Executive Chairman Peter Kennedy Level 1, 191 Fullarton Road Dulwich SA 5065 PO Box 330 Kent Town DC 5071 t. 08 8229 7300 f. 08 8229 7301 e. adelaide@hansenyuncken.com.au Company website: www.hansenyuncken.com.au
“Some of the pieces within the collection have had a major impact on the building’s design, and new acquisitions saw the building continue to evolve throughout the construction process. Creating optimal conditions for displaying art has been the primary focus of the project team,” said Matt Cadle. The design is also forward looking, with a removable section of roof to allow any extra large future acquisitions to be lowered by crane directly into the gallery. Parts of the walls have been designed to be easily cut away and replaced to maximize the flexibility of exhibition space. Overall management was aided by Project Superintendent Gallagher Jeffs Consulting, and QS consultants Rider Levett Bucknall. Hansen Yuncken have been active in Tasmanian construction for 75 years. MONA provided the opportunity to demonstrate the company’s ongoing commitment to the local market, and to showcase their local skills and capabilities. This is also a project bound to garner the kind of notice some of their other recent design and construct achievements have received, such as the multi-award winning Six Star Green Star SA Water HQ VS1, the Lyell McEwin Hospital redevelopment and the Wave and Edge buildings in Adelaide. Major projects currently underway on the mainland include over $600m of the Federal Government’s stimulus package BER Schools projects around the country, the $238 Orange Hospital PPP project in New South Wales and the $207m Education Works New Schools PPP project in South Australia. TASMANIA State Manager: Bruce Maher Hobart Office 39 Patrick Street Hobart TAS 7000 PO Box 94 North Hobart TAS 7002 t. 03 6215 4600 f. 03 6215 4601 e. hobart@hansenyuncken.com.au
Image Courtesy of Richard Eastwood
WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
Image Courtesy of Richard Eastwood
TAS PROJECT FEATURE MUSEUM OF OLD & NEW ART 233
BRADDON BUILDING SURVEYING raddon Building Surveying first became involved in his project in mid 2005 at the request of Phillip Chun & Associates, a large building surveying company located in Melbourne. Our involvement has been to look after the Tasmanian side of the development which has involved liaison with the Architects, Philip Chun & Assoc., Fire Engineers, Builders, Tasmania Fire Service and Glenorchy City Council to ensure compliance with the Tasmanian Building Act 2000 and Building Regulations 2004. This also involves the issuing of the Certificate of Likely Compliance after required referrals to other agencies such as Tasmania Fire Service, inspections and on completion the issue of the Occupancy Permit and Certificate of Final Inspection. The museum construction was staged to allow commencement on site as soon as possible. The stages were excavation and infrastructure as Stage One, footings and ground slab as Stage Two and the vertical construction as Stage Three. The main reason being unavoidable delays in the vertical construction design due alternative solution considerations. The design involves a mixture of Building Code of Australia (BCA) deemed-to-satisfy (DTS) provisions and alternative solutions of which the main challenge was the deletion of the sprinkler system from the upper floor due to the unique design of the ceiling of that floor and extension of DTS travel distances, among other challenges. 234 TAS PROJECT FEATURE MUSEUM OF OLD & NEW ART
Essentially a number of considerations such as occupant evacuation in the event of any emergency, fire fighting operations, the safety of fire fighting personnel all of which had to be weighed up against the unique operational requirements of the museum. Satisfactory design outcomes were achieved by taking the project team liaison approach. There is no known reason why the final outcome will not meet and fulfill all expectations.
BRADDON BUILDING SURVEYING PTY LTD PO Box 224 Devonport TAS 7310 t. 03 6424 1299 f. 03 6424 1533 AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
ILS CREATES INDUSTRIAL ART FOR MONA
t MONA, even the lifts are ultra-modern works of art, custom designed and built by Independent Lifting Services Pty Ltd (ILS). Constructed in Melbourne, the three lifts are backed by ISO 9001 Quality Certification and the ILS commitment to ongoing 24 hour on-call maintenance and repair. For one of MONA’s central spaces, the architects required a glass round lift (Lift No 1) to be designed and constructed. ILS was awarded the contract to design and manufacture a lift to suit the architects requirements. The lift car was designed to be round and installed inside a circular staircase. The lift shaft was encased with curved glass panels therefore the lift car was manufactured with curved glass wall and door panels.
Due to low headroom requirement of the lift shaft and being a glass observation lift, the lift is powered by a three stage direct acting hydraulic cylinder. The cylinder is operated by a variable voltage variable frequency (VVVF) pump unit for smooth and energy efficient operation. The lift controls utilise the latest technology with BMS Link high level security interfaced with Honeywell building security system. Another passenger lift constructed by ILS (Lift No 2) has a 17 person capacity and also designed to operate hydraulically due to the low headroom constraints of the lift shaft. To ensure the safe and efficient movement of MONA’s artworks, ILS constructed a goods lift rated at 5000 kg, with an internal size of 2800 wide WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
x 4200 long x 3500 high, enabling shifting of some of the Museum’s extremely large artworks. The lift is powered by 2 roped hydraulic cylinders which are operated by two large VVVF pump units. All the lifts were constructed at ILS premises in Melbourne, and then dismantled, shipped to Tasmania and refitted on site, ensuring an extremely high quality finish. The logistics of this trans-Tasman delivery process were a challenge ILS successfully resolved. ILS have been designing and constructing safe, reliable and innovative technologies for moving people and goods since 1986, supplying projects across health, commercial, major residential, transport, cultural, retail and industrial sectors. Their capabilities include passenger, goods, vehicle and service lifts for either MRL, overhead traction or hydraulic solutions. ILS also design and install escalators and moving walkways. ILS continue to work with architects, designers and building owners to design the best solution for every project.
INDEPENDENT LIFTING SERVICES 8 Vella Drive Sunshine VIC 3020 t. 03 9312 7000 f. 03 9312 7055 www.liftservice.com.au TAS PROJECT FEATURE MUSEUM OF OLD & NEW ART 235
PUTTING THE ULTIMATE GREEN GLOSS ON CONCRETE AT MONA utstanding workmanship and innovation has resulted in landmark opportunities for Ground Control. Their unique skills in making concrete floors gleaming, smooth and gorgeous caught the eye of the Architect for the MONA, who specified them as the contractors for a majority of the floor space - around 5,500m2 of foyers, display areas and passages. The exemplary result is the perfect complement to the artworks and architecture. “Polished concrete is flooring that makes sense,” said Ground Control Founder and Managing Director, Ami Chalfon. “Every building has concrete for the slab usually, so you don’t have to expend energy to create new flooring. We take every necessary initiative in discussing the finish, and share the goals of the Architect and Builder to have the best looking result. For MONA, before the floor was laid we spoke to the builder and concreter about what we wanted to achieve. “Our EcoGround is a Green process, much less harmful to the environment than many alternatives. Producing the one square metre of polished concrete consumes around 1.7kWh, an epoxy finish consumes around 60kWh to produce one square metre, and within six months to a year the epoxy floor collects dirt and will scratch. Polished concrete is the easiest floor to maintain, it only needs a neutral cleaner such as water, and it looks great and has a nice gloss for a very long time. The gloss increases ambient lighting’s brightness by up to 30 per cent. “Because we mechanically polish, the result is better floors in terms of flatness. The floors are not dusty; when we polish we eliminate 100 per cent of the dust from the concrete surface, which contributes to a better indoor environment.” Ground Control has been in business since 1998, and Ami invested considerable research into techniques for producing high gloss concrete floors without the use of added finishes. The company uses the latest available European equipment, and is constantly investigating new and improved methods and technologies. Their talents have been utilised on projects in Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and now Tasmania, and they offer a flexible, fast response to clients across the commercial, industrial, major residential and hospitality sectors. In addition to polished concrete, Ground Control offers flooring coating systems and is the Victorian Agent for Nuplex Architectural Terrazzite ZV, a VOC-free polymer resin based terrazzo which is anti-microbial, stain resistant, non-porous, joint-free and designed to last. Other recent major projects include 2,400m2 of EcoGround flooring for Woolworths Carnegie and application of a Green carpark seal which acts as a concrete densifier, eliminating dust. Ground Control also did 2,000m2 of floor at the new building in Swinburne University (Kane Constructions) in Hawthorn; Doreen Shopping Centre’s Woolworths and foyer; and a 60 unit apartment block in St Kilda for ICON involving floors ground to expose aggregate and then given a matte finish with water-based NANO technology sealer. 236 TAS PROJECT FEATURE MUSEUM OF OLD & NEW ART
GROUND CONTROL PTY LTD 29 Elma Road Cheltenham VIC 3192 t. 1300 120 203 f. 03 9553 6509 www.ground-control.com.au AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
i t i g n Setti
n
e t e r c Con
tephen Little Constructions was engaged by Hansen Yuncken on the MONA project as main structure subcontractor, to provide a complete structural package including; supply and installation of all formwork and in-situ concrete, project reinforcement, and pre-cast concrete in conjunction with their precast arm - Precast Tasmania. They also supplied a tower crane.
22,000m2 of in-situ concrete slabs were put in over three internal floor levels and two roof levels. Total approximate tonnage of reinforced steel was in excess of 800 tonne with over 8500m2 of reinforcing mesh. Stephen Little Constructions supplied 1940m2 of plain precast panels and1400m2 of waffle pod precast panels with 332m2 precast floor beams.
Stephen Little Constructions is committed to produce the best for the MONA project, ensuring the serviceability and appearance of the finished product is to a standard at least equal to, but in most cases above project specification and relevant Australian Standards.
Stephen Little Constructions, highly regarded in the construction industry for twenty five years, has approximately fifty employees. Stephen, as General Manager, oversees all aspects of the business, the focus being on formwork, concrete and pre-cast trades, in which their foremen have extensive experience. Commercial projects undertaken in the past 24 months range from $500,000 to $10m.
The highly complex concrete structure is specified with an extremely high quality finish serving as a finished exposed feature, for example, suspended / cantilevered reinforced concrete slabs up to 10m high with high quality exposed waffle pod soffits. All roof slabs have multi directional integral slopes across their area. Reinforced in-situ columns rake in the horizontal and vertical planes up to 10m in height. Raking perimeter wall beams have extensive use of exposed grillage beams with concrete encased steel beams. During construction, approximately 8000+m3 of concrete was poured and finished to in-situ slabs, walls and columns. Approximately WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
STEPHEN LITTLE CONSTRUCTIONS PTY LTD 128 Rifle Range Road Sandford TAS 7020 t. 03 6234 9644 f. 03 6234 9428 TAS PROJECT FEATURE MUSEUM OF OLD & NEW ART 237
Putting it all together H
alton Joinery Pty Ltd is proud to have been selected to manufacture a large portion of the joinery for the MONA project.
Their work in the Conservation area, B2 Administration West, B2 East Servery and Toilets, B3 East Servery/Bar and Toilets, B3 Theatre walls lined with timber panels and acoustic fabric. They manufactured doors and doors frames and recycled timber hand rail to the stairs. They also manufactured various items of joinery for the Moorilla Winery and the Courtyard House. Halton Joinery, based in Huntingfield, Tasmania, specialise in joinery for commercial and residential projects. The family business has been running for 11 years. David and his son Adam (both directors) are highly skilled and qualified joiners, both working in supervisory roles. Judy (Davidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wife) controls the administration and customer service areas. Six tradesmen, three apprentices and three office staff make up a skilled workforce. Halton Joinery have recently purchased a CNC machine (overhead router) and drawing package to respond to market demands, enabling manufacture of joinery at greater speed. Currently working on Stage 7 Mt St Canice Apartments, Sandy Bay.
HALTON JOINERY PTY LTD 16 Ascot Drive Huntingfield TAS 7055 t. 03 6227 2411 f. 03 6227 2412 e. admin@haltonjoinery.com.au www. haltonjoinery.com.au 238 2 8 TAS PROJECT FEATURE MUSEUM OF OLD & NEW ART
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
The Art of Keeping Dry errace Projects P/L specialise in waterproofing, industrial floor finishes, concrete repair and insulation installation. The company has six full time and three part time staff with access to specialist subcontractors for very large projects. With the MONA project, Terrace Projects are treating a 4000m2 roof section. Waterproofing is achieved with double layer Ardex WPM150 heat applied sheet waterproofing membrane, chosen for its reputation as a premium waterproofing solution for critical applications requiring long term protection, as in the case of MONA housing priceless works of art. Dow Corning Roofmate SL extruded polystyrene was selected to insulate the roof section due to its imperviousness to water, high load bearing capacity and profile which allows complete thermal coverage of the area. This will reduce energy usage for heating and cooling within the museum which must be critically temperature controlled to protect the art works. Drainage of the roof area is accomplished with Atlantis 30mm Flo Cell. It has high flow capacity, load bearing ability and excellent compatibility with all types of subsequent soil profiles and vegetation as required for the roof garden in this project. WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
Also 1000m2 of trafficable Ardex WPM185 heat applied sheet waterproofing membrane has been selected for the very substantial plant room areas and a similar amount of WPM 150 in conjunction with Tremco Tremboard polyethylene protection board and Atlantis Flo cell for below ground retaining walls. Other works on this project include sealing of the concrete loading bays, storage areas and gallery floors, waterproofing of internal wet areas (bathrooms etc), pools, rock faces, planter boxes and construction and waterproofing of a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;green wallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to provide an indoor vertical garden feature. We have also refurbished the rooves of the Library building and the original Courtyard House. Terrace Projects are very proud to be associated with such a prestigous project and thank our suppliers, employees, fellow contractors and project principals Hansen Yuncken for their efforts and cooperation.
TERRACE PROJECTS 6 Linear Court Derwent Park TAS 7009 t. 03 6272 4327 f. 03 6272 3946 TAS PROJECT FEATURE MUSEUM OF OLD & NEW ART 239
The interior of Tasmania’s Museum of Old and New Art (MONA)
240 2 0 TAS PROJECT FEATURE MUSEUM OF OLD & NEW ART
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW
Cool Art eatherfoil was established in 1979 to continue the domestic heating and sheet metal fabrication divisions of R.M Cannon Pty Ltd. that had been acquired by the current director. With over fourteen years experience working with national companies in commercial air conditioning contracting it is not surprising that by 1985 management decided the company should focus attention on the commercial market. During 30 years of operation the company has progressively expanded. Diversification in the fabrication area with expertise gained in stainless steel and aluminium fabrication has played a key role assisted by a program of continual improvement including the modernization of equipment and methods covering all aspects of the business. Weatherfoil appreciates the opportunity to bring their capabilities, experience and imagination to the demanding and exciting MONA project welcoming the opportunity to gain valuable experience in administering and completing a very complex and extraordinary project. Over 3 kilometers of copper pipe and 100 tones of sheet metal ducting have been installed in the distribution systems. With over 20,000 man hours attributed to the project and a total value approaching $4 million this is a very significant Tasmanian air conditioning project. The main plant consists of 3 air cooled high efficiency screw chillers providing 1125 KW of cooling. Heating is provided by 3 natural gas fired condensing type hot water boilers located in the plant room providing 470KW of capacity together with an electric boiler for emergency backup. Associated variable speed duty/standby heating and WWW.ANCR.COM.AU
chilled water pumps provide circulation to 21 air handling units and 19 fan coil units that are mainly located in the plant rooms. The AHUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s have variable speed drives and are fitted with economy cycle dampers and distribution ducting incorporating packaged steam injection humidifiers. The distribution to the exhibition galleries is via false walls and utilizes the air displacement principle to minimize temperature variation and transient air streams within the space that could be potentially detrimental for the priceless exhibits. The entire plant and temperature control is under the control and supervision of an extensive Honeywell BMS system. Other prestigious projects that Weatherfoil has worked on included various Royal Hobart Hospital buildings, the Vodafone Call Centre, Burnie Regional Hospital, Australian Antarctic Division Kingston to name just a few. Weatherfoil, currently employs 23 personnel with a similar number employed by sub contractors. They demonstrate a strong commitment to quality and the process of continuous improvement, their reputation being built on integrity and customer satisfaction. WEATHERFOIL PTY LTD 3 Sunmont Street Derwent Park TAS 7009 t. 03 6273 1088 f. 03 6272 8170 TAS PROJECT FEATURE MUSEUM OF OLD & NEW ART 241
Australia's largest privately owned museum, Tasmaniaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Museum of Old and New Art (MONA)
CONSTRUCTION AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION - MAJOR PROJECT REVIEW
MAJOR PROJECT REVIEW
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ALSO INSIDE: PORT BOTANY EXPANSION Baulderstone SMART INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITY Cockram Construction BLOWERING DAM Macmahon Contractors NORTH WEST GROWTH CENTRE Sydney Water AVOCA DRIVE UPGRADE Seymour Whyte MYER REDEVELOPMENT Probuild BARWON HEADS BRIDGE McConnell Dowell MELBOURNE AIRPORT STAGE 2 Melbourne Airport PARTNERSHIPS VIC Abigroup LAVERTON RAIL UPGRADE John Holland AUTOMOTIVE CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE Probuild HILTON SURFERS PARADISE Brookfield Multiplex LAVARACK BARRACKS Thiess, Coffey Projects & Dept. of Defence BOATHOUSE APARTMENTS Hutchinson Builders & Meridien PINDARA PRIVATE HOSPITAL ADCO Constructions GOLD COAST HIGHWAY Seymour Whyte PIER AT WATERFRONT NEWSTEAD Mirvac EDUCATION WORKS NEW SCHOOLS PPP Hansen Yuncken IFOULD APARTMENTS Tagara Group & Housing SA MANDURAH ENTRANCE ROAD Southern Gateway Alliance PORT HEDLAND UTAH POINT Port Hedland Port Authority HEDLAND HEALTH CENTRE Doric ROSEBERY SCHOOLS Dept. of Construction & Infrastructure AMBASSADOR APARTMENTS Space Developments GUNGAHLIN COLLEGE ACT Department of Education & Training MUSEUM OF OLD & NEW ART Hansen Yuncken