COVER FEATURE
ENGINEERED
FOR EXCELLENCE
HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF ENGAGING AN INDEPENDENT AQUATIC ENGINEER FOR YOUR POOL OR AQUATIC CENTRE PROJECT While no one could deny the major impact that the enforced Covid-19 lockdown measures have had the day-today lives of every Australian over recent months, there are some impacts that will last significantly longer than others. Indeed, there are aspects and activities that are likely not to return to what we previously considered ‘normal operation’ for many months or even years – if at all. From a public facilities perspective, the enforced long-term closure of indoor sports and recreational facilities including pools and aquatic centres - has been particularly severe. Without minimising the severity of the impact of these forced closures, they have provided public and private sector aquatic facility owners and operators with an almost unique opportunity to conduct detailed inspections, maintenance, modifications and upgrades. 12
Construction Engineering Australia • Apr/May 2020
Not surprisingly, the significant increase in maintenance and capital works (both in terms of repairs, refurbishments and new construction) that has occurred as a result of the enforced Covid-19 closures has highlighted a number of underlying issues and shortcomings in some facilities – many of which can be traced back to poor planning and engineering advice during the initial construction or subsequent upgrades. Brad Fong, Director with leading structural and aquatic engineering specialists, Geoff Ninnes Fong and Partners (GNFP), explained: “In recent years we have seen a trend towards a ‘total package offering’ that sees all aspects of a construction or redevelopment project quoted and provided by the one supplier.” “While at the outset, that type of offering may seem to deliver some initial cost benefits, it eliminates one critical aspect of the project – fully independent engineering advice.”
“It can also result in a serious conflict of interest,” Brad added. “Having a ‘consultant’ working on a project on behalf of the main supplier – rather than an independent, qualified and certified engineer - may not only contravene critical probity guidelines and/or legislation (especially where Local Governments are concerned) it may also, more seriously, result in the construction of a facility which doesn’t meet best-practice engineering, health or operational standards; or one that is not suited to the needs of the owner, operator or community.” “While I realise those comments may at first appear to be somewhat self-serving
