7 minute read
PROJECTS $1 MILLION TO $2 MILLION NOMINEES
KOWANYAMA AIRPORT
Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council
Kowanyama airport was housed in a shed with a toilet block doubling as a waiting/pilot briefing area. With over 500 passengers a week using the airport (more in the wet season when no road access) an airport terminal was deemed a necessity for community and stakeholder safety and comfort. Council desired a terminal grounded by the local area and values with an iconic and recognisable facade. With a tree of local significance existing on site it was decided the building needed to be housed around the tree and make it a focal point. Council approached 5 local architects for concept designs with JB Designs, a local Cairns company winning the project. The remote location of Kowanyama presented the largest challenge, the road is only accessable during the dry season and the Airport was the only connection during the wet Season. The only available construction material was concrete from the local batching plant, all other construction materials need to me shipped in (via road). Concrete and Steel were selected due to Council having a local concrete plant and the ability to pre-manufacture the structural steel off site. This allowed to speed up construction timeframes and the reduce cost labour in the remote area. Using standard type construction building allowed the builder to employ and train local staff in construction while creating a unique building..
MAROOCHY GROYNE PROJECT
Sunshine Coast Council
Sunshine Coast Council’s $2 million Maroochy Groyne Renewal Project (Stage 1) renewed two groyne structures and the seawall surrounding the Cotton Tree Holiday Park at Maroochydore. Driven by failing assets the project was the result of extensive planning by Sunshine Coast Council, including a 10-year Shoreline Erosion Management Plan (SEMP) developed in 2014. The project was required to protect the iconic park and other valuable assets in the surrounding Cotton Tree precinct (including recreation areas, businesses, accommodation and residential properties) from erosion, and was an Australian first for using 9 tonne geotextile bags. Over 2,000 sand-filled geotextile containers were used. Facing significant community and political interest in groyne replacement options, the project involved extensive community consultation including establishment of a community reference group (the Maroochy River Estuary Consultation Group) which continued to work with Council after the initial consultation period on design options and testing, and wider community engagement. The project was delivered by a cross organisational team, with continuity of involvement for each project phase drawing on project management and coastal engineering expertise throughout. It employed a design which was informed by comprehensive research and physical modelling of different design structures and onsite testing, undertaken with industry specialists at the Water Research Laboratory at the University of New South Wales. This research, combined with coastal engineering principles and a sound understanding of the Maroochy River’s natural migration processes, delivered a successful project and infrastructure that will serve the community for decades to come.
LABONA AIRSTRIP – EXTENSION, WIDENING AND SEALING OF THE LABONA AIRSTRIP
Principle Contractor - Wagner’s Civil Contractor - Newlands Civil Constructions PTY LTD Engineer - ACG
The Carmichael Coal Mine Labona Aerodrome project was to transform a rarely used landowner’s dirt airstrip into a high volume sealed airstrip compliant to a “Code 2 Non-instrument rating “airstrip with the ability to upgrade to a” Instrument non precision” rating at a later date, to be used for transportation of the mines workers. This involved creating a suitable load bearing subsurface whilst widening, lengthening the original airstrip and creating a large apron capable of parking multiple aircraft at any one time whilst complying with the coal mine safety act and the stringent environmental conditions that had been applied to the site in a remote location 250klm from the closest township whilst complying with restrictions put in place for the COVID 19 pandemic. The Carmichael Coal Mine where the project is, is in a remote location with the nearest large population base being 500klm distance from site. As the mine is within an area with multiple mines the availability of local labour was deemed to be minimal. By constructing the airstrip provides a sustainable way for the mine to attract and safely transport workers but also for the workers to travel to and from site with minimal personal expenditure and time.
FLINDERS RIVER CROSSING/GLENTOR ROAD
Flinders Shire Council
Flinders River Crossing project involved planning, designing, and constructing a new concrete crossing with bitumen approaches along Flinders River. The project was in the planning stage and on the wishlist for a long time. The project scope consists new concrete floodway (appx.190m) on Flinders River Crossing and 1.2km of bitumen approaches. The scope includes, excavate the riverbed to the shale layer (appx.5m), fill it with the rock (various sizes layered to allow natural interlocking). Construct the 6.5m wide concrete floodway using the rock foundation (8.0m wide) as a base, and ensure the top of the crossing is at river bed level. This road generally is closed for 4-7 months on an annual basis because of the crossing condition during and after floods. The project is a flood resilience and road safety project which saves at least 50k per year to the Council maintenance budget and provide access to the locals more than 11 months in a year. In the old state, the road was closed between 4-5 months during the wet season. The council and locals now call this road an all-weather link connecting North to South. The project was designed in-house and delivered by the Council construction crews with the support of local contractors. The team achieved 70% cost savings compared to the other options considered during the planning and design stage.
Toowoomba Regional Council
The $1.4 million Tobruk Memorial Drive Toowoomba Escarpment Lookout project is one of a series of colocated economic development projects associated with nature based recreation and tourism attractions across Toowoomba’s escarpment. The new lookout has provided an iconic tourist destination within the Picnic Point Parklands, and is well utilised by the local community. The lookout involves a steel framed elevated structure overhanging the Toowoomba Escarpment and overlooking the culturally significant Table Top Mountain. It provides direct vistas to the Lockyer Valley and Table Top Mountain, the site of an Aboriginal war victory in 1843 against settlers known as the “Battle of One Tree Hill”. The project has set a new standard for engagement with Aboriginal stakeholders, who have gone out of their way to note how positive and respectful the project was for them. The diverse cultural richness of the site is embodied in every aspect of the project, which also recognises the World War 2 “Rats of Tobruk”, holding great significance for the people of Toowoomba. The project management was self performed by Council using its Project Management Framework, and was delivered on budget, but slightly behind program due to COVID-19 impacts. The project management plan comprehensively mapped project scope, budget, program and quality, as well as risk, resourcing, procurement, stakeholder management, project communications and integration with a benefits management plan. The Lookout successfully integrates existing site features with sustainable practices, environmental values, user experiences, and encourages economic and social diversity through equitable access and community recreational opportunities.
LAKE MOONDARA STAGE 4 PIPELINE REPLACEMENT
Newlands Group | Mount Isa Water Board
Lake Moondarra Pipeline Replacement Project Stage 4 involved replacing approximately 1.25km of existing OD800 MSCL 800 mm diameter ductile iron pipeline with a new 813mm diameter Sintakote Mild Steel Cement Lined Pipe. The Lake Moondarra pipeline is what connects the Clear Water Lagoon pumping station to the Mount Isa treatment facility. It is essential to the supply of over 18 million litres of clean drinking water for Mount Isa residents and over 30 million litres of semi-treated water for industrial businesses daily. Newlands Civil Constructions begun works at the Lake Moondarra Pipeline Replacement Project Stage 4 on Monday 23 March 2020 as planned. The intention was to maintain a very aggressive programme with the aim of completing this project six weeks ahead of the contractual timelines, which was achieved. The project was not without its challenges as the existing pipeline remained in place for the duration of the project until the final cut in stage, where it was swapped out. This ensured that water supply to the Mount Isa region was not greatly impacted during the project. Approximately 60 years old, wrapped in a bituminous asbestos layer and followed an often-erratic alignment, the older as-constructed information was not as reliable as initially thought. Furthermore, the initial design has its constraints when constructing the pipeline. With the assistance of the Newlands Design Team, and the approval of the Mount Isa Water Board the initial design was altered to improve constructability, ensuring the protection of the existing pipeline.
