This state-significant development involved the relocation of several existing Downer facilities into a single consolidated campus.
Robson carried out the civil infrastructure scope comprising bulk earthworks, internal roads, stormwater drainage, utilities, retaining walls and weighbridges. Robson also constructed some significant concrete structures, the most complex of which was a system of vertical aggregate storage bunkers with 18m high walls
and underground conveyor tunnels. Maintaining program through pandemic and record-breaking rainfall was a major challenge on this project. Downer’s existing asphalt plant site was acquired by the NSW Government as part of Sydney Metro West, and so the deadline to commission the new facility and decommission the old plant was extremely rigid
Scope – Demolition
The site once part of the Clyde Oil Refinery. The plant, pipelines and above-ground structures from the refinery had been decommissioned and demolished in previous years, but some significant underground structures and footings remained. Robson’s scope included the demolition of the redundant slabs, footings, tanks, culverts and pipe bridges. The deepest of these structures was an underground bunker with sheet-piles walls and a metre-thick base slab.
Scope – Utilities
Robson were responsible for installation of all utilities on the project including stormwater, sewer, potable water, recycled water, fire water, gas, electrical and communications. As well as pipework and conduit installation Robson also installed fire booster pumps, hydrants, sewer pumping stations, rainwater harvesting tanks, switchboards, substations, street lighting and CCTV cameras.
Scope – Civil
The Civil scope included supply and installation of stormwater pits and pipes, a Gross Pollutant Trap (GPT) and bio-retention basin. It included bulk earthworks, pavements, kerb, linemarking, signage, retaining walls, landscaping and fencing. The record-breaking rainfall experienced over the duration of the project made completion of the pavement works extremely challenging.
Scope – Structures
The project had an extensive structural concrete scope. The largest and most complex of these was the aggregate storage bunker which was 18m high and divided into 14 cells. The structure was on the client’s critical path. It was successfully constructed within the ambitious 16-week program, working day and night, 5½ days per week.
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