2009 HITACHI CIVIL CONTRACTORS FEDERATION EARTH AWARDS

 

Abergeldie Complex Infrastructure won the National Category 2 Award for the Erskineville Railway Overbridge. The awards were held during the CCF national conference in Perth in October. 

 

Abergeldie had success at the NSW and ACT Branch Awards by taking out four categories overall:   

 

Abergeldie was contracted to construct the Hazelbrook Pedestrian Skywalk, a 50 metre long, 3 metre wide elevated walkway set in an environmentally sensitive region rich in indigenous heritage and artefacts.

The Hazelbrook Skywalk Bridge project was one component of a major undertaking by the RTA to widen a section of the Great Western Highway at Hazelbrook in the Blue Mountains approximately 90 kilometres west of Sydney. Abergeldie was only one of many contractors engaged by the RTA on the Great Western Highway Widening Project.

 

During the environmental assessment of the project a significant indigenous artefact was identified. The large rock outcrop with axe grinding grooves and wells used for storing water. The site had been identified in the 1950s and was considered to have archaeological significance. The identification of this site became the catalyst to incorporating the Skywalk into the project. Through design development and community consultation the RTA resolved the issue by deciding to reduce the road widening by replacing the standard concrete footpath adjacent to the highway with an elevated walkway positioned to the north of the road. The RTA should be applauded for not only their approach to retaining heritage moreover the architecture of the walkway. The skywalk was not simply a precast girder with handrails but a curved walkway made of steel and timber with columns painted in earthy browns. The whole elevated walkway simply blends in with the natural surrounds. The finished product was considered a win for all parties including the RTA, the local community and the Indigenous people. As a by-product of this solution, the walkway created safer pedestrian access by diverting people away from the traffic and has given pedestrians a pleasant walking experience.

The Erskineville Rail Overbridge Project involved the replacement of a two span road bridge with a single span bridge on Erskineville Road spanning the primary rail corridor between Central and Strathfield which consists of 6 rail lines. The existing double span bridge was constructed in 1890 (span 1) and 1925 (span 2).

 

The primary purpose of the project was to improve the safety of rail commuters by removing a large brick bridge support that was positioned between the suburban and main lines. This centre pier supported the existing bridge spans which were considered a safety risk. The bridge was also showing signs of advanced structural deterioration and was in need of replacing. By replacing the bridge improved pedestrian access was created.

Abergeldie were contracted by RailCorp to undertake the bridge replacement that was programmed to be completed over 18 months. The work would not be continuous over the course of the 18 months as the majority of the works were required to be completed during scheduled rail possessions each with a 36 hour continuous shift with a strict deadline. 

 

Design and Construction of Ventilation Shafts No. 2 and No. 3 for the Dendrobium Mine was awarded to Abergeldie Mining Pty Ltd after successful completion of Ventilation Shaft No. 1 in 2001. Dendrobium Coal required two additional shafts to provide ventilation to the expanding operations of the underground coal mine. The shafts needed to be designed for a life span of 50 years and were required to be fully hydrostatic. The site is located on the Illawarra escarpment west of Wollongong, NSW within a highly environmentally sensitive Sydney Catchment Authority water catchment area.

 

The project was characterised by a high level of technical complexity. The ventilation shafts were bored at 4.81 m and 5.91 m diameter to provide fully lined shafts of 4 m and 5 m diameter both to a depth of 260 m. The lining for the shafts was composed of composite steel and concrete liners. This required Abergeldie to construct the composite liner sections, including welding of steel half sections and casting of a concrete lining, within the Sydney Catchment Authority lands. There was no interface with existing underground workings. The shaft was completed prior to Dendrobium Coal’s underground drive reaching the location of the shaft bottom.

 

 The Cotter tunnel No.3 Stabilisation was commissioned to protect the existing water main and facilitate the installation of additional pipelines required as part of the Cotter Dam upgrade. The Tunnel contains one of 3 suction pipelines between Cotter Dam and Cotter Pump Station. The tunnel is 150m long and varies in height from 2.0 to 2.8m and width between 2.0 and 2.7m. At it's deepest point it's 9m below ground level and located 150m NW of the Winslade Fault.

 

The project was redesigned after consultation between Abergeldie, ACTEWAGL and PB revealed the existing design and methodology could be improved. The alternative design ensured the capcity of the tunnel could be increased when required and it could be accessed easily for maintenance.