Byford DN630 DM

The use of the trenchless technology division to install the pipework under Thomas Road allowed personnel to work in a safer environment away from the high daily traffic volumes on South West Highway and Thomas Road. This also applied to pedestrians, cyclists and all other road users and
reduced traffic management requirements.

Buried existing services and overhead powerlines, stretching over 4 kilometres were a significant production issue. The project team spent an appropriate length of time carefully locating, marking, pot holing and recording these service positions to ensure that delays to the programme were minimised and more importantly, that excavation crews could work
safely. This service protection was a significant factor along the high voltage electrical aerial lines where catenary flagging and spotters were required between South West Highway and Butcher Road.

The challenging aspects of the project were magnified by a contract let in the winter months. Constructing pipelines in the wet season is problematic in clay soils with boggy access for excavators and loaders, slippery surfaces and the spreading of mud material from the site to
the surrounding access roads. To mitigate the effect of these boggy conditions, a tracked 5 tonne tipper was purchased to cart sand and metal bedding and a pole trailer purchased and modified to haul 20 metre pipes.

The project was restricted to 3 months which required 3 crews installing pipework, building concrete structures and installing horizontal bores. Over 13,718 man hours were worked without a single minor incident, medical treatment injury or lost time injury. These safety statistics demonstrate to Water Corporation that DM Civil has a robust HSE system in place and that a safety culture is shared across the company.

The completion of the pipeline construction in difficult conditions during the winter months ensured that Water Corporation was able to deliver a critical asset to the rapidly expanding Byford residential area.