High Security

Such is the scale of a new high security correctional facility currently under construction in Queensland that A.G. Coombs expects to have a peak workforce of 100 on the project – many of them local.

Located near Gatton, about 100km south-west of Brisbane, the Southern Queensland Correctional Precinct first opened in 2012 with a 300bed correctional facility that has accommodated female prisoners since 2018.

External site infrastructure was designed and constructed at the time to support a second facility.

The new 1500 bed, men’s high security Southern Queensland Correctional Precinct Stage Two project (SQCP-S2), delivered by Managing Contractor John Holland for the Queensland Government, will boost community safety and regional employment opportunities, and will be a modern, purpose-built facility with a focus on rehabilitation to reduce reoffending.

Major construction works for the $861 million correctional facility are expected to be completed by the end of 2023 and commissioned in the first half of 2024, weather permitting.

It is currently the second largest infrastructure project in Queensland – surpassed only by Brisbane’s Cross River Rail.

In the loop

After responding to an open tender Expression of Interest (EOI), and subsequently being short-listed, A.G. Coombs was awarded the mechanical services contract for the project by John Holland in early-2022. This is the third recent major project on which A.G. Coombs will work with John Holland – the others being the Victorian Heart Hospital and the Sydney Football Stadium.

Drawing on the Group’s extensive experience on those major infrastructure projects, it immediately began work on documenting the mature design by consulting engineer WSP.

This work identified several opportunities to add value management to a design that incorporates a large essential energy plant and a combined services loop – including chilled water – that runs for over 1km around the precinct.

As lead services coordinator, A.G. Coombs is leading the building information modelling (BIM) design on the project and will coordinate services through the use of integrated BIM collaboration platform, Revizto.

“This continues our strategy in Queensland to incorporate prefabricated plant and equipment from our integrated prefabrication factory,” says Danny McGregor, A.G. Coombs Queensland Manager.

The finished, prefabricated components will be transported by road to Gatton. This approach to construction addresses several challenges including the site’s regional location, access to materials, and the strict security overlay placed on all building services installed in the facility.

Additionally, prefabrication will allow for parallel construction to take place, thereby reducing the hours of onsite construction required and associated health and safety risks for the benefit of the overall construction programme.

Local focus

Construction of the mechanical services commenced on site in mid-2022.

At the peak of construction in early-2023, Danny McGregor expects a workforce of over 100 A.G. Coombs personnel will have contributed to the project, including trades and project and site management teams.

Drawing on the Group’s established network of subcontractors in the region, A.G. Coombs is employing many of its construction team from Gatton, Ipswich and surrounds, fulfilling the company’s commitment to employ locally.

MODULAR

Pump modules include control valves and pre-wired Variable Speed Drives.

Modular primary pump modules include a primary condenser and a primary chilled water pump and weigh over 10 tonnes each in operation.

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Large diameter headers and pipe, insulated, clad and pressure tested in factory.

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Over 13km of chilled water pipework in the Gatton project including an underground ring main. Secondary chilled water pump modules.

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Four high efficiency centrifugal water-cooled chillers, using HFO-1233zd refrigerant to provide 1700kW of cooling each. 5

Pumps mounted on seismic springs and securely fastened for transport from prefabrication factory to site.

Premium Protection

Walker Fire Protection has recently commenced delivery of fire service maintenance at one of Australia’s largest and most prestigious mixed-use developments.

Developed by Walker Corporation – Australia’s largest private, diversified property development company – Collins Square occupies an entire block at the western end of Melbourne’s CBD.

Comprising five premium commercial office towers and the refurbished Southern Goods Shed with a combined NLA of 250,000m², the precinct is home to a number of blue-chip tenants as well as over 40 retailers.

Managed by Walker Corporation’s facility management team (Collins Square Management), the five towers have been awarded a minimum NABERS Energy 5 star rating reflecting their energy efficient design and operation.

In early-2022, Walker Fire Protection was invited to tender for the precinct’s fire service maintenance contract.

A member of the A.G. Coombs Group, Walker Fire Protection was subsequently awarded the contract with technicians commencing on site mid-year. Working collaboratively with the on site facility management team, all Walker Fire Protection technicians are employed in-house to ensure a consistent, high level of service befitting the precinct’s premium status.

“We have recruited some of the industry’s best technicians and contract managers over the past six months as we strive to be the number one fire services contractor in the country,” says Andrew McGregor, General Manager for Walker Fire Protection.

Engaged to provide preventative, corrective and reactive service and maintenance of the precinct’s fire services, the scope of works includes maintenance, inspection and testing of all smoke detectors, fire sprinklers, fire doors, hydrants, hose reels and the precinct’s emergency warning and mixed communication system.

Walker Fire Protection will also take a proactive approach to asset management through asset lifecycle analysis.

“Along with our investment in people, Walker Fire has invested heavily in the latest technology to ensure we remain market leaders in innovation,” says Andrew.

This innovation includes measures to prevent major water damage such as proactive pipe thickness testing. While not currently required under Australian Standards, Walker Fire Protection offers this testing as part of annual inspections and finds it particularly beneficial in older buildings.

Vacuum technology, which removes water from the fire sprinkler system, is also being deployed to allow sprinkler head replacement to be completed without risk of water damage to client premises.

“In the short time Walker Fire Protection has joined us at Collins Square, their commitment to in-house delivery of service and innovation has been evident,” says Stewart Calder, Operations Manager for Walker Corporation.

“We are excited to have them on board.”

FIRE SAFETY