PMG has recently completed construction of a pumping station jetty and control tower near Bedford Weir, Blackwater. The scope included installation of 16 tubular steel piles to support concrete headstocks, deck units and a monorail gantry structure. Enveloper pipes were installed into the structure to house pumps to pump fresh water to BMA Blackwater mine. The enveloper pipes are supported with an underdeck support structure and all works were conducted from a road transportable barge arrangement. To minimise damage to the concrete jetty and handrails during a flood event, the hand rails are collapsible and engineered to lay down at a bespoke load. All steel structures were fabricated and painted in Townsville before being transported via road to Blackwater.
A 5 storey control tower was fabricated/assembled in Townsville and installed on site, the galvanised tower is fixed to a concrete slab that has been enclosed within a security fence. There were numerous other concrete pours conducted on site including filling steel piles, headstock pours and grouting all holes, recesses and interfaces.
The main challenge for this scope was the rapid turnaround with PMG gaining possession of site within three weeks of contract award, this was mainly due to requirement to complete works prior to wet season. The scope was successfully executed on time and budget. All piling was completed to a lateral tolerance of 75mm.
