For almost 30 years, Rob Carr has been a leader and pioneer of microtunnelling for the design and construction of utility infrastructure projects in the water, energy and transport space. Having previously constructed some of Australasia’s most complex pipe jacking projects, this year the company will be busier than ever working on multiple significant projects in Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.
Quinns Main Sewer Extension, Perth
Rob Carr was awarded a contract to deliver the Quinns Main Sewer Extension for Water Corporation in Western Australia in 2021.
The design and construct contract – which is one of the biggest projects the contractor has undertaken in WA – will extend the Quinns Main Sewer to the Alkimos wastewater treatment plant. The pipeline will allow for the conveyance of wastewater flows from Ellenbrook and will run through Clarkson and Neerabup National Park.
Following the first stage of the project, which was completed more than 10 years ago, this extension will add approximately 2 km of new 1,800 mm diameter sewer, as well as the construction of six new sewer access chambers and two new vortex chambers. Rob Carr is preparing to start microtunnelling in early April and construction is expected to be completed in February 2023. The contractor will utilise one of its most recent fleet acquisitions, a Herrenknecht microtunnel boring machine (MTBM) to complete the DN1800 pipeline works. A ceremony will be held with community groups where the new MTBM will be named before beginning the main tunnelling activity.
Elizabeth Street Sewer Upgrade, Melbourne
In November 2021, Rob Carr was awarded the design and construct contract for the next stage of Greater Western Water’s CBD Sewer Augmentation Project focused on Elizabeth Street in the centre of Melbourne. The new contract follows the contractor’s successful delivery of the project’s previous package of work on the adjacent Lonsdale Street.
This is the third of four stages of the utility’s $80 million program and will see a new pipeline constructed, linking to the new sewers, under Lonsdale and Spencer Streets. The 723 m pipeline will be formed from OD 820 glass reinforced pipe (GRP) installed via microtunnelling between 6 m and 9 m below Elizabeth Street. In addition, eight GRP manholes will also be constructed along the route. The project is currently in the design phase, with early works having started to locate, identify and re-locate existing utility services along the route of the new pipeline, where required. Major construction work is expected to begin in the coming months with completion due early 2023.
ECI and partner projects in the works
Rob Carr is currently engaged in multiple Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) processes with major asset owners requiring the installation of important drainage and wastewater infrastructure in NSW, QLD and VIC. The company has also partnered with key Tier 1 and 2 contractors in each of these states for other targeted projects, and remains hopeful of several major project awards throughout the year.
More information on each of these projects will be featured in Trenchless Australasia in 2022 once the winning consortiums have been publicised. Rob Carr General Manager Angelo Soumboulidis says the company is excited about what will be a busy year for the company.
“All are important large scale projects, so we’re thrilled that our current and prospective clients have the requisite faith in our ability to deliver such major infrastructure upgrades,” he says.
“Each project comes with its own unique complexities, constrained working environments and timelines. Whether we are delivering major assets beneath major transport assets, working in a highly constrained CBD working environment or constructing record breaking drive lengths, we aim to provide clients with surety in complex drainage and wastewater infrastructure delivery.”
For more information visit: https://www.robcarr.com.au/