The formerly small MacArthur region is being transformed to accommodate up to 55,000 residents in the growth corridor of southwest Sydney.
At Wilton, some 15,000 homes are being planned for 2047, an ambitious undertaking that will require substantial drinking water, recycled water and wastewater infrastructure.
Heavily promoted as a ‘mini city’ to address housing shortages in the outer fringe of the metropolitan area, the project has had to overcome delays stalling thousands of residential developments.
A lack of proper sewer infrastructure in the area chief among the issues facing developers.
Capacity shortfalls on the Bingara Gorge Water Recycling plant, as it awaits crucial overdue upgrades, have also impacted the timeline to completion.
While major upgrades are anticipated to be rectified as early as next year, there have been other challenges associated with flooding. In particular, the Wilton Greens development suffers from significant water runoff, that has raised concerns regarding the contamination of local waterways.
Stop-gap measures such as temporary ‘tankering’ solutions, where wastewater is transported out by trucks, have proven something of a hindrance to development.
Up until recently, 12,000 planned homes have been subject to uncertain futures mainly because of a lack of sewage and water infrastructure.
Infrastructure projects of this scale require careful scheduling of pipe deliveries, welding components, and specialised fittings to align with trenching and installation operations.
Any interruption in supply can create cascading delays affecting labour productivity, equipment utilisation, and downstream construction activities.
Enter David Moss Group (DAMOS).
The wholly Australian-owned company has steadily, since 1938, quietly achieved an esteemed reputation through partnering with some of the top tier firms found in civil infrastructure, mining, oil & gas and rural industries.
As a premier manufacturer and supplier of the latest generation pipe systems it was a clear choice to provide the extensive High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pressure lines for the Wilton Integrated Services Program (WISP).
Working on a timeline of just eight weeks from date of order for pipe delivery and ten weeks for fittings, DAMOS needed to be proactive.
Tendering contractors were contacted pre-tender to determine product requirement based on IFC drawings, expectations regarding product quality and standard to ensure the reliability of essential services for future generations.
Multiple discussions ensued, helping the supplier to understand the vagaries of the project timeline which would ensure these requirements were executed on all levels.
Subcontractors Quickway, Athassel and Vaughan Civil would perform installations on different sections of the project. As all subcontractors were concerned with mitigating footprint of pipe laydown and subsequent works, DAMOS closely collaborated with project engineers to stagger deliveries based on installation sequence and to minimise space consumption.
Subcontractors, in one instance, were accommodated with non-returnable slings for safe pipe handling, dust caps to minimise contaminants and pre-welded fittings to save time during installation. In total 17.495km of pipe was provided.
All of it, what’s more, manufactured at DAMOS’ HDPE production plant in Brisbane. Meanwhile, meetings for project commencement were conducted on order with DAMOS’ operations and subcontractor project team establishing site limitations and delivery expectations.
The installation of HDPE pressure mains formed one of the most technically demanding aspects of the project.
HDPE pipework has become increasingly important in modern infrastructure projects due to its durability, flexibility, corrosion resistance, and long operational lifespan.
In a project such as Wilton, where future service reliability is critical, HDPE provided a superior solution capable of accommodating ground movement, varying pressure conditions, and challenging installation environments.
Horizontal directional drilling specialist UEA has had a longstanding involvement with the WISP program. “We were always looking for the best pipe solution to meet the projects’ needs,” said the company’s Operations Manager.
“Throughout the design development we sought pipe types not typically used on the Sydney Water network — 800mm PN20 SDR9 and 800mm PN25 SDR7.4 are not easy to source with the confidence that they will be manufactured within specification. DAMOS has delivered without compromise. A++ Pipe, looks great and has been a pleasure to weld with KenKar Plastics.”
Unlike traditional pipe materials, HDPE pressure mains offer fully welded joints, significantly reducing the risk of leakage and infiltration over time.
This feature was particularly important in the Wilton region, where maintaining environmental protection standards and minimising long-term maintenance requirements were key project objectives given the previous incidents of runoff.
The flexibility of HDPE pipe also allowed construction teams to navigate difficult alignments and varying ground conditions more efficiently, improving both installation speed and system resilience.
“Athassel are proud to deliver high quality projects and achieve excellent outcomes, and the WISP project has continued to meet these expectations,” said its Project Manager.
“DAMOS have greatly assisted in this regard by providing a quality product, good service, and competitive pricing, all of which have contributed to the success of the project.”
One of the defining characteristics of the Wilton Integrated Services Program was the challenging environment in which the works were completed.
The project traversed difficult terrain, environmentally sensitive areas, and rapidly developing construction zones, all while maintaining strict project timelines.
Construction activities were often undertaken in confined corridors with limited access, requiring extensive coordination between work crews and careful staging of activities to avoid delays and conflicts between different scopes of work.
Installation of extensive sewer reticulation systems, for example, must have capacity to support future population growth while complying with stringent environmental and regulatory standards.
The integration of these systems into a broader regional network required precise engineering, careful grade control, and high-quality workmanship to ensure long-term operational performance.
By maintaining dependable supply arrangements and responsive service, DAMOS became an integral part of the broader project delivery team. Starting November last year, the project was completed in May.
Progression of the project will now allow for the next phase of dwelling construction. For DAMOS, the Wilton Integrated Services Program ultimately stands as a major achievement in infrastructure delivery and regional development.
Through the combined efforts of contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, engineers, and project managers, the program delivered critical utility infrastructure that will support the long-term growth of the Wilton region and provide essential services for future communities.
For more information, visit davidmoss.com.au
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