Electrix engaged Martin Civil Construction to carry out the construction of the civil works at Gore Substation. The upgrade included: a 3,800m2 yard extensions, construction of 270m of new substation fencing, 2 new 220kV transformers with a 9m tall pre-cast blast wall as well as 19 new foundations, installation of 4 x 23m gantry towers, 3 x 27,000l oil containment tanks and a new control room building.

Martin Civil Construction undertook

• • Construction and installation of 220kV transformer foundations and firewalls
  • Installation of gantry towers and foundations
  • Oil containment system outside of yard involving excavation, shields, and installation of tanks
  • Installation of new fencing security system
  • Drainage installation – oil run off into sump and stormwater pipe installation 150mm PE pipe
  • Construction of all foundations on site

Key challenges

• • Groundwater during the construction of the gantry tower foundations and installation of the oil containment tanks – involved dewatering pump and ongoing monitoring throughout
  • Tight Deadlines – In the electrical environment, deadlines are usually predetermined prior to the project starting and are based our electrical outages. As the main civil contractor on the project, it was imperative that our deadlines were hit to ensure the main contractor has sufficient time prior to their outages
  • Large Lifts installing pre-cast fire walls and oil containment tanks. Prior to every lift, MCC submitted a lift specific method statement. These covered roles and responsibilities of all staff members involved in each task. Pre-commencement meetings were also held to reinforce the hazards and risks involved with each lift