When working around utilities, we often hear about the damages, disruptions, and costly repairs that happen on worksites. Rarely do we focus on the jobs that go smoothly. Today, we’re spotlighting a good news story about a close-knit team in Western Australia who specialise in urban mains and services replacement. Their recent project saw them rack up a proud milestone of 30,000m of replacements without a single utility strike. But it wasn’t without its fair share of headaches and hurdles.
Based in Perth, Apex Utilities spent several long months replacing nearly four kilometres of an aging PVC natural gas network buried in hard rock and under existing roadways around Fremantle. Despite the project’s difficulties, the expert team completed it with great satisfaction and pride.
Brett Tedman, General Manager Apex Utilities, said one of the most significant challenges faced by the team was dealing with existing utilities.
“Due to the MPA [or hardness] of the rock, very few of the existing services were installed in what would be considered ‘standard depth of cover and alignment’.
“Adding to the complexity, our third-party utility locate team, West Coast Locates, found multiple services laid directly beneath asphalt roads and concrete footpaths,” explained Brett.
Addressing the challenges
Addressing these challenges, the team took a meticulous approach to utility location and protection. They conducted a comprehensive scan of the bore path using ground-penetrating radar and cable avoidance tools, using both direct induction and passive sweep techniques. Core boring and non-destructive excavation methods were also used to visually confirm the presence of all existing services.
Additionally, mechanical excavation within 500mm of a known underground asset was prohibited unless the asset was fully exposed and protected. This precaution often necessitated replacing rock-breaking equipment with electric jackhammers, adding to the installation time.
Using multiple utility platforms, the team also conducted thorough desktop scopes to gather any additional information available, further ensuring the protection of existing utilities.
“This careful planning ensured the utilities were accurately located, and potential damage was minimised,” said Brett.
The importance of safety
Safety also played a crucial role throughout the project for this long-standing close-knit team.
“Safety is our number one priority. We have a strict policy, where no works start without a minimum of 15 years of combined experience on-site, ensuring every task is handled with expertise and caution,” Brett added.
Despite these challenges, the Fremantle PVC Replacement Project stands as a testament to meticulous planning, innovative problem-solving, and unwavering commitment to safety. Through careful execution and the dedication of a skilled and experienced team, the project was completed successfully, avoiding the common pitfalls of utility damage, delays, and disruptions.
Apex Utilities stands very proud of its track record. Keep up the great work team.
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