Solving a Stormwater Challenge at Oakley Creek – finding a way forward when conventional access wasn’t an option.
An existing 225mm stormwater pipe at Blockhouse Bay had displaced and failed on the bank of Oakley Creek, creating a challenging repair in a steep, constrained and environmentally sensitive location.
The biggest challenge wasn’t the pipe itself – it was how to get the equipment to the work site. The creek outfall was surrounded by bush and could only be accessed via pedestrian steps, with no practical route for conventional construction machinery.
An unconventional solution to an inaccessible site
Kerry Drainage & Civil developed a new alignment down the property boundary, incorporating a large vertical curve to navigate the constrained site without requiring a long lead-in.
The new pipe was pulled across Oakley Creek from Phyllis Reserve, with new manholes constructed at either end. But reaching the outfall required a more creative approach.
With no way to drive an excavator into the site, Kerry Drainage & Civil dismantled a small excavator, helicoptered the individual components into the bush, and then reassembled the machine on site.
This gave the team the machinery they needed to carry out the excavation and construct the outfall in a location that was otherwise inaccessible to conventional equipment.
A pit drill with a modified reamer was also used to drill the outfall, with the work undertaken under tight environmental observation to minimise the risk of debris entering Oakley Creek.
Getting the job innovatively, without compromising the environment
The project was delivered on time and within budget. The combination of helicopter access, a reassembled excavator and specialised drilling techniques allowed Kerry Drainage & Civil to complete the works safely and efficiently in an extremely constrained location.
Rather than trying to force a conventional construction method into an unconventional site, KD Civil developed a solution around the challenges of the location.
