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Specialists in high voltage sub stations, switch yard works, bridges, water tanks, concrete pavement and formwork, reinforcement and concrete placement.

2006 - Energy Australia - Argenton Substation in Detail

Contract 1 - Substation Access Bridge

In late 2005 Gongues was awarded the contract to construct the access bridge for what was to become the new Sub-Transmission Substation at Argenton. This project involved the construction of a new 17m span, two lane concrete bridge to provide access to the substation.

As this project crossed a flowing creek environmental protection was a major concern but by following our environmental management plan we were to maintain a very high standard of environmental protection.

After the bridge was constructed Gongues implemented a temporary traffic control plan while the night works to connect the bridge to 'Main Rd, Argenton'

Piling for bridge (60 steel screw piles approx 8m deep).

Pouring bridge Abutments.

Installation of pre-cast planks.

 

Roadworks on bridge lead up looking towards Lake Rd.

Night works for connection to Lake Rd.

  

 

Contract 2 - Argenton STS

The second contract we were granted on this site was for the construction of the 'Argenton 132/33kV & 132/11Kv Substation' for Energy Australia. This $15 000 000 project ran for approx 18mths and included

  • Approx 8000m3 of reinforced concrete

  • Three level control building

  • Six Outdoor Transformer Bunds

  • An indoor Switchroom

  • The export of 30 000 Tonnes of contaminated material

  • 120 Continuous Flight Auger Piles

  • Oil containment and separation

  • Other major services include security, VESDA, sprinkler systems, heating, ventilation and air conditioning 

 Control Building Construction

The approx 60m x 75m three story control building houses control and switching systems for both electrical levels (132/33kV and 132/11kV). Surrounding the control building are 5 active transformer bays plus one spare, all separated by blast walls 10m high to protect the transformers from a failure in an adjacent transformer.

Due to the buildings design like of 100 years and its sensitive contents waterproofing was a major concern, it was for this reason that all buried external walls and concrete roof slab were all epoxy sealed.

 

Basement excavation with first wall beam reinforcement.

Basement excavation showing cable trench waterproofing and piles.

Conduit bell mouth in section of basement wall.

 

Scaffolding setup for suspended concrete ground floor slab. The construction of the Audio Frequency and Communication buildings can be seen in the background.

 

Reinforcement being laid on the first section of the ground floor.

Earthworks for transformer bunds, some sections of waterproofing membrane can be seen on the walls surrounding the conduits.

Formwork being continued for the second section of the ground floor. The site sheds and access bridge can be seen in the background.

 

Blockwork for internal rooms on the ground floor with finished concrete columns. Steelwork for the Communication building roof can be seen on the left.

 

Reinforcement, formwork and conduits ready for concrete pour of transformer bund.

Rear blast wall blockwork being installed in background.

 

Installation of hollow core precast planks that make up the upper roof section.

 

Steel work for lower roof section being installed over waterproofed concrete roof slab. This provides two waterproofed layers above the sensitive equipment inside.

 

Roof sheets installed on lower roof section.

 

Louvres installed in front of the AF Room.

 

Blast walls ready for painting.

 Feeder Conduits

Gongues installed condits for electrical cables from the control buliding to the property boundary. This involved crossing a creek on one side and a swamp on the other.

During these crossings we implemented a new environmental management plan to ensure that there was no damage done to the surrounding environment for the duration of our works.

Feeder conduits leaving the substation heading towards the swamp. One environmental measure we used were box culverts to restrict the thermal backfill from spilling into the swamp.

Feeder conduits leaving the substation and heading towards Lake Rd. This photo was taken during the thermal backfill pour.

 

 

 

 Control Building Fit-out

Gongues were responsible for the fit-out of the mechanical systems for the control building. This included VESDA smoke detection, kitchen, bathroom, sprinkler system, cable tray, overhead crane and Ventilation systems.

 

Cable tray installed in the basement, in the floor are the grated covers over the cable trench

The red pipework on the ceiling is the sprinkler system.

This photo shows the cable tray meeting the bellmouths poured in the walls that lead to the feeder conduits.

The ventilation system in the top left was being installed when this photo was taken

Switch gear installed in the indoor switch room. This equipment was installed during our contract as part of a good faith agreement that allowed them to take advantage of our early completion of the switchroom.

 

Louvers on the battery rooms and the glass installed on the lunchroom.

 

Louvers installed on the front of the switchroom and the yard rock installed.

 

 

Project Completion

At the end of the project we were able to leave Energy Australia with a high quality product that was delivered on time and on budget.

The completed substation. Photo taken from Lake Rd.

The completed substation. Photo taken near Mary St