Desert Country Aerodrome Upgrades

Description

This project was part of the Australian Government’s Regional Aviation Access Program—upgrading aerodromes in remote and isolated communities. These airstrips are crucial infrastructure for the communities they serve.

This contract delivered the successful completion of eight aerodrome upgrades in Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

Works

Key elements undertaken varied between sites, but included:

• Pavement rehabilitation, ranging from grading and watering to resealing
• Clearing, grubbing and de-vegetation in side gradients and take-off and approach zones
• Resurvey and set out of new runway markers—cones, gables, wind indicators
• Lighting installation and commissioning— floodlights, wind indicator
• Survey set-out and camel-proof fencing

Challenges

• Executing works on a live aerodrome
• Remote locations with difficult access
• Indigenous Relations

Our Management

CivilTeam sourced materials and equipment to deal with any unexpected changes in the scope of works. The team took as much as practical with them, including smaller plant that was able to negotiate roads that would have stopped heavier equipment in adverse weather conditions.

CivilTeam endeavoured to have as little impact on the remote communities as possible, to reach satisfactory compromises where needed, and to involve locals in the project when appropriate (e.g. labour).

Constant communication was maintained with essential services and works were planned to ensure that at all times the project team were able to have the landing strip fully serviceable within 10 minutes.

Value Add

CivilTeam maintained communication with the client, forwarding photos and drawings that enabled real-time decisions to be made. As a result variations and alterations were minimised which would have been very costly to the client.