The company has carried out a number of successful projects but their first North Queensland success came when they were awarded a contract by Citiwater in Townsville to rehabilitate 8,350 m of 150 mm and 225 mm diameter sewers. Based on the performance of this contract, Kembla were subsequently awarded a two-year sewer rehabilitation term contract with CitiWater.

This gave Kembla the impetus to establish a separate office in Townsville to better service the North Queensland market.

Kembla is now entering the final stages of this term contract and the total work completed includes 24,585 m of 150 mm lining, 9,070 m of 225 mm lining, 1,596 m of 300 mm lining, 245 m of 375 mm lining and 1,735 junction reinstatements. As is generally the case, the majority of work was in the 150 mm to 300 mm reticulation size range. However, the 375 mm work presented the most difficult challenge.

Townsville

When the diameter of the sewer exceeds 300 mm, as in the case of the 375 mm sewer main in Townsville’s main straight, then Kembla utilises its Enviroliner system. This system is classified as ‘cast in place pipe’ (CIPP) and is well known to authorities throughout Australia, the USA, Europe and Asia.

CIPP technology has been used worldwide for over 25 years and is today the most widely used trenchless method for restoring full structural integrity to deteriorating pipelines.

Flinders Street in Townsville is well-known for its night clubs, restaurants and as the main thoroughfare from the ferry terminal and casino into town. A 375 mm sewer runs along the edge of the precinct immediately adjacent to the numerous shop fronts, restaurants, hotels and nightclubs. Conventional replacement methods such as digging would be a commercial disaster.

Knowing the benefits of Trenchless Technology in such situations, Citiwater specified this form of rehabilitation for this deteriorating pipeline. The Enviroliner CIPP process was the ideal solution because of its ability to line long lengths in a single installation and its short installation period.

Detailed site planning was undertaken on traffic movements, sewer flows and business operating hours in order to determine the best time frame for lining installation. The intense preparation coupled with the Kembla and Citiwater’s confidence in the expertise of the Enviroliner system was rewarded when the lining of the 245 m of sewer was completed over two nights without disruption and without a single customer complaint.

In addition to the program of works in Townsville, the company has also recently been awarded pipeline rehabilitation work in Cairns, Rockhampton and Mount Isa.

Cairns

Cairns Water services 46,000 residential and 2,800 commercial customers. The sewerage reticulation system is divided into six distinct catchment areas each serviced by a sewerage treatment plant. Cairns City Council is required to meet certain standards of wastewater treatment set by the EPA at these six wastewater plants.

The Queensland Government has recently introduced a Coastal Management Strategy which includes a Cleaner Seas Initiative section relating to the Barrier Reef Lagoon.

Cairns Water has embraced the benefits, environmental and otherwise, of Trenchless Technology with respect to their deteriorating sewers.

As a result, Cairns Water has awarded Kembla a contract for the rehabilitation of 3,622 m of 150 mm sewer pipe including the reinstatement of 239 connections in which Kembla’s Ex method PVC lining system is ideal for this application. In particular, about 900 m of sewer located in the CBD area were in need of rehabilitation and the Council had particular concerns over this work due to possible disruption caused to local businesses, restaurants and in particular, a licensed club.

Over 800 km of Ex pipe has been installed throughout Australia in the past 12 years and the Ex system is widely familiar due to its time effectiveness. Through careful planning and utilising the quick speed of the Ex system, these critical lengths were completed in a series of late night installations that caused no customer inconvenience whatsoever.

Herberton Shire

Herberton Shire is situated on the Atherton Tablelands about 105 km southwest of Cairns and covers an area of 9,603 sq km. Despite the shire’s small population of approximately 5,110, Trenchless Technology has reached this outlying area. The Council took the opportunity of Kembla’s operations in Cairns to negotiate an extension of this contract to enable 245 m of their sewer system to be lined at the same time so as to save on separate mobilisation costs and so on.

In conclusion, the aforementioned projects highlight the fact that Trenchless Technology can be of major benefit anywhere in Australia. With the establishment of a regional base in Townsville, Kembla Watertech has made a meaningful commitment to North Queensland.