Charleston Dam Water Supply Infrastructure, Rural Queensland
North Marine is contracted to install Charleston Dam water supply infrastructure for the tender “Water Infrastructure Works – Installation Phase”, by Etheridge Shire Council, rural QLD.
Client: Etheridge Shire Council, Queensland
Scope of Work
Charleston Dam provides water to the townships of Forsayth and Georgetown in Queensland. The dam is located approximately 400km southwest of Cairns (1,800km north-west of Brisbane).
North Marine crew and commercial divers install water intake pipes, an electrical pump, four mooring systems and two pontoons to house the raw-water intake infrastructure, for the Charleston Dam.
Additionally, water pipes are poly welded and groundcover pipe/electrical cable areas are trenched and filled over (approx 100meters) from the reservoir to the dam.
North Marine was the primary contractor for this Tender, using sub-contractors for electrical and building/groundworks.
North Marine’s commercial diving division managed all aspects of the infrastructure installation. Furthermore, they designed, fabricated and installed the pontoon mooring systems – comprised of mooring blocks, chains, and cable, per naval architect drawings.
North Marine utilised workboat ‘Tin Duck’ and landing barge ‘Reef Safari’ on the Charleston Dam water infrastructure project.
Deliverables
- Design, fabrication and installation of mooring systems for the pontoons – 1 x Main Pontoon, 1 x Pump Pontoon
- Installation of pontoons – 1 x Main Pontoon, 1 x Pump Pontoon
- Installation of the raw water intake pipe – including poly-welding, installation of pipe floats (water) and pipe protection earthworks (land)
- Installation of electrical cable
- Electrical trenching – land area
- Co-ordinating all sub-contractors, as necessary
- Transporting bulk equipment from Cairns to the worksite
Considerations
Environmental management, including erosion, sediment control and operating within the ‘Environmental and Cultural Heritage Protection’ requirements, was critical.
The logistically complex project included managing multiple sub-contractors and transporting bulk equipment from Cairns to the remote region. This included the new pontoon installations and North Marine workboats.
The pontoons were manufactured in Cairns by English Engineering.
The client sought a contractor who could deliver all project objectives with a keen eye on value for money. With much experience operating within remote regions, coordinating sub-contractors efficiently and utilising local providers and workforce, North Marine is able to execute on all fronts.
Government Supplier – Local Contractor North Marine
North Marine is a prominent marine contractor company based in the Port of Cairns in Far North Queensland, Australia. North Marine has a long history of delivering maritime support to the public sector – including Councils and Government agencies.
Most notably, North Marine holds long-term, recurring contracts with Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service (QPWS) and the Bureau of Meteorology. – See ‘Case Studies’ for more examples.
Discriminators
- Extensive track record of Government contracting
- Environmentally & socially aware company – with experience operating in the ‘Environmental and Cultural Heritage Protection’ requirements
- Adept at delivering logistically complex and/or remote projects
- A fleet of suitable charter vessels to perform works
- Local SME business using a local FNQ workforce
- ISO Accredited
- Experienced project managers and key personnel
- Established at co-ordinating sub-contractors
- Able to deliver all project objectives with value for money
Outcome
North Marine successfully completed the contract with all project objectives delivered in full, on time and within budget.
All deliverables were met without incident. North Marine’s experienced Project Managers achieved the best results for the Etheridge Shire Council and its stakeholders.
Arial Map of Water Supply Installation Worksite at Charleston Dam
The map demonstrates the North Marine installation works area – From the water holding tank on the left to the pump pontoon on the right.
About the Charleston Dam, in Queensland Australia
The Etheridge Shire Council constructed the Charleston Dam to provide town water supply to the townships of Forsayth and Georgetown.
It is located on the Delaney River in the remote Savannah Gulf Region of Queensland, Australia.
The area is considered an important cultural heritage site, and the dam has an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) in place.
The planning process for the dam’s development has taken place in communication with the Traditional Owners of the land – the Ewamian People.
In addition to town water, the dam is used recreationally by locals.
Learn more about the Etheridge Shire Council and the Charleston Dam here.