Springvale Mt Piper Power Station Water Treatment Facility
Abergeldie was engaged by Veolia Water Australia under a design and construct contract to build a 14.8 km Water Transfer Scheme from Springvale Mine, along with a new Water Treatment Facility at Mt Piper Power Station. This facility will treat up to 48 ML per day of water produced from mining operations for use in the power station.
Scope of works
The scope of work included:
- Design, construction, testing, and commissioning of a 14.8 km pipeline, including a pipe-jacked pass beneath a main road and privately-owned buildings, to transfer mine water from the Springvale and Angus Place Mines to the power station.
- Construction, testing, and pre-commissioning of a water treatment system adjacent to the power station to use treated water for cooling and release surplus treated water to the environment.
- Construction, testing, and pre-commissioning of a new brine crystallisation system and salt slurry ponds at the power station for efficient brine disposal.
- Associated mechanical and electrical works.
- Improvements to existing brine concentrators, control buildings and access roads.
Innovative trenching solutions in sensitive areas
Collaborative planning and problem-solving led to innovative responses to risks and opportunities, such as refining trenching and backfill compaction methods for pipeline construction through sensitive forested areas. The construction corridor was kept as narrow as possible to minimise damage to rare flora and wildlife habitats. This narrow trench could not accommodate a conventional excavator for backfill compaction, so a custom-designed vibrating plate attachment for a small excavator was created. This solution reduced equipment size, excavation volume, costs, and construction time.