Defence-Aurecon Ascend Program, Australia
The Ascend Program is designed to support women to step into leadership roles and drive greater gender equity and inclusion within the Defence workforce.
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The highly responsive, proactive and reliable delivery of upgrading 10 ordnance loading aprons at RAAF Base Townsville resulted in the project being delivered 63 days ahead of schedule.
In addition to being home to numerous air squadron, an army aviation regiment, air force cadets, and a combat survival training school, the base supports other Australian Defence Force operations and exercises involving all in-service aircraft types, together with myriad aircraft from visiting forces.
This project involved major roofing and electrical works on all ordnance loading aprons and is an example of a short delivery method project in a challenging airfield environment. This method is a procedure by which initiation to close is expedited for a construction project.
Unlike traditional aircraft hangars, ordnance loading aprons are located near the runway as their main purpose is to provide a safe and secure area for the loading and unloading of weapons, and other ordnance and ammunition onto aircraft.
The works project managed by Aurecon included replacement of steel roofing and walls, electrical, hydraulic and fire services, and structural elements including purlins, bridging members, girts and fixings. The project was challenging due to the security requirements of working airfield side of a base.
In line with the short delivery method, Aurecon developed the functional design (to 30 per cent complete) and performance specifications and scope of works for handover to the appointed contractor.
There were several design and management challenges associated with this project, largely because it was an active base and works shutdowns could be imposed with only short notice, and possibly for indefinite periods. Aurecon addressed this by working closely with the contractor so resources could be deployed in response to peaks and troughs in access, and multiple trades could work safely and efficiently simultaneously.
Materials were difficult to source as the project progressed during the COVID-19 pandemic, so Aurecon, with the contractor, worked to procure the required materials early in the design process and have them available on site.
Over time, Fairy Martins (a small bird member of the swallow family) had begun nesting between the existing apron sheeting and purlins. Cognisant of Defence’s environmental obligations, Aurecon arranged for a licenced ornithologist to successfully relocate the nests outside of the species’ breeding cycle.
A safety programme was also introduced to manage foreign object debris from entering the runway from the construction sites. This involved training, facility inspection, maintenance and coordination between each company contributing to the project to minimise the volume of debris and its potential effects on aircraft.
The short delivery method approach was to deliver a single ordnance loading apron for approval by Defence which would establish a prototype for the remaining nine aprons. It provided Defence with confidence that all design, environmental, base operation and stakeholder engagement factors could be delivered with accuracy and efficiency.
Defence now has modern and highly efficient ordnance loading aprons to enable personnel to continue their important work of managing national security.
The project has won the following awards:
The Ascend Program is designed to support women to step into leadership roles and drive greater gender equity and inclusion within the Defence workforce.
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