Steep bushland terrain, proximity to vulnerable community members and a prolonged low-pressure weather system were just some of the complexities which made the Kareela Sewer repair a memorable project.
With safe access for people and equipment a major concern, Project Manager Ashleigh Borg consulted closely with Sydney Water and Council in the design and construction of a safe and reliable access track into the steep gully.
Ashleigh explained some of the unique challenges of the project. “We were up against it from the beginning because of the location and weather. But from day one, our crews got in there, gave us access and got the job done.”
The commencement of work coincided with a prolonged period of heavy rainfall, but according to Ashleigh, the team rose to the occasion. “Hitesh Chamarthy, Fouad Yahya and all our crew members found ways to overcome the challenges and get the job done. There was no obstacle they couldn’t overcome.”
For Ashleigh, the standout aspects of the project were the design and construction of the access track, and the way the Interflow team interacted with stakeholders. “Dylan Fayrer Hickey, Josh Mott and James Dickson did a fantastic job of managing it from the beginning. It was a site that was highly visited by Sydney Water, and the crew managed all the visitors and their questions really well. They went above and beyond with the way they presented themselves and the information. Nothing was too hard for them.”
In line with Interflow’s purpose of improving the environments we work in, all of the ballast brought in for the access track was later repurposed in gabion basket retaining walls, providing stability in some of the more vulnerable sections of the gully.
Interflow’s Community Relations team also built strong relationships with the surrounding residents, particularly the Thomas Holt Retirement Village. The trust established at the beginning of the project allowed the Interflow team to manage issues quickly and effectively, leaving the community with a positive impression of Interflow and its people.
Ultimately, Interflow’s crews left the site in better condition than they found it, with vegetation restoration, new retaining walls, and an improved access track for bushwalkers all constructed by our team.
