27/10/2016Planning the key to project delivery success for Zinfra in Beauty Point, Tasmania
After several weeks of intense planning and community engagement, Zinfra crews implemented an unconventional transformer upgrade at Beauty Point, a town by the Tamar River in the north-east of Tasmania.
The live line crews took a less conventional approach to upgrade the transformer in order to reduce the switching required by client TasNetworks, and to minimise outages and disruption to local customers and businesses.
The method used involved isolating affected transformers, untying the live 22kV conductor from the poles, and then lifting it using a 50 tonne crane. Once lifted safely out of the way, two crews installed the two new poles and a new hung transformer. Zinfra could use this type of procedure as the old poles were not condemned and were being upgraded as part of the transformer works.
Using this procedure for the upgrade works meant only 35 customers were affected, rather than up to 150 customers, many of whom are located in the heart of the town’s commercial and tourist area near the wharf.
Project Manager for Zinfra, Paul Catlin, said, “Planning and preparation were key to the success of this project. I completed several pre-site visits and made sure any important information was fed back to the crews through our toolbox and pre-start meetings.”
Community engagement was also a large part of the preparation. Impacted residents and businesses were notified several weeks in advance. Considerable interface was also required with TasWater who are reliant on power supply for pumps that are essential to the delivery of the local water supply. Adequate notification meant affected parties could arrange generators and other contingencies.
Working solidly all day, the works were completed and tested without incident or customer complaint. Mr Catlin concluded, “If you plan out your job properly, weather should be the only factor that can hold you back on the day.”