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2022 Local Government Newsletter

March 7, 2022

At BEC we appreciate you’re extremely busy providing services to your community, especially with the current declared events. Our purpose at BEC is to help you with services that range from seeking federal disaster recovery funding, provision of site supervisory expertise, professional project management, through to design and engineering services. Please reach out if we can assist you with:

  • Flood Damage Assessment
  • Funding Application
  • Project Management
  • Road Condition Report
  • Project Superintendency
  • Design & Compliance
  • Data pickup & onsite coordination of Council resources
  • Council Representation
  • Financial Management

 To date we have administered in the order of $400 million of restoration works across the east coast. Hoping that our 2022 Local Government Newsletter provides some ‘good news’ during another challenging year. Click Here to read now!

PNGFP Timber Bridges Design Review & Certification

March 11, 2020

#Project no. 6887

BEC was engaged by PNG Forest Products Limited (PNGFP) to urgently provide Structural Design review, certification, and documentation for three timber bridges in Papua New Guinea.

The bridges were constructed from plywood decks with LVL girders. Our review was specific to the structure strength, durability, serviceability & connections with reference to current versions of the nominated standards.

This project is one of many that helps the team at BEC hone in on their multinational design & documentation expertise, and we are proud to have worked with PNGFP on this. 

Carrathool Pedestrian Bridge

October 23, 2019

Project No. 7264

Carrathool Shire Council appointed Built Environment Collective to provide concept design & engineers’ reporting suitable for funding submission for a new pedestrian bridge.

The proposed bridge will span 42m across the Lachlan River, and is intended to facilitate public access between Hillston Memorial Park and Desatholon Park, in Hillston NSW.

BEC conducted feasibility studies for 3 different design options, including a steel truss, cable stayed & timber deck, and cable stayed with CFT (Composite Fibre Technology) deck option.  Our reporting included comparative analysis on each options’ structural system, construction materials, & associated construction cost. An engineers’ recommendation rounded out our report, leaving Council informed & well positioned to source & secure funding. (more…)

Helensvale Rail Slab Inspection

January 18, 2019

Project No: 6915

Our Helensvale Rail project was a forensic inspection and 3rd party review of a slab which had exhibited cracking. The site contractors noticed some surface crazing post-pour; small cracks which widened substantially as time passed. Our site inspection found that the slab in question – the final concrete pour of five using the same concrete batch – had been delayed due to the possible onset of rain. The sub-base material was also sodden due to rain in the days leading up to the pour.

We found that the slab’s jointing was ineffective and the saw-through joints were too shallow, which resulted in shrinkage cracking. We also identified 3m long, hairline longitudinal cracking which may have been due to flexural stress due to trafficking across a weak/sodden sub-base or the tapered slab base on one side.

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Callide Creek Bridge Investigation

January 18, 2019

Project No: 6992

The BEC team were asked to undertake a forensic investigation of the new Callide Creek Bridge in Biloela. The S40 concrete mix exhibited low compressive strength in the relieving slabs, and low 7-day compressive strengths on the piling mix. The concrete test results came in at 38mpa, just under the Main Road’s required 40mpa, bringing into question the building’s strength and durability.  BEC were called in by the concrete supplier who were faced with the possibility of having to demolish and reconstruct the entire structure free of charge if their concrete was proven to be inadequate.

The BEC Team analysed batch records, compressive strengths test results and NCR findings. BEC’s investigation found that following the concrete pour, the test samples were transported over 500kms in unstable conditions (while curing) to the facility where they were tested, which likely impacted its strength. Following our full analysis, the BEC Team assessed that the concrete on site was sufficient to provide the strength and building life expected, and we provided a letter of support for our client which enabled them to avoid rebuilding at their own expense.