Protecting the borefield’s operational integrity

Hunter Water engaged Tallai to deliver the design and construct upgrade of the Tomago Pump Station, a vital part of the region’s water infrastructure. Tallai demolished the existing vacuum building, protected the live electrical boards and other plant and equipment inside it, and built a new building over the existing footprint.

The upgrade was a key investment in safeguarding the Tomago Borefields’ operational integrity, supporting a resilient water supply as the community grows. The scope included civil refurbishment works, LV upgrades and equipment relocations, all executed with no unplanned disruptions to ongoing operations.

Tallai’s scope of work

• Protect existing equipment. Measures to safeguard operational equipment through all phases of construction and refurbishment.
• Removal of heritage items. Careful removal and preservation of heritage items in line with heritage management guidelines.
• Demolition and asbestos removal. Demolition of the existing building housing the pump station, including asbestos removal and site clearance.
• Excavation. Works for foundations, service trenches and below ground infrastructure.
• FRP. Installation of fibreglass reinforced plastic panels and components as structural and protective elements.
• Structural steel and block work. Erection of steel frameworks and construction of block work for support and enclosure.
• Recommissioning of electrical works. Reconnection, testing and commissioning of electrical systems.
• Metal roofing and cladding. New roofing and exterior cladding to weatherproof the facility.
• Condition assessment and refurbishment. Assessment and refurbishment of the existing dry well structure and surfaces.
• External pavements. Construction and resurfacing of external pavements for access and safety.

Keeping the history as well as the water

The project was about more than upgrading infrastructure. By preserving and protecting the original elements of the borefield pump station, a connection to the area’s past was kept. Tallai gifted the gantry crane to a local community group.