Pipeline Rehabilitation of Deteriorated Stormwater Conduits in Sydney

Abstract

Urban stormwater systems are gaining increasing focus from utilities and asset owners throughout Australia. Sydney is the oldest urban settlement in Australia and with a correspondingly aged stormwater network, much of it dating back to the early 20th Century. Accurate records are not always available and many of these assets have either ceased functioning or deteriorated to the extent they no longer fulfil their intended purpose. Sydney Water and a number of local government councils have embarked on renewal programs that aim to restore the serviceability of existing stormwater assets. The Sydney CBD in particular, and metropolitan area in general, present many access constraints for rehabilitation activities, including major traffic movements, key transport nodes, commercial/retail activity, pedestrian, tourism and cultural activities. In addition, the work has potential heritage and environmental impacts at sites in The Rocks, Millers Point, Circular Quay, the Royal Botanical Gardens and discharge points to sensitive waterways in Sydney Harbour, Parramatta River and the Georges River. Rehabilitation projects in high density urban areas have the potential to impact on residents and various stakeholders. Insituform implemented a Community & Stakeholder Engagement Plan to liaise with key stakeholders (including the high profile Light Rail Project) in order to undertake works safely without disruption to the community, or detrimental impact on the environment. Accordingly, much of the works in these areas needed to be completed at night. One of the benefits of stormwater rehabilitation using Cured-In-Place-Pipe (CIPP) relining technologies is that several stormwater pipes that were originally identified for full dig and replacement were actually relined, saving the Client significant cost and avoiding major disruption to the community.