ODG Commended on South Australia and Victoria

O’Donnell Griffin South Australia and Victoria have both recently received National Electrical and Communications (NECA) Certificates of Commendation for projects they have worked on.

ODG South Australia received their Certificate of Commendation for their work on the new 12 storey SANTOS headquarters building in Flinders Street, Adelaide. ODG were able to offer a complete Electrical Package for the project while their sister company, Diverse Data Communications. Completed the Voice Cabling, Access Control System and CCTV systems. The project also successfully received a Green Star 5 tick rating, one of the first projects in South Australia to do so.

ODG Victoria won their award for both their Occupational Health and Safety and their work on the Middleborough Road project. The job encompassed the removal of the railway crossing on Middleborough Road in Box Hill and works first commenced in October 2006.

The project was undertaken over a four month time frame and included the continual relocation and reconnection and commissioning of differing cable systems away from the workface and the provision of temporary power services to the workface.

Norfolk lists on the ASX

Norfolk, the parent company of O’Donnell Griffin, successfully listed on the ASX on the 27th of July. This is another milestone in the companies’ long term growth and development strategy.

In undertaking this move, Norfolk will have access to liquid markets to support its growth strategies, which include:

• Organic growth through the exposure of Norfolk’s offering to both broader services and new geographies
• Execution of acquisitions that complement Norfolk technologically and geographically
• International expansion to selected
• New locations where there is high demand for Norfolk’s services from new, as well as existing customers
  

Southern Improvement Alliance Update

The Melbourne to Sydney rail corridor upgrade is one of the largest rail projects of its kind in Australia. O’Donnell Griffin, part of the Southern Improvement Alliance, has successfully completed the installation of the signalling systems at Junee which has seen the Train Control Consolidation Commission (TCC) project pass the halfway mark.

The new signalling system replaces old hand-operated semaphore signals and mechanical points with a more cost effective automated system centrally controlled out of Junee.

At present the team are focusing on the Moss Vale and Cootamundra projects.

On Target in Dalrymple bay

O’Donnell Griffin is up to date in its involvement in the $1 billion upgrade of the Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal Project, south of Mackay in Queensland.

The first stage of ODG’s $10 million works, which includes the installation of four new substations, upgrading existing stations and shutdown targets on stacker reclaimers and conveyors is progressing very well, said ODG Project Manager Steve Jago.

“The complexity of the work schedule and keeping the coal terminal running at near full capacity while these works take place is ever evolving and requires the ongoing synchronization of all teams working at the site” Jago said.

The seventh upgrade to the Dalrymple Bay coal terminal will see coal loading capacity increase by more than 20 per cent to around 68 million tonnes with the completion of the new 3.8km jetty by the end of 2008.

With over three quarters of the project completed, it is anticipated this project will be completed shortly.

Warragamba Dam – Still Going Strong

More than a year after being awarded the contract from the Sydney Catchment Authority (SCA) for the complete upgrade of Warragamba Dam’s electrical infrastructure, major progress has been made with this $20 million project.

The upgrade of the HV/LV reticulation has been completed as has the communications voice and data systems around the dam. The upper and lower dam main switchboards have also been replaced.

ODG has commenced replacing the lighting and power systems within the dam’s extensive service galleries contained inside the dam walls. The extent of these works can be seen by the fact that there is 6.5km of underground walkways and tunnels which need to be negotiated daily.

Also completed is the replacement of the dam’s ventilation system and installation of a new fire detection system. In addition to this, new instrumentation and new SCADA and PLC systems, plus a new security and communications system have been completed.

During the design process ODG provided alternative designs for the HV, LV and lighting systems which resulted in both cost savings to the client and allowed for more efficient operation and maintenance. The project is scheduled for completion in June 2008.

ODG Win NECA Award

Fortescue Metals Group Iron Ore Port Facility

O’Donnell Griffin Partners with Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney To Prevent Traumatic Injury

Sydney -- O'Donnell Griffin has made a major donation to the Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney Research Foundation for a research initiative to help prevent injuries.  O’Donnell Griffin is celebrating 100 years of involvement with some of Australia’s most important major construction projects. Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney (RRCS), too, has also been working more than 100 years of working in partnership with  their clients, many of whom have been hurt at work and at play.

The initial project team of ODG Leadership Team and RRCS management and Board Members identified the need to find the cause of the behaviour leading up to a fall resulting in traumatic injury.  Falls are the number one risk for our staff in the industry- and falls are the greatest cause of injury to clients at the Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney, often from a height under one metre.

With experts across industry and clinical practice, the ODG/RRCS team determined the aim of this initiative is to ultimately influence the behaviour of people at home and in the workplace to prevent a traumatic injuries through falls.

The Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney  (RRCS) provides highly specialised, individual client-focused rehabilitation services for adults sustaining a wide range of traumatic injury and illness including neurological injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, orthopaedic injury and amputations, and age related illness or disease.

The ODG leadership team members, who attended the visit to the Centre’s facility in Ryde NSW, were impressed by the dedication and expertise of the staff and clinical associates, the range of rehabilitation programs available to the community and the types of care the Centre provides.

“While financial contributions are very important to organisations like the RRCS, O’Donnell Griffin also sought to become more actively involved in a program we could identify and align ourselves with.   Following discussions between the parties, an opportunity arose to fund a research project  into the prevention of  “traumatic injury from falls” together with the RRCS.  The research project relates both to the community and the workplace and we are looking forward to implementing the learnings which may arise from this research. “ said David Lee, General Manager ODG.

RRCS CEO Peter Williamson said, "O'Donnell Griffin has demonstrated industry leadership in exploring this issue to promote a safer workforce, and ultimately improve quality of life across its organisation and beyond."

“We felt as a company, that we wanted to ‘give-back’ to the community, and participate in a community program that reaffirms our commitment to safety management and accident prevention not only in the workplace but every aspect of life. ” explained David Lee. “ODG is concerned with the safety and care of our people, and supporting the Royal Rehabilitation Centre seems to be a perfect fit for us as a leading Australian industrial contracting organisation.”

 
“In addition, we will work with the Centre in building awareness and seeking support from other companies involved in the construction industry. We are excited about this community-based program.”

MARCH 1, 2007 - ODG provides integrated signalling capabilities for $500 million Sydney - Melbourne rail corridor upgrade project

Corridor works on the Australian Rail Track Corporation Ltd's $500 million Sydney - Melbourne Rail Corridor Upgrade project, which will reduce transit time by up to two and a half hours and increase the line's freight transport capacity, has commenced.

The corridor activity signals one of the most important projects ever undertaken in Australia's rail history. O'Donnell Griffin, a leading provider of professional specialist industrial and commercial electrical solutions, has formed an alliance with engineers CW-DC to provide ARTC with an integrated rail signalling design, install, commission and maintenance capability. This capability will provide a single port of call to ARTC and the Australian rail industry in general.

ARTC has entered into an Alliance style contract, known as the South Improvement Alliance, with O’Donnell Griffin/CW-DC as providers of signalling services and John Holland/MVM as providers of Track and Civil services to encompass the whole of the $500 million upgrade program of works.

The O’Donnell Griffin/CW-DC alliance allows ARTC the flexibility to select designers unrestricted by specific rail technologies and provides the latter with an installation team comprising diversified technical knowledge and experience.

"The alliance allows us to deliver a first class solution which will contribute to the development of a world class system and deliver our clients an integrated vision for rail in Australia," said Francis Dwornik, Rail Systems Manager, O'Donnell Griffin.

O'Donnell Griffin's Railway Systems Division has provided professional engineering expertise to the rail industry since 1980. Customers include most rail corporations in all States of Australia and companies such as BHP, Freightcorp, John Holland Construction, Leighton Contractors and Multiplex.

ARTC's South Improvement Alliance contract will see the provision of about 220 kilometres of new passing loops, extensive upgrading of railway infrastructure and the modernisation of the line's signalling system.

The end result will see rail freight transport become more competitive on the Sydney - Melbourne Rail Corridor with increased line capacity, reduced transit times and increased rail market share of the multi-million dollar interstate freight transport market.

For further information, please contact Paula Downing on phone number (08) 9479 8894.

Regional Fast Rail Project

ODG has proved yet again it can work to extraordinary deadlines and make a project successful with its work on the $40 million Regional Fast Rail project in Victoria. The major project for 2005/2006 involved ODG entering into a lump sum contract to provide signalling and power works for the Bendigo and LaTrobe Valley lines.

The works included:

• design reviews
• installation of new track equipment
• construction of new main and local cable routes
• supply and install new signalling and HV power cable
• Testing and commissioning (Jointly with WSA)
• Removal of redundant equipment

Not only did ODG successfully complete all these roles to the highest level but it managed to achieve its targets despite having six months cut from its 18 month program.

This successful outcome has since given ODG the reputation to bid successfully for other major rail projects and is currently working on more than $250 million of rail projects across Australia.

ODG Project Manager Jeff Russell said the RFR project was the largest rail project in Victoria since the 1998-1999 Jolimont rationalization project when ODG worked in the Flinders St yards cutting 52 lines down to 10 to allow for the relocation of shunting yards out of the CBD.

“The RFR project has had an image problem because it was portrayed as a Very Fast Train project when in reality it was a major upgrade of aging infrastructure. The Regional Fast Rail project has delivered what it promised. Shorter travel times on much faster trains using the latest signalling and power systems,” Mr Russell said.

Trains now run at up to 160 kmh for the majority of the journeys. Before the upgrade the top speed was 130 kmh and only for short bursts due to track safety and signalling issues.

Mr Russell said the ODG role was very complex because the team was required to work “as traffic permits” with no interruption to the train services on the busy country lines except for a short time when the tracks were closed.

In order to achieve these goals in such a short time frame up to 220 people were working on site.

Mr Russell said the task consisted of removing 19th century mechanised railway signalling and replacing it with the latest equipment as well as a major power installation upgrade.

Overall the $700 million project consisted of upgrades on the Bendigo-Sydneham and Traralgon-Pakenham lines including new rails, upgraded tracks and the installation of passing lines where the dual track had been reduced to single track to allow for the new faster trains.

Mr Russell said the task was made more difficult because not only did they have to undertake major operational requirements but was required to create a new timetable for the trains.

ODG worked with Westinghouse and John Holland on the project. John Holland undertook all the track and civil work as well as building several railway stations while Westinghouse Signals Australia provided the signalling equipment. ODG installed the signalling system and established the power system.

“We have installed the latest equipment backed by an uninterruptible power supply so that in the event of failure the signalling system cannot lose power,” he said. “It was a very complex and difficult project that showcased the extraordinary talents of ODG staff”.

ODG / DDC assist in finding Australian soldiers MIA in Vietnam

Operation Aussies Home (OAH) today announced it had handed over to Australian authorities for finalisation the case of two Australian soldiers missing in action in Vietnam since 1965.

A volunteer team from OAH has unearthed human remains and artefacts in on old battlefield north of Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.

The team from OAH, Vietnam veterans, worked the site over the past four weeks and on Tuesday April 17, 2007 uncovered the remains of what is thought to be two people buried in a makeshift grave.

OAH leader, retired infantry Lt Col, Jim Bourke said artefacts discovered in the grave strongly indicated the remains could be those of soldiers Lance Corporal Richard Parker and Private Peter Gillson who were killed on November 8,1965 and their bodies not recovered.

“We have notified the nominated representatives of families involved about our find and advised them that Australian and Vietnamese authorities will formally identify the remains,” Mr Bourke said.

“We are advised the Australian government is putting together a team, including forensic specialists, to examine what we have recovered and to excavate the site.”

“We are confident, this brings to a conclusion a case that dragged on for more than 40 years,” Mr Bourke said.

Four years ago, Operation Aussies Home began serious investigations amid scepticism from the defence bureaucracy and a major ex-service organisations.

“But our own persistence, the support of many individual veterans and generous financial assistance from private donors eventually got us to a point where the evidence we had was so substantial the Minister Assisting Minister for Defence, Mr Bruce Billson gave us financing to carry out this final phase of the project,” Mr Bourke said.

Central to the success of the search was the use of two high-tech ground penetrating radar (GPR) provided by Canberra-based Diverse Data Communications and The Australian National University.

The volunteers supervised a team of local workers to clear vegetation and rocks from more than 4000 square metres of the hills side so that the GPR could be used to identify possible grave sites or former weapon pits; the two were known to have been buried in a weapon pit.

A mechanical excavator was used to dig more than 30 separate holes in a bid to find evidence of the pits and hand digging was used in those areas where anything of interest was turned up. A number of other likely areas identified in May 2006 were also excavated.

“As the team worked through the last pit where we found the remains, the diggers constantly whispered to the two men buried there, telling them they were now finally coming home,’ Mr Bourke said.

“Vietnamese workers – without whom we could not have completed this huge task – laid incense and fruit by the grave site and said prayers in a Vietnamese custom which truly touched us all,” Mr Bourke said.

“This is an issue that goes much further than just the families of those who went missing.”

“Many former comrades have carried the failure to recover these two men with them since 1965 and have been counting the days since,” Mr Bourke said.

“All members of the Battalion at the time felt the loss – it was as if a huge black cloud hung over us after that day in November 1965.” He said.

Vietnam veterans in the team were leader Jim Bourke of Melbourne a two-tour veteran who served in the same battalion at the time they went missing, two-tour veteran, former Royal Australian Engineer Warrant Officer, Peter Aylett from Brisbane who supervised the search program and Sydney-based two-tour veteran Walter Pearson who acted as interpreter and liaison officer with local authorities.

Former Army Reserve officer David Thomas of Nelson Bay supervised the excavations. Sydney lawyer Ray Latimer and Diverse Data Communications’ GPR Operator Jeffery Wullaert of Canberra did the final painstaking digging work to unearth the evidence.

Paul Brugman from the Australian National University’s School of Asian and Pacific Studies and Jeffery Wullaert of Diverse Data Communications operated the radar machines and did the data analysis.

Six Australian servicemen were killed in Vietnam and their bodies not recovered. A RAAF bomber crew and an SAS trooper remain not fully accounted for.

In April 1971, a MEDIVAC helicopter crewman was killed in a crash in hills outside Vung Tau south-east of Saigon.

Last month, on 21-23 March, OAH assisted a Department of Defence forensic investigation of this case. The Minister, Mr Billson is waiting for the report of the investigation.

Operation Aussies Home expressed its thanks to Queensland businessman Mr Paul Darraouzet for his vital financial support and to the Minister Mr Billson, the first Minister to seriously pursue the issue of Servicemen missing in action in Vietnam.

OAH also thanked all the individuals, veterans and non-veterans, who gave encouragement and support throughout this search.

Warragamba Dam - New Upgrade Keeps The Water Flowing

O’Donnell Griffin NSW  has been awarded a contract from the Sydney catchment authority (SCA) for the complete upgrade of the Warragamba dam electrical infrastructure. the dam was opened in 1960 and stores 80% of sydney’s water supply. building started back in 1948, and it is the largest concrete dam in Australia, and when full, its lake is four times the size of Sydney harbour.

ODG has the credentials for this task, having delivered similar projects including the Deep Water Recovery electrical installation for SCA previously. ODG Business Unit Manager, Mal Reid, said the project would completely replace the current electrical infrastructure within the dam walls, most of which hasn’t been upgraded since it was installed in the
early 1950s.

The upgrade is taking place over a wide area, and while this is happening, the facility has to be maintained operationally. Being Sydney’s main water supply continued operation is of paramount importance.

Mal said the contract had to take into account substantial environmental factors and ODG has retained the services of environmental consultants ERM, to assist. There is also Heritage listings on some of the older equipment and ODG have engaged a consultant to film and record the changes made to the infrastructure. One of the older Switch Boards is to be pulled apart cleaned and given back to the SCA for their heritage presentation.

The contract will be carried out in four separate stages, and incorporates design, HV/LV infrastructure and communication construction, and the PLC/SCADA maintenance.

The job involves replacing an OH HV system with an underground Ringmain system. Replacing lighting and power systems within the dam’s extensive service galleries, including accommodation for potential flooding within the lower galleries. Replacement of the dam’s ventilation system, and installation of a new fire detection system. New instrumentation, and new SCADA and PLC systems, plus new security and communications systems.

Mal said the timeframe for completion of the job was 90 weeks.