Formwork Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Mining Construction’

When I arrived at Construction Camp 123 Cape Preston Western Australia, I was wandering who would be the first person I would bump into that I already know from another job. Well, it was formwork carpenter Rami who I first met at Prominent Hill SA a couple of years ago.

Ed and Rami at Cape Preston WA

Good to see ya mate

Location: Whyalla Pellet Plant South Australia

Here’s another thrust block formwork job we had to do, but this time it was below the water table which means that water would be continually pouring into the job the whole time.

Thrust Block Excavation

Imagine arriving at this job and they say they want a couple of thrust blocks around these pipes, and they want it quick coz it’s “just a couple of thrust blocks”

Pumping the Water Out

Not only that, Des had to be very careful while digging out this watery goop to avoid damage to the fiber optic telecomminications and electrical cables while the pump pumps water out all day long. Des named this job The Swamp Monster

Concrete Thrust Blocks (Pump Still Pumping)

Finally the job is done and the Concrete Thrust Blocks are in position. The formwork for this job was almost the same as this other thrust block formwork we did.

Location: Camp Turner Mining Construction Camp, Pilbara Region, Western Australia

After driving on dirt roads for over an hour from Port Hedland, we finally arrived at the BHP Turner River Bridge Project Village (Camp Turner) entry point. You’ll know you’re almost there when you see the welcome sign on the side of the road.

Camp Turner Entry Point

So off we go to build some abutment formwork, and at the end of the day we can have some dinner then relax in the theater room, or maybe even do some snake handling.

Location: Prominent Hill Mining Construction Site South Australia – Weigh Bridge Section

While the sump with ladder formwork was a pain in the neck to construct due to the fiddly ladder treads, it is always good to see that the job turned out pretty good.

Concrete Sump with Ladder

Concrete patchers will now come along and plug the z-bar holes.

Location: Project Magnet – Iron Duke Mining Construction Site South Australia

Earthmovers and excavator operators Naomi and Des Dunstall getting ready to dig yet another pedestal foundation hole at the Iron Duke.

Naomi and Des Dunstall at Iron Duke Mine

For more information about Bobcat, Mini-Excavator, and Tipper hire in the Whyalla area, visit Des Dunstall Bobcat and Tipper Hire, or call Des on mobile number 0419 827 948.

Location: Turner River Rail Bridge Mining Construction Site Pilbara Region, WA

The formwork used for the first concrete pour of this concrete bridge abutment.

Formworker Getting Ready to Concrete this Abutment Formwork

The red “spreader timbers” were also used to support the template which will leave the required penetrations for the Structural Bearings (also called bearer pads, bearing pads, bridge bearings). The Bearer Pads will fit neatly into these penetrations which will then support the bridge spans.

Concretors could not be hired for this job because Turner River Camp is only a small 70 person camp and all dongers were full. For this reason, the three formwork carpenters were required to do the concreting jobs as well.

Location: Prominent Hill Mining Construction Site South Australia

Concrete poured into four tread stair formwork and the formwork has just been stripped by the formworkers. It looks like these stairs might need to be patched up in order to fill in all the air bubbles on the surface of the concrete, but other than that, a job well done.

Four Tread Concrete Stairs

Location: Project Magnet – Iron Duke Mining Construction Site Whyalla South Australia

Thrust Block Formwork being constructed around slurry and water pipes.

Thrust Block Formwork

Timber scaffolding was used for access and work platform for inspectors, supervisors, concretors and formworkers.

Thrust Block Formwork with Timber Scaffolding

Location: Project Magnet – Iron Duke Mining Construction Site Whyalla South Australia

From where I was standing, it looked like the end of the rainbow was at the Iron Duke Crusher.

End of the Rainbow at Iron Duke Crusher

For the mining company One Steel, the pot of gold at the end of this rainbow is Iron Ore.

Pot of Gold at the end of the Rainbow

Location: Prominent Hill Mining Construction Site South Australia

Four concrete forms held together with Column-Clamps and held down with spaghetti nailed plywood. The 700 mm long bolts took a bit of work to cast in due to the extra reinforcement steel positioned exactly in the center of the pedestal.

Pedestal Formwork Ready For Concrete

This job was not as bad as the nightmare pedestal, but still took extra time because the formworkers had to reposition the steel in order to fit the bolts in.

Concretors Anthony and Nev Vibrating Pedestal Concrete

To ensure the correct heights, the concrete and bolt-top heights were established from a known benchmark with a Laser Level instrument and not by just measuring up from the foundation concrete.