IPWEA NSW Division 2012 Annual Conference

YASS HIGH SCHOOL CIVIL INFRASTRUCTURE AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS ‘RURAL COUNCIL, URBAN PROJECT’

Luka Kovacevic

Manager of Engineering Services – , NSW,

Abstract

The Yass Valley is a local government area spanning over 4000sq.km and borders the Australian Capital Territory, Upper Lachlan, Tumut, Gundagai, Harden and Boorowa Shires.

Yass, the largest town within the LGA, has a population of around 6000, and continues to play a vital role as a gateway between , Melbourne and the ACT. The proximity to Canberra has led Yass to be one of the fastest developing regions in – offering residents and tourists excellent rural lifestyle attractions and options.

Over a number of years concerns were raised with Council in relation to road safety at the Yass High School. These concerns were related to pedestrian safety, conflicts between buses and other road users, lack of on site vehicle parking and suitability of the sporting oval.

Council took a lead role in coordinating the school, the NSW Department of Education and Roads and Maritime Services (formally RTA) in an effort to determine a solution to the issues raised.

In 2010, Council was able to secure significant funding from NSW Department of Education and RMS to enable the project to be undertaken. Interagency funding was a unique and important aspect of the project which allowed the complex issues associated with the site to be address.

It was then my responsibility to coordinate the investigation, survey, design and construction work to provide improved traffic facilities, a new car park area, dedicated pedestrian and cycle facilities and an upgrade to the existing sporting oval. The project was completed in December 2011.

This paper provides an overview of the processes followed in delivering a significantly sized ‘urban’ style project for a relatively small ‘rural’ Council.

Introduction practicality and usability of the facility all being improved. As a result of significant concerns raised by teachers, students and parents of the Yass The project was a major milestone for Yass High School, Yass Valley Council undertook Valley Council, as a project of this value, and the survey, design and construction of roads, type, is rarely undertaken by a rural council of parking facilities, pedestrian walkways and our size. sporting oval within the grounds of the Yass High School. The most unique and important aspect of the project was that joint commitment from The grounds of the high school received a Council, the NSW Department of Education complete transformation, with safety, and the Roads and Maritime Services to

- 1 - IPWEA NSW Division 2012 Annual Conference derive a solution to a number of complex engineering problems. Detailed Design

Project Components After the completion of survey work, a detailed design brief was developed in order At the initial concept design stage, the project to try and mitigate and resolve as many of the was split into 3 separate components; these safety issues as possible. being: Construction of a new 65 bay asphalt In summary, Council developed a brief which car park; required the following: Reconstruction (cut/fill) off the existing sporting oval and associated Reconstruction and widening of irrigation works; and entrance and exit roads; Reconstruction and widening of the existing entrance and existing roads Construction of a new 65 vehicle to high school including the asphalt parking facility; construction of new a bus bay and pedestrian facilities. Regrade and reconstruct (3m cut to fill) the existing sporting oval;

Detailed Survey Installation of underground irrigation

Council engaged the services of Vekta system utilising existing pump and Surveys Pty Ltd to undertake a detailed pipe arrangement from neighboring survey of the entire high school complex. oval;

The high school site spans over a number Construction of new bus drop off / pick of separate allotments and the detailed up and parent drop off/pick areas; survey was also used to identify and Construction of new footpaths, shared separate ownership of these different pathways, traffic and pedestrian parcels of land. facilities; Council was able to establish that the Stormwater Management; access roads are owned by the Department of Education; with the Environmental Management; sporting oval and surrounding car parking area owned by the crown; for which Utility Relocation; Council is the Trustee.

As part of the project, various agreements SMEC Australia was the successful tenderer for usage were negotiated. Council (on for the design works. behalf of the general public) would be Numerous draft designs were developed and given rights to utilise the high schools presented to Yass High School for input prior entrance and exit roads to provide formal to the adoption of the final design. This meant access to the new sporting oval and that all parties involved with the works were associated car parking facility. This would going to be satisfied with the final outcome of ensure that the high school students and the project – which proved to be successful. general members of the Yass community would all have full access and benefit of the new facilities. The high school was Construction Tenders also given rights to utilise the sporting Council prepared 2 separate tenders for the oval as their main sporting facility. works; 1 for the construction of the new car

- 2 - IPWEA NSW Division 2012 Annual Conference parking facility, and the other for the oval and A total of 3000 cubic meters of unsuitable irrigation works. material was removed from the site and taken to a near by Council stockpile area, or used The successful tenderer for both projects was on other Council projects as top soil material. local contractor Yass Earthmovers.

Council’s outdoor works crews undertook the third component of the project, being the reconstruction and widening of internal roads, and the construction of new pedestrian, traffic and bus stop facilities.

Sporting Oval

The existing sporting oval was created many years ago, and was constructed at grade on Oval prior to works the naturally undulating terrain of the high school grounds.

Due to this grade, the oval could not be practically used for any sporting events, and as such, was proposed to be regraded to a standard suitable for high school and casual weekend sports.

The reconstruction of the oval involved bulk earthworks, with 3 metres (6000 cubic meters) of cut – to – fill required to level the oval to an acceptable grade. Oval at completion

A new underground irrigation system was also installed as part of this work. Car Parking Facility Although a completely new irrigation system was not financially viable, Council and A new 65 bay car park was constructed as SMEC’s design team came up with a part of the scope of this project. proposal to utilise the irrigation main from a neighbouring oval, to allow the new high The car park was built to service an school oval to be irrigated. This existing main increasing number of students attending the was extended to the high school, some 300 school as well as doubling as teacher meters, and connected to a new system parking. underneath the high school oval. This new carpark required the excavation of The oval is now a fully sized football oval, as top soil, earthworks and the construction of a well as being wide enough to cater for junior new pavement and asphalt wearing course. cricket matches. Stormwater was managed through the Issues Encountered provision of rock mattresses around the perimeter of the car park and then channelled A number of issues were encountered during to an existing overland flow path. the construction of the oval. Primarily, these were related to unsuitable material and the Issues Encountered removal thereof.

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Two significant issues were encountered Carpark at completion during the design and construction phase of the new carpark. Roadworks, pedestrian pathways and bus The car park was designed in a location stop facilities. which was heavily populated by a mature species of ‘Cedrus Atlantica’ Pine Trees, Council’s outdoor works crews undertook the which were planted between 40-60 years remaining ancillary works required to bring ago. All the trees were in good health and the total project to a close. In summary, this formed part of a small sized, monocultured, included: forest which added to the local urban amenity widening the internal entrance and of the area. exit roads of the high school; constructing over 500m of shared The original car park design required that pedestrian pathways; over 15 of these trees be removed to enable constructing a new bus zone and the new car park to be constructed. dedicated parent pick up/drop off zone; The elected Council considered the initial improving the stormwater drainage proposal, as part of a development throughout the site; and application, however refused the proposal constructing 3 new raised pedestrian after a site inspection. This required a crossings. redesign, at which point only 6 trees were removed, and the new car park was The existing roads were widened from 4.5m constructed. to a 6m wide formation. This allowed the entrance road to be utilised as a shared During construction, 1100 ton of unsuitable vehicle/pedestrian zone with a 4m wide travel material was also removed, and replaced, to lane, and 2m wide cycleway. Flexible bollards ensure the new car park was constructed to were used to differentiate the pathways from an appropriate standard. the vehicle travel lanes.

The exit road of the high school was then transformed to a 4m travel lane and 2m of parallel parking.

Carpark prior works

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Funding Sources

The most noteworthy aspect of this entire project was the joint funding of the project.

The $900,000 project was largely funded by the NSW Department of Education who, after Council lobbying, provided $600,000 towards the works.

This contribution from the NSW State

Government was pivotal is ensuring the project commenced and came to fruition and clearly shows that when State and Local Government combine, a real difference can be made within smaller sized communities.

The Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) contributed a total of $140,000 through the Safety around School and Cycleways program, with Council contributing the remaining $160,000.

Lessons Learnt

Significant Wet Weather Delays It is not very often that Yass Valley Council undertakes an ‘urban’ style project such as From the outset, it was anticipated that the this and, for me personally, project managing project would take 10-12 weeks to complete; a project of this type, size and complexity was and as such, was program to commence in a first. the 2010 December school holidays.

As such, there were a number of practical However, due to significant periods of wet things I learnt with regards to construction weather, and several on site issues such as techniques using asphaltic materials, bulk unsuitable material, the project took earthworks and the installation of approximately 12 months to complete. underground irrigation and pumping systems.

This time extension required a number of on Furthermore, from a project management site modifications to accommodate things viewpoint, I developed and enhanced my such as school student and teacher vehicles, negotiation, communication and time which would not have been encountered if management skills, all of which will be useful the project was completed within the planned in my future career. timeframes.

Council was required to extensively negotiate Conclusion with the contractor to ensure both parties were satisfied and clear of the way forward The completion of the Yass High School throughout the project, as well as project has seen a dramatic improvement to communicating with the school on a regular safety for all pedestrians and motorists basis. throughout the school grounds. Furthermore, the school, and the Yass area, has now been As a result of this extensive communication, furnished with a high class sporting oval the project, although delayed, was completed which can be utilised for a variety of sporting without any major issues. events.

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Aesthetically, the school has had a major uplift and the feedback from the local community has been very positive.

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Author Biography

Luka Kovacevic is a young engineer who already has over 7 years of experience in Local Government Engineering. He started his career at Yass Valley Council as a Trainee Engineer and has progressed through design, asset management and development engineering roles before being appointed Manager of Engineering Services. Luka holds Advanced Diploma qualifications in civil engineering, design and drafting and is in his final semester undertaking bachelor qualifications in engineering and business management through the Central Queensland University.

Luka has a strong interest in development engineering as well as project management and is a very active member of IPWEA as he believes resource and information sharing is vital within the local government engineering sector.

PO Box 6 YASS NSW 2582

[email protected]

(02) 6226 9274

(02) 6226 2598

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