Kennards Hire Site Compound Supports Solar Farm Construction

An all-in-one modular compound has exceeded expectations on Enel Green Power’s Girgarre solar project in Victoria, providing amenities for more than 300 construction workers.

A dedicated Kennards Hire project manager worked in partnership with Beon Energy Solutions to set up the compound, oversee maintenance and take care of Beon’s hiring needs on site.

The pop-up compound includes lunch rooms, offices, change rooms, toilets and showers and prayer rooms. It features an innovative covered walkway and a comprehensive lighting system, transforming the experience of on-site crew and contractors on the regional site.

Managing compliance, inductions and on-call equipment needs, Project Manager Chris Ram has been on hand to troubleshoot problems and provide a seamless hiring service.

Why a turn-key compound solution?

Kennards Hire was tasked with providing on-site facilities at Enel Green Power’s Girgarre Solar Farm, around ten kilometres north-west of Stanhope in the Shire of Campaspe.

Chris, from the Kennards Hire Major Projects Team, drew on extensive experience to deliver the end-to-end accommodation and hiring solution.

This helped meet the day-to-day needs of workers. Kennards Hire also maintained workflow, ensuring all relevant tools and equipment were on-site – and ready to use when required.

Kennards Hire services included:

• Liaising with Beon to mobilise and manage the turnkey site compound, including the crane, transport, plumbers, electricians, fitters, water supply, block and levelling of sheds, along with complex bolting and roofing.
• Managing all equipment hire requests, including monthly stocktakes, on-hire reports, monitoring and servicing of machinery, and liaising with subcontractors.
• Overseeing and inducting all contractors and equipment, including upload of all relevant compliance documents and licences to the portal.
• Managing all on-site services, including refuelling generators and water tanks, and pumping out toilets.

“The client doesn’t have to call up the branch and go through procedures, they have a dedicated project manager,” Chris says.

“This means one point of contact to co-ordinate everything for them, with quick response and no time wasted.”

Key benefits for Beon Energy Solutions

Quality and responsiveness are Kennards Hire’s two key advantages, according to Beon Project Manager Rohan Clarke and Beon Construction Manager Ben Clarke Ash.

The buildings installed on site were brand new and presented fewer maintenance issues, Rohan notes. Ben says quality contractors who know what they’re doing have also made a real difference to on-site productivity.

“It’s great having a project manager,” Rohan says.

“Chris was so responsive. We could pick up the phone and speak to someone who can deliver what we need, when we need it. He was always flexible when dates were pushed back.

“He worked with us, rather than kicking back on what we were trying to do. He swapped and replaced equipment first time, so we never had to ask twice.”

Ben says: “We always got a fast turnaround, with someone available pretty much around the clock. Chris co-ordinated all our work health and safety compliance, inducting multiple contractors so they were ready to go.”

Standout features of the compound

• Modutech covered walkway. This metal and canvas walkway is more durable than traditional timber, easier to install, protects users from weather, and is reusable for greater sustainability.
• Superior lighting. The Modutech walkway allowed for extra lighting and increased safety, so workers are able to visit the toilets undercover during wet weather, with greater visibility.
• More and cleaner toilets. Workers using the compound have commented on the generous provision of toilets, which were kept sparkling clean.
• Waste water pumps. These have allowed for less trenching and plumbing, preventing water pooling in floor areas. They also make dismantling of the compound quicker, cleaner and easier.

“Feedback from workers has been very positive,” Ben says. “I’ve been told it’s the fanciest looking compound they’ve ever had! With the new walkway, better lighting, drinking fountains and clean toilets – even pot plants – it’s definitely more welcoming than the usual.”

Overcoming on-site challenges

According to Chris, the biggest problem he faced was distance.

“With the nearest branch two hours away, I often dropped equipment off myself for urgent requests.”

With the extra safety requirements of a tier-one site, Kennards Hire team members, contractors and site visitors had to be inducted to the highest safety standards.

“Drug testing, PPE, inductions and safety policies all had to be spot-on for 100% compliance,” Chris says.

Kennards Hire also provided solutions to a range of on-site challenges.

• Adapting when on-site mobilisation dates were pushed back several times.
• Quickly sourcing a new generator when the on-site generator broke down.
• Providing water barriers to protect the compound from aspects of construction work.
• Sourcing a back trailer to remove water, allowing contractors to do a concrete pour.

Kennards Hire and Beon Energy Solutions are set to collaborate again on an upcoming project at Parkes in NSW, with more likely joint ventures down the track.