ROXBURGH RISE PRIMARY SCHOOL

About the Project

Overlooking the main sporting ground, the new structure would weather-proof a new elevated seating area, increasing the utility of what had become a safe and central meeting place in which to host many school activities and celebrations.

Domain National were entrusted with this important and symbolic project and work commenced in October 2020 amongst the disruption of the COVID-19 Pandemic, extreme lockdowns, and uncertainty in Victoria. Max Boland, Project Manager at Domain National recalls the difficulty of working within an ever-changing environment.
“Often plans would go out the door and new strategies had to be re-written on the spot to accommodate changing regulations, all the while maintaining a safe and productive worksite.”

The project scope included the construction of an elevated grandstand spanning an area of 300m², procurement and installation of public seating and the establishment of a cladded colourbond roof. The project generated 1,300 manhours in labour, formed and poured 375 tons of concrete and utilized 35 tons of structural steel.
Not surprisingly, the biggest challenge with school building projects is ensuring the safety of students, faculty, parents, and visitors to and from the school during class hours. When planning projects in live environments such as this, near enough is never good enough.

COVID-19 and the strict regulatory requirements in place further complicated managements task. The Project Manager worked with the school and trusted specialists to ensure the safety of all personnel, the program schedule and project budget was never compromised. Solutions were found even when Government regulations mandated that site resources must be limited to five personnel, and extremely difficult jobs needed to be managed e.g. large concrete pours, the lifting of heavy steel members, and the safe coordination of site deliveries.

Protocols were implemented and communicated and around the school perimeter and on site, site office checks and instructions, site inductions and toolbox meetings, with an emphasis on maintaining social distancing.

The following initiatives were instigated:

• Virtual communication channels were identified and implemented, minimising the need for site visits whilst ensuring clear and concise instructions were conveyed
• Delivery logistics were scheduled and managed around peak school traffic hours to reduce the likelihood of unnecessary interaction
• Careful planning of project works around key event activities that required the use of the sports field situated adjacent to the new grandstand
• Introduction of a 2m dual boundary ‘No-Go Zone’ perimeter fence surrounding the project worksite which ensured social distancing was maintained, especially before and after school and during recess and lunch breaks
• Out of hours work was coordinated on weekends where safety could not otherwise be assured and
• Three separate working zones were created, each with their own compounds and amenities, avoiding the need for site workers to cross from area to area and risk mixing with students.

The sports fields remained functional throughout the project and Domain National were delighted to accommodate zero disruption and zero incidents throughout the projects delivery. The new grandstand represents a new standard in sporting facilities in the area and a symbol of unity and inclusion for a school with community at its heart.