PROJECTS

MAQUARIE ORANGE PIPELINE

Utility trenches, typically 900 mm wide by 1800 mm deep, are notorious for producing wild flyrock.  The blasting contractor for this pipeline trench was selected on the basis of his risk assessment, which specified the use of heavy duty blasting mats.  There were no occurrences of flyrock landing outside the pipeline easement, and no flyrock intrusions on either the road or the adjacent private property.  The mats and staff training were supplied by Flintstone Group Australia.

Orange is a provincial city of about 40,000 population in the Central West Region of NSW, about 250 km West of Sydney.

A 40 km pipeline is being laid from the Macquarie River to Orange to assist in drought-proofing the city.  The alignment of the pipeline is on a narrow easement between the Ophir Road and the private property boundary, and all excavated material was required to be kept within the easement.  The existence of power-lines and rural dwellings nearby added to the complexity.

Blasting was employed where rock was encountered, and the Contractor required the blast crew to use rubber tyre blasting mats.  These  were provided by Flintstone Group Australia.

The result:  No rock on the road, no rock on any private property, and no damage to any power line.  The blasting was successfully completed in June 2014 with no visible flyrock and no exceedances of airblast overpressure or ground vibration.

Note the Orange – Ophir Road on the left and the easement, which is just inside the private property boundary.

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