Eltham
The project comprises the demolition of the existing structures on site and the construction of a new 1500m2 fire station representing the state-of-the-art facilities for volunteer and professional brigades. The Station operates as the command centre for the area and is in operation 24 hours each day.
The new building features the following:
- Four bay drive through motor room.
- Workshops and training yard.
- Administrative offices and associated amenities.
- Multi-purpose training/lunch room with kitchen & amenities.
- Sleeping accommodation for six persons/shift.
- Staff Day Room.
The facility has a minimum clear internal height of 4.7m in the motor room, undercroft parking for 15 vehicles and two 30,000 litre water tanks.
External works include engineered keystone retaining walls up to 8 metres in height and terraced landscaping.
The Station design integrates the building with the local character of the area with particular consideration to the local environmental guidelines. The newly created adjacent wetlands area enhance the environmental value of the flood plain and contribute to filtering/treating the stormwater run-off prior to discharging into Diamond Creek.
CLIENT
Country Fire Authority (CFA)
ARCHITECT
Clarke Hopkins Clarke Architects
SERVICES ENGINEER
Intrax Consulting Engineers
STRUCTURAL/CIVIL ENGINEER
Harrington Gumienik & Partners
COMPLETION
April 2015
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
Mexted Rimmer
CONTRACT VALUE
$5 million
Challenges
The site has significant amount of fill requiring renewal through reinstatement and consolidation.
The lower portion of the site is within a flood prone area requiring protection of water run-off to open swale drains.
Located on a busy and narrow road construction activities required careful management of traffic to mitigate impact on adjoining properties.
Eleven-month construction program.
High profile local project receiving media coverage with a high level of community expectation.