May

April

March

February

January

November

October

September

August

July

June

May

April

March

February

Freycinet Development Project

Update - May 10

May saw us achieve Practical Completion, which was a well deserved reward for all the hard work that was undertaken not only in the last month, but throughout the past 18 months.

On Friday 21st, Fairbrother employees were invited to site for a guided tour and gourmet BBQ. A full bus load from the North and North West divisions turned up and was lead around the new resort by Saffire staff members. From all accounts, everyone was impressed with the project and even more so by the fabulous feast prepared by the Chef.

On Saturday 29th, Saffire invited the residents of Coles Bay to come along and inspect the resort. Unfortunately Mother Nature reminded us all of her power by sending down 130mm of rain over the site in little more than an hour. This did little to dampen the town's enthusiasm, with a good number of people attending on the day.

With Practical Completion behind us, we're in the process of finalising the external landscaping and attending to any additional client requested works.

Update - April 10

It has been another energetic month on-site, with works rapidly being completed in all areas of the project.

One major milestone achieved this month was the issuing of a Certificate of Occupancy. A special mention needs to go to all those tradesmen and subcontractors who worked several late nights to ensure that we had works completed for this inspection.

Premium Suite No.1 has been handed over to the client for them to commence installation of all furniture, which will transform the empty rooms into luxury accommodation. The remaining suites are also very near completion, with installation of timber flooring, blinds, external shutters and screens well advanced. The sails along the walkway at the rear of the suites have been installed allowing the landscapers to place their rocks and install irrigation and planting.

The Main Building has undergone a transformation this month, with tiling, joinery, carpet, vinyl and Modwood walkways all just about completed. The commercial kitchen was also inspected and signed off by the Health Department this month. Electrical fitoff and Mechanical commissioning are also well advanced. Externally, the landscapers has placed all of their vegetable garden beds on the sod roof and are now ready to plant out. Rock and plant placements are still continuing.

Update - March 10

March has seen an acceleration in works being undertaken and completed on-site, due in the most part to maintaining a large workforce of around 130 tradespeople.

Up on the Main Building, the exposed aggregate concrete driveway slabs have been placed which have been closely followed by the installation of timber joists in preparation for the Level 3 Modwood walkway. Along one side of the 'tail', the stainless steel balustrade brackets and clear glazed panels have also been installed. Inside the building, tiling, joinery and painting are progressing on programme, which has allowed the gas fire place and BBQ to be placed and installation to commence. Mechanical and electrical fitoff are also going well, with preliminary commissioning of the mechanical system already underway.

The Suites too are being finished at a rapid rate, with timber flooring, tiling and joinery almost complete. Internal blinds are being installed along with the external timber shutters, courtyard fences, gates and Modwood entry walkways. Installation of vertical timber boarding around the Service Pod walls has been finished, which has allowed the landscaper to commence placing rocks and shaping the soil to the required profiles.

Our site demobilisation has commenced, with all the essential storage containers being relocated to the staff carpark with the balance of the offices being moved mid April.

Update - February 10

With the warmer weather well and truly upon us this month, we managed to make solid progress with works on-site, whilst achieving two big milestones. Firstly we completed the installation all the celery top pine ceiling lining on the Suites and Main Building, and secondly, we connected up permanent power to the site.

The Suites are now really gaining momentum. Each new week brings about noticeable changes to the interiors and exteriors. Inside, fitting off of electrical, mechanical and hydraulic items has commenced, along with the installation of shower screens, doors and mirrors. Also nearing completion are the joinery components, with fabric bed-heads and leather panels being the last items to be installed. Externally, all the timber decks and hi-light glazing are completed, whilst the electrical switchboards, paving and vertical boarding are continuing.

Likewise the Main Building has also seen steady progress, especially in the areas of plastering, glazing and painting. Tile installation has commenced on Level 1, as has electrical fit-off and eaves lining. On Level 2, the joiners have hung all of their 'black' wall panels to the dining area, the plasterers are nearing completion and the fireplace installation has commenced. On Level 3, the observation area and associated waterfall have been framed up, the automatic opening glass entry doors have been hung and the lift has been installed.

Externally, the landscapers have installed a rock lined swale alongside the entry road, which also includes planting and mulch. Large rocks have also been placed around the Main Building 'tail', day spa courtyard and turning circle. The sod roofs over the House Keeping and Day Spa have also received a waterproof membrane and drainage cell.

Update - January 10

January has seen the site abuzz with enthusiastic tradespeople returning from their Christmas holiday break. The wet weather has also taken a holiday, leaving us with some hot dry conditions on-site.

On the Main Building, the celery top pine ceiling lining has finally been completed. Whilst this was being finished, the plasterers, renderers and painters were making good advancement on their works. As were the glaziers, who now have all of their fixed glazing installed, leaving only the doors and final trims left to complete.

The electricians now have the majority of their switchboards on-site, which will be livened up in early February, giving the site permanent power. Our kitchen contractors have also transformed the empty kitchen space into a fully functioning commercial kitchen.

Down on the Suites there has also been a flurry of activity. Joinery installation is well advanced, waterproofing and rendering have been completed, external decks and landscaping have commenced, glazing is almost finished, plunge pools have been installed and tiling is progressing well.

The main road into the site has been graded to its final profile which has allowed the landscapers to start placing topsoil and rocks in the nearby swale. The overtaking lane on Coles Bay Road has been completed with sealing and line marking being finished in early December.

Update - November 09

Another good month of dry weather has seen an influx of people working on site. We now regularly have over 100 tradespeople busily going about their duties.

With the plasterboard walls sheeted in the Suites, it's allowed Fairbrother's Joinery Division to arrive on-site and commence installation of the high-class fitout. Alongside this, the sliding doors and tracks into the bathrooms have been installed together with the beautifully constructed Paarhammer timber doors which lead outside to the yet unfinished decks.

The renderers have completed their entire first coat to the block and blueboard walls, which has been closely followed by the continuation of the concrete walkways into the Suites and the remainder of the Service Pods.

Celery top pine ceiling lining is still being installed on both the Suites and Main Building; and with every week passing, the ceilings looks even more amazing.

Double glazing installation is about 80% complete on the Main Building which has given the tradespeople working inside some protection from the weather outside. Whilst outside, the roof membrane is over 95% complete with the eaves framing and lining also progressing well.

Sub-base installation for the access road into the site has been placed and tested and the road widening of Coles Bay Road has finally been sealed.

Update - October 09

With the rain abating and temperatures returning to the low 20’s, we’ve seen a hive of activity around the site this month.

The suspended House Keeping slab has been formed and poured, alongside which the Linkway slab and retaining wall has also been completed. This is now almost ready for the installation of the cantilevered structural steel canopy.

Celery Top Pine ceiling lining has progressed on the Suites and Main Building, which has allowed the plasterers to commence sheeting walls and ceilings in the Suites.

Installation of double glazing has continued on the Suites with the highlight and bay windows remaining, whilst the first of the large double glazed panels was installed into the Main Building.

Outside, the plywood cladding to the Main Building roof has finally been completed. This has allowed the roof membrane to quickly follow behind. With a few additional fine, dry, windless days, we’ll see this roof completed.

The landscapers commenced on-site this month and have already finished the boardwalk to the beach. Also returning to site were the renderers and their fantastic solid plastering machine.

Update - September 09

Progress on-site this month has once again been hampered by rain and strong winds; the highlight of which was Wednesday 23rd when we received 68mm in 24 hours. But despite all of this, we have still managed to keep pushing on with our programmed works.

The Main Building has seen the continuation of the plywood roof substrate which has been closely followed by the commencement of the roof membrane; the same product that was used to clad the Suite roofs. We currently have approx. 2/3 of the roof clad in plywood and ½ of the roof clad with membrane. The team have also completed the eaves framing which will be clad with plywood too.

The level 3 wall framing is now almost complete with cement sheet cladding also well advanced. During the sunny days, the painters have managed to complete painting on the exposed steelwork façade in readiness for the large double-glazed panels to be erected early next month. Kitchen coolroom wall panels were installed whilst the mechanical, electrical and hydraulic services continued with their rough-ins.

Outside this month, the House Keeping building was commenced, and despite the torrential rain which covered most of the formwork, the footings and slab managed to be poured. The bricklayers (whom have laid 65,000 blocks to date) have completed the block walls, which now allow for the suspended formwork for the roof to be erected.

The first pieces of glass were installed this month on the Suites, as were the first of the celery top pine batten ceilings. At the rear of the Suites, the service pods wall and slabs were completed and the connecting concrete walkway slab preparation commenced.

Update - August 09

It has once again been Mother Nature that’s created the most difficulties for us on-site this month. Not only did she throw at us over 200mm of rain, but she lashed us several times with wind gusts in excess of 100km/h. And with around 75 tradesmen on-site, that a lot of cold, wet people trying to get the job done. Despite all of this, both the Main Building and Suites have made good progress this month.

The membrane on the Suites roofs has been completed, with final trims and flashings currently being applied. This has allowed the roofer to make a start on the Main Building. The blade walls projecting from the Suites have been framed in timber with services roughed into them. A first coat of render has been applied to the Premium Suites, and with the LVL box window frames installed, has allowed the scaffolding to be dismantled giving the glaziers a clean run at installing their glass.

Alongside the Suites we have finished the services trench, which has doubled as a convenient pedestrian access path because the bulk excavation of the Housekeeping area has limited access around the front of the Main Building. On the top side of the services trench, we’ve just commenced the concrete and blockwork for the ‘Service Pods’.

Not to be outdone, the Main Building has been a flurry of services being installed; mechanical, electrical, VESDA, gas, hydraulic (hot & cold water, sewer & stormwater), refrigeration and reticulation for the various water features and ponds. The curved laminated timber roof beams have also been completed and now much time is being spent covering these with timber battens, safety mesh & plywood. The wall framing on Level 3 is progressing well and with the majority of these walls curved in plan and varying in height along their length, there’s been more than a little head-scratching going on. The exposed structural steelwork has also just received its first coat of colour.

Update - July 09

The roof on our Stingray shaped Main Building has really started to take shape this month. With the structural steel framing completed, it was the curved laminated timber beams that gave the roof its skeletal framework. Battens and plywood are currently being applied in readiness for the roof membrane installation.

Whilst all of this was progressing up top, the gas, electrical, mechanical and plumbing guys have been busy roughing in all their services on Levels 1 and 2. Towards the end of the month, access between these levels was made a little easier as the main stair was installed along with some temporary treads.

With the main services trench from Coles Bay Road installed, it was time to commence work on the services trench under the Suites walkway. This included the installation of 110 sets of hold-down bolts that had to be accurately positioned along a double-curved radius. With this complete, a trench was dug alongside into which all the services were laid at different heights and widths.

Roof framing to the final Suite was also completed this month, with the membrane guys not far behind on Suite 16. Underneath the wall and ceiling framing have continued as has the plywood eaves linings, services rough-in and installation of powdercoated glazing bars.

Just off the main road into the site is the location of two galvanised steel fire fighting water storage tanks and the associated pumps. These were both completed this month, and now store over 450,000 litres of water.

Update - June 09

This month we experienced one of the wettest months ever in Coles Bay; with over 300mm of rain falling. This was a much welcomed relief for the ducks on the dam, but for us here on-site, it has been unpleasant and inconvenient. Despite this, we’ve still managed to make reasonable progress in a number of areas.

The steelwork for the Main Building roof commenced early in the month and in now at 95% completion. Its good to have this installed as it gives this building its distinctive ‘sting-ray’ shape. Whilst this was being erected, curved laminated timber roof beams were being fabricated in Hobart, and once installed, these will give even more shape to the roof.

Underneath all of this, we have been busy framing timber walls in the drier parts of the building. This has allowed the mechanical, electrical and hydraulics to continue with their services rough-in.

The Suites have suffered the most as a result of the rain, with the majority of them still without a roof, its made progress difficult. We have managed to continue with wall framing and plywood roof cladding, but unfortunately we were unable to make any real progress with the membrane roof lining. We did commence the excavation of the footings for the Suites walkway with 600mm dia bored piers and strip footings, but these turned into a giant ribbon on water snaking their way through the site.

On the weekend of the 13th & 14th, we excavated the main services trench from Coles Bay Road into the site and laid all the necessary high and low voltage electrical cables & conduits, rising sewer main, fire and stormwater pipework and domestic cold water. It was a logistical challenge to organise and coordinate all the necessary people and materials to be there at the appropriate time; and to all those involved, a big congratulation on their efforts.

Update - May 09

The Main Building’s final footprint has revealed itself this month, with completion of the Level 3 concrete slab and ‘tail’. Incorporated into the tail and level 3 slab is a 50m long tiered water feature which will serenely lead guests into the building.

The final precast concrete panels forming the lift shaft have also been placed onto the Level 3 slab, completing this section of works. Plumbing rough-ins are continuing and mechanical ductwork installation has also commenced in the Plantroom.

With timber roof framing on the Suites progressing well, it has allowed the installation of a plywood substrate over which the sheet rubber roof membrane is being applied. This is a complex task as the roofs all have three dimensional curves and include the membrane being wrapped around and over the angled facia. Underneath, the wall framing is continuing, along with the plumbing and electrical rough-ins. The blockwork walls are also now nearing completion.

The carpark and turning circle have been formed including base preparation, whilst work commenced on widening of Coles Bay Road at the entrance to the development.

Update - April 09

During this month, the Level 2 floor slab on the Main Building was poured, along with the Plant room slab under the ‘tail’. Formwork is progressing well for the Level 3 slab, whilst the brickies are busy laying blocks to form the long slender shape of the ‘tail’.

Over on the Suites, we have completed all the structural steel for the roofs and are forging ahead with the timber framing necessary to support the plywood substrate for the roof membrane.

Civil works also commenced this month, with bulking out and base preparation almost complete on the car park and turning circle.

All of our services subcontractors are also busy coordinating and completing their shop drawings, so that they can be approved ready for fabrication to commence.

Update - March 09

Almost five months into this landmark project, works on site are progressing well. We regularly have nearly 40 tradesmen across seven different trades working at any one time, with several more toiling behind the scenes on structural steel fabrication, precast concrete panels and shop drawings.

We’ve seen a large amount of concrete poured this month; 506 m3 in total. That’s an average of 23m3 per day. This rate of progression has seen all of the floor slabs on the Suites and Level 1 & 2 slabs on the Main Building completed.

Reinforced block walls are starting to give the buildings some shape and form, as is the structural steel framing on the Suite roofs. As the Main Building grows out of the ground, the view across the water towards The Hazards becomes even more remarkable.

Significant emphasis will now be placed on continuing the services rough-in by the mechanical, electrical and hydraulic contractors, as well as the critical organisation and coordination of the civil works package.

February 09

This exciting and challenging $30 million project has been five years in the making; having originally been tendered by Fairbrother back in 2005. After being chosen as the preferred contractor, the design changed and evolved over time with a new Architect even being appointed along the way. Throughout this period, Major Projects Manager – John French, has ridden the project’s highs and lows and has been working closely with the Architects to ensure that every detail of the project was thoroughly evaluated for functionality and price.

The project now consists of a three-level main building (which is shaped like a stingray in plan) and houses the hotel’s reception area, day spa, dining areas, bar and all the associated back of house facilities. A covered walkway then leads from the main building down to twenty self-contained suites. All of this is surrounded by a natural bushland setting with amazing views over the water towards The Hazards mountain range. The site itself was the location of the old caravan park and we have gone to great lengths to protect and maintain the established trees and undergrowth, so that we have a minimal impact on the landscape.

Fairbrother are the Managing Contractors for this project, which basically means that we are required to prepare and tender individual works packages for every aspect of the project. This includes all the carpentry and concrete works. The resultant tenders are then discussed with the client, and once a tenderer has been appointed, we then manage that subcontractor throughout the duration of the project. It’s a similar approach to that adopted on the Risdon Prison Redevelopment and the Menzies Centre projects.

Our client (Federal Hotels) gave us the go ahead to proceed on November 10th last year and within two days we had mobilised and commenced site establishment. The on-site management team consists of Nick Freeman (Construction Manager), Chris Wilson (Contacts Administrator), Ritchie Dell (Foreman on the Main Building) and John Butler (Foreman on the Suites). Our tradesmen are coming from both the North and North West divisions and staying at a purpose built facility located 5km from site.

Progress to date has been good, with weekly site and design meetings the key that ensures we maintain programme and continuity. On the main building we have poured the Level 1 slab, installed all of our precast concrete walls, columns and lift shaft, are well advanced with the corefilled blockwork walls and have started standing door frames and installing waterproofing and ag drains to the retaining walls. The underslab support for the Level 2 Bondek slab has also commenced.

At the time of writing, we have poured the floor slabs for Suites, 5, 6, 7 & 8 and are almost ready to pour Suite 9 & 10. Blockwork to Suites 1 & 2, 3 & 4, 11, 12, 13 & 14 have been completed, as has the underslab drainage for all 20 Suites.

With the project aiming for a completion by the end of this year, it’ll be full steam ahead for everyone involved.
More information about the project can be found at www.saffire-freycinet.com.au

Chris Wilson
Project Manager