Australian Steel Institute – Highly Commended Project.

QLD & NT Australian Steel Excellence Awards

We’re thrilled to be recognised for our work on the Cross River Rail Exhibition Station upgrade, a landmark project that demonstrates our commitment to quality, safety, and innovation in steel fabrication. Recently the Australian Institute Of Steel awarded NEACH a ‘Highly Commended Engineering Project’ in the annual ASI awards.

As a part of the $5bn Queensland government investment to upgrade the rail system in Brisbane. The exhibition train station was completely rebuilt.

The Exhibition Station roof and overall design exemplifies modern architectural innovation and sustainability but also thoughtfully integrates heritage elements, accessibility features, safety considerations, and public amenities. By addressing these criteria, the design not only enhances the functionality, safety and aesthetic of the station but also ensures it serves the community effectively and inclusively.

NEACH fabricated, supplied and installed numerous steel structures for the project including the main platform canopy and structure supports, lift shafts, structural framing, balustrades and screening.

One of the standout features of the installation was the project team’s decision to modularise and pre-assemble the canopy sections on concrete blocks beside the station, before lifting the final assembled piece into place. This innovative approach not only streamlined the construction process but also enhanced safety and efficiency, saving around three months of work on-site. The canopy consisted of about 1100 individual steel members and 6700 bolts which were assembled and lifted 12 metres up into place.

Trades united to ensure the pre-assembled unit was as complete as possible, these included – roofers, electricians, glazers and the architectural team. This process greatly minimised the amount of work required at height and vastly improved safety outcomes on site.

The installation process only took place over a 3-day period which consisted of 6 shifts (3 days, and 3 nights) Reduction of rail shutdowns for only 3 days of installation was not only a huge schedule saving for the project but also a big reduction in interruptions to the community who use the rail for transport and freight every day.

A 400t crawler crane was used to lift over railway lines and all of the teams demonstrated exceptional skill and dedication from the initial foundation works to the final precision lift.

 

“By far our biggest achievement in 2023 was working through the structural steel fabrication and installation of this roof structure at Exhibition Station with the Unity Alliance team. The lift was an impressive feat and something we are all proud to have been involved in. It all went together without error and fit perfectly into position.

Our team is incredibly proud of the work we’ve accomplished with the Exhibition Train Station project, by leveraging local resources and advanced technology, we’ve not only delivered a high-quality and safe construction process but also set a benchmark for future projects in the industry.” – Ryza Garbarcz, CEO