| Client: |
Department of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism |
 |
| Funder: |
Department of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism |
| Contractor: |
Department of Public Works |
| Project
Location: |
Marion Island |
| Project
Value: |
R120 million (civil
services R6 million) |
| Services: |
Planning, design,
documentation & construction monitoring |
| Project
Period: |
Dec 2001 - 2006 |
|
Marion Island has played an important role
to South Africa since 1947 in terms of scientific research and
as a weather station.
Due to the harsh environment on the island
the current research base and facilities require increased maintenance.
Current facilities have deteriorated to such an extent that it
impacts on the safety of the year team and annual visit of the
scientists. The increasing maintenance, together with the increased
importance in terms of research, has necessitated the replacement
of the current facilities as a matter of priority.
|
 |
Infraburo has been appointed by the Client
as a member of a multi disciplinary professional team to plan,
design and supervise the construction of a completely new and
modern research base on the island.
The first phase of the project has recently
been completed, which entailed the conceptual planning of the
new base in terms of the clients terms of reference and design
brief. Infraburo has been responsible for the conceptual
planning of the bulk water supply (source, conveyance from source
to base and storage at base), internal water and sewer reticulation,
sewage disposal and polar diesel storage and distribution. In
order to accurately assess the situation, a one month site visit
was undertaken during the annual take-over in April 2002 by selected
members of the multi-disciplinary team, consisting of the architect,
(Ixixi), structural engineer (Endecon), civil engineer (Infraburo),
and mechanical engineer (Risimati)..
|
| Since the island consists to a
large extent of mire (peat marsh), innovative solutions are required
regarding the construction of the base. which include the founding
of structures, the prevention of freezing of the water in external
pipelines, above ground installation of pipes, to name only a few.
Furthermore, the preservation of the island in its pristine and
unspoilt condition carries a high premium, which further taxes the
innovation of all involved in the design standards to be adopted
and methods of construction to be implemented. |
|
The deliverables of the project for which
Infraburo is responsible include:
Bulk water supply and storage;
Firefighting infrastructure, storage and pumps;
Internal water distribution;
Internal sewer reticulation and disposal;
Polar diesel storage and distribution.
|
|
| A total of 16 tenders will be prepared and advertised
over the next three years for the manufacturing, supply and delivery
to Cape Town of all materials and components required to construct
the new research base. All materials will be transported to Marion
Island by means of the SA Agulhas, where it will be off-loaded by
helicopter. Construction will be conducted by a specialized team
from the Department of Public Works, who will reside on the island
for periods of 3 months at a time over the next four years. Supervision
of the construction work will be carried out by members of the multi-disciplinary
team. |
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