Fast and efficient solutions to help councils preserve and maintain critical infrastructure quickly and cost effectively

Ensuring they remain in good working condition to service the public safely, efficiently and without failure is essential.

Ongoing monitoring and maintenance of infrastructure is crucial, not only to ensure operational efficiency and safety, but to also preserve the asset’s longevity well into the future.

According to a recent Infrastructure Australia report: “Interruptions to core services such as electricity or water supply severely impact businesses and households while deteriorating roads and highways can reduce freight productivity and increase vehicle maintenance costs and the risk of accidents.”

While the lifetime costs associated with infrastructure maintenance and renewal projects can be high, Mainmark’s innovative engineered solutions are being increasingly recognised by Australian local councils and government authorities to remediate and preserve a diverse, and often complex, range of projects faster and more cost efficiently.

Demonstrating the diversity of solutions available, it’s important to consider the types of issues that can arise, directly impacting the safety, usability and long-term viability of infrastructure. Examples of how Mainmark’s innovative solutions are addressing government and council infrastructure maintenance include:

Anti-corrosion coatings for water treatment facilities

• Mainmark’s specialist polyurea resin coatings were recently used to preserve water filter ponds and a clarifier tank in New South Wales, and an above ground water reservoir in Far North Queensland. The pure polyurea solution creates a waterproof protective membrane that seals the internal concrete surfaces quickly and cost efficiently, protecting them against leaks, corrosion and wear, and successfully exending the serviceability of both assets by more than 20 years. Manufactured in Australia under ISO 9001, polyurea resin is certified safe for use in contact with drinking water making it safe to use for a range of water utility assets.
• In 2016, Mainmark recommended the use of ENCAP6, an innovative corrosion protection system, to improve the structural integrity of an ageing stormwater pit and embankment in Bronte, New South Wales. The solution was successfully delivered within two weeks.

Ground stabilisation for public buildings and underground infrastructure

• The non-invasive Teretek® resin injection technology was used to fill significant voids that were identified beneath the main wastewater culvert in Christchurch, New Zealand, and remediate the ground to improve its bearing capacity and limit further settlement. The successful treatment efficiently stabilised and re-supported the culvert in less than a week, without disrupting operation of the sewage pipeline.
• Teretek® is also frequently used to remediate government and community assets affected by soil subsidence. For example, when a council owned heritage building being used as a café at Pioneer Park in Melbourne was found to be suffering from foundation settlement that had caused large cracks to appear in its walls, Mainmark was able to remediate the building quickly and cost effectively using Teretek resin to raise, re-level and re-support the building in just two days.

Decommissioning redundant pipes

• Terefil® lightweight cementitious fill is a proven and innovative solution for pipe decommissioning projects. In one such project, Terefil® was used to fill an in-ground water pipe as part of an infrastructure upgrade project in the Hunter region of New South Wales. Terefil® is a highly flowable solution that can be pumped across long distances, and has been recognised by many councils for its ability to deliver a fast, cost effective and long term solution for filling large voids and pipes.

As Australia and New Zealand’s growing cities and population place increasing burden on infrastructure, it is more important than ever to maintain assets for the long term, bearing in mind the decisions and actions we take today will impact the quality of assets available to future generations.