Powerlink Substation Security Upgrades
Project Overview
Consult, design and construct security fencing across 24 substations. Scope included 6km of trenching with conduit, 150 cable pits, 120 concrete slabs, 30 new pedestrian gates, 1km mowing strip, earthing grid extensions, and replacement of 4km chainwire fencing and 100 gates.
The Challenge
This project required Fencepac to respond to real site conditions, stakeholder requirements, and delivery constraints while maintaining quality, safety, and program performance. Our role was not just to build the scope, but to manage the work in a way that kept the broader project moving.
Our Approach
Fencepac coordinated the project through disciplined planning, close communication with the client and adjacent work fronts, and practical site leadership. Design, procurement, programming, and installation were aligned so the team could adapt to changing conditions without losing control of safety or quality.
The Result
The finished outcome reflects what clients expect from Fencepac: a well-managed project, a compliant and durable installation, and a team that can work through complex site conditions while protecting program certainty.
⚡Key Challenges
- ▸Security breaches at substations causing serious injuries and deaths — urgency to deliver upgrades while maintaining live electrical infrastructure
- ▸5–6 sites upgraded simultaneously, each 2–3 hours apart — demanding precise logistics coordination and workforce distribution
- ▸Large-scale vacuum excavation required to safely identify underground services before any trenching or footing works
Positive Outcomes
- Zero lost time injuries across all 24 sites with a dedicated WHS manager overseeing safety
- Reduced trenching by hundreds of metres through strategic conduit and cable pit placement — significant cost saving
- All 24 substations upgraded to current security standards, eliminating the breach vulnerabilities that caused prior incidents
Project Team
Need a team that can deliver a project like this?
Talk to Fencepac about your next fencing, noise barrier, or retaining wall scope. We can help with early planning, pricing, and delivery strategy.