Processing of beams prior to fabrication was an important value-add in Liberty Metalcentre’s supply of structural steel to the Westfield Coomera project.
This story was originally published May 2018 and updated October 2018
The new Westfield Coomera development on Queensland’s Gold Coast had its official opening last week, with the project completing on schedule.
The $470 million centre is situated close to the Pacific Highway and features more than 140 specialty stores, including marquee names such as Woolworths, Coles, Target and Event Cinemas. Owner Scentre Group, together with its development partner QIC Global Real Estate (QICGRE), estimates that approximately 7500 jobs have been created as a result of the construction of the centre and through employment at its outlets.
Westfield Coomera is the first Westfield greenfield
development in more than a decade
The Westfield Coomera centre is the first Westfield ‘greenfield’ development in more than a decade, according to Greg Miles, Scentre Group Chief Operating Officer. “It will form part of the longer-term Coomera Town Centre project that will encompass a wide range of amenities for the local region,” he says.
Steel supply
The Westfield Coomera development is one of three projects Yatala-based Steel Fabrications Australia has been involved in recently that have required orders of approximately 1200 tonnes of steel each. Among the other jobs the company has worked on this year is the Brisbane International Airport northern expansion and construction of three large hangars and ancillary buildings as part of the Battlefield Airlifter Project at RAAF Amberley.
Liberty Metalcentre supplied 860 tonnes
of structural steel to Steel Fabrications
Steel Fabrications Australia took delivery of approximately 860 tonnes of structural steel from Liberty Metalcentre for the Westfield complex, with Senior Estimator Peter Moolenschot estimating that a third was used in the construction of the Events Cinema complex alone.
Liberty Metalcentre’s Mark Cubby says a variety of steel materials made up the order, the bulk of which were length-based, linear elements.
Steel was cut and drilled to fabricator’s specification prior to delivery.
He says processing of steel beams prior to fabrication was an important value-add in Liberty Metalcentre’s supply of product to its customer.
“All the different materials we deal in – whether plate, structural or tube – are delivered to us from the mill in stock lengths,” Mark says.
“We have three beam lines that allow us to cut, drill and fully process the beams. And we have a six-axis coping line that does all the cut-outs for the beams. So, we had the capability to drill and cut all the individual components exactly to the customer’s requirements.”
Mark explains that the coping line made it possible to do a lot of the cut-outs that a fabricator would previously have had to.
"We aim to provide a fully processed solution for the fabricator so they essentially just have to weld the items together," he said. "It's about getting our service offer better so we become the processor of choice for the Tier One fabricators."
Fabrication challenges
Peter says Steel Fabrications Australia had to rise to a number of challenges during construction. Up to 20 riggers were needed to install the steelwork on site at one time and the company also had to factor in design changes that came through from tenants at a late stage.
He adds that steel erection subcontractor Wright Way Rigging deserves special credit for having to contend with inclement weather for large periods of the build in the early stages of 2018.
As for his company’s dealings with Liberty Metalcentre, he says the relationship was a strong one throughout the project. “We had a dedicated person to look after our account, so I have to say our interactions with the Liberty Metalcentre team were all very positive.”
Liberty Metalcentre congratulates Steel Fabrications Australia on their partnership to deliver the project to schedule.
Images courtesy Scentre Group
