Kennards Self Storage Meadowbrook
Project Description
Total Construction delivered the design and construction of a four-storey, 6,196m² Kennards Self Storage facility for Stevens Stor Meadowbrook Pty Ltd.
The facility houses 452 new storage units, as well as ground floor office, associated car parking and feature landscaping. The facility was completed to Kennards’ operational standards and signature branding.
Despite complex ground conditions including reactive acid sulphate soils, asbestos contamination and historical waste, early investigations and close collaboration with consultants ensured risks were effectively managed.
Delivered as the first of a four-stage development, the facility was planned with future expansion in mind, with infrastructure and services installed to support subsequent stages.
Highlights:
- 73 tonnes of steel
- 2,300m2 of concrete
- 899 people inducted
Overcoming Challenges
The project presented several challenges driven by the complexity of the site conditions and surrounding environment, requiring extensive collaboration with external stakeholders including the local council, utility authorities and adjoining landowners. The project team developed a complex construction methodology to satisfy all stakeholders as well as quality and safety standards.
Following a four-year council approval process, the team secured the Operational Works Permit and locked in maintenance for the sewer connections.
The site was affected by Cyclone Alfred in February-March 2025, resulting in damaging flood conditions delaying works. Despite the setback, the team responded promptly to manage flooding impacts, restore access and safely recommence works.
Subgrade and earthworks
The site presented extremely challenging soil conditions with both high quantity of asbestos and acid sulphate across the entire development footprint. A complete bulk excavation and replacement of the site was required, informed by a substantial programme of geotechnical investigation and specialist advice. The scale and complexity of the earthworks demanded meticulous planning and sequencing to maintain the programme.
Council infrastructure and road widening
Tight council infrastructure channels, challenging soil constraints, and road widening requirements adjacent to active traffic corridors demanded extreme construction methodology planning. Road construction and widening works were undertaken at night, with structured daily handover protocols enabling public access to resume for full heavy vehicle access each day. The consideration of constructability was critical to ensure the road widening works would not cause delays to the programme.
Innovations
Purpose-engineered stabilisation material
In response to the site’s extreme soil and operational complexity, the project team developed a purpose-engineered stabilisation material capable of being batched directly from concrete trucks on site. After some trial and error, a specific blend was achieved to eliminate the supply issue from quarries. This enabled the team to facilitate nightwork requirements, which significantly reduced the programme’s duration, minimised the safety risks when opening the road back up to the general public, and resulted in cost savings for the client.
Horizontal directional boring
The team employed horizontal directional boring for the 230LM sewer installation, allowing the installation of the infrastructure with minimal disruption to neighbouring properties and residents. Acritical consideration given the proximity of critical infrastructure service led to the decision to complete directional boring.
