Originally established in 1937, the Fishermans Bend Defence precinct in Port Melbourne is a major research and innovation hub supporting around 1,000 personnel from the Australian Department of Defence Science and Technology Group. To meet contemporary operational and compliance requirements, the Australian Government is undertaking a significant redevelopment and infrastructure upgrade across the site. They reached out to our team to provide multidisciplinary engineering services through the planning and delivery phases, helping modernise ageing infrastructure while supporting ongoing operations.
The project included upgrades to underground utilities, electrical networks, stormwater systems, and other essential infrastructure needed to support long-term performance. We provided civil, electrical, fire protection, hydraulics, geotechnical, environmental, contaminated land, gas, and compressed air services.
Working within a complex brownfield environment, we identified inconsistencies in underground service records and worked closely with the contractor to verify site conditions and refine design solutions. During construction, we also helped address previously unidentified electrical assets and compliance issues, supporting upgrades aligned with current Defence Estate requirements. Through a collaborative approach, we helped reduce delivery risk, improve utility coordination, and support informed asset management decisions.
The redevelopment is extending the life of critical infrastructure while improving resilience, maintainability, and operational performance across this nationally significant defense research facility.
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