Location: Kidston, QLD
Shelter Size: 12x 85.33m² shelters and 1x 60.6m²
Purpose: Long-Term Delicate Materials & Sensitive Equipment Storage
Structure Type: Shipping Container Mounted Dome Shelter
The Kidston Hydro Project is a 250-megawatt pumped storage hydroelectric power generation facility delivered through a joint venture between McConnell Dowell and John Holland. This project innovatively transformed a disused gold mine into a critical piece of energy infrastructure that could power roughly 100,000 to 250,000 homes. The facility utilises the existing voids of the mine for its reservoirs, leveraging significant pre-existing infrastructure to create a highly efficient, large-scale energy storage solution vital for supporting the transition to renewable energy.
The Project Brief
Due to the off-grid location of the Kidston Hydro Project, the solution required ease of installation to reduce transportation and logistical burden. The shelter solutions were required to house and protect sensitive and delicate equipment for long periods, ranging from 6 months to a full year. The joint contractors required a durable, adaptable, and quickly deployable storage solution. This storage solution should also be able to withstand the challenges of Northern Queensland weather and environment, intense wet seasons, whilst ensuring the preservation of the delicate apparatus they will store.
Our Shelter Solution
Working closely with the Kidston Hydro Project team, Allshelter were able to offer a solution for their on-site needs. Initially engaging Allshelter for eight express dome shelters, McConnell Dowell and John Holland came back for another 5+ shelters. In total, Allshelter was engaged to manufacture and supply 13+ shelters including:
- ×12 Express Dome Shelter measuring 7m wide × 12.19m long × 7.28m high (height incl GP containers) each, and engineered to Wind Region C
- ×1 Express Dome Shelter measuring 10m wide × 6.06m long × 5.53m high (height incl GP containers), engineered to Wind Region C
- Full and partial endwalls further protect their delicate and sensitive materials and apparatus
- An installation supervisor from the Allshelter Team
The project utilised the container-mounted dome shelters to establish a comprehensive on-site storage facility. This solution addressed critical operational needs:
- Quick Deployment: Protecting delicate materials demanded a reliable, readily available, with quick turnaround storage. The express range that Allshelter offers is the perfect solution for their immediate availability with a 48-hour guaranteed dispatch*.
- Ease of Installation: Due to the remote location combined with the logistical burden of hiring an installer whilst also having adequate manpower, Allshelter’s design was a perfect fit for this project. The fabric shelters are engineered for permanence yet designed to be relocatable for client convenience. Allshelter provides easy step-by-step instructions for self-installation. Our client also requested an expert installation supervisor from Allshelter for a swift installation— first time right!
- Weatherproofing: The project is facing a significant risk from the distinct North Queensland wet season, which threatens damage to delicate materials. The inherent waterproof properties of the fabric provided an essential weatherproof barrier, effectively keeping unwanted moisture out of the storage environment.
- Long-Term Use: The delicate gear will be kept under cover for 6 months, or even up to a year, before they are able to be used in their underground operations. The shelters are expected to remain in service beyond the multi-year construction period of the hydroelectric power generation facility. Subsequently, the facility operators have the option to utilise the storage shelters for their ongoing operations, should they deem it necessary.
- Adequate Storage Space: The dome design provided ample headspace and clear internal access for machinery such as forklifts, fanners, and lighting. The shelter storage solution is also able to accommodate extensive storage racking for their delicate materials and equipment.
Why Allshelter?
The Kidston Hydro Project needed a shelter manufacturer that can deliver with both speed and guaranteed performance. The complexity and remote, high-risk environment have been a challenge, but Allshelter is ready and equipped to deliver a robust shelter solution. The express shelter range provided a definitive solution to their immediate needs, beginning with its crucial 48-hour guaranteed dispatch* to provide protection ahead of the North Queensland wet season. Allshelter is also available to assist them every step of the way— from planning the placement of the storage shelters, to supervising the installation of the first few shelters until the clients finally have a good handle of how to do it for the remaining fabric shelters. Allshelter provided the joint contractors and also the future facility operators with a durable and relocatable asset that will remain in service long after the multi-year construction is complete.
