Brett Dunning is the Switchboard Manager at O’Donnell Griffin (ODG) in Newcastle. O’Donnell manufactured several elevated switchboards for the Hunter Water Corporation, including the Windale Sewer Pump Station.

The total cost was approximately $100,000, and was required to be completed within 10 working days.

Several pumping stations were flooded due to the June 2007 floods in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, and the flood waters and surrounding waterways were inundated with waste water from sewers. There was the possibility of disease caused by spreading effluent within the general community.

ODG built a modular switchboard using standard 316 stainless steel enclosures bolted together. The switchboard was mounted on a frame to elevate it from any future flood waters. A canopy was also used to protect the board from the rain.

The Hunter Water Corporation (HWC) were looking for a permanent solution to a critical problem, with the quickest turnaround time possible. The standard Monarch IP enclosures and accessories achieved this purpose.

The Hunter Water Corporation is now proposing to update all pump stations to this new format, and have specified B&R’s Monarch IP 316 Stainless Steel Enclosures as their “enclosure of choice for all future projects.”