Government | CORE Consulting Engineers

Government, Heritage, Electrical, Hydraulic, Structural

Pioneers Memorial Park – Leichardt, NSW

Working Within A Sensitive Heritage Landscape

CORE was engaged by Hector Abrahams Architects to deliver structural, electrical and hydraulic engineering design services for new amenities within Pioneers Memorial Park on behalf of Inner West City Council. The project involved the design of a new public amenities facility within a heritage-listed park located above an archaeological cemetery site.

The park is an important local open space and memorial landscape, requiring careful consideration of heritage values and historical sensitivities throughout the design process.

Delivering new infrastructure within Pioneers Memorial Park required careful coordination due to the presence of archaeological remains beneath the site.The design needed to minimise disturbance while ensuring the new facility could be safely and effectively integrated into the park environment.

Key considerations included:

Structural design sensitive to archaeological constraints
Hydraulic services coordinated to minimise ground disturbance
Careful integration within the heritage park setting
Compliance with council and heritage requirements

This project highlights CORE’s ability to deliver public infrastructure within complex heritage environments, where careful engineering decisions help protect the layered history of the site while enabling its continued use by the community.

Government, Heritage, Electrical, Fire Engineering & Fire Protection, Hydraulic, Mechanical

Gunnamatta Park – Cronulla, NSW

Overview

CORE was engaged by Sam Crawford Architects to provide Mechanical, Electrical, Hydraulic and Fire engineering design services for the renewal of the Gunnamatta Pavilion at Gunnamatta Park, Cronulla on behalf of Sutherland Shire Council.

Located on the foreshore of Gunnamatta Bay, the heritage-listed pavilion is a landmark community facility that has served the local community since the late 1930s. The renewal project aims to revitalise the building while preserving its heritage character and strengthening its role as a community gathering place.

The project delivers upgraded public amenities, flexible community spaces and improved connections to the surrounding park and waterfront environment.

Our Approach

CORE worked closely with the architect and consultant team to deliver coordinated building services design that supports both the functional requirements of the pavilion and its long-term role as a community facility.

Our scope included the design and documentation of:

Mechanical ventilation systems
Electrical lighting and power infrastructure
Hydraulic water supply and drainage systems
Fire services design

The engineering design prioritised durability, simplicity and operational efficiency, ensuring the facility can support heavy public use while remaining practical for council operations and maintenance.

CORE’s building services design supports the delivery of a durable, well-integrated public facility that will continue to serve the Cronulla community for generations to come.

Government, Industrial/Logistics, Structural

Piper Drive – Ballina, NSW

Our structural division was engaged by MODE Design to deliver full engineering and modelling services for a new multi-storey council depot located on Piper Drive, Ballina. The facility includes a ground-floor warehouse and a first-floor office, all within a steel-framed structure tailored to meet the operational needs of Ballina Shire Council.

Timeline:

Design – 2023

Construction – 2024

MODE’s Vision, Engineered To Perform

From the outset, we added value through early design collaboration – working closely with MODE to refine structural options that balanced buildability, cost-efficiency and designintent. Our comparative analysis of concrete versus steel framing systems provided the clarity needed to proceed confidently with a steel solution, streamlining the structural
grid and reducing material waste while supporting MODE’s architectural vision.

A key area where we supported MODE was in the detailing of architecturally exposed elements, including cantilevered staircases and a visually prominent 10-metre-long awning on the building’s northern side. These components required
careful engineering to ensure performance under live and environmental loads, while preserving the clean architectural lines essential to the design narrative.

Our team’s proactive coordination with MODE’s design team allowed for seamless integration of these features into the overall structure, minimising redesign and delay during documentation.

Throughout construction, we provided consistent technical support – including site inspections, real-time issue resolution and final certification, ensuring the project moved efficiently from design to delivery.

Our proven track record working with local councils helped streamline compliance with statutory requirements and contributed to the timely approval process for Ballina Shire Council.

This project demonstrates the value we bring as a collaborative and solutions-focused structural partner – delivering more than just engineering, we bring clarity, coordination and confidence to every stage of the project.

Read More "Piper Drive – Ballina, NSW"

Structural Awning Safety Inspections and Certification

Aged Care/Health, Commercial Office, Education, Government, Hospitality, Residential/Strata, Remedial, Strata, Structural

Structural – Awning Safety Inspections & Certification

Council Crack Down On Awning Safety

Following a tragic incident that occurred at Sydney’s Northern Beaches some years back, Councils have continued to crack down on ageing, unsafe awnings by implementing a ‘Awning Safety Program’ to addresses their potential failure or collapse.

The program has seen a significant number of Council notices issued to business owners, instructing them to have their street front awnings inspected and assessed by a registered professional engineer as a matter of urgency. Following the inspection, the engineer is required to submit a 5-year safety certificate certifying the structural integrity and safety of the awning.

Our Expertise

As a result, our team has recently seen an influx in Council stipulated requests and is providing this service to an array of clients – having recently completed awning assessments to 80 awnings for the City of Sydney.

CORE Consulting Engineers is a multi-disciplinary firm armed with the knowledge and expertise of the industry’s leading engineers. For more than 20 years, our team has delivered outstanding, 360°engineering solutions to a range of clients across all major property sectors Australia-wide.

An awning’s age along with recent weather conditions are some contributing factors to structural failures and can pose a significant public safety risk.

Awning inspections include a condition assessment and are then followed by a structural assessment to confirm the awnings are compliant for gravity, imposed and wind loadings. Sometimes, awnings need to be strengthened to comply with current codes of practise.

Having your awning inspected and assessed by a RegisteredProfessional Structural Engineer is critical to confirming that there are no underlying safety issues.

Typically, Councils require awnings to be reassessed every 5 years.

Key Process Stages

Where an awning is a closed structure, we undertake opening up works with the contractor, typically by lifting roof sheets at key locations to facilitate visual inspection of the internal framing to assess condition and measure up the members. CORE can engage a contractor to conduct opening up works under CORE’s direction and also facilitate access to the awning roof.
We then conduct a risk assessment of the awning to establish whether an awning can be accessed by the public, either via openable windows above the awning, from adjacent accessible awnings, by ladders from ground level or other means such as adjacent structures.
Awnings can be subject to high imposed loads due to unauthorised access by the public, such as the ‘Black Lives Matter’ protest in July 2021, when a large number of people climbed onto the Woolworths Building awning.
Australian Standards require varying application of imposed loading to an awning depending on its access risk level.
CORE then undertake a condition assessment and structural loading assessment to ascertain if any remedial works or strengthening works are required to achieve structural adequacy for load compliance and also ensure the awning is structurally sound.

If an awning is determined to be structurally adequate and does not require major repair, we will provide a structural certificate, valid for 3 to 5 years. Where strengthening or major remedial works are required, we can assist with the design and specification of any upgrade works before CORE undertake a final inspection and then provide final certification.

Electrical Switchboard Reviews and Upgrades

Aged Care/Health, Commercial Office, Education, Government, Hospitality, Residential/Strata, Electrical, Strata

Electrical – Switchboard Reviews & Upgrades

Our Expertise

CORE has been delivering switchboard upgrade consultancy services for an array of long-term partner portfolios such as: City of Sydney, MBM, Investa and AMP Capital and has also supported electrical upgrades for a broad host of clients across several industries and sectors.

Our team has extensive technical experience and an intimate understanding of the integration between the main switchboard (MSB) and other interfacing electrical elements and building services. Known for our expertise in existing buildings, our team have successfully implemented MSB upgrades for buildings of various ages and at different stages of their lifecycle for compliance and capacity purposes.

Our approach to all MSB upgrades is to ensure our recommendations align with future building plans, seeing us offer long-term value and MSB solutions that support each asset’s requirements for years to come.

Imperative to providing our clients with customised and cost-efficient solutions, CORE has developed a strong understanding of the extensive MSB and distribution board market and its suppliers.

From evaluating your building’s requirements through to sourcing optimal equipment and managing upgrade works all the way to completion, our engineers deliver a robust solution to switchboard upgrades.

Some of our most recent switchboard upgrades include:

Coronation Hotel – Park St, Sydney
9 The Crescent – Annandale, Sydney
Bay St Depot – Ultimo, Sydney
Victoria Park Pool – Camperdown, Sydney
SDN Surry Hills Long Day Care Centre – Surry Hills, Sydney
Reginald Murphy Activity Club – Elizabeth Bay, Sydney
Rex Community Centre – Elizabeth Bay, Sydney

MSB Impact on Building Safety and Performance…

It’s important to know the age and condition of your main switchboard along with any supplementary distribution boards powering your building to ensure they comply with current BCA standards.

Non-compliant MSBs can restrict accessibility, limit the ability to carry out maintenance services and can also pose a significant safety hazard to users – carrying serious risks such as electrocution, particularly when the expected lifespan for circuit breakers is reached or close to expiry.

Switchboards that are newer to the market are equipped with ‘earth leakage detection’ safety mechanisms, enabling minor current leaks to be detected and trapping the circuit immediately.

When not upgraded, the MSB can also damage cables and other distribution boards having a costly, flow-on effect to other electrical components and in turn, impacting a building’s overall performance – an issue that can be managed and avoided.

When was your building’s last switchboard review?

It is recommended that an electrical assessment, visual inspection and subsequent report be completed every 5 years. This is especially important prior to any building services upgrades/maintenance being implemented as the impact on the MSB must be considered.

Approximately a 1-day engagement for inspection and reporting, CORE conducts visual evaluations of an asset’s electricals including but not limited to: power, lights and switchboards – evaluating their expected lifespan and notifying
Building Managers of all findings and any identified defects. A report is then provided, detailing item prioritisation and recommendations with indicative costs and information on whether further testing is needed to verify potential defects.

For what is a critical piece of infrastructure, that is often overlooked for inspection and maintenance, the switchboard inspection and testing process is a relatively quick, low-cost exercise that can prevent future faults or problems, and ensure your building and its people are well protected.

Commercial Office, Government, Hospitality, Refurbishment/Fitout, Transport, Electrical, Façade, Fire Engineering & Fire Protection, Hydraulic, Mechanical, Remedial, Structural

City of Sydney, NSW Portfolio

Our Partnership

Since 2019, CORE has been proudly appointed by MBM as City of Sydney’s partner of choice for the delivery of multi- disciplinary, technical engineering services across a portfolio of 125 assets.

An Array of Prominent, Flagship Locations that Shape the City of Sydney…

Town Halls
Aquatic Centres
Community Centres
Childcare Centres
Libraries
Leisure & Entertainment Venues
Commercial Offices
Industrial Warehouses

Experts in Existing Buildings, Delivering Turn-Key, Multi- Disciplinary Engineering Solutions.

Our dedicated CORE team are responsible for the provision of:

Technical due diligence investigations and reporting
Facade inspection services
Condition reporting
Feasibility studies
Design and specification
Construction services
Building safety upgrades
Fitouts / refurbishment projects
CAPEX projects
Certification

Leading with a ‘People-First’ Approach and an Unwavering Commitment to Operational Excellence.

Operating as a true extension to the City of Sydney team, CORE places a strong focus on the simultaneous delivery of high-quality engineering and exceptional customer service.

Working with a diverse group of stakeholders – from Facilities Managers, engineering and project management divisions, the sustainability team, through to tenants themselves, we pride ourselves on delivering a customised approach
and handling each interaction with care.

Communication, flexibility, a high level of responsiveness and the commitment to addressing priority items with urgency are integral to our approach.

Managing the unique, ever-changing requirements of each asset, City of Sydney’s diverse portfolio has required an intimate understanding of existing buildings and their lifecycle, along with experience in navigating the sensitivities
and intricacies of government requirements.

In addition to governance and regulatory obligations, historic value, cost and sustainability requirements, risk management and impact on end-users are always carefully considered to ensure the delivery of exceptional engineering
solutions and long-term value for our client.

As we continue our work with City of Sydney, we look forward to increasing our knowledge of their buildings and seeing them flourish within the community.