As featured in The Roadbuilder Magazine: SITECH Solutions supported the $261.17 million Narrabri-to-Moree Newell Highway upgrade by providing GPS machine control and Trimble positioning technology, enabling precise, efficient operations for lead contractor Fulton Hogan.
The Newell Highway, the longest in NSW, stretches over 1060 kilometres from the Victorian border at Tocumwal to the Queensland border at Goondiwindi.
This $261.17 million upgrade between Narrabri and Moree, jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Governments, is the largest pavement upgrade ever undertaken on Australia’s busiest road freight corridor. Spanning 27.3 kilometres, the project aims to improve driver safety, enhance road flood immunity, and boost reliability for motorists and freight operators.
In April 2022, the tender for the main construction contract was awarded by Transport For NSW to Fulton Hogan Pty. An industry leader, Fulton Hogan has brought extensive, demonstrated experience in building significant infrastructure projects, with SITECH Solutions a key provider of construction technology for the upgrade.
SITECH has supplied and supported GPS machine control and positioning technology, including the installation and maintenance of Trimble machine guidance systems across the contractors' fleets of graders, dozers, and excavators. With the addition of Trimble base stations, SITECH has been ensuring precise, efficient operations throughout the project site.
How Trimble WorksManager with Starlink is Changing the Game
To further enhance the capabilities of contractors on major infrastructure projects like this, the integration of Trimble WorksManager, in conjunction with Starlink—a satellite-based internet service owned by SpaceX—has transformed operations for regional contractors by eliminating the need for mobile phone coverage, even in the most remote areas.
This allows subcontractors to send and receive crucial design files with ease, improving efficiency on site.
“The use of Trimble WorksManager with Starlink has been eagerly embraced by contractors working in remote areas on projects like the Newell Highway upgrade,” says Jason Love, SITECH Solutions’ Sales and man on the ground in the Tamworth region. "They’re able to send design files over thousands of kilometres."
“Traditionally, workers have had to drive around the site for mobile signal, but with Starlink and WorksManager, files are sent effortlessly from any location on the site,” Love explains.
“Now, you can ensure everyone is working with the latest design by wirelessly and automatically transferring live data files to and from the office. Supervisors and data managers can trust that the right machines and data collectors are always using the most current design.”
SITECH Solutions Regional Support
Throughout the project, SITECH Solutions has provided critical support for the Trimble construction technology used by contractors, ensuring peak operational efficiency is maintained. With a sales and support network covering New South Wales and ACT, regional technicians such as Matt Leonard, Sam Petith, and the Tamworth-based team, including Jason Love, have been instrumental in maintaining the technology's precision on site.
"As a supplier specialising in GPS technology for contractors and construction, we’re not tied up with other priorities," says Love. "We've got a regional presence, and customers appreciate that we’re able to service them wherever and whenever they need it."
Unlike other suppliers, SITECH guarantees swift regional support, preventing lengthy downtimes.
"Customers appreciate our regional presence and quick support. For a lot of contractors, that’s a big thing for them,” says Love.
“I’ve had new customers tell me that they’ve had to wait weeks for assistance with previous suppliers - that’s obviously a bit of a concern.
“Now, they say they won’t buy construction technology anywhere else. They have a great level of support with SITECH Solutions. That’s why they keep coming back.”
Love adds, “We’ve got staff based in Tamworth to cover the Northwest of New South Wales and we’re supporting everybody working in the area.”
Regional Support Includes Rental
As well as technological sales and support, SITECH Solutions has also supplied rental equipment to contractors working on the Newell Highway upgrade.
"We recently set up a rental base station on-site, and we’ve been able to supplement the primary contractor’s fleet with additional rental equipment," says Jason.
SITECH Solutions’ involvement in the region extends beyond the Newell Highway upgrade.
"In addition to our involvement in the various stages of the highway upgrade, we’ve also supported numerous other regional infrastructure projects including the Inland Rail Project running from Narrabri through Moree," says Love.
"With more work on the Inland Rail scheduled to begin in the new year, we’re already working with contractors buying machines ready for deployment."
Contact us today using the form below to learn more about how Trimble construction technology can work for your business.
