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Woden Bus Depot
A landmark ACT Government project delivering large-scale zero-emission transport infrastructure, with independent design review and commissioning services provided by ESBS to ensure quality, compliance and performance.
Project Details
Project Overview
The Woden Bus Depot is a state-of-the-art development that opened in April 2025. At the time of construction, it was the Southern Hemisphere’s largest electric bus depot, at the forefront of the ACT Government’s pioneering targets for electrification.
The depot consists of an external bus shelter that can accommodate and charge 96 zero-emission buses, with the added capability of accommodating the installation of photovoltaic solar panels in the future. Additionally, the site includes an Operations Building, and a separate Workshop Building that provides various facilities for the maintenance of zero-emission buses.
ESBS’ Role
ESBS was engaged by Infrastructure Canberra to provide Design Review and Independent Commissioning Agent services in this project. Our responsibilities included:
Provision of professional technical review services, covering all design documents issued by the project team: architectural, electrical, ESD (environmentally sustainable design) services, fire protection (dry and wet), hydraulic, mechanical and BMS controls, and security.
Performing site visits during the construction stage to monitor quality of installation, and perform compliance review against applicable Standards, Regulations, and requirements in the design documentation.
Performing review of the commissioning, and subsequent witness testing, of all building services, including zero-emission bus charging equipment and associated high voltage service, specialist bus workshop equipment.
Provide oversight on behalf of the ACT Government, of activities and deliverables by the builder, which included:
Performing review of as-built drawings, operating & maintenance manuals, asset register.
Performing assessments of contractor variation requests for money and extension of time.
Performing periodic review of contractor’s safety in design register.
Provide ad hoc specialist services as required by the ACT Government, including:
Specialist review of the Fire Safety Systems installed at the site.
Development of a user-friendly Building User Guide (BUG) that provides a non-technical guide to all site staff and contractors about the site.
Development of a building services asset register that includes yearly maintenance costs forecast, to assist with budgetary purposes by Transport Canberra.
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