Eastern Treatment Plant
Underground Communication System for Firefighters

Melbourne Water’s Eastern Treatment Plant (ETP) has critical water treatment equipment installed at various locations throughout a 3.5km network of underground tunnels.

A previously installed UHF radio system provided reasonable coverage for ETP staff working underground but was inadequate because there were some areas where communication was marginal and quite a few radio ‘dead spots’.  Of major concern was the fact Country Fire Authority (CFA) fire officers who would be called upon in the event of a fire could not communicate with their staff in the tunnel complex.  The prospect of sending firefighters underground with no means of communicating with them was of grave concern to Melbourne Water and the CFA.

The system needed to be completely overhauled and expanded to provide reliable VHF and UHF coverage channels in all areas above ground and throughout the tunnel complex to ensure the safety of both CFA and Melbourne Water staff working in these areas. 

AA Radio Services was invited to propose a solution. In our planning, we were very much aware of the need to ensure complete coverage. We took the view that whilst Melbourne Water staff could communicate by moving out of a marginal area to a better radio location as they had in the past, a firefighter would not have that option. We set out to design a system that would provide 100% coverage.

A distributed antenna system devised in consultation with our supplier RF Industries was subsequently installed on time and within budget.  This successful system will ensure adequate safety radio communications throughout the complex for Melbourne Water staff and CFA firefighters for many years.

Ian Miller – AA Radio