As the nation’s building boom shows no signs of cooling, a family-run business is capitalising on the opportunity by selling ice to the construction industry to help produce cement.
Key points:
- One Rockhampton business is producing six tonnes of ice per day to keep up with construction industry demand
- The Rookwood Weir project will require 100,000 cubic metres of concrete for its construction
- Cement has to be 28C or under when pouring and ice is used to reduce the temperature in hot climates
No, not the illegal drug, but the good stuff of the frozen kind.
Rockhampton businessman Bill Warwick-Day started an ice-making factory in 2017 and lists caterers, service stations, butchers, restaurants, and seafood retailers — who require up to four tonnes per day during the busy Easter and Christmas periods — among his customers.
However, the bulk of the ice he produces goes to the construction industry to help produce cement.
“It’s OK if you’re putting a slab down for a pathway out the back of your house and it cracks, but you can’t have a pipe, a bridge or a concrete wall cracking.”
Mr Warwick-Day’s team produces six tonnes of ice per day— and there are plans to double their output — to keep up with the booming construction industry’s demand with summer around the corner.
Projects emerging in regions
Large-scale construction projects are in full swing in central Queensland, including the Rookwood Weir and Rockhampton Ring Road.
The demand for cement will ramp up this month, coinciding with the mercury rising.
The Rookwood Weir is expected to require 100,000 cubic metres of concrete for its construction, with the weir due to be completed in 2023.
The project is jointly funded by the state and federal governments, each contributing $183.6 million.
Mr Warwick-Day and his team were called to deliver ice ahead of the first pour overnight on September 8.
Sixteen tonnes of ice stored in two refrigerated shipping containers at the construction site helped to service a purpose-built on-site concrete plant.
Temperature and demand rising
Cement is made by mixing cement, water, sand, gravel, and/or crushed stones, and water.
Concrete companies use the ice to cool cement used to make pipes, retaining walls, beams and arches among other things.
Rockhampton tap water is far too hot for concrete, especially in summer when temperatures can reach 40 degrees Celsius.
That is when ice becomes crucial.
“When it gets to the spot they’re pouring it, sometimes it’s got to be 28C, sometimes it’s got to be 25C” Mr Warwick-Day said.
“At the moment they’re doing footings at Rookwood Weir and they have to be at 22C. The concrete can’t be any hotter than that.
Mr Warwick-Day said that depending on the outside temperature, between 30 and 80 kilograms of ice per cubic metre of concrete was required to keep the cement at the right temperature.
Demand not seen before
Investment in major public infrastructure over the next five years across Australia will exceed $218 billion, according to Infrastructure Australia’s infrastructure market capacity report released last week.
Queensland’s economy is worth more than $360 billion and infrastructure upgrades ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games are on the rise.
Infrastructure Australia strategic analyst Jonathan Cartledge said the forecast demand would put strain on skilled workers and material supplies.
“There is unprecedented demand for a whole range of skills, materials, plant and equipment required to deliver that infrastructure over the next five years.
“It might be challenging to access those skills when you’re competing with major metropolitan centres for access to the best engineers, quantity surveyors or civil trades and labour to actually deliver infrastructure on the ground.”
