Quay control from Watpac

Contractor Watpac is using a Liebherr tower crane for the construction of an extension to Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA), Australia.

Australia dealer Morrow Equipment supplied the Liebherr 280 EC-H 12 Litronic saddle jib crane, which is providing all material handling for the refurbishment and construction contract at the museum in Sydney Harbour.

The AUD$53 million (US$55 million) project at Circular Quay will create an additional 4,500 square metres of space, increasing the size of the MCA by almost 50%. The project began in August 2010 and will be completed in the first quarter 2012.

"Watpac is one of Liebherr's biggest customers in Australia, with a fleet of eight tower cranes," said Craig Jones, Morrow Equipment general manager. The company now has two 280 EC-H 12 Litronic in its fleet, as well as 180 EC-H and luffing jib 160 HC-L models.

The crane being used at MCA is a standard specification model with 12 tonnes capacity and a 75 m boom. "The building is on a long and narrow footprint, and the boom has to overfly both the quayside and the street behind. The safety requirements are therefore especially stringent," said Ernie France, Watpac equipment manager.

The MCA has consistently been voted by Sydney residents as the city's favourite museum or gallery, said Liebherr. The project will also create a National Centre for Creative Learning, comprising educational workshop spaces, facilities for young people with specific needs, a digital classroom, multimedia room, library and resource room, and a 120-seat lecture theatre.