Challenge
The airport’s increasing flight numbers had already begun to strain runway traffic, and the upgrades, including runway extensions, strengthening and blast shoulders, and additional turning nodes, were all critical to improving operational efficiency for the long-term.
These works had to be carried out while the airport remained fully open and operational, continuing to support air travel throughout, which meant that all applications had to be precisely coordinated around flight schedules so as not to interfere with arriving or departing aircraft.
Worker safety was also a central concern throughout the project given the constant movement of aircraft and the high-risk environment this created.
The project required solutions for surface stabilisation to reduce erosion and particulate movement across the site. The application of a hydromulch was also required as part of the revegetation works.
The high winds produced by aircraft engines, combined with the region’s naturally windy climate, further increased the difficulty of stabilising exposed soils.
Solution
Vital Chemical’s Canberra-based revegetation and landscaping partner Complete Turf & Landscaping delivered a tailored, site‑specific solution combining Vital Bon‑Matt Stonewall and VE Gro‑Matt. This dual-application approach provided a cost-effective solution to deliver the project’s dust suppression, erosion control, and revegetation requirements.
VE Gro‑Matt hydromulch was applied in areas closest to the runway where exposure to high wind forces generated by aircraft engines, providing instant stabilisation followed by vegetation establishment in one simple application.
VE Gro-Matt is an 100% Australian made and owned bonded wood fibre matrix product, specifically designed for all revegetation, rehabilitation, erosion control, nutrient soil repair and soil amelioration projects.
In all other areas, Vital Bon‑Matt Stonewall was applied, providing instant, durable surface stabilisation across the exposed site, complying with strict airport regulations that required soils to be immediately compacted following earthworks to limit the risk of dust emissions.
Vital Bon-Matt Stonewall is a multipurpose, water-based polymer erosion and dust control agent. Designed for applications over soil and other open surfaces where strong, durable and flexible surfaces are required to abate surface erosion.
A concentrated liquid formulation, Vital Bon-Matt Stonewall is diluted with water prior to application to create long-term surface binding and sealing, reducing dust emissions during extreme wind and resisting mobilisation during rainfall events.
To reduce the costs of the revegetation works, seed was sown directly prior to the application of the soil binder application, allowed Vital Bon-Matt Stonewall to cap and stabilise the surface whilst supporting successful germination.
Result
The combined application of VE Gro‑Matt and Vital Bon‑Matt Stonewall performed very well, delivering immediate and effective dust suppression with no dust pollution observed, ensuring aircraft operations were not put at risk.
The solution met the client’s expectations and project goals by providing a stable, compliant surface and supporting fast, reliable vegetation establishment after a single application.
The water‑holding capacity of VE Gro‑Matt and the strong binding properties of Vital Bon-Matt Stonewall resulted in long‑term stabilisation, with no reapplication required, confirming the success and durability of the solution while meeting the project’s operational, environmental, and cost objectives.
Ready To Use
Vital Bon-Matt Stonewall is also available as part of Vital’s Ready to Use range.
Specially formulated to ensure a simple, efficient and highly effective application process, the Ready to Use products have been pre-diluted with water, delivering a range of operational efficiencies without compromising product quality, including:
- No need for stand pipes or mixing onsite;
- Reduced fuel consumption resulting from reduced travel time to water source;
- Instant C factor 0.1 equivalent to 80% grass cover;
- No mistakes with dilution rate due to pre-diluted formulation;
- Easy to handle and transport.
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