By Cam Lucadou-Wells
HALLAM electrical contractor Powerplant Project Services is a “little guy” that is a growing force, having recently won a state contract to design lighting for the most recent upgrade of the M1 project.
The Monash Freeway 30-kilometre upgrade runs from EastLink to Clyde Road, Berwick – with additional on-ramp signals out to Pakenham.
Director Greg Plant says after the latest project, Powerplant’s staff would have designed lighting for the freeway from Pakenham to Tullamarine – except for the city tunnels.
“For us it’s a real achievement as a relatively small company to be participating in these larger projects and to have contact with nearly the entire freeway.
“We’re little guys who have got to do big things locally.”
It ranks as one of Powerplant’s biggest jobs, alongside its lighting design for 300 light poles in the recent Tullamarine Freeway widening.
Other major local projects include Peninsula Link, Sladen Street, Ernst Wanke Road, Northey Road, Casey Fields BMX centre, Bunjil Place and Casey Indoor Leisure Centre.
Powerplant also lands electricity-line contracts for new housing estates, particularly in Casey, and is helping SP Ausnet put its powerlines underground in bushfire prone areas.
Powerplant promotes new, brighter and more energy-efficient LED lighting on their projects.
The white lights use 30 per cent less power, have less “light spill” and improve visibility on the road at night, lighting design manager James Kerner said.
In the past 12 months, the business has added more than 600 projects. Its customer base now totals more than 500.
Its staff has grown five-fold to 40 in the past four years forcing a move into more spacious offices in Hallam.
The company hopes to attract surveyors, development consultants and civil construction companies, to form a hub of services under the same roof.
Mr Plant started the business as a solo venture at home in 1999, seeing an opening after the State Electricity Commission of Victoria was broken up.
“Regulators wanted customers to have a choice but there was no-one to provide that.”
Powerplant is still a unique business and has grown with its reputation.
Mr Plant says the secret to Powerplant’s success comes from “serving our customers well”.
“We develop the most economic idea and we deliver what our client needs from it,” he said.
