Mount Gambier, South Australia, Australia
The Mount Gambier Prison redevelopment forms part of the South Australian Government’s ongoing investment in modern correctional infrastructure, expanding accommodation capacity and enhancing operational facilities to support the safe, secure and efficient management of the correctional centre. Delivered across multiple stages, the redevelopment included new accommodation units, administration and support buildings, together with upgrades to essential building services and infrastructure required to support the facility’s long-term operation.
The project required comprehensive construction documentation to support the safe operation and ongoing management of this critical correctional facility. Dewick & Associates delivered a coordinated suite of Building Handover and Operations & Maintenance Manuals, bringing together technical information across multiple building services into a structured handover package that supports asset management, planned preventative maintenance and ongoing compliance throughout the facility’s operational lifecycle.
By Louise Gardner
Credit: Generated with AI. Depicts Mount Gambier Prison, South Australia.
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O’Brien Electrical is one of Australia’s leading electrical contracting organisations, delivering electrical infrastructure, communications, automation and specialist building services across commercial, industrial, government and infrastructure projects. For the Mount Gambier Prison redevelopment, O’Brien Electrical was responsible for delivering the project’s electrical services, requiring comprehensive construction documentation to support the successful handover and long-term operation of the completed installation.
Working closely with O’Brien Electrical, Dewick & Associates produced project-specific documentation that captured the installed electrical systems alongside the wider building services, ensuring facilities managers received accurate, compliant and easy-to-use operational information.
Mossop Construction + Interiors is a South Australian commercial builder with extensive experience delivering projects across the government, education, healthcare, justice and commercial sectors. The company specialises in complex new-build and refurbishment projects where quality, safety and collaboration are critical to successful delivery.
As principal contractor for the Mount Gambier Prison redevelopment, Mossop coordinated multiple specialist subcontractors across the project, delivering modern correctional facilities designed to support operational efficiency, security and long-term asset performance.
Correctional facilities are among the most technically complex building types, requiring integrated building services that support security, occupant safety, operational continuity and long-term asset performance.
The redevelopment generated extensive documentation across multiple specialist disciplines, including mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, communications and fire protection systems, together with manufacturer literature, commissioning records, compliance certificates, warranties and as-installed information. Bringing this information together into a coordinated documentation package required rigorous document control and technical review.
The documentation also needed to support compliance with the National Construction Code (NCC), the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (SA), relevant Australian Standards and manufacturer maintenance requirements. Accurate Operations & Maintenance Manuals play a critical role in helping facility managers meet ongoing compliance obligations, preserve equipment warranties and safely maintain essential building services throughout the asset lifecycle.
For an operational correctional facility, reliable access to accurate technical information is particularly important. Maintenance personnel must be able to quickly identify assets, understand system operation, access maintenance procedures and locate statutory information without searching through numerous subcontractor submissions or manufacturer documents.
Drawing on extensive experience delivering construction documentation for government, defence, healthcare and critical infrastructure projects, Dewick & Associates developed a coordinated suite of project-specific handover documentation that supports both immediate building handover and long-term facilities management.
The project was managed by a dedicated Client Coordinator, who worked closely with contractors and specialist subcontractors to coordinate documentation submissions, monitor progress and maintain programme certainty throughout the handover process.
Using nucleus, Dewick & Associates’ cloud-based documentation management platform, project information was collected, tracked and reviewed through a structured workflow. Manufacturer literature, commissioning records, compliance certificates, warranties, as-installed drawings, maintenance schedules and technical data were centrally managed, providing complete visibility of documentation status throughout the project.
Our experienced Technical Writers then undertook a comprehensive quality assurance process, reviewing documentation for technical accuracy, consistency and completeness before preparing a coordinated suite of project-specific manuals comprising:
More than simply compiling project records, Dewick & Associates structured the documentation to support compliance with the National Construction Code (NCC), relevant Australian Standards and South Australian legislative requirements. The completed manuals provide facilities managers with practical operating procedures, preventative maintenance schedules, statutory information, fault-finding guidance, warranties and manufacturer requirements that support the ongoing operation, maintenance and lifecycle management of the facility.
Dewick & Associates delivered a coordinated suite of Building Handover and Operations & Maintenance Manuals that provide Mount Gambier Prison with a comprehensive and structured reference for the ongoing management of the facility.
The completed documentation consolidates information across the building’s mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, communications and fire services into an accessible, project-specific resource that supports facilities management, planned preventative maintenance and long-term asset management.
By combining technical authoring, documentation coordination, quality assurance and subcontractor information management, Dewick & Associates transformed a significant volume of technical information into a practical handover package that supports statutory compliance, protects asset performance and enables the safe operation of this critical correctional facility throughout its operational life.
The content in this case study has been informed by project documentation and client communication provided to Dewick & Associates during and following the completion of the project. Where external sources have contributed to our understanding of relevant standards or industry practice, these are listed below.
Generated with AI. Depicts Mount Gambier Prison, South Australia.
Note: Some content in this case study draws on a combination of sources rather than direct quotation. Where this is the case, contributing sources are acknowledged above rather than cited inline.
Direct access to a dedicated Client Coordinator who oversees the process and ensures deadlines are met.
Technical authoring of D&A format O&M Manuals enabling efficient plant operation and effective maintenance for equipment longevity, including:
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