Case studies

Real projects.
Real outcomes.

These are actual hydraulic estimating packages SNZ has delivered — at scale, under pressure, across every sector. Every number on this page is real. Every project is real. Every outcome was achieved.

7 Featured projects
300+ Total estimated
7 States covered
100% On-time delivery
Featured project
High-rise residential · Western Sydney NSW Landmark
Gran Central — 373 Apartments, 25 Storeys
134–142 Parramatta Rd, Granville NSW · 25 Storeys + 4-Storey Podium
Scale25 + 4 storeys
Units373 apartments
Basement5 levels · 352 cars
ScopeFull hydraulic package
LocationGranville, NSW
SectorHigh-rise residential
The challenge

Gran Central is one of Western Sydney's most significant residential developments — a 30-level hydraulic scope including a 5-level basement carpark, 4-storey podium and 25 residential floors with 373 individual apartments.


The complexity was extraordinary. Cold and hot water services, sanitary drainage, stormwater, gas reticulation and basement carpark drainage all had to be estimated across every riser, every level and every system — with absolute precision.


The risk profile on a project this size is enormous. A single missed scope item or incorrect allowance can cost the contractor hundreds of thousands of dollars. There was no margin for error.

The SNZ approach
  • Complete PlanSwift digital takeoff from architectural, hydraulic and structural drawings across all 30+ levels
  • Individual measurement of every pipe, fitting, fixture, riser and valve — no averaging, no assumptions
  • Separate pricing of basement hydraulics including sump pumps, carpark drainage and grease arrestors
  • Podium hydraulics treated as a separate scope with independent verification
  • Full second-estimator review before delivery — every number independently checked
  • Delivered within the agreed programme despite the extraordinary scale
The outcome
  • Delivered on time — full package within agreed programme despite 30+ level scope
  • Scope items identified that had been missed in preliminary estimates — protecting the contractor from underpricing
  • Numbers held up — the estimate accuracy was confirmed as the project progressed through design development
  • Client returned to SNZ for subsequent projects — the ultimate measure of accuracy and trust
Key result

Full hydraulic package across 30+ levels, 373 apartments and a 5-level basement — delivered on time, with missed scope items identified and numbers that held up through design development. One of the most complex residential hydraulic estimates completed in Western Sydney.

Civil infrastructure · Government · Queensland Tier 1 client
Queensland Rail — 3 Station Upgrades
Maryborough West · Bundaberg · Rockhampton — Queensland
ClientAbergeldie Complex Infrastructure
End clientQueensland Rail (Govt)
Sites3 simultaneous
SectorGovernment rail infrastructure
DeliveryMulti-site concurrent
The challenge

Abergeldie Complex Infrastructure — a national Tier 1 civil contractor — needed hydraulic estimates for three Queensland Rail station upgrades simultaneously at Maryborough West, Bundaberg and Rockhampton.


Government rail infrastructure demands an extraordinary level of compliance, precision and programme discipline. All three sites had to be estimated concurrently under a tight government tender timeline. The complexity of managing three separate scopes, three separate sets of drawings and three separate tender requirements simultaneously is significant.


Working with a Tier 1 contractor means the standard expected is the highest in the industry. There is no room for approximation on government infrastructure.

The SNZ approach
  • All three station scopes estimated concurrently — no sequential delays
  • Separate detailed takeoff and pricing for each site from individual drawing packages
  • Government compliance requirements built into every line item
  • Scope risks identified at each station and flagged to Abergeldie before submission
  • Full independent review of all three estimates before delivery
  • Delivered within the government tender programme — not a single day late
The outcome
  • All three estimates delivered on time within the government tender programme
  • Scope risks identified and communicated to Abergeldie before tender submission
  • Tier 1 standard met — Abergeldie received estimates they could submit directly to Queensland Rail
  • SNZ established as a trusted estimating partner for Tier 1 civil contractors
Key result

Three simultaneous government rail station hydraulic estimates delivered on time for a Tier 1 contractor — scope risks identified, programme met, Tier 1 standard achieved. SNZ handling three concurrent complex scopes under government tender pressure.

National retail infrastructure · New South Wales National retail
Woolworths Belmont North
393 Pacific Highway, Belmont North NSW · Woolworths Group
ClientWoolworths Group
SectorNational retail
LocationBelmont North, NSW
ScopeFull hydraulic package
The challenge

National retail infrastructure for Woolworths Group operates under strict corporate hydraulic standards, AS/NZS codes and tight programme requirements. Woolworths has non-negotiable specifications that must be met precisely.


The complexity of large format retail hydraulics — including commercial kitchen drainage, grease management, fire suppression interfaces, cold room drainage and customer amenities — requires a level of detail and compliance knowledge that generalist estimators consistently underestimate.

The SNZ approach
  • Full PlanSwift takeoff from Woolworths corporate drawings and hydraulic specifications
  • Corporate compliance requirements built into pricing — no assumptions made
  • Commercial kitchen drainage, grease arrestors and cold room drainage individually priced
  • All work verified against Woolworths Group hydraulic standards before delivery
  • Delivered within the retail programme timeline
The outcome
  • Full hydraulic package delivered on time within the retail construction programme
  • Corporate compliance verified — every item priced to Woolworths Group hydraulic standard
  • Scope gaps identified in preliminary estimates — contractor protected from underpricing
  • Estimate accuracy confirmed through construction
Key result

Full hydraulic estimate for one of Australia's largest national retailers — corporate standards met, programme delivered, scope gaps identified. SNZ demonstrating national retail infrastructure capability.

Tertiary education · Sydney NSW University sector
UNSW G25 Building — 12 Storeys
Kensington Campus, Sydney NSW · University of New South Wales
Scale12 storeys
CampusUNSW Kensington
StandardsAS/NZS & BCA compliant
ScopeFull hydraulic package
The challenge

University-grade hydraulic systems operate under exacting AS/NZS compliance requirements, BCA standards and UNSW-specific design guidelines that go significantly beyond standard commercial specifications.


A 12-storey research and academic building at UNSW Kensington involves complex laboratory drainage, specialist cold and hot water systems, fire suppression interfaces and high-use amenity hydraulics — all of which require deep technical understanding to price accurately.

The SNZ approach
  • Full PlanSwift takeoff across all 12 levels from hydraulic and architectural drawings
  • AS/NZS and BCA compliance verified at every line item
  • Laboratory drainage and specialist systems individually priced
  • UNSW design guidelines incorporated into all pricing decisions
  • Full independent review before delivery
  • Delivered within the university construction programme
The outcome
  • Full 12-storey hydraulic package delivered on time within the university programme
  • Full AS/NZS and BCA compliance verified across every system
  • Specialist laboratory drainage correctly scoped and priced — an area commonly missed
  • Estimate precision confirmed as design developed through construction documentation
Key result

Full hydraulic estimate for a 12-storey UNSW building at Kensington — AS/NZS and BCA compliant, specialist systems correctly scoped, delivered on time. SNZ demonstrating education sector hydraulic estimating at the highest technical level.

Remote mining infrastructure · Airport upgrade · Paraburdoo WA Rio Tinto
Paraburdoo Airport Terminal & Apron Upgrade — Rio Tinto
Paraburdoo Airport, WA · Rio Tinto · Remote off-grid site · No council water or sewer
ClientRio Tinto
LocationParaburdoo WA
Water supplyOff-grid (no council)
Fire tanks2 × 216KL
Rising main~500m sewer
The challenge

Paraburdoo is one of Australia's most remote mine sites — extreme heat, no council water, no council sewer, no local suppliers. The airport terminal was being demolished and entirely rebuilt with apron widening, requiring self-contained hydraulic infrastructure from the ground up.


As a global resources company, Rio Tinto operates to its own rigorous engineering standards — built for the demands of remote, high-consequence mining infrastructure. Every element had to be specified and priced to Rio Tinto's own exacting technical requirements — PE100 PN20 HSCR crack-resistant pipe throughout, stainless steel for all exposed installations, flanged fittings at 50mm and above, stop valves and RPZDs all to Rio Tinto standard. Remote freight, craneage and supply chain logistics all had to be factored in.

The SNZ approach
  • Full hydraulic estimate from all architectural and hydraulic drawings
  • Rio Tinto proprietary pipe and fitting specs applied to every line item
  • All six systems individually scoped — fire, hot/cold water, stormwater, trade waste, sewer pump stations, sewer treatment
  • WWTP: 6 septic tanks (20.7KL each) + 3 effluent holding tanks (25KL each) priced in full
  • ~500m sewer rising main fully measured including pump station requirements
  • Remote freight, craneage and logistics costed into every line
  • Full independent review before delivery to the contractor
The outcome
  • Complete off-grid hydraulic estimate delivered — all systems, all Rio Tinto specs, nothing missed
  • Proprietary spec compliance verified across every pipe, valve, fitting and system
  • Remote site logistics accurately costed — freight, craneage and supply chain all included
  • WWTP and wastewater treatment fully scoped — an area frequently underestimated
  • Contractor received a complete, submission-ready airport hydraulic estimate built for a remote mining environment
Key result

Complete off-grid hydraulic estimate for Rio Tinto's Paraburdoo Airport redevelopment in remote WA — proprietary spec compliance verified, remote logistics costed, every system from fire suppression to wastewater treatment estimated in full. SNZ demonstrating the technical depth that major mining and government clients demand.

Also in our portfolio
High-rise residential · QLD
2–8 Mawarra Street, Surfers Paradise
Surfers Paradise, Queensland
Scale21 storeys
TypeResidential tower
ScopeFull hydraulic package
High-rise Residential QLD
Social housing · Government · QLD
Southport Community Housing
98 Nerang Street, Southport QLD
Scale17 storeys
Units158 units
ScopeFull hydraulic package
Social housing Government QLD
Branded accommodation · QLD
Quest Apartments, Upper Coomera
Upper Coomera, Queensland
Scale10 storeys
Units90 apartments
ScopeFull hydraulic package
Accommodation Commercial QLD

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