Kennards Hire’s Expertise Shines at Munna Creek Solar Farm

Every detail matters when it comes to ensuring a successful build and according to Pilecom East’s Project Manager, Daniel Thomson, solar farms are no exception. Pilecom East, Australia’s leading solar farm installer, provides a comprehensive suite of services for developers, including pile testing, geotechnical investigation, pile driving, drilling, and mechanical and module installation.

“Geotechnical investigation is very important when it comes to solar – it’s critical we know if there’s rock within the site and what the characteristics of the soil are,” shares Daniel.

“The piles on which the solar modules are mounted run approximately 2.1m deep, so rock could hinder installation. Depending on the volatility of the soil, it may not properly accommodate the modules which can weigh up to six tonnes. This means the modules could lean or sink.”

Pilecom East is well-versed in tackling these challenges. On their latest project, Munna Creek Solar Farm, they’ve teamed up with METLEN Energy & Metals, a global industrial and energy company active in over 40 countries across five continents and a leading developer of utility-scale solar and energy storage projects.

The site, stretching across 254 hectares in the Queensland Fraser Coast region, is located around 40 kilometres north-west of Gympie. Once completed, the solar farm is expected to generate 300,000 megawatt hours of sustainable, clean energy annually, powering approximately 41,000 average Australian homes, contributing to Australia's efforts to achieve 83% renewable energy by 2030 and help accelerate the country’s transition to a more sustainable energy alternative.

For Pilecom East, reliable equipment and support are a must to keep operations running smoothly. That’s why they’ve made us a key partner. By combining deep product knowledge with tailored solutions, we aim to keep projects like Munna Creek Solar Farm on track and running efficiently. It’s about delivering more than just equipment – it’s about empowering our partners to succeed every step of the way.

Flexible, reliable and always on hand

Daniel noted that Kennards Hire's flexibility and reliability were highly valued on this project.

“We’ve been using Kennards Hire for many years across all of our projects on both the east and west coast,” Daniel said. “They have excellent project managers and are very flexible; we work closely with them and they’re very accommodating of our needs. If requirements change, or we need to come up with new ideas on how to best solve a problem, they’re there for us.”

Problem solving made easy

When supporting Pilecom East at Munna Creek Solar Farm, we supplied an extensive range of equipment, including telehandlers, 4x4 crew cab utilities, ATV buggies, boom lifts, skid steers, trailers, and all-terrain forklifts.

However, it wasn’t just the breadth of equipment that stood out. It was the way unexpected challenges were tackled.

“We had a situation where a lot of the palletised materials we had delivered to site had lost stickers on the packaging stating how heavy each was. We couldn’t risk safety or overloading machines, so they organised forklifts fitted with load management systems,” Daniel explained.

Fully equipped site solutions

Kennards Hire’s adaptability doesn’t stop at equipment. Our complete site solutions have made life easier for companies like METLEN Energy & Metals.

For Munna Creek Solar Farm, we provided everything necessary for a fully functioning site compound: site offices, lunchrooms, toilet blocks, and portable toilets, along with all the essentials like furniture, white goods, ice rooms with ice machines, water coolers, generators, and fuel cells. We also supplied other site equipment such as portable water tanks, cameras, traffic barriers, telehandlers, and road plates.

Quality advice boosts efficiency and reduces costs

For Adolf Nita, Construction Manager at METLEN Energy & Metals, Munna Creek is the 11th solar farm project he has been involved in, the last four have been supported by us.

“I’ve collaborated with Kennards Hire on quite a few projects; the early involvement was through an external party but more recently I’ve dealt with the company directly,” Adolf explained.

“For me, it’s not only been about the scope of equipment they source and supply for us – although their ability to do this certainly increases efficiency and reduces stress – the thing I like most about the relationship is that Kennards Hire are problem solvers for us.”

A. Nita highlights some of the specific challenges faced during the Munna Creek Solar Farm project, where tough access, uneven terrain, and the scale of the site created complexities. This is where we came into play, with our Project Managers frequently called upon to offer expert advice to handle these conditions effectively.

“I know the outcome that we’re aiming for, but achieving it depends on having access to the right equipment and machinery,” commented Adolf Nita, Construction Manager at METLEN Energy & Metals.

“Kennards Hire have given valuable advice on where to save time and money on the equipment we hire, and they’ve also helped us optimise site amenities for efficiency and to reduce material costs.”

“Project requirements shift as construction progresses, and at times we have a need for extra equipment at short notice. Another area where Kennards Hire has proven itself is in its responsiveness – there’ve been occasions where I’ve texted our project manager at 8.30 pm and by the next morning, I’ll have an email back with a recommendation and a quote.”

Beyond top-notch equipment and quick turnarounds, the partnership’s success also comes down to outstanding customer service with our Project Manager remaining actively involved throughout the project.

“The customer service from Kennards Hire has been excellent during my time partnering with them. Their representatives are also regularly on-site and in contact via phone and email to ensure we have everything we need and that all is going well.”

Munna Creek Solar Farm is scheduled for completion in late 2025, until then, we’ll continue to play a critical role in the project’s success.