Beneath It All: Solving Subsurface Challenges
LTE Construction Group
LTE Construction Group brought its expertise in groundworks and foundations to the ambitious Boyd Village development in Southbank, a transformative social and affordable housing project delivered by Homes Victoria. As specialists in civil construction and ground preparation, LTE was responsible for the site cut, installation of foundation piles, rafts, pile caps and slab-on-ground works across the precinct.
“This was a fairly standard job for us in terms of scope,” explained Benjamin Patrick, General Manager at LTE Construction Group. “But every site presents its own set of challenges. Boyd Village was no different.”


One of the primary logistical hurdles was the site’s tight access and the complex urban setting. “We managed the title boundary works and liaised with Hamilton Marino, who handled the broader management plan, including council approvals and traffic plans,” said Patrick. “It was a brownfield site, so there were environmental considerations too.”
A major obstacle emerged early in the foundation works. “We had to use polymer slurry to create deep foundation piles that socket into bedrock,” Patrick explained. “Initially, we lost time due to contaminants—specifically E. coli in the groundwater—were deactivating the polymer slurry. That caused some of the pile shafts to collapse.”
To address the issue, LTE brought in a specialist company to customise and manage the polymer mix on-site. “Once we got the chemistry right, we could produce consistently clean, stable pile holes,” he added. “It was a challenge, but overcoming it became a real point of pride for our team.”
Weekly site meetings and close coordination with builder Hamilton Marino allowed LTE to maintain momentum and compress the schedule where needed. “We often had multiple activities overlapping to make up for lost time,” said Patrick.
In the end, LTE’s ability to deliver the critical groundworks under pressure reflects their reputation for reliability and excellence in infrastructure projects across Melbourne.
For more information contact LTE Construction Group, email info@lteconstructiongroup.com.au, phone 03 9748 3646, website www.lteconstructiongroup.com.au


