Ventia

With a workforce of more than 35,000 across 400+ sites, Ventia manages over 900,000 essential infrastructure service work orders annually, primarily supporting local government operations. Strong business growth prompted a relocation to a larger warehouse facility in Victoria.

The new facility was designed to function primarily as a pedestrian-focused environment, supporting the flow of incoming and outgoing service requirements. As a result, the layout incorporated multiple pedestrian zones, including a shared social space used for training, events, and staff gatherings, as well as a storage area for hazardous goods and chemicals.

Despite this pedestrian-first design, vehicle movement remained necessary. Company vehicles periodically access the facility for the collection and delivery of goods, with a designated on-site parking area in place. This introduced the need to carefully manage interactions between pedestrians and vehicles within a shared environment.

Giving the mixed-use space, Ventia required an integrated safety solution that would fit the dynamic needs of the facility.

Key Areas of Concern

Ventia reached out to Barrier Group and through early consultation and site evaluation – conducted by a dedicated Victorian-based Account Manager, three key areas of concern were identified:

• Pedestrian–Vehicle Interaction: The new facility houses mixed activity zones, with areas that change dynamically depending on the site's operational requirements.
• Safe and Visible Access Points: Establishing robust, high-visibility pedestrian crossings and access points was crucial to ensure that employees could enter and exit activity zones safely.
• Segregation of Hazardous Zones: A dedicated area within the facility is required for storing hazardous materials. This space required complete segregation from general work areas to eliminate the risk of exposure.

To address this, Barrier Group manufactured and installed an integrated, end-to-end safety fit-out addressing Ventia’s unique operational requirements. The turn-key solution focused on compliance, flexibility, and long-term durability.

The full scope of the safety fit-out included:

Asset Protection

Noweld Guardrail was installed to clearly delineate pedestrian walkways and physically separate pedestrian foot traffic from vehicle operating zones.

The NoWeld Guardrail range was selected for its structural integrity and compliance with AS 1657:2018 as well as its modular, bolt-down design, which enables easy reconfiguration as the client's facility layout changes.

All components were galvanised and powder-coated in safety yellow for maximum visibility and durability.

No guardrail is complete without an effective industrial gate solution. Safety gates were positioned at key pedestrian entry/exit points to reinforce safe movement along designated walkways. Ball-Fence Swing Gates were chosen primarily for its:

• Robust self-closing mechanism which reduces the risk of gates being left open – enhancing continuous pedestrian protection in high-traffic areas.

Steel Mesh Panels accompanied with a Steel Mesh Hinged Door were installed as partitioning around cleaner equipment and hazardous chemicals. The purpose of the partitioning was to reduce unauthorised zone access and maintain a secure, controlled environment.

The ISF range was selected primarily for its precision engineering, designed with long-term durability and flexibility in mind. Manufactured from high-quality mild steel and finished in powder-coated Safety Yellow or Satin Black, each component is built to endure the rigors of industrial use while maintaining a clean and professional appearance.

Environment Control

• The designated on-site parking area was clearly defined and delineated with standard white line marking; the line marking ensured organised traffic parking flow within the facility and prevented bottlenecks near the roller door entrances.
• Wheel stops were installed to prevent vehicle encroachment into pedestrian zones and adjacent infrastructure.

Pedestrian Management

The Pilot Retractable Belt Barrier System was chosen as a flexible, temporary barrier solution including:

• Pilot 10 and Pilot Magna-Mount Brackets: Pilot magnetic temporary barriers used to control aisle access and restrict entry at roller doors as needed, offering rapid flexibility for changing operational demands.
• Pilot Doorway Barrier Kit: Dual retractable belt system (5- or 10-metre options) allows quick separation of zones during vehicle operation or events. Can be easily opened for additional space during staff training or social functions.