East meets west in port channel upgrade

THE $193m Port of Townsville channel upgrade has reached a major milestone with the joining of the rock walls to create a new reclamation area.

The area will be used to accept dredging material from the channel and will become a 62ha area for future port use.

Dredging, civil and marine construction company Hall Contracting has posted spectacular photos of the joined walls on Facebook.

Some people posted of the great fish they had caught in the area and questioned what would become of fish trapped in the enclosure.

Port of Townsville said the fish were being caught and released.

“The port’s highest priority for this work was ensuring that the area was free from protected species prior to the wall closing,” the port posted.

“Commercial fishers conducted several catch-and-release clearing activities before the wall was joined and the port is continuing to monitor the area. Further professional removal events will occur as the wall reaches full height.”

The port said work was being undertaken on strengthening the wall with geofabric material and additional rock.

It said the channel upgrade project was on schedule to be completed in 2023.

Hall Contracting said it had taken seven months and 570,000 tonnes of rock.

“We’re thrilled to advise we have now joined the eastern and western sides of the 2.2km rock wall at Port of Townsville,” Hall Contracting posted.

The upgrade is a joint project of the Queensland and federal governments and Port of Townsville, and forms part of the Townsville City Deal signed in December 2016.