PORT PLAN ROCK SOLID
FOUNDATIONS LAID FOR HUGE EXPANSION
MORE than 375,000 tonnes of rock has been delivered to the Port of Townsville, marking a major milestone in the $193 million channel upgrade project.
It represents more than half of the rock required to build a protective 2.2km sea wall that will eventually reclaim an additional 62ha of land for port operations.
The sea wall is the critical first phase of a project that will eventually widen the approach channel to the port, allowing ships of up to 300m in length to visit Townsville.
More than 70 port staff, rock supply and construction employees are involved in building the rock wall, and more than 10,000 project hours have been completed so far.
Townsville Port CEO Ranee Crosby said the channel upgrade was the first stage of a larger, staged, 30-year $1.6 billion expansion that would ultimately double the tonnage capacity of the port and add six new outer berths. She said the channel upgrade would allow larger, wider ships, which should be able to bring down the cost of shipping, benefiting industry and consumers.
THE $193 million Port of Townsville Channel Upgrade Project has reached a major milestone, with the delivery of more than half of the rock required to build a protective sea wall.
More than 375,000 tonnes of rock has been supplied to the port to build the 2.2 km sea wall that will eventually reclaim an additional 62ha of land for port operations.
More than 70 port staff, rock supply and construction employees are involved in building the rock wall, and more than 10,000 project hours have been completed so far.
Part of the Townsville City Deal, the sea wall is the critical first phase of a project that will eventually widen the approach channel to the port, allowing ships of up to 300m in length to visit Townsville.
Local quarry companies Holcim and Hytec, along with Ravenswood gold mine, are suppling 750,000 tonnes of rock, and Queensland company Hall Contracting is building the 2.2km wall.
Both the western and the eastern side walls already extend 550m into Cleveland Bay, with the works progressing around the corner to build the northern wall.
Federal Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said the port upgrade had created a jobs and economic boost for Townsville.
“It’s fantastic to see the rock wall powering ahead at a time when Townsville, like the rest of the country, needs an economic injection,” he said.
“Off the back of the City Deal, getting work under way on this project is s crucial to the Morri- son Government’s priorities as we rebuild the economy during COVID-19.”
Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick said construction of the sea wall was an all- Queensland affair that would deliver far-reaching economic benefits.
“The Port of Townsville is a key economic gateway for the wider Townsville region and our investment will ensure the entire North Queensland economy can benefit now and into the future,” Mr Dick said.
Townsville Port CEO Ranee Crosby ( pictured) said the channel upgrade was the first stage of a larger, staged, 30-year $1.6 billion expansion which would ultimately double the tonnage capacity of the port and add six new outer ou berths.
She said the channel upgrade would allow larger, wider ships which should be able to bring down the cost of shipping, benefiting industry and consumers. Construction of the wall will be completed early next year, with dredging to widen the channel beginning immediately after that. The dredge material will be used to reclaim the land area created by the wall.
The entire project remains on track to be finished by the end of 2023.
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.