6 minute read
PROJECTS UNDER $1 MILLION NOMINEES
RENEWAL OF THE AMARINA CULVERT, MOOLOOLABA
Sunshine Coast Council/Interflow Pty Ltd
A large reinforced concrete box culvert located at Amarina Avenue in Mooloolaba was found to need urgent renewal by Sunshine Coast Council’s Stormwater Management Asset team during a culvert inspection program in 2020. The large square shaped culvert has dimensions of 2.1m x 2.1m and a length of 37 metres. Constructed in 1975, the culvert passes under a busy district collector street, taking run-off from the Sunshine Motorway to the Mooloolaba Canal. Severe spalling and corrosion of its reinforced concrete structure was consistent with its environmental exposure rating of “most aggressive.” Renewal options considered were to line the box culvert with similar, smaller box sections or a large pipe, or to excavate and replace the culvert or the worst affected sections of it. Both these types of solution meant compromises due to either the resulting reduction in culvert flow carrying capacity, or the extreme disruption that would be caused during construction. Interflow proposed a solution using imported custom designed and manufactured glass reinforced plastic box sections. These could be designed to carry all loading, and their custom manufacture, thinner walls, and smoother interior surface meant that they did not reduce flow carrying capacity. They are corrosion resistant in marine conditions. This solution was accepted by Sunshine Coast Council. Installation was performed by slipping the box sections inside the deteriorated culvert and filling the small annulus space with grout. No excavation was be needed, and community disruption was minimal. Interflow successfully completed the project 12 days after mobilising to site.
CASSY LIVES SKATE PARK UPGRADE
Gladstone Regional Council
The Cassy Lives Skate Park was originally built in 1996 and was named after Cassy Jones who passed away from melanoma skin cancer at age 14 in 1990. The skate park services the largest residential centre in Gladstone and was well utilised despite its rough skating surface (spray bitumen seal) and aging skate elements. Gladstone Regional Council’s 2019 annual playground inspection of the Cassy Lives Skate Park indicated that the park was due for relevant maintenance works. Gladstone Regional Council took the opportunity to upgrade the skate park and reinvigorate that part of the city rather than conduct costly maintenance works that would likely need to be repeated yearly. Following the first stage of community engagement, the projects main goals were to improve the riding surface, improve skate elements, retain shade, preserve the existing metal ramp and add seating areas and a drink fountain. The project was designed and constructed within 18 months of inception and incorporated two stages of community engagement as well as consultation with Cassy’s family to ensure the finished outcome would suit the needs of the community for years to come. Since the skate parks upgrade, it has seen a flood of new users and nothing but positive feedback from the community.
Brisbane City Council
Flinders Parade is a popular destination to access and enjoy the historical Sandgate to Brighton foreshore. Sandgate, located on Brisbane’s northside, is a rapidly growing seaside destination for residential and commercial investment, with the foreshore providing a particularly appealing home to a number of Brisbane’s key attractions, including the Shorncliffe Pier, Arthur Davis Park, Sandgate Aquatic Centre, and several cafes and restaurants. Council’s corridor enhancements were designed to manage the increasing growth and visitation to the area which hosts many popular coastline activities including cycling, walking, and sightseeing by car. Through observing traffic behaviour and working closely with residents and businesses along Flinders Parade, Council was able to deliver efficient and measured safety improvements, while ensuring that the needs and expectations of the local community where also addressed. These traffic improvements support Brisbane as a safe and accessible city, while also nurturing the economic growth of Sandgate’s small businesses. Works included the construction of several pedestrian safety and connectivity improvements, such as the three new pedestrian crossings, traffic calming devices, and upgrades to kerb ramps. The enhancements included reducing the speed limit to 40km/h in conjunction with pedestrian crossing enhancements and supporting traffic calming devices to promote a lower speed environment, improving the safety and amenity for all road users. The traffic management improvements are an example of how Council takes a wholistic approach to advance the management of traffic in suburbs for residents and visitors to live, work and play.
WELSH STREET FOOTPATH
Gladstone Regional Council
Calliope State School is located on the eastern side of the Dawson Highway. A large amount of the Calliope residential area is located on the western side of the Dawson Highway. Crossing the Dawson Highway is controlled by a children’s crossing with a crossing guard during school times. Whilst there is a footpath the entire length of the Dawson Highway on the eastern side of the road, there is no path on the western side and is a vital missing link in the Calliope pedestrian and cycle network. Well warn paths in the grass were evident where pedestrians were continually walking between the Calliope State School children’s crossing and an existing footpath that terminated partway along Don Cameron Drive. This project was developed to construct a new shared path along this existing route. The path interacts with 3 roadways; Dawson Highway ‐ Major Regional Highway, Welsh St ‐ Urban Access Street, and Don Cameron Drive ‐ Urban Minor Collector. The path is partially located on Council road reserve, but majority of the project is within state controlled road reserve. As such, approvals were needed from the Department of Transport and Main Roads prior to construction. The path was constructed in sections so that it could be periodically opened to the public. The path was very well utilised even prior to final project completion.
Bundaberg Regional Council | AECOM
Historically, the Bundaberg region has been developed on top of very low-lying overland flow paths without formal drainage infrastructure. This has led to significant community exposure to rainfall run-off in urban areas where surface water exceeds the capacity of the street gutters and creates ongoing nuisance to property owners. Bundaberg Regional Council currently owns and manages over $300 million worth of stormwater assets to provide local protections against rainfall run-off across the region. Recent decades have seen significant growth in Council’s assets which accentuates the need to proactively plan and manage infrastructure in a sustainable, adaptable manner. The asset management responsibility is complicated by increasing demand from the community to provide higher levels of service, changing risk environments and funding constraints. Council’s management of stormwater infrastructure has led to highly reactive investment, financially unsustainable outcomes, and no clear direction for the medium to long term. To break out of this unsustainable cycle, Council engaged in a collaborative partnership with AECOM to create an overarching Stormwater Management Strategy (the Strategy). The Strategy provides an essential framework for best practice asset management that caters for future growth, while maintaining and improving existing stormwater infrastructure. Furthermore, the Strategy defines a clear level of service for the community that employs risk-based decision making to inform long-term investment. It brings a holistic vision for stormwater management in the region by increasing awareness and education within the community, capturing social and environmental values, and identifying critical infrastructure needs.
