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May - June 2011 |
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Site visit an ‘eye-opener’
A BUSLOAD of engineers and scientists heading to a construction site would normally suggest something amiss. But the visit to the Townsville Marine Precinct last month by more than 40 engineering and science professionals from Engineers Australia (EA) Townsville Local Group and the Australasian Institute of Mining & Metallurgy (AusIMM) North Queensland Branch was all in the name of education. The outing, facilitated by Port of Townsville Limited, involved a briefing on current and future port work from General Manager Major Projects Matthew O’Halloran before the delegation undertook a port tour and site visit to the Townsville Marine Precinct, currently under construction. EA and AusIMM member Mark Daniell said the visit provided a first-class learning opportunity for the group, in particular the several James Cook University undergraduates in attendance. “The tour provided everyone with a much better appreciation of the scale of activities and value of the port to North Queensland, and the significant engineering and scheduling challenges around the Marine Precinct project,” he said. “Having the opportunity to view the construction area, and drive past all the facilities, was a highlight and ‘eye-opener’ for many.” Indigenous heritage honoured
TOWNSVILLE’S traditional owners have been recognised in a new storyboard displayed at the Port of Townsville Environmental Park. Located at the Hubert Street entrance to the eight hectare park, the storyboard highlights the cultural importance of the local environment to the Wulgurukaba and Bindal people in the past, present, and future. Through the authentic Wulgurukaba artwork of Jeremy George the storyboard also recounts the tale of ‘Gubal’ and the creation of the Townsville region and details traditional foods found in the South Townsville area. “This storyboard recognises not only the Wulgurukaba and Bindal people’s connection to this land and their culture, but also the long-standing support they’ve given, and continue to give, the Port of Townsville,” Port of Townsville Limited CEO Barry Holden said. “Further, it adds to an already significant community asset by highlighting the traditional value of much of the native wildlife and vegetation one can see while enjoying a stroll through the park.” For more information about the Port of Townsville Environmental Park head to www.townsville-port.com.au/our_environment. Port digs deep
PORT of Townsville Limited has opened its wallet to in-need Townsville families, last month pledging $5,000 to the Salvation Army Townsville’s Red Shield Appeal. Port of Townsville Limited has been a supporter of the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal for a number of years, and following months of extreme weather and hardship was proud to contribute to the initiative again. Salvation Army Major Bruce Harmer said the port’s contribution helped the not-for-profit charity raise a record $175,000 at the Appeal’s official opening breakfast. “We are hoping to raise $569,000 in this year’s appeal and the launch breakfast was a tremendous push toward that goal,” Maj Harmer said. “Our work has never been more needed and under more financial pressure than it is now due to circumstances beyond our control. We really do need this appeal to be successful for the sake of those we help not just here in Townsville but across this region, state and country. “And the contributions of our business community will make a huge difference to people in need.” To donate to the 2011 Red Shield Appeal head to www.salvationarmy.org.au/newdonation or call 13 72 58. Timber-r-r-r-r-r-r-r
PREPATORY works to enable the export of Cyclone Yasi ravaged timber are underway at the Port of Townsville. BM Webb Group contractors last week began clearing a 4.5 hectare parcel of port land off Archer Street which is to be upgraded to meet Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service requirements for the trade. The $350,000 project involves the shaping of the block, instillation of stormwater pits and detention basins, and placement of up to 10,000 tonnes of road base material to provide a gravelled surface. The weighbridge that previously operated on the site will also be reinstated. Port of Townsville CEO Barry Holden said the first of thousands of plantation pine trees salvaged from the Hinchinbrook and Cassowary Coast shires were expected to arrive before months’ end. Timber was last exported through the Port of Townsville in the 2007-2008 financial year. “Forestry Plantations Queensland has a limited opportunity to salvage these trees, so we have been working closely with all parties involved to ensure the smooth transition of this timber from forest floor to market,” Mr Holden said. Helping shine a light on port navigation
DON’T let the Sep Fuji’s appearance in the Port of Townsville’s shipping channels deceive you – there’s no oil or LNG drilling out there! The unusual looking vessel – known as a jack-up or self elevating barge – will be visible in the Sea Channel this month as local marine contractor Pacific Marine Group carries out work to replace several beacons and navigation aids lost or damaged during Cyclone Yasi. Chartered from Gladstone-based company Waltz Marine, the Sep Fuji’s unique ability to “jack-up” above the water and out of the influence of tide and waves is critical to quickly and safely completing the job of driving new piles for the Maritime Safety Queensland owned navigation beacons and aids and removing the damaged structures. The works are scheduled to be completed by the end of June at a cost of about $2 million. Prawn farm makeover earns POTL enviro gong
WORKS to transform an abandoned Townsville prawn farm littered with rubbish into a flourishing marine habitat have earned Port of Townsville Limited a major environmental award. The Australian Marine Environment Protection Association (AUSMEPA) recently awarded the Corporation the Australian Marine Environmental Award 2010/2011 for the rehabilitation of the former Sun Sun Prawn Aquaculture Farm, south of Townsville. The tidal site, off Feetham Street near a Ross River tributary, was used as an illegal dump and vehicular playground for more than 15 years after the operators walked away from the business in 1993. The Corporation spent $1.8 million over a period of 15 months from October 2007 to remediate the site which was plagued by acid sulphate soils and awash with discarded car bodies, whitegoods, and rubbish. The area, along with a further 195 hectares of adjoining lands, was then surrendered to the Queensland Government as a biodiversity reserve to offset the environmental impacts of the Townsville Port Access Road. In presenting the award, AUSMEPA Chairman Captain Conrad Saldanha said the port had gone beyond the expectations of its role in undertaking the works. “This was a big job but one with a big outcome for the local marine environment,” Capt Saldanha said. “In total more than 260,000 cubic metres of soil moved to re-profile the existing aquaculture ponds and some 35,363 cubic metres of soil treated with more than 2000 tonnes of lime to neutralise harmful acid sulphates. “A shocking amount of rubbish, including 15 car bodies, 362 tonnes of concrete, 25 tyres, and 54 cubic metres of general rubbish, was also removed from the site. “Together this allowed the tide to return to the site for the first time in more than two decades and the revitalisation of the ecosystem to begin." Port of Townsville Limited Manager Environment, Peter Smith, said the 30 hectare site continued to show improvement. "There has been significant marine plant recovery since the area was rehabilitated and the site is now home to an abundance of seabirds, crabs, and other marine life," he said. Porty hits the high seas
PORTY, Port of Townsville Limited’s adopted turtle, is back doing what turtles do best. Cheered on by a crowd of more than 400, Porty and five of his turtle mates made a collective dash for freedom into waters off The Strand in March after their successful rehabilitation at Reef HQ Aquarium’s Turtle Hospital. Port of Townsville Limited Manger Environment Peter Smith said it was a big day for the juvenile sea turtle, which was found struggling in waters off Berth 1 in August last year. Luckily he was rescued by maintenance workers Daniel Brassell, Peter Figg, and Matthew Stockham and swiftly taken to Reef HQ for treatment. Tests later revealed Porty had bacterial pneumonia and kidney complications and would have died within weeks without the assistance. “It was a fantastic day; particularly to see so many and families come out to witness the marine turtles returning to the wild,” Mr Smith said. “Given the level of interest I hope everybody took away from the event a better understanding of the importance of our marine environment and the role they can play in its management and protection.” Porty has been fitted with a unique tag to ensure his easy identification but we sincerely hope he never needs the port’s help again. Data to decode the force of Yasi
SENSITIVE marine monitoring instruments retrieved from Cleveland Bay have revealed the ferocity of Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi. The wave and current measuring instruments were deployed last October as part of an exhaustive environmental impact assessment process being undertaken to guide future port development. Study leader Greg Fisk from environmental consultancy group BMT WBM said the instruments had, however, also provided a rare opportunity to record some of the highest waves ever experienced in Cleveland Bay as Cyclone Yasi crossed the Queensland coast. “Based on the data collected, waves in Cleveland Bay during the cyclone were consistently over five metres for a number of hours,” Mr Fisk said. “Individual peak waves would have been significantly higher than that, possibly up to 10 metres. “Extreme waves such as those experienced during Cyclone Yasi have the potential to cause significant damage to coastal structures if they are not of an appropriate design standard. “The large waves also cause substantial mobilisation of the seabed sediments which can have a significant influence on coastal erosion and disturbance or destruction of marine ecological communities such as seagrasses and corals.” The instruments were housed in frames to prevent them becoming buried in sediment and placed at a depth of 15 metres which ensured they remained in position during high seas. One device was deployed offshore from Arthur Bay immediately to the east of Magnetic Island while the second was situated off Cape Cleveland close to the port’s approved dredged material placement area. Mr Fisk said oceanographic data logged by the monitors during the cyclone would now be compared against meteorological data such as wind speed and direction to provide a greater understanding of how Cleveland Bay functions and reacts during extreme weather events. The real-time wave and current data collected in the months prior to Cyclone Yasi will meanwhile help calibrate computer models of Cleveland Bay to simulate existing oceanographic processes such as waves, tides, currents and associated sediment transport. Cargo Statistics April, 2011
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