Kingston Pier refurbishment

Contract work funded by the Commonwealth is continuing on the Kingston Pier refurbishment project at a consistent rate, with the contractor, Geotech Pty Ltd, expecting that the current Date for Practical Completion of 30 November 2006 will be met, unless the project is delayed by inclement weather.

A concrete technologist from the University of New South Wales was engaged to provide a suitable high strength concrete design mix using local products, rather than importing fine aggregate. Producing the design mix entailed extensive testing in Australia of 1700kg of various Norfolk Island crushed aggregates, as well as follow-up mixing and testing on the Island.

The concrete produced as a result of this research, together with subsequent redesign of the concrete deck jointing pattern, will provide a much stronger and more durable deck for the Pier. The new concrete mix will also be available for future projects in Norfolk Island that require high strength concrete with similar characteristics, such as the replacement of bollards and associated concrete deck slab at Cascade jetty, which will be undertaken as soon as practicable.

The concrete deck is now about 50% completed. The capping beam on top of the new sheet piling along the western side of the Pier should be finished this month and all of the large hardwood timber beams required for the fenders are now on the Island.

Discussions have been finalised with Department of Environment and Heritage on the most appropriate treatment of the stone steps, which will be undertaken shortly. The project is expected to be completed within budget.

6th October 2006