Two sky-high machines are set to become prominent features at one of the region’s biggest infrastructure initiatives as it moves into a crucial phase.
Two tower cranes about 65m high – roughly equivalent to a 20-storey building – will be assembled in coming months and used at the Lake Macdonald Dam Improvement Project during the next few years.
The $500 million project is expected to enhance dam safety and local water security, and support more than 150 jobs during construction.
The old dam wall was demolished in April and work is underway to build new dam wall foundations, starting with the installation of secant piles.
These are interlocking concrete columns that form a stable underground retaining wall structure, strengthening the dam’s foundations and helping manage the movement of water through the underlying ground.
The next construction milestone will be the installation of the two tower cranes to support the next phase of works, including deep excavation and construction of the new dam foundations.
The cranes are as tall as the ones that are helping to deliver the Sol by Walker development – two 19-storey mixed use buildings with hundreds of apartments – within the Maroochydore City Centre.
They will likely remain on the site until the project is completed in 2029 and will play a vital role in safely and efficiently moving equipment and materials around site.
A community update, on September 7, stated that the cranes would be about 65m tall and “will become a visible feature of the site and surrounding area”, and they would installed “over the coming months”.
A notification, on September 24, provided more details about them.
“Because of their size, the cranes need to be assembled under strict safety controls.”
“To safely complete this work and avoid disrupting other major construction activities, the project team has scheduled the assembly during the King’s Birthday long weekend in October when no other significant site works are planned.
“Once operational, the tower cranes are not expected to generate significant noise. Most noise associated with the cranes will occur during the assembly process and from the movement of construction materials and equipment around the site.”
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The project is being delivered by water utility company Seqwater and construction company John Holland.
An Seqwater spokesperson told Sunshine Coast News the project was crucial for the region.
“Construction is progressing on the Lake Macdonald Dam Improvement Project to ensure the dam meets modern engineering and design standards and continues to operate safely and provide water security for generations to come.”
The September notification stated that more than 500 secant piles would be installed as part of the new dam foundation works, and more than 9600 cubic meters of concrete would be used for the secant piles.
It also said that the Elm Street intersection and been improved to provide safer a route for heavy vehicles entering and exiting the site.
