The port of Townsville in Australia has awarded two major contracts as part of a AUD193 million (USD126.6 million) channel widening project.

Shipping channels will be widened to accommodate larger vessels in what is the biggest infrastructure project in the port’s 156-year history. The recently awarded contracts are worth more than AUD10 million (USD6.6 million) and are for rock wall construction and rock delivery.

Queensland-based company Hall Contracting will build a 2.2 km rock wall, forming a protective bund around a 62-ha port reclamation area at the eastern end of the port. In addition to Holcim Australia’s existing contract to supply rock from its Roseneath quarry west of Townsville, HY-TEC’s quarry at Calcium has been contracted to supply 43,000 tonnes of rock.

Port of Townsville general manager infrastructure and environment, Marissa Wise, said that the construction of the rock wall will precede the widening of the shipping channel, which is scheduled to start in 2021 and be completed in 2023.

www.townsville-port.com.au