Port of Townsville to commence $1.5 million channel improvement

Port of Townsville has confirmed that a critical piece of work will commence as part of the port’s $251 million Channel Upgrade project.

Local contractor CivilPlus Constructions will carry out a $1.5 million works package to shorten the port’s Eastern Breakwater, making way for channel widening at the inshore end of the port’s 14.9-kilometre shipping channels and allowing for larger vessels to access the port from the end of 2024.

The Channel Upgrade project, commenced in March 2020, is stage one of a 30-year, $1.6 billion Port Expansion Project. The 30-year plan will reclaim a total 158 hectares of port land, see the construction of six new berths and associated infrastructure, and facilitate three-fold trade growth across a broad range of new and existing industries.

Approximately 5,000 tonne of new armour rock will be placed on the shortened breakwater. Rock has been sourced from quarries in Townsville and Ravenswood.

Shortening of the Eastern Breakwater will commence on Thursday, November 2. Works will be conducted during
daylight hours, Monday to Friday, and are scheduled to take approximately 10 weeks.

Port of Townsville added that there will be no disruption to shipping during this time.