Sturt Street Cutting Rockface Stabilisation
| Investment | $1.9 million |
|---|---|
| Goal | 1. A city that connects you to what you need at the time you choose. |
| Strategic Purpose | These essential stabilisation works are required to maintain our city’s connectivity and will ensure access to this well-used city centre carpark, and adjacent footpath and road, is maintained for the community to safely use. |
| Status | Completed |
Project Overview
Council is committed to growing Townsville and improving our city’s connectivity and liveability through the provision and maintenance of high-quality amenities that enhance the community’s lifestyle. The Sturt Street Cutting Carpark is a popular facility used by workers commuting to the city for free parking. Over the past two decades, the Sturt Street Cutting has been subject to rockslides and boulder movements, typically occurring in wet weather seasons.
Council has completed essential stabilisation works to the rockface to minimise the risk of rock fall from existing escarpments to ensure the community can continue to safely use the carpark, footpath and road.
The project scope included:
- detailed dilapidation inspections to all residing properties positioned within Jones Street
- closure of the free public car park throughout works
- closure of one inbound lane on Sturt Street adjacent to the works with traffic management in place
- installation of netting, rock bolts and shotcrete, which involves a mix of high-strength concreted being sprayed at high velocity
- associated earthworks that may consist of removing and/or building up to form a secured footing.
Works commenced from Monday 31 July 2023 and required temporary closure of the carpark and one city-inbound lane with traffic management in place. Access through existing properties was required periodically, due to the topography of the work area. The works were completed on 29 September 2023.
The rockface stabilisation works will provide a lasting protection barrier to the Sturt Street Cutting and existing rock face, which will significantly reduce any further impacts from weather events, ensure the safety of commuters, road users and pedestrians, and provide a safe, usable carpark, footpath and road for the community.
Alternative free parking is available at Dean Street carpark and other city locations, and a temporary free carpark was made available at Wally Tallis Way next to the Queensland Country Bank Stadium for the duration of the works.
