Royal HaskoningDHV secures Torres Strait project

Royal HaskoningDHV, the consulting engineering company, has secured a marine infrastructure revitalisation project with the Torres Strait Island Regional Council to restore and modernise multiple jetties across the archipelago. 

As a leading provider of maritime engineering, resilience and adaptation management services, Royal HaskoningDHV has been commissioned to design and rebuild three jetties across Saibai, Dauan and Boigu Islands. Key modernisation features Royal HaskoningDHV will be integrating into the new jetty designs include greater stability, wider access ways to support larger barges, more durable materials such as low slip plastic slats, as well as stairs.

The Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula area received the most significant investment in marine infrastructure in the last 30 years, with the Australian and Queensland governments investing $80 million in funding towards improved marine infrastructure including overhauling jetties, wharves and barge ramps¹ .

“After conducting an initial condition assessment, it was clear multiple jetties were either completely dilapidated or require significant restoration. As part of the project, the new designs will feature significant upgrades. We will be working closely with the council and local community to not only rebuild this infrastructure but to upgrade accessibility as part of the jetty design,” said Stuart Bettington, Technical Director and Project Lead at Royal HaskoningDHV.

Torres Strait residents live in some of Australia’s most remote communities, between the Tip of Cape York and Papua New Guinea, accessible by light plane or helicopter on some islands, and are several days sailing from Cairns. Due to the remoteness, maritime logistics play a critical role in the lives of the communities, with delivery of all essential goods and services, transport for medical reasons as well as both commercial and leisure fishing conducted by water. 

“The current jetties only have ladder access for boats. Our designs include stair access at the end which may seem small but is a massive improvement in functionality. Currently, fishermen are required to carry their catch and equipment up and down a ladder, which you can imagine is no easy task. The stairs improve accessibility significantly by allowing boats to easily load and offload at the stair area before mooring elsewhere,” said Bettington.

The existing jetties were built with a lifespan of 25 years, but have been in operation for more than three decades. During this time, many have become severely degraded and unsafe due to collisions from vessels, weather, and degradation of materials. 

“While upgrading the existing jetties is a crucial first step, our initial assessment revealed a broader need for infrastructure improvements. We believe that by optimising the design and budgeting process, we can identify more cost-effective solutions, allowing the opportunity to expand the scope of the project and make a more significant positive impact on the community,” said Bettington.

The jetty condition assessment has already been completed, with costing and design currently in development. The project is scheduled to commence in the upcoming dry season in May 2025.

¹https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/c-king/media-release/torres-strait-and-northern-peninsula-area-receive-record-investment-marine-infrastructure#:~:text=The%20Torres%20Strait%20and%20Northern%20Peninsula%20area%20will%20receive%20the,in%20the%20October%20Federal%20Budget.