Sugar Wharf Upgrade & Structural Repairs

Stage electrical upgrades have been completed and the old toilets are scheduled for removal mid January 2022.

Concrete Jetty

A recent structural inspection of the concrete jetty found corrosion had impacted the steel reinforcing causing significant damage. During repairs,  further concrete delamination was revealed and as a result, all vehicles have been banned from driving onto the concrete jetty.  For further information, click here.

Other restrictions are now also in place:

• Limit of 200 people on the concrete apron at any one time
• No fixed seating
• Wheeled vehicles not permitted, this includes trailers, freezers on trailers, cars, trucks, vans
• Concrete jetty not to be used as an emergency assembly area
• Staging is not permitted on the concrete jetty.

These restrictions will remain in place until testing is completed on the existing concrete pylons to establish whether portions of the structure can be salvaged, or a major restoration of the concrete jetty is needed.

Stage electrical upgrades have been completed and the old toilets are scheduled for removal mid January 2022.

Concrete Jetty

A recent structural inspection of the concrete jetty found corrosion had impacted the steel reinforcing causing significant damage. During repairs,  further concrete delamination was revealed and as a result, all vehicles have been banned from driving onto the concrete jetty.  For further information, click here.

Other restrictions are now also in place:

• Limit of 200 people on the concrete apron at any one time
• No fixed seating
• Wheeled vehicles not permitted, this includes trailers, freezers on trailers, cars, trucks, vans
• Concrete jetty not to be used as an emergency assembly area
• Staging is not permitted on the concrete jetty.

These restrictions will remain in place until testing is completed on the existing concrete pylons to establish whether portions of the structure can be salvaged, or a major restoration of the concrete jetty is needed.

Stage One has been split into  Stages A and B.

Stage 1A has been completed, with the new toilets installed, external timber decking replaced and replacement of windows not in keeping with the building’s aesthetics. The external timber decking has been replaced, and extensive works completed below deck to rectify corrosion of bolts and steel work, plus replacement of missing timber bracings and repairs to the balustrades.

Stage 1B comprises electrical upgrades will commence in September 2021.

Council spoke to event planners early in 2019, and gathered a long wish list of additional upgrades which included a desire to upgrade the toilet facilities, put in fans and improve the lighting.

Thanks to a $250,000 grant through the Queensland State Government’s Building our Regions program, Council is able to deliver on more items on the wish list than it could on its own.

Work will commence in November 2020 and be completed by April 2021, in time for what is expected to be a bumper wedding season with many couples having to defer plans due to COVID.

The $350,000 project will deliver:

• Five new toilets, three female, one male and one wheelchair access to be built at the rear of the building
• Original internal timber decking will be renovated
• Plumbing and electrical upgrades will be done
• New lighting will be installed
• Fans will be installed – there are none now;
• Some of the windows not in keeping with the building’s aesthetics will be replaced
• A stainless bench and built-in sink will be installed in the south-east entrance lobby

A Heritage Exemption Certificate will be required and Council is working with Australian Heritage Specialists to ensure that Heritage and Conservation Guidelines are adhered to in accordance with the Scope of Works.

As part of its regular maintenance program, Council has been replacing a portion of the external decking boards on the Sugar Wharf each year, to address tripping hazards and timber rot.

Last year, there was a significant number to be replaced and due to the condition of many boards at the entrance, the decision was made to replace all boards resulting in a brand new deck.

Work also included  replacement of missing timber bracing, steel and purlin tie-downs and repairs to the balustrades.

The deck offers stunning views of the coastline and Coral Sea, and hence is a favourite for afternoon and sunset gatherings.

Considerable repairs were also completed out of sight. Below deck works included replacing corroded bolts, steel fixings, missing bracing, repairing timber rot, repairing corrosion on steel-work and maintenance to steel piles.

Council will enter into a contract with Neater Constructions to complete Sugar Wharf maintenance and repairs. The Contractor will work closely with the Project Manager and Australian Heritage Specialists to ensure that Heritage and Conservation Guidelines are adhered to in accordance with the Scope of Works.

Council carried out consultation to seek feedback on proposed design and configuration of toilet facilities within the Sugar Wharf, with options that would meet building standards for events of between 200 and 262 people.

Onsite consultation with key stakeholders and members of the public was also conducted to build a ‘wish list’ of improvements and suggestions, which will be considered for future grant applications and for inclusion in Council’s
capital works budget for future years. Read the full update, here.

Council released the 2019-2020 Annual Budget, announcing it will spend $160,000 to complete a necessary upgrades at Sugar Wharf. Read full announcement, here.