North Queensland Bulk Ports (NQBP) today announced that damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Dylan unfortunately means the southern breakwater at the Mackay Marina will not reopen to the public by mid-February as originally scheduled.
Maintenance work on the breakwater has been ongoing since November during which time the breakwater has been closed to the public. The maintenance program was well advanced and NQBP was confident the work would have been completed on schedule had TC Dylan not intervened.
NQBP acknowledges that the southern breakwater is an extremely popular destination for Mackay locals and visitors alike. Public safety remains NQBP’s primary concern and so access to the breakwater can only be permitted when it is safe to do so.
NQBP said that reopening the breakwater to the public in the near future is simply not safe with large boulders littered along the roadway, sections of the bitumen road washed away and heavy equipment still in use on the breakwater.
While the seaward side of the breakwater bore the brunt of the weather there was significant damage also to the breakwater’s interior wall caused by waves breaking over the wall and cascading down the inside.
NQBP said that engineers are continuing their assessments. NQBP has contracted a survey vessel from the Port of Brisbane that will arrive in Mackay next week to undertake more detailed surveys of the breakwater. This will enable a more thorough understanding of any damage caused and provide important information that will aid any future repair and maintenance works.
NQBP advised that for a variety of reasons, including public safety, one option under consideration is for the breakwater to remain closed to the public for several months and bring forward the repair and maintenance works planned for later this year.
[mappress]
Press Release, February 10, 2014