Mr LUGG - 1998-04-30
I believe there have been some delays to the opening of the new port, and that there are possibly some structural problems. Could the minister elaborate?
Page 228
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the port is a major civil engineering undertaking. The fact that it is being built in a marine environment does not make the work any easier. It has provided many challenges. The contractor is, of course, contractually responsible for the design and construction of the wharf structure, and the wharf is still under construction.
Settlement of the backfill material behind the sheet-pile wall has taken place as expected, and depressions in 2 localised areas in the bollard beam have occurred. The concrete bollard beam is cast over the top of the sheet-pile wharf area. In other words, there has been shrinkage or slippage in that bollard beam. In some places it is quite large. The wharf is settling. To put it crudely, it has sunk in a couple of areas.
The contractor has employed world-renowned specialists who are experienced in designs of this nature, as has my department in its monitoring role. The contractor is investigating the matter and has surcharged the fill area to accelerate any settlement. The contractor has installed instrumentation in selected bore holes in the fill and foundation to monitor the settlement. Once settlement has discontinued, the fill and other components - such as in-ground services and the crane rail beam - will be brought to a level and the asphalt surface will be laid.
As I said, the contractor is contractually responsible for the design and construction of the wharf structure. My department will continue to ensure the project is completed to an acceptable standard as required in the contract. The completion of the work, together with other works being carried out on site, such as services, buildings etc, is now expected to be completed in August 1998.
There is some shrinkage there and that has to be corrected. It has caused a delay. We are still unloading ships there, but unfortunately this has happened. It has been tested. We have large quantities of concrete on the top of the bollard beam to see if we can accelerate the slippage that has occurred. It seems to be settling. I point out to all members that it is the contractor's problem. It is a design-and-construct project and contractually the contractor is are liable.
Page 229
Page 228
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the port is a major civil engineering undertaking. The fact that it is being built in a marine environment does not make the work any easier. It has provided many challenges. The contractor is, of course, contractually responsible for the design and construction of the wharf structure, and the wharf is still under construction.
Settlement of the backfill material behind the sheet-pile wall has taken place as expected, and depressions in 2 localised areas in the bollard beam have occurred. The concrete bollard beam is cast over the top of the sheet-pile wharf area. In other words, there has been shrinkage or slippage in that bollard beam. In some places it is quite large. The wharf is settling. To put it crudely, it has sunk in a couple of areas.
The contractor has employed world-renowned specialists who are experienced in designs of this nature, as has my department in its monitoring role. The contractor is investigating the matter and has surcharged the fill area to accelerate any settlement. The contractor has installed instrumentation in selected bore holes in the fill and foundation to monitor the settlement. Once settlement has discontinued, the fill and other components - such as in-ground services and the crane rail beam - will be brought to a level and the asphalt surface will be laid.
As I said, the contractor is contractually responsible for the design and construction of the wharf structure. My department will continue to ensure the project is completed to an acceptable standard as required in the contract. The completion of the work, together with other works being carried out on site, such as services, buildings etc, is now expected to be completed in August 1998.
There is some shrinkage there and that has to be corrected. It has caused a delay. We are still unloading ships there, but unfortunately this has happened. It has been tested. We have large quantities of concrete on the top of the bollard beam to see if we can accelerate the slippage that has occurred. It seems to be settling. I point out to all members that it is the contractor's problem. It is a design-and-construct project and contractually the contractor is are liable.
Page 229
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016