GRANITE ISLAND CAUSEWAY
GRANITE ISLAND
CAUSEWAY PROJECT WRITTEN BY ANTHONY O'BRIEN
The South Australian Government has committed $43 million for the Granite Island Causeway Project, which is being delivered by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) and its contractor McConnell Dowell. The landmark new Granite Island Causeway is now open and even the famous double-decker tramcars hauled by a magnificent team of Clydesdale horses are back. The new 650-metre Causewayi opened to pedestrians on Wednesday, 22 December 2021, and further works are continuing in 2022, including the decommissioning of the old Causeway, the construction of a new boat landing facility, and minor finishing works. The Granite Island Causeway is located on the Fleurieu Peninsula, 83 kilometres south of South Australia's capital city, Adelaide. The project is supporting approximately 43 full time equivalent jobs per year over the life of the project.
CONSIDERABLE HERITAGE VALUE The Causeway is an iconic landmark with considerable heritage value. For locals and tourists, it is the only link between Granite Island and the mainland at Victor Harbor and it is also a site of cultural significance to the traditional owners of the area.
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The Causeway and its famous horsedrawn trams are also popular tourist attractions, important to the local, regional, and state economies.
CONDITION OF OLD CAUSEWAY A condition assessment identified that the old Causeway was approaching the end of its useful life and a feasibility study into the potential upgrade options determined that retaining the old structure was not viable. A heritage impact statement found that only a very small proportion of the existing timber structure is original fabric. Existing timber elements have degraded to the point where they are no longer providing adequate support, resulting in the structure needing to be temporarily propped. The piles on the old Causeway have multiple issues including weathering /rot, marine borer attack, and white ant damage. The pile connections to the old Causeway headstocks in many instances have been compromised, where multiple bolts, plates and connections have been applied in the past which has weakened the structural integrity of these connections. Retaining the old Causeway in its current state would pose major safety, maintenance, cost and access issues, requiring ongoing monitoring, checking and propping to maintain safety, which is not sustainable.
As part of the conditions associated with the Development Application approval, two substantial portions of the old Causeway will be retained at each end. These will be conserved and repaired for pedestrian access, to become viewing platforms with integrated signage to allow an appreciation of the history, original fabric and sightlines of the old Causeway.
UNINTERRUPTED, RELIABLE ACCESS TO THE ISLAND The new structure provides a holistic, ‘like for like’ design solution with a 100-year design life that creates an elegant local landmark, respectful of heritage and place, meeting all relevant Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and standard requirements while also being a ‘whole-of-life’ solution that minimises maintenance costs over time. The new Causeway will provide ongoing access to Granite Island with a modern structure that respects its historical significance. The new Causeway continues to deliver and enhance social and economic benefits to the region and provides a long-term solution that is environmentally sensitive. Other benefits of the reconstruction include the installation of a new and improved boat landing, to create better access for local tourism operators. The project will also enable more efficient and full access to and from Granite Island for emergency services. As mentioned earlier, the iconic Victor Harbor horse-drawn tram from the mainland to Granite Island Recreation Park is back. The tramway is one of the few remaining horse-drawn tram routes still operating around the worldii.
CIVIL CONNECT
