Lucinda Bulk Sugar Terminal Repair Works

QLD
Queensland Sugar Limited
2012
2,000

concrete decking slabs replaced

5.7km

long jetty repaired

5km

out to sea

230,000t

storage capacity

Following the devastation caused by Cyclone Yasi in North Queensland in 2011, Abergeldie was contracted by Queensland Sugar Limited to restore their extensively damaged Lucinda Bulk Sugar Terminal. Situated 150km north of Townsville, the Lucinda Bulk Terminal is a 5.7km long jetty and bulk sugar loader. The project required a fast-tracked repair program to ensure the facility was operational for the 2012 sugar harvest. 

Scope of works 

The works included:

  • The design, fabrication, and construction of mobile access gantries for safe access to unstable structures. 
  • The design and installation of encapsulation systems to enable sandblasting and reapplication of protective coatings over environmentally sensitive waters. 
  • Reconstruction of the wharf substation. 
  • Upgrades to the electrical infrastructure with new HV cabinets, conduits, cabling, motors, controls, lighting, and switchboards. 
  • Marine infrastructure repairs, including work on mooring dolphins, berthing docks, and jetty support piles. 
  • Hydraulic works to loaders and conveyor braking system.
  • Structural repairs and upgrades, including more than 2,000 concrete decking slabs, along with cladding and protective coating replacements. 

Navigating wet season and working over the sea

The repair works were undertaken almost entirely through the Far North Queensland wet season, characterised by rough seas and high winds, posing significant challenges. Extensive demolition of the existing damaged structure was necessary for the subsequent reconstruction and repairs. Much of the work took place on unstable structures, elevated over water, extending up to 5km out to sea, with additional work underwater. The project required a diverse team, including divers, barges, tender boats, specialised marine access work platforms, and lifting equipment.

A key component was the Sea Lift 4 jack-up barge, with a capacity of up to 250t and supported by four hydraulic "spud" legs. This barge provided a stable work platform above high-water levels in depths reaching up to 36m. The operational hub featured a 150t lattice jib crawler crane and two smaller cranes, all situated on the jack-up barge. Tugboats, barges, and cranes were integral in assembling temporary mobile gantries and access platforms to facilitate the reconstruction efforts.


Completion in time for the sugar harvest

The Lucinda Bulk Sugar Terminal, operational since 1958 with a storage capacity of approximately 230,000t, plays a crucial role in servicing businesses in Australia and overseas. Operating within a fast-tracked program, the team navigated through the challenges posed by Far North Queensland's wet season and ensured the works were delivered in time for the 2012 sugar harvest.