In January 2006, Built Environs completed the $16.9 million Port Adelaide Grain Berth project at Outer Harbour, near Adelaide, in South Australia.

The 226 m by 37.5 m wharf easily accommodates extremely large (100,000 t-plus) Cape-size bulk carriers and includes a 320 m-long, 1.2 m-thick rock revetment, pavement, an amenities building and wharf services.

A 500 t onshore crane and floating barge rig eliminated the need for a second, barge-mounted crane and saved considerable money and time.

To minimise the amount of over-water work, beams were formed from large prefabricated steel shutters, spanned between piles and supported by columns cast into pile plugs, while the slab formwork was stripped above the deck and floated beneath the wharf between pours.

Reinforcing for beams was tied on shore and craned into position as a prefabricated cage, saving time with concrete pouring and improving safety by significantly reducing the time spent tying reinforcing above water.

Well-managed relationships and clear communication contributed to the successful delivery of a complex and challenging project.

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