Goat Island
Project Background
Goat Island (aka Me Mel Goat Island) is an historic Sydney Harbour icon that had been occupied by the Aboriginal people for thousands of years and during European occupation was used for various activities including sandstone quarrying, gunpowder repository, military barracks, water police station, shipyard and berths, recreational activities, and even featured as a television set for the Australian TV Show Water Rats. It is now being prepared for hand-over back to the Aboriginal people.
The extensive historic use of the island and often poor maintenance of facilities has left a legacy of unknown risks and hazards. Before the island can be handed over, a thorough understanding of the current risks affecting the island is required to develop a remedial works plan.
Site Conditions & Challenges
An island-wide thorough appraisal of geotechnical risks (landslide, subsidence, erosion) was conducted by a Senior Principal Engineer from Aretas Group. Later, a detailed investigation by cored boreholes and geophysical survey of a sea wall was conducted for redesign purposes. The drilling required barging in the equipment and carrying out the works under strict environmental controls.
Aretas’ Approach
The results of the appraisal were presented on a map to facilitate understanding and planning of areas for remediation. Remedial designs have been prepared for several of the more critical/important areas. The geotechnical and geophysical investigation identified the subsurface conditions for effective design of the sea wall repair works and identified potential contaminations to be considered in the repair works.
Results Delivered
