Kooloonbung Creek Bridge | Fleetwood Urban

Kooloonbung Creek Bridge.


Client	Port Macquarie–Hastings Council
State	New South Wales

Delivering safe, seamless and iconic new infrastructure for Port Macquarie.

Port Macquarie is a popular tourist town on the mid-north coast of NSW. As part of the master plan for its iconic foreshore, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council appointed Fleetwood Urban to help design and install a new pedestrian/cycleway bridge that was both beautiful and ecologically sensitive.

Our involvement.

Guided by proprietary project methodology, we designed the bridge while working closely with the bridge engineers and Port Macquarie-Hastings Council at every stage, beginning with Discovery and Development sessions as part of our original bid before transitioning into the Detail phase to refine the concept in preparation for construction.

Entering the final Delivery stage, the mild steel superstructure was fabricated and painted in our workshops to minimise on-site disruptions. At the same time, pilings and footings were constructed on the foreshore. We then used multiple cranes to position the entire superstructure on the foundations in one night. Stainless steel fittings and pressure-tested sealed enclosures were also specified to provide extra protection from the coastal conditions.

Pre-assembly of five sections took place on-site including the installation of the Fibre Reinforced Plastic decking (micromesh). Once the components were assembled the tower, featuring unnoticeable jointing, was erected. The completed decks were then inserted and the support cables attached. Stainless steel handrails, wiring and lighting were installed to complete the project.

How does this project inspire people to love the outdoors?

With seamless access from the region’s existing parks and public infrastructure, Kooloonbung Bridge now allows walkers, joggers and cyclists to explore the Port Macquarie foreshore more easily, and safely, than ever before.

Design Challenge

The design challenge was to create a visually appealing bridge that would provide a safe and seamless passage for both cyclists and pedestrians across Kooloonbung Creek, while minimising any environmental impacts.

After careful consideration and exploring several options with the Council’s design partners, a cable-stay design was agreed and engineering work began.
Construction Challenge

A key priority during the project was to limit any inconvenience to existing infrastructure users and the Port Macquarie township in general. This necessitated a combination of carefully planned construction phases, on-site and off-site. Tidal control strategies were necessary and sympathetic to the long-term effects of the environment on the integrity of the new structure.
Innovations

Kooloonbung Creek was a key catalyst for the creation of Fleetwood’s project methodology – a model that now shapes every project we undertake. The way it allowed our team to seamlessly integrate all phases of the project is what actually won us the job – not to mention many more since.
Features
- Stainless steel fittings and pressure-tested sealed enclosures
- Streamlined CHS bridge girders
- CHS tower
Safety & Risk Considerations

Kooloonbung Bridge experiences high volume, year-round usage. To ensure the safety of pedestrians and cyclists at all times, and in all weather conditions, we specified a high durability, high grip decking, with the balustrade designed to reduce climbability.
Sustainability Considerations

Home to rare native fauna and flora, the Port Macquarie foreshore is an ecologically sensitive environment. Protecting it was a key factor in almost every facet of the project, from the choice of design and construction techniques to the materials and finishes specified.

Other

Projects.

Hinterland Adventure Playground, Cooroy | Fleetwood Urban

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