CivilPlus Constructions has been awarded a $1.5 million works package to shorten the Eastern Breakwater at the Townsville port.

The work will make way for channel widening at the inshore end of the port’s 14.9km shipping channels, allowing for larger vessels to access the port from the end of 2024.

It is part of the port’s $251 million channel upgrade project, which itself is one stage of the 30-year, $1.6 billion port expansion project.

Port of Townsville general manager project delivery David McLoughlin said the CivilPlus team would be tasked with the removal of 10,000 cubic metres of material.

This would shorten the existing breakwater by about 70m to allow capital dredging to continue at the entry to the port.

CivilPlus will also place about 5000 tonnes of new armour rock on the shortened breakwater. Rock has been sourced locally from quarries in Townsville and Ravenswood.

“Port of Townsville is committed to buying local where we can, having spent $14.3 million with Townsville and Lucinda-based businesses and one-third of our entire expenditure with small and medium-size businesses last financial year,” Mr McLoughlin said. 

“CivilPlus is a Townsville-owned businesses, headed by two born and bred locals who have proven to deliver consistently high-quality results in marine projects for almost 20 years.”

Image at top of page: Scott Ironside, Steve Olsen, Karl Kratzmann and Kim King from CivilPlus Constructions at the Townsville port.