Beach Swimming Enclosure Design Review

Following damage from Tropical Cyclone Debbie (March 2017), ICM reviewed and refined the repair and modification concept for the Wilsons Beach swimming enclosure to enhance safety. The work addressed structural height, full enclosure, mesh specification, and landward access while considering sea-level rise, reuse of existing timber piles, and Safety in Design requirements.

Wilson's Beach Swimming Closure in 2015 (Prior to cyclone damage). Image source: Google Earth. (May 14, 2015). 20°28'20"S 148°43'21"E. https://earth.google.com/

Project Details

• Client: Whitsunday Regional Council

• Location: Wilsons Beach, Whitsundays, Queensland, Australia

• Date: 2017 (post-TC Debbie)

About This Project

The Challenge

After TC Debbie, the existing enclosure required targeted upgrades to improve safety. The Council’s repair concept proposed a double-layer plastic oyster mesh, extension of the structure up the beach, a fourth wall with a spring-loaded landward gate for full enclosure, and increased crest height - solutions that needed engineering review for durability, operability, constructibility, and future sea-level conditions.

The Solution

ICM undertook an engineering design review and produced design drawings addressing the proposed concepts.

Services Provided

• Engineering design review

• Safety in Design (SiD) assessment

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