Sinclair Knight Merz provided design, documentation and construction phase services for the redevelopment of Incitec’s Cairns Primary Distribution Plant. The redevelopment involved an upgrade of the existing 8000m2 bulk fertiliser storage facility in order to provide increased storage capacity.
The redevelopment included partial demolition of the existing building and operational plant facilities, construction of new 5m high concrete retaining walls to accommodate fertiliser storage, new steel framed building structures, new mechanical plant, fire fighting and vehicle access facilities.
Being an operational plant and not a green field site, the project provided significant challenges in both the design and construction planning stages.
Soft marine clays, which are typically encountered in the port area, underlay the site. Assessment of the foundation stability and settlement arising from fertiliser stockpiles in excess of 10m in height resulted in the integration of high level and piled footing systems.
The involvement of Sinclair Knight Merz in the project demonstrates its skills in the following areas: