New bridge for Bundaberg ????

Where do I start ?? Firstly I apologise for the recent lack of blogging late last year - I guess I was blogged out!!!

First item for this year was the arrival, assembly and placement of a large barge which arrived in Bundaberg from Newcastle on three semi-trailers. The two barge halves were placed in the water by the ship-lift at the Port Marina, and then Stewart's largest crane assisted with the assembly and fitout of the barge.

The two barge sections with a green container mounted across them.

After I left the site, the spud poles, the excavator and a drilling rig were loaded onto the barge, before it was pushed upstream by that small tender seen in this photo.

Interestingly, the destination for the barge was the area of the cane-ferry crsssing which is one of the narrowest sections of the Burnett River. 

Now, the only information I could glean from the contractors was that they are testing the ground (taking core samples) for a possible new bridge.

Unanswered questions in my mind (at the time, I might add) -

1. Would this open up Bundaberg Port to potential coal exports?
2. Why build a bridge there when it would be more useful closer to the CBD, say just downstream from the sugar mill, where it could relieve some pressure from Quay Street?

Serious Pollution in the Burnett River

For some weeks, night-shift workers at the old Toft's site over north have experienced a pungent smell coming from the direction of the river. Yesterday fishermen in the upper reaches of the town reach saw what appears to be raw sewage floating down the river.

On Wednesday last, a large barge arrived in 2 pieces, from Sydney. On Thursday, a semi load of equipment arrived for the now assembed barge. An excavator was also loaded aboard.

Apparently there is a broken sewer pipe under the river - how do they fix that, I don't know. My guess would be to place a completely new pipe under the river bed.

Unfortunately, photographic access to that part of the river is difficult to find.

All this and a big fishing competition on this weekend at Burnett Heads.

More Port Happenings - 1st June 2012



Stranded "Stargull", on the rocks at Burnett Heads 1 June 2012

The main reason for my visit to Burnett Heads today was to buy 3 potato scallops (or potato cakes, as you Southerners might say) from Baltimore's Take Away at the port marina. But first I had to join the others visiting Bundaberg's latest tourist attraction. The steel New Zealand yacht "Stargull", which ran aground yesterday, is so far up the beach that I'm not sure how the salvage will be done.

While my potato scallops were cooking (they are the best in Bundaberg), I wandered along the marina, looking for unique visitors, when I found the "HMAS Labuan", an LCH in navy parlance. This "Landing Craft - Heavy" was built in Maryborough Queensland in 1971 and is normally based at the navy base in Cairns (HMAS Cairns).

For some months now, rock and gravel from Childers is being exported to Curtis Island near Gladstone by barge ("MS1802") and tug ("Agros"). It seems the operation is ramping up, as the tug "MV Pedro" and barge "Carcinos" were tied up beside the Bundy-based tug "Ballina" at the Port. The previous port of "MV Pedro" was Brisbane, after which it sailed to Gladstone to pick up the barge.  Loading should commence after the next sugar ship and a molasses ship, due this week,  leave the Port.

As Bundy is expecting a few ships this coming week, the rock exporting will have wait for the sugar ship to leave, as they both load at the same wharf. In the meantime, this might give you an idea of the size of "Carcinos".

Just adding to yesterday's post - the steel yacht Stargull was moved around by the high tides and prevailing winds. It is now further up the beach and parallel to the shoreline.

The THSD "Brisbane" (trailing hopper suction dredge) has arrived in Bundaberg and is working on increasing the water depth at both the sugar terminal and the molasses wharf.

More news as it comes to hand.

Bundaberg's Newest Export

Today approx 100 truck loads of rock from Childers left for Curtis Island at Gladstone. This follows the successful export of rock from Holcim's Innes Park quarry in May last year.



Bundaberg Sugar Terminal, low tide, with Gladstone tug "Agros" and barge "MS1802" awaiting the pilot's orders.



Another spectator, having a feed while awaiting for the barge to leave

Barge "MS1802" being pushed into position by local tug "Ballina"



Traffic at the river mouth - left to right, barge "MS1802", pilot vessel "Kareela", unknown yacht, Bundy tug "Ballina" and the towing tug "Agros"


This week could be a busy week at the port with a "race" between "Doris" whch is sailing from Whyalla, and "New Ambition" which is sailing from Kobe in Japan. Both ships are due off the river mouth tomorrow. Twenty minutes ago (16:40 EST), "Doris" was off Forster and is expected off Bargara about 23:00EST tomorrow. "New Ambition" has not yet appeared on the local AIS ship location system yet.