A RIVERLAND council’s plans to upgrade its town wharf, aimed at providing an improved lifespan for infrastructure, could cost up to $2 million.
Renmark Paringa councillors passed a motion at last month’s general meeting to undertake renewal works at Section A of the town wharf – including the removal and replacement of damaged water beams – running between the Renmark Club and visitor information centre on Murray Avenue.
Renmark Paringa director infrastructure and environmental services Tim Tol said more durable materials were required at the site to resist damaging effects from houseboats.
“We looked at all the different options (and) I guess that Option A was the most pertinent,” Mr Tol said.
“Essentially we’re basically putting a whole new steel sheet pile in front of the current one, that was made of some composite plastic, which was the cheaper option at the time.
“(Since) council made that decision in 2008 we’ve seen the size of houseboats increase, and we’re finding that original sheet pile just isn’t suitable anymore.
“It will look pretty similar to what’s been done at the Berri river front. The sheet pile being made from steel will give it a good 50-year life at least and it will probably have a concrete cap on top as well.”
Mr Tol said council would explore potential funding support for the project, which has an estimated cost of up to $2 million.
“We’ve told (Tonkin Consulting) to continue on and do the detailed design, and that will give us a better indication of what the cost will be,” he said.
“With council looking to list that (project) for the next financial year, there is the opportunity now to look for funding opportunities.
“They are all decisions council will make in the future, but you would think a project like the town wharf would be eligible for that.
“The town wharf is probably one of our most significant pieces of infrastructure… we want to make sure people can access it and the infrastructure lasts longer than the 12 years (that) the previous one did.”
Mr Tol hoped designs for the renovated wharf would be ready for council before the end of 2020.
“We’re getting some designs going, but I expect that is probably a month or two away,” he said.