Tom Nguyen
Hello Daniel
There is a great image on typology and information on Torres Strait watercraft found here
The Distribution, Design, Construction and Sustainability of Indigenous Watercraft in Australia: Part One.
Regarding your funding support query – if you’re referring to a transition back from motorised diesel dinghies and fishing boats to canoes (and making these more prevalent again), it would be great to understand what the cost would be.
Assumptions regarding funding support from Government are welcome.
Other considerations
1. What are the benefits of canoes as a nature based solution?
2. Do you foresee resistance from community if mainlanders take away their motorised transport? How come we get to use diesel boats and they don’t?
3. Elders and community leaders are eager to see a return to traditional practices and knowledge sharing. Could the renewed presence of canoes, as powerful vessels of cultural memory and identity, offer a practical and deeply symbolic pathway to this revival?
4. What technology could you implement to improve design? i.e. combining cultural knowledge with western science
5. How will knowledge of carving, architecture and craftsmanship be passed down?
6. What’s the impact to infrastructure? Will there be less of a need for piers and maintenance of these assets?
Jean Aquinde
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for sending in your questions.
Unfortunately, an extensive site assessment wasn’t part of our scoping process, so we couldn’t provide you with all the data you need. However, we found some resources that might help you research further. Other students have worked on a similar project, and here are our responses to their queries specific to the pier.
In Google Earth, you can use the Measurement Tools to determine the perimeter and the area of the timber finger pier. I also suggest opening this app with our Interactives: 360 Site Walkthroughs.
I hope this helps!
Regards,
Jean
Jennifer Bu
Hi there,
Can you provide me the dimensions of the timber finger pier, specifically
(a) how deep into the water it’s posts are buried and
(b) how high the pier itself is?
I also understand that the precast concrete barge accommodates the larger vessels because the channel is dredged and marked by navigational buoys. Can you also tell me how deep this channel has been dredged?
Thank you.
Jean Aquinde
Hi Gan,
Please check our recommended readings per design area, specially under Infrastructure and Climate Change Adaptation. There has been a lot of studies undertaken on Saibai’s marine infrastructure. For example, this report on INUNDATION MANAGEMENT ON SAIBAI, BOIGU AND IAMA ISLANDS has a specific section on Coastal Considerations, which can help your team assess if building a new pier is a good option or not.
Regards,
Jean
Gan Lin
Hi there, Me and my team are planning on building a new pier that would replace the current one, however we are unsure if it is ideal to replace it or build a completely new one next to it or in a closer vicinity and either keep or remove the old one. A few questions however I am unable to find answers to are the depth of the water from the the start of the current pier to the end of it.
Sai Rupa Dev
Hi Will,
There are no ferry services on Saibai, so it’d be tough to give an explanation on this one. However, there is a pier and a boat ramp on the island, more information can be found on the design brief, and there are some photos, both on the website and the interactives. What are your requirements for ferry docking station? Maybe I can address any key requirements? Hope that helps.
Cheers,
Sai
Sai Rupa Dev
Hi Edward,
It is worth noting that the community lives across the coastline. Determining the optimal location for a pier involves various factors such as community needs, accessibility, safety, and environmental considerations. The existing location serves the community well and they are content with its utility, it may be viable to keep it there, especially if moving it would cause significant disruptions or incur high costs.
Also, if you take a look at the interactives the power station is quite inland, I don’t quite understand how you could build a pier without a body of water nearby. If you could elaborate on your design proposal, I could give you a better answer.
It is also important to note that, while the current pier and boat ramp are old, they are still functional and structurally sound. Making modifications and amendments are also on the table should you wish to pursue them.
Hope that helps,
Cheers,
Sai
Edward TORRES
Regarding the location of marine infrastructure, would it be viable to create a pier in the existing location if the community is content with the utility of it, or would they rather have it closer to the town centre or main industrial areas such as the power station? This will affect the design ideas of the pier to accomodate existing structures around it.
Jean Aquinde
Hi Peter,
Please refer to my answer to Shaun regarding more details on the marine infrastructure. According to this publication: Construction Work in Remote Islands in North Queensland Challenges and Solutions, the required materials for the Saibai Sea Wall and Bund Wall Project could not be supplied locally. Suppliers from Cairns needed to be engaged.
Due to the island’s remoteness, lack of local manufacturing capacity and resources, this is more likely a similar case when the pier was first constructed. I would say it’s generally safe to assume that construction materials are transported into the island from various sources in mainland Australia and are subject to Commercial and Construction Waste Restrictions.
On TSIRC’s website, Priority Area One – Marine infrastructure and equitable access, it explicitly says that ‘Poruma, Saibai, Masig, Boigu and Erub each require dredging on the marine access channel for barges and pocket dredging to facilitate barge and essential freight provision at approximately $26M for all five communities.’ Note that the other islands mentioned are also rated as ‘severe’, and that trend may be worth investigating.
According to this TSIRC document, the berthing dolphins and jetty at Saibai are damaged. In the risk rating’s definition, severe means ‘less than 3 years useful life left’. Saibai Island’s marine infrastructure may aesthetically look ‘okay’ in photos because it’s still technically functional, but given the risk rating, expect that the the structural features will likely reach its end of life in a year or so.
I agree with your assessment regarding the seawall. While the seawall is part of the marine infrastructure, its risk rating is likely different from the rest because of its recent reconstruction. Despite the reconstruction of the seawall, it’s important to remember that the village by default is highly susceptible to coastal flooding during high tides and storm surges.
I hope this helps.
Regards,
Jean
-
This reply was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by
Jean Aquinde.
-
This reply was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by Jean Aquinde.
-
This reply was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by Jean Aquinde.
Peter Duong
Which part of the pier is severe? The EWB person said that there are 3 years left but from the picture the pier looks okay. Hence looking for more specific information on what part of the pier is severe.
Jean Aquinde
Hi Shaun,
According to this resource from TSRA: Torres Strait Sustainable Land Use Plan, Part 2 Saibai:
“The marine facilities at Saibai consist of a precast concrete barge ramp, a timber finger pier and a rock seawall. The barge ramp and finger facilities are accessed from the deep water by a dredged channel marked by navigational buoys.
The barge ramp and associated rock walls provide access for all goods transported to the island. They are an essential part of the community’s infrastructure. There is currently an adequate hardstand area formed from natural materials adjacent to the barge ramp. The facility also incorporates a shed and fenced area. Saibai is serviced weekly by a barge service from Port Kennedy.”
On TSIRC’s website, you can find its Deputation Priority Areas, where they laid out their plans to upgrade the marine infrastructure, including the estimated budget.
As stated in our Introduction, ‘Under no circumstances are students to contact community members, TSIRC staff, or their partners unless expressly permitted to do so by EWB. This is part of our agreement with the community that enables everyone to participate in a manner that is respectful of time, culture, and resources.’
The websites of TSIRC, TSRA, and the Queensland government offer a wealth of resources. These resources are comprehensive enough to provide all the information you need.
I hope this helps!
Regards,
Jean
-
This reply was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by Jean Aquinde.
Peter Duong
Hi Jean,
Yes, I’m referring to the main community boat ramp and also the pier.
Where are your materials sourced to make the pier? I can see that it’s timber, but where?
The marine infrastructure was found to be ‘severe’, with three years of useful life left. The marine infrastructure comprises the boat ramp, pier, rock wave return wall, and concrete sea wall. Which part of it is severe?
I believe it shouldn’t be the sea wall because it was built not too long ago.
Shaun Tidswell
Hi,
I was wondering if I could get some information about the marine infrastructure on Saibai Island? I was wondering roughly how many people use the finger pier on a daily basis and what kind of goods are normally unloaded or loded from it? Also does the TSIRC have any future plans for development there or are in the middle of securing funding for planned infrastructure there? Or would it be okay for me to contact TSIRC to obtain further information?
Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks, Shaun
Raphael Dipippo
I’m exploring an upgrade of the timber pier to a floating dock system.
