Who the project was for:
A project by City of Albany in an iconic location:
The Albany Wind Farm is one of the most spectacular and largest wind farms in Australia. The wind farm walk offers spectacular views of the eco-friendly turbines along the Torndirrup Peninsula at Sand Patch. The turbines sit atop the escarpment which is windy every week but one, which is why they currently produce 80% of Albany’s needs!
This project focused on the iconic Sandpatch staircase, which reopened after we supplied FRP for renovations; and it’s looking stronger and fresher than ever.
Albany’s answer to Perth’s Jacob’s Ladder, the stairs are a popular fitness and tourist attraction, featuring in hundreds of photos on social media each year.
Industry:
Government – City Upgrade
Location:
Albany, Western Australia
Purpose:
Refurbishment of Sandpatch Beach Stairs & Walkway.
Challenges:
In 2017/18, the City of Albany spokeswoman said:
“The existing top section of the Sandpatch stairs was installed in the 1980’s and the Jarrah used in this section is now rotten and the earth below the pine rails has been undermined,” she said.
- Several viewing platforms are also provided along the staircase, allowing for rest and an opportunity to capture breathtaking views.
- It is quite steep and around 500 steps with platforms on the way down to be replaced also.
- Large supply completed in stages using third party contractors for install.
- Contractors to remove previous frames and stairs to replace with FRP.
- Large scale project on steep incline.
Reduce:
- Public OHS risks.
- Downtime for access
2. Design:
- Choosing a grit that would be suitable for the climate conditions and offer safe non-slip option for steep stairs.
- Needed to be manufactured to spec for delivery.
3. Longevity:
- Make sure the new structures withstand the weather and water/ outdoor environment exposure.
Solutions:
Design:
- The discussion was had about the practicality of FRP, the lifespan and occupational safety benefits for the users.
- Selected colours and grit.
- Manufactured in warehouse ready to transport for install.
Install:
- Completed by two lots of third-party installers due to multi-stage project – successfully done with excellent communication.
- Now compliant to public safety standards.
The Future:
- Eco-Tourism is set to boost in Albany and the Sandpatch Beach Stairway is set to see thousands of visitors every year.
- This product will long-outlast the lifespan of the previous stairway.
Project Outcome:
City of Albany manager of reserves Jacqui Freeman said the City decided to switch from earth stairs to a more robust structure.
“What we found is that the earth stairs were getting uneven and becoming difficult to traverse,” she said.
“A lot of people go fishing and surfing down there and were carrying a bit of weight up them. They get a lot of use and we used that to determine the need for structure and what level to go to. Sandpatch is a place that everyone goes to and more people will want to go down the stairs now rather than stay at the top.”
The stairs are made of wood and the panels consist of recycled panels and fibreglass mix.
- Meets compliance standards.
- The strength of the flooring shows much less wear and no damages.
- Successful multi-stage refurbish with third party installations.
- Reduced Public OHS Risk Rating.
- This project outcome will last for many generations to come.
Delivery:
- The delivery of the product was lower cost in freight and sent straight from our WA based warehouse after our team carefully fabricated and cut the FRP panels to spec for easy transfer.
Install:
- The install caused minimal disruption to the public and was completed in a timely manner by the third parties.
Withstand:
- The product is beyond tough enough to withstand the environments conditions and use from person traffic.
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