Journal Article

Author

Burrows, Thomas Edward

Title

Harbour improvements, Port Kembla, N.S.W.

In

Transactions of the Institution of Engineers, Australia

Imprint

vol. 1, Institution of Engineers Australia, Sydney, NSW, 1920, pp. 176-187

Url

https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.632653515334675

Description

Read before Sydney Division, 14th April, 1920.

See also: Plates pp.481-501

Abstract

When the provision of a deep-water port for shipment of coal and products of Southern Coal District was considered various sites were under review, that at Port Kembla being decided upon. The completion of protective breakwaters is now in hand, and will enclose an area of 344 acres at low water, and provides shelter that can be availed of in all weathers. Breakwaters are of mound form, being constructed entirely from tipping waggons. The effect of enclosing the port area has ' been watched, and numerous surveys disclose that between 189.) and 1918, whilst there has been a shoaling above the .S-fathom contour, the deepening between that contour and 8 fathoms has increased. Direct railway connections ha/e been made between the various jetties and the collieries and main railway systems of the State. No. 1 jetty was specially constructed as a coal-loading jetty, and has been equipped with a loading plant capable of loading coal into vessels 39 1/2 feet above low water spring tides. The record loading performed by this plant is 509 1/2 tons per hour of loading time, which amounted to 6 hours 26 minutes. Two other jetties are in use; No. 3 is equipped with coal-loading shutes, and No. 4, used for general cargo and products, is provided with a 2-ton portable electric crane. The existing electrical power-station contains two units, each 300 k.w., and supplies power for coal-loading plant, breakwater, quarry compressors, stone-crushing plant at State metal industry, and the surplus power is used on Cordeaux Dam construction. This plant is now being superseded by the substitution of two 1,500 k.w. steam turbo alternators, which, in addition to the existing demands, will provide further power at Cordeaux and Avon Dams and local requirements. The future extension of the port has been considered, and land resumed to provide factory sites and improvement areas. An inner harbour with an area of 280 acres has been designed, and general lay-out enabling future improvements to be steadily proceeded with on a preconceived plan.

Related Published resources

hasPart

• 'Plates', Transactions of the Institution of Engineers, Australia, 1 (1921), 481-501, https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.709192075073226. Details