Shute Harbour Redevelopment Options Study

As the gateway to the Whitsunday islands, Shute Harbour is the home for recreational and business fleet operations. Keeping port facilities at the standard required to support this activity is key to the local economy. The Whitsunday Regional Council engaged us to investigate options for the upgrade and potential redevelopment of harbour facilities.

We used a multi-criteria analysis to evaluate options. The data we used included forecast demand for berthing, user needs and requirements, vessel types, and constraints on navigable limits such as wave, tide, currents, and water level. In all options, we considered planning and environmental overlays, the use of existing infrastructure, and Australian design standards. Cost, as always, played a key role in determining the preferred option.

Our geotechnical and planning teams completed physical testing of existing facilities and surrounds to determine the residual life of the current infrastructure, both onshore and coastal. We also completed an environmental feasibility and constraints study for the greater Shute Harbour area as part of the options study.

After reviewing the proposed options, the Whitsunday Regional Council chose to pursue a reconfiguration of maritime facilities for Shute Harbour over standard upgrades alone.