Hobart wharf demolition paving way for new icebreaker berth

Demolition of Hobart's Macquarie Wharf 6 has begun and will take five months. A new wharf will provide a modern berth for Australia's icebreaker, RSV Nuyina. What's next? The works are part of a broader redevelopment project to modernise Tasmania's port network. A "complex" operation to deconstruct an aging wharf in Hobart has begun, paving the way for a new home berth for Australia's Antarctic icebreaker, RSV Nuyina. The Macquarie Wharf 6 demolition is part of a broader wharf redevelopment project aimed at modernising Tasmania's port network and providing a marine base for Australia's Antarctic program. TasPorts CEO Allan Gray said more than 12,900 tonnes of concrete, steel and timber would be "carefully separated, broken down and removed". "Deconstructing a structure of this size over water is a genuinely complex undertaking," Captain Gray said. Specialised marine equipment will be used, from a 280-tonne crawler crane to excavators fitted with rock breakers, shears and pulverisers. "With works taking place on the River Derwent, environmental controls, including protective silt curtains and marine-life monitoring, are in place to protect the local environment throughout the works," Captain Gray said. The wharf would be demolished in sections, followed by construction and piling for the new wharf, he said. The Wharf 6 project received $188 million from the federal government. Federal Member for Franklin Julie Collins said it was "terrific" to see the project underway. "Hobart is a crucial hub for Antarctic and Southern Ocean science in Australia. We're proud to be investing in Tasmania to ensure it remains our gateway to Antarctica for years to come." Wharves 4 and 5 will also be upgraded as part of the wider works.