Kawana Waters

Kawana Waters is a significant development on the Sunshine Coast extending from north of Caloundra to south of Mooloolaba. The development includes a 2.5-kilometre recreational lake, two bridges, a navigable channel connected to the Mooloolah River, a lock and weir system, five kilometres of sub-arterial roads, numerous sub-divisional roads, approximately 1200 residential lots and a significant salinity rising main system. In addition to the work conducted for Lensworth further work for Caloundra Council was completed in several soccer fields near the Lake.

The Project is the most significant combined dredging and civil construction project in Australia. Various elements of the Project were supervised by different engineers, with most of the work managed by Cardno MBK.

We encountered several complex environmental issues during the Project. The two most significant of these were the management of Potentially Acid Sulfate Soil (PASS) and the maintenance of water quality for release into the natural environment. Dredging and dry excavation of PASS at the scale seen on this Project required careful works programming, innovative water treatment and ground water management strategies. The release of water off the site required a comprehensive testing regime, detailed works programming and contingency planning for all-weather events, including monsoonal or near cyclonic conditions. The environmental planning and implementation effectiveness is evidenced by the Project winning the Queensland Case Award for Environmental Excellence – projects valued at greater than $10 million.

The Project included construction of all the sub-divisional civil works on Kawana Island and beside Lake Kawana. These developments by Lensworth have been widely recognised as high-quality residential communities. Elements of major infrastructure were a part of the development; these included five bridges, five kilometres of arterial roads for the Queensland Department of Main Roads and a salinity pumping system designed to replenish the water in the lake system monthly.

The Project is rare in terms of the scale and broad range of work involved. The Project encompassed almost the full range of civil work, ranging from bulk dredging to complex pumping systems and sub-arterial road construction.