Mayor’s commitment to historic preservation is well-grounded
Published on 26 February 2016
Rockhampton is famous for its magnificent heritage buildings which are mostly concentrated on Quay Street and nestled along the banks of the Fitzroy River. Within three blocks of Quay Street, between Fitzroy and Denham Streets, there are 26 registered heritage buildings. The cultural and heritage importance of these buildings and their long term preservation and protection value is without question, and their cultural and historic significance to the Region is something Mayor Margaret Strelow is determined to preserve.
“Rockhampton has a unique and diverse past and these buildings are a strong reminder of the architecture and cultural diversity of our Region,” she said.
“Rockhampton as a European settlement was founded on the back of Gold Rush Fever and the importance of the river as a trade hub, and these buildings including their early occupiers have a story to tell now and into the future.
“These historic buildings continue to be important to the Region and especially to those who use them now, including businesses, residents and visitors to our Region.
“George Bernard Shaw’s well known quote comes to mind: ‘We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future’, the Mayor said.
“So with the Riverfront Revitalisation project right on the doorstep of so many significant regional treasures, it is important that careful consideration is given to planning to minimise impact on our oldest and most precious assets.
Because the project has the potential to generate additional vibration impacts during construction, safeguards to minimise potential impacts to heritage assets within the immediate area have been built into the Project Plan.
In September 2015 Council engaged Opus International, via a tender process, to consult with building owners and conduct an assessment of the buildings on Quay Street between Fitzroy and Denham Streets prior to construction commencement. This assessment outlines the condition of the buildings, their construction, maintenance and current issues, and gives Council baseline information against which changes can be monitored as construction work progresses through the area.
Council has also engaged local Rockhampton specialists RoadPro Acoustics to install ground vibration sensors along Quay Street. This specialist technology will continuously monitor ground vibration levels during construction and report on abnormal levels with the potential for adverse impacts to buildings in the area.
RoadPro staff have been involved in acoustic and ground vibration monitoring for more than 15 years which has included the monitoring of heritage buildings at Woolloongabba during construction of the South East Transit Project; the RNA Showground buildings during construction of the North South Bypass Tunnel; and the historical Therapies Block and Medical Superintendent’s Residence at Rockhampton Base Hospital during recent excavation of the basement level.
Joseph Carroll from Road Pro said there are two permanent monitors that will follow the construction project as it moves throughout Quay Street.
“These monitors have vibration limits set in accordance with recommended limits for heritage buildings, and will send a text message directly to the onsite work supervisor should the warning threshold be breached.
“This will then be investigated and resolved before work recommences."
The Riverfront Revitalisation Project provides significant infrastructure and economic benefits to the Rockhampton region, its residents and visitors. This monitoring is part of Council’s commitment to the preservation of our historic past, ensuring careful consideration and impact minimisation as we build for a secure future.
Background:
Vibration is the term used to describe the oscillating or transient motions in physical bodies. This motion can be described in terms of vibration displacement, vibration velocity or vibration acceleration. Most assessments of human response to vibration or the risk of damage to buildings use measurements of vibration velocity.
Vibration is a regular and normal part of any regional area, and in this regard Rockhampton and the Quay Street area no different to any other city in Australia or around the world. Transport including cars, trucks and trains pass close to or directly in front of the Quay Street and Riverfront area. Activities of users within the buildings, surrounding open areas and public spaces can also regularly impact on the area.
Humans are very sensitive to vibration and can detect and possibly even be annoyed by vibration levels which are well below those possible of causing any risk of damage to a building or its contents.