Stadium site works complete
Site works at the new Perth Stadium have finished six weeks ahead of schedule, Premier Colin Barnett said this morning.
"The pre-construction site works are critical to ensure the ground is fully prepared for the stadium and sports precinct construction due to start at the end of 2014," Mr Barnett said. "The work involved the compaction of nine hectares across key areas of the site and installation of 55,459 wick drains to provide a drainage path for groundwater up to the surface. More than 740,000 tonnes of sand surcharge was then placed across the site. The sand will be left to settle for the next six to nine months, ensuring optimal ground conditions ahead of the start of construction."
Sport and Recreation Minister Terry Waldron said environmental and settlement monitoring would continue during this period. Some parts of the site will settle up to two metres - at an average of four to 10mm per day.
"The length of the wick drains inserted into the site would stretch from Perth to South Hedland if laid end-to-end, and the volume of sand surcharge placed across the site would fill 288 Olympic-size swimming pools," Mr Waldron said.
"We shouldn't under-estimate the enormity of the physical works that have been undertaken on this site. Despite the geotechnical challenges associated with building on the Burswood Peninsula, the State Government ensured the proper planning, investigations and modelling were undertaken, resulting in a fantastic outcome."
The 60,000 seat new Perth Stadium to be completed in time for the start of the 2018 AFL season.
