Bulimba Revetment Wall

The new revetment wall on the Brisbane River at Bulimba is built in blocks no longer than 1800 mm, with a 4 mm joint between each. That lets each block shift on its own as the ground and temperature move, with the wall taking up movement at the joints. It follows the line of the old concrete cap, with rock placed on geofabric across the bank in front of it.

A river wall also has to let water out from behind it. Drainage pipes at 3 metre centres pass through the blocks with non return valves. Groundwater drains out and the tide stays out. Geogrid reinforced backfill carries the retained load, and the concrete went in over three pours in May 2021 with 65 mm cover for a life spent damp.