Birtinya Pedestrian Bridge: Brady Marine & Civil delivers a cable stayed landmark on the Sunshine Coast

The project was delivered in joint venture with Georgiou on behalf of developer Stockland Development, under an Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) procurement model. This collaborative approach, developed in close partnership with Stockland and their design consultant Red Fox Advisory, allowed Brady Marine & Civil to contribute its expertise from the earliest stages of design development.

During the ECI phase, the team developed detailed work methodologies and lift plans to inform and support the finalisation of the permanent structural design. The overriding goal was to minimise activity on the lake and reduce disruption to the many recreational users who enjoy Lake Kawana throughout the year.

The bridge foundations, located directly in the lake, consist of heavy bored piles rock-socketed into high strength sandstone. To avoid the installation of temporary work platforms — which would have been costly, disruptive and intrusive for lake users — Brady Marine & Civil deployed pile top drill rigs to excavate the foundations without the need for large surface-level equipment.

Once excavated, the piles were wet poured using tremie concrete techniques with concrete pumped from shore.

One of the project’s most significant challenges was the erection of the bridge superstructure — fabricated offsite with a complex geometry — along with the masts and cable stays, above a navigable and environmentally sensitive waterway.

Brady Marine & Civil’s response was to deploy large, land-based crawler cranes positioned on the shoreline to carry out all heavy lifts, minimising the need for marine vessels and keeping on-water activity to a minimum. This approach preserved navigation on the lake and allowed recreational use to continue throughout the construction programme.

Jacking mechanisms were used to control final alignment of the structure as the cable stays were installed and progressively tensioned.

All works were carried out within a sensitive marine environment, subject to strict environmental and navigational constraints. Careful management of the works programme ensured compliance with these requirements throughout delivery.

Extensive community engagement was undertaken from start to finish. Adjacent homeowners and the nearby Cultural Centre were kept closely informed throughout the project, with every effort made to minimise disruption to daily life and ensure the continued operation of local facilities.

Completed in 2026, the Birtinya Pedestrian Bridge is now a defining feature of the Birtinya and Kawana waterfront. It strengthens pedestrian connectivity across the precinct, enhances the amenity of the lakeside environment, and stands as a testament to what thoughtful engineering and genuine community partnership can achieve.

The project was Highly Commended at the 2025 Queensland Major Contractors Association Awards in the Ian Harrington Collaboration Award Category.

This project perfectly illustrates Soletanche Bachy’s expertise in marine works, offered under the ForSHORE brand.