Number: A42/2020
Date: 1 September 2020
The Australian Government will continue to ensure the safety and protection of the community on Christmas Island (CI) by upgrading rockfall fencing around Flying Fish Cove (FFC).
The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications (the Department) has contracted Arup Engineers to plan for the upgrades and specialist engineers are working on a design to better manage rockfall risks, with greatest exposure areas to be upgraded first.
Six rockfall fences provide protection to the community and infrastructure in FFC.
Three fences near the Boat Club area, Marine Building, Madrasa and the adjacent shop, will be replaced between October 2020 and October 2021.
The upgrade of these fences will ensure ongoing protection for the community and infrastructure in the area.
Access will be restricted around these and surrounding areas while work is under way.
The Department and Arup are working together to ensure the community is kept informed throughout the project. Those residents and community members more affected by the works will receive direct communications about the project.
A fact sheet is available on the Department's website here.
Residents will be notified before any work is undertaken, and can communicate with the project team via a dedicated email address, at territories_projects@infrastructure.gov.au
I can also assure you that workers on the project coming from outside the Indian Ocean Territories (IOT) will meet all IOT border and entry requirements, with the ongoing protection of the community remaining the highest priority.
It is critical that residents and visitors in the Kampong residential and recreational areas understand the risk of land slippage and rockfall and evacuate the area immediately if alarms are sounded or if asked to do so.
These landslide mitigation works complement the comprehensive works undertaken to upgrade stormwater management systems on CI.
Natasha Griggs
Administrator of Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands