Case Studies

Busselton Jetty Underwater Sculptures

Busselton Jetty Incorporated

Overview

The Busselton Jetty provides an amazing artificial reef with many marine species living on the jetty structure.  To enhance this marine environment and provide further tourism opportunities the Busselton Jetty Incorporated recently installed 13 underwater sculptures produced by local artists.  These sculptures were constructed in a range of materials and different shapes and sizes, up to a full sized southern right whale produced from steel.

• Assessment of wave and current loads on the sculptures.
• Design of precast concrete anchors to restrain the sculptures.
• Liaison with the artists on structural detailing of the sculptures.
• Coordination of the design of a sacrificial anode cathodic protection system.

Project Highlights

• Meeting and working with a diverse group of artists and seeing the sculpture creation.
• Providing practical input into the structural and durability elements of the sculpture.

Challenges

• The site experiences large waves during storms and cyclones which put large forces on the sculptures.
• Seabed conditions varied with undulating sections of rock and other sections of sand.
• The durability of structures in the marine environment needed careful attention.
• Design of the anchors needed to consider the limitations of the installation equipment and methodology.

Solutions

• Westpeak worked closely with each of the artist as their works were developed to ensure the structural details were suitable for the exposure at the site.
• The concrete anchor blocks were designed to be structurally stable in the design storm event with adequate durability to last more than 50 years in the marine environment.  
• Westpeak liaised with the installation divers and barge operators to ensure the design was practical for the installation of both the anchors and the sculptures.
• Cathodic protection design was completed by ProtoDPS with input and coordination by Westpeak.

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍