Tangalooma Resort Screw Pile Installation

Installing screw piles on an island comes with challenges you don’t face on a typical construction site.

IdealFoundations was engaged to install 59 galvanised screw piles for new beachfront cabanas at Tangalooma Island Resort on Moreton Island, Queensland.

With sandy coastal ground conditions and a site accessible by ferry, the project required careful planning from transport through to installation.

Outlines

1. Getting the Screw Piles to Moreton Island

Before installation could begin, the first challenge was simply getting everything to site.

The screw piles, equipment and machinery were transported to Moreton Island by barge, while our team travelled separately via the MICAT ferry.

Once on the island, the team drove along the beach to reach the project site, making logistics an important part of the project.

2. Installing 59 Screw Piles in Sandy Ground

The project required 59 galvanised screw piles with adjustable caps to support the new resort cabanas.

The sandy coastal conditions needed to be considered as part of the foundation solution.

Screw piles provided an efficient option with minimal excavation and site disturbance, which was particularly useful for a beachfront resort environment.

3. An Unexpected Site Challenge

During installation, our team encountered buried debris from the site’s previous use as a whaling station.

A large steel beam was discovered beneath the ground and needed to be excavated, cut and removed before installation could continue.

It was an unexpected challenge, but the team adapted on site and kept the project moving.

4. The Result

All 59 galvanised screw piles were successfully installed and prepared to support the new beachfront cabanas.

From transporting equipment by barge to working in sandy coastal conditions, the project demonstrated how careful planning and the right foundation solution can help deliver screw pile projects in challenging and remote locations.