Maroc - TIMBERBIZ.COM.AU - A La Une - 27/Feb 23:47

Adelaide is beaming with pride

The largest wooden beam by volume in Australia arrived in Adelaide at the new aquatic centre worksite. Source: Timberbiz, photo Dept of Transport and Infrastructure Twenty glulam beams and 32 glulam columns manufactured by Hess Timber, weighing more than 143 tonnes combined, arrived in Adelaide this week. Police escorted the beams, for the new $135m Adelaide Aquatic Centre, through Adelaide’s streets late at night to avoid causing traffic disruptions. The State Government said the materials were so large they had to be specially milled in Austria because the Australian timber industry was unable to manufacture such massive beams. They were transported to Belgium and shipped to Melbourne, before being transported by trucks to Adelaide under police escort in early February. The Advertiser reported that biggest beam was 22.85 cubic metres and weighed 10,282kg – the largest by volume in Australia. Several of the beams are 37m long. The longest glulam beams ever brought into Australia, again produced by Hess, at 42m were brought into Australia in 2021 for the Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre in Mount Gambier. Infrastructure Minister Tom Koutsantonis told The Advertiser the government had been at pains to build the centre with locally sourced, low-carbon emission materials, but there was not local capacity to produce such large beams. Construction at the North Adelaide centre will increase next week while the timber is installed along with more than 200 roofing panels. The centre will be powered by 100% renewable energy. It will include water slides, a gym and fitness centre, and a sauna and steam room.