NUKUFETAU, TUVALU, PACIFIC ISLANDS
Designing and constructing a seawall and beach nourishment works
In early 2015, Cyclone Pam swept through the islands of Tuvalu, causing extensive damage to the inhabited island of Nukufetau. The existing concrete block seawall was destroyed and many houses were damaged, leaving the island vulnerable to future cyclones.
The Government of Tuvalu, with preliminary assistance from the United Nations Development Programme, sought experienced contractors to undertake urgent repairs. Hall Contracting won the international tender to design and construct a solution to repair the seawall, replenish the beaches and restore the land area.
The team engaged AECOM to conduct a fast-tracked environmental impact study, coastal processes assessment, and detailed design. The project involved constructing an ELCOROCK seawall using five-tonne sand containers, which were selected based on their design life and the opportunity to use local sand to fill the containers. This was a more cost-effective solution in comparison to importing other materials.
